Encounter

Riku's POV

***

I looked down at my phone, various messages popping up from the E-Sports Club's group chat. Tsuchiya-senpai was nice enough to add me in advance even though my application hadn't been processed yet.

Well, there's no way I was going to fail the entry test though, those noobs stand no chance against me hehe.

"Riku, can you stop using your phone for like a few minutes at least?"

I glanced at Hina who was pouting at me angrily with that stupid plushie in her hands. Tch, I don't understand why she refused to return it, what a waste.

"Oh come on, this is pretty important! Tsuchiya-senpai wants me to study some of the strategies they use in advance, it'll cut down the time it would take for me to join the official team for tournaments!"

Hina has been whining so much lately, it's getting a little annoying no matter how cute she is! Why can't she understand it from my point of view?

She just sighed at my response and started walking off, towards the food court.

"Can we get ice cream at least?" She asked.

"Hmm... Yeah sure, it's pretty hot today."

We each bought a cone, and she went with a disgusting flavor once again! Why on earth does she keep doing that for fuck's sake?

Just the goopy green look and that minty smell is making me lose my appetite, I wonder if she accidently drank acid when she was younger and destroyed her tastebuds....

"Do you want to try some?" Hina held out the cone to offer me a taste.

My face contorted in disgust as I pulled away with a laugh.

"Ewwww, how do you have such weird tastes Hina? Don't you feel like you're eating toothpaste?"

"It's nothing like toothpaste, you just have numb tastebuds," She defended herself.

She licked the ice cream and her eyes twinkled with pure joy at the unique and refreshing flavor. Looking at her, it was almost like she had grown a second head.

That's how odd this was to me.

"Man, watching you eat something like that makes me lose my appetite," I mumbled.

We both left, heading towards the entertainment area. There were massage trials, VR simulations, a cool anime toy store, and even an arcade.

"Can we check out that new fountain that people have been talking about? I've heard it's really pretty, with light shows and different water settings!" Hina asked, her eyes shining in excitement.

"Ehh... Sounds pretty boring.."

"Pleeeeaassse??" She practically begged.

It was a pretty amusing scene

"Fine, it's on the way to the entertainment section, so we can pass by it I guess," I finally relented.

During this conversation, we passed by a cafe in the food court. Hina suddenly stopped, peering into the coffee shop with bewilderment.

"What's wrong? You want coffee?" I asked.

"Uh.. N-No... Hey Riku, isn't that Yagami-kun from our class?" Hina stuttered a little nervously.

"WHAT? WHERE?"

I followed her line of sight and saw everyone in the cafe glancing towards a particular table. A table where two unfairly attractive people were having a conversation.

One was a drop-dead gorgeous woman with bright red hair and eyes, her sensual figure sat alluringly on the chair, making my heart pound.

But across from her sat a young man with messy black hair, that actually suited him really well, piercing blue eyes, and earrings on both sides.

It was a face that I would never forget, that detestable delinquent from the Yakuza.

'What the fuck is he doing here? And who is that hottie? Damn, this isn't fair!' I fumed internally, my insides burning with jealousy.

I snapped back into attention when I noticed Hina staring at me with slight confusion. My expression was probably not very good...

"Um, let's just leave Riku... I don't really want to cross paths with him."

"Great! Ah-uhh..... yeah let's go!"

I realized I got a little too excited when Hina showed her fear of him, but it showed that my efforts weren't in vain!

But as we were leaving, I suddenly had a thought. It looked like those two were on a date, and most couples usually spent their time in the entertainment section where there was a lot of stuff to do together.

And with that new fountain being so heavily marketed, it wouldn't be strange if that's why they were here in the first place.

"H-Hina, why don't we go the other way? I just remembered that I still have some shopping to do, and you can also get some clothes if you need to," I asked, not noticing the hint of fear in my eyes.

"Huh? What about the fountain?"

"We can always come again, it's not like the fountain is going somewhere. I really need to get those clothes, it's urgent! And if we have time later, we can still check it out."

I tried to persuade her as best as I could. I didn't want to cross paths with him for two reasons.

First, it's still not completely impossible for Hina to fall in love with that asshole. If he can get that sexy girl to go out with him willingly, wouldn't Hina be a piece of cake?

Secondly, I don't want him to find out about all the rumors I've been spreading about him.... Although there's no way he already knows, since I'd be dead by now, it's better to be safe than sorry.

So I managed to convince Hina, who reluctantly agreed to go to the opposite side of the mall. This way, we'd probably be able to avoid those two!

***

'What the actual fuck is up with my luck???? Why the FUCK are these two here?'

I was completely losing my mind, not only were we right in front of that piece of shit, he was looking at both of us as if he recognized us!!

'Does he know about the rumors? Nah there's no way!'

The red-haired beauty beside him was tilting her head in confusion.

"Reiji, do you know these two?" She asked.

'Damn, they're on first-name basis? I'm soooo jealous FUCK!'

"Um, yeah I guess? They're classmates," the asshole responded.

"Hic-...Hic-."

I stared at Hina, who had started hiccupping due to sheer nervousness. It was one of her weird little ticks. Kind of annoying, but at least it made her transparent.

I decided that we had had to get out of here, it didn't seem like the yakuza held any ill-intent for now, so best to make a getaway while we can.

"Let's go, Hina." I said, pulling her away from the two people.

But for some reason, the hottie next to him suddenly frowned.

"What? Why are you leaving without even saying hi to your classmate?" She questioned with a cold glint in her fiery red eyes.

"W-what? We don't even know him so why should we say hi?" I snapped.

Ah shit.

Probably not the best response, but she put me on the spot!

"That's still a little rude though, and why are you the one getting mad?"

The woman crossed her arms and glared at us, sizing us up and down in judgmental manner.

'Damn even her angry look is sexy as fuck!..... Am I a masochist?'

"Listen lady, I don't know who you are nor do I care! We just want to go our separate ways," I responded with a tough look.

Maybe if I showed her I wasn't a wimp she'd back down. Dad always used to say that the worst thing to do against bullies is to cower away, because they'll think you were the perfect target.

'It might even score me some points with Hina, hehe.'

But this made the redhead even more infuriated, her eyes narrowed in seething anger at my words. She even took a step forward as if she was going to do something, and I flinched slightly at her momentum.

At this time, the delinquent who had been scratching his head as if he was completely exasperated, stepped in between us. Hina was hiding behind me the whole time, and she ducked her head when she saw him intervene.

"Yui, come on! Let's not make a scene, they didn't even do anything," He said softly.

"I didn't like the look in that wimp's eyes! He looked at you with disgust, and looked at me disgustingly," She sneered, still burning a hole through my head with her intense look.

"Ah? What?"

The man turned around and frowned at me slightly before refocusing on the girl who's name was apparently Yui.

"Forget about him, let's not bring our mood down. Why don't we just go somewhere else?" he suggested, completely ignoring our existence.

This kind of pissed me off.

I admit that I did look at her a little perversely, but why the fuck did she have to point that out? Hopefully Hina won't believe her...

I couldn't just stand there and take these insults, so I took a step forward as well.

"Hey, you can't just spread fake rumors like that and get away with it! Well, what did I expect, with you dating a Yakuza?"

I didn't even realize how hypocritical I was being, but that wasn't the point!

At those words, Yui looked like she was going to murder me, her face contorting with absolute fury.

"What the fuck did you just say you little shit!?"

'Uh oh, I shouldn't have done that...'