**That night, before bed—Group Chat:**
**Daiki:** *"Hey, how about we go out after school tomorrow? After all, Riku didn't follow us the last time."*
**Riku:** *"I'm still sorry about that…"*
**Ayaka:** *"Yaaay! I'm down whenever!"*
**Riku:** *(After a moment of silence)* *"…I think I'll pass on this one. I'm sorry, guys. I've got a lot going on at home."*
**Daiki:** *"Again?"*
**Ayaka:** *"Daiki, it's alright… we can go another time. Let's just sit this one out."*
**Daiki:** *"…Fine. I guess our plan is canceled then."*
Everyone read the last message. No one replied. One by one, their online dots vanished.
And just like that, the silence swallowed the group again.
---
**Next Morning — Outside Daiki's House:**
Daiki stepped out, adjusting his uniform collar. His expression was tired, but he smiled faintly at the sight of Ayaka and Riku waiting outside.
"Yo," Daiki greeted.
"Morning," Ayaka chirped with her usual cheer.
Riku nodded with a quiet "Hey."
They walked to school together, the air filled with mundane chatter—though beneath it, something felt off.
---
**Cut to Class Time:**
As they split into their classes, Daiki entered his, eyes a little duller than usual.
"Good morning, Mr. Zombie," a teasing voice rang out.
Suzume, leaning on her desk, smiled at him.
Daiki sighed and smirked faintly. "Oh… it's you. Morning."
"You're back to the sad-face version today," she said, pulling out her chair and sitting sideways, facing him. "What's wrong?"
Daiki dropped his bag with a soft thud and walked to his seat. "Riku bailed on our outing… again."
"Hmmm…" she tapped her chin.
"It's not the first time either," Daiki added, slumping forward onto his desk.
"Maybe he's just busy?" she offered gently.
He scoffed, bitter. "Yeah, right."
There was a pause. Then—*tap tap*—a poke on his arm.
He looked up to find Suzume, cheeks flushed, holding out her phone.
"C-Can I… have your number?"
Daiki blinked, surprised. Her hands were slightly shaking. But he wasn't flustered. Instead, he gave a small smile.
"Yeah… sure."
Their phones tapped, and numbers were exchanged. Suzume looked like she'd won a lottery. She returned to her seat, sneakily smiling to herself.
---
**Meanwhile – In The Other Class:**
"Ayaka."
She turned to the familiar voice. "Hey, what's up?"
Riku hesitated. "Are you free this evening?"
She blinked. "I'm free. Where's this coming from?"
He looked away for a second, then answered, "After you went to bed last night… Daiki and I talked. He begged me to come out with you guys. I agreed. He said we should meet at the park."
Ayaka's face lit up. "Really? That's good to hear."
Without thinking, she hugged him. "Thanks for doing that."
Riku tensed for a second, then allowed himself to smile.
---
**Break Time – Lunch Spot:**
Suzume and Daiki sat at the usual spot, eating lunch. She laughed at one of his sarcastic jokes, brushing rice from her lip. Daiki smiled genuinely—for a moment, the loneliness dulled.
---
**After School – Daiki's Class:**
Everyone had left. The halls were quiet. Daiki was still packing slowly.
---
**At the Park:**
Riku and Ayaka waited by the fountain.
As Ayaka pulled out her phone, Riku stopped her. "Don't worry… he'll be here. You know how Daiki is—always late."
Ayaka smiled. "Yeah… alright."
Time passed. They bought snacks, played games at the nearby booths, and laughed. But Ayaka kept glancing around. Her smile dimmed with each passing minute.
Eventually, she stopped walking.
"…Hey."
Riku turned. "Yeah?"
"This whole outing… it's a lie, isn't it?"
His expression dropped. "W-What?"
She stared at him. "Daiki never said he was coming, did he?"
He looked down, silent for a moment. Then, softly—"I'm sorry."
Her eyes widened.
"I knew you wouldn't agree to a date if I asked directly… So I lied. I said Daiki would be here. I just… I wanted to spend time with you."
Ayaka stepped back, her hand trembling. "Riku… why would you do something like that?"
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," he said quickly. "I just… I didn't know how else to make you see me."
She slapped him—hard.
Silence.
Her voice cracked. "You love Daiki too… don't you? then why are you doing this to him?"
Riku looked into her eyes, tears forming. "I do. But that love… is different. What I feel for you—this—is something else. I know what I did was selfish. But my time with you tonight… it wasn't a lie."
Ayaka's chest rose and fell. She closed her eyes.
"…Tell me. Are you going to stop chasing me?"
Riku looked straight at her. "Never."
A long pause.
"…I won't deny that I did have fun today," she admitted softly. "But your method was still wrong."
"I know," he whispered.
"But… I saw your effort. So… no more lies. If you want to go out with me, ask me. I'll consider it. But that doesn't mean I'm your girlfriend."
Riku's eyes widened as tears fell freely. "Thank you…"
They walked side by side under the dimming sky.
---
**Late Evening – School Bench:**
Daiki sat alone on the bench outside the dark school building, head buried in his arms.
*Footsteps.*
He looked up—and froze.
Riku and Ayaka. Laughing. Together.
They hadn't seen him yet.
He stood. "RIKU! AYAKA!"
They turned, startled.
"Daiki?!" Ayaka gasped. "You're still here?"
His face twisted with hurt and rage. "Don't you *dare* ask me that."
"Hey, don't shout at her," Riku said defensively.
Daiki glared at him, voice shaking. "You. *You* tell me… what did I do to deserve this, huh? What did I do to be left behind? Again?"
Riku lowered his head. "N-Nothing…"
Daiki grabbed his shirt. "Then why?! Why am I sitting here?! Why am I always the one left alone?!"
"Daiki—stop!" Ayaka tried to separate them, tears in her eyes. "Please…"
She looked at him, full of guilt.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "You didn't do anything wrong. We're the ones who keep hurting you. Please… calm down."
Daiki looked at her… at Riku… and finally at his open hand. Slowly, he let go of Riku's shirt.
He sank back onto the bench, rubbing his face.
Riku stepped forward. "I promise to explain everything… when we get home. Please… forgive me."
Ayaka knelt in front of Daiki, her eyes pleading. "We didn't mean to leave you. I'm so sorry."
Daiki stood. He looked at both of them, tired but calm.
"…Fine. I'm sorry too. For shouting. Let's just go home."
**Cut Scene: Late Night Street**
The quiet of the night was broken by their tired footsteps on the pavement, the streetlamps casting long shadows across their path. Riku, Ayaka, and Daiki were just a few minutes away from home when they saw it—
**A man.**
A figure in dark clothing stood ahead, motionless at first—until he took one slow step forward. And then another. A glint of silver flickered beneath the streetlight.
**A knife.**
They froze.
"Hey!" the man barked, his voice rough and commanding. "Hand over your wallets, phones, everything. Now."
Daiki instinctively stepped in front of Ayaka, his arm out protectively. Riku clutched her hand tighter.
"No," Daiki said, his voice steady but low. "We're not giving you anything."
The man took a step closer, dragging the blade across his palm with a twisted smile. "Wrong answer, kid."
Ayaka trembled. "Daiki..." she whispered.
Daiki leaned close and whispered, "When I say go, run. Get help. Don't look back."
Ayaka shook her head. "What are you going to do? Daiki, don't—!"
"Trust me," he said. "Just go."
He turned to Riku. "We hold him off together. Ready?"
Riku was shaking. "I... I-I can't..."
Daiki's eyes widened. "What?"
And before he could say another word, Riku took a staggering step back—then bolted, sprinting into the darkness.
Daiki's heart dropped. "No... No no no, you coward!" he shouted. "Tell me this is a joke, tell me I'm dreaming!"
"RIKUUUUU!! YOU BASTARD!!!"
That moment of distraction was all it took.
**Shunk!**
A burning pain erupted in his back. The blade slid in deep. Daiki's body jerked forward from the force of the stab.
He gasped and twisted around. The man grinned, blade now dripping red.
But Daiki didn't fall. He roared.
**He fought.**
A wild right hook smashed into the man's jaw, forcing him back. Daiki grabbed his arm, twisting it—**the knife clattered to the ground.**
The man countered with a hard elbow to Daiki's ribs. **Crack.** Daiki winced but didn't back down. He drove a **knee into the man's gut**, grabbed him by the collar, and **slammed his head against a streetlight pole.**
"AYAKA, RUN!!!" he screamed, blood running from the corner of his mouth.
Ayaka hesitated, paralyzed with fear. Tears streamed down her face.
"RUN, PLEASE!"
That finally snapped her out of it. She turned and sprinted, her fingers shaking as she dialed for the police.
Meanwhile, Daiki and the man continued to fight like animals.
The man clawed at Daiki's face, but Daiki ducked and landed a **brutal uppercut**, sending the man stumbling. Daiki pounced, tackling him to the ground. He straddled him and began throwing punch after punch—
**Left. Right. Left. Right.**
Blood splattered. The man's nose cracked under the barrage. Daiki's knuckles tore open.
"You picked the wrong people tonight," Daiki growled.
But then—
**Bang.**
A single, deafening shot echoed through the air.
Daiki's body jolted. His eyes widened. Time slowed.
He collapsed sideways.
Ayaka turned at the sound, her scream tearing through the night. "DAIKIIII!!!"
She sprinted back, dropping to her knees beside him. His blood pooled beneath him, soaking into the concrete.
"No... No no no... not you... not like this..." she sobbed, shaking him. "Wake up! Daiki, wake up!! Please!!!"
His eyes were still. His breathing shallow.
The man—now revealed to have a hidden pistol—was already fleeing into the shadows.
Ayaka cradled Daiki's head on her lap, crying uncontrollably. The phone slipped from her trembling hand, sirens wailing faintly in the distance.
"Don't die... You can't die... Please, Daiki... I'm so sorry..."
The night was silent again—except for her broken cries.