Rock Girl Descends Beside Me!

Nagasaki Sose watched from the side with a cold gaze. She didn't understand why Riki's band was so rowdy, with no preparation before the performance. Were they really college students?

Could the saying that one high school student is equal to three college students be true?

Nagasaki Sose sighed. If Riki failed the exam now, he couldn't blame her, as his classmates seemed unreliable.

Listening to the rhythm of the drummer's sticks, Nagasaki Sose subconsciously began to play.

But as soon as she started, she froze. The various instruments instantly fused together, with distinct rhythms and layers, without any sense of one overpowering the others. What was just a noisy classroom a moment ago transformed into a professional concert hall.

Instead, she was the one holding them back. Nagasaki Sose quickly followed suit, but she was still a little behind.

What she didn't expect, however, was that the other instruments temporarily changed their arrangements to support her. The most obvious was Riki's piano.

I can do it without your help...

Nagasaki Sose couldn't help but complain inwardly, but the slight smile on her face betrayed her lowered head.

The performance ended quickly. Nagasaki Sose looked up at Riki and his classmates. They were undoubtedly all professional-level musicians, geniuses by common standards. Riki, who controlled the rhythm, was exceptionally outstanding.

Was that rowdy band really this amazing?

Nagasaki Sose thought to herself.

The atmosphere was completely different from Crychic, where she had been before. Did such bands exist?

It made her curious about what Riki was usually like when he was here.

"You're Sose, right? You played very well. It's normal for them to be a bit better than you since they're college students. I'm looking forward to your future growth," an elderly woman among the teachers below said to Nagasaki Sose in Japanese.

Nagasaki Sose had seen her on forums. She was a first-class performer in Japan. Hearing her words made Nagasaki Sose a little nervous, especially given her high status.

"Thank you for the compliment. I'll work hard!"

"Riki-kun is also a very good boy. Remember not to let anyone snatch him away."

"...Huh?"

"Why do you look so murderous? What did I do?"

Riki frowned. Could it be that Nagasaki Sose had discovered his Supreme Bone during the performance and thought his Twin Pupils weren't invincible enough, wanting to dig out his abstract bone, no, his Supreme Bone?

Little Sose, Twin Pupils are already an invincible path, the rest is forgotten.

"It's nothing," Nagasaki Sose huffed and walked towards the school gate with Riki.

Being mistaken for a couple was a huge misunderstanding. How could she possibly like someone like Riki?

However, Nagasaki Sose recalled the scene just now. The feeling of being affirmed warmed her heart.

In a way, she had to thank Riki, but Nagasaki Sose couldn't bring herself to say it.

If she said it, wouldn't that be admitting that Riki was a very capable person?

Nagasaki Sose felt a bit awkward. Suddenly, she felt raindrops on her head. Looking up, she saw that it would soon start pouring.

Riki quickly pulled Nagasaki Sose towards the convenience store in front to take shelter from the rain. In just a short while, both of them were drenched.

Although it was spring, March still carried a hint of winter's chill. The cold permeated after being soaked by the rain, making Nagasaki Sose rub her arms.

So cold.

Nagasaki Sose's slender arms trembled slightly. She regretted wearing only a thin layer of clothing when she left home today. Although she wore a jacket, it was more decorative than practical, offering no protection against the cold.

"Sose, can I borrow your jacket? I'm freezing over here."

"Don't call me by my name so casually. Besides, don't you have a jacket too? Shouldn't you be lending it to me?" Nagasaki Sose retorted, thinking he had no chivalry. Normally, shouldn't he be the one giving it to her?

Although she would have refused...

"Is that so? You're right. Here, take it!"

Before Nagasaki Sose could finish her thought, she saw Riki toss his jacket at her. The jacket still held Riki's warmth, making Nagasaki Sose freeze for a moment.

This guy must have guessed I would refuse, that's why he said that, right?

Nagasaki Sose glared fiercely at Riki.

She hesitated for a moment before sharing half of the jacket with Riki. Their shoulders touched, and Riki could feel her soft skin and warm breath, looking at her in surprise.

Riki genuinely wanted to keep her warm, with no ulterior motives.

Nagasaki Sose was practically leaning into Riki's embrace. Unlike the accidental encounter in the elevator last time, this time it was her initiative, but her face still flushed red. She said softly, "I don't want to owe you any favors. I just need to borrow it for a bit."

More suited to the tsundere constitution of Baby Nagasaki, who hasn't experienced a nuclear explosion.

Riki felt that if he said another word, she might go berserk like Unit-01. He could only nod obediently, with only one thought in his mind.

—Mom is so gentle.

Nagasaki Sose listened to the sound of the rain, her eyelids slightly lowered. She felt the warmth emanating from Riki, gently clutching the jacket.

...So warm.

She whispered to herself.

Chapter 34: Fermented Bean Curd Riki, Stand Down!

The rain was so heavy it felt like the whole world was raining, a hazy blur.

Riki watched the curtain of rain, standing under the eaves with Nagasaki Sose.

"You seem to have a good relationship with your bandmates," Nagasaki Sose suddenly said.

"You mean my beloved friends? They're all talented students, but you know, genius and madness are separated by a thin line. Except for me, everyone in the band is a bit... not entirely normal. I suspect they're secretly playing mobile games, but I can't discriminate against minorities, so we get along reasonably well," Riki replied.

The chat logs were rather sparse. Most of their communication involved sending tons of lewd pictures and red envelopes.

All one-cent red envelopes.

But they'd always scramble to grab them, then curse the sender for being stingy if they didn't get one, or curse the person who did get it, before all begging their "sugar daddy" to send more lewd pictures.

It was the harmonious friendship of normal college students.

But Riki didn't need to share these little male bonding tips with Nagasaki Sose.

"A strange band atmosphere," Nagasaki Sose commented, turning her face away. "Not nearly as good as Crychic."

Good grief, are you attacking me personally?

It's not as good as Mygo... Crychic.

Riki looked at Nagasaki Sose's profile. She possessed the beauty of a typical teenage girl, her brown hair, damp with rain on her cheeks, adding a touch of vulnerability. Combined with her already excellent features, she was the kind of beauty that would make even the "thots" section of Bilibili's dance category envious.

Although Nagasaki Sose was very loyal, Riki knew she was a holder of the great Friendship Badge, embodying the spirit of the "quit the band" archetype, just like Yamato.

She only liked Crychic. Her attitude towards Mygo was: This? Not needed.

A pure bad girl.

But not bad enough to be completely evil, which made her seem somewhat intelligent.

"I also think Crychic is great, but life always moves forward..." Riki said. "Sakiko isn't coming back."

"That's not for you to decide. I will definitely make Sakiko come back!" Nagasaki Sose insisted stubbornly.

It seems she still hasn't given up on her dream of restoring the great Crychic.

And lately, she's been meditating at Riki's house, probably about to achieve some earth-shattering wisdom!

Riki reached out, feeling the rain had lessened slightly. He said to Nagasaki Sose, "The rain has stopped a bit now. Let's hurry to the subway station."

"Now? It's still raining?!" Nagasaki Sose blinked in surprise.

"It's going to rain heavily all day. If we don't run for it now, we'll just be here holding umbrellas with Totoro waiting for the bus!"

Totoro?

His metaphors are quite cute.

Does he watch a lot of Ghibli films?

Nagasaki Sose thought.

"If you run fast enough, you won't get wet. Can you run the 100 meters in under ten seconds?" Riki asked Nagasaki Sose.

I trust the strength of the people from Nagasaki.

Everyone I met there was tough, able to withstand a nuclear bomb.

Though I haven't seen anyone like that since.

Nagasaki Sose retorted irritably, "Idiot, that's world-record pace. Who can do that?"

Is he underestimating athletes?

Riki frowned.

"Don't assume Tsukinomori is bad at sports just because it's a school for young ladies. I was a class representative in sports day events and got third place," Nagasaki Sose said calmly.

Amazing!

So arrogant, huh?

If you lose to me later, buy me a popsicle. Watermelon flavor, by the way.

"Go! Go! Go!" Riki saw the rain lessen again, grabbed Nagasaki Sose's wrist, and quickly ran out into the rain towards the subway station.

Nagasaki Sose was indeed a good runner, quite fast. But after all, she was a high school student, and a girl at that. Compared to Riki, a college student, she was slightly slower. Riki pulled her hand, accelerating her—Sose, I'm going to speed up!

Riki realized he was running in the wrong direction and changed course without missing a beat.

"You ran the wrong way!?" Nagasaki Sose exclaimed in disbelief. He had made them get even wetter.

"If you don't go through the storm, how will you see the rainbow!"

Riki shouted, too embarrassed to face her, resorting to song lyrics to cover his shame.

Damn it, the rain was too heavy, I didn't check the navigation, my mouse is acting up, the internet is lagging...

Nagasaki Sose sighed deeply and glanced at Riki, who was holding her hand and running forward, his face covered in rain. He always positioned himself to block the rain from hitting her, so she was essentially using him as a shield.

After a few minutes of running, they finally reached the subway station. The people nearby looked curiously at the two young people. The boy was drenched but still handsome, while the girl, having gotten less wet, looked as beautiful as a celebrity.

"Are you an idiot? I don't need you blocking me," Nagasaki Sose said irritably.

The passersby next to them sighed and looked at Riki. How did he turn into a clown at such a young age? Look, this beautiful girl has no interest in your efforts, just let go.

Taking out a tissue from her bag, Nagasaki Sose reached out to wipe the rainwater from Riki's face, completely ignoring that she herself was still getting soaked by the rain.

Seeing this, the passersby's mouths twitched. They consciously put on red noses and let their companion Batman take them away.

Riki didn't expect Nagasaki Sose to help him wipe away the rain. "Thanks."

In Japanese, Should I say "thanks, eggplant"?

"Don't misunderstand. It's just that you look so stupid I can't stand it. If you catch a cold, I'll feel guilty. Only someone like you would do something so foolish," Nagasaki Sose said calmly. "Sit down over there. I'll wipe the back of your neck. It's uncomfortable if water gets into your collar."

"Okay."

Because of Nagasaki Sose's overwhelming motherly power, Riki couldn't help but obediently sit down.

After Nagasaki Sose finished wiping him, she threw the tissue into the trash can and said, "Alright, let's go."

"Yes, Maden!" Riki said.

Wait, why am I acting out here?

I'm not fermented bean curd.

"Soaked, soaked!"

Don't get the wrong idea.