Chapter 183

Takamatsu Akari touched her lips. She had regained some consciousness when Riki gave her artificial respiration. She felt a warm and strong sensation on her lips, which made her feel very at ease. She didn't know why, but now, thinking about it, her heart started racing.

Why is that?

"Riki, can we do what we just did again?" Takamatsu Akari asked.

"No, that's artificial respiration, not kissing."

"But their lips met."

"Medical aid should not be mixed with personal feelings," Riki admonished.

"Okay..." Takamatsu Akari was scolded, and pitifully lowered her head, looking at the pool.

Did I say that the lamp didn't actually have any bad intentions?

As Riki was thinking, he felt Takamatsu Akari gently patting him.

Takamatsu Akari said, "Then let's not do CPR, can we kiss instead?"

She looked at Riki with an innocent expression.

"A lamp can only be kissed by someone you like," Riki said.

Is that so?

Takamatsu Akari blinked, wondering, "How exactly does one know if someone likes another?"

Her heart was pounding; could this be considered liking someone?

Nagasaki Sose in the pool, stared at Riki and Takamatsu Akari by the poolside, remaining silent for a long time.

Everyone left the Haneoka swimming pool and went home.

Takamatsu Akari walked alongside Nagasaki Sose and said to her, "Motoyo-chan, I want to ask you a few more questions. How can I make Riki like me more...?"

"Akari-chan." Nagasaki Sose suddenly stopped, turned to look at Takamatsu Akari, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and softly said, "Akari-chan, can you please not like Riki?"

"Huh, why?"

"Because if that happens... I might start to lose control and become hostile towards Akari-chan." Nagasaki Sose's eyes were filled with tenderness, resentment, and sadness. "I also like Riki, and I don't want to share him with everyone. It's not just me; Sakiko-chan and Rikki- chan feel the same way."

Takamatsu Akari stood there, stunned.

Did she... do something wrong again?

Did I hurt everyone again?

"If that's the case, then... I won't like Riki anymore," Takamatsu Akari said softly, because she didn't want to hurt the band members anymore.

But why does my heart ache so much?

In the darkened room, Takamatsu Akari lay on her bed, looking at the meteorite placed on her bedside table.

Did I mess up again?

I clearly want to stay with everyone forever.

But I'm doing something that will hurt Su Shi-chan.

Because Suze-chan is very gentle, she won't say anything to me or dislike me.

But... I don't want to make Su Shi-chan sad.

"What exactly is love? What should I do?" Takamatsu Akari gently touched the meteorite Riki had given her, whispering to herself in her room when she was alone.

"I don't understand, would Riki, who is also an alien like me, understand?"

"Riki so capable, she'll definitely understand. I don't understand anything, so I'll just hide in the dark like a little bug."

Takamatsu Akari closed her eyes, curled up on the bed, and tears slid down her nose and onto the pillow.

That should do it.

The Mygo band gathered at Cafe and gave an excellent performance at the Haneoka Cultural Festival, which earned Chihaya Anon an award for outstanding student. They also received a professional-grade microphone from Kato Momoka.

Furthermore, her recent live performances have been outstanding, and Ring has started allocating more time slots with higher foot traffic to Mygo, resulting in a significant increase in her SNS followers, which has made Chihaya Anon, who manages the account, very happy.

"At this rate, won't we become even stronger than Roselia?" Chihaya Anon said excitedly.

"Give up, it's impossible with you here." Shiina Riki said speechlessly, arms crossed.

"It's all about preconceived notions again!" Chihaya Anon stood up, pointed at Rikki, and wagged her finger with a delusional smile, "It's the era of internet fame now. I'm so good-looking and have a model's figure, I might become a big star in an instant, and everyone will be performing at Tokyo Dome with me!"

So you'll be in the center position then, right?

Sorry, Mygo's main body is Takamatsu Akari.

Riki looked at Takamatsu Akari beside her.

Empress Akari, we only recognize you.

Without you, there would be no Mygo. We salute the rising sun with gratitude!

But why is the Empress Akari silent today, and has he turned off the lights again?

"Deng, say something. After all, the band has improved a lot," Riki said to Takamatsu Akari.

Takamatsu Akari seemed lost in his own emotions. Hearing Riki's words, he looked up and was startled to see Riki. He quickly looked away, nodded, and stood up, saying, "Um... everyone is amazing. We owe this to everyone, and especially to Riki. Let's all stay together from now on!"

The emotions remain as genuine as ever.

Riki felt that Rikki was almost moved to tears.

But Riki felt that Takamatsu Akari was acting strangely today, as if he was subtly avoiding him, and he never made eye contact with him.

Yesterday the lights were bright, but today they're dimly lit.

What happened that shattered Takamatsu Akari Todō's resolve?

The band's daily practice has ended.

"The next live performance is next weekend, which is prime time. We might even get to play with a really great band, so don't let them outshine us," Riki told them.

It wouldn't be good if we got beaten up by other bands like Meng Huo (a legendary figure known for his seven captures of Meng Huo).

"How did Riki's band compare to ours when they first started?" Chihaya Anon asked curiously.

We're both bands that haven't been around for very long. Although we're a high school band, Riki is only two years older than them, so the age gap isn't that big, right?

Riki fell into deep thought.

The issue wasn't about the gap in strength, but rather how to phrase it tactfully.

If our two bands debuted at the same time, Aine's band's history could be described as "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars," as they consistently fulfilled their filial duty whenever they encountered us in a competition.

"Yes, my band is indeed a bit better than Aine," Riki said tactfully, making a gesture with her fingers.

After all, we debuted at our peak and won the special award decisively.

The principal in the audience was so angry that he fainted in his seat.

All I can say is that the principal fired a shot when he was at Haicheng High School, and years later, that bullet struck him squarely in the forehead in the audience at the National Music Competition.

Every gift from fate comes with a hidden price tag. 9.

"Eh... you're just brushing me off, aren't you?" Chihaya Anon noticed and pouted, dissatisfied.

"There's nothing we can do with you dragging us down," Shiina Riki said casually.

"I've been really good lately..." 8

Chihaya Anon and Shiina Riki are arguing again, Kaname Runa is eating cake next to them. 4.

Riki saw Takamatsu Akari standing beside her, lost in thought, without saying a word.

"The light," Riki said as she walked over. 9.

Takamatsu Akari snapped out of his daze, looked up, and saw Riki, immediately breaking into a smile. Suddenly remembering something, he stopped smiling, took a step towards the wall, and whispered, "Riki, is something the matter?"

"No, I just wanted to ask if you went to the hospital for a check-up after you choked on water yesterday," Riki asked.

"Yes, Mom took me to get checked out. The doctor said the artificial respiration was timely and standard, and there were no problems. The doctor even praised Riki," Takamatsu Akari said with a soft smile.

"I see. Just in case, shall I take you to the hospital again tomorrow?" Riki asked.

Takamatsu Akari paused for a moment, then hesitated, "... No, no need, Dad and I can go."

"Oh, I see. Then it's alright."

There was indeed a problem.

Riki looked at Takamatsu Akari's profile. Every time Gao Songdeng's eyes met Riki's, she would unconsciously look away and turn her head away from Riki.

The fact that Gao Song's parents are both fine and very worried about her indicates that the problem isn't a family issue.

If it were a school problem, Aine would probably have known by now, so it's not a school problem.

Is that my problem?

Was there something wrong with my play this time?

Riki looked at Nagasaki Sose, who was sitting to the side putting away her bass and hadn't said much today.

"That's it for today, I'm going home to watch YouTube... no, I mean practice guitar!"

"You just said you watched the video, right?"

"Rikki misheard!"

After a noisy departure from the Cafe, Nagasaki Sose waved goodbye gently to everyone and headed towards the train to go home, but suddenly Riki followed her.

"What's up? Would you like to come to my house?" Nagasaki Sose paused for a moment, then smiled.

What desserts do you have at home? I'd like some milk tea, with lots of milk foam.

"Has your mother come home recently?" Riki asked.

"She's away on a business trip and won't be back for a while, but we keep in touch by phone every day, so she's not lonely at home. Besides, Riki and everyone else are always with her," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile.

"Speaking of which, Mujica is releasing an album soon, and have you seen their new movie? I've heard from my classmates that it's a really good romance film. I wasn't interested before, but I'm thinking of watching it now. Let's go see it together if we have time?"

She's still as talkative as ever.

"Su Shi, you went home with Deng yesterday, right?" Riki asked.

Nagasaki Sose waited for the train, rubbing her fingertips and smiling, "Yes, that's how it is. What's wrong?"

Once on the train, Nagasaki Sose casually remarked, "I chatted with Akari about the band on the way, and that's about it."

"The lamp looks very sad," Riki said.

Nagasaki Sose clenched her fists, pursed her lips, and lowered her eyes, saying, "I see."

As the tram stopped, Nagasaki Sose said to Riki, "My house wasn't cleaned today, so I won't invite you. Let's do it another time."

Want to escape?

Nagasaki Sose got off the train, and Riki followed her.

Nagasaki Sose quickened her pace, and Riki followed suit.

Nagasaki Sose suddenly puffed out her cheeks, grabbed her schoolbag, and started running. The wind ruffled her long brown hair. Seeing Riki also running, she turned back and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you chasing me?!"

"You're the one who's running away!"

"Where did I run away from? I just wanted to go home!"

"Then stop running!"

"I don't want to!"

Nagasaki Sose said irritably, her long legs under her skirt moving quickly with each step. When she saw her own apartment in front of her, her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly swiped her key card to go in. However, just before the door closed, Riki grabbed her hand.

Nagasaki Sose quickly grabbed the doorknob and pulled it back forcefully, her face turning red with rage, and shouted, "This is trespassing! I'm not allowing you in my house today!"

Let me visit!

"What did you say to Deng? I want to find out and then I'll leave!" Riki said, grabbing the door.