Rock Girl Descends By My Side!

"Then let's go to the practice room," Nagasaki Sose said indifferently, slinging her bass over her shoulder and walking ahead. She suddenly noticed Riki walking up beside her.

"Oh right, thanks for the chocolate earlier, it was delicious," Riki said with a smile.

Nagasaki Sose froze for a moment. Seeing only pure gratitude on his face, she turned her head away and mumbled, "Is that so? I just gave it to you casually."

"Even if it was casual, I appreciate it," Riki said with a smile.

Nagasaki Sose blinked as she watched Riki walk ahead, and only followed after a moment.

She really hated unexpected things.

The corners of her lips curved up slightly as Nagasaki Sose walked forward.

However, having it happen occasionally seemed pretty good too.

The theme of the song Riki wrote was love, with inspiration drawn from two sources: Richard Clayderman's "Wedding in a Dream" and Toyokawa Sakiko.

I don't like Sakiko at all!

That's a bit much, Brother Riki.

Shut up, I'm a pure-hearted guy.

Riki's expression was serious as he pushed open the piano lid, adjusted the bench, and then placed his fingers on the keys.

"I've never seen Riki play the piano before, I wonder if he's good," Chihaya Anon whispered.

"People who can compose music can generally play instruments too, though the skill level varies," Shiina Riki said.

Nagasaki Sose said nothing, merely crossing her arms and watching Riki in front of the piano.

Riki pressed the keys, and the music flowed out. The four of them couldn't help but show expressions of surprise.

His guitar and bass playing were both excellent, so he could play the piano this well too?

The music carried a cheerful melody, evoking the sweet and sour feelings of adolescent love.

It wasn't until Riki finished playing that the four of them snapped back to reality and couldn't help but start clapping.

"Amazing, amazing!" Chihaya Anon exclaimed excitedly. "This is the first time I've heard such a beautiful original song. If you debuted, you'd become a huge star right away, wouldn't you?"

To tell you the truth, I was also a fairly well-known uploader in another world.

Real world: Lao Lu, I miss you.

Riki: This music is so good, I don't miss the real world at all.

Takamatsu Akari stared blankly at Riki after he finished playing. She always mixed him up with Toyokawa Sakiko, perhaps because their smiles were equally beautiful.

"Then let's start practicing," Nagasaki Sose said calmly.

Chapter 24: Helping Sakiko Celebrate Her Birthday

"Hey Anon, you messed up again just now, didn't you?"

"It was just a small mistake."

"You need to be more serious."

"I'm always serious."

In the practice room, Shiina Riki, as the representative of pressure, attacked Chihaya Anon, who responded with equal annoyance.

Takamatsu Akari also wanted to chime in, but she was always preemptively caught in the aftershocks of Shiina Riki's pressure. Several times she closed her mouth. Riki watched Takamatsu Akari's little-penguin-like expression of wanting to speak but holding back, and a fond smile spread across his face.

Akari-chan, you're so cute just staying here.

And standing beside them, gently persuading them, was Nagasaki Sose. Riki frowned.

Why are you so nice to them, but so mean to me?

Is this gender-based favoritism?

I can't breathe.

"But Anon has been improving too, Riki doesn't need to be too anxious, after all, the concert isn't until next month," Riki also advised.

Recently, the tension within the Taku Team had finally lessened a bit, and as the team captain, Riki felt quite relieved. However, Riki knew that the problems hadn't disappeared, they were just hidden. This time bomb lay within each of them, ready to explode at any moment when the time was right.

Although the circumstances were different, all four of them here, like Sakiko, were escaping and longing for the past. It remained their nightmare.

Could Riki save them from their nightmares?

He couldn't be sure, but he would guarantee that he would put in his utmost effort.

Because the past was like a spiderweb, entangling everyone, including Sakiko. To save any one of them, all of them needed to be saved.

"Akari-chan, let's go get dessert later."

"Huh? Why are you inviting Akari? I'm going too!"

Watching Chihaya Anon and the others excitedly discuss going to the dessert shop later, Riki watched from the side. Nagasaki Sose looked at him and said, "I didn't expect you could play the piano too. Can you sing as well?"

"This humble one... is indeed somewhat skilled," Riki said modestly.

Don't let everyone know I'm the God of Endless War.

Those who know, know.

"Aren't you going to chat with them?" Riki said to Nagasaki Sose. Although she looked like the most accommodating person, she was actually the most exclusive.

"That's none of your business, don't act like you know everything," Nagasaki Sose said faintly.

"Indeed, but aren't they your bandmates?" Riki said with a smile.

Nagasaki Sose pursed her lips. Just as she was about to speak, Chihaya Anon, who had noticed her, grabbed her arm and said, "Sose, why don't you tell us about any good dessert places? I just got back to Tokyo and don't know much yet."

"Huh?" Nagasaki Sose was pulled away before she could react.

It seems that Eiyer's suppressive power is still slightly higher than that of the Tokyo flag.

These words were spoken by MacArthur.

"Oh, right, Riki, why don't you come too? You sounded so good when you were singing earlier, I want to hear it again..." Chihaya Anon said expectantly.

"Huh? You've heard him sing?" Nagasaki Sose was surprised.

"Yeah, we were sheltering from the rain together."

Nagasaki Sose looked at Riki with suspicion, wondering if he was taking the opportunity to do something bad.

Why do you doubt my noble character with your suspicious gaze?

Riki almost made the gesture of a husky pointing at someone.

Platinum Star Warning.JPG.

"I won't go. Someone is waiting for me at home later," Riki said.

"Oh, well, be sure to come next time then."

"Next time for sure."

Riki waited for a while downstairs at the office building where Toyokawa Sakiko worked. He saw her walk out of the building, covering her mouth and coughing lightly. She looked up and smiled when she saw Riki, then walked over.

"Are you sick?" Riki asked when he saw her cough.

"No, I just got choked by someone smoking on the stairs," Toyokawa Sakiko shook her head gently. "Do you smoke, Riki?"

I only smoke Huazi, others make me cough.

The streamer has always been a full Huazi fan.

But honestly, Riki really doesn't smoke or drink. He'll probably never meet those good girls in bars in his life, which is a shame.

"Don't worry, I'm not picky about alcohol or women— ah, no, I mean I don't smoke or drink," Riki quickly said, afraid Toyokawa Sakiko would misunderstand.

Alcohol and women have hurt me so much, confusing my mind. From today onwards, I will quit drinking!

Toyokawa Sakiko couldn't help but smile when she heard Riki say that. After all, because of her father's issues, she didn't have a good impression of people who smoked or drank. Fortunately, Riki didn't like them, otherwise, she wouldn't know how to face him in the future.

"Then let's go to the supermarket," Toyokawa Sakiko said.

According to their usual routine, the next step would be Riki fighting wolves in various places and a supermarket raid for half-price bento boxes.

But Riki shook his head. "Before that, let's go to the shopping street and buy something."

The shopping street?

Toyokawa Sakiko was confused. Before she could think further, Riki pulled her along and they got on the subway.

It was four in the afternoon, not yet Japan's rush hour, so the subway was filled with young students. Their eyes fell on Riki and Toyokawa Sakiko as they entered the subway, then they looked away.

Such good-looking people.

Are they a couple?

That boy is so tall.

The girls around cast glances at them, but quickly looked away.

Riki frowned.

Sakura girls, secretly looking at Brother Riki, huh? Be careful I catch you, little things.

"What are we buying at the shopping street?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked softly. The surrounding gazes made her a little embarrassed, as if they were being mistaken for a couple.

Won't he mind?

"To buy your birthday present," Riki replied softly.

Toyokawa Sakiko was stunned and quickly said, "My birthday has already passed. It was on February 14th."

Although it was her birthday, she didn't celebrate it much that day. Her father forgot her birthday. She didn't realize it was her birthday until she got home from work and finished her homework for the day. By the time she wanted to celebrate, the second hand of the alarm clock had already passed midnight.

She didn't even have a chance to make a wish.

"Valentine's Day, I know," Riki said indifferently. "But yours has passed, and I haven't celebrated it with you yet. Let's make up for it today."

Her birthday has passed, and she can still have a belated celebration?

Toyokawa Sakiko was stunned. This was the first time she had heard of such a thing.

Deep down, she didn't want Riki to waste money on her, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Because she truly hoped someone would remember her birthday and celebrate the day she was born with her.

Toyokawa Sakiko pursed her lips and smiled gently, "Then I'll leave it to you."

She'd let herself be a little willful today. After all, this was her second birthday this year.

"Of course," Riki said confidently.

Toyokawa Sakiko suddenly thought of a question. When Riki said he'd make it up, did he mean make up for her birthday, or make up for Valentine's Day, or make up for both?

Toyokawa Sakiko looked at Riki's profile, and her cheeks suddenly felt a little hot. She looked at the scenery flashing by outside the train window and said nothing.

The train was so slow, slower than her heartbeat.

Chapter 25: White Day

Tokyo, Shimokitazawa.

Although in China the place name Shimokitazawa often evokes the scent of black tea, Shimokitazawa is actually a shopping street popular with young Japanese people. It's a great place for fashion, daily necessities, subculture, and strolling, and it also boasts many live houses named "Theater," earning it the nicknames "City of Music" and "City of Drama."

Riki looked at the dazzling array of goods in the surrounding shops. Japan truly is a developed country; its level is far beyond that of his hometown, Haicheng.

Riki led Toyokawa Sakiko into a jewelry store. The prices of the items here weren't high, so Toyokawa Sakiko wouldn't refuse. Otherwise, if he really bought something worth tens of thousands of yen, she would frown and return it herself.

"Customer, what would you like to buy for your girlfriend?" a young saleswoman asked with a charming smile.

You're asking me, Silver?

Riki just wanted to buy Toyokawa Sakiko a gift, but he hadn't decided what to get yet. He replied, "Do you have any recommendations for birthday gifts?"