Chapter 29: New Normal

Friday morning dawned with a deceptive calm at the Sato household. Riku woke to the sound of rain pattering against his window, a soft rhythm that matched the unsteady beat of his heart. Aiko's real kiss—soft, fleeting, and unguarded—had lingered on his cheek all night, leaving him restless and dazed. They'd crossed a line, not with fake pet names or staged affection, but with something raw and undefined. Now what?

He shuffled downstairs, rubbing sleep from his eyes, and found Aiko at the kitchen table, sipping orange juice and scrolling her phone. She wore a loose sweater over her uniform skirt, her hair tied back in a messy bun, and she didn't look up as he grabbed a rice ball. The quiet wasn't heavy like before—just new, like they were testing uncharted waters.

"Morning," he said, breaking the silence as he sat across from her.

"Morning," she replied, her voice casual but her eyes flicking to his, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Sleep okay, knight?"

"Barely," he admitted, biting into the rice ball. "You?"

"Same," she said, setting her phone down. "Kept thinking about… stuff."

"Stuff," he echoed, his throat tightening. "Like what?"

She shrugged, sipping her juice. "You know. Us. This." She gestured vaguely between them, her smirk softening into something less certain. "Weird, huh?"

"Yeah," he said, his rice ball crumbling slightly in his grip. "Weird."

His mom breezed in, oblivious to the undercurrent, and plopped a plate of toast on the table. "You two are quiet today," she said, eyeing them. "No bickering? No teasing?"

Aiko's smirk returned, sharper this time. "Oh, I could tease him," she said, leaning forward. "Riku-poo's just too tired from all his heroics."

"Shut up," he muttered, his face heating as he swatted her hand away from his toast. She laughed—a real laugh, light and unguarded—and his chest fluttered traitorously.

Hana smiled, shaking her head. "There's my kids. Off to school—don't get soaked!"

They grabbed their bags and umbrellas, stepping out into the drizzle. Aiko twirled hers, splashing Riku's legs, and he glared, but there was no heat in it. "Watch it," he said, nudging her shoulder.

"Make me," she shot back, nudging him harder. They stumbled into each other, laughing, and for a moment, it felt like old times—until her hand brushed his, and they both froze, pulling back with twin blushes.

"New normal," she muttered, staring at the wet pavement.

"Yeah," he agreed, his voice hoarse. "New normal."

---

Yamato High greeted them with its usual chaos, but the rumor mill had shifted gears. The whispers were less frantic—*"They're just weird cousins now"*—and more curious, like the school was waiting to see what stuck. Riku kept his head down as they split at the entrance, Aiko heading to her locker with a casual "See ya," that felt anything but casual.

Class 2-B was a mixed bag. Haruka waved at him, her smile small but genuine, a peace offering after yesterday's truce. "Morning, Riku," she said, her tone lighter. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he said, sliding into his seat. "You?"

"Getting there," she replied, and left it at that, turning to her notes. Relief washed over him—friendship intact, no more tears.

Mika slipped in next, her glasses fogged from the rain, and handed him a tissue from her bag. "For your hair," she said shyly, pointing to the damp strands sticking to his forehead. "It's… wet."

"Thanks," he said, taking it with a smile. Her fingers brushed his, and she blushed, retreating to her desk with a quiet nod. The bookmark she'd given him peeked out of his bag, a tiny reminder of her support.

Yuna was the wildcard, sauntering in late with a grin that spelled trouble. "Morning, lovebird," she teased, leaning over his desk. "Where's your other half?"

"Shut it," he muttered, shoving her arm off. "We're not—"

"Whatever you say," she cut in, winking. "You're cute when you're flustered." She flounced off, leaving him red-faced and grumbling.

Aiko arrived last, her sweater swapped for her blazer, her bun slightly askew. She dropped into the seat beside him, her knee bumping his under the desk. "Miss me?" she whispered, smirking.

"Nope," he lied, and she snorted, nudging him again. The contact lingered, warm and deliberate, and he didn't pull away this time.

---

Lunch was their first real test. They ate on the roof, rain tapping the overhang as they sat shoulder-to-shoulder, bentos open between them. Aiko stole a piece of his chicken katsu, grinning when he swatted her hand. "Thief," he said, but there was no bite in it.

"Yours tastes better," she said, chewing with exaggerated delight. "Deal with it."

He rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips. The air felt lighter up here, away from the stares, and he risked a question. "So… this 'us' thing. How do we do it?"

She paused, chopsticks hovering. "Slow," she said finally, echoing last night. "No pressure. Just… see where it goes."

"Slow's good," he said, nodding. "No more fake stuff?"

"Nah," she said, leaning back on her hands. "Real's scarier, but better."

He met her gaze, that fragile thread between them tightening again. "Yeah. Better."

She shifted, her blazer slipping off one shoulder, revealing the curve of her collarbone beneath her blouse. The rain had dampened her hair, a strand clinging to her neck, and Riku's breath caught, his eyes lingering before he yanked them back to his bento. "Stop that," he muttered, face heating.

"Stop what?" she teased, smirking as she tugged the blazer back up. "You're so easy, knight."

"Shut up," he said, shoving her lightly, and she laughed, shoving him back. They tussled, her elbow jabbing his ribs, his hand grazing her waist, until they collapsed against the wall, breathless and grinning.

The door banged open, and Yuna strutted in, umbrella twirling. "Well, well," she said, grinning. "Cozy up here, huh? Should I leave you lovebirds alone?"

"Get lost," Aiko snapped, but her tone was playful, her cheeks pink. Yuna laughed, tossing Riku a candy bar.

"Keep it PG, kids," she said, winking as she left.

Riku groaned, catching the bar. "She's never gonna stop."

"Nope," Aiko said, snagging half the candy. "Part of the new normal, I guess."

---

That night, they lingered in the living room after his parents went to bed, the TV flickering with a late-night game show neither watched. Aiko sprawled on the couch, her legs dangling over the armrest, her shorts riding up slightly. Riku sat on the floor, leaning against the couch, close enough to feel her warmth.

"Day one down," she said, breaking the quiet. "Not a total disaster."

"Could've been worse," he agreed, glancing up at her. Her hair had fallen loose, framing her face, and she smirked down at him.

"Getting used to me yet?" she asked, nudging his shoulder with her foot.

"Never," he said, smirking back. She laughed, sliding down to sit beside him, her shoulder pressing against his.

"Too bad," she said, her voice softening. "You're stuck with me."

He turned, their faces close, her breath warm on his cheek. "Guess I'll manage," he murmured, and her smirk faded, her eyes searching his.

She leaned in—just a fraction, testing—and he met her halfway, their lips brushing in a hesitant, real kiss. It was brief, soft, and electric, and they pulled back, both blushing furiously.

"New normal," she whispered, her voice shaky but smiling.

"Yeah," he said, his heart pounding. "New normal."