Chapter 3: Morning Mishap

Riku barely slept. His mind replayed the underwear incident on a loop, Aiko's laughter echoing in his ears like a taunting soundtrack. By the time his alarm buzzed at 6:30 a.m., he felt like he'd run a marathon in his dreams—except instead of a finish line, there was just Aiko's smirk waiting for him. He groaned, rolling out of bed and rubbing his bleary eyes. Day two of living with his cousin. He could do this. He *had* to do this.

The house was quiet as he shuffled down the hall, still in his rumpled pajamas—a faded T-shirt and loose sweatpants. His hair stuck up in every direction, but he didn't care. First stop: the bathroom. He needed to splash water on his face, brush his teeth, and shake off the lingering embarrassment before facing Aiko again. Simple plan. Foolproof.

He pushed the bathroom door open without thinking, his brain still half-asleep. Steam hit him first, warm and thick, followed by the faint scent of lavender. Then he saw it—or rather, *her*. Aiko's silhouette through the frosted glass of the shower door, water streaming down in rivulets. She was humming softly, oblivious to his intrusion, her outline all curves and shadows against the misty backdrop.

Riku's heart stopped. His mouth dropped open, a strangled squeak escaping before he could clamp it shut. Time slowed as his brain screamed one word: *Run*. But his feet betrayed him, rooted to the tile floor like they'd been glued there. He caught a glimpse—just a glimpse—of her turning, her head tilting as if she'd heard something.

"Riku?" Aiko's voice cut through the steam, sharp and curious.

That snapped him out of it. He spun around, slamming into the doorframe in his panic. "S-sorry!" he yelped, voice cracking like a middle schooler's. "I didn't—I wasn't—argh!" He bolted, the door banging shut behind him as he stumbled back into the hall.

His chest heaved as he pressed himself against the wall outside, face burning hotter than the shower steam. "Idiot, idiot, *idiot*," he muttered, smacking his forehead. How had he forgotten to knock? They lived together now—he couldn't just barge in like he owned the place! And now she'd think he was some kind of creep. Perfect. Just perfect.

The bathroom door creaked open a minute later, and Riku braced himself. Aiko stepped out, wrapped in a fluffy white towel that barely reached her thighs. Her wet hair clung to her shoulders, droplets sliding down her collarbone, and her eyes locked onto him with a mix of amusement and mock outrage.

"Seriously, Riku?" she said, crossing her arms. The towel shifted slightly, and he averted his gaze so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. "Don't you knock?"

"I—I didn't know you were in there!" he sputtered, staring at the ceiling like it held the secrets to his salvation. "It's early! I thought—"

"You thought wrong," she cut in, stepping closer. Too close. He could feel the heat radiating off her damp skin, and smell the lavender shampoo again. "What, were you trying to sneak a peek? Pervert strikes again?"

"No!" he shouted, louder than he meant to. "It was an accident! I swear, Aiko, I'd never—"

"Relax," she said, smirking as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "I'm just messing with you. But next time, knock. Got it?"

"G-got it," he stammered, nodding frantically. His face felt like it might melt off.

"Good." She straightened up, adjusting her towel with a casual flick that made his heart skip another beat. "Now get ready. We're leaving in twenty minutes, and I'm not waiting for you."

She sauntered back to her room, leaving Riku a trembling mess in the hallway. He slid down the wall, clutching his chest. "I'm not gonna survive this," he whispered to no one. "Not a chance."

Breakfast was a blur. His mom chattered about school schedules while Aiko sat across from him, now fully dressed in her Yamato High uniform—crisp white blouse, navy skirt, and a smug little smile she kept shooting his way. Riku shoveled rice into his mouth, avoiding eye contact. His dad, as usual, stayed buried in his newspaper, muttering about traffic delays.

"Riku, you okay?" his mom asked, pausing with a piece of toast halfway to her mouth. "You're awfully quiet."

"Fine," he croaked, forcing a smile. "Just… tired."

Aiko snorted softly, sipping her tea. "He had a rough morning," she said, her tone dripping with innocence. Riku nearly choked again, but she just winked at him over the rim of her cup.

When they finally left for school, Riku kept a safe three-foot distance between them as they walked. The morning air was cool, the streets buzzing with other students heading to Yamato High, but all he could think about was the shower incident. Aiko strolled beside him, hands clasped behind her back, humming the same tune from earlier. She didn't bring it up again, but the glint in her eyes told him she hadn't forgotten.

"So," she said after a block of silence, "you're supposed to look out for me, right? That's what Uncle said."

"Yeah," Riku replied, keeping his gaze fixed on the sidewalk. "I'll… uh, make sure you're okay."

"Aw, my hero," she teased, nudging his arm with her elbow. The brief contact sent a jolt through him, and he flinched. "Don't worry, Riku-kun. I won't make it *too* hard for you. Maybe."

He groaned inwardly. Two days in, and Aiko had already turned his quiet life into a minefield of embarrassment. School was supposed to be his escape—but with her walking beside him, smirking like she owned the world, he had a sinking feeling the chaos was just beginning.