Under One Roof: Riku's Romantic Ruckus

The final morning of the camping trip broke with a sky streaked pink and gold, the mountain air crisp and biting. Riku woke with a jolt, the crumpled note—*"I'm watching. Be careful."*—still tucked in his pocket like a live wire. He hadn't told Aiko yet, not wanting to spoil their fragile calm, but the weight of it gnawed at him as he rolled out of his sleeping bag and stumbled into the dawn.

Outside, the campsite buzzed with students packing up, their chatter a dull hum against his racing thoughts. He scanned the crowd for Aiko, needing her steady smirk to ground him, and spotted her by the fire pit, laughing with Haruka over charred marshmallows. Her hair caught the morning light, and for a moment, the unease lifted—until he remembered the note.

"Morning, knight," Aiko called as he approached, her tone teasing but her eyes sharp, catching his tension. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"Close enough," he muttered, dropping beside her. Haruka offered him a marshmallow, her smile hesitant, and he took it with a nod, the sticky sweetness a fleeting distraction.

"What's up?" Aiko asked, nudging his knee with hers, her voice low.

He hesitated, then pulled the note from his pocket, smoothing it out on his thigh. "Found this in my bag yesterday. After the blindfold thing."

Her smirk vanished as she read it, her fingers tightening on his wrist. "*'I'm watching'*? What the hell, Riku?"

"I don't know," he admitted, keeping his voice steady. "Thought it might be Ren, but…"

"Ren's a flirt, not a creep," she said, frowning. "This feels… different."

Haruka leaned in, her curiosity overriding her usual caution. "What's that?"

Riku showed her the note, and her eyes widened, a small gasp slipping out. "That's creepy. You think it's someone here?"

"Has to be," Aiko said, her gaze sweeping the camp. "They knew where your bag was."

Before they could speculate further, Yuna bounded over, her energy a stark contrast to their hushed tension. "Morning, chaos crew! Ready for the grand finale?"

"What finale?" Riku asked, pocketing the note, his nerves fraying.

"Tanaka's last hurrah," Yuna said, grinning. "A capture-the-flag showdown—girls versus boys. Winner gets bragging rights and the last s'mores stash."

Aiko smirked, the challenge sparking in her eyes. "You're going down, knight."

"Bring it," he shot back, her fire pulling him out of his funk. But the note lingered, a shadow he couldn't shake.

Mika joined them, her book swapped for a rare intensity. "I heard about the watcher," she said softly, her voice cutting through Yuna's chatter. "Haruka told me. We should tell Mr. Tanaka."

"Already did," Riku said. "He thinks it's a prank, but…"

"It's not," Mika finished, her gaze steady. "I saw someone last night, too. Near the girls' cabin."

Aiko's smirk faded. "Who?"

"Couldn't tell," Mika said. "Too dark. But they were fast."

The group fell silent, the weight settling in, until Mr. Tanaka's whistle pierced the air. "Line up, everyone! Time for the showdown!"

---

### The Showdown

The capture-the-flag game split the class across a wooded field, the boys' flag staked near a rocky outcrop and the girls' hidden by the stream. Riku teamed with Kota and a wiry kid named Taku, strategizing a pincer move while Yuna rallied the girls with theatrical flair.

"Guard the flag," Riku told Kota, clapping his shoulder. "Taku and I will flank."

Kota nodded, grinning. "No girl's getting past me."

Riku and Taku slipped into the trees, moving low and quiet, the note's warning buzzing in his mind. He scanned the shadows, half-expecting the watcher to leap out, but the only sounds were rustling leaves and distant shouts.

Then—Aiko's laugh, sharp and taunting, from the stream. He crept closer, peering through the brush. She darted toward the boys' flag, Yuna and Emi in tow, their movements a chaotic dance. Kota lunged, but Yuna dodged with a cackle, leaving Aiko free to sprint.

Riku burst from cover, intercepting her just shy of the flag. "Not so fast," he said, grinning as he grabbed her waist.

She yelped, laughing as they tumbled into the grass, her hair spilling free. "Cheater!" she accused, shoving him off, but her smirk betrayed her.

"Strategy," he countered, pinning her playfully, their breaths mingling. Her tank top slipped, flashing a hint of skin, and his pulse spiked, the game forgotten.

"Get a room!" Yuna shouted, snatching the flag and bolting past Kota, who flailed in protest.

Aiko laughed harder, shoving Riku off. "You're useless, knight."

"Worth it," he said, pulling her up, their hands lingering as the girls whooped in victory.

---

### The Unmasking

The game ended with the girls' triumph, Yuna waving the flag like a conqueror while Mr. Tanaka tallied points. Riku and Aiko lingered by the stream, catching their breath, when a rustle—too deliberate—drew their eyes to the trees.

"There," Aiko whispered, pointing. A figure stood in the shadows, half-hidden by a pine.

Riku's jaw tightened. "Stay here."

"No chance," she said, grabbing his hand. They crept forward, the figure bolting as they neared. Riku broke into a run, Aiko matching his pace, until they cornered the runner against a rocky ledge.

"Stop!" Riku shouted, and the figure froze, turning slowly.

Ren's face emerged from the shadows, his usual smirk replaced by a sheepish grin. "Uh… hey, guys."

Aiko's eyes narrowed. "You? You've been creeping around?"

"Not creeping," Ren said, hands up. "Just… keeping an eye out."

"For what?" Riku demanded, stepping closer.

Ren sighed, rubbing his neck. "Look, I saw Emi sneaking around last night—thought she was up to something. Then I saw you two by the stream, and… I got curious. Didn't mean to spook you."

Aiko crossed her arms. "And the note?"

"Note?" Ren blinked, genuine confusion crossing his face. "I didn't write any note."

Riku pulled it from his pocket, showing him. Ren scanned it, shaking his head. "Not me. My handwriting's messier."

"Then who?" Aiko pressed, her tone sharp.

Ren shrugged. "No clue. But Emi's been weird since Family Day—keeps asking about you two."

Riku frowned, the pieces shifting but not fitting. "She said she was looking for a bracelet last night."

"Maybe she was," Ren said. "Or maybe she's got her own game."

Aiko's smirk returned, cold and calculating. "Guess we'll ask her."

They dragged Ren back to camp, where the class was packing up. Emi stood by the girls' cabin, chatting with Haruka, her smile faltering as they approached.

"Emi," Aiko said, her voice smooth but edged, "we need to talk."

Emi's eyes widened, but she nodded. "Sure. What's up?"

Riku held up the note. "This yours?"

Her face drained of color. "I—no, I didn't—"

"Ren saw you sneaking around," Aiko cut in, stepping closer. "And we caught him watching us. Spill it."

Emi's shoulders slumped, her voice small. "Okay, fine. I wrote it. But it wasn't to scare you—I swear!"

"Then why?" Riku asked, his patience thinning.

"I… I wanted to warn you," she said, her cheeks flushing. "About Ren. He's been talking about Aiko nonstop—bragging to the third-years. I thought he might try something dumb."

Ren bristled. "That's a lie! I was just—"

"Shut it," Aiko snapped, her glare silencing him. She turned back to Emi, her tone softening slightly. "Why not just tell us?"

Emi looked down, twisting her hands. "I didn't know how. After Family Day… I didn't want to stir things up again."

Riku exchanged a glance with Aiko, the truth settling in. "So Ren's a creep, and you're a bad spy," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Pretty much," Aiko said, her own smirk returning. "Thanks for the heads-up, I guess."

Emi nodded, relieved but sheepish. "I'm sorry. I'll stay out of it."

"Good," Aiko said, linking her arm with Riku's. "Let's go, knight."

They left Ren and Emi behind, the camp bustling around them as the trip wound down. Haruka and Mika approached, concern etched on their faces.

"Everything okay?" Haruka asked.

"Yeah," Riku said, squeezing Aiko's hand. "Just a little misunderstanding."

Yuna swooped in, grinning. "What'd I miss? Drama? Romance? Spill!"

"Later," Aiko teased, her smirk sharp. "When it'll ruin you most."

Yuna laughed, undeterred, and the group packed up, the watcher mystery solved—for now.

---

### The Ride Home

The bus ride back to Yamato High was a mix of exhaustion and chatter, the class sprawled across seats with bags and snacks. Riku and Aiko claimed the back, their hands clasped under a blanket, the tension of the trip melting away.

"Think it's really over?" Aiko asked, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Hope so," he said, kissing her hair. "But with us, it's never that simple."

She chuckled, snuggling closer. "Worth it."

"Always," he agreed, and they rode home, the woods behind them but the shadows of their story far from gone.

----