Chapter 12: — “Make Him See Me”

The final bell rang, and the classroom burst into motion. Students grabbed their bags, zipped up pencil cases, and started chatting as they got ready to leave.

Riku stood up from his seat with a quick stretch, swinging his bag over one shoulder. He looked relaxed, like he was already thinking about what snack to get.

“Kenji just texted me,” he said, mostly to himself. “He found a place with giant melon bread. I’m gonna meet him now before it sells out.”

That was all it took to make Mika’s stomach twist.

Without thinking, she shot up from her chair. “W-Wait!”

Riku turned to her, surprised. “Huh? What’s up?”

Mika opened her mouth to speak, but… nothing came out. What was she even trying to say? That she wanted him to stay? That she didn’t want him running off with Kenji again? Her heart pounded. Her fingers tightened around her bag strap.

As Mika tried to think of something to say, a girl near the door bent down, struggling with her shoelaces.

“Ugh, come on…” she muttered to herself.

Riku noticed right away. “Need help?”

Before Mika could say anything, he was already kneeling beside the girl, calmly helping her tie the loose lace. The girl’s face turned pink almost immediately.

“Th-Thanks, Riku,” she mumbled, giggling a little. “You’re, like… really sweet.”

Mika stood frozen, her heart pounding in the worst way.

From behind her, whispers started.

“Wow, he’s so nice…”

“And kinda cute up close, right?”

“I didn’t know the quiet guy was this sweet!”

“I’d totally date him.”

Sweet?! Cute?! Boyfriend material?! Are you kidding me?! Mika screamed inside her head, eyes wide with disbelief.

Her stomach flipped as the girl blushed even harder when Riku stood up, smiling like it was nothing. He gave her a small wave before heading toward the door.

“See you later, Mika,” he said casually, not even noticing her expression.

And just like that… he was gone.

Mika didn’t move. Her fingers were still gripping her bag too tightly. The room around her kept buzzing with chatter and laughter, but all she could hear were those stupid compliments echoing in her head.

He tied her shoe. Big deal. I would’ve tripped on purpose if I knew it got that kind of attention. 

She looked down, teeth clenched. Her jealousy was slowly flaring up. 

Eventually, Mika walked with Sakura and Miyuki toward the courtyard.

The courtyard buzzed with noise. Laughter, footsteps, the crinkle of snack wrappers, everything felt louder than usual.

She sat at the edge of a bench under the cherry blossom tree, arms folded tight across her chest. Her eyes followed Riku from a distance. He was standing near the vending machines with Kenji, tossing a bottle of water back and forth while laughing like nothing in the world had changed.

But everything had.

Sakura sat beside her, nibbling on a sweet bun. Miyuki leaned against the tree trunk, sipping milk tea. Both of them kept glancing at Mika.

“You’ve been glaring holes into the back of his head,” Miyuki finally said, raising an eyebrow.

Mika didn’t answer right away. Her foot tapped the ground, fast and restless. Then, finally—

“Everyone likes him now,” she muttered. “All of a sudden, every girl’s talking about Riku. Like he’s some new celebrity or something.”

Sakura blinked. “Well… I mean, he did kind of go viral. That fight video’s everywhere.”

Mika snapped her head toward her. “I don’t care about the video! They don’t even know him. He’s not some shiny new toy to drool over.”

She looked away, her voice quieter but sharper. “They weren’t there when he walked me home every day in third grade. Or when he got suspended for punching that one jerk who kept calling me weird. They don’t know anything.”

Miyuki whistled. “Damn. You’re really spiraling, huh?”

“I’m serious,” Mika said, clenching her fists. “He’s my childhood friend. He… he protected me. He stayed by my side when no one else did. Now all these girls are just… throwing themselves at him like they’ve always cared.”

Her eyes flicked back to Riku. A girl had walked up and was clearly trying to get his attention, twirling her hair as she talked. Riku just nodded politely, but Mika felt her chest tighten anyway.

“I’m not letting them take him,” Mika said, her voice trembling. “No way.”

Sakura leaned in a little. “So… what are you gonna do?”

Mika bit her lip. Then, slowly, she looked at both of them.

“I want to stand out,” she said. “Make him notice me. Make him see me the way he used to. Or, more than that. I want him to see me like they do. Like someone he could… you know… actually like.”

Miyuki’s smirk returned. “You want a glow-up.”

Mika nodded. “I don’t care how silly it sounds. Help me. Please.”

“Then let’s do it,” she said. “If making him see you means helping you shine a little brighter, we’re in.”

The three girls hurried down the hallway, weaving past other students as Mika clutched her bag tightly.

“Bathroom. Now,” Miyuki said with a spark in her eye. “We’ve got work to do.”

Inside the bathroom, the air smelled faintly of hand soap and rose-scented spray. The door clicked shut behind them, muting the chatter of students in the hallway.

Miyuki set her bag on the counter and pulled out a small zip pouch. “Alright,” she said, cracking her knuckles. “Time for a crash course in Operation: Glow-Up.”

Mika stood stiffly near the sink, fidgeting with her sleeves. “Are you sure this’ll even work?”

“It’s not about changing you,” Sakura said, stepping up beside her. “It’s about making him see what’s already there.”

Miyuki nodded in agreement. “Exactly. You’re cute, Mika. You’ve just been hiding it under those messy pigtails and oversized cardigans.”

“Hey! My pigtails are fine!” Mika shot back, cheeks puffing in protest.

Miyuki smirked, already untying one. “They’re not bad. Just… a little too elementary school.”

Mika muttered under her breath but didn’t resist.

Sakura rummaged through her own bag, pulling out a travel-sized brush and a tiny compact mirror. “We’ll keep it simple. Light makeup. Clean lines. We’re not transforming you into someone else, we’re just highlighting what’s already there.”

Miyuki brushed through Mika’s hair with practiced ease, smoothing out the frizz and gently curling the ends inward with her fingers.

Sakura dabbed a touch of blush on Mika’s cheeks, adding a soft pink warmth to her face. A bit of clear gloss shimmered on her lips, and a light coat of mascara made her eyes pop without feeling overdone.

The whole time, Mika sat silently, watching her reflection evolve in the mirror. Her breathing slowed. Her heart thumped somewhere between nervous and hopeful.

“Alright, now… stand up straight,” Miyuki said, giving her shoulders a light push. “Chin up. No slouching.”

“Confidence,” Sakura added. “Even if you feel like faking it, own it. That’s what people notice.”

Mika took a step back from the mirror.

She looked… different. Not like a stranger. Just a more polished version of herself. The same girl, but with a little more light in her eyes.

She blinked, stunned. “Is… is this really me?”

Miyuki grinned. “Told you. You’re a knockout.”

Sakura smiled, proud. “Now go show him what he’s been missing.”

The sun peeked through the clouds as the three girls stepped out of the building. The courtyard buzzed with laughter and the crinkle of bento wrappers. Mika’s hands were slightly clammy, but she held her chin high, her shoulders straight. Every step felt heavy and light all at once, like walking into a spotlight and fog at the same time.

She paused at the edge of the courtyard, her heart pounding. Then she glanced over her shoulder.

Sakura and Miyuki stood a short distance away, half-hidden behind a tree, peeking from behind the trunk. Sakura gave her a thumbs-up and a confident grin. Miyuki gave a small nod and mouthed, “You got this.”

Mika’s lips curved into a shaky smile. She nodded back, then took a deep breath.

Okay… time to shine. He’ll see me now. He has to.

She stepped forward with quiet determination, her polished shoes tapping lightly against the pavement. Her hair shimmered under the sunlight, neatly styled with soft waves that framed her face. A hint of blush gave her cheeks a warm glow, and the gloss on her lips sparkled when she swallowed nervously.

There he was.

Riku walked alongside Kenji, their conversation casual and easy. They were laughing about something, maybe some joke, maybe something from class. Mika’s pulse spiked.

She walked right toward them, straight through their path.

But nothing happened.

Riku didn’t glance her way. Not even once.

He just kept walking beside Kenji, still mid-conversation, grinning.

“Did you see that guy’s face when I ducked? Priceless!” Riku said through a chuckle.

Mika stopped in her tracks, staring after him. The laughter faded behind her as the noise of the courtyard returned, but her ears were ringing.

Her hand curled tightly around the strap of her bag.

Nothing? Not even a blink?

She blinked once, slowly, trying to hold back the sting behind her eyes.

Behind her, Sakura and Miyuki peeked again from behind the tree, their smiles slowly fading.

Mika lowered her gaze.

I did everything… and he didn’t even see me.