Shioka Learns the Truth and Loses It! (cont.)

Mikumura Shioka was taken aback, then looked up in a panic and asked, "Why would Mana think that?"

How could she possibly like Riki?

He was trying to matchmake Riki and Sakiko.

"It's just a feeling, because Hatsuka seems really happy lately, and she seems to be paying a lot of attention to her phone messages." Sumiida Mana chuckled. "I'll keep it a secret from your manager. Who does Hatsuka like?"

"I already told you you misunderstood..." Mikumura Shioka chuckled sheepishly.

"If it were me, I think Riki from Mujica is really cool." Sumiida Mana tapped her chin and thought for a moment before saying, "I'll let you in on a little secret: I saw Riki hugging the Lead Singer of Mujica the last time. They might be dating; Riki was hugging her so tightly, he definitely likes her a lot!"

That person was actually me.

Mikumura Shioka awkwardly smoothed her hair, but for some reason, she felt incredibly happy.

Do Riki and she look like a good match?

In the afternoon, when I arrived backstage at Mujica's performance, Mikumura Shioka immediately looked around for someone as soon as she walked in.

Riki's eyes lit up when he finally found her, only to see Toyokawa Sakiko standing next to him, the two chatting happily.

Mikumura Shioka stopped abruptly after taking her first step.

"Chuhua, can you come over and help?" Miaomeng lazily waved.

"Ah... okay!"

Mikumura Shioka quickly turned around to respond, but couldn't help glancing sideways at Riki Toyokawa Sakiko in the corner of the stage.

They seem to have a very good relationship.

I wish I were standing in Sakiko's position.

No, no, how could I think like that!

Mikumura Shioka patted her cheeks to cheer herself up and smiled.

I'm going to help Sakiko!

After the rehearsal, Riki was dragged by Mikumura Shioka to go shopping on the street.

"Why does Riki look so unwilling?" Mikumura Shioka pouted, "I'm a popular idol, shouldn't she be happy to come out with me?"

"Because going out with a popular idol violates the traditional virtues of men in Haicheng, this is also recorded in the <Ancient Haicheng Records>," Riki said.

"The concept of idols didn't exist in ancient times!" Mikumura Shioka chuckled, nudging Riki. "This is practice! Practice with me now, and you'll know what to do when you go on a date with Sakiko later. You have to make sure the girl is happy!"

"I'm a modern man, and I also have the right to be happy on a date." Riki shook his head.

Mikumura Shioka blinked and said happily, "Okay, then I'll go to the places Riki likes too."

They've fallen for their trap!

The despicable Zhuge Chuhua.

Riki had no choice but to walk with Chu Hua.

Chu Hua has a fondness for trendy accessories and cosmetics, which is related to her profession. But to Riki's surprise, Chu Hua is actually a fan of anime and manga!

"Riki, look! This is Crayon Shin-chan!" Mikumura Shioka exclaimed happily, hugging a Shin-chan pillow.

"Chu Hua, Crayon Shin-chan doesn't count as anime/manga," Riki said, shaking her head.

I don't approve of anime fans who haven't watched Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, or Jujutsu Kaisen, and who use Hyouka as their profile picture.

Mikumura Shioka scratched her fair cheek. "There's nothing I can do about it. When I was little, on the island, I could only watch TV at my grandma's shop, and the signal was bad, so this was all I could watch. I used to look forward to it every week."

I apologize, I did not mean to discriminate against people from impoverished areas.

"I'm not as knowledgeable about anime as Riki," said Mikumura Shioka.

"Don't talk nonsense, I didn't!"

Mikumura Shioka looked at Riki strangely. Riki clearly knew a lot about anime, but she always refused to be told that, which she found quite interesting.

"Alright, let's go see where Riki likes next," Mikumura Shioka said to Riki.

Riki and her companion went to the game room across the street. Near the entrance, they could shoot zombies on the screen in a cooperative game.

"Is Riki really good at having fun?" Mikumura Shioka asked curiously.

"Do you need me to explain the value of the Fire Qilin, or the worth of my rare CS skin?" Riki retorted.

Mikumura Shioka didn't understand, but thought Riki was just being stubborn, and secretly smiled at him.

Riki gave it her all after the game started.

Then, five minutes later, the entire army was wiped out.

When the score list came out, he couldn't even rank high, trailing the first place by a full ten thousand points.

"Riki ..." Mikumura Shioka hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"First place is just a customized champion; I wouldn't bother trying to win it."

Riki originally wanted to bring a girl along, but ended up being brought along by her instead, which made him a little embarrassed. The people in the arcade were initially envious and jealous of Riki for bringing such a fashionable and beautiful girl to play shooting games, but after seeing the score, they all showed gentle smiles.

Late-stage cancer.

Riki felt a little embarrassed. If he was looked down upon like this, how could he face Sakiko when he got home? He had to deal with this kind of person with a heavy blow.

Seeing a punching force testing machine nearby, Riki, under everyone's watchful eyes, clenched her fist, twisted her waist, and swung her arm in one smooth motion, slamming the force testing ball to the top with a loud bang.

As for the numbers, is there anything else to say?

Riki specializes in dealing with big numbers!

Amidst the astonished gazes of the male primates Riki waved goodbye and left with Mikumura Shioka, like an animal that had won the right to mate with the most beautiful female in the group.

As they left the arcade, Mikumura Shioka whispered to Riki, "You got first place in the rankings!"

"A champion of pure strength, no need for further explanation," Riki scoffed.

Looking at Riki's smug expression, Mikumura Shioka teased, "But everyone else's was custom-made?"

Riki stopped talking, pretending not to hear.

"Let's stop here for today. Lastly..." Mikumura Shioka looked at Riki, her face slightly flushed, and said, "If I were Sakiko, how would Riki say goodbye to me?"

"Goodbye?" Riki asked tentatively.

"This kind of farewell is too ordinary!" Mikumura Shioka pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Well... Sakiko, see you tomorrow."

"It's still pretty ordinary, but let's leave it at that for today." Mikumura Shioka looked into Riki's eyes and smiled. "Since it's a simulation, let me start by saying my name."

"Chuhua, see you tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow." Mikumura Shioka said happily to Riki Yi with her hands behind her back.

Let her pretend a little longer.

Pretending that Riki likes her.

Mikumura Shioka stared blankly at Riki's retreating figure.

Mujica backend.

"Hailing and Rikki are childhood sweethearts?" Riki was shocked to hear Hachiman Mairin's words.

"You didn't know? I thought Rikki had told you," said Hachiman Mairin.

"Hey, if that's the case, Riki and I could make a childhood sweetheart video next time. Aren't Riki and I the same age? Wouldn't that be a great way to get views?" Miao Meng said excitedly, still unable to forget about creating a CP (couple pairing).

"Miss Meow Dream, please don't disrupt Mujica's worldview," Toyokawa Sakiko said calmly as she walked over.

"I'll be careful not to film backstage, but there's no need to hide it outside, right? The audience is really looking forward to seeing Riki and me being all lovey-dovey..."

Miao Meng was excitedly talking when she noticed that Toyokawa Sakiko's eyes were getting colder and she immediately stopped talking.

Let her provoke Sakiko again when she grows four hands and can perfectly handle the dense drumbeats.

"Everyone, I brought a cake!" Mikumura Shioka walked into the lounge and said with a smile, "Riki, have some too."

What does 'also' mean?

The way you're saying it's like men in a fantasy world can't sit at the table to eat?

"By the way, Riki, let's go together after the performance..."

"No, Sakiko and I have things to take care of." Riki shook her head, interrupting Mikumura Shioka.

Mikumura Shioka was taken aback, then turned to look at Sakiko was intently enjoying the cake, and remained silent for a long time.

"You're... you're right." Mikumura Shioka awkwardly pinched a strand of her golden hair.

I feel empty inside.

But this day was bound to come sooner or later.

After all, Riki liked Sakiko.

Toyokawa Sakiko noticed the disappointed look in Mikumura Shioka's eyes, and her fork paused in her hand.

"...Idiot Riki." Toyokawa Sakiko looked at the cake in her hand. It was a dessert she hadn't had in a long time, and now she had no appetite for it.

When Mikumura Shioka returned to the company, she was so conflicted that she didn't want to think about anything.

She leaned back on the sofa, scrolling through her phone messages, and stopped staring blankly at Riki's chat history.

Suddenly, a news article popped up on her phone. Just as Mikumura Shioka was about to swipe it away, she noticed the words 'Toyokawa' in the headline.

Fengchuan is Sakiko's surname.

She paused for a moment, then clicked to open the news.

The once-famous Toyokawa family has now left the Toyokawa Family and has been seen working in a mine, suspected of accumulating enormous debts...

Mikumura Shioka looked at the photo on the news. She had seen the middle-aged man in the photo when she was a child. He was Sakiko's father.

"What's going on? I've never heard Sakiko hear of this before..." Sanjiao was stunned.

Sakiko's father left the Toyokawa Family, so what happened to Sakiko?

Sakiko should still be staying at the Toyokawa Family, since she's still as cheerful as ever.

Mikumura Shioka was anxious and wanted to call Toyokawa Sakiko immediately, but her finger hesitated in mid-air.

If what happened to Toyokawa's father is true, then wouldn't saying this just reopen Sakiko's wounds?

She definitely doesn't want to bring it up, right?

Lost in thought, Mikumura Shioka suddenly remembered Riki and Sakiko's invitation for her to join Mujica.

"Why did Sakiko form Mujica so quickly?" Mikumura Shioka murmured.

Is it related to Toyokawa's father?

She wanted to know.

At the same time, she was also very scared... If it really was as she thought, then how should she face Sakiko?

Does Riki know about this?

If he knew, how would he feel about being with me?

Mikumura Shioka clutched her phone to her chest, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Hanasakigawa Academy.

After class, Mikumura Shioka followed Shiina Riki down the hallway and called out to her, "Rikki, wait a moment."

Shiina Riki turned around and saw Mikumura Shioka: "Is something the matter?"

His tone was as direct as ever.

Mikumura Shioka chuckled, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Shiina Riki's curves in her school uniform. Even in Hanasakigawa River, Rikki's body was the type that was quite admired by girls.

"I remember Rikki used to be in a band with Sakiko, right?" Mikumura Shioka asked.