Going to the Toyokawa House with Saki

He looked at Hachiman Mairin sitting below the stage. Perhaps one day Hachiman Mairin would surpass Riki, who was unconventional, in bass playing, but not now.

Riki smiled and Guitar Pick across the strings.

"!?"

Immediately, those in the know in the shop turned to look. Ring is Cafe with a strong musical atmosphere, and most of the people here have played a certain instrument extensively. So when they heard the bass sound that was almost buzzing into their cochlea, they immediately became alert.

Hachiman Mairin paused for a moment, then looked at Riki.

Mikumura Shioka looked at Riki thoughtfully.

Riki gives his all to every concert. He plays the bass strings with a serious expression, and although it is the same piece as Hachiman Mairin's, he plays it in a completely different style.

A stronger feeling.

A more perfect technique.

It was a breathtaking experience, almost as if the music was playing right next to everyone's ears.

Even after the music ended, they were still staring blankly at Riki.

"That's amazing," Takamatsu Akari couldn't help but exclaim.

Riki is really amazing.

Is it all because of Sakiko that someone like him would become our music director?

Takamatsu Akari fell into thought.

Shiina Riki was much simpler; she looked at Riki in surprise. "You... how come your bass is so good too?!"

You're primarily a composer, yet you can play so many instruments? Are you even human?

Rikki, I just used all the time you spent on fanfiction on studying.

Next time, remember to stay away from lesbians in fanfiction.

You will be sexually assaulted.

"This contest..." Mikumura Shioka looked at Riki in surprise and said.

"No, no need to say more, it was a complete defeat for me." Hachiman Mairin stood up and said, "I am no match for Riki at all."

Riki's expression remained calm.

I am the Lu Shen, destined to suppress all enemies in the world.

Hailing, don't be discouraged. When you get to my age, you'll be able to dominate Tokyo too.

"Then, according to the agreement, I am your girlfriend..." said Hachiman Mairin.

"Wait! This agreement isn't void yet!" Shiina Riki exclaimed.

"Of course, I'm quite serious," Hachiman Mairin said. "Why are you so opposed?"

"I..." Shiina Riki.

Hachiman Mairin looked at Riki: "So, my boyfriend..."

"Please wait a moment. Although you are a handsome and beautiful girl, we have only met a few times and have no emotional connection. Let's change the reward," Riki said, stopping them.

"Could you please help me next time I need to perform?"

"I see, I agree." Hachiman Mairin nodded. "Then I must apologize, I have other band performances to attend to, I'll take my leave now."

Riki nodded.

Hachiman Mairin is Tokyo's own Eileen Tani. Aside from a slightly ambiguous relationship with the band, she is a bassist that everyone likes.

Stepping out of the Ring, Hachiman Mairin felt a sense of reality as the wind blew through her.

She lost badly; she never expected Riki to be so formidable, leaving her utterly convinced of her superior skill.

It's impossible for her not to feel disappointed and regretful; she's feeling quite down right now.

However, the more capable Riki became, the more she wanted to understand Riki better.

Perhaps this is where she is destined to be.

I hope Hailing's resolve will not be broken.

However, with Rikki around, there shouldn't be any problems.

Riki saw Mikumura Shioka walking towards him.

"Riki-kun, would you be interested in joining our company?" Mikumura Shioka looked at Riki expectantly. "With your talent, you'll definitely gain a lot of fans once you debut. Although the world isn't just about skills these days, you're also... hehe, very handsome."

Damn it, why is every pretty girl praising my looks?

Can't you even compliment my inner qualities?

"No, I don't have any plans to form a band with anyone else for the time being. I'm already a member of a band," Riki said.

Speaking of which, the team leader is Liuwa.

He kept asking everyone if they were all there, only to find out at the end that he was the only one who hadn't shown up.

It can only be said that this is the miserable state of the person who lost rock-paper-scissors when the band was formed.

Anyone who has been to university knows that positions like group leader are usually filled unjustly.

"That's true. I was presumptuous. Someone like Riki-kun is bound to be very popular." Mikumura Shioka smiled at Riki. The beautiful girl's face was exquisite and dreamlike, truly a beauty that comes along only once in a millennium.

"Let's have a proper chat another time, I have work to do too."

Mikumura Shioka looked intently at Riki, then walked out the door and was picked up by her manager, Sanae Shiko, in a car.

"Hatsuka, you're practically a celebrity now. Although I shouldn't say anything about this kind of inter-class performance competition, what might happen if reporters see it?" Sanae Shiko said. "I remember it was Hailing, who's really good at bass, and who else..."

"A boy named Riki," Mikumura Shioka with a smile, looking at the scenery outside the window.

"A boy?" Sanae Shiko frowned. "He wouldn't have done this just to get closer to you, would he?"

"No way," Mikumura Shioka quickly waved her hand.

"Don't blame me for thinking this way, but if I were a boy, I'd be thinking about how to get your attention all the time. You're very pretty... So, Hailing wins, right?"

"Hmph, Riki won."

"Huh?"

Mikumura Shioka chuckled, "Didn't I tell you? Riki is the raw gem you mentioned. He really is amazing."

Why didn't you say so sooner?!

Sanae Shiko said in grief and indignation.

I should have grabbed him and put him in the car earlier!

In the bedroom of a luxury apartment.

Nagasaki Sose lay in bed looking at her phone.

Riki: [We won! We won again!]

Nagasaki Sose: [Beating a high school student and being this happy? Is this what college students are like?]

Riki: [Better than a high school student who's afraid of cockroaches.]

"Smack!"

Nagasaki Sose was so angry that she accidentally hit her phone on the face. She lay on the bed for a long time, unable to get up. Angrily, she punched the bear plush toy's head with her delicate fist and then rubbed its face to restore its shape.

Suddenly, she saw a name on her phone that she hadn't seen in a long time and that someone had started a call with her.

Toyokawa Sakiko.

Nagasaki Sose hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

"Sakiko-chan, it's rare for you to call me on your own initiative," Nagasaki Sose said with a gentle smile.

"Yes, Su Shi..." Toyokawa Sakiko's voice came through, "I'm not here to discuss Crychic this time, but something related to Riki."

"Riki, she's Sakiko's good friend, right?" Nagasaki Sose.

"There's no need for testing the waters. I like Riki," Toyokawa Sakiko said. "And Riki likes me too."

Nagasaki Sose paused, her heart twinging with pain. Holding her phone, she forced a smile and said, "If that's the case, then why did Sakiko-chan call?"

"That's because..." Toyokawa Sakiko gritted her teeth and said, "Riki likes you too."

Nagasaki Sose was stunned for a moment. Although she had a vague idea, her heart skipped a beat when she actually heard Toyokawa Sakiko say it.

"I don't know how much he likes you, and I don't want to test Riki, because he's a very good person to me," Toyokawa Sakiko said softly.

"He...is indeed a very good person," Nagasaki Sose said.

"I don't want to say more. I would be very happy if you could take the initiative to keep your distance from Riki."

Nagasaki Sose twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, remaining silent.

After a long silence, she finally said, "Sakiko-chan, Riki isn't your boyfriend yet, is he?"

"... Yes, you're right."

"I'm sorry, Sakiko-chan, but this is the only thing I don't want to give up, so even if you're angry, I'll keep making it," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile.

Toyokawa Sakiko gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and said, "Is that so? I understand. Is this your choice?"

Then there's no need to overthink it; this is a war revolving around Riki.

Because it was such an important treasure, neither of them had considered sharing it.

There can only be one winner in this war.

"There's one more thing. I don't care how you compete, but if you hurt Riki, I won't let you off the hook," said Toyokawa Sakiko.

"Of course, he's someone I like," Nagasaki Sose said with a smile.

"Thud."

After hanging up the phone, Nagasaki Sose lay on the bed and let out a long sigh, clutching her rapidly beating heart, her face flushed. "I really said it to Sakiko, that sentence."

But Sakiko won't give up, will he?

I need to think of a way.

I need Deng, Rikki, and Aine to help me.

Nagasaki Sose's eyes gleamed. The three of them posed no threat and had no designs on Riki; they could be completely controlled by her.

Nagasaki Sose swung her legs, hugging her teddy bear, and talked with a happy smile on her face, already imagining what victory would look like.

"I'm a genius!"

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Going to the Toyokawa Family with Sakiko

Riki felt a jolt in her crotch again as soon as she returned to her rented room.

It wasn't that the second brother had rebelled against the Heavenly Gang again; it was just that a phone call came in.

--Yutenji Wakame.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Riki-kun. I've uploaded the video today. If you need the original video, I can send it to your phone." Yutenji Wakame's cheerful voice came through the phone.

"Is it finally done?" Riki nodded slightly. "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work, after all, it's for myself, and I think the initial response was quite good. If possible, you can appear on camera with me next time... Speaking of the instrument you mentioned before, I bought a drum stand and tried it out once. Maybe I have some talent."

That's good.

Riki revealed a kind and honest smile, just like a cotton farm owner.

Pokémon love to train their skills on their own—is there anything better?

"If the response is good, I have no problem appearing on camera," Riki nodded.