Comet Dragon, breaking into the gravity field

His mood was deteriorating at a noticeable rate. Shiina Riki looked at him with a sour face and said, "Are you going to ask about Toyokawa Shoko?"

"How do you know?" Ritsu Narose was shocked.

"Because someone is already living with her, it's not surprising that he wants to care about her."

In order to prevent unexpected developments when they visit his home later, Ritsu Narose revealed this to several girls after inviting Shoko Toyokawa to live in his home.

Even though he knew that this would lower his favorability in their hearts, he still preferred to speak out openly rather than cover up his actions with lies and silence.

He had already prepared himself mentally, but when the resentment in the words almost strangled his throat, Ritsu Narose was stunned for a long time before he could utter the next sentence.

"Are you jealous?"

"I wouldn't be jealous of something like that!"

"Um, okay then..." Instead of arguing, Naruse Ritsu changed the subject, "What did Riki think of Xiangzi at that time?"

When he heard this question, Shiina Riki's expression was not good.

This stemmed partly from her resistance to judging others in private, and partly from his resistance to reminiscing about the past.

However, based on her understanding of Ritsu Narose, the reason why he came to her to ask this question today was definitely not just for fun, there must be some deeper factors affecting him.

While thinking about why Ritsu Naruse did this, Shiina Riki recalled the past and slowly expressed her opinion of Toyokawa Shoko.

From the very beginning when the band was formed, she didn't like Toyokawa Shoko.

She's incredibly talented, and almost anything comes naturally to her. The challenges Shiina Ritsuki faces are easily overcome by Toyokawa Shoko, who even manages to do them far better. Furthermore, she never displays any pride, but instead treats them with kindness and friendliness, striving to bring these strangers together...

To be honest, it is hard for an outstanding person like Toyokawa Shoko not to arouse inferiority complex in others.

It was for this reason that Shiina Tatsuki was furious when she learned that Toyokawa Shoko had chosen to be the first to abandon the band she had founded - and even had the despicable intention of blaming Takamatsu Deng for the problem.

Someone like her actually betrayed the team that had finally begun to come together!?

Seeing that Shiina Riki was angered by the memories, Naruse Ritsu could only hand her the other cup of cold tea in front of him, signaling her to calm down.

Shiina Riki took the teacup without hesitation, and only after he finished drinking it did he realize that he and Naruse Ritsu had completed another "indirect kiss".

I've done stranger things before, but this...

Glancing at Ritsu Narose who looked calm, Shiina Riki glanced at the teacup in Naruse's hand and suddenly realized that it was a bit humorous that he still cared about such details.

Putting down the teacup, she looked up at Naruse Ritsu: "Now that you know my opinion, are you planning to act as a lobbyist to ease the relationship between me and that guy?"

"That's just one of the reasons," Naruse Ritsu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, supporting his face with one hand, "because I'm curious about what kind of role Xiangzi plays from another person's perspective."

"What are the other reasons?" As he spoke, Shiina Riki saw that Naruse Ritsu actually showed a very rare expression, as if he was facing a bitter choice.

"Other reasons..." Naruse Ritsu sighed and said softly, "I'm still struggling with whether I should tell you now."

"Then don't say it."

"Eh?"

"Since you are troubled by this, I won't be curious enough to keep holding on to this point." Shiina Riki said seriously, but found that Naruse Ritsu's eyes gradually changed.

"Just now, these words have greatly increased my favorability."

"How disgusting." Shiina Riki looked at Narose Ritsu with disgust on his face. His ears were slightly red and he was about to turn around when he heard a faint whisper coming from the other side.

Mixed in those whispers were compliments that made her blush—from her physical appearance to her personality, from her technical skills to her behavior, every aspect that could be praised about her was praised.

"Enough! I say enough!" The straightforward and explicit praise made the girl's cheeks and earlobes all flushed red, and there was even a hint of steam coming out of her head.

She was so embarrassed that she glared at Naruse Ritsu angrily: "Is it fun to tease me?!"

"I'm just curious...if Li Xi can't stand hearing serious compliments about himself."

"Huh? I wouldn't—"

"Although tsundere Riki is cute, you can be more honest when it's just the two of us."

Before his usual self-protection measures were fully implemented, he was stopped by Naruse Ritsu. Seeing his sincere eyes, Shiina Ritsuki responded sullenly: (1) Lin I Qi Si Wu Jiu is the problem (8) "You obviously know why..."

"The conclusions I draw from my own observations may not be entirely correct. They might even be contrary to the person's beliefs," Naruse Ritsu explained sincerely. "Besides, I want to understand Riki's past. It's only natural to want to know about someone you like, right?"

With nowhere to retreat and no way to deal with Naruse Ritsu, Shiina Riki said helplessly, "All I can tell you are very boring stories."

"I don't think Lixi's story will be boring."

"Ha... I'm convinced by you."

Putting down the glass he was wiping, Shiina Riki told his past experiences after a brief silence.

At the beginning, what made Shiina Riki feel frustrated and inferior was only his academic performance.

Towards the elder sister Shiina Maki, her parents' attitude is always "Don't worry, it will be another big victory when you wake up anyway"; to the younger sister Shiina Tatsuki, their attitude is encouragement mixed with gentleness and strictness.

At first, Shiina Tatsuki accepted all this happily.

At that time, she felt that she was the center of the world - her parents always paid attention to her and encouraged her; her excellent sister not only did not make things difficult for her like the vicious elder sister in fairy tales, but also often gave her academic guidance.

However, all of this was completely shattered when she and her sister were tidying up their rooms and accidentally saw her sister's report card when she was the same age. The pride and joy in her heart disappeared from her world like a bag of white sugar dropped into water.

Therefore, after learning that his sister had shown talent in music, Shiina Riki actually breathed a sigh of relief and felt secretly happy that he did not have to compete with her academically.

Paradoxically, such an easy and happy life did not last.

When she heard from her classmates that "Shiina Maki won the award", she knew that there was one more thing she had to do.

"But... why?" Raising a hand to interrupt Shiina Riki's recollection, Naruse Ritsu couldn't help but ask, "Up to now, no one asked Riki to make the same choice as her sister, right?"

"Yeah, no one has ever asked for that." A bitter smile appeared on Shiina Riki's face, "Because in their eyes, it's natural for an older sister to be better than a younger sister."

The palms that were originally placed on the table clenched quietly, and unwilling words came out of her mouth: "But I... still can't accept it easily."

Shiina Riki has a very outstanding older sister, and her shining talent inadvertently turns her younger sister into a curled up shadow.

"So that's why Lixi chose to be a drummer? Instead of pursuing the wind instrumental music that her sister had already achieved success in?"

"That's right," Shiina Riki lowered his eyes and answered in a rather calm tone, "This is my story, a boring and self-pitying story..."

At this moment, Ritsu Narose suddenly stood up and waved to her.

Confused inside, Shiina Riki placed his hands on the counter and leaned forward slightly.

Then, she saw Naruse Ritsu's face suddenly approach. He gently lifted the black hair that hung in front of the girl's forehead and pressed his lips against hers, revealing the soft nature of this mouth that had always spoken harshly.

Although there was a counter between the two of them, the short distance did not hinder the communication between their upper bodies.

Gradually, Shiina Riki's body, which had been as hard as her mouth, softened. She gently patted Naruse Ritsu with her hands, as if in joy or resistance to his sudden attack.

At that moment, Naruse Ritsu looked as imposing as a mountain in Shiina Riki's eyes. The close proximity made her weak. She closed her eyes to avoid his gaze, unaware that her appearance was nothing more than a tease to another person.

After a while, she suddenly woke up from the intoxicating illusion.

"What are you doing... We are still in the store!" His heart was pounding in his chest, and Shiina Riki looked towards the main entrance of the cafe in fear, as if he was worried about being seen by a sudden customer or other acquaintances.

"Because Riki looked so adorable when he was so upset just now, I couldn't help myself..." Scratching his cheek, Naruse Ritsu asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

"I'm almost scared to death by you!"

The person who started to be stubborn again was obviously unwilling to admit it. Seeing that her face was still red and she had regained her previous vitality, Ritsu Narose just smiled and did not choose to expose her insincerity.

In this comforting silence, Naruse Ritsu was the first to speak: "Actually, I have one more question that I haven't asked before."

"……what is the problem?"

"If I tell you that Toyokawa Shoko left CRYCHIC because she had a hardship that she couldn't tell you, would you forgive her?"

After a moment of silence, Shiina Riki said, "After CRYCHIC disbanded, I also thought about this question."

"so?"

"But I still can't forgive her so easily."

"Is that so?" Naruse Ritsu nodded slightly. "That's right... In your opinion, Toyokawa Shoko's reasons can't offset her actions."

"But if we knew why Toyokawa Shoko did that, I and the others would probably feel more at ease."

After saying that, Shiina Riki looked at him with suspicion: "You just attacked me, weren't you just paving the way for this?"

"How is that possible! I don't think the mood for kissing would be affected by other factors!"

"That's enough! Why are you saying such shameless words in such a serious tone?"

27. The wind carries a bitter and salty smell, is it the smell of regret? (Two-in-one)

After checking the time, Ritsu Naruse asked Tatsuki Shiina one last question.

"If Toyokawa Shoko formed a band again, what would Riki's attitude be?"

Having said that, Shiina Riki finally understood what Naruse Ritsu had been worried about before.

"Of course I don't mind. After all, I've joined a new band, so I have no right to criticize her behavior." However, when she thought of the others, she couldn't help but sigh, "But Deng and Su Shi may not accept it so easily, right?"

Just thinking about their reactions after hearing the news gave Shiina Riki a headache.

Especially Nagasaki Motoyo. She had previously been scheming against everyone in order to reorganize [CRYCHIC], but now Toyokawa Shoko has turned around and formed a new band... Will she really not go crazy again after knowing this news?

"Riki looks like a mother worried about her daughters right now," Naruse Ritsu smiled at Shiina Ritsu's reaction. "How about giving them a little more trust?"

"Huh? What are you talking about..."

The blush that had been gradually fading reappeared on her cheeks. Shiina Riki finally couldn't stand the teasing of someone anymore and turned his head away angrily without talking to him anymore.

On the other side, the two people who were arguing did not notice that a new customer appeared at the door of the cafe.

Through the glass door, Hachiman Kailing looked at the two of them with interest - she had been standing here watching when they were kissing.

Seeing the sticky appearance of the two people, the annoyance that was originally in my heart about being targeted by Sanjiao Chuhua disappeared.

If she only had Ritsu Naruse in her heart, she would have approached him openly and communicated with him in a normal way. But when he was accompanied by another woman - a woman with whom she had an intimate relationship, she felt a strange desire rising in her heart.

In her eyes, Ritsu Narose was now like a piece of bread doused in honey, shining with a sweet and tempting color, which made her want to steal a bite of this delicacy.

Compared to the classic wheat-smelling bread, this food is obviously fresher... and more delicious.

As I walked into the coffee shop, the sound of my heels hitting the wooden floor was particularly noticeable.

Seeing the two people showing surprise at her appearance, Hachiman Kailing put her hand on Naruse Ritsu's shoulder and gave Shiina Ritsuki a smile that was quite rare for her: "Can you lend it to me for a while?"

"Huh?" Shiina Riki was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted and acted calm and indifferent. "What are you talking about? He's not mine."

After saying that, she immersed herself in what she was doing, as if the affectionate scene with someone just now was completely Hachiman Kailing's imagination.

There was no need to rush to expose this point, and Hachiman Kailing winked at Naruse Ritsu.

Naruse Ritsu chose to ignore this prank. After saying hello to Shiina Riki, he left the cafe with Yawata Kairin.

Her inner shyness made her unwilling to appear particularly close to Ritsu Naruse in front of others. She watched the two figures disappear from the door without saying a word. Shiina Riki felt something was wrong.

Is the relationship between Hachiman Kairin and Naruse Ritsu a little too good?

She had no hope for Naruse Ritsu's moral bottom line, but she couldn't imagine that Hachiman Kailing would actually...

Suddenly, Shiina Riki remembered the topic he had heard during the lunch break.

Could it be that the person Hachiman Kailing was talking about is...

No, it shouldn't be like that, right?

But really not?

His mind was in a mess and Shiina Riki was not sure of his guess.

Assuming this is true, then why would Hachiman Kairin calmly watch Naruse Ritsu clinging to another girl?

The two guys patted their butts and left, leaving her with this question that she couldn't even figure out...

"Good afternoon, Li...Xi...chan..."

As soon as she walked into the store, Toyama Kasumi, who was also a part-time worker, was about to reach out to say hello, but she saw Shiina Tachibana at the counter with a dark face and a terrifying aura.

Outside the cafe, Naruse Rikyu looked at Hachiman Kailing and said, "I thought you were going to keep hiding it from Riki."

"If possible, I'd like to maintain that state for a while," Hachiman Kailing observed her surroundings, as if she had become a veteran of the Lighthouse Country who had strayed into the Vietnam battlefield. "But there are priorities."

"You don't want to say that you are haunted by a vengeful spirit or something like that?" Looking around, Ritsu Narose found nothing unusual.

"Compared to the vengeful spirit, I feel they're about the same..." Hachiman Kailing looked at Naruse Ritsu with a sigh, looking at her with a displeased expression, "Are you planning on going anywhere?"

"I?"

"You don't mind if I walk with you for a while, do you?"