Mutsumi: Sakiko's Beloved

Nagasaki Soyo blinked and turned to look at Riki. She realized he wasn't being sarcastic, but was genuinely speaking his mind. A faint smile touched his eyes as he looked at her, as if congratulating her.

Nagasaki Soyo lowered her head and said nothing.

How wonderful, my ass... It was all fake.

She didn't have that many good friends at all. She had only said that to show off in front of Riki. The friends she made at school never contacted her after class, much less invited her over to their homes to hang out. Instead, it was Riki—the person she always treated with prejudice—who had done everything friends would do with her.

Whether it was walking home together in the rain, cooking together, or even shopping together, all of it made her very happy.

So when she heard Riki say that they were friends, Nagasaki Soyo's heart had even thumped violently against her will, filling her with... incomparable joy.

Why weren't you in Crychic back then?

If you had been, I could have kept you there without a second thought.

I have very few friends.

"Soyo, what kind of strap do you like... How about this one? It isn't just pink—it also has cute little cats on it."

"Don't call me by my name so casually. This strap is too flashy, and it would be embarrassing to wear something like this in front of so many people."

"I think it's great," Riki said.

If I can give a speech about my animal friends at the United Nations, there's no reason you can't wear a cat strap.

Besides, the bass is already very inconspicuous. If you don't hang something eye-catching on it, no one will even call for you to leave the stage after the performance ends.

Nagasaki Soyo looked at Riki and asked, "What kind of strap do you usually use when you perform?"

"A regular black strap," Riki said.

That sounded pretty normal. This guy really did take performing seriously. Nagasaki Soyo nodded.

"It has our principal's name written on it."

"...Why?!" Nagasaki Soyo's eyes widened. Your school isn't an ordinary university either. Can you really just write the principal's name on it like that?

Would a normal student do this?

"Hold the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords."

I remember your university can even exchange with Tokyo University. What on earth have you done there?

The corner of Nagasaki Soyo's eye twitched. She let out a deep sigh. Sure enough, she and Riki really couldn't have a proper conversation. Her earlier feeling of friendship must have been an illusion.

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly saw Riki hang a strap from her left shoulder to her right hip. She couldn't help asking in surprise, "What are you doing?"

Nagasaki Soyo didn't dare move recklessly. Otherwise, her slightly ample chest would press right against Riki's head. She couldn't let him take advantage of her.

"Don't move, don't move. This part is important." Riki adjusted the strap as he spoke. "I noticed during practice that the strap you use isn't particularly good. It's not a quality issue, but a length issue. Your chest... is a little larger than average, so you need a longer strap to keep it from digging in."

You pervert!

Nagasaki Soyo's face flushed red as she glared at Riki.

This guy really was taking advantage of her!

Nagasaki Soyo clenched her fair fist and raised it high, but then realized that the strap Riki had adjusted really did fit well. It no longer pressed tightly against her shoulder like before. Instead, it felt much more comfortable, with the pressure distributed evenly across the entire strap.

What Riki said was actually true. But she had already clenched her fist and raised it high—she couldn't just lower it gently, could she?

Nagasaki Soyo stomped hard on his shoe with her face flushed and her cheeks puffed out.

Riki was furious. I kindly picked out a strap for you, and you repay me by kicking me?!

Seeing Riki's face darken, Nagasaki Soyo immediately withdrew her foot, turned around, and took the strap she was wearing to the checkout counter. She bought the one Riki had recommended.

Putting everything else aside, this public disgrace was surprisingly skilled when it came to music. There was no harm in listening to his opinion... Nagasaki Soyo muttered inwardly.

I'll listen to him this once.

Riki waited for Nagasaki Soyo to finish paying when a girl suddenly walked over from beside him and said with a smile, "Big brother, you're really handsome. Can I add you on Line?"

Riki smiled, pointed at his mouth, and shook his head, wearing a regretful expression.

"You can't speak? That's okay. We can communicate by typing." The girl still refused to give up.

Riki patted his pocket, indicating that he had no phone and not a cent on him.

"You can type on my phone. I don't mind," the girl said with a smile.

"I mind," Riki said.

"...?" The girl.

Wait, you can talk?!

The girl's expression changed. Realizing that Riki had been pretending the whole time, she turned and walked away in displeasure, muttering, "What are you pretending for? Do you really think you're that handsome?"

Riki didn't mind. He wasn't going to get angry at a high school student. That would lower his intelligence as a university student. People said that one high school student was equivalent to eight university students, but that was only a joke. No one would really compare university students and high school students directly. High school students had the passion of their age, while university students had the thirst for knowledge of theirs. They were simply at different ages. Anyone who took it seriously was a lunatic.

The girl was still muttering when she suddenly saw a brown-haired girl with a full chest and an unmistakable rich-young-lady air standing at the entrance, smiling at her. "Excuse me, do you have a problem with my friend?"

For some reason, although the brown-haired girl was smiling, she made people feel tremendous pressure.

"N-No..." The girl took a step back and stammered.

"Did my friend say something rude just now? If so, please allow me to apologize to you." Nagasaki Soyo smiled, but there wasn't the slightest trace of a smile in her eyes.

"Um, sorry!!"

The girl hurriedly ran out of the store, even stumbling in her panic.

Riki was astonished. He walked over to Nagasaki Soyo and said, "I didn't expect you to be so intimidating."

Good grief, is this the power of a Japanese girl's ADC?

"Girls whose minds are filled with nothing but romance are hardly worth mentioning." Nagasaki Soyo spoke indifferently, then looked up at Riki. "You shouldn't let yourself get picked up so easily, either. You even let her insult you."

"What could I do? I couldn't exactly hit her." Riki said, "How about you come with me whenever I go out next time? Then this won't happen again."

"Fine... No, not fine! Why would I go out with you? We aren't even that close!" Nagasaki Soyo retorted irritably, smoothing her brown hair.

"But didn't you just say we were friends?"

"You heard wrong!"

As Nagasaki Soyo spoke, she suddenly saw someone pass by outside the store's glass window. The person happened to look at her.

Wakaba Mutsuki.

Chapter 51: Mutsumi: Sakiko's Beloved

Oh my god, it's Cucumber Hero!

Following Nagasaki Soyo's gaze, Riki also saw a nearly white splash of color. The petite girl had a calm expression. At first glance, her pale greenish-white hair hung quietly around her face, and like Nagasaki Soyo, she wore the Tsukinomori school uniform.

Wakaba Mutsuki, one of the former members of Crychic.

"Mutsuki-chan, I didn't expect to see you here. Where are you going?" Nagasaki Soyo walked out of the store and looked at Wakaba Mutsuki warmly.

"Soyo..." Wakaba Mutsuki stared straight at Nagasaki Soyo. Her cherry lips parted slightly, then closed again as she fell silent.

Nagasaki Soyo narrowed her eyes and said with a light laugh, "You're going to find Sakiko-chan, right? How has Sakiko-chan been lately?"

Wakaba Mutsuki lowered her eyes and remained completely silent and motionless.

"Mutsuki-chan, why aren't you answering? Aren't we good friends..." Nagasaki Soyo said with a smile.

The hand at Wakaba Mutsuki's side clenched slightly. She lowered her head and said nothing.

"Smack!"

"...What are you doing?!" Nagasaki Soyo covered her head, suppressing her anger as the corner of her eye twitched at Riki behind her.

"You were putting pressure on her," Riki said.

How can a band possibly function with a bug like Soyo in it?

Only then did Wakaba Mutsuki look up and notice Riki beside her. She said quietly, "...Riki?"

Nagasaki Soyo's brows immediately furrowed, but she smiled again. "Mutsuki-chan, do you know Riki?"

"Yes. He's the person Sakiko likes," Wakaba Mutsuki said.

Riki's head spun. Wh-What...? Who started this rumor? My fellow soldiers have really done me dirty!

Brother Riki, keep the corners of that damn mouth of yours down!

Nagasaki Soyo wore a smile and said nothing.

Riki was just about to speak when Nagasaki Soyo forcefully stepped on his foot. Her expression remained relaxed as she clasped her hands together and smiled lightly. "Mutsuki-chan, you must have misunderstood. This guy has an awful personality and is extremely unpleasant. Sakiko wouldn't like someone like him. Although Sakiko and he are very close, they aren't boyfriend and girlfriend."

Say whatever you want, but why did you step on my foot?

Have you gotten addicted to it?

And now you're spreading false rumors about me!

Is this how Kyogre bullies an outsider like me?

Wakaba Mutsuki nodded slightly upon hearing this. Nagasaki Soyo continued, "Mutsuki-chan, we're performing at Ring next week. You can come watch with Sakiko-chan."

Wakaba Mutsuki nodded. Just then, a black luxury car stopped beside them. She paused, gave Nagasaki Soyo and Riki a slight bow, then got into the car and left.

Is this what a true Celestial Dragons heiress is like?

Riki sighed. She was completely different from the nouveau riche heiress beside him.

"Sorry for being nouveau riche," Nagasaki Soyo said coldly. "Whatever you want to say is written all over your face."

"Are you angry?" Riki asked.

"...I'm not angry." Nagasaki Soyo smiled gracefully.

"Really not angry?"

"Of course not."

"That's good." Riki nodded. "Then could you stop stepping on my foot?"

Nagasaki Soyo snorted and withdrew her foot. She narrowed her eyes at Riki and said, "Although I think it's impossible, you and Sakiko-chan aren't boyfriend and girlfriend, right?"

"Emotionally speaking, our relationship is already as close as family."

"Then factually speaking, you aren't." Nagasaki Soyo said flatly.

If you insist on putting it that way, then sure.

You're right.

"And you should..." Nagasaki Soyo trailed off. Her face suddenly reddened as she stammered, "You haven't kissed her, right?"

Wait, why are you rubbing salt into my wounds?

What's the point of asking such a meaningless question?

Riki's face darkened.

Noticing his dark expression, Nagasaki Soyo guessed that he definitely hadn't kissed anyone. Her mood immediately improved, and the corners of her lips lifted into a delighted smile.

Wait, why am I happy about this?

Nagasaki Soyo suddenly realized it and frowned at Riki.

Right. It must be because I'm happy to see that this detestable guy isn't liked by anyone.

The furrow between Nagasaki Soyo's brows immediately relaxed, and her mood improved even further.

"Bzzz—"

Nagasaki Soyo's phone began ringing. She glanced at it and answered. "Hello, Mom... Huh? You're injured?!"

Riki immediately turned to look.

Nagasaki Soyo listened tensely to the call, then finally relaxed after a while. "Oh, I see. You were only grazed by a bicycle? Okay, no problem. I'll take care of things at home. I have a helpful guy with me."

She probably isn't talking about me.