Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Ughhhh... why does our flight have to be so early??" Torako groaned as she hauled her luggage out of the apartment. The sun had barely risen and it was a nightmare to see, and her tired state didn't help.

Neko was the one who guided everyone out and called a taxi. She seemed to be unaffected by the hazy darkness, almost as if she had night vision.

"Hurry up, lazy-butts! We have almost an hour's taxi ride! And then a plane! You can sleep there-!" Neko hissed as Torako groaned.

"I don't see what's wrong?" Anko commented as her sister stared at her darkly.

"Yeah, Bashame can't wait to travel~" Bashame agreed.

Torako didn't have the energy to question how everyone was so enthusiastic. Somehow, this feeling seemed familiar.

The taxi arrived, and the driver opened the door. She looked very familiar, a ginger with tanned skin and highlights. For some reason, there was a second girl next to her. A blonde wearing accessories and with her highlights and make-up done the same way. But where did Torako know them from before?

Although Torako couldn't make such an easy connection, the driver immediately did.

"Ah, Koshi-san! I didn't think I'd see you again! I guess it's a small world..." The driver replied.

No way. Those drivers were- the gyarus from high school? In Nara? It really did seem to be a small world...

"H-hold on-" Torako questioned, "Why are there two of you? Shouldn't only one be driving?"

The blonde giggled as if it were obvious, "Why not?"

Torako was disappointed to not have her question answered, but dealt with it anyway. The girls got into the taxi, which would have been big enough to fit six passengers (minus the driver/s?). Anko and Bashame sat up front while Neko and Torako set in the back. The remaining seats were filled with luggage.

Torako remembered how not too long ago, Anko would likely fight to sit next to her. And now it'd been 15 minutes driving and Anko hadn't bothered at her at all. She felt proud of the progress her sister has made in therapy.

...which seemed to be abnormally fast after Shikanoko had left.

Now that Torako thought about it, Shikanoko's appearance and disappearance were like completely messing up the cogs of a working machine. At first, Torako's life was perfect until Shikanoko appeared. But then everything fell out of place.

Everyone around her began acting acting odd. Like they had no care for the social norms anymore. Like they were willing to drop anything and everything for this deer. And her sister- she had the worst change of them all. Anko went from emotionally dependent to straight-up psychotic the moment Shikanoko showed up. It was ridiculously scary, and at first Torako had a hunch it was some kind of divine punishment for being a delinquent in MIDDLE SCHOOL.

But now that Shikanoko was gone, the cogs fell back into place immediately. Life was predictable again. Things didn't work out from exploding antlers and crazy comedy logic, and best of all Anko was back to normal.

But then why was Torako upset? Everything was perfect. The exact way she wanted it. Well- it wasn't, but now there was no-one ruining her life anymore.

Somehow that deer could not exist and still torment Torako endless. First by her presence, and then by her lack of it.

She absolutely hated it.

And still, she was being dragged on a road trip to find Shikanoko again.

This was gonna be a long trip.