Rock Girl Descends Beside Me!

Riki thought.

"...How did you know it was Riki?!" Nagasaki Sose's expression changed, and she couldn't help but say angrily at her mother's teasing, "Mom, just get some rest!"

Nagasaki Sose hung up the phone and turned to look at Riki.

"Life is full of dreams, each shining in its own way. I think it's best for the relationship between men and women to maintain an appropriate distance, especially when it's just a man and a woman alone." Riki said, wanting to leave.

"Don't worry, I don't see you as a boy," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile, grabbing his arm.

Yeah, everyone says I'm a giant python.

They always say it in the locker room, I don't know why. I'm just a simple person.

Riki felt helpless. Nagasaki's Mom seemed to be injured, and he couldn't just leave. Nagasaki Sose didn't have many friends who could help, so he had to step in.

Seeing his expression, Nagasaki Sose knew he had agreed. She let out a triumphant hum and said, "Consider it a thank you gift. I'll cook for you later. Is there anything you like to eat?"

"Oyakodon," Riki said.

A famous Japanese dish, mother and daughter... I have to try it.

"Do you like that kind of thing?" Nagasaki Sose asked curiously.

Sorry, that was presumptuous of me.

Although Nagasaki Sose could be a bit flirty, she was quite pure-hearted. Riki's abstract words didn't immediately register with her, and she looked at him in confusion.

Riki felt guilty.

Damn it, I'm such an idiot!

"My mom hurt her hand and is in the hospital, but it's not serious. However, I'll be home alone tonight. I have some things to do around the house recently, so I'll have to do them myself. Of course, you'll have to help too," Nagasaki Sose said. "Mom also said she wanted to give you 10,000 yen as a thank you gift, but I don't think it's necessary."

Nagasaki Sose mumbled softly.

Is this the young lady from Tsukinomori?

Sister Kyō, V me 50.

"Yes, Minister!"

"Then let's go to the supermarket to buy some ingredients and a replacement light bulb."

There was a supermarket nearby, so the two didn't have to walk too far.

"Get a big basket," Riki said, picking up a shopping basket from the entrance of the supermarket.

"I got chicken, eggs, and rice... but no light bulbs. Are they sold out?" Nagasaki Sose said with a troubled expression. "There are only small flashlights left."

It's okay, small is also...

"Is the light in your room broken?" Riki asked.

"The light in my room. It's really scary without a light," Nagasaki Sose said in a small voice.

I offer a sleepover service here, for only five yen.

Nagasaki Sose continued walking forward and suddenly said, "Found it... Hmm, a couple?"

******

Any votes?

Chapter 52: Sose: You're actually quite a decent person.

In front of the basketball hoop game were many young boys and girls. It was a cunning trick by the supermarket to attract customers. If you made enough shots, you could enter a lottery. On a wall nearby were many prizes. The grand prize was a giant bear plush toy, one meter fifty tall, with a plump, round face. And in the position for the fifth prize, there was the light bulb Nagasaki Sose wanted, no, it was an LED light.

"There seem to be a lot of people," Nagasaki Sose whispered.

"Miss Sose, please allow me to remind you that I am a good student who is not poisoned by capitalism. Only fools engage in this kind of deceptive coin-consuming activity," Riki said with a loyal demeanor, holding the large basket.

These kinds of events are just to trick those foolish couples with too much money. They don't really think I'd participate, do they? It's not a romance novel.

Show me your proud... Nagasaki Sose glanced at Riki dismissively.

"Don't worry, I wasn't planning on participating either," Nagasaki Sose said coldly.

She and Riki weren't a couple, so participating in such an activity would be meaningless.

Nagasaki Sose frowned and continued searching for the light bulb in the supermarket. After politely asking a store clerk, she found out there were no more in stock and thanked them regretfully.

It would be a bit scary to be in her room without a light at night, but she would be laughed at by Riki if she said it... Nagasaki Sose's expression was conflicted.

Riki and Nagasaki Sose were about to head to the checkout counter when his gaze shifted. He saw a girl in front of the basketball hoop game cheering for a boy. That girl was the one who had asked Riki for his contact information at the music store earlier. She turned and saw Nagasaki Sose as well. Her competitive instincts made her give a disdainful smile and she hugged the boy next to her.

What an annoying girl.

Even more annoying than Riki.

Nagasaki Sose frowned. She had never encountered someone like this at Tsukinomori. Although she felt unhappy, she had no intention of paying any further attention.

"Let's go..."

Nagasaki Sose stopped mid-sentence when she saw Riki throw his jacket at her. She fumbled and caught it.

"You need a light, right? I'll win it for you," Riki said, turning to look at her. "If my friend is looked down upon, I get really annoyed. I'm going to beat up her boyfriend!"

Who asked you to do that... Nagasaki Sose couldn't help but think, but seeing Riki stand up for her, she mumbled and subconsciously said, "Okay."

After she finished speaking, she realized what she had said and quickly covered her mouth. What did I just say?

Riki smiled, walked to the nearby counter, bought some coins, and headed for the basketball arcade machine. Nagasaki Sose watched his retreating back, puffing out her cheeks.

Who asked you to stick up for me!

I don't need you to at all!

In the past, when faced with such situations, Nagasaki Sose would only hide her inner unhappiness with a smile. But today, Riki had said he would stick up for her and beat the other person. For some reason, Nagasaki Sose felt…

Happy.

Her mother often left early and returned late from work. Her mother was already working so hard, and to avoid causing her more trouble, she could only talk less about the problems she encountered. Therefore, she had always just avoided people who caused trouble, even if she felt wronged, she would smile at her mother. But this time… Riki was there to back her up.

When Riki was around, she felt very safe.

And he said…

Friend.

Nagasaki Sose looked at Riki's retreating figure and quickly did a Japanese run to catch up. The hem of her school uniform skirt fluttered slightly, revealing her fair knees. As her soft brown hair danced in the wind, a light and cheerful smile appeared on her cheeks.

"Wait for me, you idiot!"

Her voice, like silver bells, was also filled with laughter.

Riki stopped in front of the basketball arcade machine next to the annoying Sakura Girl and her male companion whom he had encountered that afternoon, and inserted some coins.

Basketball arcade machine, activate!

The annoying Sakura Girl casually sized up Riki and said to her male companion, "Ryoma-kun is a member of the basketball team. Winning first prize shouldn't be a problem for him, right!"

School team?

Slam Dunk or Kuroko's Basketball?

If it's the latter, I'm leaving right now, no matter the cost.

Riki looked around and didn't see him using any weird techniques like "Heat Haze Shot" or "Misdirection," which put his mind at ease slightly.

Nagasaki Sose also heard the girl's words and whispered to Riki, "Hey, he's on the school team. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

It would be embarrassing if I lost.

"Who do you think I am, lending him the championship?!" Riki said indignantly. "I was on the school team back in high school."

"Really?!"

"The school team for the Origami Club. I can fold five in a second." Riki said.

Seeing that Nagasaki Sose's expression was starting to darken, he quickly added, "But I was the fantasy sixth… uh, tenth man on our basketball team, so it'll be fine."

That's not even a substitute's substitute, is it?

Nagasaki Sose almost coughed with anger and glared at Riki.

Just then, the basketball rolled down from the arcade machine.

Riki caught it and shot.

"Swish!"

A crisp, clean swish.

The annoying Sakura Girl next to them looked over in surprise.

Riki caught the basketball again and shot it with a standard form.

"Swish!"

Another clear swish.

This time, even the annoying Sakura Girl's male companion looked over in surprise.

Damn it, so many satisfying moments today.

This feels amazing.

Riki's expression remained unchanged. Nagasaki Sose looked at Riki in surprise. "Weren't you a substitute?"

"Two of our basketball team members went straight to play in the CBA after graduation, and the rest are also incredibly skilled. Although I was a substitute, I've been influenced by them and gained some divine power. It's not a problem for me to break through to the Supreme Realm in a short time. However, after a while, I'll need to self-sabotage and fall back from the Supreme Realm to prepare for the upcoming Dark Turmoil…" Riki explained.

Nagasaki Sose didn't understand what he was saying and patted his arm. "Stop talking, hurry up!"

What's the rush? I'm still wearing clothes.

Sakura Girls just don't understand our profound Chinese culture.

Riki grabbed the rolling basketball and shot it again with a standard form. "Swish," another swish.

"Tsk, my feel isn't good. It was off by five degrees," Riki muttered.

The better my condition, the more I have to say my condition is bad. On the street courts, this effectively earns you the envious stares of 'What the hell are you bragging about?' from teammates and opponents.

As expected, the annoying Sakura Girl's male companion was stunned after hearing that. He fumbled and missed two shots in a row, which bounced off the rim like washing dishes, enraging the annoying Sakura Girl next to him, who stomped her feet repeatedly.

The rule for the lottery was that you could draw a prize after every five successful shots. Most people were just trying their luck, and couldn't even make five shots. The most they could make was a few dozen before their arms got tired and they didn't want to play anymore, having spent a lot of money on coins at the supermarket.

But as soon as the supermarket staff member walked over, they saw two people continuously shooting baskets with astonishing accuracy, immediately panicking and calling over other employees.

"Senpai, a professional has arrived!"

Riki noticed that the Sakura Girl's male companion below was indeed from the school team, with high speed and accuracy. Riki, having arrived a bit later, was several shots behind.

Both of them were sweating profusely from shooting.

The Sakura Girl below kept shouting "Hurry, hurry!" from the side.

Nagasaki Sose was also nervous. Noticing Riki sweating, she took out a tissue from her bag to wipe his sweat, otherwise, it would have gotten into his eyes.

The Sakura Girl's male companion below found the situation unbearable, especially with a pressure monster like her next to him. He accidentally let sweat drip into his eyes, stinging them so much he couldn't open them and had to stop.

Riki didn't have this worry, so he made several shots in a row and sank them steadily.

"Clank!"

The basketball rolled around the rim for a few seconds before "swish"ing into the net.

"Did we win?" Nagasaki Sose asked.

"A small victory," Riki replied.

"Hmph, you did pretty well," Nagasaki Sose said, crossing her arms and huffing.

"Thank you for your support, Sose, my cheerleader. You get one-third of the credit for this win."

As for the Sakura Girl below, two words: whatever.

I am a Sakiko fan, a rational fan.

"I'm not your cheerleader," Nagasaki Sose said irritably. The supermarket employees walked over.