2026-09-29: Widening the Circle
- Cutscene: Widening the Circle
- Cast: Ririka Kawase, Emi Takeda, Takumi Sasaki, Tomori Nakajima, Hiroshi Oda (Ririka's Bandmates)
- Where: Kawase Household, Iwatodai City
- OOC Date: September 29, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
- Summary: Ririka has been thinking a lot of thoughts since witnessing the fight in Hana's Kingdom. Her failure to take a specific action there spurs her on to take a more measured step with her band, instead.
Tuesday, January 15 - Night
Ririka lay in bed, obsessively replaying the battle in Hana's Kingdom in her head. This wasn't anything new; she often did this after any major performance, whether it was a show or a Persona battle. She was often her own harshest critic, in fact, looking for any flaw or imperfection, or any mistake she needed to correct.
Tonight, though, there was a different reason. In the midst of learning all the things Hana had struggled with to claim her authentic identity, the challenges she had faced, and even seeing the likes of Shinobu Shimizu come out as a lesbian, or Joker coming out as futei-sei, or genderfluid, Ririka…
… hadn't been able to speak her own truth.
She groaned and covered her face with her hands as she stared up at the darkened ceiling. "Uggggh," she muttered to herself. "How lame…"
Hadn't this been the exact thing she'd asked Hana for advice on? Hadn't she said she wanted to be more out, to just be herself without hiding or having to make excuses for things? Hadn't she told Hana that her being out, or that Junko Kurosu's advocacy were things that gave her hope?
And yet…
She'd gotten stage fright. How ironic.
Ririka let her hands drop away from her face onto the sheets. Her right hand immediately started tapping out a slow melody. She inhaled deeply of a crisp citrus scent that still hung in the air, a product of a scented candle she'd had burning earlier.
A candle that had been a gift from her girlfriend Ikumi. A Christmas Eve gift, no less. She'd put it out when she turned out the lights, but she looked to the spot where she had left it on the desk. Her right hand switched to one of the duets they had sung together that day in the Karaoke booth. A gift given to help her relax, after her fainting spell.
Ririka let out a soft sigh as she stared up at the ceiling. Okay, maybe she should try to relax some, then. Replaying things endlessly wasn't going to help her, and it wouldn't change what had, or hadn't, happened. So where did that leave her?
Did she want to be more out? Ririka turned that thought over in her head. If it meant… not having to hide her girlfriend or to sneak around and pretend she wasn't going on a date when she actually was? Definitely. If it meant telling the whole world and labeling her next song "I'm a Lesbian"?
In the dark, Ririka snorted and quickly covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her laughter so she wouldn't accidentally wake up the rest of the dorm. Still, the laughter did wonders to ease some of the tension in her body she hadn't realized she'd been carrying. The laughs subsided, and she let her hand slip off, draping her arm across her chest.
Okay. As much as she wanted to be that kind of inspiration to others, maaaaybe that didn't need to be her first step. She would probably need to tell her band first, and…
Mmm.
Now that was a thought… And it'd be nice to bring Ikumi by for practice sometime, or maybe even to her next show…
As she mulled that idea in her head, her eyelids drifted shut, and she found herself drifting off.
Thursday, January 17 - Late Afternoon
Ririka paced through her family's living room and kitchen, music blaring on her headphones and fingers tapping on her thigh as she anxiously scanned for every tiny detail.
She had cleaned, tidied up, set up the kitchen table with a platter of snacks, prepared hot drinks, and then proceeded to rechecked the cleaning and tidiness half a dozen more times.
"Okay, everything looks good," she muttered to herself. She turned to the kitchen table and started to reorganize everything. She looked at a plate and frowned. "… I shouldn't have gotten store-bought snacks." She pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Okay, if I get on my skateboard, I can just make it to the bakery, and if there isn't a line, then I can—"
A sudden touch on her shoulder startled her, and she almost fumbled the tray. "Aah!" She set it firmly down and turned around to see her mother smiling at her, letting out a short breath. "Oh, Mom. Hang on—"
She quickly turned her music off and pulled her headphones off. "Sorry, Mom. Did you need something? You can go rest, I'll take care of it."
Suika Kawase was nearly eight months pregnant, and Ririka had been trying her best to be attentive even as she kept up with her other obligations. Still, the sight of her mother inevitably brought up complicated feelings: she was used to being the baby of the family, and having a new sibling that would be almost 18 years younger than her…
Chuckling softly, Suika just smiled and patted Ririka's arm. "Riri-chan, you've done more than enough. They're your friends, it's going to be okay." She paused, and with a teasing tone added, "Besides, if you keep pacing you're going to wear a hole in the floor."
Ririka laughed softly, feeling an embarrassed flush heat up her face. "You're right, you're right. Sorry. I'm just… you know." She took a deep breath and tried to still her nerves.
"I know. You just need something to direct your energy into. But the house is clean and the snacks are fine." Suika smiled and inclined her head towards the upright piano in the living room. "Why don't you play something? It's been a while since you used it."
"Thanks." Ririka stepped forward to hug her mother, but couldn't resist a grin as she drew back. "In that case… any requests?"
Suika laughed softly, moving to the couch and carefully lowering herself down. "How about something relaxing? I think we could both use it right now."
"Sure thing!" Ririka sat down, and her hands seamlessly moved into a slow, legato piano piece, filling the house with a soothing melody. It helped take the edge off, and a couple of songs later she finally heard the doorbell ring. "That must be them." Ririka quickly stood up.
"Knock 'em dead, honey!" Suika called from the couch.
"Thanks, Mom!" Ririka called back as she headed for the front door.
Ririka stopped at the door to check her flannel shirt, then opened the door. "Hey, guys!"
A chorus of voices answered her, and Ririka couldn't help but grin. "Come in, come in," she said stepping back. First in was her long-time best friend, Emi Takeda, in a dress and jacket, hair up in a messy bun. "Ri-chan!" she shouted as she stepped in. "What's this super big important news you want to tell us?"
"Hey, Mi-chan," Ririka replied with a quiet laugh. "I'll get to that but, come on in first. I've got us set up in the kitchen."
"Hey, Ririka-chan," said Takumi Sasaki as he stepped in next with a quiet smile, dressed in slacks and an open shirt. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's good, Takumi-kun, just… come on in."
Next to step in was Tomori Nakajima, dark-skinned, wearing a hoodie, skirt, and leggings. "Rika-chan," she said a bit more neutrally, frowning slightly.
"Hey, Mori-chan," Ririka replied, just giving her a nod.
And last was Hiroshi Oda, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved band tee, his hair up in his signature top knot. "Yo, Kawase," he greeted warmly. "Thanks for having us."
"Hey, Oda! Welcome!"
Moments later they were arrayed around the kitchen table. Hot drinks and snacks had been served, and Ririka was drumming her fingers lightly on the table. "So. First, I wanted to say thank you to everyone for meeting me here. And on such short notice."
"Must be important if you cancelled band practice for it," said Tomori, still frowning a little. "Please tell me you didn't faint again."
"Aww, c'mon, Ji-chan," chimed in Emi. "Don't be like that."
Ririka quickly shook her head. "It's okay, Mi-chan," she said quietly. "No, no, nothing like that. I'm, uh… actually doing my best to take care of my health. Promise. But it is something about myself that I want to talk about."
Everyone at the table sat up a little bit more. Several of them glanced at how Ririka's fingers were drumming on the table, but quickly looked back to her.
"We're listening," said Takumi encouragingly.
"Thanks." Ririka took a deep breath. She could still feel her heart pounding a little, but she tried to remind herself that these were her friends. "I figured this out a while ago, but it's taken me a…" she gave a quiet, helpless laugh. "… while to work up the nerve to tell anybody. You guys are some of my closest friends, and… I want to stop hiding this part of myself."
One by one she looked at her friends. "I'm into girls. I'm a bian."
There was silence around the table. Takumi, Tomori, and Hiroshi exchanged mildly uncertain glances, while Emi appeared to be deep in thought. "So, when you say 'into girls'," started Takumi. "You mean…"
"That I'm into girls," Ririka responded. "That I have a girlfriend that I'm dating that I'm really, well, into."
"That makes sense," Emi declared.
Everyone turned to look at Emi. Ririka blinked in surprise, and struggled to articulate her next few words. "M-me having a girlfriend makes sense…?"
Emi looked to Ririka. "Not that!" she said cheerfully, then reconsidered. "Well, kind of that, but I meant the 'you being into girls' thing. You were way more into Ki-chan than any of the boys you ever dated."
'Ki-chan' was Yukina Kiyousue, a friend of Ririka's that she had spent a lot of time hanging out with, until her family had to move. Ririka sighed wistfully. Thinking about Yukina brought back feelings of warmth, but also an old, distant pang she had never quite gotten over. "Yeah, I was… really into her," Ririka admitted, her cheeks warming up. Yukina had been a fixture at band practices in the early days, when they were still largely just a regular jam session. In many ways, she had been one of Polychord's very first fans.
Tomori sat forward, frowning at the recollection. "Wait, were you and Kiyouse-chan..?"
Ririka's voice came out a little too quickly before she relented. "No! Nooo no no no. I mean…" Her cheeks were redder now. "I think I had a massive crush on her but…" She looked down at her lap for a moment. "… I didn't really figure that out until… after she left. A-and we didn't really… keep in touch."
Yukina had said it'd be easier that way. Ririka hadn't really understood at the time, but… thought maybe she understood now.
"I think we could all tell how much she meant to you, but if you have a girlfriend now, that's— that's awesome," Hiroshi said, leaning in. "And, thanks for telling us. I know that took a lot of guts, and I just want you to know, this doesn't change how I see you."
Ririka let out a nervous exhale. "Thanks, Oda. I was… really nervous about what you'd all think."
Hiroshi reached across the table to extend a fist, which Ririka readily bumped. "You kidding. Self-expression is what rock-and-roll's all about, right?"
"Yeah! You're my best friend, Ri-chan," chimed Emi. "If you're happy, I'm happy."
"You've got my support," said Takumi. "Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help, okay?"
The skittish, flighty anxiety fluttering in Ririka's stomach started to settle down. "Thanks, guys. It's a huge weight off my mind to hear you all say that."
Tomori sat back in her chair, arms crossed. "Look, I'm behind you, all the way, but…" She glanced aside. "… you know the outside world doesn't know you like we do, right?"
After a moment of reflection, Ririka wasn't surprised that Tomori would bring up how the rest of the world would look at her. Unlike her sexuality, Tomori couldn't really hide being hafu in the same way. "Yeah…" she said with a heavy sigh. "I know. Annnd I've thought about that. A lot. This isn't… this isn't me coming out to the whole world yet. I just… don't want to hide this important part of who I am from you guys. Maybe someday I'd like to put more of these feelings into my music, but for now…"
She looked around the table and gave them all a small, lopsided smile. "… it'd just be nice to invite my girlfriend into this part of my life, you know?"
"… alright." Tomori leaned forward to pick up her mug. "Sorry, I don't want to be a downer, I just."
"No, it's fine," said Ririka as she shook her head. "You just wanted to make sure I didn't miss it, right?"
"Yeah."
"So, Kawase, who's the girl? She cute?" said Hiroshi with a broad grin, leaning in.
Emi gasped. "Is she someone from our school?"
Ririka laughed, shaking her head. "No, Mi-chan, she's not. She lives in Sumaru. Nee-chan introduced us, actually. And, uh…" A brilliant crimson heat filled her face. "She totally is."
"Rad." Hiroshi raised his mug. "Can't wait to meet her then."
"Eh heh… thanks." Ririka cleared her throat. "I'll, uh. Talk to her about coming by band practice sometime."
"So… your sister knows, then?" asked Takumi with a thoughtful expression. He glanced over towards the living room, where the sounds of a quiet TV show had replaced Ririka's earlier piano playing. "And I'm guessing your parents know, too?"
Ririka nodded quietly. "Yeah. My immediate family knows. There's a few people outside school who know, but you guys are pretty much the only people at school who know now. And, uh, I'd appreciate it if you didn't…"
A round of quiet, murmured assent went around the table.
"Thanks."
"So," started Takumi. "You mentioned putting more of your feelings into your music someday?"
Ririka shrugged a little. "Yeah. Someday—that reminds me, I'm working on a new song and the working title is Someday—but yeah, I'd like to someday. But… I'd talk it out with you guys first. You're all part of the band, too."
"Mm." The bassist stared into his cup for a moment. "I dunno how my father's going to take that…"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," said Hiroshi confidently, though his enthusiasm had dimmed just a bit.
"Yeah, I know," acknowledged Ririka. "I'm just… taking this one step at a time, okay?"
Takumi slowly nodded. "Okay."
"Hey, Mi-chan," said Tomori, glancing over to Emi. "… how you holding up?"
"Hmm?" Emi looked up, blinking a bit as she refocused her thoughts. "Oh, I'm okay. Sorry, I was just thinking about if there were any yuri shows I wanted to watch with Ri-chan."
Laughter rippled through the table, and Ririka laughed hardest of all. "We'll find something, promise. I, uh, might have a few suggestions we could check out together."
"Okay!" exclaimed Emi, beaming up at her much taller friend. "That'd be great, Ri-chan."
Tomori sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile. "Okay, you're good." She turned her attention back to Ririka. "So, new song, huh? You holding out on us?"
"Eh heh… no, not really," protested Ririka. "It was just… kind of personal, so I wasn't really ready to share."
Tomori smirked, leaning in. "You got a demo yet?"
Ririka hesitated for only a moment. "… yeaaaah, I do. And lyrics, and arrangement notes." She pushed her chair away from the table and stood. "Since we're all here, if you don't mind…"
"I'm good as long as you have snacks," declared Emi.
"Lay it on us," said Hiroshi, lifting his mug.
"Sure," said Takumi.
Ririka returned with a notebook and a tape recorder moments later, and the discussion turned into a quiet, lively hum as the band workshopped and discussed the song.