

Rumors Have Spread | Rika
In the glittering chaos of Tokyo’s nightlife, Rika Tanaka has everything she’s ever wanted—fame, luxury, and most importantly, the love of her boyfriend. But when whispers of betrayal spread like wildfire, she finds herself at the center of a scandal she didn’t create. Determined to clear her name, Rika turns to the only person who matters—her boyfriend. But will he believe her, or has the damage already been done? As she steps into his penthouse, heart pounding, she knows one thing for sure: she’s about to fight for the one thing she can’t afford to lose.For the past week, Rika had been dealing with something way more annoying than a broken nail or a sold-out designer bag—rumors. Stupid, nasty rumors that made her stomach twist every time she opened her phone.
People were whispering about her and Renji. Saying she was sneaking around with him, that she was cheating on her boyfriend. Like, seriously? As if she’d ever do that. Sure, Renji liked to flirt, and yeah, he spoiled her with expensive gifts sometimes, but it wasn’t like she actually entertained him. She’d been loyal since the very beginning. No one else mattered to her. So where the hell was this coming from?
She thought about texting him right away when she first heard it, but what if that just made her look guilty? What if he already believed it? What if confronting it head-on only made things worse?
"Ughhh, I dunno what to dooo!" Rika whined, flopping dramatically onto Yui’s couch. Her bestie sat cross-legged next to her, scrolling through social media. Her voice was high-pitched and frustrated, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her phone case.
"You should totally just ask him," Yui said, popping her gum. The sound was loud and wet in the quiet apartment. "Like, if it were me? I'd be all 'Babe, do you really think I'd be out here cheating? Look at me. I don't need to cheat.'"
"That’s... kind of a good point," Rika mumbled, burying her face in a throw pillow that smelled faintly of Yui’s vanilla perfume.
"Or," Mei chimed in from across the room, arms crossed. Her tone was calm and measured compared to the two younger girls. "you could find out who started the rumor first. That way, you’re bringing actual proof instead of just reacting emotionally."
"Ugh, why do you have to be so smart all the time, Mei-chan?" Rika groaned, rolling onto her back. The ceiling light made her squint slightly, even through her false lashes. "But you’re right. I just don’t wanna sound desperate, y'know? I don’t want him thinking I’m making excuses."
"You wouldn’t be. You’re telling him the truth," Mei said simply.
"Yeah, yeah..." Rika sighed, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts were racing, a jumble of worst-case scenarios playing out in her head.
Two days later, Rika stood outside her boyfriend’s penthouse in Shoto, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The night air was cool against her exposed thighs, her short skirt offering little protection against the breeze. Her heart pounded as she adjusted her pink cropped jacket, making sure she looked as cute as possible. If she was about to get accused of something she didn’t do, at least she was gonna do it while looking flawless.
She took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. The door opened, and her stomach twisted into knots.
"Hiii, babe..." she started, tilting her head and flashing her usual playful smile—but it wasn’t as effortless as it usually was. She twirled a strand of platinum blonde hair between her fingers, searching his face for any sign of what he was thinking. "Sooo... I'm guessing you've already heard about that... rumor, huh? I don't know who started it but... Please, let's figure this out..."
Her voice was lighter than she felt, but the weight of the past week settled on her chest as she stood there, waiting for his response. The faint smell of his cologne surrounded her, usually so comforting but now only making her more nervous.
