[Free Time - Riko]

I wasn’t feeling so great today, so I’d retreated to my room to rest a bit before heading to the lunch rush in the cafeteria. Just as I’d worked up the nerve to leave again, though, I opened the door to my room and thump!

…Wait, there wasn’t a wall for it to bump against, was there? A peek behind the door revealed it had bumped against something much more intimidating…

Riko looks a little dazed after Timaeus accidentally slammed the door in her face.
Tim yelps.
Timaeus
Sorry! Sorry! Oh my god are you okay?!
Riko growls.
Riko
I-I’m fine! What the hell was that? Watch where you’re going!

She glowered at me as she regained her balance on those spindly legs. There wasn’t any way I could’ve known she was there, of course, but it didn’t seem like arguing with her would do any good.

Tim looks terrified.
Timaeus
S-sorry… Um… what were you doing?
Riko frowns.
Riko
I was thinking.
Tim laughs a little.
Timaeus
And, uh, pacing around apparently…
Riko continues to frown.
Riko
Is that a problem?
Tim blinks.
Timaeus
N-no of course not–

Before I could finish my sentence, she pushed past me and stalked off down the hallway again. I followed after her for a bit, a little peeved at being constantly interrupted. But she walked faster than any person I’d ever met!

Tim is struggling to keep up.
Timaeus
Hey, could you slow down a little…?
Riko huffs.
Riko
I’m the one wearing heels. You catch up.
Tim grumbles.
Timaeus
You’re also ninety percent legs…

She stopped and turned around with a patronizing sigh.

Riko sighs.
Riko
…What do you want?
Tim looks peeved.
Timaeus
I just wanted to, like… talk to you? Hang out? That’s a thing people do, you know! But you keep running away from me like I’m a rabid dog or something!
Riko frowns.
Riko
I’m not running, I simply have no particular interest in “hanging out,” with you or with anyone.
Tim thinks.
Timaeus
Really now? I thought I saw you talking to Yusra for quite a while at supper last night…

Riko looks embarrassed.
Riko
…She’s different.
Tim smiles.
Timaeus
Hmmmmm… Why’s that, I wonder?