Rock Girl Descends Upon My Side!

"Of course," Riki nodded.

This is our Sakiko, thoughtful and family-oriented, and she's good at saving money. Do you have a Sakiko like this?

"What would you two like to order? We have a special on the double set right now, and the couple's set is half-price with a free keychain..." the cashier said with a smile, looking at the handsome man and beautiful woman in front of her.

She didn't really want the couple's set, she just wanted to see how nice the keychain was.

"What do you think?" Riki asked Toyokawa Sakiko.

"The couple's set is a bit cheaper, and it looks like there's more food. Let's go with this one," Toyokawa Sakiko whispered in Riki's ear, standing on her tiptoes. Her breath tickled and warmed his ear.

"Okay, one of those, please," Riki said.

"One couple's set!" the cashier shouted to the kitchen.

All eyes turned towards them, and Toyokawa Sakiko's face instantly turned bright red.

Why did she have to say it so loudly?

Riki and Toyokawa Sakiko sat down, faintly hearing the voices around them, "What a beautiful girl," "That guy is only a little more handsome than me," "When are they going to kiss."

Do you have to worry about them kissing too?

After the two of them sat down, the blush on Toyokawa Sakiko's face gradually faded. She said to Riki, "Did you go to Ring today?"

"Yeah, you care a lot about them, don't you?" Riki shrugged and smiled.

Toyokawa Sakiko lowered her eyes and didn't say anything, but she didn't deny it either.

"But Sose won't give up on Crychic," Toyokawa Sakiko said.

"There's nothing that can be done about that," Riki smiled. Who could forget White Moonlight?

Just like Riki hadn't forgotten Blue-Eyes White Dragon. He used to be a Card Player, until he was defeated by a new player who had only been playing for a week using Tearlaments.

Just then, the food was ready at the counter. Riki brought the set over and immediately noticed something was wrong when he put it down.

Wait, why is the number of fries in our couple's set odd?

Is the staff messing with us?

A bit of a clown move, Brother Riki. We know you've never ordered the couple's set before.

Shut up!

Riki looked at the heart-shaped double straw stuck in the cup of cola and felt a little bit of a couple's shock.

Since it's come to this, let's eat.

"This is really delicious..." Toyokawa Sakiko's eyes lit up, and she smiled, her eyes turning into crescent moons.

After all, it's fried. As long as they don't make it into some dark cuisine, it won't be too bad. Trump's favorite is still cola and burgers, which proves that this kind of food is a universally loved delicacy.

Riki started eating too, but he felt it wasn't as good as KFC in China. Perhaps it's because KFC in China is self-operated, and when he saw the chicken in China, he remembered an old friend.

Riki hadn't drunk cola in a while either. He was lacking in sugar.

I can't take it anymore, I need some cola!

He took a sip with the straw and immediately noticed something was wrong. He looked up and saw Toyokawa Sakiko, who was only a few inches away, staring blankly at him. Her thin lips were slightly parted, and the straw was held between her soft lips. They were less than ten centimeters apart, and he could feel the warmth of her breath.

Toyokawa Sakiko stared blankly at Riki. She just wanted to take a sip of cola, but after only two sips, Riki leaned in. Even though it was a couple's set, did they really need to be this close?

Riki was also stunned and instinctively took two more sips of cola.

Sakiko's lips look so soft, like jelly.

Riki pretended nothing was wrong, and Toyokawa Sakiko also acted as if nothing had happened, but her ears were bright red.

'What? They're not kissing?'

Riki heard someone behind him say in disappointment.

Mind your own business, kid!

"This cola is pretty good," Riki said, clearing his throat.

"Mm... Mm," Toyokawa Sakiko nodded somewhat flusteredly.

The heroine of my Tokyo Love Story couldn't possibly be this cute!

Riki nonchalantly ate his fries. Although he was a dashing young man, he was still a pure-hearted one. After being hit by the White Moonlight demon at such close range, he was still a little shy.

Suddenly, his hand grasped empty air. Riki looked up to see Toyokawa Sakiko holding a fry and putting it into his mouth. Her face was red as she whispered, "This is a couple's set, right? Then let's pretend to be a couple for this meal."

It's okay even if we don't pretend.

Looking at Toyokawa Sakiko's face, red like a ripe apple, Riki's heart beat a little faster.

Bright eyes, white teeth, gentle demeanor... No wonder she's White Moonlight. Anyone would be mesmerized by someone so beautiful.

"Don't misunderstand, we're not really a couple," Toyokawa Sakiko said with a frown.

"Understood!"

You didn't have to agree so quickly... Toyokawa Sakiko looked at Riki with dissatisfaction. Although she didn't want him to refuse, she wished he would hesitate for a moment.

Feeling energized after my meal, I walked in the night breeze. Riki looked up at Tokyo's night sky and suddenly remembered it was cherry blossom season. The Cherry Blossom Front was probably nearing Tokyo. He thought he could ask Toyokawa Sakiko to go cherry blossom viewing then, wondering if she'd agree.

"What are you thinking about?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked curiously.

"I was thinking you're pretty... I mean, I said the cherry blossoms will be blooming in a few days, want to go see them?"

What's with this stuttering? Did Xiao Zhou infect me?

But it feels like only family and close friends go cherry blossom viewing together. Am I being too forward by asking?

"Sure," Toyokawa Sakiko replied with a gentle smile.

"You agreed that quickly?" Riki said.

"Haha." Toyokawa Sakiko had been in a good mood for some reason since they finished eating. She walked in front of Riki with her hands behind her back, hopping twice, and said with a smile, "Because I also want the Riki who helped me to see Japan's three great national treasures."

"Three great national treasures?"

"Of course..." Toyokawa Sakiko winked at Riki and smiled, "The first is the earliest rising Sun, the second is the spring cherry blossoms... and the third is Toyokawa Sakiko's smile."

"To call your own smile a national treasure, how confident!" Riki was shocked.

Toyokawa Sakiko felt a little shy when she said it, but seeing Riki's shocked expression, she covered her mouth and laughed. Her voice, like silver bells, carried far, her hair ribbon swaying lightly.

It's because I like him that I'm sharing this.

Not long after returning to his rented room that night, Riki suddenly heard Toyokawa Sakiko's voice and hurried over.

Chapter 18: My Mother Wants to Meet You

Lately, things seemed to be improving...

Toyokawa Sakiko had been feeling heavy-hearted since her family problems arose. She forced herself to go to school and work every day, pushing herself to the brink of mental exhaustion. But Riki's unexpected arrival recently had loosened the tension she'd been holding onto.

Next time, I'll make him some sweets. I'll make him egg tarts.

Toyokawa Sakiko's lips curved upwards. As she pushed open her front door, she suddenly felt something was wrong. A smell of alcohol wafted from inside. Her pupils contracted, and she immediately pushed the door open.

Her room, which she had tidied up just a few days ago, was now littered with empty beer bottles. The bedding was a mess, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of alcohol.

"Damn it, Old Man, were you back just now..."

A flash of anger crossed Toyokawa Sakiko's eyes. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. The clean room had immediately become a mess again the moment he returned.

Suddenly, Toyokawa Sakiko's peripheral vision caught sight of her bedding, which seemed to have been rummaged through. She paused for a moment and quickly ran to check under the bedding. Her eyes went blank.

It was gone.

All the money from her part-time job.

Drizzling rain hit the window.

Riki looked at the rainy scenery in Tokyo, thinking about where he should take Toyokawa Sakiko to see the cherry blossoms later. Suddenly, he heard a low sobbing sound from the rain.

At first, Riki thought he had misheard. It wasn't until he opened his door and the sound of crying became clearer that he followed the sound to the door of the next room. He saw Toyokawa Sakiko collapsed on the floor, her slender shoulders trembling uncontrollably. She looked back, her tear-streaked face, her eyes red, and tears continuously rolling down her cheeks, gathering at her chin, and finally shattering on the floor.

"G-good evening, Riki..." Toyokawa Sakiko stood up unsteadily, leaning against the wall, forcing a smile.

Riki saw that the box by her feet was open, and it was completely empty.

"What's this..."

"Don't ask, please," Toyokawa Sakiko said softly. "Don't ask, okay?"

Her voice trembled, almost pleading.

She had thought she was finally on the right track, but her pathetic reality clung to her like a claw, dragging her back to hell.

Toyokawa Sakiko's mind was on the verge of collapse. She fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Why?

Why did this have to happen to me?

I just want a normal life. Even just living normally with Riki would be fine. Why won't that even be allowed?

What did I do wrong?

The questions in her heart tormented her further, and her mind began to drift towards extreme thoughts.

If jumping would end it all...

Just as she thought this, she felt herself being embraced. She looked up and saw Riki holding her.

"It's okay, I understand," Riki said softly. "Wait here for me, I'll be back soon."

Riki gently placed her on the bedding and turned, walking back into the rain.

He was furious.

A man surnamed Toyokawa walked unsteadily down an alley, holding a beer bottle. He pulled out his wallet from his pocket. The wallet, which had been flat that morning, was now full with the money his daughter had earned from her part-time job.

Suddenly, he noticed someone standing in the rain at the end of the alley.

Who?

"That's a nice, full wallet you've got there," Riki said.

"What business is it of yours?" the man surnamed Toyokawa said coldly. "Get lost."

"I really like that answer. It means I don't have to feel guilty."

Is this guy crazy?

The man surnamed Toyokawa frowned. His thoughts quickly drifted to pachinko, when he suddenly realized the person in front of him had sprinted and kicked him in the chest.

"You bastard..." the man surnamed Toyokawa cursed, trying to fight back but finding he had absolutely no fighting experience. Instead, he was pummeled by the other person.

"You know, back in the day, if someone bullied my underclassmen, I'd beat them up just like this. There's a knack to beating people up; you can't hit too hard, but you have to make them feel pain. I studied it for a whole semester. In high school, I was already a legendary expert in my area, feared by all. Even ordinary thugs wouldn't dare mess with me..."

"And now, you dare lay a hand on my beloved Sakiko? I think you're tired of living!"

The man on the ground wailed, barely able to hear what Riki was saying.

"Money, I'll give you money!"

Riki took his wallet, pulled out all the money Toyokawa Sakiko had earned from her part-time job, and threw the rest of the wallet back in his face.

Riki wanted to beat him up again, but it was raining too hard, and he had slipped earlier taking a shortcut. It would be better to head back.

Damn, why is it so cold?

I think I can almost see my Great-Grandmother.

Toyokawa Sakiko hugged her knees, burying her head in her arms, listening to the rain outside in silence.

She felt like nothing mattered anymore.

Toyokawa Sakiko's eyes were vacant. The cold air outside chilled her, but she no longer had the energy to pull up her blanket.

Maybe... this life isn't so bad either.