Ding! Ding!
Thank you, @Danny Fowkes, for joining the membership!
I'm truly grateful for your support, it means a lot to me.
Bonus chapter (1/2)
.....
Chapter 19: Akane Shinjo, You're Seriously Kind of an Idiot.
....
"What exactly looks good?"
Kihara quickly looked away, trying to act natural.
But the meaningful gaze from Rikka Takarada made cold sweat trickle down his back, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
"…Nothing. Just asking."
She didn't seem interested in pressing further.
Leaning back slightly with her hands supporting her on the bed, she lowered her gaze, watching her toes playfully ripple the surface of the warm water.
After a moment, she spoke again.
"Kihara, dry my feet for me."
"Sure."
Seeing the relief on his face, Rikka pouted slightly.
"…Idiot."
A girl wouldn't just let a guy touch her feet unless she liked him, you know…
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
She casually changed the subject.
"So, where are we going next? We're not going back to school, right?"
"I'm not familiar with this area. You decide."
"Then… you're coming shopping with me."
"…Shopping?" Kihara's face fell. "Rikka… can we pick something else?"
"Oh? You don't want to go shopping with me?"
She pulled her feet out of the towel and lightly kicked his knee in protest.
"That's not what I meant."
"Then you're coming. No objections."
"…Alright."
A few days later.
Namiko and Ren noticed something.
Ever since Rikka skipped school that day…
She and Kihara had gotten much closer.
Even though she still denied being in a relationship, the difference was obvious.
Namiko crossed her legs, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Rikka chatting happily with Kihara.
"…We said we'd help create opportunities for her, right?" she whispered.
"But somehow, without us doing anything… their relationship just started progressing on its own?"
Ren scrolled through her phone lazily.
"Isn't that a good thing? Less work for us."
"True… but it's kinda lonely…"
"Stop it. That grin on your face hasn't disappeared for a second."
"Hehehe~"
Meanwhile—
Rikka brushed her hair behind her ear and relayed a message.
"Mom says she wants hot pot for dinner.
Let's go buy ingredients after school."
"No problem. Though… I feel like your family shop doesn't get many customers. Is it really okay?"
"That's none of your concern."
She stuffed a long shopping list into his hands.
Kihara raised an eyebrow.
"…That's a lot."
Rikka rolled her eyes and poked his chest twice with her slender finger.
"And whose fault is that? Who eats enough for three people every meal?"
"…Me."
"I cook for you every day, you know? I'm exhausted. And Mom doesn't even help. Now that we're finally having hot pot, you have complaints?"
"No! None at all!"
Kihara shook his head like a rattle drum, quickly putting the list away.
"I fully support Rikka's dinner decision!"
"Hmph. Good."
As Rikka returned to her seat, Akane Shinjo finally spoke up with a teasing smile.
"I told you before, didn't I? Your relationship would progress quickly."
"I don't know about that… but yeah, I do feel like I've gotten closer to Rikka."
"…?"
A huge question mark practically appeared above Akane's head.
Closer?
Their interaction already looked like a couple living together!
Why did he still think they were just good friends?
She blinked, confused.
"…Don't you think Rikka likes you?"
"Tut, tut, tut…"
Kihara shook his finger confidently, radiating the aura of a seasoned galgame expert.
"When interacting with girls, the biggest taboo is overthinking. Just because someone is nice to you doesn't mean they like you."
"If you assume that, there are only two outcomes."
"And those are?"
"You either become a backup… or a simp."
"…Backup? Simp?"
Akane's confusion multiplied.
Only then did she realize.
The "perfect protagonist" she had in mind… was indeed handsome, kind, and reliable.
…but when it came to emotional intelligence?
…He was kind of an idiot.
"Ahem… anyway," Kihara continued seriously,
"When building relationships, less imagination and more sincerity is the way to go."
"…Right. That's… a perspective."
"Thank you."
The bell rang, ending the conversation.
Akane twirled her pen, deep in thought.
How do I fix his emotional intelligence…?
In her script, Kihara was supposed to be a perfect protagonist.
Even if she couldn't raise his EQ to 100.
at least she had to drag it out of the negatives!
About a week later.
Just as Kihara and Rikka were wondering why no monsters had appeared.
One suddenly showed up.
Inside Rikka's family shop.
And it… robbed them.
"…This one's a thief?" Rikka scratched her head in confusion.
The mummy-like monster had stolen a pile of scrap parts—and an old desktop computer.
"…Whatever. At least it's not attacking people."
"Rikka, stay here. I'll get everything back!"
"Okay. Be careful!"
Transforming into Kamen Rider Faiz, Kihara followed the trail.
But before he reached the end.
The thief returned.
Riding a sleek, futuristic motorcycle.
Wielding a buzzing chainsaw.
"…Wait. Did it build that from scrap in just a few minutes?!"
Kihara stared in disbelief.
What is this, some kind of absurd crafting ability?
Not taking any chances.
he activated his red form immediately.
"Crimson Drill!"
"Crimson Drill!"
Two clean Rider Kicks.
And the mummy monster was gone in an instant.
However—
The motorcycle…
and the chainsaw…
remained.
"…Interesting."
Kihara approached the bike.
Its body gleamed with a cold silver-black sheen.
Sharp, streamlined, almost like a mechanical beast crouching silently, a perfect blend of technology and power.
As he gripped the handle.
photon energy flowed into the machine.
A glowing "?" symbol appeared.
"…I don't have the usual Rider motorcycle…"
"…Does this count as getting my own personal ride?"
After confirming it wouldn't explode.
Kihara stuffed the gothic-style chainsaw into his dimensional storage, and rode off.
.....
Thank you for reading.