Genius Takamatsu Akari's Kissing Experiment (cont.)

"Long legs are definitely an advantage when swimming."

What a perfect offensive and defensive setup!

The elevator doors opened, Riki stepped inside. He heard Nagasaki Sose's nonchalant voice. "I was thinking of giving you something good if you admitted it, but since you didn't look, never mind."

Riki held the elevator door shut and stepped out.

"The main reason is that I'm an honest person and don't want to lie. I am indeed very interested in Miss Sose's breasts. Please guide me!" Riki bowed his head in a yakuza-like posture and pleaded.

Sister Su Shi, please guide me!

"Hey! Don't speak so loudly!"

Nagasaki Sose blushed and quickly looked at the doors of the other residents on the same floor. Seeing no response, she kicked Riki in annoyance and said, "Go back first. I only said I'd consider it!"

"Then you can't regret it."

"I... I'll think about it some more," Nagasaki Sose muttered softly, turning her head away, her ears turning red.

Let me make a correction.

Nagasaki Sose has always been a person of high character and integrity.

In Mygo's group chat, Aine was talking about Live, and Rikki and Akari were also talking together.

Aine: [So, how about we change the positioning for the live performance to make it more interesting? For example, how about I stand in the center position and everyone else plays the instruments backstage?]

Lamp: [If it were just me alone, it wouldn't be a problem.]

Rikki: [Deng, don't listen to her. This guy will definitely be the first one to be laid off later.]

Aine: [Huh?! Isn't this pretty revolutionary?]

Riki: [If I'm backstage, I can perform too.]

Aine: [You're right!]

Rikki: [That's right!]

Riki noticed that Takamatsu Akari suddenly stopped talking after he interrupted.

Did I interrupt and upset Akari-chan?

This guy really needs to work on his technique of interjecting.

Riki: [Deng, do you want to go to the planetarium tomorrow?]

Lamp: [Sorry, I have something to do tomorrow. I'm going to take a shower now.]

I'm awesome!

I've turned into a clown!

Riki was startled, as if he saw Batman's phantom staring intently at him from the entrance of the alley.

Batman's stance alone is incredibly powerful!

Kaname Runa: [I want to go with Riki, can we play music there?]

Thank you, kitty, for making me no longer a clown.

Riki: [That's not a performance venue. Next time, I'll take you to a street performance.]

Takamatsu Akari is avoiding Riki. Nagasaki Sose's words definitely had an impact on her; she's guilty of a heinous crime!

At Haneoka Girls' High School, Takamatsu Akari stared blankly at the sky outside the window. When school was over, she picked up her schoolbag and walked out of the school. Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure at the gate.

It's Riki.

Takamatsu Akari's face immediately lit up with a smile, but then her smile froze as she thought of something. She turned to walk in another direction, but Riki followed and patted her on the shoulder.

"Teng, I've been in Tokyo for quite a while but haven't had a proper chance to explore. Let's take a walk together," Riki said with a smile.

Takamatsu Akari gripped her schoolbag tightly and whispered, "Sorry, Riki, I need to go home first. Can you go find Su Shi-chan instead?"

"Su Shi told me that it wasn't the lamp's fault," Riki said to Takamatsu Akari.

Takamatsu Akari paused for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "No, it was my fault."

Riki patted her head and said, "I've already talked to Su Shi, and she has no objections."

"That's not how it is! Even if Su Shi-chan doesn't mind, others will. It's not a good thing for me to like Riki, so... it's better not to like him." Takamatsu Akari said in a low voice.

"That doesn't mean you don't want to talk to me, does it?"

"No..." Takamatsu Akari looked up at Riki: "I've always wanted to talk to Riki, to walk with Riki, to see Riki's smile, but if I did that, I would fall in love with Riki!"

"You can't even do something this simple..."

"Yes, I'm sure of it!" Takamatsu Akari exclaimed loudly, "Because I feel like I'm about to fall for Riki!"

Takamatsu Akari's words drew the attention of the surrounding students, who covered their mouths in surprise as they stared at Riki and Takamatsu Akari.

So our little Tianran is such a bold girl?

He confessed his feelings right at the school gate.

Takamatsu Akari is like this: once the radio waves start, he doesn't consider the surrounding environment; you could say he's a walking, talking black hole.

Takamatsu Akari started to panic as she looked around at the stares. At that moment, Riki grabbed her hand and pulled her along as they ran.

On a park bench, next to Riki sat Takamatsu Akari, panting after exercising.

"I... I need to go home now," Takamatsu Akari said, picking up her schoolbag.

"Wait a minute, light." Riki pressed her shoulder and said, "You said you like me, but that might just be your imagination. You've never liked anyone before, so it might be a misunderstanding. The bond between people of the same sex is always called 'bromance' by outsiders, but I think that's a stereotype. Who says boys can't have pure friendship? It's the same between men and women."⁵

Takamatsu Akari was stunned for a moment; it seemed... that was indeed the case.

Could it be that she really made a mistake?

That would be wonderful!

If she didn't like Riki, she wouldn't have made Sakiko-chan and the others sad. ③

"But... how can I prove I haven't fallen for Riki?" Takamatsu Akari asked, tilting his head.

"No proof is needed; our friendship is as clear as day!" Riki said.

Takamatsu Akari frowned her delicate eyebrows.②

Riki was speechless.

It's definitely a bit much to ask Takamatsu Akari to believe in this metaphysics; some scientific evidence is needed.

But how can I prove that my friendship with the lamp is purely platonic?

Riki was thinking when she suddenly heard Takamatsu Akari's voice.

Takamatsu Akari looked at Riki and said, "Riki, let's kiss."

Stealing Zero, why is your thinking so unconventional?

We're talking about pure friendship, so why did you suddenly want to kiss me?

Do you even want to be friends with me?

Riki quickly said, "Deng, calm down, why are you suddenly saying this?"

Takamatsu Akari thought for a moment and said, "Riki said that kissing is something that people who like each other do. So if I kiss Riki and neither of us feels anything, then it proves that I don't like Riki, right?"

The arguments and evidence are complete.

You fucking genius, your IQ is definitely over 160!

Haicheng University needs someone like you!

"But I refuse." Riki took a step back.

Since I transmigrated to the world of Bang Bang, this is the first time someone has managed to force me to back down.

Lamp, I admit that no one is stronger than you when it comes to gravity.

"Why?" Takamatsu Akari leaned closer and quickly said, "As long as I don't like Riki, Su Shi and the others won't be sad."

Such intense pressure!

Because I'm just an ordinary person, I really can't beat you.

The idea of kissing as a basis for argument is still too advanced for me.

Riki said tactfully, "Deng, if you don't like me and still kiss me, wouldn't that be even worse? You'd be kissing someone you don't like."

"Because it's Riki, it's fine," Takamatsu Akari said, shaking his head vigorously.

"No, no!" Riki still refused.

Although he was driving the Pure Love 4WD tank, he had no intention of adding another one. He knew that having a harem and being intimate with four girls was already shocking enough, and he couldn't let Takamatsu Akari get involved as well, nor could he take away her first kiss.

Artificial respiration doesn't count as a first kiss; it's called medical assistance!

"Then... I can't continue talking to Riki," Takamatsu Akari whispered, "Because I might like Riki."

Are you being too pedantic?

Riki was having a bit of a headache; Takamatsu Akari only believed in this kind of verification method.

A moment of silence fell between them; neither of them spoke.

After thinking for a long time, Riki said, "Can I use a piece of paper as a pad?"

With a piece of paper placed between their mouths, it wasn't exactly a direct kiss.

Takamatsu Akari thought for a moment, hesitated for a long time, and then said, "Okay."

She took out her diary from her schoolbag, tore out a page, and looked at Riki.

Looking into Takamatsu Akari's innocent eyes, Riki felt genuinely nervous.

Is doing scientific research always this exciting?

Those graduate students and PhDs must be living the high life!

Am I a gravity researcher now?

Takamatsu Akari sat closer to Riki, her beautiful face getting closer and closer. She placed the paper between their mouths, wrapped her arms around Riki's neck, and kissed Riki on the lips.

It's soft, and although there's paper between us, I can feel its warmth.

This shouldn't be considered a direct kiss, right?

Riki stared at Takamatsu Akari, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, Gao Songdeng pushed Riki hard to stand up, stared blankly at Riki, picked up her schoolbag, and ran away.

You kissed her and then ran away?!

Wait, give us some scientific results!

Takamatsu Akari ran very fast and disappeared in an instant.

The Lead Singer ran away.

The next day, Takamatsu Akari took the day off and did not go to Haneoka.

She curled up on her bed with her eyes closed, buried her head in the pillow, and sang in a muffled voice.

If she doesn't sing, she can't shake off that lingering feeling in her mind... the feeling of lips kissing.

That feeling made her feel both happy and sad.

She... has fallen for Riki.

However, this is clearly something that should not be done.

This will make Sakiko and the others sad; she can't fall in love with Riki.

What should I do?

Takamatsu Akari suppressed her emotions, tears streaming down her face.