Rock Girl Descends By My Side!

Riki looked at Toyokawa Sakiko, who was struggling to use translation software on her laptop on the sofa beside him. It seemed like something good had finally happened to her.

Just as his mentor had said, the more talented someone was, the more likely they were to be hindered by their own talent and get stuck in a rut. Before this, he had been suffering from dark circles under his eyes for many days. It wasn't until Toyokawa Sakiko appeared that he gradually began to understand what music truly was.

"It's getting late, time to start cooking."

Toyokawa Sakiko decided to pan-fry tonight's prize: a fresh piece of cod.

After preparing the marinade, Toyokawa Sakiko placed the cod in it, then sprinkled it with pepper. She then put the sliced cod into a frying pan and seared it for a minute and a half, flipped it over to cook for another minute, and then turned off the heat, letting the residual warmth cook the fish through.

"Riki, try it and see if it's edible. We're a bit short on seasonings at home," Toyokawa Sakiko said apologetically.

Did she just say "at home"?

Riki used the tip of his chopsticks to cut off a small piece of fish. He tasted it and frowned.

"Is it not good?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked nervously. "I'm sure I cooked it for the right amount of time, or maybe the fish isn't fresh?"

Riki frowned again, then picked up another piece of fish with his chopsticks and offered it to Toyokawa Sakiko. She quickly opened her mouth and ate it in one bite.

Huh?

It was delicious.

Toyokawa Sakiko savored the pan-seared flavor and the juicy, tender texture of the fish. She hadn't eaten delicious seafood in so long that she couldn't help but close her eyes in bliss.

Then why was Riki frowning?

Toyokawa Sakiko looked at Riki, who said in confusion, "I didn't say anything just now."

You were totally lying to me just now!

Toyokawa Sakiko glared at him, annoyed.

"Mhm, it's quite good, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. Don't get too proud," Riki said. Although he was a master chef when it came to instant noodles, he couldn't really guide Toyokawa Sakiko.

But as the saying goes, it's better to put others down than to lift yourself up... no, that's not right. The point was, with Toyokawa Sakiko at his place, he could just be a freeloader.

"You should really learn how to cook. If I'm not around someday..." Toyokawa Sakiko paused halfway through her sentence, then nonchalantly changed the subject, complaining, "What would you do if I caught a cold?"

"That's true," Riki nodded.

I can never repay Sakiko's kindness.

It seems like we're destined to be together in the next life too.

Toyokawa Sakiko smiled. Just as she was about to plate the pan-seared cod, she suddenly looked at the chopsticks in her hand and froze, her face flushing red.

Wait, did I just indirectly kiss him?

That was my first kiss!

No, no, can an indirect kiss even count as a first kiss?

Toyokawa Sakiko's mind was a mess. Her cheeks were as red as the sunset, a vibrant crimson that even dyed her ears red.

"Are you okay?" Riki asked, looking puzzled.

"I-I'm fine," Toyokawa Sakiko mumbled, keeping her head down.

He didn't notice, the idiot?

Toyokawa Sakiko breathed a sigh of relief. She felt a mix of gratitude and annoyance.

Why didn't you notice?

Am I going to be the only one panicking like a fool?

'Holy crap, that was an indirect kiss! I just realized. Sakiko-bao, I really didn't mean to,' Riki thought, burying his head in the fish.

The two ate in silence at the dining table, their eyes occasionally meeting before quickly darting away. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward.

The only sounds in the dining room were the crisp clinking of chopsticks against plates.

"Um..."

"Um..."

They both spoke at the same time. Toyokawa Sakiko fiddled with her hair, her face slightly flushed. "I'll go wash the dishes."

"Ah, okay. Thanks," Riki nodded quickly.

"You're welcome," Toyokawa Sakiko replied.

"No need to be polite."

Polite my ass. Why doesn't she say 'May you have good fortune'?

Riki wanted to slap himself. What the hell did you just say? Are you playing word games?

But looking at Toyokawa Sakiko's retreating back, Riki couldn't help but smile.

Although it was unexpected, living with Toyokawa Sakiko had truly changed his life. It made him want to protect her. Her heart seemed to have been ravaged by storms, leaving behind only ruins.

He couldn't rush things regarding money, but there was something else...

"Mygo..." Riki murmured.

Nagasaki Sose sat in Ring's cafe, looking at the messages on her phone.

Nagasaki Sose: [Come over quickly, we have practice.]

Riki (Note: Annoyance): [111.]

Can't this person just speak properly?

Nagasaki Sose's face darkened. Rinrinzi, who was carrying a tray nearby, couldn't help but chuckle, "Sose-chan seems very lively lately. You always smiled before, but it felt heavy. Lately, you're like a cheerful girl."

"Rinrin-senpai, please don't tease me," Nagasaki Sose quickly waved her hands and smiled.

How could she possibly change because of Riki? Absolutely impossible!

Nagasaki Sose remembered the time Riki brought her to her doorstep. She paused for a moment and said, "Rinrin-senpai, please give me a... no, please bring two cups of hot Earl Grey tea."

"Coming right up~"

As soon as Riki walked into the cafe, he felt an evil gaze. He turned his head and indeed saw Nagasaki Sose's eyes. He walked straight over and sat down, suddenly noticing a cup of black tea in front of him.

"Don't misunderstand. It's because the cafe has a buy-one-get-one-free promotion today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ordered it for you," Nagasaki Sose said calmly.

One look is all it takes, diagnosed as tsundere.

Tsundere Sose-mama is so cute.

Nagasaki Sose felt the teasing gaze from Rinrinzi, who knew everything, and her face felt a little unbearable.

Thank you, Narita Michi.

Did G1 win?

"How has Sakiko been lately?" Nagasaki Sose asked, taking a sip of her black tea.

"Sakiko and I went to the aquarium yesterday, and she had a lot of fun," Riki said.

Nagasaki Sose's fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly. "Why can you do it with her, but we can't? We also..."

"You're still thinking from your own perspective. Can't you think about Sakiko?"

"Are you saying it's my fault!?"

Nagasaki Sose suddenly stood up, glaring at Riki.

She just found Riki annoying. Why could they not do it, but Riki could? The thought of the beautiful past she had once experienced being taken away by Riki made her heart burn with jealousy.

Nagasaki Sose's emotions ran high, and she suddenly slipped and fell forward. As she saw the rapidly approaching floor, she couldn't help but close her eyes. However, the expected pain didn't come; instead, she landed on a soft cushion.

"Can you get up first? Luckily, I'm a music student, or you would have broken my ribs," Riki said, lying on the ground.

Nagasaki Sose was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to stand up, she saw three people walk in through the door.

Takamatsu Akari, Chihaya Anon, Shiina Riki: Huh?

So you two are like that?

All three were dumbfounded.

"No, no, you've misunderstood!" Nagasaki Sose's face turned completely red, and she quickly explained.

"It's a small matter that you're misunderstood, but if you don't get up soon, I'm going to have a fractured bone," Riki said, rolling his eyes.

Nagasaki Sose glared at him, but her body was honest, and she quickly got off him.

"Why are you so heavy..." Riki complained. She's a high school student just like Toyokawa Sakiko, so where did the extra weight come from?

Wait, Sose is the motherly figure in the group. How can she gather people without being substantial? Now it makes sense.

"You are so rude!" Nagasaki Sose said angrily.

How was she heavy!

Toyokawa Sakiko was working. During a lull when no customers were asking for inquiries, she glanced at her phone on the desk. There were no new messages.

She used to keep her phone in her bag, but recently, as if possessed, she had been placing it on the table, afraid of missing a message.

"Did your boyfriend text you? I saw you staring at your phone," her female colleague asked curiously.

"No, no," Toyokawa Sakiko hesitated. "But it's normal not to text, right? We don't have that much to talk about."

"No, no, no. When you're in the honeymoon phase, you can talk about anything. If you really have nothing else, you can say 'I love you'," the female colleague chuckled.

"That would be too..." Toyokawa Sakiko hesitated. She and Riki were just friends, after all. Saying something like that would be going too far. "I should probably put my phone away so it doesn't affect my work."

"--Bzz."

Toyokawa Sakiko immediately snatched her phone and opened it.

Riki: [(Photo), We're at Ring's practice room.]

The photo contained not only Riki but also the four of them, including Nagasaki Sose, and a silver-haired girl whose name he didn't know.

Seeing this scene, Toyokawa Sakiko felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

What Riki wanted to do was his freedom.

But, she still wanted Riki to be by her side.

"...Riki." Toyokawa Sakiko murmured softly.

What heavy pressure!

Riki felt Nagasaki Sose's gaze on him becoming increasingly unfriendly, but this might be a traditional Japanese skill. After all, Riki knew of a Japanese Prime Minister named Abe who threw a tantrum and refused to speak after being heckled twice during a speech. How impolite.

"I'll just be directing. When you go on stage, this wild cat and you will perform. I have a feeling you are the most correct five people." Kaname Runa stood beside Riki, full of interest.

"Hello, I'm Chihaya Anon." Chihaya Anon said with a friendly smile, then looked at Riki. "Riki, please take care of me today too."

"Not at all," Riki replied.

"Speaking of which, are you Sose-chan's boyfriend? You two seem to be very close," Chihaya Anon asked curiously.

Don't you know my heart only has Sakiko, my one Sun?

Meeting Chihaya Anon's curious gaze, Nagasaki Sose stood expressionlessly behind her and placed her hand on Anon's shoulder. "Chihaya-san, that's impossible."

Gulp, what a terrifying killing intent!

Chihaya Anon shivered in fear.

"Oh, right. I've signed you up for a concert early next month. Be prepared," Riki said.

"Are we going to perform?" Takamatsu Akari asked.

"Of course," Riki replied.

Upon hearing this, Nagasaki Sose narrowed her eyes, a glint flashing within them as if she were calculating something.

After a round of training in the practice room, Shiina Riki couldn't help but frown, her gaze fixed on the person who had performed the worst just now.

"Hey, Anon, have you really been practicing? That was terrible!" Shiina Riki said bluntly, her face filled with disbelief.