The next day, after school, Ryu spotted Meg in the café, seated with a girl from Class B, who seemed a little too at ease, her smile tinged with satisfaction as Meg paged through her textbooks. The girl lounged back, occupying more than her fair share of the table with her bags and notes, while Meg's smile looked a little forced, her shoulders slightly tense.
After they finished, Ryu caught up with Meg outside the café. "Hey, everything okay? Looked like your friend in there was enjoying watching you do most of the work."
Meg's shoulders slumped a little, as if she'd been holding that thought herself, but she forced a small smile. "It's… kind of complicated," she started, her voice uncertain. "Her name's Miki, and we've been studying together for a while now. She… depends on me, I guess." She hesitated, then added, "At least, I feel like she does."
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Depends on you how?"
Meg sighed, looking away. "It all started last summer. I was helping her learn to swim—she didn't know how, and she seemed so nervous around water. I felt bad, so I offered to teach her."
Ryu nodded, encouraging her to go on.
"Well, we were in the deep end one day, and… she panicked. She started flailing and yelling, and I just… I didn't know what to do at first. I mean, I tried to calm her down, but she was terrified, and it got to the point where she almost pulled me down with her." Meg took a breath, her face reflecting how much the incident still affected her. "I managed to help her back to the shallow end, but I've felt so responsible ever since. I can't shake this feeling that I owe it to her to help her. I mean, I'm the one who encouraged her to try swimming in the first place."
Ryu listened carefully, nodding with understanding. "That makes sense, Meg. You feel responsible for her. But has she actually seemed scared of water since then?"
Meg hesitated, her brows knitting together. "I… don't know. Not really, I guess? Actually, sometimes I see her at the pool on her own, practicing her strokes. She doesn't seem afraid at all. But whenever she's around me, she just acts… different, like she's helpless or anxious."
Ryu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "So, she's okay on her own, but when you're around, she suddenly needs your support?"
Meg nodded slowly, her expression shifting to one of realization. "Yeah… and now that I think about it, she's been kind of doing the same thing with school. She'll say she can't understand something or ask me for help, but then she gets through the material faster than I do. Whenever I ask her about it, she just says, 'Oh, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you, Meg,' or something like that." Meg's expression softened into one of confusion and frustration. "I thought I was helping her, but… I guess now I don't know if she actually needs it."
Ryu's gaze softened. "Meg, it sounds like she's gotten used to relying on you more out of habit than need. It doesn't sound like she's struggling academically or with swimming. Maybe she just… likes the attention, or she's taking advantage of your kindness."
Meg bit her lip, considering this. "But… wouldn't that make her a terrible person? I don't want to think of her that way, Ryu."
Ryu put a hand on her shoulder gently. "Not necessarily. Some people don't even realize they're using others because they're so used to getting help when they ask for it. But that doesn't mean you have to keep giving it, especially if it's making you feel drained. You're not responsible for her confidence, Meg. She has to stand on her own, too."
Meg looked down, processing his words. "You're right… It's hard, though. I don't want to abandon her, but I also don't want to feel… used."
"How about this, I got an idea" Ryu said.
The following evening, Ryu and Meg met up at the school pool, prepared to try an unusual approach. The plan was simple but a bit… unconventional. Ryu had managed to get his hands on an item from the system store, a "Lucid Dream Talisman," which would make Miki believe she was in a dream while they guided her through her swimming practice.
Ryu explained that the talisman could create a hazy, dream-like effect on its target, enough to make them feel just out of touch with reality. The result? Miki would think she was just dreaming while they subtly coached her to become more confident in her swimming.
Of course, Ryu made an excuse about where he got it, and Meg was suspicious but she knew Ryu had good intentions.
As they prepared to activate the talisman, Meg's face was a mixture of concern and excitement. "Are you sure this is going to work? What if she realizes it's not actually a dream?"
Ryu shrugged with a reassuring smile. "She won't. This item's got a pretty strong effect, so as long as we stay quiet and gentle, she'll think it's just some kind of bizarre dream sequence."
Miki was already waiting at the pool, clueless about the setup. Ryu discreetly activated the talisman, and Miki's eyes took on a slightly dazed expression as she looked around, her surroundings taking on a misty, surreal quality.
"Alright, let's do this," Ryu whispered, giving Meg an encouraging nod.
Meg approached Miki gently, guiding her into the water with a calm, quiet voice. "It's just like last time," she murmured. "Float, take a breath, and relax…"
With the dream-like effect in place, Miki's usual anxiousness around Meg had dissolved. She seemed peaceful, her strokes more natural as she moved through the water. Ryu and Meg coached her subtly, helping her adjust her form and focus on her breathing.
Any small correction they made was absorbed easily, as Miki didn't resist or tense up the way she usually did. It was as if her subconscious was absorbing their guidance without the interference of self-doubt or performance anxiety.
After a while, Miki seemed to fully relax in the water, floating and swimming on her own as Meg and Ryu watched quietly from a distance. There was a peaceful look on her face, and she swam with a newfound grace and ease.
Ryu grinned, nudging Meg slightly. "She's actually doing it. This is amazing."
Meg's eyes shone with pride. "Yeah, it is. I can't believe she's actually… swimming."
When they felt she'd practiced enough, Ryu deactivated the talisman, letting Miki swim a few more laps naturally before she climbed out of the pool, looking slightly bewildered.
"What a weird dream," she mumbled, shaking her head, her voice a little groggy. "I feel like I was actually… swimming." She chuckled softly to herself and wandered off, unaware of the help she'd just received.
The next day, Ryu and Meg watched from a distance as Miki returned to the pool during gym class. To their surprise and satisfaction, she seemed more at ease, her strokes steady and strong. She still glanced around occasionally, as if looking for something or someone, but she pushed through the water confidently.
Meg smiled at Ryu, her voice filled with relief and happiness. "I think she actually believes in herself now. She doesn't need me to hold her hand anymore."
"Good job!" Meg yelled. Suddenly, the girl turned her head horrified. She showed just now that she could swim. She wouldn't be able to force Meg to help her.
Meg looked down thoughtfully, a soft smile lingering on her face. "You know… I feel like I learned something from this, too. I can still care about people without feeling responsible for every little thing they struggle with."
Ryu nodded. "Exactly. You're allowed to help, but it doesn't mean you have to carry their entire burden."
"Thank you, Ryu" Meg looked at Ryu's face before kissing him on the lips. "The truth is I always had a crush on you ever since you transferred"
Ryu's face broke into a wide smile, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against Meg's in a gentle, tender kiss. Meg's lips felt soft and inviting, and Ryu couldn't help but deepen the kiss, his tongue exploring the warm, wet space between their lips.
As they kissed, Ryu felt a sense of wonder and excitement. He'd never kissed Meg like this before, and he couldn't believe the sparks flying between them.
Their lips broke apart, and Ryu looked into Meg's eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation or uncertainty. But all he saw was a soft, loving gaze, and a smile that seemed to say, "I'm exactly where I want to be."
Meg's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm glad I finally worked up the courage to tell you, Ryu."
Ryu's heart swelled with emotion, and he wrapped his arms around Meg, pulling her close. "I'm glad you did, Meg. I feel the same way about you."
As they hugged, Ryu realized that he'd been blind to Meg's feelings for far too long. But now, he saw her in a whole new light, and he couldn't wait to explore this new connection between them.
Their lips met again, and this time, the kiss was even more passionate, more intense.