Chapter 13: — “Too Many Hearts, Not Enough Words”

Mika sat quietly on the edge of the bench underneath the blossom tree, her lunchbox untouched on her lap. The soft hum of conversation and laughter floated around her, but she couldn’t hear any of it. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, lips pressed tightly together.

Sakura and Miyuki flanked her on either side, both watching her with a mix of worry and sympathy. The wind played gently with the strands of Mika’s hair, now slightly loosened from earlier, but she didn’t bother fixing them.

“She didn’t even eat,” Miyuki murmured under her breath.

Sakura leaned in, her voice soft. “Mika… are you okay?”

Mika nodded once, but the movement was stiff. “I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t.

She could still see it. Riku laughing with Kenji, walking right past her like she didn’t even exist. After all that effort, the hair, the makeup, the courage… it meant nothing. He didn’t even glance.

Her throat tightened.

“He didn’t even notice me,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible.

Miyuki frowned. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. Guys are dense. You know how Riku is.”

Mika shook her head, her grip tightening on the bento box. “What if someone else confesses first? What if he says yes? What if I waited too long?”

Her voice cracked on that last line, and she quickly looked away, blinking fast.

Sakura placed a hand on Mika’s shoulder. “Then don’t wait. You like him, right? You’ve liked him for a long time.”

“Since elementary school,” Mika admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But what if I ruin everything? What if he doesn’t feel the same?”

“Then at least you’ll know,” Miyuki said gently. “And you won’t have to keep hurting like this.”

Mika stared at the grass.

Her hands trembled in her lap.

She wanted to tell him. She wanted to confess her feelings. But the fear, of rejection, of awkwardness, of losing the bond they already had, was like a wall she couldn’t climb.

Still… what if Sakura was right?

What if waiting meant losing him for real?

Just as Mika stood up from the bench to go confess to Riku, a voice rang out from a few feet away.

“Riku-kun!”

Mika’s body went stiff, and she slowly turned her head.

A girl with glossy brown hair and perfectly curled bangs stood a few meters away, fidgeting nervously with the hem of her skirt. Her friends stood in the background, giggling and whispering. Riku blinked and turned around, surprised.

“Huh? Oh, hey,” he said casually.

The girl stepped closer, clutching a folded note to her chest. Her cheeks were pink. Her eyes wide and shimmering.

“I… I really like you, Riku-kun,” she said quickly, bowing her head. “Please go out with me!”

Mika’s heart stopped.

She stared, unblinking, as if the world had frozen in place around her. Her hands balled into fists in her lap.

No. No, no, no—

Riku scratched the back of his neck, looking genuinely flustered. “Ah… I’m really sorry. You’re nice and all, but I’m not looking for that right now.”

The girl gasped softly, her shoulders sinking, but she nodded quickly and bowed again before hurrying off, her friends trailing behind her with disappointed squeals.

Mika let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her whole body was tense, but her chest loosened just a little.

He said no…

She closed her eyes, trying to calm the pounding in her chest.

Maybe… maybe I still have a chance. Go Mika!

Before Mika could take a single step, two more girls approached Riku, strutting up to him like they were heading onto a runway.

“Rikuuu~” one of them cooed, clasping her hands behind her back. “You were amazing in that fight. Like, seriously. I didn’t know you had that in you!”

The other girl giggled. “Yeah, I thought you were just that quiet guy who sits in the back… but now? You’re like, low-key hot.”

Riku laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… just did what anyone would’ve done.”

“Oh, come on,” the first girl said, stepping closer. “Don’t be so modest. You were sooo cool! You totally had that guy shaking in his shoes.”

“Bet you’ve got muscles under that hoodie,” the second teased, lightly tapping her knuckles against his chest. “Strong and sweet? Dangerous combo.”

Riku blinked. “Uhh—”

Did she just wink at him? Oh, no no no. We are not doing this today. Hands off, ponytail. He used to share his crayons with me in first grade. That’s basically marriage.

The second girl leaned in and added in a fake whisper, “Seriously, if I didn’t already have a boyfriend, I’d be snatching you up.”

“Oh my gosh,” the first laughed, “I call dibs if he ever becomes single!”

The second pouted. “No fair! Riku-baby is too cute to share.”

If one more girl calls him ‘baby’ I’m gonna launch myself into the sun. Or better… launch her into the sun.

Mika could barely breathe. The blood in her ears roared louder than the lunch crowd around her.

She stood up so fast the bench creaked behind her, fists clenched tight.

Mika couldn’t take it anymore.

She stormed across the courtyard, eyes blazing. The girls turned just as she reached them, startled by the sudden whirlwind heading their way.

“Can you not throw yourselves all over him like that?!” she snapped, voice trembling but loud. “He’s not some… trophy you get to drool over!”

The first girl raised an eyebrow. “Uh… excuse you?”

“We’re just talking to him,” the second girl said, arms crossed. “Why are you freaking out?”

“You were calling him ‘baby’ and poking his chest!” Mika shot back. “You think that’s just talking?”

The first girl rolled her eyes. “What’s your problem? Jealous much?”

Then, without warning, the second girl gave Mika a small shove. “Back off, crazy.”

Mika stumbled, her foot catching the edge of the sidewalk. Her breath hitched, she was going to fall.

But before she hit the ground, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her upright.

Riku.

He stepped in between them, his expression colder than she’d ever seen.

“Don’t touch her,” he said sharply.

The girls blinked, trying to look innocent. “W-We didn’t mean anything! She started yelling at us!”

Riku didn’t budge. “Just go.”

The girls huffed and turned away, muttering under their breath as they walked off.

Riku turned to Mika, his features softening. “Are you okay?”

This was her moment.

Her chance.

Her heart screamed everything she wanted to say, but when she opened her mouth, the words fell apart.

“I… uh… you’re a good friend, Riku…”

He blinked, then gave a gentle smile. “Thanks, Mika.”

She watched helplessly as he turned and walked away, rejoining Kenji without a second glance.

That was it. That was all she could say.

“You’re a good friend”… seriously?

What’s wrong with me?

Mika stood frozen in place, her fists trembling at her sides.

Sakura and Miyuki rushed to her, each grabbing an arm and pulling her gently back toward the bench.

“Mika…” Sakura said softly, worry etched all over her face.

“You okay?” Miyuki added, though the answer was obvious.

Mika didn’t reply.

She sat down slowly, her eyes glazed, lips slightly parted like she wanted to say something… but couldn’t.

The courtyard buzzed around them. Students laughed, shouted, walked by without a clue. But in Mika’s world, everything was quiet. Still.

She stared in the direction Riku had gone.

“…I blew it,” she whispered, voice dry.

Sakura wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “You didn’t blow it. You just… tripped. That’s all.”

Miyuki sat on her other side. “You’ll get another chance. He’s not going anywhere.”

But Mika didn’t respond.

She just stared off, defeated.

That night, the glow from the TV blinked softly in the dark living room, but Mika wasn’t watching it.

She sat curled on the couch, arms around her knees, a blanket half-draped over her. Her phone buzzed once. She didn’t check it.

Her thoughts played the same scene on loop, Riku’s gentle smile, his back as he walked away, her own stupid words.

“You’re a good friend, Riku.”

Friend.

That’s all she managed to be.

Her throat tightened.

She had her chance…

She missed it.

And now… she was terrified she might lose him forever.