Chapter 14: — “When We First Met” — (Season 1 Episode 6)

Mika sat curled up on the couch, her knees hugged to her chest, eyes locked on the TV. The screen flickered with color and sound, but nothing really registered. She wasn’t watching it. Not really. Her mind was still stuck in the courtyard, replaying every second of what she’d said… and what she didn’t.

“I… uh… you’re a good friend, Riku…”

Stupid. Stupid. Why did I say that?

Her chest ached just thinking about it. She had her chance, her one moment to speak from the heart… and she blew it.

He smiled like nothing even happened. Like it didn’t mean a thing… Maybe it didn’t. Maybe I never did.

The floor creaked behind her. Riku’s voice broke the silence.

“I’m heading out. Gonna grab groceries. You want anything?”

Mika blinked, snapping out of her haze. She turned her head slightly to look at him. He was already halfway toward the door, slipping on his shoes. His tone was casual, same as always.

She forced a smile, hoping it looked real.

“No, I’m good. Thanks.”

“Alright. Be back soon.”

The door shut with a gentle click, and silence settled back into the apartment.

The smile dropped from her face the moment he was gone.

He doesn’t even know I was about to say it… I was this close. And now he’s walking around like everything’s normal.

She leaned her head against the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling.

Maybe that’s what it is now. Just normal. Just… friends.

Her throat tightened.

I should be happy just being near him… but it hurts. It hurts so bad.

The silence in the apartment stretched on.

Mika’s eyes were still on the TV, but her thoughts were miles away, slipping further from the present, spiraling back in time, until she found herself somewhere else entirely.

A warm afternoon. A quiet schoolyard. And a small wooden bench in the corner of the playground.

She was crying.

Little Mika sat curled up with her arms around her knees, her small shoulders trembling with each quiet sob. The other kids played nearby, running and laughing as if they couldn’t hear her. Or maybe… they just didn’t care.

Her lunch was gone. Not because she ate it, but because someone took it.

Her favorite food — nikuman, stolen right from her hands. A group of older girls had shoved her, laughed, and walked away like it meant nothing.

And now she was alone. Again.

Until—

“Hey… are you okay?”

She looked up, eyes still blurry with tears.

A boy stood in front of her. About her age, maybe a little taller. He had messy blond hair, a too-big backpack, and round glasses that kept sliding down his nose. He looked genuinely worried.

Mika sniffled. “…Someone stole my nikuman…”

The boy blinked. Then, without saying anything, he plopped down beside her and opened up his small cloth bento box. Inside was a still-warm nikuman, neatly wrapped in a paper towel.

He held it out to her without hesitation.

“You can have mine.”

Her eyes widened. “B-but that’s yours!”

He just shrugged. “You’re sad. I don’t like seeing people sad.”

Mika stared at him for a second, then slowly reached out and took it with both hands like it was the most valuable thing in the world.

“…Thank you,” she whispered. Then again, louder, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

She bit into it immediately, and her tears returned, this time from happiness. It tasted even better than hers.

The boy smiled, opened his bento again, and pulled out a shiny red apple.

He took a big bite and sat with her in silence.

“…What’s your name?” he asked through a mouthful of apple.

“Mika,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Hanabira Mika.”

“I’m Riku,” he said proudly, then grinned. “Aozora Riku.”

They sat together, sharing lunch in quiet friendship as the afternoon breeze blew through the playground.

Back in the present, Mika blinked slowly, still curled on the couch.

You’ve always been kind. Even back then.

Her heart squeezed.

You didn’t even know me, but you gave me your food just to make me smile. That was the first time anyone really noticed me…

She closed her eyes, replaying the memory over and over.

How could I ever stop loving you, Riku?

Still on the couch, Mika hugged her knees tighter, letting her mind wander further into the past. She tried to find something, anything, to remind her that her feelings for Riku weren’t just some schoolgirl crush. That he really had always been there.

And then, another memory came. One she hadn’t let herself remember in a long time.

It was the back field behind the elementary building, where the teachers rarely looked.

Three girls had circled Mika, all her age, all full of smugness and meanness.

The one in the middle had short black hair tied into two messy pigtails, and a voice like fake sugar.

“Aww, did little Mika fall again?” she sneered.

Mika sat on the cold ground, her palms scraped and her butt aching. Her eyes stung with tears. “Please… I didn’t do anything…”

The leader, Aiko, laughed and took a step forward. “You didn’t do anything? Exactly. You’re boring. That’s why no one wants to play with you.”

The other girls joined in, one of them shoving Mika’s shoulder. She winced.

And then—

“Hey!”

All three girls turned.

Riku stood there, fists clenched, face hard. He looked like a completely different person, like the quiet, kind boy Mika knew had vanished, replaced with something stormy.

Aiko smirked. “Oh no, what’s he gonna do? Tell a teacher?” She crossed her arms. “Go away, Riku. This is girl business.”

He didn’t say a word. Just walked straight up to her.

And then… smack!

The sharp sound rang across the yard.

Aiko stumbled back, wide-eyed. Her cheek flushed red. For a second, everything froze. Then her lips trembled.

“You… you hit me!” she shrieked.

Riku didn’t flinch. His voice was low, shaking a little.

“Don’t ever touch her again.”

The other girls grabbed Aiko’s arms, backing away fast.

“You’re crazy!” one yelped. “He’s crazy!”

They ran.

Mika sat frozen, still on the ground. Her tears were different now. Not scared, shocked. Grateful.

Riku turned to her and held out a hand. His fingers were still shaking.

She took it.

“Thanks…” she whispered, stunned.

He smiled at her. Just a tiny one. “They’re gone now.”

But that moment didn’t last long.

Minutes later, a teacher came around the corner with Aiko and the girls trailing behind her, Aiko’s tears falling down her face.

“He hit me!” she wailed.

The teacher’s face dropped. “Aozora Riku! To the principals office. NOW!”

Mika stood frozen as Riku was dragged to the principal’s office.

The next day, he wasn’t at school.

And the day after that, either.

He was suspended. For assault.

And all Mika could remember was how someone, finally had stood up for her.

Back on the couch, Mika blinked rapidly. Her chest ached.

“He’s always protected me… even when it cost him everything.” She whispered to herself

She pulled her knees closer to her chest.

“Why can’t I tell him how much that means to me?” 

Still on the couch, another memory hit Mika like a strong wind, a memory that started it all.

Riku and Mika sat on a bench in the park, laughing and giggling, until—

“Boop,” Riku said, tapping Mika’s nose.

“Wha—hey!” Mika snapped, giggling and blushing.

“What? I can’t boop your nose?”

“It’s not that. It was just unexpected.”

Riku giggled, amused by Mika’s reaction.

“You know… you’re funny,” he said calmly.

Mika’s heart fluttered at the compliment, her cheeks burning an even deeper red.

Riku didn’t notice her blush. She kept blushing, swinging her legs back and forth as the two fell into a comfortable silence.

Then suddenly—

“RIKU!”

His dad’s voice rang out.

“Oh, I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow at school, Mika?”

“Oh… okay. We’ll see each other tomorrow. Bye, Riku.”

Mika waved as he walked off.

As he disappeared down the path, Mika’s thoughts swirled.

She didn’t just see Riku as a friend.

She found him… cute.

“I… I think I like him…” Mika whispered to herself.

“I… I have a crush on him…” she repeated, her blush deepening.

Back in the present, Mika still sat on the couch, her thoughts and flashbacks swirling like a storm.