Under One Roof: Riku's Romantic Ruckus

Friday night lingered in the Sato household like the damp after a downpour—everything felt heavy, unsettled, but with a faint promise of clarity. Riku lay awake, staring at the ceiling, Aiko's tear-streaked smirk burned into his mind. That kiss—raw, desperate, real—had stitched them back together, but Yuna's interruption had ripped a new seam. He groaned, rolling over, knowing Saturday would bring fresh chaos.

Morning broke gray and quiet, the house hushed as if holding its breath. Riku shuffled downstairs, tugging on a hoodie, and found Aiko in the kitchen, sipping tea in her pajamas—a loose tank top and shorts, her hair a wild tangle. She didn't look up as he grabbed coffee, but her foot brushed his under the table when he sat, a silent truce.

"Morning," he said, breaking the stillness.

"Morning," she echoed, her smirk faint but there. "Sleep off your knightly heroics?"

"Barely," he replied, sipping his coffee. "Yuna's face keeps popping up like a nightmare."

Aiko snorted, her smirk widening. "She's a plague. Bet she's already told half the school."

"Probably," he muttered, nudging her foot back. "We're trending again."

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Good thing we're pros at this by now."

Their eyes met, a spark of warmth cutting through the tension, but the moment shattered as his mom stormed in, her apron askew and her voice sharp. "You two! Explain this!"

She thrust her phone forward, a blurry photo on the screen—Yuna's handiwork, no doubt—showing Riku and Aiko mid-kiss on her bed, their faces half-hidden but unmistakable. Riku's coffee mug slipped, splashing across the table, and Aiko's smirk vanished, her face paling.

"Uh," Riku stammered, wiping the spill with his sleeve, "that's not—"

"Don't," Hana snapped, cutting him off. "I've had enough half-truths. What's going on?"

Aiko straightened, her voice steady despite the flush creeping up her neck. "It's what it looks like, Aunt Hana. We're… together."

The silence was deafening, a thunderclap held at bay. Hana's eyes widened, then narrowed, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Together," she repeated, slow and sharp. "As in…"

"As in dating," Riku said, finding his voice, his hand sliding to Aiko's under the table. "We've been trying to figure it out."

Hana sank into a chair, rubbing her temples. "You're cousins. You live here—under *my* roof. And you didn't think to tell us?"

"We did," Aiko said, her tone defiant. "Sort of. After Family Day. We said we'd be careful."

"Careful?" Hana's voice rose, incredulous. "This isn't careful—this is a photo plastered all over the school chat!"

Riku winced, squeezing Aiko's hand. "That's Yuna's fault, not ours. We didn't mean for—"

"I don't care whose fault it is!" Hana cut in, her glare swinging between them. "This is a mess. Your dad's going to flip, and Aiko's parents—what am I supposed to tell them?"

"Tell them the truth," Aiko said, her jaw tight. "We're not ashamed."

Hana stared, then let out a long, shaky breath. "You're too young for this. Too young to understand what it means."

"We're not," Riku said, firm despite the knot in his chest. "We know it's complicated. But it's real."

The standoff stretched, Hana's gaze boring into them, until footsteps thudded down the stairs. His dad appeared, bleary-eyed and grumbling. "What's all the yelling?"

Hana thrust the phone at him. "Look."

He squinted at the screen, his frown deepening with every second. "Hell," he muttered, setting it down. "You two serious about this?"

"Yes," they said together, their hands tightening.

He sighed, a rumble of resignation. "Fine. But no more sneaking. We're talking—properly—when Aiko's parents get here tomorrow. Until then, keep it under wraps."

Hana opened her mouth to argue, but he raised a hand. "They're kids, Hana. They'll figure it out—or they won't. Let's eat."

The tension didn't break, but it eased, a fragile ceasefire settling over the table as they picked at breakfast in silence.

---

School on Monday was a circus with no ringmaster. The photo had spread like wildfire—thanks, Yuna—and the halls buzzed with whispers and stares. Riku walked in beside Aiko, their shoulders brushing, a united front against the chaos.

Haruka met them at the lockers, her smile strained. "You okay?" she asked, handing Riku a tissue for his perpetually sweaty forehead. "Everyone's talking."

"We're fine," he said, taking it. "Used to it by now."

Mika slipped in next, her book clutched tight, her voice soft. "I saw the picture," she said, her eyes darting to Aiko. "It's… brave."

Aiko smirked, leaning against the locker. "Or stupid. Pick your poison."

Yuna strutted up last, her grin unrepentant. "Morning, lovebirds! Told you I'd cash in—photo's worth a hundred yen at least!"

"Shut up," Riku snapped, shoving his bag into his locker. "You're the worst."

"Love you too," she teased, dodging Aiko's swat. "You're welcome for the fame!"

Haruka tugged Yuna away, muttering, "Enough," but the damage was done. The day rolled on, a gauntlet of sidelong glances and muffled laughs, but Riku and Aiko held steady, their hands brushing in the halls when no one was looking.

---

Lunch was their refuge. They hit the roof, the sky overcast but dry, and sprawled on the concrete with their bentos. Aiko kicked off her shoes, stretching out, her tank top slipping to flash a sliver of her stomach. "So," she said, popping a rice ball into her mouth, "we're out."

"Yeah," Riku agreed, his eyes flicking there before snapping back to her face. "Feels weird."

"Good weird or bad weird?" she asked, smirking at his blush.

"Both," he said, leaning back. "Mom's pissed, Dad's… whatever Dad is. And school's a zoo."

She rolled onto her side, propping her head on her hand. "We'll survive. Always do."

He grinned, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Yeah. Together."

Her smirk softened, and she leaned in, kissing him—slow, real, a quiet defiance. The wind tugged at her top, flashing more skin, and he pulled back, red-faced. "Caught you," she teased, grinning.

"Shut up," he muttered, shoving her lightly, and she laughed, tackling him onto the concrete. They wrestled, her hair tangling, his hands grazing her waist, until the door banged open.

Yuna stood there, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Round two, huh? You're insatiable!"

"Get lost!" they shouted, and she cackled, retreating, leaving them breathless and laughing.

---

That night, they lingered in the hallway, the house quiet with his parents asleep. Aiko leaned against her door, her pajamas loose, her smirk tired but warm. "Day one of being out," she said, brushing his cheek. "Not bad."

"Could've been worse," he agreed, catching her hand. "We've got this."

"Damn right," she said, pulling him into a quick, fierce kiss. "Night, knight."

"Night," he murmured, watching her slip inside, the rain finally gone but the horizon still cloudy.

---