Chapter 31 – “College Chaos and Coffee Dates”

College life was nothing like high school — it was louder, faster, and somehow more confusing. Yet for Riko Tachibana and Daichi Sakamoto , the chaos felt… comfortable. Maybe because they were facing it together, even if they were in different faculties.

Riko adjusted her glasses as she hurried across campus, clutching a pile of textbooks that felt heavier than her will to study. “Education majors don’t get enough credit,” she muttered, nearly tripping over a curb. “Why do I have to read this much to teach little kids the alphabet?”

Her phone buzzed.

> Daichi: “Coffee?”

Riko: “I have class.”

Daichi: “So do I.”

Riko: “Then why are you texting me?”

Daichi: “Because you’ll come anyway.”

She frowned at her screen — and smiled in spite of herself.

---

By the time she reached Java Junction, their usual hangout near campus, Daichi was already there — leaning back in his chair, sipping coffee, looking infuriatingly at ease. His Literature notes were spread across the table, though she doubted he was actually studying.

“You’re early,” she said, sliding into the seat across from him.

He shrugged. “You’re late.”

“I had class.”

“You always have class.”

“I’m trying to get a degree, idiot.”

He grinned. “And I’m trying to get a girlfriend who stops calling me an idiot.”

Riko froze mid-sip, the heat of the coffee matching the warmth creeping up her cheeks. “You already have a girlfriend, moron.”

Daichi leaned forward, smirking. “Do I? You sure?”

“Daichi!” she hissed, but she couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips.

It was ridiculous how natural this felt — how they could tease each other the same way they always had, yet somehow, every joke now carried a heartbeat beneath it.

---

Their daily ritual continued for weeks — shared lunches, library “study sessions” that turned into laughter fits, and endless debates about who’d fall asleep first in lectures.

Riko noticed how Daichi’s presence seemed to light up every room he entered — especially when other girls were around. One afternoon, as she passed by his faculty hall, she saw him helping a cute junior with her English essay.

He leaned close, pointing at her notebook, his voice patient and low. The girl giggled.

Something twisted inside Riko’s chest. She told herself she wasn’t jealous — she was just… irritated. Yes, irritated that he looked so helpful.

When they met later at the café, Riko crossed her arms. “So. You’re tutoring now?”

Daichi blinked. “Huh?”

“That junior. The one who couldn’t stop laughing. What was that about?”

“Oh, you mean Sakura? She just— wait.” He paused, a grin forming. “You’re jealous.”

Riko nearly choked on her drink. “I— what?! No way!”

Daichi tilted his head, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “You totally are.”

“Am not!”

“Then why are you glaring like you’re about to fight her in the parking lot?”

“Because you—!” she started, but stopped when he chuckled softly. His tone shifted, gentler now.

“Hey,” he said, leaning closer, his hand brushing hers. “You’re the only one I want to study life with, Riko.”

Her heart skipped a beat. The café noise faded, her mind blank except for the echo of his words.

Study life with…? Was that his weird way of saying forever?

“You’re such an idiot,” she mumbled, looking down — but she didn’t pull her hand away.

---

They talked for hours that day — about dreams, about the future, about how terrifying and exciting adulthood felt.

“I want to teach elementary kids,” Riko said, eyes lighting up. “I want them to smile when they learn something new. You know… make school fun.”

Daichi nodded. “You’ll be amazing at it.”

“And you?”

He shrugged. “English teacher, maybe. Or a novelist. Or a barista who quotes Shakespeare at customers.”

Riko laughed. “Please don’t do that.”

“Oh, come on. ‘To drink or not to drink, that is the espresso.’”

She threw a napkin at him. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it.”

---

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the café door burst open — and in came Mina, waving her phone like a trophy.

“Guess who’s famous again?” she sang, pulling up a post. On the screen was a collage of Riko and Daichi’s candid coffee shop photos — laughing, bickering, holding hands.

Across the top: #RikoDaichiDaily — The Campus Couple Everyone Ships.

“Mina!” Riko cried. “You’re still doing this?!”

“Of course!” Mina said proudly. “You two are my best-performing content! People love your banter. You’re practically celebrities!”

Daichi leaned back, amused. “Told you we should start charging her royalties.”

“I’m deleting her from my contacts,” Riko muttered.

“You say that every week,” Mina teased before skipping off to another table.

Riko buried her face in her hands. “She’s impossible.”

Daichi chuckled. “Sounds familiar.”

She peeked up, narrowing her eyes. “Careful. I’ll spill my drink on you.”

“Then I’ll just buy you another,” he said with a wink.

---

When they finally stepped out into the cool evening air, the campus lights glimmered like distant stars. They walked side by side — hands brushing, laughter fading into comfortable silence.

Riko looked up at him, eyes soft. “If you keep flirting like that,” she said, trying to sound casual, “I might actually marry you someday.”

Daichi stopped walking, turning to her with that same gentle smile that made her forget how to breathe.

“I’m counting on it,” he said simply.

Riko froze, her face burning, heart fluttering so fast she swore he could hear it. But then she smiled — small, shy, and full of promise.

---

That night, as she lay in bed scrolling through Mina’s “RikoDaichi Daily” page, Riko couldn’t stop smiling. The photos — the laughter — the chaos — it all felt like a story still being written.

And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid of what came next.

Because whatever it was — she and Daichi would face it together.