Riku Kisaragi was in a strange place.
After his disastrous gaming attempts and a few deep conversations with himself (and Kenta), he decided to follow Aiko's advice: stop overthinking it and just be himself. It sounded simple enough in theory. The problem? Riku had no idea who the real "him" was anymore. Was he the carefree, popular guy everyone knew, or the awkward gamer who couldn't even win a match against a girl?
Still, he figured it was worth trying. Maybe this time, he wouldn't overcompensate with flashy moves and insane strategies. Maybe it was time to just... chill.
The Next Day at School
Riku walked through the school gates with a new mindset. He wasn't going to try to impress anyone. He was just going to be… himself. No crazy stunts. No more trying to be the top player in every game. Just a regular guy who liked to have fun.
But of course, Kenta wasn't going to let him off that easy.
"Yo, Riku! Looking a little too casual today," Kenta teased, sidling up to him. "You actually planning on making it through the day without pulling some ridiculous stunt? What happened to Mr. 'Best at Everything'?"
Riku shrugged. "Guess I'm not Mr. Best anymore, huh? I've got a new plan. I'm just going to do my thing, no more pressure."
Kenta raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You know, you're seriously acting weird, right? Like, weird weird."
"I'm just being normal, man," Riku said, adjusting his jacket with a casual air. "No more drama, no more acting like I have to win everything. I'm just me."
Kenta eyed him like he'd grown a second head. "Alright, alright. If you say so. But if you start randomly singing karaoke in the middle of the hall, I'm going to have to step in."
Riku chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm done with the grand entrances."
Later That Afternoon
Riku hadn't expected to find Aiko at the arcade after school, but there she was—standing by the latest fighting game machine, casually watching the crowd of players.
He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and approached her. He didn't have a "big plan" this time. No fancy pickup lines. No showing off. Just a casual greeting.
"Hey, Aiko," he said, walking up to her with a friendly smile. "You here for the usual?"
Aiko turned to him, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled back. "Riku! What's up? I was just watching. I'm not playing today."
"Yeah? Why's that?" Riku asked, genuinely curious.
"I don't know. I guess sometimes I just like to watch other people play. It's kind of fun to see how everyone has their own style, even if they're not very good," she said with a teasing smile.
Riku laughed, feeling a little more at ease. "That's fair. I'm sure you're a much better player than all of them anyway."
She shrugged casually, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe. But sometimes it's more fun just enjoying the moment instead of worrying about winning."
It was like a lightbulb went off in Riku's head. Maybe that was it—Aiko wasn't so obsessed with winning all the time. Maybe that's why she was so cool and collected, while he was busy stressing over every match. Maybe she was just in it for the fun, not the title.
Later That Evening – The Game Night
That evening, Riku joined Aiko online for another round of gaming. This time, he wasn't focused on winning. He wasn't even thinking about showing off. He just wanted to enjoy the game with her.
At first, it felt weird. He wasn't sure if he was doing it "right," or if he was being too laid-back. But as the game went on, he found himself laughing, making dumb jokes, and just having a good time. Aiko was way better than him, sure, but this time, he wasn't upset about it.
Instead, they ended up talking and laughing through the entire match. Aiko's sarcastic comments made him grin, and he even managed to pull off a few decent moves—though, it wasn't like they were going to change the outcome of the game.
When the match finally ended, Aiko didn't immediately gloat. Instead, she sent him a message:
Aiko: "You know, I don't think I've ever had more fun losing a match before."
Riku blinked at the screen. Was she… complimenting him? He grinned, a little embarrassed but genuinely happy.
Riku: "Hey, as long as we're having fun, that's all that matters, right?"
Aiko responded with a smiley face emoji and a wink:Aiko: "You've really changed, Riku. Maybe this version of you is the best one."
Riku felt a rush of warmth flood through him. For the first time, he didn't feel like he was trying to impress anyone. He was just having a good time with someone he respected. And that felt way better than winning any match.
The Next Day at School
Riku walked into school the next morning, feeling lighter than he had in days. He wasn't carrying around the weight of trying to be someone he wasn't. He had learned something important—being yourself wasn't about perfection, it was about just enjoying the ride.
As he sat down at lunch, Kenta leaned over, a knowing grin on his face.
"So, Mr. 'Just Be Yourself,' huh?" Kenta said, clearly amused. "How's that working out for you?"
Riku smiled, feeling a little embarrassed but also proud. "Better than I expected. Turns out, not every situation has to be some big performance."
Kenta leaned back, nodding. "I'm glad to hear that, man. So, are you and Aiko… I don't know… becoming friends now?"
Riku's face went a little red. "I mean… yeah. I think so."
Kenta raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… so you're not just trying to impress her anymore?"
Riku laughed. "Nope. Just playing games, hanging out. I'm not trying to win anymore. I'm just being me."
Kenta looked at him for a long moment, then sighed dramatically. "Guess you finally figured it out. Good job, Riku. I guess I won't have to drag you out of your own drama anymore."