REMAID- Invisible Girl

As the final class of the day ends, it comes to everybody's attention that nobody has seen Miura in a hot minute. While curious for most, it’s terrifying for me. The thought that he may be waiting outside the front to deliver a killing blow to any part of me is absolutely dreadful. So, gathering up Mina and Rimi, we meet up with Take in the gym supply closet. Thankfully, there’s an easy to open window there that will lead to the back of the school. With that as the case, I am the one to do the window finagling while Take watches the door for Miura. Once it’s open, I manage to squeeze myself outside. Rimi and Mina follow after, then Take. The view of the surrounding trees in the distance is great from here, but getting distracted is a poor idea.

Rimi leads the way, Take right next to her. We make our way through the plains surrounding the town, watching the shops pass from far away, before we arrive in one of the home roads, surrounded by houses. It’s a pretty simple route from there. Very unlikely that Miura would either follow us to here, or to have gone looking for us once we didn’t show up at the front entrance, we hedge our bets on a straight shot to the apartments, and walk in the clear and open. Many students pass us as we walk, some even looking at us with strong interest or fear of getting caught up in the village leader’s new dirty laundry.

Thankfully, our bet was a safe one, with us arriving at the apartment building without any issues. Heading inside, we see the doorman at his desk, sleeping with a newspaper over his face. Sneaking past, we head up the staircase and onto the third floor, where Yoru is waiting with the door open. Rimi runs up and starts talking to her. Yoru’s little eyes are red, likely from crying of fear. I guess I assumed wrong from this morning when I assumed she wasn’t able to be phased.

We all make our way inside the apartment. Rimi asks Mina to help Yoru pack and for Take to stand guard. I’m the one asked to come pack with her. Heading in her room, she gently closes the door.

“Rim-” I’m interrupted by her falling into me.

“Too much.” She whispers. “It’s too much.”

“I know-”

“No, you don’t.” Rimi interrupts me, clutching onto my shirt. “They deserve to feel how they do. That’s why it’s too much.” She says.

“Rimi…what happened?”

“...I’m…the reason someone is dead.” She says.

The girl in front of me ceases to be another person. I feel my whole self go numb as I see what looks like myself fade over her.

“W-what do you mean?” I ask, my soul spilling a chill through me.

“I…let my best friend die.”

###

We sit on her bed, allowing her a moment to collect herself.

“When I moved here, I wasn’t popular. Most new people aren’t. So, I didn’t really make any friends easily. People instead chose to avoid me and wait to see how I acted and if I was worth interacting with. I felt so alone, like I’d done something wrong and didn’t know what.” Holding her knees to herself, Rimi looks down at the floor rather than at me. “The only person who treated me kindly was a girl. Her hair was blonde and long. Her eyes were fierce and full of spirit. She always wore a t-shirt and shorts when she could. She looked like the most free person I’d ever met in my life. She…decided I was worth talking to, before anyone else did. I don’t think she ever told me why. Maybe she thought I already knew. Or maybe she was too good a person and couldn’t stand me being alone…” She stopped and looked at me.

“You remind me of her.” She whispers, reaching out and taking my hand. I hold it back. She returns her gaze to the ground. “We…we spent everyday together, and she was always there to help me when I needed it. When Miura grabbed my boobs or tried to hit on me, she always pretended we were together…I think…eventually we weren't always pretending.” her smile turns warm, seemingly reminiscing on better days.

“I…really miss her…you know? I wonder if my life would be better if I had just…dove into that water…maybe she wouldn’t have drowned. Maybe…” She goes pale, and silent.

“I don’t visit the river just for the turtles, Yuta.” It hits like a train. “Miura pushed her in on accident. She hit her head and passed out, and I…I couldn’t swim. I couldn’t swim Yuta…but I didn’t even try.” She sounds like a cry is coming, but her face is completely straight. “Miura ran away…and made sure everyone knew he only saw me at the river. No Aya. He thought she wasn’t there.” She bites her lip. Anger fills her voice. “I wanted to kill him, but it didn’t matter. He won. I was Aya’s murderer in everyone’s eyes…and…maybe I was.” She whispers the last words.

“So they shut me out. Everyone…everyone pretended I didn’t exist. Maybe the shop owners would acknowledge me when I tried to buy things from the store, but otherwise, I was nothing. I was invisible…the village elder decided I would be spared banishment, but he knew this would happen. He wanted me to suffer. Everyone wanted me to suffer…and I let them believe I deserved it. Because I believed I deserved it.” She grits her teeth as she speaks those words.

I can hear them in my voice.

Mom’s gray face fills my brain. The girl in front of me can’t stay herself in my vision. I see my own self sitting there, smiling wickedly. A sickness forms in my stomach.

Yuta, Yuta…what are you gonna do?

I…I…

I take her face in my hands. Even though it’s my own, I do my best to ignore my brain's confused visions. What should I say? What can I say?

I watch my mother’s dead face in my head turn into a mocking smile. What do I do…what do I do.

“Rimi…I see you.” I say. “I can feel you, and…” I move forward, and kiss her lips. The taste of a gentle berry fills my mouth. Pulling away, her face is what I see, looking surprised. “...and I can taste you. You’re sweet…like the girl I know is in there. I see no murderer though. Only a girl. A girl who couldn’t swim, left alone to watch her friend die…by the most worthless human being alive.” Everything I can think of, I say it. Something has to strike her. Please, something strike her.

“If my sight is enough for you…then I promise it to you. If you need to be reminded you exist, then I’ll hold you every day of my life.”

“Y-Yuta-”

“If you want to feel real, I’ll do it all for you. It’s my promise to you, as a man who wants to see the girl he cares about smile.” Fuck, why am I saying such cringey bullshit. It almost sounds like a confession of love…is it? Am I in love with this girl?

“You’ll leave me.” Tears fell down her face. “You’ll die too. You'll leave me all on my own.”

“Never.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“YOU’RE LY-”

“I love you.” I say. She stops, looking into my eyes. I gently wipe away her tears. “Was that a lie too?” I ask. She doesn’t respond…until she pushes me under her. I feel her tears fall against my cheeks.

“Say it again.” She pleads.

“I love you, Rimi.”

“...I love you too.” She says back, her smile returning.

Yuta Yuta, what a selfi-

Shut up. Just, shut up.

She kisses me this time, and I respond by wrapping my arms around her.

For a moment, all time stops.

For a moment, nothing else matters.

For a moment, I relish my precious Rimi.

I love you, Rimi.