"Then let's go to the practice room," Nagasaki Sose said coolly. She slung her bass over her back and walked ahead, only to notice Riki come up beside her.
"By the way, thanks for the chocolate you gave me earlier. It was delicious," Riki said with a smile.
Nagasaki Sose paused. Seeing only sincere gratitude on his face, she turned away and muttered, "Oh, that? I just gave it to you on a whim."
"Even so, I'm grateful," Riki said with a smile.
Nagasaki Sose watched Riki walk ahead and blinked. A moment later, she followed.
She really did hate surprises.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she walked on.
Still, every now and then, they weren't so bad.
The theme of the song Riki had written was romance. Its inspiration came from two sources: Richard Clayderman's Mariage d'Amour and Toyokawa Sakiko.
I-I-I don't like Sakiko!
That's kind of gross, Brother Riki.
Shut up. I'm a pure-hearted guy.
With a serious expression, Riki opened the piano lid. After adjusting the position of the stool, he placed his fingers on the keys.
"I've never seen Riki play the piano before. I wonder if he's any good," Chihaya Anon whispered.
"People who can compose usually know how to play an instrument too, though their skill levels vary," Shiina Riki said.
Nagasaki Sose didn't say anything. She just stood with her arms crossed, watching Riki at the piano.
Riki pressed the keys, and music flowed out. All four of them couldn't help but look surprised.
He was great at guitar and bass. Who would've thought he could play the piano so well, too?
A lively melody rang out, bringing to mind the sweet-and-sour feelings of young love.
The four of them only came back to themselves after Riki finished playing, and they began to applaud.
"Wow, amazing!" Chihaya Anon said excitedly. "That's the first time I've heard such a good original song. If you debuted, you'd become a superstar in no time!"
To be honest, I'm kind of famous as a content creator in another world, too.
Real World: Brother Riki, I miss you.
Riki: The joy of this place makes me forget the Real World.
Takamatsu Akari stared blankly at Riki after he finished playing. She often mistook Riki for Toyokawa Sakiko, perhaps because they both had such lovely smiles.
"Then let's start practicing," Nagasaki Sose said flatly.
Chapter 24: Helping Sakiko Celebrate Her Birthday
"Hey, Anon, you messed up again just now, didn't you?"
"It was just a little mistake."
"Pay attention and take this seriously."
"I am taking it seriously."
In the practice room, Shiina Riki put the pressure on Chihaya Anon, acting as the group's enforcer. Chihaya Anon shot back just as irritably.
Takamatsu Akari wanted to join in, but the backlash from Shiina Riki's scolding always reached her first. She'd shut her mouth several times already. Watching Takamatsu Akari look like a little penguin, wanting to speak but holding back, Riki smiled fondly.
Akari-chan is so cute just standing here.
But the main thing was Nagasaki Sose, standing beside Riki and gently trying to soothe the others. Riki frowned.
Why are you so nice to them, but so harsh with me?
Are you a chivalrous knight for women or what?
I can't breathe.
"But Anon has improved, too. Rikki, there's no need to be so impatient. We don't start performing until next month," Riki said, trying to calm things down.
The tension within the Taku Team had eased a little lately, and as the group's captain, Riki was relieved. But he knew the problem hadn't disappeared—it had only been buried. The time bomb was inside each of them, ready to explode as soon as the moment came.
Though their situations were different, the four of them were all like Sakiko. Each of them was running from the past even as they yearned for it. Even now, it was still their nightmare.
Could Riki save them from that nightmare?
He couldn't be sure, but he would do everything he could.
Because the past was like a spiderweb, entangling everyone, Sakiko included. To save any one of them, he would have to save them all.
"Akari-chan, let's go get dessert later."
"Huh? Why are you inviting Akari, you? Then I'm coming too!"
Watching Chihaya Anon and the others excitedly discuss going to a dessert shop later, Riki stood to the side. Nagasaki Sose looked at him and said, "I didn't know you could play the piano, too. Can you sing as well?"
"I can, indeed, claim to know a little," Riki said modestly.
Let's not go around telling everyone I'm the God of Endless Combat.
Those who know, know.
"Why don't you go chat with them?" Riki asked Nagasaki Sose. She seemed like the most tolerant person, but deep down, she was actually the most aloof.
"That's none of your business. Don't act like you know everything," Nagasaki Sose said flatly.
"True, but they're your bandmates, aren't they?" Riki said with a smile.
Nagasaki Sose pursed her lips. She was just about to reply when Chihaya Anon came over, took her by the arm, and said, "Soyo, come tell us which dessert places are good, too. I just got back to Tokyo, so I don't know the area very well yet."
"Huh?" Before Nagasaki Sose could react, she was whisked away.
Looks like English Grandpa's power to keep people in line really did beat that of the Tokyo flag.
That was something MacArthur said.
"Oh, Riki, you should come too. You sounded so good when you sang earlier. I want to hear you sing again..." Chihaya Anon said expectantly.
"Huh? You've heard him sing?" Nagasaki Sose asked in surprise.
"Yeah, we took shelter from the rain together."
Nagasaki Sose looked at Riki suspiciously, as if she suspected he'd taken the opportunity to do something bad.
Why are you looking at me like you doubt my noble character?
Riki almost pointed at her like a husky.
The World warning.jpg.
"I'll pass. Someone's waiting for me at home," Riki said.
"Oh, then you have to come next time."
"Definitely next time."
Riki waited for a while outside the office building where Toyokawa Sakiko worked part-time. He saw her come down the stairs, cover her mouth, and cough softly a few times. When she looked up and spotted Riki, she smiled and walked over.
"Have you caught a cold?" Riki asked when he heard her cough.
"No. I just ran into someone smoking in the stairwell and got a lungful of it." Toyokawa Sakiko shook her head gently. "Do you smoke, Riki?"
I only smoke Huazi. Anything else makes me cough.
This streamer's always been an all-Chinese-team fan.
But in all honesty, Riki really didn't smoke or drink. He'd probably never meet one of those good girls in a bar in his entire life. What a shame.
"Don't worry, I'm not fussy about booze or women—no, I mean, I don't smoke or drink," Riki said quickly, afraid Toyokawa Sakiko might misunderstand.
Alcohol and women have done a number on me. They've muddled my mind. Starting today, I'm giving up drinking!
Toyokawa Sakiko smiled at what Riki said. Because of what had happened with her father, she didn't think highly of people who smoked or drank. It was a relief that Riki didn't like either; otherwise, she wouldn't have known how to face him in the future.
"Then let's go to the supermarket," Toyokawa Sakiko said.
Going by their usual routine, Riki would next head into battle against wolves from all over, sweeping the supermarket for half-price bento.
But Riki shook his head. "Before that, let's go buy something at the shopping district."
The shopping district?
Toyokawa Sakiko was puzzled. Before she could think much about it, Riki led her over to the subway station, and they boarded a train.
It was four in the afternoon, not yet quitting time in Japan, so the subway was full of young students. When Riki and Toyokawa Sakiko stepped aboard, the students looked them over, then quickly looked away.
They're both so good-looking.
Are they dating?
That guy's so tall.
The girls around them glanced over, then quickly looked away.
Riki frowned.
Japanese girls, sneaking a look at your big brother Riki, huh? Watch out, little missy. Don't let me catch you.
"What are we going to buy at the shopping district?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked quietly. The attention from people nearby made her a little embarrassed; it seemed like they'd mistaken her and Riki for a couple.
Would he mind?
"Your birthday present," Riki whispered back.
Toyokawa Sakiko froze, then hurriedly said, "My birthday's already passed. It was on February fourteenth."
Although it was her birthday, she hadn't really celebrated that day. Her father had forgotten it, and she only realized it was her birthday after she got home from work and finished that day's homework. By the time she thought of celebrating, the second hand on the clock had already passed midnight.
She hadn't even had the chance to make a wish.
"Valentine's Day, right? I know," Riki said casually. "But you celebrated it, and I haven't celebrated with you yet. We can make up for it today."
Her birthday had already passed. Could you really celebrate it afterward?
Toyokawa Sakiko stared at him, stunned. She'd never heard of that before.
Deep down, she didn't want Riki to waste money on her, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Because she really did hope someone would remember her birthday and celebrate the day she was born with her.
Toyokawa Sakiko pressed her lips together, then smiled softly. "Then I'll leave it to you."
Today, she'd let herself be a little selfish. After all, this would be her second birthday this year.
"Of course," Riki said confidently.
Toyokawa Sakiko suddenly thought of something. When Riki said they'd make it up to her, did he mean her birthday, Valentine's Day, or both?
Toyokawa Sakiko looked at Riki's profile. Her cheeks suddenly felt a little warm, and she said nothing as she watched the scenery rush past outside the window.
The train was moving so slowly—slower than her heartbeat.
Chapter 25: White Day
Tokyo, Shimokitazawa.
Although the name Shimokitazawa tended to evoke the taste of milk tea in China, it was actually a shopping district beloved by young people in Japan. It was a great place for fashion, daily necessities, subculture, and leisurely strolls. It also had plenty of live houses with "theater" in their names, earning it a reputation as both a "City of Music" and a "City of Theater."
Looking at the dazzling variety of goods in the shops around him, Riki had to admit that Japan was a developed country. The standard was a whole lot higher than back in his hometown of Haicheng.
Riki led Toyokawa Sakiko into an accessory shop. The items here weren't expensive, so Toyokawa Sakiko wouldn't refuse them. If he tried to buy something costing tens of thousands of yen, she'd frown and make him return it herself.
"Can I help you find something to give your girlfriend?" the young saleswoman asked with a bright smile as she came over.
I'm Silver, and you're asking me?
Riki wanted to give Toyokawa Sakiko a present, but he hadn't decided what to buy yet. "Do you have any recommendations for a birthday present?"
Before you continue