Chapter 34: Facing the Music

The next morning, Riku trudged into the kitchen, his stomach knotting with dread. The memory of last night's incident—his mom's startled gasp, his dad's raised eyebrows—burned in his mind, and he wasn't sure how to face them. Or Aiko. He found the whole family gathered: his mom flipping pancakes with forced cheer, his dad absorbed in the sports section, and Aiko sipping coffee, her smirk a thin mask over the tension in her eyes.

"Morning," Riku mumbled, grabbing a plate. The silence was deafening.

"Morning, honey," his mom said, her voice too bright. "Sleep well?"

"Uh, yeah," he lied, avoiding eye contact as he sat. Aiko's foot nudged his under the table—a silent question—but he didn't dare look at her.

His dad folded the paper, clearing his throat. "We need to talk about last night."

Riku's heart sank. Here it came.

But his mom waved a hand, laughing lightly. "Oh, don't be so serious! They were just horsing around, right, kids?"

Aiko jumped on the lifeline, her smirk widening. "Totally, Aunt Hana. Riku's just a klutz—tripped over the popcorn bowl."

"Klutz," his dad grunted, sipping his coffee. "Looked like more than that."

Riku's face flamed, but his mom chuckled, sliding a pancake onto his plate. "You two are so cute, always bickering like when you were little."

"We're not bickering," Riku protested, but Aiko kicked him under the table, grinning.

"Sure we're not," she said, winking. His dad glanced between them, eyebrows raised, but returned to his paper with a grunt.

"Keep it down, you two. Some of us are trying to read."

Riku exhaled, relief mingling with confusion. They'd dodged the bullet—for now. But the unspoken questions lingered, thick as the syrup he drowned his pancake in.

---

At Yamato High, the rumor mill had evolved into a beast of its own. Whispers swirled around Riku and Aiko like a storm as they walked through the halls, heads turning with every step.

"Did you hear? Their parents caught them making out!"

"No way, they're cousins!"

"I think it's kind of romantic…"

Yuna pounced the moment they entered Class 2-B, her grin as sharp as ever. "So, lovebirds, how'd the 'popcorn fight' explanation go over with the folks?"

"It was fine," Riku muttered, dropping his bag onto his desk. "They bought it."

"Uh-huh," Yuna said, clearly unconvinced. "And I'm sure they didn't notice how cozy you two looked."

Aiko rolled her eyes, sliding into her seat. "Jealous much, senpai?"

Yuna laughed, tossing her hair. "Always. But seriously, you guys need to be more careful. The whole school's talking."

"Let them talk," Aiko said, but her voice lacked its usual bravado. Riku could see the strain in her eyes, the way her fingers gripped her pencil a little too tightly.

Haruka approached during break, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Hey, are you okay? I heard about what happened."

"We're fine," Riku said, forcing a smile. "Just a misunderstanding."

Haruka nodded, but her gaze lingered on Aiko. "If you need to talk, I'm here."

"Thanks," Aiko said, her tone softer than usual. "Appreciate it."

Mika, meanwhile, watched from her desk, her book open but unread. When Riku caught her gaze, she quickly looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

---

The rooftop at lunch was their refuge. They huddled under the staircase, the dim light casting shadows on their faces.

"We need to be more careful," Riku whispered, his breath tickling Aiko's ear.

"I know," she replied, her voice shaky. "But it's hard when everyone's watching."

She leaned into him, seeking comfort, and he wrapped his arms around her, his hand accidentally brushing the small of her back where her shirt had ridden up. She gasped, and he froze, their eyes locking.

"Sorry," he stammered, but she shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.

"It's okay," she murmured, resting her forehead against his. "We're in this together, right?"

He nodded, his heart pounding, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just them—until footsteps echoed above, and they sprang apart, laughing nervously.

Yuna's voice called out, "Hey, where'd you two go? Don't make me come find you!"

Riku and Aiko exchanged a look, then bolted, giggling like kids as they raced to find a new hiding spot.

---

After school, the dreaded family meeting loomed. Riku and Aiko's parents called them into the living room, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation.

Riku's mom smiled, but her eyes were serious. "We want to talk about what's been going on between you two."

Riku swallowed hard. "It's not what you think—"

"Let me finish," she said gently. "We know you care about each other, and that's fine. But we also know that feelings can get complicated, especially since you're family."

Aiko shifted uncomfortably. "We're just… figuring things out."

"We understand," his dad said, his voice gruff but kind. "But we want you to be honest with us. If this is more than just a phase, we need to know."

Riku and Aiko exchanged a glance, the weight of their secret pressing down. "It's… real," Riku admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But we're taking it slow."

His mom nodded, her smile softening. "That's all we ask. Just be careful, and remember that we're here for you, no matter what."

The tension eased slightly, but Riku could still feel the undercurrent of concern. They were treading on thin ice, and one wrong move could shatter everything.

---

That night, after the house had quieted, Riku found Aiko sitting on the porch, staring at the stars. He joined her, their shoulders touching.

"Today was… a lot," he said, his voice low.

"Yeah," she agreed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "But we made it."

He slipped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Together."

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Always, knight."

And under the blanket of stars, they shared a soft, lingering kiss, the promise of their future unfolding like the night sky above.

---