Inexperienced, Part 1

Male2 jumped back, startled by the sudden intrusion. "W..What the-..? Boyfriend!? The hell, man?"

He found his footing and quickly regained his composure, smirking as he looked at the boyfriend, who was trying to catch his breath, his heart pounding too hard for words.

"What the fuck, dude? What are you even doing here? Did you follow us?" Male2 taunted, putting on an act of fear as he clung to Riko. "Oh my god, I think Mr. Boyfriend followed us, Riko~."

Riko, caught off guard, stuttered in response, "... W-..What…? Are you for real!?" Her surprise was evident, and under the pressure of the moment and Male2's theatrical display, she inadvertently played along with his narrative.

Yuuto watched the scene unfold with a mix of admiration and urgency. 'Dear God, this guy is a top-tier player! Without a word from the ex-boyfriend, Male2 has already tipped the odds in his favor, using the momentum to manipulate the situation for Riko. By putting words in her mouth, he's turned a minor intrusion into a major spectacle, further antagonizing the ex-boyfriend. Well, the boyfriend paid the cash. If I don't act fast, words aren't the only thing Male2 will be putting in her mouth tonight...'

Yuuto chuckled quietly to himself and mumbled, "Good one, me. Gotta write that down."

The Guy stammered, "Ah…~ I… I…!"

Yuuto's thoughts raced, 'Ah, here we go again, just like back in the classroom! About to back down before stepping up! I need to intervene… Oh, this is it!!! Why have I written thousands of NTR redemption fanfictions!?'

'Because you're a sick fuck?'

'No time for self-reflection, this was all to prepare me for this moment!!! All of my training! All of my effort!!! It all comes down to this. Time for Anti-Netorare Man to SHINE!!'

Meanwhile, Riko confronted the boyfriend, her voice laced with irritation, "Oh my god, you seriously followed us!? What's wrong with you!?" Male2 remained coolly attached to her, smirking and giving the Guy a challenging look.

The Guy fumbled for words, "Oh… I just… I…"

Seizing the moment, Yuuto whispered urgently through the door.

"I followed YOU here, Riko."

Hearing the prompt, the Guy repeated instinctively, grappling for anything to say, "I followed YOU here, Riko."

Inside his head, he screamed in frustration, 'ZIMBABWWWWWWEEEEE!!!!' mortified by his own parroted response.

He braced himself, expecting Riko to call the police. But instead, something unexpected happened. Instead of disgust or fear, there was something else in her eyes—a glimmer he thought was long gone. Hope.

Yuuto watched the unfolding drama with a sense of vindication. 'I fucking knew it,' he thought, a smug smirk crossing his face.

—FLASHBACK—

Riko: "The air is too thick in here."

—END FLASHBACK—

Yuuto reflected, 'All this time, she was waiting. Waiting for you to be bold. Even if it means making a fool out of yourself. Because the truth is, any girl would be swayed if her stalker was Tom Hardy. And in her eyes, YOU are her Tom Hardy. Well, if he was a massive coward.'

Male2 casually threw in his comment, further stirring the pot. "Bro, following a girl at night? That's just creepy. You're like a stalker."

Yuuto thought quickly, 'He strikes back; he's desperate. I won't let my client be swayed!!!' He prompted the guy to defend his actions, "Riko, I was scared to lose you."

Hearing Riko's name re-centered the guy's resolve.

"I was so scared of losing you, Riko. I just had to do it."

Male2 chuckled, tightening his grip around her casually. "Scared? Dude, I INVITED you! It was you who didn't want to go with your girlfriend..." He said, his hand still around her neck.

Yuuto internally cheered, 'You put up a fair fight, Male2. But this match is mine!!!'

"I just couldn't help myself anymore, Rei—"

The Guy cut in sharply, correcting himself as reality settled in, "... She isn't my girlfriend anymore, just so you know." He then took a determined step away from the door, away from Yuuto, and toward the pair.

"What?" Male2 responded, clearly taken aback.

"....What…?" Riko echoed, her voice tinged with surprise and confusion.

Yuuto couldn't help but let out an intrigued, "Oooh?" as he observed the reactions, curious about how the situation would unfold next.

The Guy's gaze fixated on Male2's arm casually draped around Riko.

'What am I even doing anymore… Oh right…' he thought, reflecting on his inaction.

'...I was doing nothing all this time… Nothing for you.'

"You see, if Riko was still my girlfriend—she'd knock that hand of yours right off. She wouldn't allow someone else's arm," he stated firmly.

Male2 smirked. "Oh? Sounds like you think you can read her mind or something. Hey, Riko, did he read your mind a lot before?"

Yuuto sensed the tension escalating. 'This is getting worrisome, maybe I should interve—'

"I can't read her mind. But I've known her since we were kids. If she knew how much I... If she knew how much someone loved her, she wouldn't openly hurt them like that," the Guy countered, his voice tinged with emotion.

Male2 laughed mockingly. "Oh haha, wow. So now he says you would purposely let me hug you to hurt him, because you know he loves you. Seriously, can't friends hug?"

"That's the thing. You've realized it too, right, Riko? I never let you experience how much I cared. It's practically the same as not caring at all… That's why you let yourself go this far with him… And… I get it," the Guy confessed, a look of understanding crossing his face.

"So, now you say it was YOU who didn't give a fuck—" Male2 started to retort.

At that moment, Riko slowly placed her palm on Male2's hand. There was a brief pause before she gently, but firmly, removed his arm from around her.

"Can you give us a minute?" she asked Male2 calmly.

"Wow, okay… Stalker Boy… Just sayin'..." Male2 said with a taunting grin as he stood up and walked away, leaving the two alone but not without a parting shot to the Guy, "Managed to delay the inevitable… Boyfriend."

"No, you stay in this room too!! I'm not done!" the Guy exclaimed, his voice a mix of anger and anxiety.

"The lady asked me to leave, what can I do…" Male2 shrugged as he exited.

Yuuto watched in exasperation. 'Ohhh MY GOD, WHAT IS THIS DUMBASS DOING!!!? DON'T FALL FOR HIS TAUNTING!!!!'

The Guy clenched his teeth and tightened his fists, his frustration boiling over.

"IF I CARED ABOUT RIKO AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT I DID, I WOULD'VE STOOD UP TO YOU TWO ASSHOLES!!! I WOULDN'T BE SO AFRAID!!!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the room.

Riko looked at him, her expression filled with concern.

Male2 halted his steps just short of the door, turning around with a smirk.

"Now, calling us assholes for offering her our company is going a bit far, don't you think? I expect an apology from you after you two are done here," Male2 demanded with a cocky tilt of his head.

"NOOO!!!" The Guy screamed, stomping his foot, his whole body shaking with emotion.

"You guys are scum... are pieces of shit... All you did was drive a wedge between Riko and me, using friendship as your excuse... But I'm WORSE… I let..." He trailed off, his gaze falling to the floor, his voice cracking as he bowed his head before Male2.

"I let garbage like YOU get close to us…" he said, lifting his eyes to meet Male2's, his stare intense and unwavering.

Male2's face shifted to an expression of shock.

"Okay, you know what? I'm not going to let you insult me and my friend!" Male2 snapped, his temper flaring as he started advancing toward The Guy, who recoiled slightly. Riko tensed, preparing to intervene.

"I'm gonna teach you a les—" Male2 began, but was suddenly interrupted by a muscular arm grabbing him from the freshly opened door.

NotYuuto, with his distinct accent and peculiar grammar, interjected, "We in IRELAND can sense danger long before it happens, yiss. Me, take care this criminal. You two, use alone time, fix issues, yis?" He then powerfully pulled Male2 outside the room in a swift motion and shut the door with a flourish.

"Was that the mixer attendant..." Riko murmured, puzzled.

"Y-yeah… No… He's just some guy I paid to help me get to you," The Guy admitted awkwardly.

"Oh… OH… I see. Well, he said we've got to fix our issues… I don't know, from what you've said, do we really have problems that need fixing? It seems you already have everything figured out," she said, crossing her arms and looking at him critically.

"No… We don't. None of this would have been a problem if I'd just told you about it the first day it started," The Guy responded, his voice softening as he acknowledged his own shortcomings.

Riko's question was simple but heavy. "The first day… What started?"

"When they first approached us. I wanted to die, really…" Shun confessed, his voice strained with the weight of his past inaction.

Riko remained silent, feeling that nothing needed to be added.

"Riko… I… When I followed you here, I was trying to make a miracle happen. To get you back," Shun said, his voice faltering.

"Oh? Why, was I ever away from you?" Riko asked, her tone gentle yet probing.

"You were. Riko, I'm going to be straight with you… I think… We should end this. This relationship," Shun declared, his words cutting through the air.

"...Are you wussing out again?" Riko asked, her lips pressed tightly together.

"You can't wuss out of something you weren't committed to in the first place," Shun replied dryly.

Riko fell silent again.

"See? You think so too," he added, trying to lighten the mood with a chuckle that carried a mix of playfulness and sorrow.

"The funny thing is… I know I don't care enough about you. But… I just can't get these images out of my head!!! I can't stop them from hurting me…" Shun confessed, clutching his chest as if to quell his heart's ache.

"Images of you with other guys, enjoying yourself… Images of you falling for someone else… Images of someone else being your first… I know it's crude to say, and over the top… I'm sorry, I've said some unnecessary things," he stammered, his voice trailing off.

"Shun…?" Riko murmured, her voice laced with concern.

"And you are so beautiful, kind, and strong. Before they ever came along, I was too caught up in how others looked at you as we walked hand in hand. Eventually, I became more afraid of losing our connection than I was enjoying my time with you… And when my fears materialized, I was paralyzed," Shun continued, a single tear escaping his control.

"In truth? If they hadn't done it, I would've inevitably let someone else. Eventually," he admitted, looking away.

"I don't deserve you, Riko… How can I be your boyfriend when I can't even protect myself? When I'm too scared to show you and everyone how much I care… How much I love you…" His voice was earnest as he wiped his tears, struggling to maintain his composure.

"I know there's no chance for an 'us' anymore. I just hope you can forgive me for failing you like this…" he finished quietly, his gaze downturned as he fought back more tears.

Riko stood from the couch and walked over to Shun.

Shun looked up at her, and she wrapped him in a tight hug.

"You finally got the first part down, haven't you…" she whispered into his ear, her voice warm with a light giggle.

"H..huh..?" Shun responded, puzzled.

"Nothing… It's alright…" Riko reassured him.

------- 10 years ago ------

Riko: "Woah, are you okay!!?"

Shun: "sob it hurts…!"

Riko: "Someone come help us!!!"

"Why did you do it if you were going to cry so much, you baby!!? That kid was a fourth grader, almost three years bigger than you!"

"Because… sob It hurt me—here—watching him bully you, Riko…" He wept as he pointed to his tiny chest.

"Shun... You idiot… sob It hurts me too, watching you get hurt… Don't do it ever again..!!"

"Riko… Let's marry when we get older…"

"Only when you win a fight and stop crying, then I'll think about it."

----------------------------

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door...

Yuuto stood with a satisfied smirk, scribbling in his notebook as he observed the subdued Male2 and Male1, alongside the flustered mixer manager. He couldn't help but reflect, 'Huh… I actually did it... sort of. Your "confession" was kinda cringe, a bit all over the place with some unnecessary details... Pretty much what I'd expect from an inexperienced novice in relationships, but hey - you actually got her to listen. I hereby declare: Love - 1, Netorare - 0.'

NotYuuto turned to the group with feigned indignation, "Yiss, I tell you, these ruffians. Do you boys have ANY idea how much trouble you are in!? Don't you have any sympathy for good ol' me doing a routine check in every bar and pub around here to ensure everyone is safe!? AND YOU, mista' manager, yiss? HOW COULD YOU LET SUCH A THING HAPPEN? TWO YOUNG MEN WITH A DEFENSELESS SMALL GIRL IN A MIXER ALONE!? Have you no shame or a shred of caution!? Especially when there's a psycho running around undressing people and 'messing with them'?"

The Mixer Manager, bewildered and defensive, stuttered, "Me-... Messing with them? Wha-what are you saying!?"

NotYuuto persisted, "Yiss, do you need me to spell it out for you… Without… Sparing… Any… Detail?"

"N-...No, your message is clear," the Mixer Manager hastily conceded.

Male1, trying to defend their innocence, interjected, "Yo, Officer, do we look like criminals!? We're in HIGH-SCHOOL!! We came here to HANG OUT!"

"Criminals can be of any age, yiss. When 5-year-olds commit murder in my homeland, in IRELAND, we drop-kick them down a raging waterfall. It's a long tradition, yiss," NotYuuto replied, his face dead serious.

Male2, skeptical, started, "Hold up, I got a friend from Ireland and—"

"YOU ARE THE WORST OF ALL, YOU DON'T GET TO TALK, PRE-SEX-OFFENDER!!!" NotYuuto exploded, cutting him off. "DO NOT FORGET WHAT I SAW IN THERE, YOU ARE THE MOST SUSPICIOUS OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM!"

Words by Yuuto, a Pre-Asylum-Room-Defender.

Male2 started to object, "But I—"

NotYuuto cut him off, his voice booming, "HAD I COME TWO SECONDS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE FILED AN ASSAULT REPORT AND HAD TO TAKE YOU TO THE STATION!"

Male2 attempted to interject, "I—"

Yuuto closed the gap suddenly, his face inches from Male2's, his gaze piercing through his sunglasses. "AM I WRONG!?" he bellowed.

"But just—" Male2 tried again.

"AM I WRONG!!?" NotYuuto shouted louder, moving his head even closer, his tone that of a parent scolding a child.

Male2 fell silent.

"I THOUGHT SO. Now, you two, GIVE ME THE PHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR PARENTS (even though I have them from my investigations)—"

"It's alright… Officer," Riko interrupted calmly as she opened the door behind Yuuto, followed by Shun.

"...Are you four acquainted?" NotYuuto inquired, looking slightly taken aback.

"We are. We're all schoolmates. Nobody tried to force anything on anyone here," Riko clarified.

"Nobody tried to do anything here, except this STALKER HERE. Now that I think about it, he ADMITTED to stalking her here, why aren't you arresting him!?" Male2 accused.

"Tatsu… Be quiet. You know nothing about him," Riko rebuked boldly.

Tatsu (Male2) chuckled, his gaze shifting between the bold Riko and the dejected Shun. "She is wasted on you."

"She was wasted on me. She deserves better," Shun conceded solemnly.

"But you assholes… Aren't better in my eyes. And if by some hand of fate, she sees you as worthy of her love, I'll stand down, for her," Shun declared, his tone a mixture of resignation and resolve.

"Oh please, a wimp like you will always stand down regardless. She deserves a real man," Tatsu scoffed dismissively.

"She does. So at least… Let me say this: Officer, handcuff me. Because that's the only way I won't escort Riko to her home tonight. Without you assholes," Shun retorted, his voice firm.

Riko let out a small chuckle, then addressed her other companions, "Sorry, Tatsu. I'm gonna go early this time. Bye, Yato (Male1)."

As Riko walked out with Shun, Yuuto, Male1, Male2, and the Mixer Manager collectively wondered, 'What in the actual fuck does she see in this loser?'

Despite their confusion, the four men shared a moment of odd camaraderie, watching in bafflement as Riko left the mixer with Shun.

TO BE CONTINUED...

----

Heya, fellers! Author here, and I am so happy right now that people actually see this ;-; This is my first novel... THANK YOUUU!!

The story doesn't end there, there's more to their arc :) Yuuto also hasn't shown all he has... >:)