people pleaser | nishimura riki

7. mission

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

Nothing really changed since that day.

She should've known that feeling of hope would only ever last in that moment.

The only thing that may have shifted was the way she was spoken to whenever Riki was around. Words were chosen so carefully in fear of being his next target. Riki on the other hand never interfered too much which confused Aira the most. She had sought help yet all she was getting was indifferent treatment from him.

However, what more can someone like Aira expect?

Wondering around the school, she found herself in the secluded rooftop garden that was cared for by a few students and teachers in the committee group. Although Aira was part of the student council group, she never really involved herself with the gardening aspects due to the amount of workload she received.

She admired the growing plants that were beginning to bloom and was almost too mesmerised to notice she was not the only one in this area.

"Aira. I lost my assessment notification. Can you give me yours?" The now recognisable voice spoke from a distance.

It was only natural for him to ask her as he was her seat mate.

Right?

"Oh okay! Just stay here for a bit, i'll need to quickly run to the locker since my bag is in there." She turned to face the boy standing in front of the door. "Was it physics? Or chemistry?"

"Both." He replied with his hands crossed.

"Okay. I'll give you mine." She agreed.

"What about you?" He tilted his head in curiosity. " You'll get scolded for losing yours."

"Oh, that's okay. As long as i can help-" Both her steps and words were interrupted by his abrupt action of blocking the door as he stretched his left arm to make contact with the opposite doorframe.

"For the love of god, Aira. Just say no." He whispered, leaning down to reach her height. "You don't have to trouble yourself for other people."

As they were now only a few inches apart, Aira noticed his features' prominence again. People weren't wrong about his visuals being so admirable to look at. Being too mesmerised by his attractive face and noticeably good figure, she only broke out of her bubble when he spoke again.

He stared right into her eyes, it almost became a contest. "Why are you still letting them take advantage of you?"

"I..." She stuttered due to the sudden asking of questions. "I don't know what to do." She admitted.

"You need to stop letting them use you like this."

She took a moment to think.

"But what can i do? The dilemma between wanting to be liked and wanting to stand up for me is like choosing between my mom and dad." She looked away, unable to face him. "I can't choose between them."

"You don't have to choose. You can achieve both without losing anyway."

"How can I Nishimura? I'm a people-pleaser." She whispered, thinking that was the end of the conversation.

"The only person you have to please is yourself." He subtly smiled and gently laid his hand that was initially blocking her way on her head; an act of reassurance.

And so, the mission to prioritise herself starts now.