The plan
Mary puts her head in her hands and shakes her head side to side. She looks up at Ririka the girl looking to her eagerly waiting patiently for a response.
“How did you survive this long?” Mary questions.
The way Ririka had played her moves hesitant, the self doubt casting a shadow of her potential skill. Ririkas self worth was hindering her gameplay. I could tell by the looks of her seeing other students end up as house pets there’s no way Ririka doesn’t have any skill or use otherwise she would have ended up in the same position but then again no ones ever thought to challenge Ririka no one has really made any move towards Ririka until now, until I did.
I should really stop making it a habit of being peoples first although not that I quite mind it in this setting if anyone can help her I guess it’s me and she’s the one who sought me out it’s no surprise I’m an excellent gambler and that she’d come to me for help.
“Never mind it doesn’t matter. Look you’re not that bad would be the way to describe it. I guess I can help you out in my free time here and there.” Mary plays it off. “But I want your support.”
Ririka can’t quite contain the joy of hearing Mary willingly want to teach her. “You’ll teach me really? Support with what Mary-chan?”
It slipped out so quickly and felt so natural to say I cursed my tongue I’m going to scare her away. Ririka stammers and double takes “I.. I didnt mean-“
Mary quickly interrupts her a small chuckle escaping out of her seeing Ririkas eyes flash with emotions it was fun seeing her without a mask after realising she wasn’t a threat just a girl looking for help she looked so easy to tease.
“I’ll be your friend, Riri-chan” Mary says teasingly replacing the worry apparent in Ririkas eyes with surprise.
I bend over reaching out my hand to mess up her silver hair smiling brightly. I do genuinely mean it, being her friend, I’m curious to see Ririkas unmasked potential she needs just one person to believe in her this feeling it reminds me of someone I once knew.
“Relax Riri-chan now I need your support in order of becoming the next student council president. I’m going to dismantle the stupid outdated house pet system that should have never been there in the first place!” Mary’s tone became serious when touching on the topic of the house pet system.
Ririka still in shock of hearing Mary call her Riri-chan not once but twice was just able to process what Mary was asking of her.
“I can help.”
I could just about manage those words I’m actually friends with Mary Saotome.
“Good.” Mary sighs in relief “I mean I knew you would.”
Ririka’s senses slowly came back to her she stands up abruptly stepping forward to Mary she clasps her hand around hers “I’ll do anything I can to help you Mary-chan please rely on me.” Mary giggles at Ririkas display of devotion thats twice now she’s made me laugh this mustn’t turn into a habit. The sincerity of Ririkas claim would soon be a comfort and a curse to Mary.
“I’ll talk to you about it more later on for now Riri-chan we should get going the bell rang.” Mary says grinning having Ririka on her side will be helpful she believed.
Completely unaware the bell had gone off until Mary had mentioned it Ririka quickly grabs her mask fitting it back over her face. Mary watches seeing the bright smile of Ririka disappear by the covering of her mask.
Mary still holds her smile though knowing underneath that mask Ririka has a smile on her face because of her.
The two exit into the corridors with Ririka following behind Mary in her mask.