people pleaser | nishimura riki

25. meet up

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

As expected, both males were to face consequences.

A week had passed and Sato had already returned back to school. However, Riki has yet to.

It was strange knowing Riki wasn't skipping class out of his own will, but because he wasn't allowed to return. Nevertheless, there was nothing she could do about it.

Who knew if Riki was even going to return.

As she ate alone in the cafeteria, a food tray was suddenly placed in front of her. This could either lead to two ways.

1. The person wanted a favour

2. The person was here to try take advantage of her.

"Aira." A honey-like voice coated her name.

Nevermind. It was neither of the options.

"Miu?" Aira looked up to reveal the girl with red hair and grown out roots.

"It's been a while." Miu smiled as she made herself comfortable. "How have you been?"

"I've been...alright?" Aira replied. Though the awkwardness did play a role in her hesitation, it was more confusion that took over. She didn't know how she was herself either.

"You know what, I'll get straight to point." Miu smiled. "Have you spoken to Riki recently?"

"No." Aira shook her head. "Is he okay?"

"Well, yeah he's okay. He's Riki." Miu chuckled. "But he was definitely not okay when he started beating that boy up."

"Oh right."

"I've never seen him get so triggered over something so small." Miu spoke as she ate. "I mean no offence Aira, you definitely did not deserve to get played like that. But you know of it, you've faced worst before."

"No you're right. Sato didn't do anything to physically hurt me." Aira nodded. "And I had told Riki myself that i didn't really care because it didn't impact me in any way."

"Yeah see that's the part i don't understand the most." Miu sighed. "When he was with Dana, he had never lost his cool. Not even till the end."

"Oh." Aira reacted before taking a bite into her bun. "How was he? I mean that day at the festival when Dana ran to him."

"Surprised." Miu recalled. "He was interested for the first hour but I'm not going to lie, Dana definitely has intentions in getting back with him."

"Right."

"But thing is, later that evening, i guess something had struck in him that he knew things were not going to go back as it was."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Oh wait...I forgot to mention. This shocked all of us." Miu quickly swallowed her food. "He had accidentally called her your name a couple times. That really pissed Dana off."

"Oh he just mixed up."

"No. He was thinking about you whilst he was with her." Miu smiled. "He does care for you Aira. You are not a replacement."

There was a moment of silent after her last words. It wasn't because she couldn't imagine Riki, who had missed Dana so much, was not reciprocating the feelings back to her.

No.

But it was rather because she felt bad.

She would be lying if she said she had never gotten mad upon knowing how he saw another person in her.

However, could she really blame him?

Feelings cannot be feigned.

Emotions cannot be controlled.

It is not a sin to miss someone.

"Miu, do you mind texting Riki to meet up at the cafe after school?" Aira suddenly suggested.

"Huh? Did you block him?"

"What? No!" Aira said. "It's just that i havent texted him in so long, I'm afraid I'm the one who's blocked."

"You know that's the last thing that would happen right?" Miu laughed. "Here I texted him."

"Actually, if he's busy then it's alright. I could always talk to him when he returns."

"No that boy listens to me well." Miu stood up as she held her now empty lunch tray. Aira did not realise how fast of an eater Miu was. "See you later, I need to head to class early."

"Bye bye." Aira waved as she now focused on her own food.

As Miu walked away, she watched as her phone chimed with a new notification from Riki.

Riki: Busy :)
Miu: You're suspended. How busy could you get??
Riki: Let me enjoy my break
Miu: yh since ur on break, meet me at the cafe after school
Riki: dont wanna. told u i was busy
Miu: what if Aira is coming
Riki: fine since u want to see me that bad

Miu could only scoff at his response.

But was it surprising? Not really.

Out of everyone, he would always make time for her.

Riki's soft spot for Aira.