Chapter 23: Damage Control

Riku bolted down the stairwell after Mika, his sneakers skidding on the polished steps as Aiko's laughter echoed behind him. His heart pounded—not just from the sprint, but from the sheer panic of screwing up yet again. Mika's wide-eyed gasp replayed in his mind, her dropped book a silent accusation. She'd seen him and Aiko tangled up on the roof, looking anything but "normal," and now the rumor mill had fresh fuel. He had to fix this. Fast.

"Mika, wait!" he yelled, rounding the corner into the hallway. She was ahead, her long hair bouncing as she speed-walked toward the library, clutching her bag like a shield. He caught up just as she reached the door, grabbing her arm without thinking. "Please, hold on!"

She froze, turning slowly, her face a mix of embarrassment and alarm behind her fogged-up glasses. "R-Riku?" she squeaked, her voice barely audible over the hum of students trickling out of classrooms. "I—I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just—"

"You didn't interrupt!" he blurted, letting go of her arm like it burned. "It's not what you think—me and Aiko, we were just—"

"Being normal?" Aiko's voice chimed in, bright and unhelpful, as she sauntered up behind him. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her uniform tie still loose and her skirt swaying with every shift. "That's what you said, right, knight?"

Riku glared at her. "You're not helping!"

"Helping what?" Mika asked, her gaze darting between them. Her cheeks were pink, her fingers twisting the strap of her bag. "I… I saw you two up there. You looked… close."

"We're not!" Riku said, too loud. A passing group of first-years snickered, and he lowered his voice, leaning closer to Mika. "She was just messing around—trying to act 'normal' to kill the rumors. It backfired. Obviously."

Mika blinked, adjusting her glasses. "Oh. So you're not… together?"

"No!" Riku and Aiko said in unison, then shot each other annoyed looks. Aiko smirked, stepping forward to pat Mika's shoulder.

"Relax, book girl," she said. "He's my cousin, not my boyfriend. I'd have better taste than this dork."

"Hey!" Riku protested, but Mika's lips twitched into a tiny smile, her shoulders easing.

"That's… good to know," she murmured, then hesitated. "I was worried. Not that I—um—never mind." She ducked her head, her hair falling forward, and Riku caught a glimpse of her neck where her collar had slipped, revealing pale skin flushed with nerves. His brain stalled for a split second, and he yanked his eyes away, coughing awkwardly.

"Anyway," he said, rushing past the moment, "sorry you got dragged into this. The rumors are dumb. Ignore them, okay?"

Mika nodded, clutching her bag tighter. "Okay. Thanks, Riku. You're… really nice." She flashed a shy smile, then darted into the library, leaving him with a mix of relief and lingering guilt.

Aiko whistled low, nudging his ribs. "Smooth, knight. She's got it bad for you."

"Shut up," he muttered, shoving her back toward the stairs. "This is your fault. 'Let's act normal'? Worst idea ever."

"My ideas are gold," she said, grinning as she skipped ahead. "You're just terrible at executing them."

He groaned, trailing her back to the classroom to grab their bags. The day was done, but the damage wasn't—Mika might be placated, but the whispers still buzzed in the halls. He needed a new plan, one Aiko couldn't sabotage with her chaos.

Dinner at home was a rare full-family affair—his parents home early, piling the table with curry and rice. Aiko sat across from him, smirking over her plate as his mom chattered about the festival photos she'd seen online. "You two looked adorable dancing!" she said, beaming. "So many people commented!"

Riku nearly choked on his rice. "Mom, it was just a dance. Don't—"

"They're saying you're a couple," his dad grunted, not looking up from his curry. "Ridiculous."

"Right?" Riku said, seizing the lifeline. "It's all nonsense."

Aiko snorted into her tea, earning a glare from him. "What? It's funny," she said, wiping her mouth. "Half the school's obsessed with us."

"It's not funny," he grumbled, shoving curry into his mouth to avoid arguing. His parents dropped it, thankfully, but Aiko's smirk lingered, her foot nudging his under the table. He kicked back, and she yelped, spilling tea on her shirt.

"Serves you right," he muttered, earning a mock glare as she dabbed at the stain.

After dinner, he retreated to his room, determined to strategize alone—but Aiko followed, flopping onto his bed with her damp shirt clinging to her chest. "Plan C time," she said, propping herself on her elbows. The fabric hugged her curves, and Riku's eyes flicked there before he forced them to the ceiling, his face burning.

"Get out," he said, voice tight. "And put on a dry shirt!"

"Relax, it's just tea," she teased, stretching so the shirt rode up, flashing her midriff. "You're so prude. Anyway, Plan C: we lean into it."

"Lean into what?" he asked, risking a glance. Big mistake—her playful grin and the way her damp hair framed her face hit him like a punch.

"The rumors," she said, sitting up. "Act so obnoxiously couple-y that everyone gets sick of it and moves on. Fake kisses, pet names—the works."

"Are you insane?" he yelped, leaping to his feet. "That'll make it worse!"

"Nah," she said, hopping off the bed to poke his chest. "It's reverse psychology. Trust me."

"No way!" He swatted her hand, backing toward the door. "I'm not kissing you—fake or not!"

"Not even a peck?" she teased, stepping closer, her damp shirt brushing his arm. "Come on, knight, it's for the cause."

"Out!" he shouted, shoving her into the hall and slamming the door. Her laughter seeped through, loud and relentless, as he collapsed against it, heart racing. Plan C? More like Plan Catastrophe.

The next morning, he avoided her at breakfast, scarfing down toast and bolting for school alone. But peace was a fantasy—Haruka cornered him by the lockers, her usual bounce back. "Riku! I heard you cleared things up with Mika. That's sweet!"

"Yeah," he said, wary. "Just fixing rumors."

"Good," she said, then leaned in, her voice dropping. "So, no Aiko. Anyone else on your mind?"

"Uh—no?" he stammered, stepping back as her shoulder brushed his chest. She smiled, undeterred, and skipped off, leaving him flustered.

Yuna struck next, ambushing him at lunch with a grin. "Heard Plan B tanked," she said, tossing him a candy bar. "Need a new wingman?"

"Need you to stop," he retorted, catching the bar. She laughed, ruffling his hair, and he ducked away, spotting Aiko watching from across the courtyard, her expression unreadable.

By afternoon, he was a wreck—rumors still alive, harem unrelenting, and Aiko's Plan C haunting him. Damage control? Total failure. And with her plotting behind that smirk, he knew the chaos was far from over.