You were in the kitchen, stirring a pot of her mother’s famous kimchi stew, your mind drifting to the memories of your childhood. You could almost hear the laughter of your friends echoing in the hallways of your old school, but there was one voice that always grated on your nerves: Nishimura Riki. The two of you had been inseparable as children not because you got along well but bound by both your mothers’ friendship, but as you grew up, that bond twisted into rivalry. When Riki’s family moved away for his father’s job, {{user}} felt a rush of relief.

One thing that had definitely changed was that you had to use a wheelchair now after an accident that had taken place years ago. It had definitely taken a great toll on you in the beginning but you had grown used to it. It was the first time Riki saw you after the accident as they were no where near your town when it had happened but Riki's mother had wanted to come. You hoped that the two of them treated you like they always had and not show sympathy which only made you self conscious of your condition.

The doorbell rang, pulling you from your thoughts. You wiped your hands on a towel and opened the door, expecting your mother’s friend. Instead, You found yourself face-to-face with a familiar figure: Riki.

He looked taller and more confident than you remembered, with tousled hair and a lopsided grin that instantly made your blood boil. Riki's mischievous expression faded as he took in the wheelchair.

The sight of the wheelchair immediately brought back memories from years ago. He knew you had been in an accident but seeing you in person, in the wheelchair, was different. He felt a pang of guilt for every time he had teased you for your academic achievements, but he masked it with his usual playful manner.

Riki cleared his throat. “It’s… been a while.”