Rio lay back against his bed, scrolling through his phone, already dreading the day ahead—even though he had only been awake for thirty minutes.
His thumb slowed as his attention drifted, his eyes lifting toward the window just above his bed. Beyond the glass, distant clouds stretched across the sky, tinted faintly by the early morning light.
He watched quietly as the sun began its slow rise, the soft glow spilling over rooftops and into the street below.
Birds chirped in scattered bursts, their calls echoing lightly through the air. Somewhere down the street, a dog barked, followed almost immediately by a muffled voice trying to quiet it down, urging it not to wake the neighborhood.
Rio let out a small breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
For a moment, everything felt… calm.
BANG!
Rio's eyes widened, and his phone slipped from his hand, landing against his chest.
Then came the voice.
"HEY! OPEN UP!" Hayashi shouted from outside, pounding against the door like he was trying to break it down.
"I said I'm coming over, and I'm here!"
Rio let out a slow exhale, dragging a hand over his face before sitting up. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, flexing his fingers slightly.
He felt… better. A lot better than yesterday. The long bath, the warmth, and the rest had done their job.
Still, a dull ache lingered in his right arm.
I must've slept on it for it to be so sore., he thought, rolling his shoulder once before heading for the door.
He opened it quickly, grabbing Hayashi by the arm and pulling him inside before the noise could draw more attention, then shut the door behind him.
"W-woah!" Hayashi stumbled slightly, catching his balance as he looked at Rio with a raised brow.
After that arm wrestle we had… I knew Rio Takahashi was strong… but damn… is he training for MMA or something?
The two of them walked into the living room, the wooden floorboards creaking softly under their steps. Rio moved toward the couch and sat down, leaning back as if trying to conserve what little energy he still had.
Hayashi followed, taking a seat nearby, his eyes scanning Rio from head to toe like he was checking for damage.
"So," Hayashi started, leaning forward slightly, "how're you feeling? You looked like absolute trash yesterday."
Rio let out a quiet breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
"…Better," he replied. "Still a little off, but it's not as bad as before."
Hayashi nodded slowly, though his gaze didn't leave Rio.
There was a brief pause.
Then his expression shifted—just slightly into a bit more of a serious.
"…Hey," he said, his tone lowering a bit. "After being pulled in, I have a question."
Rio glanced at him, faintly puzzled. "What?"
Hayashi leaned back, crossing his arms.
"That strength of yours," Hayashi said, leaning back slightly, "that was… insane. Seriously, where did you get that from?"
For a moment, the room fell into a quiet stillness. Rio's gaze drifted down to the wooden floorboards, as if avoiding the question. "What… are you talking about?" he asked slowly, cautious.
Hayashi leaned forward, curiosity bright in his eyes. "You look so lean. What kind of workout did you do to get a build like that? Your strength, It's like a bodybuilder's."
Rio scratched the side of his pajamas absentmindedly and let out a short, quiet chuckle before resting his hands on his knees.
"I just did some training when I was younger," he said, shrugging lightly. "That's about it. But what about you? You've got some crazy strength too."
Takumi Hayashi… Rio thought, tilting his head slightly. He could easily pass a physical exam for a knight. To think he's built like this just from tennis… though with his dad being in MMA back in his prime, strong genetics make sense.
Hayashi laughed, completely brushing off the seriousness of the conversation a moment ago. He raised a thumbs-up, eyes bright and proud. "Really? You think so? I've been training every day with my dad and a few of his gym buddies!"
His gaze drifted toward the table. "Hm? What are these for?"
Rio followed his eyes, and his own widened as he saw the three neatly packed containers Yuzu had brought over. Without missing a beat, he lifted his chin slightly, a faint flush coloring his cheeks, but his tone carried an unshakable confidence that made Hayashi's jaw almost drop.
"These are… for holding all of my protein. I take it all at once before hitting the gym," Rio said, each word measured for purpose,, and entirely serious.
Hayashi's eyes widened, and he instinctively took a step back, his arms lifting slightly. "T-three… containers… of… PROTEIN. AT. ONCE?!" he shouted, voice cracking slightly in shock. His astonishment didn't even leave room to notice Rio's blush. The sheer confidence in the boy's tone made him forget all else.
Hayashi's mind raced. This… this isn't just a regular student. This is like a master of the gym… someone who commands respect just by walking in! He could already picture Rio in a sleek black tank top, fitted joggers, and a gym whistle casually hanging around his neck, standing atop a platform, giving orders to people lifting weights with perfect form. The idea made Hayashi gape, part awe, part admiration, and part disbelief.
Despite being the ace of the tennis club, Takumi Hayashi was a complete idiot who had been barely passing his classes since middle school. Because of that, he didn't even notice the faint blush spreading across Rio's cheeks.
Rio reached over and grabbed all three of them before walking into the kitchen, turning the sink on to wash them out. "Oh, by the way… Hayashi, I've been thinking about that summer trip. What do I even bring? I've never done something like this before."
Hayashi turned his gaze toward Rio, blinking a few times and scratching his head. "Well… for starters, it's going to be hot as hell, so bring shorts, t-shirts… nothing too warm. And of course your toothbrush and all that, but I shouldn't need to say that. Let's see…"
He tapped his chin, thinking. "Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat… you'll be outside a lot, walking around temples, beaches, or hiking trails. A light jacket for evenings, in case it gets cool near the coast. Flip-flops for the beach, sneakers for exploring trails… and definitely a swimsuit."
Hayashi paused, leaning against the counter. "Also, a small backpack for day trips, a portable charger if your phone dies, and some cash—you know, not everywhere takes cards. Snacks and a water bottle to keep hydrated, and bug spray if you're walking through the forested areas."
He grinned, smirking at Rio. "And, most importantly, pack a good attitude. You're going to need it for surviving my 'expert guidance' in Kamakura."
Rio shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Sounds like a lot… but I think I can handle it."
Hayashi chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just don't skip the swimsuit—you're not getting out of that."
Rio let out a quiet laugh, the tension from earlier easing a little as he imagined the trip ahead.
...
An hour after Hayashi had left, Rio heard a knock on his door and paused mid-pushup, frowning.
Did Hayashi forget something? he wondered, pushing himself up and walking over to the door.
He unlocked it and pulled it open—and froze. His eyes widened at the sight of Yuzu Hoshimura standing there, holding the same book from last night.
"W-what?" he stammered, completely caught off guard.
Yuzu stood at the door, tightening her grip around the book for a moment before lifting her gaze to Rio.
"…Thank you for having such loud people over so early this morning. It… woke me up," she said, her voice quiet.
"Y-yeah… I'm sorry about him. He likes to make his presence known," Rio replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I've come to get my containers back, and… to return this book," she added, extending her right hand to him. "I was going to return it a few hours ago, but I thought that might not be the best idea ever… so I waited."
Rio's eyes flicked to the book—and for a moment, to her bright blue nails—before taking it carefully.
"Would you mind waiting just a moment while I get the containers?"
"I don't mind at all,"
He stepped back into the kitchen and grabbed the three containers, walking back to the door to hand them over.
Yuzu's eyes narrowed slightly on the containers as she examined them, clearly surprised that Rio had already washed them.
"Oh? You've already cleaned them? I'm surprised."
"S-surprised? Why would you be surprised?" Rio muttered, flustered.
Yuzu took a moment, glancing him over briefly, then looked down, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "I'll keep that to myself… but, I do have a question."
"A question? I might have an answer," Rio said, raising an eyebrow.
Yuzu bit her bottom lip, then exhaled a shaky breath. She felt her face heat up, the blush creeping over her cheeks despite her best efforts to stay composed.
"…Would you… mind if I used your bath? M-my… water isn't getting warm at all," she admitted, looking away quickly, embarrassed that she had just said it out loud.
Her fingers fidgeted lightly with the edge of the containers, and her voice had a soft, almost hesitant lilt as she waited for his response.
Rio froze in place, his mind blank for a moment as he processed the request from the school's most popular girl. His cheeks heated instantly, a deep flush spreading across his face.
After a few seconds, he forced himself to think rationally—or at least as rationally as he could. "G-go ahead. I don't mind at all," he stammered, his voice slightly shaky.
Yuzu's blush deepened in response, and she stepped past him, carefully placing the containers on the table before moving toward the bathroom.
Remember… you're a damn prince. Get a hold of yourself. He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his racing thoughts.
Yuzu disappeared behind the bathroom door and closed it, the sound of water starting up shortly afterward.
A few moments later, faint music drifted from her phone. Rio glanced down at his own, noticing a notification from the apartment owner. He opened it:
"Hi everyone! I apologize for the hot water being off for the past few hours. Some of the pipes weren't working during our monthly checks, so a team of plumbers just finished installing new ones. Have an amazing weekend, everyone!"
Rio read the message twice, then let his phone drop to the floor. He leaned against the wall, exhaling, and stared at the living room.
Wow… what a convenient time for that to happen. he thought bitterly.
It's like something straight out of a romance manga or novel—the kind where everything happens at the most ridiculous, improbable moment… moments that wouldn't happen in real life.
Rio shook his head in disbelief, slipping his phone back into his pocket—only for it to start ringing almost immediately.
He frowned, pulling it back out. Hayashi.
Rio quickly shut the apartment door and locked it before heading toward his bedroom. Once inside, he closed the door behind him and answered.
"…What is it?"
"Just letting you know I'm on my way back to your apartment. I should be there in a few minutes. I think my earbuds fell out of my pocket or something," Hayashi said casually.
Rio's eyes widened. For a moment, he said nothing, his grip tightening around the phone as his thoughts spiraled.
What the hell is happening in my life?
"Well, I'll be up there in a minute, Takahashi. I'm just waiting on the elevator right now," Hayashi added before hanging up.
Rio stared at his phone for half a second—then immediately bolted out of his room.
He slammed his bedroom door open and rushed to the bathroom, knocking quickly. "H-Hoshimura!"
Inside, Yuzu startled at the sudden voice. The sound of knocking, combined with Rio calling out, made her flinch in the bath, water sloshing over the edge as a small, startled sound escaped her lips.
"…W-what is it?" she called back, her voice tight. "J-just so you know, I locked the door."
"It's not that," Rio said hurriedly. "Listen—can you turn off the music and just… stay quiet for a few minutes?"
"Hm? I can't hear you with the music this loud—give me a second!"
Yuzu carefully stood up from the bath, water dripping softly as she stepped out and reached for her phone, lowering the volume before turning it off completely.
"…Now, what is it?" she asked, her voice quieter this time.
"Hayashi is coming back," Rio said quickly. "He forgot something. So just—please stay quiet in there. I shouldn't have to explain what happens if this spreads, right?"
"…Huh?"
Her eyes widened, and her voice rose before she could stop it. "Y-you didn't tell him to come back later?!"
"He hung up—he said he was already at the elevator," Rio replied, running a hand through his hair.
Yuzu froze.
Her ruby-colored eyes widened further, and she swallowed hard, her heart suddenly beginning to pound against her chest in such quickness that it was impossible to ignore.
Without another word, she turned off her phone completely, just in case a call or message made noise. The bathroom fell into near silence, save for the faint sound of dripping water.
She opened her mouth to respond but a knock echoed from the apartment door.
Yuzu's breath caught. Her heart began racing even faster as a sudden realization hit her.
No… my shoes.
She had left them right by the entrance when she came in.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, tension creeping into her posture as her thoughts spiraled.
…There's no way someone could recognize me just from my shoes, right?