Chapter 40: New Threads

The morning after the storm felt deceptively calm. Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table where Riku and Aiko sat, their knees brushing under the tabletop. The rules their parents had laid down loomed over them like an invisible chaperone, but the thrill of their hard-won victory still buzzed between them. Aiko stole a piece of toast from Riku's plate, smirking as he swatted her hand.

"Thief," he muttered, but his grin betrayed him.

"Get used to it," she teased, leaning closer. Her foot nudged his shin, a playful reminder of their secret. They were together—really together—and the knowledge made every stolen glance feel electric.

Hana bustled in, apron tied tight, and set a pot of tea on the table. "You two are up early," she said, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "No lingering in bed today?"

Riku nearly choked on his toast. "Mom, seriously?"

Aiko smirked, sipping her tea with exaggerated innocence. "Someone's gotta keep him in line, Aunt Hana."

Hana's laugh was light, but her gaze lingered as she poured her own cup. "Just remember the rules, kids. School first, no drama."

"We know," Riku said, his voice steady despite the flutter in his chest. "We've got it under control."

Hana hummed, unconvinced, but let it drop as she turned back to the stove. Aiko's foot tapped Riku's again—a silent *we're fine*—and he nudged back, the contact grounding him.

---

School was a different beast. The rumors had shifted from scandalous whispers to curious glances, the student body adjusting to the new normal. Riku and Aiko walked in together, hands brushing but not quite holding, a careful dance of closeness without crossing lines. The harem members orbited them like planets around a sun—each reacting in their own way.

Haruka caught them at the lockers, her smile bright but her eyes searching. "Morning! You two look… happy."

"We are," Aiko said, her tone light but firm. "Thanks for noticing."

Haruka's laugh was a little too loud. "Good! That's good. I'm glad." She hesitated, then added, "We're still on for study group later, right?"

"Of course," Riku said, relieved by her effort to keep things normal. "Wouldn't miss it."

Mika appeared next, her usual quiet presence a balm against the morning bustle. She handed Riku a neatly folded note, her cheeks pink. "For you," she murmured. "Just… thoughts."

Riku unfolded it later, finding a simple message: *You're brave. I'm here if you need me.* He tucked it into his pocket, a small smile tugging at his lips. Mika's support was a quiet anchor in the storm.

Yuna, predictably, was less subtle. She ambushed them at lunch, sliding onto the bench beside Riku with a grin that spelled trouble. "So, lovebirds, how's the 'no drama' rule going?"

"Fine," Aiko said, her smirk sharp. "How's the 'mind your own business' rule?"

Yuna gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. "Rude! I'm just looking out for my favorite couple." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "But seriously, watch out. Some people aren't thrilled about your little romance."

Riku's stomach tightened. "Like who?"

Yuna shrugged, popping a fry into her mouth. "Oh, you know. Jealous types. Overprotective parents. The usual."

Aiko's eyes narrowed. "Spill, senpai. Who?"

Yuna's grin turned sly. "Let's just say… Emi's been asking around. And she's not the only one."

Riku exchanged a glance with Aiko, the name dropping like a stone. Emi—the girl his mom kept pushing at him, oblivious to the chaos it caused. If she was digging into their relationship, it could spell trouble.

"Great," Aiko muttered, stabbing her salad with more force than necessary. "Just what we need."

---

The study group that afternoon was a test of their new boundaries. Haruka, Mika, Kota, and a few others gathered in the library, textbooks spread across the table. Riku sat beside Aiko, their chairs close but not touching, a careful distance that felt unnatural after weeks of stolen moments.

Haruka led the session, her voice steady as she explained quadratic equations, but her eyes kept darting to Riku and Aiko, lingering on the space between them. Mika, seated across, scribbled notes with fierce concentration, her usual calm tinged with tension.

Halfway through, Aiko's hand brushed Riku's under the table—a quick, secret squeeze—and he jolted, his pen skidding across the page. Haruka's gaze snapped to them, her smile faltering for a split second before she forced it back into place.

"Everything okay?" she asked, her tone overly bright.

"Yeah," Riku said, clearing his throat. "Just… stiff fingers."

Aiko smirked, withdrawing her hand. "He's a klutz," she said, and the table chuckled, the moment diffusing. But the undercurrent remained, a reminder that their secret wasn't as hidden as they'd hoped.

---

That evening, the Sato household was a minefield of careful conversations. Hana had invited Emi and her family for dinner—a "neighborly gesture," she claimed, but Riku saw through it. Emi arrived with her parents, all smiles and polite chatter, but her eyes kept finding Riku, lingering a beat too long.

Aiko's grip on her fork tightened as Emi complimented Riku's performance in the play, her voice sweet but edged with something sharper. "You and Aiko were so convincing," she said, her gaze flicking to Aiko. "Almost like it was real."

Aiko's smirk was a blade. "Almost," she agreed, her tone cool. "But acting's easy when you've got chemistry."

Emi's smile didn't waver, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "Right. Chemistry."

The adults chatted on, oblivious to the silent battle across the table. Riku's dad grunted about work, Emi's mom gushed over the food, and Hana steered the conversation with practiced ease. But beneath the surface, tension simmered, ready to boil over.

After dinner, Emi cornered Riku in the hallway, her voice low. "Can we talk? Alone."

He glanced at Aiko, who was helping clear the table, her back stiff. "Uh, sure," he said, following Emi to the porch.

She turned to him, her expression unreadable. "I heard things. About you and Aiko. Is it true?"

Riku's throat tightened. "Depends on what you heard."

"That you're dating," she said, blunt and unflinching. "That you're together, even though you're cousins."

He hesitated, the truth heavy on his tongue. "Yeah," he said finally. "It's true."

Emi's eyes widened, then softened. "Wow. That's… brave. And complicated."

"Tell me about it," he muttered, rubbing his neck. "But we're handling it."

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Good. I'm not here to judge. Just… curious. Your mom keeps pushing us together, and I needed to know where you stand."

"I'm with Aiko," he said, firm and clear. "That's not changing."

Emi's smile widened, relieved. "Got it. Friends, then?"

"Friends," he agreed, the weight lifting slightly.

She punched his arm lightly. "Don't let your mom bully you. She means well, but… you know."

"Yeah," he said, chuckling. "I know."

---

Later, in the dim hallway outside their rooms, Aiko leaned against her door, arms crossed. "So, what'd Emi want?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

"To clear the air," Riku said, stepping closer. "She knows about us. And she's cool with it."

Aiko's smirk returned, softer now. "Good. One less problem."

He reached for her hand, pulling her into a hug. "We'll get through the rest," he murmured, his breath warm against her hair.

She melted into him, her arms looping around his neck. "Together," she agreed, tilting her face up. Their lips met—slow, real, a promise sealed in the quiet.

They broke apart, breathless and smiling, the new threads of their life weaving tighter. But as Aiko slipped into her room, Riku knew the fabric wasn't finished yet. Friends, family, the harem—it was all part of their tapestry, and untangling it would take more than one night.

For now, though, they'd won another day. And that was enough.

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