Happy Life: Unsent - To Riko

Primary Pairing: YohaRiko
Words: 990
Rating: K
AU: Angelic?
Time Frame: A day or two before Riko’s graduation from high school
Story Arc: Stand Alone
Set: “Unsent”

M̶y̶ ̶d̶e̶a̶r̶e̶s̶t̶,̶ ̶m̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶c̶i̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶l̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶m̶o̶n̶ ̶R̶i̶r̶i̶,̶

No.

Yoshiko scratched out what she had written.

T̶o̶ ̶R̶i̶k̶o̶,̶

Definitely not.

M̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶l̶o̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶R̶i̶r̶i̶,̶

Still not quite right…

Dear Riri,

Good enough.

You’re an angel.

And I don’t mean like how I like to believe I am a fallen angel. I mean you are literally an angel. Honestly, that can be the only explanation for how amazing you are. A̶n̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶l̶o̶v̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.̶

Yoshiko pursed her lips. Something as important as that shouldn’t be tacked on the end of a paragraph with an And. She scratched that out as well.

I love you.

Better. It definitely deserved its own paragraph.

I’ve loved you for quite a while now. Honestly, probably not long after you helped me through everything with Laelaps. Thank you again for that, by the way.

I know you try to downplay your talents, your beauty and, well, everything else. And while I can empathize to a degree, I really wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Because you are talented and beautiful.

Honestly, I could listen to you play the piano all day. And while I have not yet had the honor of hearing you play the viola, I hope I can someday. Your paintings are amazing and I will forever cherish the one you gave me. You are incredibly kind and I will always be grateful for all the times you agreed to house the cats and dogs I brought to you while I sought their original owners or a new owner. And your beauty is befitting of your angelic nature. When we wore white wings for that one photoshoot, it was not hard to imagine you using them to soar through the clouds.

I love how accepting you have become of me in the time we have known each other. Sure, you have taken to learning some interesting techniques to use when I take things a bit too far, but I wonder if you realize that your methods actually make me want to push the envelope that much further the next time. I’m sorry if it feels like I’m teasing you too much sometimes, but you really are cute when you’re flustered. I love it when you blush. However, I truly love it when you smile.

And so, I write this letter. A letter you will probably never read. I would have rather said something to you in person by this point, but I could never find the words. Besides, it would seem your feelings lie elsewhere. And that’s fine. If it makes you happy, then it’s all good. Honestly, it makes sense when you think about it. It’s only natural for an angel to be drawn to a beacon of light as opposed to a pillar of darkness. And I do not have it in me to lure you away from someone who makes you happy.

So now you’re graduating and are heading to Tokyo for college. You’re sure to make new friends and begin moving towards the wonderful life you so very much deserve. And while I have no doubt that you will come back to visit on occasion, we won’t see each other nearly as often. So I think this is as good a time as any for me to let go and move on.

I’ll see you at reunions and probably on campus, as it seems the best school for me will end up being the same one you’re attending. And I do hope we can stay in touch, but if not, then that’s the way life goes. But no matter what, I wish nothing but the best for you.

Not that I’m worried or anything. The good fortune of an angel ascended radiates around you in a brilliant aura. And good things will come to you, of that I am certain.

Your fallen angel,
Yohane

Yoshiko opened her eyes to the sound of her phone vibrating on the table. 99+ messages missed? What the heck? She unlocked the device and opened the app. Most of the messages were from the Aqours group chat, but the most recent were from a private chat with Riko. She tapped on the latter.

SakurauchiRiko: Yoshiko-chan

SakurauchiRiko: Are you there?

SakurauchiRiko: Hello?

SakurauchiRiko: You’re listed as online but inactive

SakurauchiRiko: And you haven’t said a word in group chat

SakurauchiRiko: You’re usually one of the most outspoken

SakurauchiRiko: Everything alright?

SakurauchiRiko: Message me when you get this

TheFallenAngel: Sorry

TheFallenAngel: Fell asleep reading

While it wasn’t an outright lie, it wasn’t the whole truth either. She had been rereading the letter she had just written. But there was no way she was going to admit that to Riko of all people.

SakurauchiRiko: I see

The reply was almost immediate, which surprised Yoshiko, considering the last message was from almost an hour ago.

SakurauchiRiko: Good to know everything is ok

SakurauchiRiko: I’ll assume you haven’t read the group chat so I’ll sum it up

SakurauchiRiko: We’re making plans for the graduation ceremony

SakurauchiRiko: Mari, Dia and Kanan are all coming

SakurauchiRiko: But it wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t come as well

TheFallenAngel: Of course Yohane will be present!

TheFallenAngel: It behooves any fallen angel to celebrate the achievements of her little demons

SakurauchiRiko: That’s good to hear

SakurauchiRiko: The details are in the group chat

SakurauchiRiko: Be sure to reply so everyone knows you’re coming

SakurauchiRiko: And we’ll see you at the ceremony

SakurauchiRiko: I’m looking forward to it!

TheFallenAngel: As am I

SakurauchiRiko: Have a good night

TheFallenAngel: You as well

Yoshiko sighed as she set her phone back down on the table. This wasn’t going to be easy, she thought, glancing between it and the letter. Writing the letter had helped sort out her feelings a bit and she was glad for that. But for now, she figured she should probably just find a place to keep it.

Author's Note: Might this be the painting to which Yohane refers?

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