The rooftop was quiet, wind rustling the tarpaulin sheets over the greenhouse club's planters. Aika Hoshino stood with her back against the railing, her arms folded, her expression unreadable as she stared at her best friend.
Mina Takanashi, her long blond curls bouncing slightly in the breeze, stood opposite her with a sheepish grin and a can of melon soda.
"So…" Mina began. "You're really serious about Riku, huh?"
Aika's voice was calm, but the sharpness in it made Mina straighten her posture.
"Don't flirt with him."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Don't look at him like that either."
"I—wait, seriously?"
"He's mine now."
Aika stepped forward, voice low. "Property of Aika Hoshino. Got it?"
Mina raised her hands. "Alright, alright! I'm backing off."
There was a pause.
"…I wasn't gonna do anything after I saw him beat up those three guys outside your apartment anyway."
Aika blinked.
"…He did what?"
Mina took a sip of soda. "Yeah. Monday evening. You were probably still at cram school. I was walking back from the convenience store when I saw him… well, let's just say fists flew and those creeps aren't gonna walk straight for a while."
Aika's eyes widened. "I… why didn't he tell me?"
"Maybe he didn't want to worry you." Mina smirked. "But between you and me? I don't think I can see him as the quiet type anymore."
Aika looked away, a flush of red blooming across her cheeks. So he did that… for me?
That evening, Riku was sprawled out on the couch, flipping through a magazine about boxing gloves and gear. He looked up as Aika walked in, towel around her neck from her post-shower hair.
"Hey," she said, casually. "Did you beat up three guys this week?"
Riku blinked, then closed the magazine slowly. "…Mina told you, huh?"
"So it's true."
"They were outside the apartment. I caught them tailing you last week too, so I confronted them. They started talking trash. I got mad."
"…And?"
He shrugged. "I made sure they'd never think about following you again."
Aika stood silently for a second, then dropped onto the armrest beside him.
"You're kinder than I expected, you know."
"I just hate it when people talk bad about you."
She smiled softly. "Do you want a reward or something?"
"…Reward?"
"For defending your girlfriend's honor." Her voice was teasing, but her eyes searched his expression.
Riku scratched his head, flustered. "Uhh… Can I adopt a dog?"
"…A dog?"
"Yeah. This apartment allows pets, right? I thought it'd be nice. I'll take care of it. I promise."
Aika stared at him. "I thought you'd ask to see me naked or maybe a kiss."
Riku turned red instantly. "H-Hey! Don't just say that out of nowhere!"
"I was serious, idiot."
He choked on his own breath. "Aika!"
She leaned in closer, smirking. "But… if that's what you want instead of me, then fine."
Riku pouted. "It's not instead, it's just… I like dogs, okay? And I'm kinda shy."
Aika tilted her head. "You, shy? You beat three dudes into the pavement."
He mumbled, "That's different."
There was a beat of silence before Aika stood up and stretched.
"Alright. We'll go pick out a dog tomorrow. And we're going on a date after. Got it?"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. But just one rule."
"…Another one?"
She grinned. "Don't fall in love with the dog more than me."
"No promises," he said with a smirk.