3 | Caught in the Crossfire

The morning sun spilled through the windows as Riku strolled into school, his confident smirk firmly in place. It was a new day, and he was ready to tackle it head-on. Or so he thought.

The moment he entered the classroom, he froze. Yumi and Sakura were standing by his desk, deep in conversation. Worse, Aiko was seated nearby, clearly eavesdropping while pretending to read a book.

Riku (muttering):

Perfect. Just perfect.

As he cautiously approached, Yumi noticed him first.

Yumi (grinning):

Riku! Just the guy we were talking about.

Riku (nervously):

Uh… talking about me? Sounds serious.

Sakura glanced away, her cheeks pink.

Yumi:

Yeah, serious. Sakura said you helped her with her art project last week. Didn't know you were so talented.

Riku (scratching his neck):

Oh, you know… I dabble.

Yumi:

Really? Because I also heard you stayed after school to tutor Aiko in math. What's up with that?

At this, Aiko looked up from her book, her expression unreadable.

Aiko:

Perhaps he enjoys doing good deeds. Though I wouldn't exactly call his tutoring effective.

Riku (smirking):

Come on, Aiko. You passed the test, didn't you?

Aiko (adjusting her glasses):

By one point.

The tension between the girls was palpable, and Riku felt like a deer caught in headlights. Before he could diffuse the situation, a loud voice interrupted.

Random Classmate:

Kisaragi! There's someone looking for you outside.

Relieved for the distraction, Riku quickly excused himself and headed for the school gate.

Standing there was a tall, elegant woman dressed in a sleek business suit. Her presence exuded wealth and authority. It was Miyuki Saionji, Emiko's older sister.

Miyuki (smiling):

Good morning, Riku. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.

Riku (glaring playfully):

Just my peaceful existence. What are you doing here, Miyuki?

Miyuki:

I had some business nearby and thought I'd drop by. You owe me a favor, remember?

Riku sighed. Miyuki was always like this—casually dropping bombshells and expecting him to comply.

Riku:

Fine. What do you need?

She handed him a sleek envelope, her expression turning serious.

Miyuki:

This. Deliver it to Emiko for me. And don't open it.

Before he could respond, she was already walking away, her heels clicking against the pavement.

Riku (grumbling):

Why does everyone in that family treat me like an errand boy?

By lunchtime, Riku found himself juggling even more chaos. Yumi had challenged him to a sprint after school, Sakura had asked for advice on shading techniques, and Aiko wanted to discuss some student council matters.

As he sat eating his lunch in peace, his phone buzzed again.

Don't forget our meeting tonight. – Emiko

Riku (muttering):

Do these women ever give me a break?

He leaned back and sighed, trying to piece together how he'd ended up in this mess. His peaceful life as a loner felt like a distant memory. But deep down, he couldn't deny that the excitement kept things interesting.

That evening, Riku met Emiko in a private lounge at an upscale hotel. She was sipping tea, her expression as calm and composed as ever.

Emiko:

You're late.

Riku (sitting down):

Can we skip the scolding and get to the point?

Emiko smirked, sliding the envelope across the table.

Emiko:

You brought it, right?

Riku handed over Miyuki's envelope, resisting the urge to ask what was inside.

Riku:

So, what's this about?

Emiko's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression.

Emiko:

Let's just say… there are people keeping an eye on you, Riku. You should be careful who you trust.

Riku (raising an eyebrow):

That's a pretty dramatic thing to say. Care to elaborate?

Emiko:

Not yet. But you'll understand soon enough.

Riku left the meeting feeling uneasy. Emiko's cryptic warnings were never a good sign.

As he walked home, he bumped into Miyuki, who was waiting for him near the park.

Miyuki:

So? How did it go?

Riku:

She took the envelope and gave me another cryptic warning. What are you two scheming, anyway?

Miyuki (smirking):

That's for us to know. Just keep playing your part, Riku.

Riku (groaning):

Why do I feel like I'm stuck in some kind of conspiracy?

Miyuki:

Because you are. But don't worry—you'll thank me later.

Back at home, Riku lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His life was spinning out of control, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon.

Riku (muttering):

Keeping secrets is harder than it looks. But hey, who doesn't love a little chaos?

With that, he closed his eyes, preparing for whatever madness the next day would bring.

--End--