Chapter 8: Closer
"Riko?"
She looked up and shock crossed his face. There were tears running down her pale cheeks and she looked like she hadn't eaten in days. She saw Shuu and her eyes clouded in fear of being seen so weak. Burying her face in her arms, she asked "W-why are you here?"
"You hadn't come to school for so long! Did you think I wasn't worried?"
Shuu sat down next to her and said softly "So what happened?"
Riko sniffed and said "My dad...h-he came back. After we left Japan, he couldn't handle the stress and told me to stay at a dorm and told me that we wouldn't see each other. He said he would supply me money every month. After a year, he remarried. That woman was outrageous. She told my father to cut all ties and stop calling or texting me. He still sends money but that stopped after another few years. When I finally graduated from middle school, he sent back a thick envelope with money and a note. It wrote: Take this. I'm sorry. I saved up as I worked part time and with that money and the money he gave me, I managed to buy the ticket to get back here to see you, as well as go back to school.
B-but today he came back. He knocked on my door and apologised, saying how sorry he was he abandoned me. I threw him out and felt sick with stress so I didn't go to school."
Shuu was overwhelmed and stared at Riko for a few minutes before saying
"Hey, I might not know how to solve this, but know that I'm always her okay? Come back to school. Kana misses you."
Riko looked up, hope entering her eyes as she asked" Really? Can I go back?"
"Yes, Riko. You can."
At this they both sat beside each other for a long, long time.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone