6:42 PM – My House
I checked the mirror.
Fixed my collar.
Paced.
Sweated.
> "It's just dinner," I told myself.
It wasn't.
This was The Dinner.
---
6:51 PM – Riko Arrives
She wore a soft white sweater.
Jeans. Hair tied. Light perfume.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
I opened the door.
She blinked.
> "You good?"
"I feel like vomiting."
> "Cool. I brought dessert."
---
7:00 PM – Dinner Begins
My mom sat at the table.
She smiled like a villain in a cooking show.
> "So you're Riko-chan. You're very pretty.
Not as clingy as the girl who called last week, though."
I died.
Riko blinked.
> "Was it… Yuna?"
Mom nodded. Sipped wine.
> "She said something about destiny and handcuffs."
Riko smiled politely.
Internally? She was probably stabbing Yuna in her mind.
---
7:12 PM – Interrogation Round One
> "What are your grades like?"
> "Solid."
> "Are your parents together?"
> "No."
> "Have you kissed Kaito yet?"
I choked on water.
Riko blinked.
Then leaned forward.
> "Would that make me more girlfriend-material in your eyes, or less?"
Mom blinked.
Then laughed.
> "I like her."
I nearly fainted.
---
7:28 PM – Unexpected Softness
After dinner, Riko helped clear the plates.
My mom pulled me aside.
> "She's strong. But scared."
I blinked. "Scared of what?"
> "Of being let go after being held."
Then she handed me two slices of cake.
> "Fix it before she breaks first."
---
Meanwhile – Yuna's Chat With Reina
> "You said he chose already.
But people re-pick all the time."
Reina smiled faintly.
> "You still love him?"
Yuna looked out the window.
> "I never stopped. I just paused."
She pulled out her phone.
Typed one message.
> "Kaito. I'm not done."
Didn't hit send.
Yet.
---
That Night – Riko and I Outside
We sat on the curb, post-dinner.
Silent.
Then she said—
> "Your mom's scary."
I laughed.
> "You handled her."
She shrugged.
> "I handle things I don't understand.
What scares me… is when I do understand.
And still don't know what to do."
I looked at her.
> "Do you feel that with me?"
She didn't answer.
Just leaned on my shoulder.
And whispered—
> "Sometimes."