Just as Nagasaki Soyo expected, Tomori was pulled away by Soyo.
Rikki completely ignored Hotaru and quickly tried to follow them.
She knew a little about Soyo's small schemes.
She couldn't let her hurt Tomori!
However, to Rikki's surprise, Hotaru followed even faster than she did.
He was the one who asked Tomori out!
Now, it looked like Tomori was being held hostage by Soyo.
Moreover, Hotaru vaguely felt that there was gossip to be had!
Tomori, I'll protect her.
Rikki's eyes widened, unwilling to show weakness, and she quickened her pace.
...
In front of the RiNG's main entrance, their steps also slowed down.
"RNG?"
After seeing the large sign of the store, Hotaru unconsciously spoke.
The name is well chosen!
RNG is awesome!
Although he didn't quite understand, he just followed along and shouted.
"Huh?!" Shiina Rikki was slightly stunned, but she immediately seized the opportunity to retort, "This is RiNG, not some RNG!"
Nagasaki Soyo also kindly reminded him, "Hotaru-kun, it's RiNG."
"Hmm?"
Hotaru raised his head in confusion and looked again carefully.
If the one named Rikki might be going against him, then Soyo shouldn't be lying.
Sure enough, it really was RiNG.
He had been prejudiced; mainly, in his previous life, he always heard people shouting "RNG is awesome."
He naturally remembered it after hearing it so many times.
However, Hotaru was also unwilling to show weakness towards Shiina Rikki,
"Who made its 'i' lowercase?"
Shiina Rikki snorted lightly and turned her head away.
Having arrived at the entrance, Nagasaki Soyo was afraid that the two would start arguing outside, which might cause some unforeseen changes, so she urged,
"Let's go in quickly!"
...
Inside RiNG, at a window seat.
Hotaru and Shiina Rikki were on either side, guarding Takamatsu Tomori.
Even the master of facial expressions, Nagasaki Soyo, couldn't help but twitch her mouth slightly at this moment, but she managed to suppress it.
She was the one who first pulled Tomori in; why did it turn out like this?
She had originally planned to sit next to Takamatsu Tomori to find an opportunity to talk to her.
Alright!
Nagasaki Soyo sat in the remaining empty seat, then put on a gentle smile.
Shiina Rikki looked at Takamatsu Tomori with concern.
Takamatsu Tomori had her head slightly bowed, occasionally sneaking glances at everyone.
Hotaru, on the other hand, was thinking.
Just now, under Nagasaki Soyo's introduction,
he already knew the name of the somewhat fierce-looking girl.
Shiina Rikki.
Hotaru couldn't help but inwardly complain.
Her surname is Shiina?
Despite having such a nice surname,
how come her personality seems quite different from the girls named Shiina he remembered?
For example, now,
when Hotaru looked at Tomori, Shiina Rikki would cross her arms and give him a slightly oppressive look.
Hotaru averted his gaze, and the pressure dissipated; it turned out Rikki had looked back at Tomori.
It was a bit fun, so Hotaru couldn't resist testing it a few more times.
From this, he drew a conclusion: Shiina Rikki was even stricter than Ijichi Seika
when Hoshika prevented him from getting close to Nijika.
"That Rikki, can we order?"
Soyo noticed Rikki was still wearing her work uniform, so she asked, also using it to break the silence and ease the atmosphere.
"Mm."
Rikki nodded, taking out a pen and paper.
"Then, please give me a hot Earl Grey tea."
"Thank you."
Soyo smiled, then looked at Hotaru and Tomori.
"What about Tomori?" × 2
!!
Rikki and Hotaru looked at each other.
Rikki looked wary, Hotaru smiled slightly, then pouted.
"Mo... mocha coffee."
Tomori looked at the menu and spoke softly.
"Okay! It'll be ready soon!"
Rikki immediately replied to Tomori, and then, somewhat reluctantly, looked at Hotaru.
"I'll have the matcha parfait."
Hotaru noticed this signature item on the menu and, remembering what happened last time, decided to give it a try.
So, during the time Rikki was away,
the remaining three chatted a little... which was nothing more than Soyo gathering information...
"So that's how it is."
"Aki-kun went to the Planetarium with Tomori, and on their way back, they passed RiNG and met Rikki."
Nagasaki Soyo summarized with a sweet voice.
Hotaru and Tomori nodded, then Hotaru glanced at Soyo again.
When did she start calling him by his name without him noticing? But he didn't mind it anyway.
"Soyo, Rikki, are old... Crychic friends."
Takamatsu Tomori suddenly spoke.
"Eh?" Nagasaki Soyo's smile stiffened, "Tomori... why did you suddenly bring that up?"
"Crychic?"
Hotaru looked at the two with a puzzled expression.
Crychic, he seemed to have seen it somewhere, but he wasn't very familiar with it.
"The band's name..." Takamatsu Tomori first explained to Hotaru, then looked at Soyo, "I just talked about it with Aki..."
Soyo forced a smile; she had originally planned to bring up this topic with Tomori when there were no outsiders.
Had Tomori and Hotaru already become this close? It seemed she needed to raise her level of attention to him.
Vaguely feeling that Nagasaki Soyo seemed a bit off, Hotaru still continued to ask,
"So, the band is..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but he generally understood.
"Everyone... separated."
Takamatsu Tomori completely lowered her head this time, "It's all because of me..."
Under the table, where no one could see, Tomori silently clenched her fists,
"It's because I didn't sing well."
"Tomori, that's not your fault at all!"
Shiina Rikki, carrying a tray, suddenly appeared and said in an unfriendly tone,
"It's that person, the one who left without saying anything!"
Hotaru's mouth dropped open in surprise. There was an even more skilled person?
Also, maybe he misunderstood Shiina Rikki? Compared to her tone just now, she seemed quite gentle to him earlier?!
"Wait, Rikki! Don't say that!"
Hearing Rikki's words, Nagasaki Soyo's heart tightened, and she quickly and anxiously defended,
"Everyone... no one is at fault!"
Hotaru looked at Nagasaki Soyo in surprise; this was the first time he had seen her like this.
Moreover, her voice sounded a bit off.
"If no one is at fault..."
"Then why did we separate?"
Takamatsu Tomori, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
"Tomori..."
Rikki looked at her nervously.
[Stimulating Takamatsu Tomori's memories of the band, Musical Notes +300]
[Discussing Crychic in front of Nagasaki Soyo, Musical Notes +300]
[Discussing the band in front of Shiina Rikki, Musical Notes +150]
[Stimulating Takamatsu Tomori...]
[In front of Nagasaki Soyo...]
Suddenly, a series of Musical Note rewards sounded in Hotaru's mind.
Most of them were contributed by Takamatsu Tomori and Nagasaki Soyo.
Shiina Rikki seemed a bit stingy.
Hotaru suddenly felt a sense of guilt for making Tomori so sad, but earning from Nagasaki Soyo and Shiina Rikki felt justified!
...
-----------------------------------
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