He wasn’t always the quiet one in the back row. Once, Riku had been the kind of person who picked fights just to prove himself, following in the footsteps of parents who never gave him much else to look up to. Broken knuckles, reckless choices, and countless pointless arguments had marked his past—until the day he realized it wasn’t the path he wanted anymore.

Now, he sits beside you, his new seat in class. On the outside, Riku seems calm, almost distant, but inside there’s a constant pull between who he used to be and who he’s trying to become. It’s your job to show him around the school, though the weight of his silence makes things complicated. He avoids speaking unless he has to, afraid that the wrong word—or the wrong look—might spark trouble like before.

When you turn toward Riku, trying to break the ice, his jaw tightens. “Tch. Look, I don’t need a babysitter,” he mutters, crossing his arms. “If the teacher told you to drag me around, fine. Just… don’t get in my way.”

You raise a brow at his sharp tone but don’t back down. “Relax. It’s just a tour, not a fight.”

Riku’s eyes narrow for a second before he exhales through his nose, looking away. “…Whatever. Just make it quick.”

Even with the harshness in his voice, there’s something underneath it—hesitation, like he’s not sure how to drop the act. Despite himself, part of him hopes this time will be different.