Chapter 8: — “Street Fight & Sick Rhymes: Part 1” — (Season 1 episode 4)

The moment Mika stepped into class, it happened again.

A wave of students rushed over to her desk like she was some kind of celebrity.

“Mika-chan! I saw your cupcakes all over Instagram last night!”

“They were so aesthetic, like, professional-level cute!”

“Where’d you learn to bake like that?! You HAVE to teach me!”

Mika beamed, flattered and overwhelmed. “Ehehe, really? You guys liked them that much?”

“Duh! You went viral, girl!” someone called out from the back.

She laughed, clearly loving the attention. “Well… it was just a little fun baking session with the girls.”

Riku sat quietly near the back, watching the whole thing unfold. His jaw was clenched slightly as his pen tapped the corner of his desk.

Why is she acting like some celebrity now? She was just baking stupid cupcakes.

Before his thoughts spiraled deeper, a voice snapped him out of it.

“Dude, you look like you’re about to combust.”

Kenji leaned back in his seat with a casual smirk.

“Huh?” Riku muttered.

“You’re glaring a hole through Mika’s head or something,” Kenji said. “Everything good?”

Riku sighed through his nose. “I’m fine.”

Kenji raised an eyebrow. “Sure you are.”

Meanwhile, Mika kept chatting away, surrounded by compliments and admiration. Sakura and Miyuki sat nearby, smiling proudly. Even the teacher struggled to get the class to settle.

When the final bell rang, the students flooded outside into the schoolyard, buzzing with weekend energy.

The Nakayoshi trio walked side-by-side, still laughing about the attention Mika had gotten.

“Somebody stop her, she’s gonna become an influencer!” Miyuki teased.

“I know right? Miss Cupcake Queen over here!” Sakura added.

Mika giggled. “Hey, don’t hate just ’cause I’m famous now!”

Just as they passed the courtyard bench, three boys stepped in front of them.

The tallest one smirked, arms crossed.

“You’re Mika, right?”

She blinked. “Uh… yeah?”

“You’re the one who posted all those cringe cupcake pics?”

The boys snickered.

Mika’s smile faded. “…Excuse me?”

“You serious with those baby-pink filters and smiley faces? That stuff looks like it came from a preschool.”

The second boy leaned in. “You should’ve posted a warning label. That much sugar gave me a headache.”

Sakura stepped forward. “Okay, that’s enough.”

“Jealous, much?” Miyuki added with a frown. “Just admit you liked the cupcakes and move on.”

The boys ignored them, still grinning at Mika. Her face dropped lower and lower with each word. She looked down, gripping the strap of her school bag tightly.

Then came a new voice. Calm, but cold.

“Back off.”

The boys turned. Riku stood there, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp.

“What’s it to you?” the tall one asked.

Riku didn’t answer. His eyes stayed locked on the leader — Otogi.

The tension rose.

Otogi stepped forward. “Otogi. Get used to the name.”

Before Riku could blink, a fist slammed into his stomach. He keeled over with a gasp.

“RIKU!” Mika shrieked.

A second hit, to the side. Then a knee. Riku dropped to the ground, groaning.

“Riku!” Mika screamed again, trying to rush forward, but Sakura and Miyuki held her back in panic.

“No, Mika! You’ll get hurt too!”

“You can’t, he’ll be okay! Just stay here!”

Riku struggled to get up, coughing. His cheek was already swelling, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Otogi raised his fist again, laughing. “This is what happens when you play hero.”

Tap.

Otogi paused and turned.

BAM.

Kenji’s punch came out of nowhere, cracking across Otogi’s jaw with a loud snap. The taller boy stumbled back, blood dripping from his nose.

“Don’t touch him again,” Kenji said firmly.

The courtyard went silent.

Kenji knelt beside Riku and helped him up. “You alright?”

Riku winced, barely nodding. His vision swam a little. He tasted blood.

Mika sobbed from the distance, still trapped in her friends’ arms. Her voice cracked.

“Riku—!!”

He didn’t look at her. His fists were clenched tight.

“He’ll be okay, I promise. He’s strong, he’ll pull through,” Sakura said, trying to soothe Mika.

The bullies regrouped quickly, glaring.

“You two wanna die today?” one growled.

Kenji didn’t flinch. “You started it.”

Otogi wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve, hatred burning in his eyes.

“This ain’t over.”