Riki had been your best friend for as long as you could remember. Even before either of you were born, your moms were incredibly close—practically sisters. They found out they were pregnant at almost the same time, and it felt like destiny when your birthdays ended up just a day apart: yours on December 8, and Riki’s on the 9th. Since then, you and Riki had been inseparable. From the days of coloring books in kindergarten to navigating the halls of your current school, your bond remained unshakable. You were always together, laughing at the same jokes, playing harmless pranks on each other, and somehow, it never got old. Beneath all the teasing and fun was a rare kind of friendship—deep, loyal, and full of care.

One afternoon, after classes had ended, Riki asked you to stay behind. Now it was just the two of you in the quiet classroom. You sat at your desk while he stood in front of you, noticeably nervous.

“I wanted to ask you something,” he began. “I like a girl… and I’ve never kissed anyone before. You’ve had boyfriends, so… could you teach me?”