The door clicked shut behind him.
Aika stayed buried under her blanket, her face flushed with more than just the fever. Her heart hadn't calmed down since those words.
> "I said I love you."
She groaned into her pillow.
"Whyyy did he have to say it like that? So straight… no hesitation…"
Peeking out from under the blanket, she reached for her phone on the nightstand and tapped the screen with a sigh.
Aika: You there? Need help. Urgent.
Mina: Girl I'm literally doing my nails. What's up?
Aika: Kazehaya just confessed to me.
Mina: HUHHHHHH?!?!? WHAT?? WAIT WHAT?? RIKU KAZEHAYA?!
Aika hesitated for a moment. Then she typed:
Aika: Do you like him? Like seriously.
Mina: …
Those dots lasted longer than they should've.
Mina: Yeah. I've kinda had a crush on him since last week.
Mina: I know he's not flashy or anything but like… he's cool in this mysterious way. And he's always helping people quietly.
Mina: Wait—hold up. Are you saying he confessed to *you*?!
Aika stared at the screen, the guilt creeping in before she even thought of how to answer.
Aika: Yeah
Aika: While I was sick, actually.
Mina: ...bro.
Mina: So what are YOU gonna do?
Aika dropped her phone on her stomach and groaned again.
"What am I gonna do…"
Outside the room, she could hear the quiet rustle of movement — Riku tidying up again, like always. No hesitation. Just doing what needed to be done.
She pressed her hand over her eyes.
"He really said it like that…"
No games. No buildup.
Just "I love you."
And somehow… that messed her up more than if he'd tried to flirt.