"Waiting for Akaya again, Rika-chan?" Yukimura asked as he walked towards Rika.
His dear little kouhai's sister was seated yet again on the bench reading a book. Yukimura recognised it as Yanagi's well read copy of translated poems by Mori Ogai. Rika looked up and smiled, her dimples appearing instantly.
"I haven't seen you all week. How was your date with Genichirou?"
"You just couldn't wait to ask" Rika said teasingly.
"I can't help it. I was the one who pushed him to ask you out so I need to know if my match making skills paid off" Yukimura said.
He sat himself down and Rika sighed before speaking. "The date went well enough but I can't really say what he felt about it. He's been the same as always".
"I could ask him to-" "No" Rika interrupted before Yukimura could go any further.
"Why not, Rika-chan?"
"I don't want you to be involved in everything. I know you're trying to help but this isn't something you can just force on me and him. You're just like the stupid counsellor who said she could take the gay part away from me by sending me to therapy after my parent's divorce. If he wants something more from me, he'll come to me when he wants to"
"Rika-chan, I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like I was trying to fix you. I'm trying to fix the pain you have inside you. Sanada will come to you eventually. I won't involve myself" Yukimura said.
"Thank you, senpai. If you don't mind, can you please check on Akaya for me?"
"Of course"
Yukimura stood up and then heard Kirihara walking towards his sister with the rest of the team.
"Rika!" Kirihara waved before coming to stand before his sister.
"Ready to go home, Akaya?" Rika asked with a sweet smile. She loved her brother more than anything in the world.
"Rika, I'm going to the cake shop with Marui senpai and Jackal senpai. You can come along if you want" Kirihara replied.
"I'm not really in the mood for cake and I've got homework to do so I'll head home first" Rika said.
"I don't really want you to walk home alone. I know it's not far off but..."
"I'll be fine, Aka-chan" Rika patted the top of her brother's wet head and Niou snickered quietly in the background.
"I'll walk her home. It's on the way to my bus stop"
Rika looked up with her large green eyes at Sanada who had spoken. Yukimura had a small smile on his face while Yanagi turned his face away to exchange glances with Yagyuu.
"That's settled then. Come on, Akaya" Marui turned and began walking out the gates with Jackal.
"Thanks fukubuchou!" Kirihara ran off.
Yagyuu grabbed Niou's arm and dragged him off. Yukimura nudged Yanagi who nodded. Both turned and walked out the gates. Rika shouldered her bag and then glanced up at Sanada. He coughed rather nervously and then gestured for her to go ahead. They exited the gates and headed down the sidewalk. Rika didn't say a word and Sanada stayed silent as well. Both were rather quiet and didn't like much unnecessary noise at all.
Rika turned right and then headed into her neighbourhood. She waved to the little old lady Nakamoto-san who lived at the first house when entering the neighbourhood. As they continued walking, Rika felt Sanada's hand brush up against hers slightly. She smiled to herself before feeling his hand brush hers again. She swung her hand against his and then felt his pinky finger latch onto hers.
She stopped when she reached her house and then he let go of her pinky.
"Thank you, Sanada senpai" Rika looked up at him only to see a small smile on his face.
"Sleep well, Rika-chan"
"You too"
Rika gave him one of her sweet smiles before unlocking the door of her house and stepping inside. She locked it before rushing to the window. Sanada had already made his way down the pathway and then turned around. Rika knew he had spotted her and waved goodbye. He nodded and walked away. She shut the curtains and then headed straight to the shower. Dressed with only a towel around her, she headed to her room and then frowned.
"I thought I shut the window before I left for school" Rika said before shutting the window and locking it.
She dressed quickly and then froze when she heard a crash from downstairs.
"Akaya? Are you home?" She called down the stairs. Another crash was her reply. She rolled her eyes before heading downstairs.
"Akaya, what did you break this time?"
She entered the kitchen only to find Niou frowning to himself. Rika gasped when she saw her mother's fine china on the floor broken to pieces.
"Niou-san, what did you do? How did you get in the house?" Rika asked.
"Your window was unlocked so I got in through there. I thought I would put a prank for Akaya in his room but you came home earlier than I thought" Niou replied.
"If you still want to, you're welcome to" Rika said.
"Really?"
"Go right ahead"
Niou didn't think twice and ran up the stairs. Rika chuckled before sitting down at the table and starting on her homework. Niou returned soon enough with a big grin on his face and settled down next to her.
"What's going on with you and Sanada?" he asked bluntly.
"To be honest, I don't really know. I'm taking things as they go along" Rika replied.
"You know, you aren't so boring if you let me out a prank up in Bakaya's room. I never see you look at anyone twice. What's so special about Sanada?"
"He's rather quiet but he's also determined, kind, loyal and a hard worker"
"You're talking like you're going to marry him. I don't see that spark between you like all the other couples in school" Niou said.
"We're different from everyone else" Rika argued.
"You're not different. You and Sanada have no spark. You'll end up breaking his heart"
"I won't!"
"Stop fooling yourself, darling. You don't like Sanada, even a little bit. You better realise that before its too late" Niou said with a wink.
"I'll think over your advice but I think it's time for you to leave" Rika said in a icy, cold voice.
"Fine by me"
Rika didn't move until she heard the door slam shut. She stood and then headed up to her room. She splashed some water over her face before peering at herself in the mirror. Was Niou actually right? Was she lying to herself? And to Sanada as well? If that was true then it was time to end this.
