Chapter 33: — “Left Behind” — (Season 2 Episode 3)

The morning sun filtered lazily through the curtains as Akari tied her uniform ribbon in front of the mirror. Mika sat on the couch, kicking her legs back and forth like a kid waiting for dessert, while Riku sprawled across the cushions with a pillow over his face.

“You two.” Akari turned, giving them both that sharp “older sister” look. “Listen carefully. I’m leaving for witch school now, but—”

Riku groaned, cutting her off without moving the pillow. “But what? You’ve said this, like, three times already. ‘Don’t do anything dangerous, call me if you see a demon, don’t break the house.’ I get it.”

Akari marched over, snatched the pillow off his face, and glared. “And you’re going to listen. Promise me you’ll keep safe. No wandering off, no suspicious strangers, no trouble. If anything weird happens, anything at all, you call me.”

Riku blinked up at her. “You make it sound like I’m five.”

“You act like it sometimes,” she shot back.

“Oi!”

Mika giggled from the couch. “He does though.”

Riku sat up, scowling at her. “Not you too.”

Akari sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Just… don’t make me regret leaving you two alone.”

“Relax,” Riku said, leaning back again. “I’ll just chill. Nothing’s gonna happen.”

Akari still looked unconvinced, but she didn’t press further. She picked up her bag and headed for the door. Before stepping out, she turned once more, eyes narrowing. “Behave. Both of you.”

“Got it~,” Mika chimed, waving.

“Yeah, yeah,” Riku muttered.

The door closed, and the house fell quiet.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Mika turned toward Riku with sparkling eyes. “Sooo… what should we do today?”

Riku stretched his arms and yawned. “Dunno. Nap, maybe.”

Mika frowned. “Nap? That’s so boring! We could bake cookies! Or play cards! Or…” she tapped her chin, thinking, “…go for a walk, or maybe watch that anime Akari said was good.”

“Too much effort,” Riku replied flatly.

Mika puffed her cheeks. “You’re impossible sometimes, you know that?”

Before Riku could respond, his phone buzzed on the table. He lazily reached for it, glanced at the screen—then immediately sat up, his eyes lighting up. “Oh! It’s Kenji.”

Mika tilted her head. “Kenji?”

Riku answered the call. “Yo, what’s up?” His face broke into a grin. “Seriously? You wanna game right now? …Yeah, yeah, give me a sec. I’ll hop on.”

He ended the call and practically jumped off the couch. Mika blinked. She hadn’t seen him move that fast since someone dropped pizza in front of him.

“Wait... game?” she asked.

“Yep.” Riku was already heading toward his room. “Kenji finally got some free time. Haven’t gamed with him in weeks. I’m not missing this.”

Mika trailed after him with a little frown. “B-but what about hanging out with me?”

“You’ll survive for a few hours,” Riku said, sliding into his chair and pressing the power button on his PC tower. The machine whirred to life.

Mika crossed her arms at the doorway. “Gaming is bad for your eyes.”

Riku gave her a look. “I barely game anymore. Let me have this.”

“You say that every time!”

“Because it’s true!” He put on his headset. “Now shh, I need to focus.”

Mika’s pout deepened. She wanted to stomp her foot, but instead she just sighed dramatically. “Fine. Waste your brain cells on pixels.”

“Yup. Happily.”

She left the room, her steps slower and heavier than usual.

Back in the living room, Mika collapsed onto the couch with a huff. Her eyes drifted toward the phone on the counter. Maybe she didn’t have to spend the day alone.

She quickly scrolled through her contacts and pressed call.

“Hello~?” Sakura’s cheerful voice answered.

“Sakura!” Mika said quickly. “Are you and Miyuki free? Do you wanna come over? Please say yes!”

There was a pause. Then Sakura’s apologetic tone came through. “Ahh… sorry, Mika. We’re actually busy today. Miyuki’s at cram school and I’m helping my mom. Maybe tomorrow?”

Mika’s shoulders slumped. “Tomorrow…?”

“Yeah. I’m really sorry.”

Mika forced a smile even though no one could see it. “It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

“Cheer up, okay? We’ll hang out soon!”

“Mm.” Mika hung up, setting the phone aside.

She pulled her knees to her chest, pouting at the TV. Riku was having fun with Kenji, and her friends were too busy. She was all alone.

To pass the time, she tried different things.

She lined up her plushies and made them “talk” to each other. That only lasted ten minutes before she sighed and flopped backward.

She grabbed a brush and styled her hair into braids. Then into pigtails. Then into a messy bun. None of it made her feel better.

She even turned on the TV and flipped through channels, but nothing caught her interest.

Every so often, she glanced toward the hallway, hoping Riku would come out.

Eventually, after what felt like forever, she heard footsteps. Mika jumped to her feet, eyes bright.

“Riku! You’re done?!”

Riku walked into the kitchen, headset still around his neck. He grabbed a glass and filled it with water. “Nah. Just needed a drink.”

Mika froze. “…Oh.”

He downed the water in a single gulp, then set the glass in the sink. “Okay, back to the game.”

“W-wait!” Mika reached out, but he was already heading back.

He waved without looking back. “Later!”

The door shut again.

Mika’s fists clenched at her sides. Her chest tightened with frustration. She wanted to scream.

And that’s exactly what she did when Riku returned to his PC.

She barged into his room, cheeks puffed, eyes watery. “Enough already! You’ve been playing all day! Don’t you care about spending time with me?!”

Riku blinked at her, surprised. “What the... Mika? I told you I’m busy!”

“You’re ignoring me!” she shot back. “It’s always Kenji this, Kenji that! What about me?”

Riku frowned, standing from his chair. “Why are you acting like this? I’m allowed to do my own thing!”

“You’re supposed to be my friend, not my… my roommate who never talks to me!” Mika’s voice cracked, her pout trembling.

Riku ran a hand through his hair. “You can’t control my life, Mika. I get to do what I want, okay?”

Her lips quivered. “Then… then maybe I should just—”

She stopped, biting her lip hard, tears threatening to spill.

For a long moment, they just stared at each other.

Riku opened his mouth to argue again… but then, suddenly, an idea sparked.

“…Wait. You know what?” he said slowly. “You can join us.”

Mika blinked, startled. “…Huh?”

“Yeah. Come play with us.” He smirked a little. “That way you’ll stop whining.”

Mika’s eyes widened, her entire face lighting up like a firework. “REALLY?!”

“Really,” he said, trying not to laugh at how quickly her mood flipped.

Mika squealed, bouncing on her toes. “Eee! Okay, okay! What do I do?!”

“Go grab your laptop,” Riku instructed. “I’ll set everything up.”

“Right!” She dashed off to her room, tripping over her own feet in her rush.

Riku chuckled, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”

He sat back down, waiting as his screen flickered with the game menu.

And so, with Mika’s laptop in tow, the rest of the evening was about to change completely.