Chapter 3 – Mina’s Genius Plan

Riko slumped over her desk, chin buried in her arms.

The lunch bell had rung five minutes ago, but she hadn’t moved an inch.

Across from her, Mina Hanabira chewed on a piece of yakisoba bread, watching her friend’s misery like it was an episode of her favorite drama.

“So,” Mina finally said, “are you gonna tell me why you look like a kicked puppy?”

Riko groaned into her sleeves. “Daichi.”

Mina’s eyes gleamed instantly. “Aha. The bro strikes again.”

“Don’t say it like that,” Riko mumbled.

“I will absolutely say it like that.” Mina leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “What’d he do this time? Forget your birthday? Eat your lunch? Call you ‘dude’ again?”

“He… called me ‘bro’ in front of everyone.” Riko’s voice was a mix of frustration and embarrassment. “Then he ruffled my hair like I’m some middle school boy.”

Mina gasped dramatically. “The horror! Assaulted by affection and friendzoning at the same time!”

“Not funny!” Riko yelled, sitting up straight.

Mina grinned. “Oh, it’s hilarious. You’re just finally realizing you like him.”

“I—wha—like him?! No way!” Riko’s face turned the color of a ripe tomato.

Mina smirked. “Come on, I’ve known you since fifth grade. You’ve always liked him. You just thought punching him was the same as flirting.”

“That’s not true!”

“You literally kicked him into a fountain last summer because he said another girl’s hair was cute.”

Riko opened her mouth to argue—then stopped.

“Okay, maybe that one was… kind of my fault,” she muttered.

Mina clasped her hands together like a detective who’d cracked the case. “Exactly. You, my dear Riko, are head over cleats for Daichi Sakamoto.”

Riko groaned, covering her face. “What am I supposed to do about it? He sees me as one of the guys!”

Mina’s grin turned wicked. “Simple. Make him see you as a girl.”

---

Riko blinked. “How?”

“Leave it to me.” Mina slammed her palm on the desk like a mad scientist unveiling her greatest invention. “Operation: Feminine Charm Overload!”

“That name sounds dangerous.”

“It is dangerous. For his heart.”

Riko frowned. “I don’t think mine’s ready for that either.”

“Too late. Step one—appearance. You’ve gotta stop dressing like you’re about to play soccer in the hallway.”

“What’s wrong with my tracksuit?”

Mina gave her a flat look. “Everything.”

She stood and circled Riko like a fashion critic. “Hair tied like a boy, no makeup, sneakers, baggy uniform. You’re cute, Riko, but you’re hiding it under a layer of ‘don’t mess with me.’”

“I’m comfortable!”

“Comfortable doesn’t make him fall in love.”

Riko slumped. “Do I have to wear a skirt or something?”

“Yes. And not your sports one—the real school skirt. Ironed. And hair down.”

Riko’s face twisted. “But it gets in my eyes!”

“Then let him move it for you.” Mina winked.

Riko made a strangled noise. “You’re evil.”

“I prefer ‘romantically strategic.’”

---

By the time classes ended, Mina had already dragged her to the shopping arcade near the station.

“Why are we here again?” Riko asked, clutching her backpack like a shield.

“Because this,” Mina declared, holding up a small cosmetic pouch, “is where your transformation begins.”

“Makeup?!”

“Light makeup. Just enough to make him realize you have eyelashes.”

“I do have eyelashes!”

“Then let’s make them visible!”

Mina pulled her into a small shop, humming happily while Riko stumbled after her. The clerk smiled warmly. “Looking for something for a friend?”

“Yes!” Mina answered. “She wants to look cute for her crush.”

Riko nearly exploded. “M-Mina!!”

The clerk giggled. “Aww, that’s adorable.”

“Not adorable!” Riko shouted, but her protests were drowned under Mina’s chatter about lip tint and hair ribbons.

---

An hour later, Riko stood outside the shop, hair slightly curled at the ends, a pink ribbon tied loosely near her ear. Mina looked smug.

“See? You look like an actual girl now.”

“I am an actual girl!”

“Yeah, but now he’ll notice.”

Riko stared at her reflection in the glass window. The girl staring back didn’t look like “Riko-bro” anymore. Her eyes seemed softer. Her lips had a faint shine. Her hair framed her face instead of hiding it.

She blushed. “I look… weird.”

“You look cute,” Mina corrected. “Trust me, he’s gonna choke on his lunch tomorrow.”

---

The next day at school, Riko stood frozen at the gate.

Mina had texted her “Good luck, soldier 💋” that morning.

Now her hands were shaking.

“This was a bad idea,” she muttered. “I should’ve worn the tracksuit.”

But it was too late—Daichi was already there, waving.

“Yo, Riko-bro—”

He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened slightly, scanning her face.

“...Huh?”

Riko’s heart almost stopped. “Wh-What?”

He blinked. “You… look different.”

“Different bad or different good?” she asked nervously.

“Uh—different. Like… huh.”

“Huh? What does that mean!?” she yelled, flustered.

He scratched his cheek. “You just… look more like… a girl today, I guess.”

Her brain short-circuited. “W-What do you mean by that!?”

He shrugged. “I dunno! Just feels weird calling you bro right now.”

Riko froze. Her heart practically jumped into orbit.

He noticed.

Daichi rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Anyway, wanna walk to class together?”

“Y-yeah,” she stammered, trying to hide her smile.

As they walked side by side, Riko’s mind raced.

> “Feels weird calling you bro right now.”

That sentence replayed in her head like a love song.

Mina’s plan might’ve been insane… but maybe, just maybe, it was working.

---

At lunch, Riko texted Mina under the desk.

> Riko: He noticed.

Mina: I told you so 😎

Riko: He said I look “more like a girl.”

Mina: OMG. Girl, that’s progress!

Riko: My heart’s gonna explode.

Mina: Don’t die before the confession.

Riko tried to hide her smile, but Daichi noticed anyway.

“What’re you grinning at?” he asked, mouth full of rice.

“N-Nothing! Mind your own business!”

He smirked. “You’re acting weird again.”

“Shut up!”

Mina, sitting across the room, flashed her a thumbs-up.

Riko sighed, cheeks red, and took a bite of her lunch.

Maybe Mina really was a genius.

---