Soft light filtered through the curtains of Mei's room. The scent of warm tea lingered in the air, and a blanket was pulled gently around Asahi's shoulders.
She stirred.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, there was confusion… then a flash of fear—memories rushing in.
She sat up quickly, breathing fast.
"Hey—Asahi," Mei said gently, stepping closer. "It's okay. You're safe."
Riku stood at the foot of the bed, hands in his pockets, watching silently, his usual sharpness now replaced with quiet concern.
Asahi blinked, looking between them.
"You… brought me here?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
Mei nodded.
"You helped me…" Asahi whispered again, eyes starting to water. "Why?"
"Because no one deserves what happened to you," Mei said softly, kneeling beside her. "No matter what you did before."
Riku stepped forward. "You're not alone anymore."
Asahi lowered her head. Her shoulders shook.
"I—I don't know what to say… I…"
Mei gently took her hand.
"You don't have to say anything right now," she said. "Just rest. We'll handle the rest together."
Asahi gripped her hand tightly.
"…Thank you."
The soft clink of a coffee cup echoed in the quiet living room as Mei sat alone, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. She leaned back on the couch, letting the warm mug rest in her hands, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Upstairs, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Riku sat on the edge of the bed, looking away, unsure. Asahi stood near him, her gaze steady but sad.
"I love you, Riku," she said softly, voice almost a whisper. "Why did you change…?"
Riku didn't answer right away.
Asahi stepped closer, closing the gap between them, and before he could react, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
At that moment, the door creaked open.
Mei stood there.
She froze, her eyes locked on the two of them. The coffee cup in her hand trembled slightly. Her heart sank.
She didn't say a word. She simply turned and walked out onto the balcony.
Riku stood up abruptly, startled. "Mei!"
Without hesitation, he followed.
Mei stood on the balcony, her back to him, staring out into the street below. The wind gently tugged at her hair.
"I didn't do anything," Riku said quickly, stepping beside her. "It was Asahi… I didn't—"
Mei didn't look at him. "It's fine."
"No, it's not," he insisted.
Behind them, Asahi appeared at the doorway, her voice low. "I'm sorry for everything, Mei. I think… I should go home."
Mei finally turned, her eyes meeting Asahi's. She took a slow breath, then said:
"…Will you become my friend?"
Asahi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? After everything I've done… you want that?"
Mei nodded. "Yes. Because everyone deserves a second chance."
For a long moment, Asahi said nothing. Then, slowly, her eyes welled with tears—and she gave a small, broken smile.
"…You're strange," she whispered. "But maybe that's what I need."
Night
Mei and Riku sat on the edge of the bed, the soft lamplight casting a warm glow across the room. The air was still, filled only with the sound of their breaths and the unspoken tension lingering between them.
Riku turned to her with that mischievous glint in his eyes.
"You were jealous," he said, breaking the silence. "When Asahi kissed me, right?"
Mei's face flushed. "I-I wasn't—"
"Ahh…" Riku smirked and leaned closer, his hand gently resting on her waist. "Then I guess I'll have to kiss you, too. Just to be fair."
"Riku—"
Before she could finish, his lips were on hers. Soft. Warm. Gentle. The world seemed to fade around them.
Mei froze at first, but then slowly closed her eyes, leaning into him.
Their kiss deepened, filled with everything they hadn't said—the confusion, the jealousy, the hidden affection. Riku's hand slid behind her back, pulling her closer. Mei's fingers tightened on his shirt.
When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Mei looked into his eyes.
"I only want you," Riku whispered.
She nodded, resting her forehead against his. "Me too."
He gently laid her back on the bed, wrapping her in his arms, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
That night, they didn't need to say anything more. The closeness between them said it all.
The Morning
Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting golden lines across the room. Birds chirped outside, faint and distant, as if the world itself had decided to be gentle.
Mei stirred first. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the warm glow of the morning. She found herself wrapped in Riku's arms, his steady breathing brushing softly against her hair.
For a moment, she stayed like that—silent, content, listening to his heartbeat like it was the calmest sound in the world.
Riku shifted slightly, his voice raspy from sleep. "Morning…"
Mei smiled. "Morning."
He opened his eyes, still half-asleep, and looked down at her. "Did you sleep well?"
She nodded, brushing her fingers along his chest. "Yeah… better than ever."
Riku stretched a little, still holding her close. "I thought maybe it was a dream."
Mei giggled softly. "Then I guess we had the same dream."
He smirked. "I like this dream. Can we stay like this a little longer?"
Mei blushed but buried her face against him. "Just a little longer…"
For a while, they lay there in silence, hearts beating in sync, as the new day began outside—a day that, for the first time in a long while, felt peaceful.
The morning bell rang, echoing down the halls of the school.
"Riku! You're late again!" Mei scolded, her hands on her hips as he stumbled into class, hair messy and breakfast still in hand.
"Blame the bread," Riku mumbled, chewing as he dropped into his seat beside her. "It refused to toast."
Mei sighed but smiled. "Honestly…"
Asahi entered moments later, looking more refreshed than she had in weeks. She walked past them, and for the first time, Mei gave her a small smile. Asahi returned it with a tiny wave.
The teacher arrived, slamming down his briefcase. "Alright, class! Today we're dissecting frogs!"
"Ehhh!?" Mei jumped from her seat. "Why frogs!?"
Asahi chuckled. "You're still bad with slimy things, huh?"
"You can do mine," Mei groaned.
Riku leaned over. "I'll do it, just give me candy later."
"Deal," Mei said immediately, already pushing her tray toward him.
The class filled with groans, laughter, and the occasional scream as the science lesson went on. Even the teacher sighed, muttering, "Why do I bother?"
Later, at lunch, the trio sat under a tree in the courtyard—Riku lying back in the grass, Mei sketching in her notebook, and Asahi tossing a juice box between her hands.
It was peaceful. It was ordinary. But in their hearts, they knew these moments—these quiet, gentle slices of life—were what made everything worth it.
As the breeze rustled the leaves above them, a voice cut through the peaceful courtyard.
"Riku!"
They all turned. A tall, athletic boy jogged over, slightly out of breath but full of energy. It was Toma, the basketball team's captain.
"Our tournament's coming up next week! You promised you'd join the team this year—come on, we're starting practice today!"
Riku blinked, then groaned as he sat up. "Already...? I thought I had one more week of peace…"
Toma grinned. "Nope. Time to move that lazy body."
Mei perked up. "Wait, Riku plays basketball?"
Asahi smirked. "He used to be the MVP in middle school. You didn't know?"
"Seriously?!" Mei stared. "That's... kinda cool."
Riku scratched his head, slightly flustered. "Don't say it like that... I'm rusty now."
Toma laughed and slapped Riku's back. "Rusty or not, you're still our ace. Let's go!"
Riku stood up, stretching. "Alright, alright... but if I collapse, I'm blaming you."
As he followed Toma off toward the gym, Mei watched him go, a faint smile on her lips.
Asahi leaned closer. "He is kinda cool when he tries, huh?"
Mei's face turned red. "I-I guess…"