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Chapter 42: Finally Meeting Rika Minami
The night sky was clear, the moon hung high, and a cool breeze swept through the streets.
Since April hadn't quite ended, the night air carried a slight chill, but it wasn't biting.
The faint scent of late-blooming cherry blossoms drifted on the wind, a lingering reminder of the spring that had just passed.
"Nice taste, kid. Wanna race? If you manage to beat me, I might even give you a little reward~"
Under the moonlight, the mysterious female rider, her face hidden behind a dark visor, threw down a provocative challenge.
Even though Suyan couldn't see her face, the way her sleek black leather racing suit hugged her stunning, athletic curves, combined with the raw, oozing confidence in her voice...
It was obvious that this woman was, at the very least, incredibly attractive.
Suyan was genuinely surprised.
When he first heard the motorcycle approaching, he assumed it was some opportunistic gang member trying their luck in the apocalypse.
He had almost thought he triggered some sort of random encounter side-quest.
He definitely hadn't expected a female street racer.
It was a harsh truth of human psychology, but people naturally lower their guard around women compared to men.
And the more attractive the woman, the lower the guard drops.
Why did Zhang Wuji's mother tell him that the prettier the woman, the better she was at lying?
Simple: if an ugly person tells the truth, people still might not believe them. Let alone if they lie.
But for some inexplicable reason, looking at the mysterious rider pacing him, Suyan felt a strange, nagging sense of familiarity.
Seeing Suyan remain silent, the woman playfully scoffed, assuming he was hesitant. "What's the matter, kid? Afraid I might be ugly under here?"
She reached up and flipped the visor of her helmet open.
The first thing Suyan noticed was a few strands of sleek, violet hair spilling out from the helmet.
But that was immediately overshadowed by her eyes. They were a striking, vibrant orange-red, incredibly fierce and piercing.
Her gaze was aggressive and untamed, radiating the absolute confidence of someone who feared nothing.
Then, he took in the rest of her face.
Ugly? She was gorgeous. She possessed a mature, breathtaking beauty that far surpassed most women her age.
Coupled with the overwhelming aura of confidence she projected, she practically ignited a primal urge in men to try and conquer her.
If one had to point out a 'flaw,' it would perhaps be her deep, sun-kissed tan skin.
But to Suyan, that wasn't a flaw at all. Her tan skin only amplified her exotic, athletic appeal.
She was exactly his type.
However...
Staring at the face revealed beneath the helmet, Suyan hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Rika Minami?"
Yes, the moment he saw her face, the first person that popped into his head was Shizuka's mysterious, perpetually absent best friend, Rika Minami.
"You know me?"
Rika was genuinely taken aback.
Her first thought was that perhaps they had raced before.
But she quickly scanned his face and the incredibly sick bike he was riding.
If she had raced someone like him, she definitely would have remembered.
Was he a VIP I protected on a past mission?
In a fraction of a second, countless possibilities flashed through Rika's mind, but she dismissed them all.
Curious, she looked at Suyan, waiting for his explanation.
Suyan rubbed his cheek with his index finger, his tone slightly sheepish. "Well... is it possible that the reason you think my bike looks exactly like yours... is because it is your bike, and I literally just drove it out of your garage?"
"Huh?!"
Rika's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
No wonder she had instantly loved the look of his bike. No wonder it matched her aesthetic perfectly.
It was the reason she had uncharacteristically initiated a race and offered a flirtatious 'reward.'
It was literally her own damn motorcycle?!
The one she had painstakingly customized herself! Of course it matched her taste!
The realization hit her like a truck. She blurted out, "Wait... are you that toy boy Shizuka is always talking about? Suyan?"
"Toy boy?"
Suyan's mouth twitched.
But when he actually stopped to think about it... she wasn't exactly wrong.
Since he transmigrated to this world over a year ago and was taken in by Shizuka...
He ate her food, drank her drinks, lived in her house, and spent her money.
Aside from cooking her meals and sleeping in her bed...
Suyan nodded decisively. "Guilty as charged. I am the toy boy kept by Miss Shizuka."
Seeing him admit it so shamelessly actually surprised Rika.
But then her gaze drifted to the pink-haired girl clinging to his back, her face buried intimately in his spine. Rika's eyes narrowed, and she ground her teeth. "You've got some serious nerve, kid."
"You have a woman as incredible as Shizuka waiting at home, and you're out here messing around with other girls?"
"Listen to me very carefully. Shizuka is my best friend. I don't care if your feelings for her are genuine or if you're just playing her. Even if it's all a lie, you are going to lie to her perfectly for the rest of her life."
"If you ever break her heart, if you try to use her and toss her aside..."
"I will personally have your arms and legs broken, and I will hand-deliver your crippled body back to Shizuka so she can use you as a pet until she gets bored. And trust me, you do not want to test whether or not I can make that happen."
Suyan sweatdropped, wiping an imaginary bead of sweat from his brow.
Shizuka's best friend was intense...
But despite the graphic death threat, Suyan wasn't angry in the slightest.
In fact, his respect for Rika Minami skyrocketed.
Maybe his affection for Shizuka was rubbing off on her best friend?
Originally, when Shizuka had suggested he form a Contract with Rika, he had been highly skeptical.
Unlike naive teenagers, a mature woman like Rika Minami wouldn't offer her loyalty or affection easily.
She had seen too much of the world, experienced too much darkness. Breaking down her walls and truly entering her heart would be incredibly difficult.
And for Suyan, whose Contract ability required absolute, unwavering devotion to function, that was a massive risk.
Unless it was an airheaded beauty like Shizuka.
But hearing Rika so viciously defend her friend instantly sparked his interest.
To casually issue such a brutal threat to protect her best friend... her loyalty was unquestionable.
And since he basically considered himself and Shizuka to be a single entity at this point...
Not forming a Contract with her would just be a waste of potential.
Contract! I absolutely must form a Contract with her!
But right now, his priority was delivering Saya Takagi.
"You're misunderstanding the situation. I'm just giving her a ride home. And even if there was something going on, that's really none of your business, is it?"
Suyan's tone remained perfectly level. "But I can promise you this: there is no one in this world who cares more about Shizuka than I do."
"You talk a big game."
Seeing the unshakeable confidence in Suyan's eyes, Rika felt a twinge of frustration.
But she knew she couldn't overly interfere in Shizuka's romantic life. Threatening Suyan was about as far as she could push it. She let out a cold snort.
She threw out one last line: "It better be true!"
With that, she violently twisted the throttle, her motorcycle shooting forward and leaving him in the dust.
Right now, her only priority was getting home to check on Shizuka and confirm a few things for herself.
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