Chapter 2 – “Just One of the Guys”

“Race you to the crossing!”

Riko barely heard Daichi shout before he was already sprinting ahead, his bag flapping behind him.

“Oh, you’re so on!” she yelled, taking off after him.

They dashed past convenience stores, startled cats, and a row of vending machines. Daichi hopped the curb at the end, spinning around triumphantly. “Ha! Still faster than you, Riko-bro!”

Riko huffed, hands on her knees. “You cheated! You started before I said go!”

“Excuses, excuses.” He grinned and held out a hand. “Loser buys juice.”

“You wish!” she snapped, slapping his hand away—only for him to grab her in a sudden headlock.

“Say it! I’m the fastest!” he laughed, ruffling her hair.

“Never!” she shouted, squirming and throwing an elbow at his ribs. He yelped, stumbling back.

“Ow! Okay, okay, you win!”

She smirked, brushing her messy bangs out of her face. “That’s what you get for underestimating me.”

“Geez, violent much?”

“Call it self-defense, genius.”

They both started laughing—easy, genuine, the kind of laughter that only childhood friends share.

And yet, as his smile lingered, Riko felt something in her chest twist weirdly.

Her heart thumped, loud enough she swore he’d hear it.

‘Why does he have to smile like that?’

---

They reached their usual stop by the vending machines. Daichi tapped the top of one, and two cans clattered out—one for each of them.

“Oi, what’d I say about wasting money?” Riko scolded, but she still took the can.

“It’s called the winner’s reward,” he said, cracking his open.

She rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. “Thanks.”

Daichi clinked his can lightly against hers. “Cheers, bro.”

That word again.

Bro.

It hit her harder than the fizzy sweetness that followed.

She tried to laugh it off. “You really can’t stop saying that, huh?”

He blinked, confused. “What? Bro? It’s kinda your title now.”

“Title? What am I, the King of Soccer?”

“Queen, maybe. You’d look terrible in a crown, though.”

She glared. “You wanna find out how terrible I can look when I punch you?”

He held up his hands, laughing. “Okay, okay, chill! I’m joking!”

Riko puffed her cheeks, sipping her drink.

He always treated her like that—like a buddy, a rival, a guy.

Never as a girl.

And that realization stung worse than losing a match.

---

“Hey,” Daichi said suddenly, turning toward her. “You’ve got something in your hair.”

“Huh?”

He leaned closer before she could react, brushing a small leaf from her ponytail.

“There,” he said simply.

Her face went boom red. She could smell his shampoo—mint and soap—and her brain just shut down.

“Th-thanks,” she stammered, stepping back.

He didn’t even notice. “No problem. You’re such a mess after practice, you always have leaves or grass stuck to you.”

“Wh—You didn’t have to say it like that!” she shouted, flailing her arms.

Daichi laughed. “You make it too easy to tease you.”

Riko turned away, cheeks burning. “Idiot.”

---

They started walking again, the quiet between them softer than before.

Daichi shoved his hands in his pockets. “Hey, Riko.”

“Yeah?”

“Remember when we used to fight over snacks in elementary school?”

“How could I forget? You stole all the strawberry pocky.”

“You started it!” he laughed.

“I won though.”

“True.”

They both smiled.

He sighed, tilting his head toward the sunset. “You know… I’m glad we’re still friends.”

The way he said friends—so casual, so normal—made her heart ache a little.

“Yeah,” she said quietly, “me too.”

---

At home that night, Riko flopped onto her bed, holding her phone above her face. A single thought kept looping in her head.

> He said “friends.”

She buried her face in the pillow and groaned. “Why do I care so much?!”

She could take a soccer ball to the gut and laugh, but one smile from him and her brain melted.

“Stupid Daichi… calling me bro like I’m one of the guys.”

Her phone buzzed. Mina again.

> Mina: Sooo… did Daichi say anything cute today? 👀

Riko: No. He called me BRO again.

Mina: LOL girl you’re basically digging your own friendzone. Wear a skirt or something.

Riko: Not happening.

Mina: Then stay Riko-bro forever 😘

Riko tossed her phone aside, face red. “As if I’d wear a skirt just for him…”

A pause.

“…Would that even work?”

She sat up, groaning into her hands.

Why did being “just one of the guys” suddenly feel so lonely?

---

The next morning, she met Daichi at the gate as usual. He grinned, raising a hand. “Yo, Riko-bro!”

Her heart squeezed painfully—but she smiled anyway.

“Yo,” she said back, bumping his fist.

If he couldn’t see her as a girl yet…

She’d just have to make him notice someday.

---