Chapter 17: What Does This Button Do? Let's Press It.
...
Girls tend to be incredibly sensitive when it comes to love, their emotions shifting like an unpredictable weather forecast.
For Rikka Takarada, the realization that Kihara's protection might simply be because of a debt left her feeling restless and down.
Staring out at the gloomy sky, heavy with dark clouds and relentless drizzle, she let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"…I'm not going to school today."
After sending a quick message to Namiko and Ren, "I'm not in the mood for school today" Rikka grabbed her umbrella and bag, stepping out into the rain.
Even the air feels irritating…
"Tch… maybe I'll kill some time at an arcade."
Turning away from her usual route to school, she headed in the opposite direction. No bus. No train. Just walking aimlessly beneath the rain that seemed to match her mood.
The streets were nearly empty. The few pedestrians hurried along with heads lowered, wrapped tightly in coats, as if avoiding eye contact with the bleak weather itself.
Their footsteps echoed dully—like sounds trapped in a suffocating, enclosed space.
As Rikka passed a puddle, she glanced down, and saw Kihara's face reflected in it.
"Pah!"
Her shoe came down hard, shattering the reflection.
But instead of feeling better, her irritation only grew.
"If you don't like me that way… then why do you act and talk like that?!"
"Is he one of those 'nice to everyone' types…? A walking heater or something?"
Muttering to herself, she eventually arrived at an arcade. Her shoes and socks were already soaked, unsurprising, considering she'd stomped through every puddle along the way.
After exchanging some coins, she picked a fighting game, something she would never normally play with Namiko and the others.
She wasn't here for fun.
She was here to vent.
The arcade was quiet for a school day. Most of the people there were older, delinquents or gambling addicts glued to pachinko machines.
A lone high school girl skipping class?
That caught attention.
More than a little.
Several pairs of eyes lingered, and with them, some less-than-clean thoughts began to stir.
Most didn't act on it.
But a few did.
A group of delinquents exchanged glances… then walked toward her.
"Hey~ little lady, playing alone?"
"Why not come play with us instead?"
Rikka shot them a sideways glance. Her heart pounded, but her face remained expressionless.
She ignored them.
The leader froze awkwardly. The teasing smirks from his friends made his face burn with embarrassment.
Annoyance quickly turned to anger.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! You deaf or something?!"
He reached for her shoulder, but before he could touch her.
his wrist was suddenly caught.
Firmly.
He turned, glaring.
only to find a handsome boy in a school uniform standing there.
Kihara.
"Who the hell do you think you—"
THUD!
BAM!
"Gah!!"
Moments later, all three delinquents were on the floor, clutching themselves and groaning in pain.
Kihara didn't even spare them another glance.
Instead, he turned to Rikka, his cold gaze instantly softening.
"Rikka, if you're going out, at least call your bodyguard next time."
"Otherwise, dealing with pests like these is just annoying."
"Y-You… how did you find me?"
"You didn't come to school and wouldn't pick up your phone. So I asked Namiko."
"She said you hate rainy days… so you'd probably be somewhere indoors. Like an arcade."
Rikka stared at him, completely soaked from head to toe.
"…Don't tell me… you went around to every arcade in the rain looking for me?"
"Yeah," he nodded casually. "I'm not familiar with the area, so I didn't know which one you'd go to."
"…AHHH!!"
Rikka suddenly let out a frustrated groan, ruffling her hair wildly.
"What is wrong with you?!"
"Huh?" Kihara blinked. "I was just worried."
"I skipped school because I wasn't in the mood, okay?!"
"Oh… so it's that time of the month."
"IT IS NOT!!"
Her face turned bright red as she shot to her feet.
What kind of brain does this guy even have?!
Grabbing his wrist, she dragged him toward the exit.
"Rikka? Where are we going?"
"Somewhere to dry your clothes! You'll catch a cold like this!"
"Oh… okay."
Kihara assumed she'd take him home.
Instead—
she led him into a hotel above a hair salon.
"Aoyama-san, one room please."
"Rikka? That's rare. Skipping school again?"
"This idiot got soaked looking for me. I just need a place to dry his clothes."
"…Oho~ youth, huh?" the woman chuckled, handing over a keycard. "Room 1303."
"Thanks."
The moment they entered the room.
Rikka shoved Kihara straight into the bathroom.
"Go shower! And throw your clothes into the dryer!"
Seeing him hesitate, she quickly added.
"Questions later!"
"…Got it."
"Phew…"
Only after sitting on the soft bed did Rikka finally relax.
At the time, all she could think about was not letting him get sick.
That's why she instinctively chose this place.
Then—
something caught her eye.
"Huh… what's this switch?"
On the bedside table sat a lone, unlabeled button.
Curiosity got the better of her.
Click.
Nothing happened.
"…Weird. Is it just decor—?"
Before she could finish.
The bathroom wall.
turned transparent.
Rikka froze.
On the other side.
Kihara stood under the shower, water running over his body as he rinsed off the foam.
"Gulp…"
Her throat tightened.
A dangerous thought surfaced in her mind.
I think… I might actually fall for him.
.....
Thank you for reading.