At the entrance of PC Empire Mall.
"Although I know I have a good face, it's not like I'd be attacked in public, right? Can you explain this?"
Rikuo looked at Yahata Umiri, who still had that calm expression he remembered.
"I saw that you didn't want to stay there either, so I pulled you out. Let me introduce myself, Yahata-san, I'm Kamiyama Rikuo. I'm, barely, someone Taki knows."
Rikuo wanted to brush her off by saying he was Taki's acquaintance, but then he thought that besides Raana, Taki was the person he had the least connection with in MyGO, so he could only say he sort of knew her.
"Kamiyama-san, is it? Someone Taki knows? But Taki's personality isn't one to casually introduce friends to others. Can you tell me honestly how you know me?"
"I guess I often watch your live performances, and Taki mentioned it inadvertently?"
"Why is that a question?"
"Just assume I've known you for a long time, and I just happen to know Taki."
"Alright, I'll take it as that."
The cool girl's thoughts were very clear; Rikuo really couldn't fool her, so he could only concede and let her take a step back.
"What happened just now? They seemed quite upset."
"Nothing, just some band disputes. Although the situation just now was uncommon, more serious things have happened before."
"I feel like my stereotype of rock music is going to deepen even more."
"It's fine, not all bands are like that."
Umiri's words were quite direct, but she still avoided people's sore spots.
But Rikuo had a new question about this.
"Then, what role does Yahata-san play in all of this? I feel like their conflict has something to do with you."
"Kamiyama-san, these involve the privacy of the band, so it's inconvenient to disclose."
"Is that so?"
Rikuo could actually guess part of it; either it was an invitation for her to join the band, or it was emergency support.
'It couldn't be a romantic dispute, could it?'
Rikuo joked in his heart.
"Then, why doesn't Yahata-san go back?"
"..."
"Sure enough, you also don't want to get further entangled in this."
'Even though he's a stranger, he can see so much?'
After an internal struggle, Yahata Umiri decided to ask him a question.
"Kamiyama-san, can I ask you a question?"
Rikuo saw a few more serious lines on her usually expressionless face.
"Yes, although I wanted to joke and say, 'That's also a question.' But seeing Yahata-san look so serious, I'm too embarrassed to say it."
"Haven't you already said it? But it's fine. My question is, what kind of person do you think is trustworthy?"
Rikuo thought for a while and came up with his own answer.
"If you ask me to define what kind of person is trustworthy, my answer is 'I don't know.' I only know that people who trust me are worthy of my trust."
"People who trust themselves are trustworthy? A cunning answer. But, it feels pretty good."
A satisfied smile appeared on Yahata Umiri's face. The arc of the smile was small, but it showed that she had received a good answer.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave, Kamiyama-san. It was nice meeting you."
"There's one more thing, something personal of mine."
"You're making a request on our first meeting? So I'm worthy of your trust? Don't mind what I just said, go ahead."
"I almost don't even recognize the word 'trust' anymore, and I don't have any special requests. Yahata-san, if you want to form a long-lasting band, would you consider going commercial? Or rather, I might have a project in the future. I can guarantee its considerable commercial value."
"A commercial band? I'll consider it. Once there's a lead, send me the proposal. For contact information, you can find Taki."
"It seems Yahata-san doesn't completely trust me yet."
"If you didn't know Taki, then wouldn't what you just said also be untrustworthy? Anyway, that's all for now. Goodbye."
Rikuo watched her decisive departure.
'She's really cool. Her way of speaking is so direct that I don't dare to joke. Sakiko-sensei is still better, even though she yawns... but that's a cute point!'
"Anyway, back to the apartment. I still have to copy Tomori's homework. I can ask Anon for another copy; always copying Tomori's is easy to spot."
...
Rikuo returned to the vicinity of his apartment. On the way back, he had already gotten the homework from Anon, and although he listened to a lot of serious admonitions during the process, the result was good. Also, he bought cold medicine for Sakiko.
'I don't want to waste time retaking class. Although with the 2 of Hearts's assistance, being first in class would probably be easy, Sakiko-sensei would cry again.'
Before returning to his apartment, Rikuo knocked on Sakiko's apartment door. Unfortunately, she still didn't respond.
"Sigh, I'll just have to block her door tomorrow. Sakiko is the type who won't buy medicine, she'll definitely choose to tough it out herself."
"Yo, it's Rikuo. What's wrong? Sakiko isn't opening the door for you?"
At that moment, a voice came from behind Rikuo. Togawa Kiyotsugu had finally returned.
"You... old man, you're finally back. By the way, have you clarified your situation with Sakiko?"
Togawa Kiyotsugu looked hesitant and fidgety, and with his thin frame, he looked more and more abstract.
"Not yet. Rikuo, let me explain, these past few days were because..."
Rikuo felt his fist clench, it was really clenched, but after hearing his explanation, he said he could reluctantly understand.
"Is it because every time you came back, you saw Sakiko was tired and didn't want to disturb her, and you were afraid she wouldn't listen when she was in a bad state?"
'Indeed, to communicate with Sakiko-sensei when she's yawning, unless you can hypnotize her. But she probably wouldn't yawn if she were hypnotized.'
"Then you can't explain it today either. Sakiko has a cold now, and she was angry just now."
"Did you two argue? I feel like Rikuo isn't the type to bully Sakiko."
"Nothing, I accidentally made her angry, maybe some things weren't made clear?"
"Haha, I won't get involved in you young people's affairs. I'll open the door, and you two can sort it out yourselves."
Togawa Kiyotsugu took out his key. Although the door was deadbolted, the key could still open it. But... "Sakiko actually put on the security chain? But I haven't even entered the room yet!"
"...Old man, you're unreliable too. Never mind, Sakiko probably thought that even if you couldn't get back in, you could stay with me. There's something I need to discuss with you anyway, so you can stay in my apartment today."
"Alright, it seems Sakiko is really angry. You'll have to talk to her nicely tomorrow."
"I would have anyway, without you telling me."
Rikuo opened his apartment door, and he and Togawa Kiyotsugu entered the room.
"He actually prepared two pairs of slippers? It seems he expected visitors? Though the slippers are a bit small."
"Old man, you wear the disposable slippers."
"They're a bit small, but I can still wear them, no need to waste them, right?"
"Those are for Sakiko."
"..."
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