Title: Possessive || Series: Boundless Kakera, Chapter 5

Fandom: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Synopsis: Rika may just be a bit too fond of Keiichi.

Pairing: KeiRika (Keiichi/Rika, M/F)

Posted: August 21, 2019. Birthday of Furude Rika! [REVISED DECEMBER 4, 2021]

Keiichi threw his arms up in frustration, echoing his reaction to many past failures in club activities as of late. "Not again! Dammit, you women and your conniving ways!" he glared at his fellow classmates seated close by.

Mion erupted in boisterous laughter. "Don't forget Rule #2: Do whatever it takes to win! "

"Hau... Good try, Keiichi-kun, good try," Rena consoled.

"Oh ho ho ho!" Satoko cackled, "Looks like Keiichi-san can't handle our club games. He might as well wave up the white flag and accept his place."

"No way! Justice is screaming your names, and, as its disciple, I must heed its calls! Mark my words, you'll all get yours yet!" Keiichi stood proudly, a mighty sight as though he were a monument before his audience.

Amused, Mion applauded, "Bravo, bravo. Such an awe-inspiring speech," her eyes danced with mischief as blatantly as the devilish smirk that played on her lips. "...but that won't save you. Right now you have a penalty game to serve and as today's winner, Rika-chan shall deliver."

His face blanched as he deflated. "Oh, no."

"Meep~!" a smiling Rika raised her hands like a kitty would with curled paws. "Don't fret, good sir, I think you have been bullied enough this week. So I'll be lenient with your punishment today."

Keiichi perked up at those words, giving Rika a gracious look.

"What?" Satoko frowned at Rika. "Why must you be nice to the peasant? No mercy allowed!"

Rena chimed in, "Now, Satoko-chan, let's respect what Rika-chan wants. She's the one who came up top in the club games today so it's her call."

The blonde responded by folding her arms and looking away in a sulk.

"Alrighty," whistled Mion. "Feel free to do as you please with Kei-chan. If you need anything from my locker, just say the word."

Rika gave the club leader a nod before she turned back to Keiichi, who returned the silent acknowledgement with curiosity. Her heart skipped a beat in excitement.

She remembered the day when he first set foot in the classroom, introducing himself as a transfer student. It had been a refreshing experience for her. Meeting new people in a small place like Hinamizawa wasn't something that happened often; getting acquainted with them was even more of a treat. At that time, Rika had a good feeling about the boy, too. She believed he'd be a welcome addition to her home.

Keiichi did not disappoint. He knew how to make people laugh, how to brighten their day, and knew how to bring the fun for everyone in a way not many could replicate. The boy also had a way with words. For all those things, he won a fair share of interest from his peers—Rika included.

To think there existed a boy like her who wanted to have fun and be immensely enthusiastic about it. So much like her. Keiichi seemed like a kindred spirit, that kind of person she never knew she wanted to be with until now. He was always good to her like that and she'd be more than willing to return the favor.

On that note, what should she make Keiichi do?

Anything that involved wearing a maid outfit or some other type of womenswear was a no go since she promised to be less harsh on the penalty.

Making him satisfy her every whim for the remainder of the week seemed a bit contrary to her word, though it wasn't a bad idea. That meant more time to spend with Keiichi. But she might have to tweak it a little. Maybe force him to walk her home instead? Maybe, in addition...

That's it!

Rika cheered, "I decided!" she approached Mion's locker, before glancing at its owner. "Mii? Can you open your locker?"

"Yeah, sure," Mion walked over to Rika with a smile and began cracking the combo lock. A few turns of the dial and a sounding click later, the locker was open. "Help yourself."

Popping her head inside, Rika was already rummaging through the collection of costumes, board games and card games. So much stuff in here! How Mion managed to keep it all intact without risk of starting a landslide in the classroom was a mystery.

"I hate Old Maid," Keiichi grumbled.

"The amount of times you've worn her clothes begs to differ," Mion retorted.

Snickers and giggles went around as Keiichi let out a groan in irritation. Rika could imagine him adopting Satoko's sulking posture right about now.

Eventually, she was able to get what she needed through the clutter. She twirled around, revealing to her friends the two costume accessories.

Held in her right hand was a headband that came with a pair of pointy, black cat ears. In her other hand was a long tail of the same color attached to a belt, a purple bow tied around it.

Rika walked over to Keiichi, then reached up for his head before donning the cat ears over it. "Wear that," she circled around him and buckled the belt to his waist. "and wear this, and..." After a step back, she admired her handy work. "...You get to be my kitty!"

"Oh," the boy examined himself, looking amused. "I see."

She clasped her hands together, grinning. "There's more, sir! You have to walk me home every day for the remainder of this week. Wear those kitty accessories as you do, or you'll instead be wearing the pink bikini Mii recently bought for you."

"What?!" Keiichi threw a suspicious glare in Mion's direction. He received a wicked smile in return.

Rika ignored the exasperation exuding from him. "What do you think?" she piped happily.

Keiichi drew his attention back to Rika. His scowl softened. He grinned and flashed a thumbs up. "I think it's cute what you came up with. You're a creative one, Rika-chan."

Hearing that made Rika glow in delight.

Mion cradled her chin, musing, "Oh, but you two live in houses pretty far apart from one another. That would mean..." her eyes suddenly lit up in realization. "Ah, I see! Rika-chan is making the club's designated loser take extra steps back home, probably to whip him into better shape. How productive and beneficial for a punishment game!"

Keiichi folded his arms and scoffed at Mion. The green-haired teenager simply stuck her tongue out at him.

Satoko sternly eyed the only boy in the room, wagging her finger like a scolding mother. "You better show gratitude for her act of mercy, mister. Next time, I'll win and won't be as forgiving. I'll show you what it means to be tough."

Keiichi returned the look. "Right back at you."

Oddly, Rena was awfully silent in the conversation. They all took notice, watching their usually chatty friend stare at Rika and Keiichi with an unreadable expression.

Rika had been the one to address that. "Is there something wrong, Rena, sir? You're not saying anything."

The redhead started trembling. Such a display was concerning but nothing compared to the new expression slowly forming on her face. Her lips curled and widened as her pure blue ponds for eyes sparkled.

Everyone took a collective step back, most nervous and even a couple fearful at the all too familiar quirk.

Uh oh.

"Haaaauuuuu~!" Rena swooned. "Keiichi-kun gets to be Rika-chan's kitty! With that tail and ears! Oooh, I wanna take him home with meeee...!"

Keiichi looked ready to hightail it out of the classroom; he seemed to even contemplate jumping out the window, if the sporadic glances at the closest one meant anything.

However, Rika felt...annoyed. For reasons she could not explain very well. Rena's intentions had, put simply, challenged her—to something .

Whatever that 'something' was made her rush to Keiichi's side and cling to his arm before Rena could do anything. "No, no, no! You can't take Keiichi home! Only I can take him home!"

This caused Rena to stop dead in her tracks, taken aback.

Everyone else was similarly dumbstruck. Keiichi observed in disbelief the way Rika was glaring at his other friend, not so much menacingly but more in the childish sense as if she were refusing to give up a teddy bear.

"Hau..." Rena shrunk away slightly, a nervous smile on her face. "I didn't know Rika-chan could get so possessive."

Satoko blinked in confusion. "Eh? What's the big deal, Rika?"

Mion laughed heartily, looking like she understood. "Can't say I blame Rika-chan. I'd want to make sure Kei-chan doesn't escape his punishment either. Sorry, Rena-chan, you can't intervene in obligated penalties!" she strode over to Keiichi and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Better not try anything. Uncle Mion will be keeping an eye on you, too."

Again the twinge of irritation persisted in Rika, but this time over a different culprit. Her frown deepened upon seeing Mion get too close to Keiichi, hand atop his shoulder and shooting him the same mischievous look which was always present when...whenever she wanted to subject him in a penalty game herself.

Next thing she knew, Rika was acting as a sort of barricade by standing between the two. "Stay away, Mii," she shot Mion a glare. "Don't get too close. He's mine for today."

Mion simply chuckled in amusement, retracting her hand. "Alright, alright, I hear ya."

"Ah, Rika-chan..."

She turned to see Keiichi with a reassuring smile. "Yes, sir?" her head tilted as she asked innocently.

"You really have nothing to fear," he said, "I'll be with you and I won't ditch, you have my word. Just try to not worry so much, haha!"

At those words, Rika brightened. "Hmm... okay, I'll do that!"

"Great! How about we start right now?"

The suggestion he offered was music to her ears. Bouncing in response, she grabbed his hand and began an excited pace towards the way out their classroom.

Keiichi chuckled seeing her chipper self. He matched her speed, though not without glancing at everyone else to bid them farewell. "See you all some other time. Have a good one!"

Satoko returned a look of disapproval. "Oh, no, mister! You two aren't gonna be alone together! I'm tagging along!"

Then out the three went.

Mion shook her head with a hearty smile. "So much excitement from them. Makes this Uncle feel like an actual old man."

"This feels more like a punishment game for Rena than for Keiichi-kun," Rena pouted. "How cruel. No taking it home with me ..."

"Meep..."

"You seem to be enjoying our walk together, Rika-chan," Keiichi remarked beside her.

An innocent giggle escaped her lips, almost bouncing like the way she moved. "Yup!"

"Great to hear it! Try not to have too much fun though. You might make Satoko here actually smile," he shot a teasing look at their other company who remained by Rika's other side.

Not tearing her intent gaze away from him, Satoko merely huffed in response.

Rika brightened and patted Satoko's head. This gained her attention. "It's okay, Satoko. We both know you're really a good, happy girl deep down."

Satoko blinked in surprise, silent and unsure what to say for a moment, before deciding to avert her eyes.

But she didn't worry. Being close friends with Satoko provided her great insight, and with that came an ability to heed vaguely expressed emotions. Satoko welcomed Keiichi's presence despite appearances. He was like an older sibling to her, the kind who she always bickered and teased but still had fun with nonetheless.

Not that Satoko would actually admit this; her pride, and her element of traps for that matter, demanded subtlety.

Much like the suggestion of what looked like a little smile that Rika found on those lips.

They sauntered through the mouth of the forest leading to the home she shared with Satoko. Tall trees towered over them while spreading numerous branches, its leaves like clouds with sunlight poking through the small gaps. The air, thick with a fragrance of pine cones, danced around them and wherever nature dominated in its spread.

It didn't take long before they arrived at a big house among more trees, standing above dirt and lush greenery in relative wood. A beautiful sight to the observing eyes.

"We're here!" Rika announced happily.

Keiichi admired her humble abode. "So this is our destination. Looks comfy."

Rika nodded, then noticed the curious look from Satoko through her peripheral vision. Satoko was looking slightly downward at where they were, attentive about something there.

Tracing her friend's line of vision, Rika found her own hand still lapped around Keiichi's wrist. She nearly forgot how it had been like that throughout the entire walk. Her hand retracted and she gave Satoko the warmest smile she could.

"It's alright, Satoko. Go inside now. I'll be with you soon."

Rika's cheerful expression did the trick. Satoko, albeit hesitant at first, gave a compliant nod and began heading inside the house.

Her friend stopped briefly when she made it to the door though, turning back to watch Keiichi with a contemplative eye. There it was again, the subtle gratitude threatening to reveal itself with how the corners of her lips twitched upward ever so slightly.

Not as sharply perceptive as Rika when it came to reading Satoko, Keiichi raised a brow at what he likely believed was a dubious stare.

Then, Satoko returned to the door and opened it, entering before closing it behind her.

Keiichi eyed the entrance that now concealed everything within. "You and Satoko really live under the same roof?" he joked, "and I thought I had it tough with her."

Hiding her arms behind her back, Rika beamed, "Satoko simply looks out for me, as I would for her should such a moment present itself. I know this well. That is how much I trust her... Anyway, thanks for escorting me home. It means a lot, sir."

"No need to thank me. I just did what you wanted. This is supposed to be my punishment game!" Keiichi laughed. "I'll be honest, I'm glad you suggested this."

She was taken aback at his last statement. "Really?"

"Of course! I'm more than happy to spend my time with you if that's what you want," he chirped. "Oh, and don't think I haven't noticed by the way."

"Hm? Noticed what, sir?" Confusion settled in her voice as she asked.

Keiichi smiled and answered as if it should have been obvious, "How much you want my attention."

At that moment, Rika's heart leapt. Did he really know...? Part of her couldn't believe her ears, thinking it too good to be true.

Her astonishment must have made its way on her face for Keiichi to notice, because the amusement dancing in his eyes seemed to become more apparent after she fell silent.

He kneeled down to her level. "I figured as much back at the classroom. You really wanted me to be with you today," he nodded to himself, "Well, I do usually walk home with Rena and Mion since our houses are in a similar direction, though that's still a bit unfair to you, huh? No wonder you wouldn't let them near me!"

"...They always try to take you away from me," Rika pouted after a pause.

This evoked a fit of laughter from the boy. "What an interesting way to put it!"

His amusement infectious, Rika couldn't help but join in.

Then, when Keiichi calmed down, he spoke gently, "Hey, listen, I don't mind. If you want us to hang out together more often, I'm all for it. And, you know, I don't blame you."

"You mean it?"

"Sure! I'll be more fair with you from now on. Just, ah, don't go scaring the others off, ha ha! Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to them . We're all friends, aren't we?"

As he patted her head, the corners of Rika's lips turned down slightly.

Keiichi took notice of the frowning expression on her face. It hadn't tapered even when he ceased the head rub. "Rika-chan, you alright? Or did I do something wrong?"

"...Sir," Rika said with pursed lips. "That's my job. You're supposed to be my kitty for this week."

"Wha—?"

He blinked for a moment, pulling his hand away to scratch the back of his head in confusion. At that moment, realization had dawned on him when he felt it brush against the accessory still on his head.

Having recalled what he was wearing, Keiichi laughed sheepishly. "Oh, right. You should be the one patting my head this time, huh? Forgive me, Rika-chan, I forget my place," he joked as he bowed his head, awaiting her gesture of affection.

"Meep~!"

Rika smiled, amused at his antics, and began running a hand through his hair. She occasionally tugged on the cat ears he sported, giggling to herself all the while. Their time here together was good enough, she supposed. At least for today.

Perhaps, though, she could ask for more than a week of this.

Of just her and Keiichi.