“Stuck with me”

The sweet aroma of melon bread filled the air, the freshly baked treat resting in its neatly folded wrapper as Koji held it out triumphantly. "Behold!" he declared dramatically, holding it aloft like a sacred relic. "The treasure we fought so hard for."

Lily chuckled, taking her own neatly wrapped bread from the tray. "You make it sound like we survived a war just to get this."

Koji sniffed indignantly. "You think this is easy? Fresh melon bread is a rare commodity in this school! It's practically a battlefield out there."

She rolled her eyes, but her smile didn't waver as they made their way to an empty table by the windows. The cafeteria was bustling with noise, but here in the corner, it felt quieter—almost peaceful.

Koji took a massive bite out of his bread, his cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk as he chewed. His face lit up with a childlike glee. "Ahhh," he sighed after swallowing. "This is what happiness tastes like."

Lily took a smaller bite, savoring the soft, sweet flavor that melted on her tongue. "You weren't kidding. This is really good."

"Told you," Koji said, puffing out his chest. "Koji Nakamura never lies about food."

She laughed, the sound light and unrestrained, but her smile faltered slightly as her gaze drifted to him. The memory of what had happened earlier—Hayato grabbing Koji, the cruel words, the way he'd trembled—lingered in her mind. She wanted to ask so many questions: Why do you let them treat you like that? Why don't you fight back? Why don't you tell someone? But the words stayed stuck in her throat.

Koji, oblivious to her inner turmoil, took another bite of his bread, humming happily. "Man, this makes everything better. Bad day? Melon bread. Good day? Melon bread. Existential crisis? You guessed it—melon bread."

She smiled faintly, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him. He had a way of bringing light to even the darkest moments, and for that, she was grateful.

But then Koji's gaze shifted, and his cheerful expression dimmed. "Lily," he said, his voice quieter now. "Your wrist…"

"Huh?" She blinked, looking down at her hand, where a faint but unmistakable red mark was beginning to bloom around her wrist. It was Hayato's doing—his grip, sharp and unrelenting. She hadn't even noticed it before, but now, as she flexed her fingers, a dull ache spread through her skin.

"Oh," she murmured, her voice soft with surprise. "I didn't even feel it until now."

Koji's eyes widened, guilt washing over his face. He set down his bread abruptly, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out but stopped himself, unsure. "I'm so sorry, Lily," he said, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean for—he shouldn't have… If I hadn't…"

"Koji," she interrupted gently, her voice steady despite the stinging in her wrist. She reached across the table, placing her uninjured hand on top of his. "It's okay."

"It's not okay!" Koji blurted out, his voice louder now, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. He quickly ducked his head, his round cheeks reddening. "I mean… it's not fair. You shouldn't have to deal with this. None of this is your fault."

She gave his hand a small squeeze, her green eyes soft and sincere as they met his. "You don't have to apologize. You've done nothing wrong."

He sniffled, his glasses sliding down his nose as he rubbed at his eyes. "But I feel like I have," he mumbled, his voice thick with emotion. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Lily hesitated, her grip on his hand tightening slightly. "Koji," she said softly, "this past week—if it weren't for you—I don't know how I would've made it. You've been my anchor. The reason why this place doesn't feel so overwhelming. You've made everything… bearable."

Koji's head shot up, his eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears. "You mean that?" he asked, his voice small and uncertain.

She nodded, her smile widening. "I mean it. You're the best seat buddy I could've asked for."

For a moment, Koji was silent, his lower lip trembling as he tried to process her words. Then, without warning, he let out a loud, hiccuping sob, tears streaming down his round cheeks. "I'm sorry!" he wailed, his voice cracking. "I'm so sorry, Lily!"

Lily's eyes widened, and she quickly glanced around, her cheeks flushing as more heads turned in their direction. "Koji, keep it down!" she whispered urgently, though she couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped her lips.

But Koji didn't care. He wiped at his tears with the back of his sleeve, sniffling loudly as he sat up straighter. "I promise," he said, his voice shaky but determined. "I promise I'll always be your friend. No matter what. You've got me, Lily. Forever."

She couldn't help but smile, warmth blooming in her chest as she watched him. "I'll hold you to that" she said softly.

Koji nodded fiercely, his round face red and tear-streaked but full of determination. "You better! Because you're stuck with me now."

She laughed, the sound ringing through the cafeteria like a bell. For the first time since arriving at Shinsei High, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she were in the right place with the right person.

The dull ache in her wrist was still there, but it didn't seem so bad anymore.

(＇ｪ＇)

The familiar creak of the front door echoed through the house as Lily stepped inside, kicking off her shoes at the entrance with a soft sigh. The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting golden hues across the wooden floors. Her wrist throbbed faintly beneath the makeshift bandage she'd wrapped around it, but she tried to ignore it. The rest of the school day had gone surprisingly well—uneventful, even—but now she had to face the real challenge: explaining this to her dad.

"Hey, I'm home!" she called out, her voice carrying through the quiet house.

"In here!" Kenjiro's voice responded from the living room.

Lily set her bag down by the door and made her way in, finding her father sprawled on the couch, as usual, his tie loosened and his hair slightly mussed from a long day. He was nursing a can of soda, a rare sight compared to his usual beer.

"How was school?" he asked, not looking up from the TV. A game show blared in the background, some contestant shouting answers to a rapid-fire trivia round.

"It was fine," Lily said quickly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she walked toward the kitchen. "Just, uh, a normal day."

"Normal, huh?" Kenjiro called after her, his tone light but curious. "Then why are you talking like you're trying to rush me out the door?"

"I'm not!" she protested, her voice pitching slightly as she opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. "Totally normal. Completely fine. No drama here."

She wasn't sure if her dad even noticed the bandage yet, but her heart was already racing at the thought of him asking. As if on cue, she heard him clear his throat behind her.

"Uh, kid?" His voice was closer now, and she turned to find him standing in the doorway, his brows furrowed and his gaze fixed squarely on her wrist. "What's with the…?" He gestured vaguely toward her bandaged arm.

Lily blinked, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. "Oh, this?" she said, holding up her wrist with a sheepish grin. "It's nothing! Really, nothing."

Kenjiro crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with one eyebrow arched. "Doesn't look like nothing."

Her mind raced for an explanation, and before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out in a breathless rush.

"Okay, so, you know my friend Koji, right? Well, he kind of tripped—like, big-time tripped—and I tried to catch him, but he's, uh, not exactly light, and I sort of—kind of—hurt my wrist in the process. But it's totally fine now! Just a little bruise. Nothing major. I'm good! No need to worry, Dad!"

She forced a wide, innocent smile, clutching the water bottle like it was a lifeline.

Kenjiro stared at her, his expression a perfect mix of disbelief and confusion. His eyes narrowed slightly, his head tilting as if trying to piece together the whirlwind of words she'd just thrown at him.

"So… let me get this straight," he said slowly, his voice laced with skepticism. "Your friend tripped, you tried to catch him, and somehow you ended up injured?"

"Yes!" Lily said, nodding vigorously. "Exactly. That's exactly what happened."

Her father stared at her a moment longer, then let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You've got to be kidding me. That's the story you're going with?"

"It's not a story!" she insisted, her voice a touch defensive. "It's the truth!"

He studied her for a few more seconds, his sharp gaze searching her face. Lily held her ground, her green eyes wide and earnest. She wasn't lying—not entirely, anyway. The truth was just… selectively edited.

Finally, Kenjiro let out a sigh, ruffling his hair as he stepped back. "Fine, fine. I'll let it slide. But you better not be hiding anything, kid."

"I'm not!" she said quickly, her smile brightening. "I promise."

He gave her a long, measuring look before shrugging and turning back toward the living room. "You're lucky you're a terrible liar, you know that?"

Lily let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, following him with her water bottle in hand. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad."

Kenjiro dropped onto the couch with a groan, reaching for the remote. "Just don't make a habit of catching falling people, all right? Next time, let the big guy hit the floor."

Lily snorted, taking a seat on the armrest of the couch. "Noted."

As the game show resumed, she glanced down at her bandaged wrist, the faint ache still pulsing beneath the fabric. She'd gotten away with it this time, but a small part of her couldn't shake the guilt. She hated keeping things from her dad, but how could she explain the real reason without making him worry?

Kenjiro glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "You sure you're okay?"

She nodded, forcing another smile. "Yeah, Dad. I'm okay."

For now, at least. She just hoped she wouldn't have to explain another "accident" anytime soon.

She sat perched on the armrest of the couch, staring absently at the bandage around her wrist. The dull ache barely registered anymore, but the weight in her chest was harder to ignore. Her dad was flipping through channels, the faint chatter of TV voices filling the room, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Maybe this is what Koji feels, she thought. Not wanting anyone to worry about him. Pretending everything's fine because asking for help feels worse than just dealing with it alone.

Her chest tightened at the thought, the memory of his teary apology flashing in her mind. Koji's trembling voice, his wide eyes filled with guilt—it wasn't just about what had happened today. He carried so much more than he let on, and it made her stomach twist.

Is that why he doesn't ask for help? Because he doesn't want his parents to know? Because he doesn't want them to worry?

The idea was almost unbearable. She hated the thought of him feeling like he had to face everything alone. The image of his forced smiles and the weight behind them made her throat constrict. Koji deserves better than that.

"Oi, Lily!" Her dad's voice broke through her thoughts, startling her slightly. She blinked, turning to find him leaning over the arm of the couch with a half-grin, waving a brightly colored flyer in the air.

"Earth to my daydreaming daughter. What's got you so spaced out?" he teased, waving the flyer again for emphasis.

"Sorry," she said quickly, shaking her head and forcing a small smile. "What's that?"

"This," Kenjiro said dramatically, slapping the flyer onto the coffee table, "is our dinner. I've decided. We're having pizza."

"Pizza?" Lily repeated, raising an eyebrow as she slid off the armrest and moved closer. The flyer was a menu for a local pizza place, its bright red and yellow design almost blinding. "I thought you said you were going to cook tonight."

"I did," Kenjiro said, reclining lazily against the couch cushions. "But then I remembered I'm a hard-working man who deserves a break. And pizza sounded easier." He flashed her a cheeky grin. "So, you're in charge. Pick something good, kid."

Lily rolled her eyes but reached for the flyer anyway. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"

"And you're lucky to have me," he shot back with a grin, crossing his arms behind his head.

She scanned the menu, her fingers tracing the different options as her dad rambled in the background about toppings he didn't like.

"No pineapple, though," he warned. "If you order pineapple, I'm disowning you."

Lily smirked, pretending to consider it. "Hmm, Hawaiian pizza does sound good…"

"Don't even joke about that," Kenjiro said, his tone mock-serious. "I'm not raising a traitor."

She laughed softly, the sound light but brief. As her dad continued to banter about the merits of pepperoni over mushrooms, her thoughts drifted back to Koji. The weight in her chest returned, heavier than before.

He's my seat buddy. I can't let him keep carrying this alone.

"Lily."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"Love you too, Dad"

"Good. Now choose that damn pizza! I'm hungry!"

She glanced at the menu again, her mind elsewhere even as her dad's voice filled the room.