Rock Girl Descends Beside Me!

The timing was just right, so after school, Riki headed to Ring with Takamatsu Akari and Chihaya Anon. They had practice scheduled for today.

"Look, look! Doesn't that new dessert shop over there look super delicious? Let's go try it!" Chihaya Anon pointed to a shop nearby, her voice full of excitement.

"It does look delicious," Takamatsu Akari agreed with a nod.

"To be honest, yeah."

"Hmm, you two are just humoring me!" Chihaya Anon pouted. She looked at Riki, curious, "Speaking of which, Riki, you're so amazing, do you have a girlfriend?"

Takamatsu Akari looked at Riki, her gaze fixed on him.

"Yes."

"Eh, who is it, who is it?!"

"Can't remember. I change them every season."

"Having a waifu doesn't count!" Chihaya Anon crossed her arms. "How about someone like me?"

She hadn't thought much of it, just found the topic interesting. Plus, Riki was a good conversationalist and wouldn't take it seriously.

"Does Riki like girls like Anon?" Takamatsu Akari suddenly asked, surprised.

Chihaya Anon blinked, then waved her hand with a laugh, "Akari-chan, we're just joking, okay? What's wrong?"

"No, I don't know either," Takamatsu Akari mused, tilting her head curiously.

Riki and the others walked into Ring's cafe. Shiina Riki, who was working, looked up as Riki entered. As if remembering something, her face suddenly flushed, and she handed him a hot coffee. "This is for you."

"Thank you," Riki said.

Just as he was about to drink it, he noticed a note stuck to the cup with a piece of paper, written in elegant script: "Thank you for accompanying me at the school festival yesterday."

Nagasaki Sose had been sitting at her seat since Riki walked in. She watched Riki, Takamatsu Akari, and Chihaya Anon enter, and then saw Shiina Riki give Riki coffee.

Everything was proceeding according to her plan, but for some reason, she felt a sense of unease.

Things were moving too fast, completely out of her control.

Especially after receiving photos and messages from Anon just now, she felt increasingly unhappy, even though she didn't understand why herself.

"It's about time, huh? Are you that happy just getting coffee? Hurry up and come sit down," Nagasaki Sose said coldly, looking at Riki.

Don't overthink it. In the end... Riki won't be needed.

"Let's start preparing for next week's performance," Nagasaki Sose said with a dignified smile.

And with this performance, I'll resolve everything.

Chapter 49: Riki: Sose, do you know what Riki likes?

"Riki-chan, come sit down too," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile to Shiina Riki behind the counter, acting as if nothing was amiss. "Speaking of which, Riki-chan, you and Riki-kun seem to have gotten closer. Did something happen?"

Shiina Riki froze, then her face turned red as she remembered something. "We just ran into each other at the school festival, and I asked him to help with the performance."

Riki-chan isn't good at lying. Judging by her expression, it's probably more than that.

Nagasaki Sose looked at Riki beside her with a composed smile. What has this disgrace to humanity done now?

Annoying.

Even though it's in line with Nagasaki Sose's plan to have Riki get along with them, the annoyance in her heart made it hard for Nagasaki Sose to ignore. She looked coldly at Riki.

Is this man really that good at charming people?

What a despicable guy.

Undoubtedly my least favorite type.

"Why are you calling me Riki-kun? You usually call me Brother Riki, don't you?" Riki leaned in and whispered in Nagasaki Sose's ear.

"Eek!"

Nagasaki Sose felt her ears tingle warmly, and she let out a startled cry, her face turning bright red as she looked at Riki. "W-w-what are you doing so close?! You've never called me that before! We're not that familiar, are we?!"

Irrelevant.

You haven't called me Brother Riki, but we're not that unfamiliar, are we?

Riki was stunned. Does she come with a built-in divine separator?

Nagasaki Sose, don't push it. Turn it off.

"I'm also quite curious about what the school festival is like at your prestigious Tsukinomori school. Can you take me next time?" Riki asked curiously. Let me see what a school for the 'heavenly dragons' is like, and then I'll criticize it fiercely.

"How would you even get in..." Nagasaki Sose suddenly thought of Shiina Riki's reaction just now, and paused. "If there's a chance."

Nagasaki Sose muttered under her breath about him being rude, then suddenly thought about what she would write in her diary tonight: Miss Sose spoke gently with Riki, but the shy idiot Riki, with skin as thin as paper, was too embarrassed to face Miss Sose and stammered awkwardly, looking quite pathetic. However, Miss Sose, with her noble heart, did not mock the foolish Riki because of this.

Nagasaki Sose finally managed to calm herself down and looked up to find Shiina Riki, Chihaya Anon, and Takamatsu Akari all looking at her curiously.

"I feel like Sose and Riki have a really good relationship," Chihaya Anon said, blinking.

"There's no such thing. Like everyone else, I've only met Riki-kun a few times," Nagasaki Sose replied calmly, maintaining her ladylike smile. Under her words, the practice session quickly began. Chihaya Anon's guitar skills were still lacking, which made Shiina Riki very angry.

"I told you I'm practicing! Don't talk if you don't understand drumming," Chihaya Anon pouted.

"Huh? Didn't you just not practice enough?" Shiina Riki frowned.

Nagasaki Sose said gently, "Riki-chan, Anon has been working hard too. She's definitely putting her all into playing."

Sowing discord among the band members was also part of Nagasaki Sose's plan. After all, when Sakiko and Mutsuki joined later, it would be more convenient to have Anon and Kaname Runa leave on their own due to unpleasantness, rather than kicking them out.

--The plan is excellent.

Riki was deeply shocked.

Xiao Guan Cha, Master's Blend.

Miss Sose is truly a tea art master. Even sitting next to her, he could smell the strong scent of green tea.

Nagasaki Sose's face darkened. She looked at Riki and said, "What are you staring at? You're the music director too, don't you have anything to say?"

The four beautiful girls at the table all looked at Riki. Riki felt it was time to say something inspiring before the performance.

"This performance is a rare opportunity, and it's the band's first show. Treat every song like it's your last, and don't be afraid of losing..." Riki said earnestly, then realized these weren't the abstract monsters from Haicheng University, but pure, high school girls just like him.

It's Haicheng University's fault again.

Damn it, I can't take it anymore! I'm going to blow up Haicheng University!

"Performing is a great way to understand what's in each member's heart through music. If you want to be a band for life, start now. But no matter how the performance goes, I'll support you."

Riki's words made the four girls stare at him blankly.

Takamatsu Akari stared at Riki blankly, then nodded vigorously. Shiina Riki's lips curved into a smile. Chihaya Anon happily shouted, "Of course!"

Nagasaki Sose paused, bit her soft lip, and looked at Riki.

In that moment, her heart wavered.

But it couldn't be. This band wasn't her destination. Only Crychic...

"Then let's head to the practice room," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile, putting her hands together. "For next week's performance."

Practice Room.

After another practice session, as expected, Chihaya Anon and Shiina Riki started arguing again.

Nagasaki Sose calmly smoothed the strings and suddenly noticed Shiina Riki standing beside her.

"Aren't you arguing with Anon-chan anymore?" Nagasaki Sose asked with a gentle smile.

"That girl just won't listen to reason. Actually, I have something I want to ask you," Shiina Riki said with a strange expression. "You seem to be on good terms with Riki. You're not... boyfriend and girlfriend, are you?"

Nagasaki Sose froze for a moment and managed to say, "Of... of course not."

Shiina Riki seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, which made Nagasaki Sose's expression even more complicated. Her eyelids drooped slightly.

"Then do you know if he has any favorite things? I want to thank him for his help before."

Nagasaki Sose smiled, unconsciously rubbing her fingertips, and said, "Sorry, Riki-chan, I don't know."

I'm going to eat a whole cow!

After practice ended, Riki bid farewell to Senior Rinrin... no, to Narita Michi, and planned to go stuff his face with food.

He almost called her senpai by mistake.

As soon as Riki walked out the door, he saw Nagasaki Sose looking at him. She said, "I'm going to the shopping street."

"Have a safe trip," Riki nodded and was about to leave.

Nagasaki Sose's eye twitched. She took a deep breath and said, "I mean, I want you to come with me."

This man is truly unreasonable. Can't he even understand implied meanings?

"But I was going to go eat now," Riki hesitated.

"I'll treat you to dinner, okay?" Nagasaki Sose said irritably. "Let's go!"

See, she's impatient again.

Once they reached the sidewalk, Nagasaki Sose finally calmed down. "My bass strap broke, and I need to buy a new one. Come with me to buy it."

Both bass and guitar are instruments that require a strap to be hung on the shoulder to play. The strap, which directly contacts the body, is particularly crucial. It's not just about practicality but also comfort and durability. Otherwise, just hanging a leather belt on your shoulder would cause your shoulder to bleed within two days.

Simply put, a strap is like underwear for a bass.

You could go commando, but it's better to have one.

But Miss Sose is clearly not the commando type.

Riki looked at Nagasaki Sose beside him.

"What?" Nagasaki Sose frowned.

"Nothing."

He's got issues... Nagasaki Sose frowned and stopped in front of a music store in the shopping street. "This is a shop run by a senior. Everything inside is good quality and reasonably priced. I used to buy things here too. Come in with me."

********

Bah, my teeth!

Chapter 50: Sose: You pervert!

EDOGAWA GAKKI.

A renowned instrument shop in Edobashi, Bunkyo Ward. Girls from Haneoka, Hanasakigawa, and Tsukinomori who love music are frequent customers here.

"Yaho~ Sose-chan, is there anything you'd like to buy today? I can secretly give you a discount, don't tell the manager!" said the shop staff, Hanazono Tae, a bright and cheerful girl with black hair.

"Long time no see, Tae-senpai. I'm here to buy a new guitar strap today," Nagasaki Sose said with a gentle smile. "The person next to me is someone I don't know very well, but is a slightly familiar passerby A."

"Hello, I'm Passerby A," Riki introduced himself.

"Hello, A-san, your name is really peculiar," Hanazono Tae exclaimed as she looked at Riki. She sized up Riki and Nagasaki Sose, then winked. "Are you two a couple?"

"Absolutely not!" Nagasaki Sose.

"No," Riki.

"Tae-senpai, we can pick them out ourselves," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile, pulling Riki towards the strap section of the store.

While looking at the straps, Nagasaki Sose casually said, "You and Akari-chan and the others are really close, when did you become so good friends?"

"Really close?" Riki recalled for a moment.

"It looks like you're really close!" Nagasaki Sose said coldly.

"But I think we're even closer. Look, I've been to your house, and you've been to mine. We've even cooked for each other. Although your cooking isn't as good as Sakiko's, no matter how you think about it, we're closer," Riki said, confused.

Nagasaki Sose paused for a moment, pursed her thin lips, and turned her head. "Saying it's not as good as Sakiko-chan's is really unnecessary... But I didn't expect you to consider me a good friend. It seems you don't have many friends. Unlike you, I have plenty of friends of this level at Tsukinomori."

"That's great then."