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Chapter 98 - Tokyo’s Phantom Thief [98]

"I'm home."

A bit later than usual, Asakura Rinto returned to their cozy little rundown place.

As he pushed open the creaky door, he was greeted by the gentle bubbling of soup simmering and a delicious aroma wafting to the entrance.

Momoka poked her head out from the kitchen. "Welcome back~! I'm making creamy mushroom soup. It'll be ready soon!"

Holding a ladle in one hand and carefully swiping through a recipe on her phone with the other, she was focusing even harder than she did when reading sheet music.

Although Momoka had been living with Rinto for three months now, she'd gradually become more useless around the house, happily surrendering all chores, cooking, and laundry to him.

But earlier in her life, she had managed to live independently for two or three years, so she wasn't the type to blow up the kitchen by accident.

And now that she was taking a break from her musical career, she'd decided to share the chores again—especially cooking for Rinto…

This had Rinto so charmed by his older girlfriend he could practically bleed from cuteness overload. Really—he could actually bleed.

"Huh? …Ah! Dummy, be careful, it's hot~!"

With a small cry from Momoka, Rinto hugged her from behind, burying her slender figure against him.

He took a deep sniff of Momoka's head, tasting the creamy, butter-like blonde hair, thinking it really did smell like cream.

Momoka blushed, feeling shy, but didn't push him away.

Feeling Rinto's warmth made her heart relax.

"What's up? You're being especially clingy today… Did something bad happen at school? Wanna tell Onee-san about it~?"

Rinto: "No, nothing like that. I'm a model student, after all—the teachers like me too much, actually."

Oh, is that so??? …Miss Momoka, former delinquent troublemaker, puffed her cheeks slightly, feeling just a bit sour about her straight-A, younger boyfriend.

Rinto wasted no time in pressing his attack further.

He wrapped his arms around Momoka's irresistible waist, burying his face in her slightly warm neck and planting gentle kisses.

Momoka always had impeccable taste in fashion and was fond of wearing chokers.

Rinto adored the accessory snug against her slender neck, and often couldn't resist leaving kisses all around it.

"I had fun at school today. Met a cute new kouhai, too."

"But then Yoshizawa-san called me out. Honestly, being alone with that judge-uncle is pretty intense. The pressure's tough."

Momoka: "Hmm, yeah, I can imagine… I'd pressure you too, you know, considering you tricked both his daughters into dating you~?"

Momoka said it without shame, even seeming a little proud of having snatched away someone else's handsome, twin-dating boyfriend.

Rinto's hands became even more mischievous—perhaps he'd sprinkled too much salt in his actions.

Seeing Momoka squirm a bit shyly, Rinto continued:

"That judge-uncle wants to set things up for me. He said he'd rent me a new apartment, and that there's a prosecutor neighbor who'd look after me."

"He said it's about mutual support or whatever, but his real message was clearly to monitor my personal life."

Momoka: "Whoa, that's absurd… Such upper-class troubles have nothing to do with a humble commoner like me. Good luck with that."

Momoka seemed entirely unconcerned, still breathing slightly heavily under Rinto's grasp as she kept an eye on the soup pot.

Rinto tightened his embrace slightly. "Aren't you angry at all? Maybe I'll obediently listen and move out, you know?"

"Isn't that great, though? A place picked by an important judge would be way better than this dump, right?"

Momoka's voice was calm:

"I told you before. You're a promising, talented young man. You shouldn't be wasting your life here with someone like me. Bigshots have their eyes on you, a high schooler rubbing shoulders with a prosecutor… Once you're in university, graduate, you'll climb straight to the top."

"And then you can advance your relationship with the twins—straight into marriage talks. Though I really wonder how you'll convince their dad to let you marry both daughters at once. Anyway, like I said before, I'm fine being your mistress, your secret side girl."

"Of course, that's only until you get tired of me," Momoka laughed softly, a little self-destructively.

Since getting together with Rinto, she'd adopted this carefree, easily satisfied mentality, becoming passive and indifferent to whatever other girls he might have.

So un-rock-like.

The sensitive hedgehog Momoka had plucked out all her spines just to be with this younger boyfriend, becoming utterly fragile and weak.

It was too much for Rinto to bear.

He reached out to turn off the stove, then swiftly lifted Momoka onto the countertop.

Being so effortlessly picked up made Momoka feel like her entire existence was in Rinto's hands... and it thrilled her immensely.

But realizing what Rinto was planning next, she immediately flushed:

"Wait a sec, dummy! It's only 6 o'clock… The food will get cold and won't taste good… Or at least let me take a shower first…"

Rinto swiftly countered, "I like your sweaty scent, no problem."

After all, this woman used to sleep in pantyhose she'd worn all day.

And when they were finally removed, that scent was… something that brought Rinto immense joy!

He cradled his lover's reluctant-but-eager face seriously:

"I'm not leaving you. Leave everything to me—I'll handle it."

"I'll make sure we can openly live together without anyone objecting. Worst-case scenario, I'll just win over that prosecutor Onee-san who wants to spy on us. No big deal."

"Rinto…"

Momoka melted completely in the overwhelming affection of her younger boyfriend.

It felt so good it scared her.

She could no longer recall how she'd survived before meeting him.

Dreams shattered, friends drifted away…

The girl who betrayed all her former friends, stubbornly clinging to the vague love called "music," must've been a hedgehog covered in scars.

Yet he'd endured her sharp edges, accepting all her unreasonable tantrums, childish selfishness…

Unconditionally accepting her, staying by her side…

Even when she'd given up on herself, he believed in her, always standing with her…

"…I'm not forcing myself at all, dummy."

Momoka kissed him, smiling genuinely from her heart:

"Just being with you like this now is enough to make me unbearably happy. It makes everything else… even music, seem unimportant."

"So don't force things for my sake. I can be your lover who sees you once a week—I don't have to be hidden away at home. Even being your commuter-wife would be fine, I really don't mind."

Rinto: "Momoka… You're actually doing this on purpose, aren't you? The more you act selflessly, the harder it is for me to resist, right?"

Haha~(??>?<?)

This wicked woman had finally shown her true colors. Her skill at grasping a man's heart was clearly improving every day.

After spending a very rock-like time together, the two lay comfortably tangled on the sofa post-shower, fully intending to enjoy more leisure.

But when they glanced at their phones and realized it was Monday, both jumped up in panic!

They had part-time jobs today—life as drifting workers in Tokyo was indeed busy.

"Momoka, hurry up and get dressed! Your clothes are still clean... Wait, your underwear! You haven't put any on yet!"

Living chaotically had its downsides. They both needed to adapt to this new rhythm.

They hurriedly shoveled dinner into their mouths before rushing out to catch the train.

"…Honestly, now I'm fully supportive of moving somewhere else."

Momoka tapped her waist like an old grandma, face full of regret.

"Rent in Kawasaki is cheap, but it's just too far… Wherever we work, it's always more than an hour each way. Calculating hourly wages, it hardly feels like we're saving any money…"

Rinto: "True. The arrangement from judge-uncle will probably take some time. I'll let you know as soon as there's news."

The couple exchanged deep, meaningful glances, their fingers interlocking naturally.

These small compromises under real-life pressures—and hopes for the future—actually made Rinto feel happy.

This ordinary life was exactly what he wanted.

Living with his beloved girlfriend, working hard to make money.

Managing their life and finances together, slowly getting better bit by bit.

Eventually moving into a big house, having a more comfortable life, and finally forming another girls' band…

Awa Subaru: "I think your 'ordinary' wish stopped being realistic the moment you started living with Momoka-nee, the rock singer."

Their coworker, the young part-time warrior Awa Subaru, calmly delivered a piercing retort to Rinto.

Today's part-time workplace for Rinto and Momoka was a large, 24-hour arcade.

Although they hadn't arranged anything in advance, Rinto wasn't the least bit surprised to run into Awa Subaru there.

After all, she'd been constantly bumping into them at various odd jobs for a long time now, almost as if this beautiful idol were everywhere at once—truly mysterious.

Together, Rinto and Subaru moved from machine to machine, opening them up and collecting the tokens inside.

Still, Rinto refused to drop the topic:

"It might not be impossible, right? I never expected Momoka and me to become real, but now we're actually dating."

"Since we already became lovers, maybe that kind of future lifestyle isn't so far-fetched."

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

Subaru firmly rejected the idea, dragging a bucket filled with tokens as she followed behind him.

"Momoka-nee isn't someone who can settle down permanently. Even if she's temporarily taking a break right now, she'll definitely explode again later—that's who she is."

"She's rock-and-roll by nature. Rinto-kun, you're the only one who can handle her. It's like you're one of those girls who selflessly pours all her money into supporting an unknown musician—the roles are just reversed for your relationship, aren't they?"

Rinto: "You really say whatever you want, huh... but I can't deny it."

Honestly, Rinto couldn't refute Subaru's words at all.

He also thought it was impossible that Momoka would abandon music forever.

She was someone born for music, ready to toss aside everything else in her life for it.

Rinto felt a little jealous knowing he'd probably never win against the lover named [Music] in Momoka's heart.

But he was generous enough not to care about that.

He could love Momoka and her music at the same time—they were both his wings (?).

Rinto naturally took the full token bucket from Subaru's hands, earning him a sweet "Thank you~♡" from her.

The two continued chatting casually:

"Speaking of which, Subaru, you weren't surprised at all. Isn't this the first time I told you clearly that Momoka and I got together?"

"Ah, yes, it's the first time you've said it directly."

Subaru nodded with complete indifference. "But I already saw it a while ago on Momoka-nee's private social account. She's been posting nonstop lately. Her excitement from having a boyfriend for the first time is practically overflowing. You should educate Momoka-nee a bit, though—tell her to stop posting pictures of your damp bed after you two have fun. It's making me blush."

Rinto nodded sincerely: "Right, I'll do that… Wait, you also know Momoka's alt account? Am I literally the only fan in the world who didn't know she had a private account?"

He really needed to do something about Momoka's social media addiction, especially to stop her from repeatedly comparing herself to [Guitar Hero], who had tens of thousands of followers and stood at the industry's peak.

Subaru's calm response made Rinto feel incredibly relieved.

Even after learning that Rinto and Momoka had "ascended to godhood," this idol young lady's attitude was still exactly the same as ever—her mood perfectly stable.

Rinto was deeply grateful for that.

He'd always wanted a close female friend who could talk casually about romance issues like this.

With Subaru's womanly aura, powerful enough to annihilate even Takamaki Ann, Rinto was certain she'd already experienced countless battles and could offer plenty of valuable advice.

While Momoka was busy restocking the claw machines, Rinto took the chance to keep chatting with Subaru:

"Oh, right—I also discussed it with Momoka, and we want to form a new, stable band."

"She's hitting her limit just composing with digital effects. She needs real people to work with again. Subaru, do you happen to know any experienced musicians willing to form a band with Momoka?"

"Hmm well, let's see"

The beautiful, long-haired brunette who looked as pretty as a TV idol gently tapped her chin with a slender finger, tilting her head cutely.

"There are plenty of girls at my performing arts school who can play instruments, but most aren't aiming to actually be in a band—it's usually just another talent for extra credit."

"I do have some connections, though, and I could probably reach out to a few famous musicians. Do you know an idol singer named Mikado Ui? Her agency visited our school a while back and recruited some students for an ad shoot."

Rinto nodded: "Yeah, I've seen her commercials. Isn't she just a first-year in high school this year? That makes her even younger than us."

Exactly. Subaru earnestly nodded with clear admiration for a genius.

At their age, even one year of difference could feel huge.

Especially when the gap in accomplishments was enormous, it was easy for one to feel painfully inferior.

"But let's forget about Mikado-girl for now," Subaru abruptly gave the idol an oddly rude nickname before quickly switching gears:

"If you're looking for band members, you actually have a ready-made option standing right here."

Puffing out a chest that made Momoka feel inadequate, Subaru curled her soft lips into a radiant smile:

"Yours truly, Awa Subaru, happens to be a professional drummer~♡ I'd be delighted to join a band with Momoka-nee. Just let me know if you need me, okay?"

Ohh…!

At this moment, Subaru's sparkling smile seemed to Rinto like a literal angel descending to Earth, complete with a halo floating above her head.

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