The mask
Ever since bumping into Ririka she hasn’t left my mind or by my side for that matter. Sighing, Mary looks to her right, in the seat right beside her there shoulders back with her straight silver hair was Ririka.
Mary prods her fork into her food why did she bring a tray to sit she doesn’t even eat with her mask on.
“Hey! You know you need to take your mask off to eat.”
Ririka remains mute I just brought the food tray as an excuse because I want to sit next to her I don’t know if she’ll accept wanting to teach me or even want to be friends with me.
Ririka shuffles her hands and pulls out a pack of cards holding them in her palm she turns to Mary. Mary observes Ririka glancing at the cards back to her mask.
“You want to gamble?” Mary scoffs. Ririka nods her head eagerly and shoves the cards forwards waiting expectantly for Mary’s answer.
“No.”
Ririka’s hands falter with the cards but her posture remains unchanged Mary notices and without hesitation she says “I’m not gambling a girl in a mask.”
She seemed so excited but I refuse to gamble anyone without being able to see their face it’s just plain stupidity if I decided too. Ririka places the cards away.
I can still hang around with Mary I just have to convince her to teach me with the mask still on. I want to learn from her and I really want to get to know her more not just about how she gambles but just her as a person she seems so guarded but then again I’m just alike.
I walk step in step with Mary waiting for an opportunity to present the cards to her again. Mary heads into one of the many rooms the school has and sits on the couch relaxing onto it.
Ririka stands by the couch looking to Mary.
“Look I’m guessing you’re tired of following me around aswell so we can wait until we have class next.”
She seems at ease maybe this is a good time to ask again Ririka walks to the couch opposite and sits pulling the cards out and placing them on the table.
Mary tenses up her relaxed manner gone I don’t like repeating myself especially when I can’t tell what she’s thinking with that dumb mask on. Is she mocking me asking to play does she think I’m stupid? Having my pride be knocked down by Yumeko was enough for a lifetime but she wants to play me in a mask is she taunting me?
Ririka hesitantly pushes the cards slightly forward against the table.
Mary leaps to her feet her hand swipes the card pack across the table the cards spilling onto the floor.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing but I’m not going to be threatened by another momobami!” Mary yells. She crosses the couch to Ririka, the girl in shock, Mary lifts her knee pushing Ririkas legs apart and leans her knee against her thigh her hand grips the couch. Ririka freezes her hands resting on the couch she looks up to Mary on top. Mary’s free hand grabs the white porceilain mask and takes it off revealing under bright blue eyes staring right at her. Ririka quickly averts her gaze her cheeks blushing she lifts her hands to her face Mary grabs her wrist lightly. The touch soft Mary looks at the shy girl before her this was the face beneath the mask compared to Kirari Ririka had a softer expression to her face, she looks so innocent.
“I- I want to you to teach me.” Ririka quietly says. Mary silently removes her knee still holding on to Ririkas wrists a little bit surprised herself at how sweet her voice sounds aswell as how nervous Ririka was Mary sits on the table eye to eye level with Ririka.
“You want me to teach you how to gamble?” Mary calmly asks.
“Yes.” Ririka nods.
“That’s all?” Mary questions.
“I want...yes.“ I think better of it to just right out say I want to be friends with her I don’t want to cause her any trouble.
Ririka glances at her wrist Mary notices and lets go of her. Mary stands up abruptly and lift her hand to her cheek resting against it.
“I don’t think Kirari would really approve of this now.”
“I don’t care” Ririka utters I reach out to grab her uniform. “Please teach me.”
“Oh” Mary softly says as she looks into Ririka’s eyes sensing the need for hope I can’t just refuse her without seeing first how she even fairs in a gamble she may be able to help me in a way.