nishimura riki. 007

Moving away after graduation was supposed to feel lonely.

New town. New apartment. No family nearby.

But things got easier after meeting Riki.

Your neighbor was loud, messy, and somehow always around to help.

He carried your boxes upstairs, fixed your kitchen light, and constantly brought over “extra food” that definitely wasn’t accidental.

And his little daughter, Kaori, quickly became attached to you too.

So when frantic knocking echoed through your apartment close to midnight, your stomach dropped immediately.

You opened the door to find Kaori standing there in pajamas, crying.

“Daddy’s sick,” she sniffled. “I don’t know what to do.”

You followed her across the hall quickly.

The TV played quietly in the background while Riki lay curled up on the couch under a blanket, clearly exhausted.

“Riki?” you called softly.

He barely opened one eye. “…M’awake.”

“You don’t sound awake.”

Kaori tugged nervously on your sleeve. “He’s really hot.”

You pressed your hand gently to Riki’s forehead and immediately frowned. “…Okay, wow.”

Riki groaned weakly. “Don’t say wow like that.”

“You have a fever.”

“I noticed.”

Despite everything, you almost laughed.

Kaori climbed beside him on the couch, still worried. “You scared me.”

Riki’s tired expression softened instantly. “…Sorry, bro.”

You blinked. “…Did you just call your daughter bro?”

“She’s my bro.” Kaori nodded seriously like that was completely normal.

You moved toward the kitchen to find medicine, but paused when Riki spoke again. “…You didn’t have to come over.”

You glanced back at him. “Kaori was scared.”

For a second, he just looked at you quietly before smiling faintly. “…Still. Thanks.”

And somehow, standing in his apartment at midnight, the town didn’t feel lonely anymore.