You are Toyokawa Shoko, then who am I?

"Here, donuts."

35

Chapter 35: Tatsuki Shiina is my drummer.

Shiina Riki felt that something seemed wrong with Toyokawa Sho today.

Even though he looked the same as yesterday, with that irresistible smile on his face, something felt a little off...

That is, compared to yesterday's seemingly sincere feeling, his expressions and movements now have a bit of a performance feeling, and the performance is very exquisite.

If you don't know him well, you probably won't notice. He also says less strange things, isn't as proactive socially as before, and seems to have a...

Feeling weak?

It's not like I'm feeling physically unwell, but rather something has happened that has caused me to feel very depressed...

and many more.

Why is there still blood on his inner shirt? Didn't he change when he got home yesterday? I miscalculated... I should have thought he might not have a change of clothes and bought him one today.

No, no, I'm thinking about it wrongly.

Shiina Riki shook his head, focused his thoughts again, and silently stared at Toyokawa Sho who was learning how to make coffee with the store manager Rinrinko not far away.

This guy is a fast learner about coffee.

Unlike me, who hadn't figured out the various types of coffee and what specific production methods each of those long names corresponded to, he had already started practicing latte art, and even succeeded in his first try.

Although I have experienced this before.

But his talent is really a bit unreasonable.

But that's true. This guy is ten years older than me, so he can be considered an adult. He should have more experience than a child...

Shiina Riki came out of the cleaning room, holding the washed cups and looked at Toyokawa Sho who was being applauded and praised by Rinrinko vigorously, but his expression was still polite and there was no big fluctuation.

If it was the normal guy, his nose would have been upturned to the sky by now...

Sure enough, something happened.

If you look closely, the ribbon he was wearing on his hand yesterday seems to be gone. Did something unpleasant happen between him and Xiangzi?

Could it be that Xiangzi was upset because he knew about the conversation he had with Nagasaki Suyo?

Can't guess.

You can just tell he's not in a good mood.

…I had originally planned to give him my phone and lunch box when we met, but seeing how down he was and the donuts already in his hand, I didn't give them to him…

Sure enough, it would be better to wait until later, when he is in a better mood, to give him the phone. This way, I don’t have to worry about topics, and he will be home soon by then. As for the lunch box, I can just take it out and invite him at noon.

stare.

Watching.

Shiina Riki felt that there was a pair of eyes staring at her intently from the side. She turned her head a little uncomfortably and saw a girl with blue hair and golden eyes sitting next to her.

Like Toyokawa Sho, this girl also has blue hair and golden eyes, but compared to Toyokawa Sho's silver-blue hair, hers is more like ordinary blue.

Her hairstyle looks like the neutral mullet that is popular in hair salons, but it seems to be shorter at the back, and the right sideburn is longer than the left, and is specially pinned with two black hairpins.

The same goes for her eyes. If Toyokawa Sho's eyes were works of art carved out of precious amber, her eyes were like topaz, giving a cool feeling at first glance.

Although she had a pretty face and smooth, soft skin, and was indeed a rare beauty simply in terms of appearance, her eyes that seemed to be observing humans made Shiina Riki very uncomfortable.

Shiina Riki put down what she was holding, crossed her arms, and spoke to the girl sitting in front of her across the bar with a tone that was neither happy nor angry.

"Sir, please come to the front desk to place your order."

"I'm not a guest."

The girl shook her head, her voice very light and graceful, like a firefly flickering in the dark night, "I am an employee too."

"what?"

Shiina Riki was stunned. When did the boss hire another person? Aren't she and Toyokawa Sho the only ones who passed the interview this time? "Then what will you be responsible for? Is it also a cafe?"

"The musical instrument section downstairs."

Girls are concise and to the point.

"The musical instrument section downstairs hasn't opened yet. You don't have to come to work today. Why are you coming here for no reason?"

Shiina Riki asked, and then she remembered that her boss seemed to have said yesterday that she had another interview to watch later, and it must be the girl in front of her.

But this person's interview time is right after yesterday's performance... Could it be that this guy planned to come for the interview after watching the performance?

Shiina Riki thought of the female students who surrounded Toyokawa Sho like wolves and tigers yesterday, so he added another sentence with a little caution.

"You're not...working here just for Xiang, are you?"

"Is Xiang the boy's name?"

The girl looked at Toyokawa Sho who was still making coffee, "If that's the case, then I am."

"...Tsk."

Shiina Riki clicked her lips. Just as she had guessed, another ferocious beast was coming towards Toyokawa Sho.

The girl looked at Shiina Riki's reaction, then looked at Toyokawa Sho, who was not far away. He had his sleeves rolled up to his upper arms. Even though the clothes he was wearing were cheap ones bought from a street stall, he still looked like a cover model, and every move he made seemed to be full of charm. She let out an "oh" from her thin lips, and her golden eyes lit up with understanding.

"you like him."

"!?"

Shiina Riki was so shocked by this sudden remark that his face twisted into a frown, his eyebrows and eyes almost squeezed together. He subconsciously took a few steps back, and then responded to the blue-haired girl's sudden and outrageous statement without any preparation with a strong "Huh?"

"dislike?"

The girl was a little surprised. She thought she should see a blushing face, but the fact was the opposite of what she expected. The other party just had a look of confusion on his face, and did not show the expression that should have appeared. So she corrected her conclusion.

"That means you care."

"I do care about him, but what does that have to do with you?"

Shiina Riki said coldly.

The blue-haired girl shook her head and didn't answer Li Xi's question. Instead, she sighed sincerely, "The core of rock music is really smoking, drinking, and playing with women."

"..."

Do I really want to be a colleague with this guy in the future?

I don't understand why...

At this time, Shiina Riki could only be thankful that the other party was in charge of a different area from his own, otherwise he would be in trouble.

At the same time, she noticed from the corner of her eye that Tsuzuki Shifune was coming up the stairs with Kaname Rakuna, so she waited until they entered the room and could hear her talking, then she greeted them politely.

"Good morning, boss."

"Ah."

Tsuzuki Shifune nodded calmly, then looked at Toyokawa Sho, who was still immersed in coffee to clear his mind, and said, "Rinrinko, bring him here."

"Good boss."

Rinrinko responded with a smile, then turned her head and said to Toyokawa Sho, "Toyokawa-san, the boss is here. It looks like he has something to tell us. Also, Lenai-chan is here too."

Toyokawa Sho came back to his senses from the tedious practice and looked up at the old man and the young man in front of him.

The boss seemed to be in a good mood. His usually serious face now had a hint of a smile. It looked like something good had happened, or he had come up with a good plan.

Kaname Rakuna next to him waved at him. She was no longer wearing Hanasakigawa's school uniform today. She was wearing a white strap vest, a white off-shoulder long-sleeved shirt, and a black off-shoulder short-sleeved shirt on the outside.

The hem of this short-sleeved shirt is as tattered as the holes in jeans, revealing the white inner layer underneath, which just covers her shorts. The exquisite combination makes her small white legs exposed so openly. Looking up at her face, which is as distinctive as exquisite porcelain, she really thinks she is cute.

Toyokawa Sho stretched out his hand and waved it towards Kaname Rakuna. Then, facing Kaname Rakuna's interested gaze, he followed Rin Rakuna out and said, "Good morning, boss. Good morning, Kaname-chan."

"You two come here too."

Tsuzuki Shifune called Shiina Tatsuki and the blue-haired girl over, then gestured to the blue-haired girl to stand next to her. The girl nodded and walked to Tsuzuki Shifune's side to face the three people in front of her.

Tsuzuki Shifune patted the girl's shoulder and gave a brief introduction.

"She will be one of your colleagues from now on, but unlike you, she won't work in the cafe. Her specific position is as a waitress in the musical instrument section downstairs."

Tsuzuki Shifune looked at the girl and said, "Please introduce yourself."

The girl nodded, and her calm gaze swept over the three people, first passing by Rinrinko, then Shiina Riki with a complicated expression, and finally stopped at Toyokawa Sho, and introduced herself softly.

"Yamada Ryo, a freshman at Shimokitazawa High School, is the bassist."

A self-introduction that is too brief.

Judging from the text alone, this kind of self-introduction that simply summarizes the name and hobbies and reveals nothing else will be forgotten by anyone in the class meeting where you introduce yourself for the first time in front of new classmates.

But she is very beautiful.

Even if she only said one word, all the classmates would surely remember it in their minds, and then start to fantasize about every little thing in the future with her.

Toyokawa Sho noticed that Yamada Ryo was staring at him. Normally, he would probably smile and look back at him.

After all, in the previous world, apart from Sister Bing, the bassist in front of him was the one who played with him the best. Now that he thinks about it, it seems that all the people who can communicate with him on the radio are bassists, except Nagasaki Motoyo.

But now he really didn't have the mood to play abstract games with Liang anymore, so he looked away and his eyes fell on Kaname, who was staring at the coffee-making area next to him with a longing look.

I'm craving matcha parfait.

Toyokawa Sho, who has many years of experience in raising cats, accurately judged what Kaname Rakuna was thinking at the moment. He was thinking about making some matcha-flavored desserts to satisfy the cat while practicing coffee later, but he heard Tsuzuki Shifune continue.

"Fengchuan, you don't have to make coffee today. Come with me."

Toyokawa Sho was a little surprised. Why did the boss suddenly turn over his sign?

"Didn't I tell you about recording a song? You still have your guitar, right? Take it and come with me to the studio."

Tsuzuki Shifune simply instructed, "Rinrinko, take them both to work."

After saying that, Tsuzuki Shifune turned around and left the cafe with his crutches.

Yao Lena, who was next to her, held her arm and helped her leave slowly. Toyokawa Sho turned around and looked at Li Xi, who had a dazed expression.

Logically speaking, as the performers of "The Old Man and the Sea" together, since Tsuzuki Shiina Shifune said he wanted to record the song, both Sho Toyokawa and Tatsuki Shiina should be invited.

However, the Tsuzuki Poetry Ship only called on Toyokawa Sho.

Then the meaning is very clear. Tsuzuki Shisen recognized Toyokawa Sho's skills, but did not agree with Shiina Tatsuki.

I'm afraid she will not be involved in the song recording this time.

Shiina Riki noticed the look Toyokawa Sho gave her, and her mood became mixed. This man himself was in a very low mood, but now he was still concerned about her affairs...

"I'm fine, go ahead."

Shiina Riki shook his head, signaling Toyokawa Sho not to worry about him. "You are responsible for the lyrics, music, and vocals of The Old Man and the Sea. I am just a drummer to assist with the performance. It is not necessary in the first place."

"Besides, if the recording is successful, you will make a lot of money, right? That's what you need most right now, Xiang. Don't worry about me, just follow the boss."

Facing Riki's eyes that showed he was truly thinking about him, Toyokawa Sho lowered his eyes and wanted to say something, but was urged by Tsuzuki Shifune behind him.

He had no choice but to pick up the guitar on the chair, looked back at Li Xi, and left the cafe with Tsuzuki Shifune and Kaname Rana.

Li Xi looked at the backs of the three people leaving, said nothing, just sighed softly, and then quickly cheered up and spoke to Rinrinzi.

"Manager, please continue to teach me how to make coffee."

Rinrinko next to her blinked in surprise. She had originally prepared to calm down, after all, it was not a good thing for the boss to do this.

Although she believed that her boss must have had some hidden agenda in doing so, young children are very sensitive in their inner thoughts, and it is common for them to have emotional breakdowns when they encounter such a thing as not being selected.

She was also thinking that if Shiina Riki was in a bad mood, she would rush over to comfort her, but Shiina Riki didn't seem to have any emotional fluctuations, as if she was not too shocked by not being selected. She even had the leisure to encourage Toyokawa Sho.

This kid...

The heart is stronger than you think.

On the other side, Yamada Ryoya was quite surprised.

She and Rinrinko had similar ideas. They both felt that as someone who had performed The Old Man and the Sea together but was not chosen to record the song, Shiina Tatsuki would at least be a little angry.

She blinked, surprise flashing in her bright pupils. The reason she came to work here was simple: to join this family (×) and to form a band with Toyokawa Sho (?).

Toyokawa Sho's absolute strength and talent in writing lyrics and arranging music aroused her strong interest, making her feel that he must be a rare innate musical saint that only appears once in a century, so she joined RiNG.