Riko's Room
The door clicked shut. Riko leaned against it, her heart still pounding from the chase.
Then she smiled.
Actually smiled. A real one.
She crossed to her bed and collapsed onto it, staring at the ceiling. The image replayed in her mind—Kaito and Yuki jumping out the window, leaves exploding around them, their desperate sprint toward the gate.
We chased them. We actually chased them. Like something from a comedy.
She laughed softly. The sound surprised her.
The day had been chaos. Embarrassment. Anger. And somehow... the most fun she'd had in years.
Her door slid open without warning.
Mei stood there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed with analytical precision. "You're smiling."
Riko sat up quickly. "I wasn't—"
"You were." Mei entered, circling her sister like a detective examining a crime scene. "Smiling at the ceiling. After a day where you supposedly wanted to murder someone." She stopped. "Interesting."
Riko's face heated. "It's nothing. I just had a good day. With friends."
Mei's eyes sharpened. She was quiet for a long moment—calculating, connecting dots.
Then she spoke.
"Let me guess. Today, Kaito-senpai got a love letter. Or something like it. The girl got rejected. And now you're smiling."
Riko's jaw dropped. "How did you—"
Mei grinned. "I'm a genius. Also, you're incredibly readable."
"I am NOT readable."
"Riko." Mei's voice was flat. "You're like a book. An open book. With large print. And illustrations."
Riko opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
Nothing came out.
Mei patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. It's cute. In a pathetic way." She headed for the door, then paused. "Dinner in ten minutes. Try to look less like someone in love. Mom will ask questions."
She left.
Riko stared at the closed door, her face burning.
Am I that obvious?
She didn't want to answer that question.
---
Hikari's Room
The door slammed. Hikari dropped onto her bed, face-first into the pillow.
Her mind wouldn't stop.
Why did I freeze?
When Yuki asked that question—do you like Kaito?—her entire body had locked up. Her brain had stopped. Her heart had done something weird and painful.
Why?
She rolled onto her back, staring at the familiar cracks in her ceiling.
He's just a friend. A good friend. The first real friend I've ever had.
But that didn't explain the tightness in her chest. The way her eyes followed him without permission. The way her mood lifted when he spoke—even when he was being logical and annoying.
Do I... like him?
The thought was terrifying.
Like like him. Romantically. Actually want to—
She couldn't even finish the thought.
What if I do? What then? He's Kaito. Perfect Kaito. Talented, smart, kind Kaito. And I'm... me.
The familiar walls rose. Defensiveness. Self-protection.
But beneath them, something else stirred. Something she couldn't name.
When did this happen? When did he stop being just a friend?
She didn't have an answer.
"HI-KA-RI! DINNER!"
Kenji's voice shattered her spiral.
She sat up, blinking. The ceiling was still cracked. Her heart was still confused. But the world was still turning.
"Dinner!" Kenji yelled again. "NOW! Before I eat your share!"
Hikari stood. Stretched. Walked to the door.
But before she opened it, she paused.
I'll figure this out. Eventually.
She hoped.
(End of Chapter 74)