Chapter 330

Toyokawa Sakiko was walking along the road in a daze when he suddenly saw a girl with long, straight black hair ahead of him. She had a beauty mark at the corner of her eye, a great figure, and a somewhat assertive gaze.

It's Shiina Riki.

The other person saw her too.

Shiina Riki's face immediately darkened. She snorted coldly and ignored her, preparing to walk past her, but Toyokawa Sakiko took the initiative to stop her.

"What's up?" Shiina Riki, annoyed.

"I'm sorry," Toyokawa Sakiko said softly, "Just this one sentence, goodbye."

"... Huh?" Shiina Riki was dumbfounded.

She actually apologized?

I've never heard you apologize in so long, so why are you suddenly apologizing when I see you on the street now?

Were you hypnotized?

"Wait!" Shiina Riki quickly grabbed Toyokawa Sakiko's shoulder as she tried to leave, and couldn't help but say, "Explain yourself clearly!"

"Rikki- kun, I have something to do..." Toyokawa Sakiko paused abruptly, looking at Shiina Riki with a hesitant expression.

Why are you looking at me like that?

"Rikki, have you ever been in a relationship?"

"Are you looking for a beating?" Shiina Riki, annoyed.

"I... have a boy I like, but I'm not sure if he likes me back," Toyokawa Sakiko whispered.

Shiina Riki was stunned again.

When did you... start liking someone?

Wait, you actually like boys?!

However, it must be said that Shiina Riki's curiosity was indeed piqued, and she said, "Come on, Ring. I'm at work today, and I have enough for two cups of coffee. It would be a waste not to drink it, so I'll treat you to one."

Shiina Riki has always been outspoken; when she says she doesn't want to waste things, she truly means it, without a trace of sympathy.

So Toyokawa Sakiko nodded cheerfully.

Shiina Riki, holding her coffee, froze in mid-air. After a long silence, she said, "So, you and that boy have been living together for over two months, but you still haven't confessed your feelings?"

"Yes." Toyokawa Sakiko nodded.

"You two are idiots..." Shiina Riki almost blurted out.

But she and Sakiko are still in a cold war, so she can't say such intimate insults to each other.

"Are you afraid he'll think you're using him?" Shiina Riki understood, and propped her chin on her hand, saying, "I think he's probably worried you think that way too, which is why you two have been at an impasse."

"Rikki is so knowledgeable," Toyokawa Sakiko exclaimed in surprise.

She learned a little more about her former bandmate.

"It's because my sister uses my computer every day to collect relationship tips and buy relationship courses. My desktop is full of relationship-related files. I can't not know even if I don't want to!" Shiina Riki said irritably. Her sister was afraid that she wouldn't be able to get married.

Looking at Sakiko's anxious face, Shiina Riki realized it was the first time she'd seen her so nervous, and couldn't help but soften her voice, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, that boy probably likes you too."

"Thank you, Rikki- kun!" Toyokawa Sakiko made up her mind, stood up to say goodbye, and thought for a moment before saying, "Next time... why don't you come to my house for dinner with Su-se and Akari-kun?"

"Su Shi? Tamamo? When did you two eat together?" Shiina Riki was bewildered for the third time.

I have no idea how things happened.

Watching Toyokawa Sakiko's departing figure, Shiina Riki propped her chin on her hand.

It sounds like that boy treats Sakiko quite well; he's probably the type my sister would like, right?

She's definitely not my type.

"Riki, I bought cream puffs, want to eat them together?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked with a smile as she returned home, holding the box.

Cream puffs, the kind filled with cream, right?

I love cream puffs the most.

Riki picked one up, took a bite, and said, "It's delicious. Have you had any? Try some too."

"Speaking of which, I haven't tried it yet. Let me give it a shot." Toyokawa Sakiko Shoko took a bite of the cream puff in Riki's hand. Her ears turned bright red, but she still said nonchalantly, "It's delicious. I can buy some more later."

Riki looked down at the cream puff she had bitten; Sakiko had taken another bite in that spot, leaving one bite mark larger than the other on the two cream puffs.

The larger one naturally belongs to Riki.

The small one is Sakiko's.

Indirect kiss?

Playing this big?

Teacher Da Xiang, what do you mean by this?

Riki looked at Toyokawa Sakiko, who still appeared nonchalant, but her fair neck was flushed red, and she didn't look at him.

I get it, Sakiko-bao has a crush on me.

"Let's have dinner first," Riki said.

"Mmm... mmm." Toyokawa Sakiko nodded quickly, unable to bear the increasingly strange atmosphere any longer.

After preparing dinner, the two sat side by side at one side of the table, as they were used to Su Shi and Takamatsu Akari sitting opposite each other when they came over.

Riki glanced at Toyokawa Sakiko, recalling her earlier actions, and slowly reached out to gently take Toyokawa Sakiko's hand while eating.

This wasn't the first time he'd touched her, but there had always been a reason before. This time, it was a casual, seemingly deliberate act of holding hands, as if he were testing Sakiko's intentions.

Toyokawa Sakiko seemed unaware that her hand had been taken.

The two slowly intertwined their fingers.

"Aren't we going to Sakiko's house? Why are we going this way?" Shiina Riki asked Nagasaki Sose.

"This is where Sakiko and Riki live now," Nagasaki Sose, pointing to the old apartment building in front of them.

"... ha?"

The two, along with Takamatsu Akari, pushed open the door and entered the house. Toyokawa Sakiko Shiina Riki, Rikki eyes held a complicated expression.

Nagasaki Sose leaned close to Riki and whispered, "Have you and Sakiko finally confirmed your relationship?"

"Great progress, you've held hands," Riki said.

Nagasaki Sose was speechless with exasperation, and said with a sigh of exasperation, "You guys should hurry up and make some progress!"

"No, why are you in such a hurry?" Riki asked, puzzled. "If you want to be in a relationship, you can do it yourself."

"I'm not talking about it. My mom was hurt by my dad, and it's a real trauma for me. I'm not going to have a boyfriend, and I'll never fall in love with anyone else. From now on, I'll be the godmother of your and Sakiko-chan's child. When the child grows up, she can take care of me. I promise I'll treat that child very well." Nagasaki Sose said happily, her plan perfectly clear.

******

The side stories are short and might be a bit bland, please forgive me.

Side Story: Sakiko's Route 04

"Then I'll go home with the lamp." Shiina Riki stood at the door, a black and white panda scarf wrapped around her slender neck. Light snow was falling outside the rusty railing at night.

After finishing dinner, they planned to leave.

Looking at Riki Toyokawa Sakiko in front of her, she still couldn't believe that Sakiko would be dating someone so quickly; they had only not seen each other for half a year...

"Have a safe trip." Riki waved.

Shiina Riki looked at Riki for a while, then at Toyokawa Sakiko, pulled her scarf to hide her expression, and pursed her lips, saying, "Why did you apologize before?"

"For Crychic's sake," Toyokawa Sakiko said softly, "If I hadn't gone too far back then, everyone would have continued to play happily even after I left."

Shiina Riki snorted and crossed his arms, saying, "It is indeed your fault."

"Rikki- chan!" Nagasaki Sose exclaimed quickly.

Toyokawa Sakiko nodded slightly.

Shiina Riki looked at her downcast expression and whispered, "But don't misunderstand, Crychic isn't complete without any one of them. All five of us... are indispensable. We won't be happy if any of us are missing."

Toyokawa Sakiko froze, then looked up at Shiina Riki.

"Goodbye, that's all. I wish you and your boyfriend happiness." Shiina Riki turned and waved, pulling her panda scarf to cover her face. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her delicate voice rang out in the soft snowy night.

"Rikki- chan has become quite talkative too," Nagasaki Sose remarked with a smile.

That would count as a reconciliation, right?

Everyone went back to how they used to be.

"I just felt sorry for her," Shiina Riki said, embarrassed and annoyed.

"Thank you, Rikki- chan," Takamatsu Akari said with a light laugh.

"As long as the light is happy."

Riki watched Shiina Riki and the other two leave, and seeing the relaxed expression on Toyokawa Sakiko, she smiled and said, "Finally, you've made up with your friends."

"It's all because someone writes 'One Hundred Ways to Repair Relationships with Friends' in my notebook every night." Toyokawa Sakiko sighed, looking helplessly at Riki, but then a smile appeared on her face, "But it really works, thank you."

"Let's give each other a high five." Riki extended her hand.

Toyokawa Sakiko pouted; this way of celebrating was still too rude for a former rich girl like her.

But... well, she's not a rich young lady anymore.

"Smack!"

With a light laugh, Toyokawa Sakiko stretched out her slender, lively little hand and slapped Riki's hand hard; the crisp sound carried far in the snowy night.

The room lights shone warmly in the night and amidst the light snow.

Mujica began their performance and, unsurprisingly, quickly achieved a successful debut. With Lu Yi's music added to the brilliance, the show was quite explosive, leaving both Lu Yi and Xiangzi astonished.

"Wow... so much money." Toyokawa Sakiko stared blankly at the text message on her phone.

In short, buy more food for Riki first. Oh, and... boys need to eat more meat to grow!

No, but all this money is going to be used to pay off debts.

My heart aches for you.

I don't need to spend much money; the vitamins sold in pharmacies are enough for me... But Riki probably likes to eat some delicious food. Seeing Riki happy while eating something tasty will make her happy too.

With a light and practiced jog, Toyokawa Sakiko reached the second floor of the old apartment building, pushed open the door, and casually asked Riki, who was looking at her phone, "Riki... is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"My purine levels have been a bit high lately, so some porridge will be fine," Riki said.

"I see..." Toyokawa Sakiko with a hint of disappointment.

She was also thinking of buying Riki some good food.

How can I treat you well when you're so selfless and without desires?

Riki an idiot.

Toyokawa Sakiko was a little annoyed. She watched Riki got up to go to the bathroom. His phone was on the table, and she picked it up to unlock it with her fingerprint.

Sakiko forgot to charge her phone, so Riki lent her his, generously saying she could use his phone anytime. Sakiko was a little awkward at first, but gradually got used to it.

Anyway, Riki can see her phone.

Toyokawa Sakiko had one very peculiar habit— Riki's browser history was always blank, and she frequently had to clear it.

But he seemed to be looking at something just now; he probably didn't have time to clear it.

Toyokawa Sakiko was itching to try it, so she couldn't resist clicking on it and saw his search history.

How should you move your lips when kissing?