Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The campus of Hyakkou buzzed with chatter and laughter as autumn reached its peak. A crisp chill filled the air, urging students indoors and prompting layers of warm clothing. Amber leaves blanketed the ground, while the once lush dark oak trees stood bare and solemn. To many, autumn was an unwelcome inconvenience - a reminder of fleeting warmth and shorter days. But for Sayaka, it was the opposite. She cherished this season most of all, seeing in it not decay, but transformation. To her, autumn signified quiet renewal, the prelude to a new year and all the change it would bring. She savored the warmth of a latte cradled in her hands, a woolly scarf snug around her neck. Ever the meticulous and thoughtful secretary, she had also brought a latte for her beloved President - knowing she'd appreciate the comfort just as much.

Strolling through the bustling halls, she swiftly made her way to the student council room, avoiding everyone in plaid sight. The halls had become much busier now due to the presidential election, which caused a feeling of annoyance to begin to bubble. "Jeez.. Why cant people just act in an orchestrated manor like they used to?" She muttered, maybe too loudly. However, she was fooling herself - this is Hyakkou after all; It wasn't exactly known to be orchestrated and quiet. Sayaka only felt like it was due to her sheltered presence in the presidents embrace.

Finally making it to the large wooden doors that enclosed the aristocratic student council space, the velvet haired girl slowly pushed it open, ensuring that she did not drop the warm latte. Sitting on the main table was the student council President - Kirari Momobami. Even though the president had assured Sayaka that they need not keep up with such formality when they were alone, Sayaka felt as if she was overstepping by calling her JUST Kirari. Her white hair and smooth, porcelain skin provided a beautiful contrast to the rest of the warm coloured room, with her piercing blue eyes looking directly into Sayakas brown orbs.

"President!" Sayaka exclaimed, with a hint of suprise. "Your here early.. is something the matter?" Kirari had a notorious reputation of being gracefully and intentionally late to school, especially the student council meetings, so her being here earlier then her precious secretary was unheard of. Sayaka rushed to her side, placing down the warm latte accompanied by a soft smile. Kirari let out a smile of her own, one only Sayaka could recognise as genuine affection. The porcelain girl spoke softly. "I wanted to spend a little more time with you this morning, before we get into our serious student council personas." A blush appeared upon Sayakas face, as she let out an angelic giggle. "President your default 'persona' is your serious student council persona.". Slowly, Kirari had gotten up and placed a hand upon Sayakas own, intensely staring into her innocent eyes. "So the way I act with you, would you say this is out of the ordinary for me?"

For some reason, Sayaka couldn't shake off the feeling that this question was a test, a silent conformation that Kirari needed to hear from her. But why? "Um.. I-" as she began to mutter a response, a knock on the council door forced Kirari to let go solemnly and place herself back in her seat, resetting to her usual emotionless expression. Emerging from the door came the Vice president, as she placed herself down near Kirari. Sayaka immiediately felt tense, so of course, the only way to remedy this was to brew her signature green tea for the President and Vice President.

"Sayaka, once your done with that, go and fetch us the lifeplans so we can discuss them?" Kirari spoke with pleading eyes, ones that made Sayakas heart flutter. Quickly finishing up the tea, she placed them in front of the two figures and left to go get the lifeplans. Suddenly, Sayaka felt herself get knocked onto the floor with a particular rowdy blonde also cluttered next to her. "Can't you watch where your going?!" The blonde spat venomously towards Sayaka, quickly getting up and brushing her uniform off. Mary Saotome.. should I even be suprised? Mary's reputation as a hot head had been well known by now by the gambles she had previously won, and Sayaka was well aware of this. Is she off to the student council office..? Strange... The purple haired girl slowly got up, throwing Mary a warning look; She didn't have time for this, the President was waiting for her to retrieve the life plans. So, like the professional secretary she is, she diligently walked away and proceeded with her task.

Chapter Text

The door swung open, breaking the quiet as an already irritated Mary Saotome stormed into the room. She exhaled sharply, her presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. With only a passing glance, she acknowledged Ririka standing beside me. Their so called “partnership” was no secret to me, so the secrecy they tried to maintain felt rather pointless. I broke the silence, a smirk tugging at my lips. “You know,” I began, my voice casual, “I’m well aware of your little alliance.” Ririka sighed softly and removed her mask in Mary’s presence, a gesture that said more than words. “So? What’s it to you?” Mary snapped, almost reflexively. Her arrogance around Ririka was unmistakable, familiar even I’d seen it before. “Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “Just thought I’d bring it up, that’s all.” Mary scoffed, while Ririka’s expression grew uneasy. “You’re not... mad? About the mask?” she asked hesitantly. I chuckled. “Of course not. If anything, it makes the election far more entertaining. I was starting to get bored.” Mary stared in disbelief, the irritation etched on face. "Is that it? Thats all you called me here for?" I nodded, whilst Ririka began to swiftly make her exit with Mary. "Your dismissed.". With that, they both left the room leaving just me and my thoughts.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Sayaka stormed in, clutching a chaotic bundle of papers to her chest. "That Saotome girl… What a loose cannon! Can’t she watch where she’s going?" she snapped, slamming the door behind her, clearly too flustered to notice me sitting there. I couldn’t help but watch with quiet amusement, secretly enjoying the rare sight of the ever composed, logical Sayaka unraveling over such a trivial mishap. As she realised my presence, her gorgeous face flushed with embarrasment, her eyes widening in shock. "Oh! President! I.. I didn't see you there..". A soft chuckle escaped me, and I quickly stood, attempting to regain at least a shred of composure. But it was no use, the laughter kept spilling out, only fueling Sayaka’s embarrassment and growing irritation. I stepped closer, gently placing a hand against her cheek. She let out a startled squeak at the sudden contact. “Oh, Sayaka… you never fail to surprise me,” I murmured. Whatever flustered frustration she had melted away in an instant, replaced by a vivid crimson blush that bloomed across her cheeks. "Yeah well.. I still stand by what I said about Mary." the violet haired girls sighed, leaning into my hand on her face. I always cherished moments like these, moments where Sayaka and I shared an embarrasing moment or a moment of solitude. After my.. 'declaration' at the tower of doors, our 'relationship' had become more soft, more open, more... close. Even so, I could not put my finger on this warm feeling. Love? Admiration? Possession? It was all a blur, and a very intense one at that. Only Sayaka had made me feel this way, a way that someone like me had been conditioned to not feel. It felt wrong, right, stupid and perfect all at the same time, and truthfully I never wanted it to end.

She placed her hand on mine whilst it rested on her face, an expression of concern overtook her. "President-" With playful annoyance, I shot back. "Kirari." She rolled her eyes, continuing. "Why was Mary Saotome here? Are you still trying to recruit her?" I smiled, taking my hand away and leading her to the glass of the fish tank I took so much pride in. "Did you know she and my sister have an alliance? They call themselves.. partners." Sayakas eyes widened in shock, now staring at the side of my face. "Y.. You mean.. Romantic Partners?" I laughed at Sayakas extreme conclusion, finishing my sentence. "No.. no. Atleast I dont think so. However, this now means that Ririka is no longer me, and I no longer her. What does that make us Sayaka? Could you even call us twins anymore? What are we if not eachother?" Sayaka reached out for my arm, linking it with hers. "This means your Kirari Momobami, and the only Kirari that there will ever be. The woman I lo-" she paused briefly, causing me to look at her shocked expression. "The woman I hold great admiration for, President." A weak smile left me, as I embraced her arm. "Yes.. I suppose ur right, as always, Sa-ya-ka."

After that, we sat in comfortable silence as Sayaka busied herself with the daily student council paperwork. I found myself quietly admiring her; Those soft, pink lips, the way her violet hair flowed gracefully over her shoulders, and the subtle way she bit her thumb nail in deep concentration. Leaning back in my seat, I let my thoughts wander - to Sayaka, to us. Whatever 'us' had entailed. I wondered what would become of our 'connection' during this election… and what might follow after it.

Chapter Text

The sound of her incessant alarm bell blared through the large bedroom, echoing off the walls. Radiant sunlight filtered through the curtains, touching Ririka's soft features ever so carefully. The ivory haired girl awoke, rubbing her eyes gently, reaching to turn off the alarm. To her surprise, she awoke earlier than expected; The unexpected extra time gave her a calm sense of ease as she prepared to get ready to meet Mary for coffee. Their relationship was an unusual yet beautiful one - born from an unforeseen connection that blossomed into a deep, meaningful friendship. It was the kind of bond that didn’t quite follow the usual path, but somehow felt perfectly natural, like two puzzle pieces finally finding their match. Rising quickly, she smoothed out the covers of her luxurious bed, arranging it with meticulous precision until it looked untouched. With practiced ease, she picked up her phone and glided into her bathroom - a serene, minimalist space that exuded quiet elegance. As she began brushing her teeth, her phone suddenly began vibrating with a call, Mary's pretty picture of herself illuminating the screen. She chuckled a little, setting the toothbrush down and picking up the phone. "Hey! You up yet?" Mary exclaimed excitedly through the phone, clearly she seemed to be more energetic then Ririka. "Yeah, i'm up! I am no over sleeper you know." Ririka chuckled, continuing. "I'm just getting ready, then Ill meet you infront of the coffee shop?" Mary quickly responded, "Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna go get ready. See you then!" The phone abruptly cut before Ririka could say her goodbye, leaving a wandering sense of assumptions. What would Mary be wearing..? Well, she'd look beautiful in anything.. Ririka's mind quickly quipped, causing her face to light up furiously crimson, her lovely hands quickly covering her face. 

After finishing up in the bathroom, Ririka opted for a pair of light blue lowrise jeans that hugged her figure with casual elegance, pairing them with a soft woolen jumper that offered both warmth and comfort. A beige scarf was loosely draped around her neck, adding a touch of muted sophistication, while her boots, sturdy yet stylish, completed the effortlessly chic ensemble. To complete the look, she selected a sleek, waxen leather designer bag that added a touch of understated luxury. Her silvery hair tumbled gracefully over her shoulders, glinting like moonlight as she gently brushed through the tangles with calm, deliberate strokes. Kirari would probably be downstairs by now, reading the morning notices about the clan or infatuated with texting Sayaka nonsense, in which she ignored Ririka's existence all together. She descended the grand marble staircase with effortless grace, each step echoing softly through the spacious manor. At the foot of the stairs, she caught sight of Kirari, casually leaning against the towering front doors, her presence as striking as ever. Ririka offered her a subtle nod in acknowledgment, a silent exchange passing between them. "Hold on.." Kirari spoke, as observant as ever. "Where are you going looking so put together so early in the morning? off to meet a boy?" She teased, knowing full well there was no way in a million years that Ririka was off to meet a boy so early. "N-No!" Ririka clutched her bag strap lightly, "Im going to meet Mary.. for coffee." A slight blush escaped onto Ririkas cheeks, worsening the situation at hand. "Well, you have fun with that! but not too much fun." Kirari winked, causing a groan of annoyance from Ririka as she pushed open the manors doors, leaving to meet Mary.

A soft, cool breeze accompanied the already autumn atmosphere, orange leaves scattered all over the sidewalk. The coffee shop was a small, family owned business - Mary's favourite spot. The fact Mary had taken Ririka somewhere so sentimental to her must mean a whole deal to her, something Ririka was eternally grateful for. As she reached the shop, she immediately saw Mary leaning back on a chair next to a table outside, and what a sight she was. Her golden hair shined, providing contrast to her oak coloured off the shoulder top, accompanied by navy lowrise jeans and sneakers. Her nails were meticulously done and clearly cared for, shining with a natural radiance and glow. Ririka clutched her bag strap again and gulped, suddenly feeling a sense of nervouseness, a familiar crimson rushing up to her cheeks. However, it was too late, the golden haired girl immediately waved her hand to her, ushering her to come to her. "Hey Ririka! You look.." Mary look stunned; This was the first time she had seen the platinum haired girl outside of her Hykkaou uniform, and in truth, she loved it. "You look really pretty." Ririka was stunned by this sudden compliment, which ushered her to speak. "You look amazing too!" Both of the girls blushed, an awkward yet somehow comfortable silence overtaking them both. Mary was the first to break it, trying not to stare to much. "Well, lets not stand here.. lets go in!" Ririka obliged, with Mary suddenly taking her soft hand in hers, leading her in excitedly. Ririka felt a rush of nerves, nerves that felt to unique to be platonic. She had held hands with others before, but.. it had never felt like this. It feels lovely to have a friend so comfortable with me.. Ririka thought, trying to push any nerves she had away.

As they stepped into the warm, inviting coffee shop, the scent of roasted beans and cinnamon filled the air like a comforting embrace. Mary, mid gesture, suddenly seemed to become aware of her own physical closeness - her hand still enclosed with Ririka’s. She blushed, quickly withdrawing it, her gaze shifting elsewhere in an effort to avoid eye contact. Ririka, too, looked away, her heart fluttering with an emotion she couldn’t quite name. They settled into a cozy corner, steaming cups of coffee cradled in their hands, and let the hours melt away. Their conversation danced between the election and light hearted girl talk, their laughter and quiet understanding weaving effortlessly into the background hum of the café.