𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 nishimura riki ✔️

nine

Riki strides toward me with his usual confidence, his steps heavy and purposeful, causing me to chuckle softly, amused by his trademark devil-may-care attitude. But then, to my surprise, he gets a little too close and pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels far too intimate.

“God, you’re so troublesome,” he mutters, his voice muffled against my neck. I can feel his lips brush against my skin, sending a strange shiver down my spine, a light tingling that I quickly try to ignore.

I freeze for a second, my heart beating faster as an unexpected blush spreads across my face. I desperately try to suppress it, focusing on the awkwardness of the situation instead. His embrace feels warm, but it’s also too much too soon, and the longer he holds me, the more I want to pull away.

But before I can do anything, Riki seems to realize just how close we are, and he lets go abruptly, stepping back awkwardly. The air between us feels charged, and I’m left standing there, slightly dazed.

“I’ll drop you home,” he says flatly, turning on his heel and heading toward his bike without waiting for a response.

I glance in the direction of my house. We weren’t that far from home, and honestly, I could use the walk to clear my head. The breeze would help me gather my thoughts, let the overwhelming emotions I’ve been carrying dissipate.

“I’m going to walk,” I reply, my voice firm as I turn away, hoping he’ll just let me have this moment of solitude.

But, of course, Riki doesn’t let up. He grabs my hand, his grip firm, pulling me toward him without a word.

“It’s late,” he says, his voice softer now, as though trying to reason with me.

Before I can protest, he’s already dragging me toward his bike. He looks around for a second, as if checking for something, then turns to me with a look that clearly says this conversation isn’t over.

“RIKI!” I exclaim, startled, as he pulls me closer and lifts me onto his bike.

“Bad kid,” he teases, a laugh escaping his lips, but I can’t help but feel a bit irritated. It’s not just the fact that he’s being so persistent; it’s that he’s always been the first to know anything about my life, and it’s starting to annoy me.

I slide off the bike before he even has the chance to settle on it. “Listen, I get it’s late, but I want some privacy. Just leave me alone for a bit,” I try to explain, my tone a little sharper than I intend, but it’s hard to keep the frustration at bay.

Riki doesn’t budge. His expression doesn’t even change, and I can tell he’s not going to let this go easily.

“Is it because you fought with Jinni?” he asks, and my eyes widen in surprise.

I had no idea he knew about that.

“I looked for you at her place,” he continues, like it’s no big deal. “She said I’d find you here.”

I don’t know why, but hearing that makes me feel even more exposed, like my business is being laid out for everyone to see. He’s always there, always in the know, while I’m left to navigate everything alone.

“What now?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, though it comes off a bit more annoyed than I intended.

Riki steps forward again, his tone softening slightly as he motions toward the bike.

“Come on,” he urges, his voice almost coaxing, “We don’t have the whole night.”

I sigh, rubbing my temples. I really just want some space, but at the same time, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I need to let Riki in, even if just for a little while.

The ride to the river is quick, the night air rushing past me as Riki speeds along, pushing the limits of his bike’s speed. We reach the riverbank in no time, and Riki pulls up beside the water. He doesn’t look at me directly but instead gazes out at the darkened river ahead, his eyes distant, almost contemplative.

“You like it here?” he asks, his voice low as he scans the water. It’s hard to make out much in the dark, but the scene feels peaceful, almost serene, in its quiet solitude.

I don’t answer right away. Instead, I move to one of the benches, sitting down and closing my eyes, letting the cool night air wash over me. I can feel the weight of the day catching up to me, and for the first time in hours, I let myself relax. The memories come rushing back, uninvited but persistent, and I feel the tears threatening to spill.

But I fight them back. There’s something about the presence beside me, about Riki being there, that makes it harder to let it all go. I want to be alone, to grieve without anyone watching. Still, a part of me craves the comfort of his presence, even if I won’t admit it.

Riki seems to notice the shift in the air, and though I can’t see his expression, I know he’s skeptical of my plan to just sit there. But after a moment, he dips his feet into the shallow end of the river, following my lead without a word.

I glance at him briefly. It’s funny how he just goes with it, no questions asked, as if he understands my need for quiet.

We’re just dipping our feet in—the cool water lapping at our ankles is soothing. A swim at night would be a bad idea, especially with the risk of getting sick in the morning, and I know Riki’s aware of that, too.

But for now, the water and the night sky offer me the peace I desperately need. And maybe, just maybe, it’s enough for me to start healing