Under One Roof: Riku's Romantic Ruckus

The day of the cultural festival dawned bright and crisp, the air buzzing with anticipation as Class 2-B scrambled to put the finishing touches on their haunted house. The classroom had been transformed into a shadowy labyrinth of draped fabric, flickering lanterns, and eerie sound effects, thanks to Mika's meticulous audio work. Riku adjusted a rickety prop gate, sweat beading on his forehead as Yuna darted past, a wicked grin on her face.

"Jump scare's ready!" she announced, clutching a plastic skull she'd rigged to drop from the ceiling. "This is gonna be epic."

Aiko, stationed by the entrance with a clipboard, rolled her eyes. "Just don't break anything—or anyone."

"No promises!" Yuna sang, disappearing into the maze of curtains.

Riku shot Aiko a wry smile. "Think we'll survive this?"

"Barely," she replied, echoing their kitchen conversation from days earlier. But her smirk softened as she stepped closer, brushing a speck of dust off his shoulder. "You're doing great, knight."

He chuckled, warmth spreading through him at the nickname. "Thanks. Couldn't do it without you, princess."

Their moment was cut short by Haruka's voice calling from deeper within the setup. "Riku! We've got a problem with the fog machine again!"

Sighing, he gave Aiko's hand a quick squeeze before jogging off. The haunted house was a chaotic masterpiece, but keeping it running was proving to be a full-time job.

---

Haruka stood by the temperamental fog machine, her brow furrowed as she fiddled with the controls. Tendrils of mist sputtered out unevenly, pooling around her feet. "It keeps jamming," she said as Riku approached. "I think Yuna cranked it too hard yesterday."

"Sounds about right," he muttered, kneeling to inspect the device. "Let's see if we can coax it back to life."

As he worked, Haruka hovered nearby, her hands twisting nervously. She'd been quieter since their talk the other day, her usual cheer tempered by something unspoken. Riku glanced up, catching the flicker of unease in her eyes.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked, keeping his tone light. "You've been a trooper with all this."

She forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... nervous about the festival, I guess. What if people don't like it?"

"They'll love it," he assured her, tightening a loose valve. "You've put so much into the costumes—those creepy kimonos are a highlight."

Her smile brightened slightly. "You think so?"

"Absolutely," he said, standing as the fog machine hummed back to life, sending out a steady stream of mist. "See? We've got this."

Haruka laughed, relief softening her features. "Thanks, Riku. You always know how to fix things."

"Team effort," he replied, clapping her on the shoulder. But as they returned to the main setup, he couldn't shake the sense that her nerves ran deeper than festival jitters.

---

The haunted house opened to a flood of visitors as the festival kicked off, screams and laughter echoing through the halls. Riku manned the entrance with Aiko, handing out tickets while Yuna's jump scare—complete with a cackling laugh—sent classmates scrambling. Mika's sound design added an extra layer of unease, whispers and distant wails weaving through the air.

Halfway through the morning, Hana appeared, her arms crossed as she surveyed the chaos. Riku stiffened, exchanging a glance with Aiko.

"Mom?" he said, stepping forward. "Didn't expect you here so early."

"I wanted to see what's been keeping you so busy," Hana replied, her gaze sweeping over the tattered decorations and then landing on Aiko. "Quite the production."

Aiko met her scrutiny with a polite nod. "We've been working hard. Want a tour?"

Hana hesitated, then nodded. "Why not?"

Riku led the way, guiding her through the twisting paths of the haunted house. Yuna's skull dropped right on cue, earning a startled gasp from Hana before she chuckled. "Creative," she admitted, though her tone remained guarded.

As they emerged, Hana turned to Riku. "You've put a lot into this."

"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's been a group effort."

Her eyes flicked to Aiko, who was helping a giggling group of first-years at the exit. "I can see that. Just don't let it distract you from what's important."

"Studies are fine, Mom," he said, catching the unspoken subtext. "We've got it under control."

Hana's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't push further. "Good. I'll be back later—your aunt's booth needs help with the takoyaki."

As she walked off, Riku let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Aiko sidled up beside him, nudging his arm. "She's still suspicious."

"Always," he muttered. "But she didn't say no to the haunted house, so that's a win."

Aiko smirked. "Small victories."

---

The day rolled on with a mix of triumphs and mishaps. The fog machine broke again, forcing Haruka and Mika to improvise with dry ice, while Yuna accidentally tripped over a prop, collapsing part of the maze in a flurry of shrieks and laughter. Through it all, Riku and Aiko anchored the group, their easy banter a steadying force amid the chaos.

By late afternoon, the haunted house was declared a hit, with a line stretching down the hall. Riku took a rare break, leaning against a wall as Aiko joined him, her hair slightly mussed from wrangling props.

"Survived another one," she said, handing him a bottle of water.

"Barely," he teased, echoing her earlier quip. He took a sip, then added, "You're amazing, you know that?"

She raised an eyebrow, but her smirk softened. "Flattery won't get you out of cleanup duty."

"Worth a shot," he grinned, brushing his fingers against hers.

Their quiet moment was interrupted by a shout from Haruka. "Riku! Aiko! We've got a problem!"

They exchanged a weary look before hurrying over. Haruka stood by the exit, her face pale as she pointed to a tangled mess of fabric and broken wood. "One of the walls collapsed—someone tripped, and it just... fell."

Yuna popped up behind her, sheepish. "Might've been me. Oops?"

Aiko pinched the bridge of her nose. "Senpai, I swear..."

"It's fixable," Riku said, already rolling up his sleeves. "Haruka, grab the spare fabric. Aiko, can you handle the crowd?"

"On it," Aiko replied, heading back to the entrance.

As they scrambled to repair the damage, Riku caught Haruka's eye. She looked shaken, her earlier nerves resurfacing. "Hey," he said softly, "we'll get through this. Okay?"

She nodded, swallowing hard. "Okay."

---

The haunted house limped to a close as the festival wound down, the group exhausted but triumphant. They gathered in the classroom, sprawled across desks and chairs, laughing over the day's chaos. Yuna recounted her "epic" jump scare fails, while Mika quietly tallied their ticket earnings—a surprising success.

Riku sat beside Aiko, their shoulders brushing as they shared a tired smile. Across the room, Haruka joined in the laughter, her mood lifting with the group's energy. But Riku's gaze drifted to the doorway, where Hana lingered, watching them with an unreadable expression.

"Nice work today," she said finally, stepping inside. "All of you."

"Thanks, Mom," Riku said, surprised by the praise.

Hana's eyes softened slightly, but her next words carried weight. "Just remember what I said, Riku. Balance."

He nodded, feeling the unspoken tension settle back in. As Hana left, Aiko leaned closer, her voice low. "She's not wrong, you know. But we've got this."

"Yeah," he murmured, lacing his fingers with hers under the desk. "Together."

The room buzzed with chatter, the festival's frenetic energy fading into a warm, weary glow. But outside, new challenges loomed—family expectations, unspoken feelings, and the ever-shifting dynamics of their group. For now, though, they savored the victory, the calm before the inevitable storm.

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