Threads Of The Heart | Nishimura Riki ?

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Over the next few weeks, Y/n and Riki’s paths began to cross more often, and little by little, the walls between them started to crumble.

Each encounter held a quiet warmth, an unspoken understanding that helped them bridge the years of hurt and misunderstanding.

One day after school, they found themselves walking home together, a comfortable silence settling between them as the streets grew quieter.

Y/n stole a glance at Riki, catching the soft expression on his face as he took in the world around him. She wondered how much he had truly changed over the years, beyond what he’d let her see.

“Riki…” she began, hesitating as she searched for the right words. “Can I ask you something?”

He looked at her, a gentle smile in his eyes. “Of course.”

She took a breath. “How… how did you do it? Move past everything, I mean.”

Riki’s smile softened as he looked away, his gaze focused on a distant memory. “I think it all started with dance,” he said thoughtfully. “When I joined the dance club, it felt like I finally found something that was mine, something I could pour myself into. Hirota—he’s the club president—he helped me a lot. Taught me to channel my anger, my frustration, all those feelings, into my dancing.”

Y/n listened, captivated by the passion in his voice.

She could see how much he cared about dancing, how it had shaped him, and she felt a pang of regret for not knowing this side of him sooner.

“It sounds like… you found a place to belong,” she murmured.

Riki nodded. “Yeah, I did. And I think that’s when I started to let go. I realized that holding onto anger wasn’t helping me; it was only keeping me stuck.”

Y/n smiled faintly, marveling at his resilience. “You’re… a lot stronger than I gave you credit for back then.”

He shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Maybe. But I wasn’t always. There were a lot of days I struggled, too. I kept asking myself why things had to happen the way they did, why people treated each other so harshly. But then, I figured… maybe I needed to experience that to find my own way.”

Y/n felt a lump in her throat as she looked down, guilt surfacing again. “I wish I could say the same. I… I let myself get so caught up in popularity, in being accepted by people who didn’t really care about me. And then, when they turned on me…” Her voice wavered as she remembered the isolation she’d felt.

Riki gave her a reassuring look. “You don’t have to keep punishing yourself, Y/n. We all make choices that we’re not proud of.”

She nodded slowly, trying to take his words to heart. “I just… I’m still learning, I guess. How to be okay with everything that’s happened.”

Riki smiled gently. “You’re already doing that by being honest with yourself. Besides, you have me now.”

His tone was lighthearted, but there was a sincerity beneath it that made Y/n feel safe.

As they continued to walk, Y/n found herself opening up about her experiences over the years, sharing the loneliness she’d felt when her friends turned on her, the regret that had haunted her since elementary school, and the hope she now held to become a better person.

In return, Riki shared stories of his own—funny moments from his dance club, the friends he’d made, and the ways he’d grown.

They laughed together, reminiscing about the past while tentatively laying the foundation of a new bond. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t without its scars, but it was real.

By the time they reached the street where their paths diverged, there was a warmth in Y/n’s chest that hadn’t been there before.

She felt lighter, as if sharing her burdens with Riki had somehow lessened their weight.

“Thank you, Riki,” she said softly, meeting his eyes. “For… everything.”

He grinned, his familiar, boyish smile lighting up his face. “Anytime, Y/n. I’m here for you.”

As she walked away, Y/n couldn’t help but glance back, a small smile on her face.

Their friendship was fragile, still finding its footing, but she felt a sense of hope blossoming within her. Maybe this was a second chance—not only to make things right but to grow into the person she wanted to be, with Riki by her side.

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