people pleaser | nishimura riki

6. safe

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

Fear was not enough to describe how the girls were feeling. Their eyes widen as if they had been locked in a hungry lion's cage.

"It's a shame this is my favourite hoodie." His voice was colder than the ice cubes in the water.

"N-Nishimura...Please forgive us. We didn't mean to aim at you." One tried to talk it out.

"Oh really?" He smirked in disbelief. "Must have insane aim."

"Don't be fooled by her Nishimura. She's nothing but a fox!" One exclaimed.

He couldn't help but chuckle at that what she had been compared with. Only because in his mind, Aira was a lost puppy that did not know how to bark.

"Riki you're dragging this for too long." A confident voice called out as more footsteps were to be heard.

Everyone besides Riki himself had turned to find a few seniors walking into the commotion. The female who spoke walked straight toward the girls, holding a bottle of water. With no hesitation whatsoever, the female equally distributed the water on top of the defenceless girls' heads.

Oh, how the tables have turned. Perhaps this is what's meant by the saying, 'What goes, comes around.'

"How unfair. Three against one." She rolled her eyes and placed the now empty bottle in one of the girl's hands. "Aira is that enough for you? Or do you want me to do something more?" The pretty senior with red hair smiled sweetly at her.

Surprised by how she knew his name, Aira only nodded so everything would end faster.

"And I thought you were finally going to talk it out with them nicely." Riki shrugged and turned his back to face confused Aira.

"Maybe in my next life. I despise these people the most." Red hair beauty replied before finally acknowledging the girls who looked like they just walked through the rain. "Scram. Do your dumb assignment yourselves."

Just as the girls ran for their lives, the other seniors who had walked with red hair girl was beginning to inform everyone the show was over.

"Are you just going to sit there forever?" Riki took off his hoodie and observed the wet areas on the fabric. "Damn on the back of my head too."

"Hey don't speak to her like that." The girl with red hair helped Aira up and handed her her blazer for her to wear. As Aira tried to refuse it, it was like trying to convince someone the Earth was flat. "I'm Miu. If those girls try to harass you again, tell me."

"I'm Aira." Aira shyly introduced herself. Somehow Miu was the type of girl who radiated confidence yet was still humble about it.

"Ugh, you're so cute." Miu pulled her into a side hug and began leading her out of the cafeteria. Although eyes were still on them, at that moment, Aira felt safe.

---

As Aira came out of the bathroom after changing back into her spare clothes, she didn't expect them all to wait for her. Riki was now changed into another hoodie.

How many of them did he have??

"Um. Thank you for helping me back there." She bowed politely at her saviours.

"Nah those girls deserved it." Minhyuk shrugged.

"Can't believe they would waste water like that." Sunjae shook his head.

They were the other seniors who walked into the circle of commotion but never said a word.

"No, I can't believe YOU took so long to help her. If you didn't hold us back, she wouldn't have been poured with water in the first place." Miu scolded Riki who looked like he could care less about what she thought.

The bell rang alerting students to head back to class which Aira looked quite nervous to head to. Who knew how the others would view her?

"Thank you again. I'll begin heading to class now." Aira interrupted their minor conversation and began walking away. Just as she thought she was going to go to class alone as per usual, she realised she was not alone this time. To her right was Riki with his usual impression; hands pocketed in his pocket and hood on his head.

Despite telling him not to interfere with her business, she was glad he did.

She was glad he was the one who saved her for she wanted to change her mindset.

To prioritise herself before others.

"She looks just like her." Miu spoke monotonously as they disappeared into the crowds.