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Chapter Text

The Class of 20XX at Hinominami High School was finally about to graduate, and Koshitan had to give her valedictorian speech. She had spent the weeks leading up to graduation writing and preparing it. She was not about to let her teachers and peers down. It was her last day of high school, and she was going to live every second of it.

She thought about all the things she was going to miss about high school. The deer club, the feeling of having everyone admire her, Shikanoko...

What was she thinking. Shikanoko would bother her all the time even beyond high school. She didn't know what university Nokotan was going to go into, but she assumed that it regardless wouldn't keep her from bothering Koshitan.

But as annoying as Nokotan was, she really made high school memorable for Koshitan. How many other people can say they were classmates with a deer goddess? How many other people had played tug-of-antler or started a game show with their life or watched a deer parade?

Beyond high school, Nokotan would always remain with her. The chaos and life she brought into every day would always be there and that would never change.

Koshitan felt giddy just thinking about her future.

"And now a speech given by our honour student, Koshi Torako," Ms. Uzai announced.

The crowd clapped as Koshitan walked onto the stage. She looked into the faces of the crowd. Only one stood out to her: Nokotan's. She had assembled a herd of deer to watch Koshitan's speech, ripping of her antler and blowing it like a confetti cannon.

"Yay! Koshitan!" She cheered.

It was so silly. Even at graduation, Nokotan was taking every opportunity to humiliate her.

Koshitan tapped her mic and began her speech, "Greetings fellow students of Hinominami High. High school was never easy, but these last two years have surely been- chaotic. But not a single day was ever dull."

The crowd laughed.

"Ever since I started high school, I was afraid of what everyone thought about me. I was so ashamed of the person I used to be that i felt the only way to redeem myself was to be perfect. And to the be perfect student was to never compromise the top, never let any weakness show. And it was that which gave me so much attention and reward. But then somebody came into my life. She was an absolute mess, and I was always so scared that she would ruin the image I had created for everyone else. All she did was tease me, humiliate me, and invade my privacy. Slowly I began to show my true colours. I got angry, I spoke casually, My secrets were being shown to the whole world. But not a single person cared. They began to praise me for my humanity, which is why I give this speech today. I learned that it's okay to live a little vicariously, to defy the expectations of others. And that's want I want to convey to you today. Please don't hide behind a perfect facade. It's your humanity and uniqueness that people will appreciate more about you. And to conclude, 'hi koshitan. i want more deer crackers'-!???"

The crowd clapped as Koshitan walked off the stage. The ceremony went on for a lot longer, and so many tears flowed. Most came from Koshitan. A lot came from Anko as well, who was devastated her sister would no longer would no longer go to the same school as her. Bashame had cooked the whole deer club lots of rice to celebrate the graduation.

Even Neko had reluctantly congratulated Koshitan on her speech (although, she'd wished she had been the one to do it).

"Tanuki! Chiharu!" Neko commanded, "Take good care of the student council next year."

"You two were so good at it though! I could never run the student council without messing everything up..!" Tanuki cried.

Nokotan climbed off her herd of deer and waited for Koshitan to offer her deer crackers.

"Alright, alright," she mumbled as Nokotan ate the whole bundle from her hand.

"Your speech was amazing, Koshitan!" Nokotan cheered, "I wonder who this deer friend of yours is."

Koshitan rolled her eyes.

The group took lots of photos together (with Nokotan's antlers covering Koshitan's in all of them) before it was time to throw the graduation hats.

"What are these- antlers??" Koshitan snapped as she saw what the thought was her hat.

All the students threw theirs into the air, but Koshitan realised.

"wait... NO!!!"

And little did Koshitan know, was that last time she would ever see the deer again.

Chapter Text

5 Years Later

Nobody had heard from Nokotan. The zoo never saw her again, the deer had all disappeared. Nobody had her phone number or any other digital contact. She had ultimately disappeared without a single trace.

Neko moved on first. She became the successful owner of a cat cafe, using her money to buy treats for Tsucchi who she'd been keeping full-time as a pet. She was essentially the crazy cat lady everyone wanted to be. When telling others about her job, they would ask if she was the cat at the cafe leading her to hiss and correct them.

Chiharu took over her family's cafe business, and Tanuki helped out there part-time. She was studing psychology, which somehow made her even more depressed.

Bashame went to university studying agriculture. She began working towards her goal of owning a rice buisness with Anko, who was living with her as her roomate (she wanted to live with her sister, but decided against it after seeing the state of her life). The two were dating and may or may not be involved in less-than-legal business.

It was Koshitan who really fell off. She had the marks to get into medicine, but dropped out and moved to Nara where we works a cheap job at the deer park. She barely made enough to get by, and mostly relies on Anko for money.

All Koshitan wanted to do was to move on. To forget she even met Nokotan in the first place. But she found herself drawn to the memories of her none the less, hence working at the deer park. The rest had moved on so easily while Koshitan was still stuck in the past, unable to forget her deer friend. It was honestly depressing.

Koshitan made her bed after a long day of work, to get a calm from her sister.

"Hey Anko. What do you want this time," Koshitan greeted harshly.

"Don't talk to me like you aren't the one always asking for money," Anko huffed back, "Although it's so sweet that you're relying on me so much. Maybe one day you'll move bac-"

"Not a chance. Why did you call me."

"Neko invited us for a high school reunion."

"Don't those happen like 10 years after graduation?"

"Not this one."

"You were in a different year to Neko and I, why is she inviting you?"

"I'm just cool and relevant."

"Regardless, I'm not taking the long trip for something so trivial. I'd mich rather rot here."

"Suit yourself. Bashame and I are going. Actually, let me put her on the phone."

Anko put Bashame on the phone, "Hi Koshitan. Anko just helped Bashame write her pitch. We're going to find investors now."

"For the last time, It's Torako. I'm not suited to be called a silly nickname."

Anko mumbled something about sentimental attachment into Bashame's ear.

After a lot of talking and checking up, the call ended with Koshitan refusing to go to the reunion.

Chapter Text

Torako didn't come?" Neko hissed as Bashame told her the news.

"She didn't think it was worth the long trip," Anko explained, "If anyone's disappointed, it's me. If there's anything I want more than to see her face in person..."

"Maybe she didn't want to see my pathetic self again!" Tanuki whined. Five years and she still hadn't changed a bit.

Chiharu served the girls their drinks and sat down herself, "I've asked Yoshiharu to take over for me a bit. I think I can take a little break for now."

"What!? But she has to be here." Neko asked.

"Eh? Why." Bashame interrupted as she finally set up her rice cooker.

"This isn't really you trying to catch up with us, I could tell from the start. What the hell are you planning to do." Anko hissed.

Neko squeaked, intimidated by her glare, "I think, I know where Shikanoko is."

Anko and Bashame exchanged looks.

"Where," Anko threatened, securing a grip on the cafe table's butter knife.

"The Deer Hole's location was leaked through another broadcast. There wasn't much to go off, but I saw the mascot. I ran it through a geoguesser forum and I found the location. I think Shikanoko might be there!" Neko replied as if she wasn't being threatened.

"Why didn't you invite my sister to this!?"

"I DID. She just didn't come."

Anko sighed as she dialled her sister again.

Koshitan (Torako?) picked up the call, "Anko, what do you want this time?"

"We might know where Shikanoko is," Anko replied with that same giddy excitement she used to get upon seeing her sister, "You cared so much about her and now you can finally see her again!"

"Is this some kind of joke?"

Anko kept her butterknife pointed at Neko, "I'm sure it isn't!"

"Regardless, it doesn't matter to me. She ruined my life enough and I'm glad she disappeared."

"What!? That's bullshit! You work in a DEER PARK and you claim you don't miss her!?"

Bashame offered Anko some rice to calm her down. Anko turned to her, about to yell about how that wouldn't make her feel better but didn't have the heart to yell at Bashame. Frustrated, she took a mouthful of rice and calmed down a bit from the yelling.

"Do you seriously STILL carry that thing everywhere!" Neko hissed, pointing at the rice cooker.

"You guys can do whatever you want." Koshitan huffed through the screen, "But I don't intend on seeing Shikanoko ever again- if she's even really alive."

She cut the call, leaving the girls on their own.

"I think she just really doesn't want to see me again-!" Tanuki sniffled.

Chapter Text

"So where WAS the deer hole again." Bashame asked through mouthfuls of rice.

"Orlando." Anko answered without missing a beat.

"America..." Bashame wondered, "They don't contribute shit to the rice economy..."

"So it's a drive to the airport. Which is-" Chiharu checked her phone, "-very long."

"That's it, I'm going home," Anko declared as she walked out, "It's too expensive and too tedious. If Shikanoko was out there, I'm not going all that way to meet her."

The former student council and Bashame watched as Anko left, knowing that logically they should do the same. But even though they'd just started, was there really a point in giving up.

"B-But. Don't you want you sister to experience some kind of hope? Surely you want that for her. And maybe its an excuse to see her again!" Neko blurted out.

Anko hadn't seen Torako since she'd moved to Nara. She really did miss her, and video calls were proving not to be enough. But she couldn't just randomly go on a huge trip out of the blue for one little deer. Wouldn't it be more worth it to get Nokotan's number and invite HER over?

"You are the only one who can pay for this trip. And I really do want to see Nokotan again..." Chiharu blushed.

"I mean. We have the power of God and deer crackers on our side so what could go wrong." Bashame added.

That last point made Anko stop to think. Nothing COULD go wrong with the power of God and deer crackers.

"Fine, but one condition," Anko turned around, "If this truly is for my sister, then we have to bring her along. Besides, it is her that the deer is so attached to."

The girls spent a long time catching a train, but ended up making it to Nara. Unfortunately, due to outside duties, Chiharu and Tanuki were unable to make it and decided they would see Nokotan once she was found. Torako wasn't so happy about her sister and former classmates showing up at her door.

"Hi Koshitan," Bashame greeted before she slammed the door at them.

"Hey! Open the door! We came a long way to get to you k'now??" Neko whined as she pawed at the door, only to get further ignored.

"Are you not excited to see me??" Anko hissed through the keyhole.

"No, of course not! What the hell is going on?? All that's left for this to be a perfect replica of high school is Shikanoko. Also, I heard Neko. Where is she?" Torako shouted back as she opened the door.

Neko hissed in contempt as she was too short for Torako to see.

"What do you all want from me?" Koshitan sighed in defeat.

"we doxxed Shikanoko." Neko perked up, "Are you coming or not."

"No." Torako replied as she went to slam the door, only to be greeted with Anko's knife.

Since Torako valued her life very much, she ended up going with them the next day.

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.

Chapter Text

"Torako, I'm bored..." Anko whined from her seat.

"So?" Torako grumbled, "I'm trying to have an existential crisis. Leave me alone."

"What about a car game?" Bashame suggested.

"What are you, 12?" Torako snapped back.

"No-one even said you had to play..."

Hearing Bashame's words, Torako went back to her existential crisis without the two. She turned to look at Neko, who was completely asleep. Guess she really was a cat after all...

"Anko, let's play Shiritori!" Bashame started, "I'll start: Field."

Anko sighed before continuing the chain, "Deception"

Before Bashame could respond back, Torako seemed to join in on the game with, "Nilgai"

"I didn't know you were playing." Bashame commented.

"That doesn't start with an I" Torako responded.

And so the game went on.

"Irrigation"

"Necromancy"

"Yesterday"

Until everyone had ran out of words to say and Neko still hadn't woken up.

Torako looked out the window to see the airport in sight.

Only the next checkpoint in a longer journey.

Chapter Text

The group pulled up to the airport and wondered how they were going to get past security.

"Don't worry, Sis. We didn't bring anything dangerous." Anko assured Torako, who has not convinced.

"Ma'am. You can't bring knives on a plane trip." The security guard mumbled just as she said that.

"W-what-!" Anko hissed, "Why not??"

"Those are dangerous."

"I need them to. cut vegetables."

"No you don't."

Anko watched as all her precious knives were confiscated one by one, screaming in pain each time.

"Why must you deny a girl of her blade?? It's enrichment or something!"

"It's also a safety hazard and be glad I'm not investigating you."

As much as she didn't want to admit, Torako found it oh so oddly satisfying hearing her sister's knives being confiscated. Almost like justice.

Actually, since when was Anko's knife collection THAT big?? Even a chef doesn't have a knife collection that big. Where does she even get all that and WHY?

"Ok, you're free to go..." The words burst the bubble of Anko's despair as she was basically on the floor begging for mercy. She was empty inside, but the pain was over...

"Thank you for not arresting her! My sister is just... an interesting person..!" Torako tried explaining as she heard Anko's faint sobs on the floor.

"Actually-! The guard stopped, "No pets allowed on the flight."

Neko thought for a bit about what he could possibly be referring to, but noticed the Deer Club staring right at her.

"What!" Neko snapped, "I'm not a cat!"

"I think he's talking about Tsudayamada..." Bashame sighed.

Neko looked at Tsucchi perching on her head and flushed in embarrassment thinking about how she mistook herself as the pet.

"Nah, the guard was definitely talking about her," Anko whispered to Bashame as Neko's (cat ears? buns?) twitched.

"We allow eldritch horror creatures," The guard sighed, "But all cats must be placed in a cat carrier."

He pulled out a cat carrier out of nowhere and the girls all looked at Neko.

"I'm not getting in the carrier!" She huffed.

Torako excused the guard for a bit, and cracked her knuckles to shove Neko inside the carrier. A comical scene played out with the cat yowling and random cloud FX- typical cartoony stuff. Thankfully, Neko fit perfectly inside the carrier.

Torako, Anko and Bashame walked in with Neko in the carrier.

"Alright- we're good to go!"

And so they went to their gate. Gate 69- oddly convenient.

When they got to the gate, they waited. Neko begged to be let out of her carrier and given a phone or something, but Bashame simply handed her some cat treats. While she did that, she cooked the local flight-goers all the rice they want. It was much better than going to an overpriced airport restaurant...

The flight was only in 40 minutes. Thankfully, Torako and her friends didn't have to wait that long sitting in those uncomfortable airport seats...

...

...1 hour later

...2 hours later

...5 hours later

"I apologise, the flight has been delayed by 20 minutes-! Please may everyone at gate 69 please be patient as we work on resolving this issue-!"

"Delayed again!" Torako visibly yelled at the next announcement, her patience growing thin, "One more delay and I'm gonna kill someone!"

"Torako no, it's only chapter 7! You can't become a Karen!" Anko gasped.

"How has it been SEVEN CHAPTERS already-!?"

The amount of delays were as if fate itself didn't want them to meet Nokotan. But what kind of divine force would stop them and why?

And it seemed Neko had simply been asleep the whole time as they stood there...

"This sucks..." Torako sighed, accepting defeat, "What do we do now, shop through perfume samples?"

"But Torako, we already did that!" Anko whined, pointing to a large pile of perfume samples.

"How did we even buy that?"

"Stealing. Like Oshioshio intended."

"Put that back, Anko!"

And Torako chased her sister down and forced her to put those perfume samples back. She tried to hunt down the shops she stole them from, exhausting herself as she ran suspiciously across the airport.

-"And that's the last one put back." Torako sighed, thankful she was finally done. Anko growled in discontempt, defeated.

Torako turned to her sister, "Is it really too late to back out now? Our plane hasn't even arrived yet and I don't have all day to wait with all of these delays..."

"You agreed you'd go with us! Besides, what are you missing at a deer park?"

"Fine..." Torako grumbled, "But the journey hasn't even started and there's something wrong with the plane."

"It'll arrive eventually, no need to be impatient!"

"Fine. But are there at least enough snacks? It wouldn't hurt to get more..."

The sisters go to the snack counter while Bashame and Neko continue waiting for the plane.

"Bashame doesn't want to wait any longer.... she's already eaten everything!" Bashame whined as she took her last bite of rice.

"You think you have it bad!" Neko hissed, "I've been squished into a CAT CARRIER."

Suddenly, a bunch of static and cat noises boomed from the speaker.

"Hello everynyan. How are you. I wish I were a bird..."

And suddenly the broadcaster fell asleep, before it broke into more static.

"Also the plane for Gate 69 has arrived."

"Huh, finally!" Neko perked up, "Where are the Koshi sisters when you need them..."

Bashame closed Neko's cat carrier and got in the line.

Meanwhile, Anko who had not heard a THING was stuck buying cheap shrimp chips.

"Are you that singer, from Nightcord at 25:00?" The worker asked.

"Who?" Anko perked up.

"You sound just like her..."

Anko laughed and accepted the compliment but heard a pawing at her leg.

"Who the hell are you-" She was about to snap when she saw it was just Neko, who had escaped her cage.

"THE PLANE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE." Neko reminded them both.

The two were confused for a second, but realised the gravity of what she has said. With no hesitation, they bolted their way to the door before the plane left.

"This is... for you shrimp chips!!" Anko declared as she mad eher way to Bashame before she could get on the plane.

And so, the flight began.