Riku sat at his usual desk in the back corner of the classroom, hunched slightly over his notebook. Despite his attempt to stay focused, his gaze kept flickering toward the side of the room where his desk neighbor, Yumi, was sitting.
He wasn't tall—not even close. Standing at a mere 5'4", Riku was easily the shortest guy in the class. His black hair was slightly messy, and his brown eyes often had a distant look, like he was lost in thought. He blended into the background, something he was quite used to. Being unnoticed had always been easier for him.
Yumi, on the other hand, was hard to miss. Sitting right next to him, she was easily one of the tallest girls in class, standing at 5'9". Her long black-blue hair and striking blue eyes made her stand out in any crowd. She was beautiful, with an athletic build that had made her quite popular in school. She was often the center of attention, not only because of her appearance but also due to her impressive abilities in sports. Her curves were proportionate in all the right places, a result of years of training in track and field.
Despite being seated next to each other all year, Riku and Yumi never really spoke beyond the occasional greeting. A simple "Good morning" or a nod in the hallway was the extent of their communication. It was just how things were. Yumi always had friends around her, and Riku preferred to stay quiet in the background.
But today was different.
"Alright, class," the teacher's voice echoed through the room, and a wave of chatter quickly died down. "We're starting a new project today. I'll be pairing you up with a partner."
Riku shifted in his seat, bracing himself for the inevitable. Group work wasn't something he looked forward to. His eyes flickered nervously toward the teacher.
"Riku," she called out, and his heart skipped. "You'll be paired with… Yumi."
Riku froze. His mind went blank, and for a moment, he just stared at Yumi, who was sitting right beside him. She was already looking at him, her blue eyes calmly meeting his brown ones. There was a faint glimmer of amusement in her gaze.
"Looks like we're working together," Yumi said casually, her tone light as she turned to face him fully.
Riku, still taken aback, managed a weak smile. "Uh, yeah. I guess so."
There was a slight pause before Yumi raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're looking kind of stiff. You always look like you're about to disappear into the background."
Riku could feel his face flush. He wasn't used to having someone like Yumi talk to him—especially not with such a playful tone. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm not… I just…" He trailed off, unsure of how to explain.
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "It's fine," she said in a relaxed voice, the smirk still present. "We'll figure it out. No need to worry so much."
Riku blinked, his cheeks still red as he sat up straighter. Her calm confidence, the way she had casually spoken to him, was a stark contrast to his own nervousness. But there was something about her voice that didn't make him feel judged—just... lighthearted.
"You don't mind if I take charge of this, do you?" Yumi added, her eyes glinting mischievously. "I mean, you don't seem like the type to take the lead."
"I—I don't mind," Riku stammered. His voice had an almost panicked edge, but he quickly cleared his throat. "I'll do my part. Whatever you want."
She chuckled softly. "Good. You're not as hopeless as I thought."
Riku wasn't sure if that was a compliment, but it made his heart beat a little faster. He had never really expected this kind of interaction with her, not from someone so outgoing and confident.
Yumi, noticing his unease, laughed softly. "Don't worry too much about it. We'll be fine."
Riku blinked again. For the first time, he felt like maybe, just maybe, this project wouldn't be so bad after all.
As class went on, Riku couldn't help but sneak glances at Yumi, who appeared completely at ease. Her relaxed posture, the way she took charge of their task with casual efficiency—he couldn't help but admire it. He'd always thought of her as out of his league, someone too perfect and distant, but now… now he was beginning to see her in a different light.
It wasn't that he felt the need to impress her, but there was something about the way she made him feel so comfortable despite his usual nervousness. He found himself wanting to talk more, to say something—anything that might break the awkwardness.
But before he could, Yumi shot him a quick, amused look. "You're still zoning out, huh? Just don't go falling asleep on me, alright?"
Riku blinked, shaking his head strongly. "I wasn't—!"
She laughed, a soft, genuine sound that made Riku feel even more flustered, but oddly… at ease. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen someone so nervous over something so simple."
The teasing was light, but it was a kind of teasing that made Riku feel strangely good. He couldn't quite explain why, but her jokes didn't sting. Instead, they made him want to keep talking to her, even if he felt a little embarrassed.
"Its not simple" Riku, muttered softly with a red face.
Yumi raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk forming on her lips. "We'll see. I think you might surprise me."
And for the first time in a long while, Riku felt a tiny spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as invisible as he thought.