Chapter 2: -- "Riku's My Desk Partner?!?" -- (Season 1 Episode 2)

It was officially Monday — the first day of school.
Riku and Mika walked down the hall together, surrounded by the early-morning buzz of students chatting and lockers slamming.

Riku prayed silently.

Please don’t let her embarrass the hell out of me today. Please.

Oh my god, oh my god! Mika’s thoughts raced. This is it! After years, I’m finally going to school with Riku! And we’re gonna be in the same class — EEEPPP! I can’t wait! Yayayay! I get to stare at that beautiful face every day… that cute, grumpy face…

Riku took a deep breath and turned to her with a serious expression.

“Alright, Mika. We’re at school now. You need to be careful and try to behave yourself, okay? I can’t deal with another day full of disasters.”

“Yes, Riku! You got it!”

“I mean it, Mika. No disasters, no accidents, and no causing trouble. Got it?”

“Yes, Riku. I’m gonna be a whole different person today. Just wait and see!”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard that before. Just don’t make a scene, alright?”

“You got it, Riku! Let’s head to our class!”

“Yeah, let’s go. Just… try to stay calm. And don’t talk too much.”

The classroom was already buzzing with students scrolling on their phones and chatting at their desks. Mika and Riku walked to the board to check the seating chart.

They both paused when they saw the arrangement.

Desk partners.

Mika’s heart skipped a beat.

Riku’s my desk partner?! Oh my god! I’m gonna be sitting next to my childhood crush! EEEPPP! I can’t waiiitttt!!! I wonder how he feels about it… ugh, he looks grumpy… he’s definitely not happy.

“So… we’re desk partners, huh?” she said, trying to keep her voice cool.

“Looks like it,” Riku muttered. “Great. Just… try not to annoy me too much, alright?”

“Don’t worry, Riku. I’ll be as quiet as a… a… uhm… a paper? Yeah, a paper!”

“Uh-huh… a paper… sure.”

They sat down. Mika pulled out her fully-stocked pencil case — pens, erasers, rulers, highlighters. Riku? Just a single pen.

“You don’t have an eraser, ruler, anything? Just a pen?” she asked.

“Yeah. I don’t need all that extra crap. I’m not really big on stationery.”

He leaned back, slightly annoyed by how prepared she was.

That annoyed stare he’s giving me… oh god. WHY AM I BLUSHING? Keep it together, Mika! You love-struck fool!

“S-So, uhm… are you ready for class?”

“Uh… yeah. I guess. Wait… why are you blushing? You’re already acting weird.”

“I-I’m not blushing! It’s just… hot in here! That’s all!”

“Uh-huh… right. It’s hot. In a school classroom where it’s four degrees Celsius.”

He smirked slightly as her blush deepened.

No no no! He’s onto me! He can’t find out I like him. Not yet! We just reunited after years! He’ll think I’m weird! THINK MIKA!

“I’m just… allergic! To… um… school desks! That’s why I’m blushing. Y-Yeah!”

Allergic to school desks?! Mika, you absolute idiot!

Riku raised an eyebrow.

“Allergic to school desks? Seriously? That’s the best you could come up with?”

Come up with something better, Mika. Anything!

“Okay, if I’m gonna be honest… I… I did something embarrassing back home… I… peed all over the bathroom floor without telling you…”

THAT’S EVEN WORSE, MIKA! WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!

Riku blinked. His smirk vanished.

“You… what? You peed all over the bathroom floor?”

She stared at him, frozen. No excuses left. No escape. Riku clenched his fists under the desk.

“Jesus Christ, Mika… you’re absolutely unbelievable.”

The classroom door slid open.

“Hello everybody. I’m gonna be your new teacher,” the woman at the front said with a smile. “My name is Aiko Kinoshita. But you can call me Ms. Kinoshita.”

A murmur of greetings followed. Riku gave a quiet nod. He stole a quick glance at Mika and sighed. He couldn’t believe what she’d just confessed minutes earlier.

Ms. Kinoshita continued.
“Let’s start with introductions. Kimi Maiko, you’re up first.”

While other students introduced themselves, Riku leaned toward Mika and whispered through clenched teeth.

“You heard me. Do. Not. Embarrass me. Got it?”

“G-Got it, Riku. I won’t. I promise!”

“You better not. If you embarrass me, I’ll never forgive you.”

He sat back, silently hoping the rest of the day would go disaster-free.

“Aozora Riku. You’re up,” the teacher called.

Riku stood up, adjusted his glasses, and gave Mika a brief warning glance.

“Uh… hi. I’m Riku Aozora. I’m fifteen, and I like video games and movies. That’s it, I guess…”

“Thank you. And now, Mika Hanabira. Your turn.”

Riku discreetly nudged her under the desk, giving her a deadly glare.

Don’t screw this up. Don’t you dare.

You can do it, Mika. Don’t embarrass Riku. Don’t embarrass Riku… that’s your only job.

She stood up, cleared her throat nervously, and gave her introduction.

“H-Hey… My name is Mika. I’m around fifteen, almost sixteen. I live with my friend Riku. You know, my desk partner. We’ve been childhood friends since we were kids and… and now we live together. I just moved in two days ago and I already broke his window… heh…”

YOU HAD ONE JOB, MIKA. ONE JOB!

Riku froze. His soul left his body. He facepalmed hard.

Whispers filled the classroom.

He looked at Mika with a stunned, betrayed expression and silently mouthed:
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Mika looked back with a guilty face and mouthed, Sorry, Riku…

Riku’s face twisted in agony.

You IDIOT.

He stared at her with fury as she sat back down, flustered and quiet.
He could already hear the teasing from classmates coming.

When the bell finally rang, the teacher smiled.
“Great work, everyone. See you tomorrow!”

Students began filing out. Riku turned to Mika immediately.

“Mika. We need to talk. Now.”

“Y-Yes, Riku?”

“What the hell was that?! Why’d you have to say we’re living together?! Now everyone’s gonna be asking questions and teasing us!”

“I-I was stressed and didn’t know what to say… so the words just kinda… came out…”

“Seriously? You were stressed, so you just blurted out one of the most embarrassing things possible? Great job, Mika!”

“I’m sorry, Riku… but hey, at least we’re desk partn—NEERRRS—”

Mika leaned her chair too far back and fell flat on her butt.

“Ow… my butt…”

Riku facepalmed harder.

“Oh for god’s sake…”

He let out a deep sigh. Mika scrambled back into her chair, her cheeks burning.

“You’re just a walking disaster, aren’t you?!”

“Uhm…”

Two girls walked up to them. Riku raised an eyebrow, already bracing himself.

“Hey,” one of them said.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“It’s about your friend.”

Mika blinked in confusion and a bit of fear.

“Y-Yes?” she said.

“What about her?” Riku added.

“We just wanted to ask… if you wanna join us,” the first girl said with a grin. “Like… a friend group.”

“F-Friends? With… me?” Mika gasped.

Even Riku looked surprised.

“Really? You mean it?” Mika said again.

“Yeah. Friends,” the girl said with a sly smile. “I’m Sakura.”

“And I’m Miyuki,” said the second girl. “We could use someone as… unique as you.”

Mika blinked. “Are you sure? I’m clumsy and dumb and awkward and my intro was a disaster…”

“Being clumsy is cute!” Sakura said.

“We don’t care about your intro,” Miyuki added. “Besides, you’ll make things more fun!”

“Th-Thank you… hehehe…”

“So,” Sakura said, leaning in, “you doing anything after school?”

“Not really. Why?”

“We were gonna grab food at a restaurant nearby. Wanna come?”

“It’ll be fun!” Miyuki chimed in.

“REALLY?!” Mika jumped out of her chair.

“Yes!” they both replied.

Mika turned to Riku.

“Riku, is that okay? Can I go? Pleeeeaaaase?”

He clenched his teeth, glaring at the girls, then reluctantly looked at Mika and sighed.

“Fine. Go ahead.”

“YAY THANKS!” she cheered. “So which restaurant is it?”

“It’s a casual place,” Sakura said. “Great food. Cute vibe.”

“They’ve got the best burgers and milkshakes in town,” Miyuki added.

Riku clenched his fists silently.

Great. She’s going. With them. I definitely made the wrong call.

“You said after school, right?” Mika asked.

“Yep,” said Sakura. “Meet us in the schoolyard after the final bell.”

“We’ll walk there together,” Miyuki added.

“Alright! See you later!” Mika beamed.

“Bye Mika!” they both waved.

Riku watched them walk away, a deep frown across his face.
They’re up to something… and Mika’s too trusting to notice.

“Can you believe it, Riku? I made friends! EEEPPP!!!”

“Yeah, I heard. Congrats… I guess. Just… be careful, alright? Those girls seem… a little too friendly.”

He crossed his arms, biting down the growing jealousy rising in his chest.