Chapter Text
“Sara!”
Already a few months have passed since the so-called ‘death game’, that nowadays felt more like a nightmare to our protagonist, Sara Chidouin. At first, it was hard to adjust to her prior mundane daily-life routine again. Going to school, meeting friends and getting to go back home after. But weirdly enough, she didn’t have too much homework to catch up on. Almost like all of it never happened and was just a bad dream. And neither did her best friend, Joe. Whose presence still confused her because of what happened in the past.
“Hey, Sara! Ryoko and I were talking earlier, and we think now that we made it to Friday, we should all hang out together! What do ya think?”
His smile, so bright and lively , as she remembered it dearly. Or at least tried to while she was hallucinating back then. Thank god… yes, until this day she still was so grateful that she could continue to be with her best friend. Her best friend whom she was so certain that she had lost on that one cursed day.
It still was hard to heal from all that. Even if it seemed like no one died in reality, and all of this was some weird simulation to test them or something. It was quite confusing how she was able to remember every detail so clearly, meanwhile, Joe was… just Joe. As if none of it ever happened. Maybe all of it was just a terrible nightmare after all?
Yes, exactly. Joe did not remember the death game, not even what happened right before they got trapped in there…
“I don’t see why not…” due to her overthinking, she already made him wait too long for an answer. Still, a typical teasing grin followed: “You sure you don’t want to be alone with her, Joe?”
“C’mon Sara, stop that!” he said, but he was turning red like a tomato. Gosh, could he be any more obvious? To think that they both thought not too long ago that they never would be able to see Ryoko again…
Joe cleared his throat and then scratched the back of his head to distract from her former tease. “A-anyway, what should we eat? Maybe I can get us doner kebabs to go! I know how much Ryoko likes them, after all… And then maybe some sod-“
“Joe.” she interrupted him before he could continue. “I know it’s the weekend, but we still have to study, remember? There will be a test on Monday. It would be best if we got some snacks and eat those while we will focus on our textbooks!”
As expected, Joe didn't look impressed by her strict tone and suggestion, “Are you serious? It’s a Friday evening, and all you wanna do is study? What would Ryoko say to that?!”
“I’m sure Ryoko would agree with me.” She was more reasonable than him after all!
Joe made a defeated sound until he eventually shrugged as a sign that he gave in. “Then…”
“Yeah, yeah. I go and get some goodies for us. You can already go ahead and meet up with Ryoko. Enjoy the little alone time before I arrive, if you catch my drift, Joe.” Even though she teased him, she sounded as calm and analytical as ever.
Joe on the other hand just started blushing again. “S-Sara!” he tried to calm down, before checking up on his best friend one more time. “Are you sure? I mean, weren’t you worried you had a stalker? I wouldn’t mind walking you to the convenience store, you know?”
“Ah- that…” true, she did not get to meet Kai again since then. She wondered if he did remember, too. Come to think of it, Joe was the only person she met again from back then… It made her wonder if there could be a chance of someone out there, with whom she could discuss everything that was on her mind still.
“Don’t worry! I don’t think it’s a problem anymore, I’ll be just fine, promise!”
“Alright then, if you say so, Sara. Just make sure not to sit on any traffic cones on your way there! Haha-“
“Ugh, just go already, Romeo!”
Man, when will he finally forget that one stupid story from the past?
---
As happy as she was to be back in her everyday life, something still didn’t feel right. Well, of course, it didn’t. She never really had the time to process all that happened yet… Joe not remembering anything only made it feel more like all of it never happened in the first place.
Still deep in thought, she entered the convenience store and browsed through the snack aisle. Ah, yes… pockys. She probably shouldn’t pick those, if she didn’t want to be a complete third wheel with those two ‘newlyweds’ later. As much as she loved both of her best friends, it was sometimes hard to just tag along. It felt somewhat awkward… A couple does need their privacy sometimes, right?
If she were honest, all of that made her feel kind of lonely sometimes, but that would not mean that she would be a clingy third wheel to them constantly! No way, she would not end up like that! And she didn't plan to drag them down with showing how left out she felt sometimes either!
Determined with those thoughts, she picked some strawberry chocolate cookies and a bag of pretzels, before heading to the counter. When she was already grabbing for her purse, a sudden a familiar voice started to echo inside her ear.
“Is that all, miss?”
Time was frozen for a second.
It couldn't be, could it…?
She almost did not dare to look up, but her curiosity was way stronger than her fear, as so many times before.
Slowly, she eventually raised her head, just to see a kind of unmotivated teal-haired cashier in front of her. The pretty face of a young man, who was still a few years older than her. Even though hard to tell at first glance.
Yes, she didn’t forget that face, how could she?! It was a face she used to hate to just look at! But… also one that haunted her until this day.
“S-Sou-san…?!” It was more a desperate whisper than anything, yet the man on the counter still seemed to hear her speak out that name.
His eyes widened! No way… Did he, unlike Joe, actually remember?!
But there was more than just simple surprise in his eyes. No, this wasn't even a light shock. There was genuine fear written all over his face.
Was it because he hated her? Or because he didn’t want to see her again? Who could blame him, even though she didn’t know before a moment ago if she wanted to meet any of the other participants again. Especially him of all people!
Still, didn’t some minutes pass already? Why didn’t he say anything…?! Anxiety came up inside her chest. Did she maybe get the wrong person? But he even wore a scarf and that voice…
“A-ah, excuse me, miss. Ehehe… I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. See? I have a name shield, right here.” The young man pointed at his uniform, which every cashier in a 7/11 wore.
True, Sou’s name was never Sou Hiyori to begin with. How could she forget... The shield said ‘Shin Tsukimi’, so it really was him!
“A-anyway. Is there anything else I can get for you? If not, that would be 640 yen.”
But he also clearly didn’t remember her…