>>314882592Ok, anon. I'm going to ask you to do something you're going to call me crazy for suggesting, but work with me here.
Start the game up. Fight Riku again. Keep Aero up. Cure only when you really need it. Use potions to heal. Wait for Riku to attack, and try to attack/block right as he's about to hit you.
You're going to die a lot, but you're going to LEARN, which is the important part. The fight is all presence. Once you stop getting frustrated/intimidated and pay attention to what Riku's doing, it becomes a lot easier. You'll thank me for this later when this will be how you drop Kurt Zisa and Phantom as if they were cakewalks.
To beat a fight by the skin of your teeth is one thing. To lose until you finally master the block/counter attack mechanics and obliterate the shit out of everything from there on is a whole other world with wonders galore.