Chapter 7: — “Kenji Marhoma: A New Friend?”

Riku turned around lazily and saw his classmate he barely speaks with.

“Hey, you’re the dude from my class.” The boy said in a quiet tone. 

You good? You look kinda down.”

Riku’s expression instantly flattened. 

Of all people…

He shifted slightly but didn’t stand. “What do you want?”

The boy raised his hands in mock surrender. “Whoa, chill. I was just saying hi.”

Riku looked away, already annoyed. “Didn’t ask.”

But the guy didn’t budge. Instead, he sat down next to him with a light thud, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“Man, this heat’s insane today. Hope you don’t mind me sitting here.”

Riku groaned quietly. “You’re already sitting, so what’s the point of asking?”

The boy chuckled. “Fair enough.”

There was a short pause before he spoke again.

“Name’s Marhoma, by the way. Kenji Marhoma.”

Riku didn’t respond at first. His eyes stayed fixed on the trees ahead, but eventually…

“…Aozora.”

“Aozora what?”

Riku sighed. “…Riku Aozora.”

Kenji leaned back. “Nice to meet you, Riku Aozora. You always this grumpy?”

“I wouldn’t know. I usually avoid people like you.”

Kenji let out a loud laugh. “Damn, okay! At least you’re honest.”

Kenji leaned back slightly, letting out a small breath. “So? What’s got you out here sulking on a weekend?”

Riku stared ahead for a moment. “It’s stupid.”

Kenji tilted his head. “Try me.”

Riku hesitated. “It’s just… people. Sometimes I wish they’d shut up and stop clinging to me.”

Kenji laughed a little. “Sounds like you’ve got fans.”

“It’s not like that,” Riku muttered. “It’s just this one person. She never shuts up, always dragging me into things… and now she’s ignoring me.”

Kenji smirked. “Ah. The ol’ switcheroo. Let me guess, now that she’s busy, it suddenly matters?”

Riku frowned. “…No.”

Kenji chuckled. “Sure, sure. Sounds like you’ve got a thing for her.”

“I don’t,” Riku said instantly, looking away.

“Right,” Kenji said, clearly not buying it. “Anyway, you’re lucky. Some of us don’t even have people to argue with.”

Riku didn’t say anything, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. For once, it felt kind of okay.

Kenji stood up and stretched. “Well, I’m headed to the arcade. You can come if you want. Or sit here and keep pretending like you’re not in your feelings.”

Riku blinked. “Huh?”

Kenji started walking backward. “Up to you, Aozora.”

Riku sat there for a second, then slowly stood. “…Whatever. I’ve got nothing better to do.”

Kenji grinned. “Knew you’d come around.”

The two walked off together, not exactly friends yet, but not strangers anymore either.

They pushed open the arcade’s glass door, stepping into a world of buzzing lights and blaring sounds. The air smelled faintly of popcorn and old electronics.

Kenji grinned and pulled Riku toward a colorful game cabinet with a flashing sign: “Cupcake Run!”

“Dude, you have to try this. It’s hilarious,” Kenji said, already sliding a coin in. The screen lit up with a cheerful girl sprinting through a candy-filled landscape, grabbing cupcakes left and right.

Riku crossed his arms, pretending not to care as Kenji’s character darted and jumped with surprising skill. “Looks dumb,” he muttered, but his eyes stayed glued to the screen.

Kenji’s girl ran, jumped, and zoomed — until she crashed spectacularly into a giant chocolate bar. “Boom! High score — 1342!” Kenji crowed.

Riku smirked despite himself. “That’s nothing. Watch and learn.”

He took the joystick, determined. “I’m gonna wipe that score clean.”

The game started again, but barely a few seconds in, Riku’s girl tripped on a cupcake, falling flat.

Kenji burst out laughing. “Dude! That was… impressively bad.”

Riku shot him a glare. “Give me another shot.”

“Alright, alright,” Kenji said, still chuckling. “You’re on.”

Riku took a deep breath and grabbed the joystick again. This time, his movements were sharper, more focused. The girl on screen darted expertly past obstacles, snagging cupcakes with precision.

Kenji leaned in, watching with amused surprise. “Hey, not bad! You might actually beat me.”

Riku didn’t respond, eyes glued to the game. The score climbed: 500… 900… then 1289. Just shy of Kenji’s record.

The game ended with a cheerful “Game Over,” and Kenji let out a teasing laugh. “Man, 1289? So close yet so far.”

Riku clenched his jaw, about to snap back, but caught himself. Instead, he cracked a small smile. “Whatever.”

They moved on to other games — racing, shooting hoops, even claw machines — each challenging the other, breaking records, laughing, and trading playful trash talk.

About an hour passed, filled with flashing screens, high fives, and friendly competition. For once, Riku felt free, no pressure, no expectations, just fun.

When the arcade’s neon lights dimmed as closing time approached, Kenji and Riku stepped outside, grinning like kids.

“You’re not so bad, Aozora,” Kenji said with a wink.

“Neither are you,” Riku replied quietly, the weight in his chest a little lighter than before.

Kenji grinned at him. “You’re not so bad, Aozora.”

Riku rolled his eyes but smiled. “Just call me Riku, dude.”

Kenji laughed. “Alright… Riku.”

Walking off into the evening, their laughter eased the distance between them, marking the start of a bond that neither wanted to admit just yet.