Kneel

Riku usually doodled on a piece of paper before class started.

Not today. His eyes were squarely focused on the entrance instead.

The tenseness in his muscles was starting to get painful.

Soon enough, a wave of white flashes so strong that it drowned out the morning sun lit the hallway. The sound followed—a dozen camera shutters all clicking at once and the muffled roar of people losing their minds.

“Miss Kagayaki has arrived for her second day of classes!!”

“Praise the Ice Princess! Praise Kagayaki!”

“Ohmigod is this really happening?!”

Yes, it was, random girl fan, Riku thought. Terrifyingly so.

It seemed like forever before Naomi clicked the door open and finally entered the classroom.

And as Riku got a closer look at her…

No…

Riku’s worst fears were confirmed.

Naomi’s face no longer looked wild, free, cruel and intoxicating like yesterday’s.

She had completely reined herself in.

Naomi had transformed into Miss Kagayaki.

Kagayaki didn’t simply sit at her desk, either. She continued with those inch-perfect movements of hers, seemingly straight toward him.

The classroom held its breath.

For a long time, neither of them said anything. She just stared down at him.

Then… Kagayaki opened her mouth.

“Bend to me and apologize.”

…

“...What for?”

“And to think I have to explain this to you…” Kagayaki groaned, flicking a strand of her hair backwards with poise. “In an earnest attempt to reconnect with my childhood friend, I was instead met with hostility and rage. An apology is the least you can give for such an infraction.”

Riku’s mind raced.

This wasn't how she usually bullied. The real Naomi would make a deriding comment on his character, or that she was better than him.

He looked around. His heart pumped wildly.

The phones were out, he reminded himself. Which meant many people would judge whatever came next. Even doing nothing was not an option.

Hana, too, was staring with wide eyes, waiting for him to crumble.

He shook his head, dismissing the doubt instantly.

They want a show? A slow grin stretched across Riku's lips. I'll give them a show.

Because there was one thing neither she nor the audience understood about this moment. 

They thought he was being humiliated. But Riku?

He felt incredible. 

Being the sole target of her laser-focused energy was a jolt of electricity he hadn't felt in seven years.

So Riku stood from his desk. 

The sudden movement made her flinch.

Then he did what no one, especially her, expected him to do.

He kneeled.

It wasn’t a simple dogeza, a bow of shame.

He grabbed her hand. She tried to flinch away—but his reflexes were faster.

He held Kagayaki’s hand firmly...

And kissed the back of it.

He looked up, his eyes locking directly onto hers.

“I am sorry for what I said and did yesterday. It was unbecoming for someone of your stature. It won’t happen again.”

THWACK!

The sound of his hand being slapped away echoed as if the classroom were a cave.

The classroom gasped.

Riku stared up, rubbing the back of his hand. It stung.

But he wasn't looking at his hand.

He was looking at her. 

Why did I do that? I should be detested by her and all that she stood for. Why? Why? WHY?

And why did I like it when she slapped my hand away?!

Kagayaki's hair covered her face from most of the camera angles, but from down here, he could see everything.

He thought he’d see anger. He didn't.

Instead, Kagayaki’s cheeks were blood red. Her eyes were slightly watery, wide with what he presumed to be pure shock.

Riku thought the only way he could break the "Ice Princess" character Naomi played was by doing something equally outrageous. But as he looked at her flustered, real face, he realized there was something deeper within him that he didn't want to admit.

Some part of him was glad that he did this.

Because for the first time in a long, long time, Riku thought of her not as a friend, but as someone who was incredibly, insanely cute.

“...I-Idiot,” Kagayaki simply whispered.

“Well, well, well. What’s all this ruckus?”

A new voice entered the space.

Riku looked back toward the entrance.

From the sounds of voices rising, Riku soon connected the dots.

Yuuji. Riku recognized him now. This wasn't just some guy; the hashtag #TeamYuuji meant something.

He was Watanabe Yuuji, from the famous boy group STRIVEEE.

Yuuji strode forward, placing himself between Riku (still kneeling) and Naomi. “What did you do to Miss Kagayaki…?”

Shit. Riku’s mind finally caught up.

By trying to break her out of whatever trap kept Kagayaki around... he'd just tipped the scales, handed "The Hero" his perfect entrance…

And made himself the villain.