"I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain."
Though there wasn't a drop of rain in sight, Kikukawa Kyo hummed the famous tune Singin' in the Rain from the movie Singin' in the Rain—the iconic song-and-dance number performed under the pouring rain.
She had always been quite fond of this song. Whenever it rained, she would almost instinctively start singing it. And if the mood struck her just right, and no one was there to stop her, she wouldn't mind dashing into the rain for an impromptu tap dance session.
Unfortunately, today was a clear day, but that didn't dampen her spirits in the least. For one, while CRYCHIC was currently riddled with all sorts of issues, she had at least managed to get a handle on what those problems actually were. She wasn't stumbling around blindly anymore.
And secondly—she was going to RiNG for coffee today. Miss Ririko truly had an excellent hand when it came to brewing coffee. Not only was she meticulous and passionate about it, but the drinks she made always carried a warmth that made Kyo feel incredibly at ease.
At times, Kyo even toyed with the idea of getting closer to Ririko, just to see if she could get her to brew coffee with a different kind of emotion—one that might give Kyo a deeper, more personal experience of feelings.
But in the end, she abandoned that thought. Perhaps it was some subtle professional bias she held as someone who called herself a mixologist.
In short, Kyo had no intention of deciphering emotions through drinks made by other mixologists—whether they were baristas, bartenders, or anyone else in the field.
That, of course, didn't stop her from thoroughly enjoying a well-made beverage.
Since RiNG wasn't far from her home, it didn't take long for her to arrive on foot. Just before stepping inside, she took a large sip from the water bottle she carried with her, ensuring that her mental fatigue had more or less subsided.
Heh, four of CRYCHIC's five members have already fallen before me. Though the journey so far has been riddled with unexpected obstacles, hurried missteps, and occasional disarray, this time—this time—I am far more prepared. The battle against Taki shall be fought with experience on my side, armed with even greater preparations than in the previous campaigns!
Today, I march into battle. Though the heavens refuse to grant me a downpour to set the stage, I fight on the battleground of RiNG, where the rich aroma of coffee and tea fills the air. Here, with an endless supply of drinks at my disposal and my past skirmishes against Sakiko, Tomori, and the others to draw from, I hold the ultimate advantage of both terrain and strategy!
Shiina Taki? Just a yapping pup, all bark and no bite…
Cough. Maybe saying it that way wasn't very nice… but it did feel strangely accurate in some ways.
Regardless—victory was mine!
Despite the elaborate schemes running rampant in her mind, Kyo's expression remained perfectly composed. From the outside, there wasn't even the slightest hint of the mental war drums pounding within her.
She adjusted her outfit one last time. Today, she didn't have to worry about sweating too much and getting grounded by her older sister, so she'd gone back to her usual attire—button-up shirt and long pants.
Taki had quite the sharp tongue. If she showed up looking unkempt, a regular customer might get nothing more than a cold stare due to Taki's obligations as a server.
But with friends? Oh, she'd be ruthless in pointing it out.
On the flip side, as long as everything was in order, it naturally reduced the chances of giving Taki something to nitpick about. That was precisely why Kyo always felt that, out of everyone in CRYCHIC, Taki was actually the easiest to deal with.
...
"Oh my, if it isn't Kyo! Long time no see!"
The moment she stepped inside, the owner of RiNG, Miss Ririko, immediately spotted her and waved warmly in greeting.
Kyo walked up to her with a small smile. "Long time no see, Ririko-neesan."
"Honestly, Kyo, calling me 'big sis' like that—such a sweet talker!"
Ririko placed a hand on her cheek, her smile growing even brighter. "I really wish little Taki could learn a thing or two from you and be just a little gentler. Oh, you probably don't know yet, Kyo—Taki is working here as a server now! You'll get to try the coffee she makes later. She's been working really hard these past few days."
"Taki always puts in her best effort, no matter what she does. I'm sure she'll do great. I'm already looking forward to it."
"Well, her coffee might not be up to your picky standards just yet, but she's improving fast. I just hope that when the time comes, you'll still remember this old lady who used to make coffee for you all the time."
Ririko teased, clearly fond of Kyo, who was always polite, well-spoken, and had a refined taste in drinks. They often chatted about different coffee beans and tea leaves, sharing insights and preferences.
"I'm guessing you came today because of Taki, right? It seems like your band ran into some trouble? I tried asking her about it, but she wouldn't tell me anything."
As expected of an adult—she saw right through her.
But Taki wouldn't tell Ririko the reason behind the band's breakup?
Unlike Tomori and Soyo, Taki wasn't particularly close to Sakiko. So why would she keep quiet about Sakiko leaving and the band disbanding? Did she just not want outsiders to know?
Or… did Taki actually have some kind of special feelings toward Sakiko? Not necessarily fondness—just… something else.
Well, no matter. Today, Kyo was here to find out exactly what Taki was thinking.
"To be honest, it's a little embarrassing, but I wasn't there when the band broke up. I don't really know the details, and it's hard to get a clear answer just through LINE. So I figured I'd just come and ask directly."
"I see." Ririko didn't question her further, though she let out a sigh of regret. "RiNG's been getting busier lately. More and more student bands are practicing and performing here. It's a shame, really—your band put on some great performances. If you'd stuck together, you'd probably be pretty well-known among students by now."
"Speaking of which, I noticed a new board by the entrance covered in paper slips. Is that some kind of recruitment board?"
Right across from RiNG's entrance was a large, eye-catching bulletin board. When Kyo had walked in earlier, she had seen a cool-looking girl in a leather jacket and shorts standing in front of it, holding an instrument case.
"That's right! A lot of students want to form bands but can't find all the members they need, so we put up a request board for them. You know, Kyo, you're pretty skilled yourself—if you're interested, you could try being a support musician! Like a mercenary—super cool, right?"
"Ririko-neesan, you really are still young at heart, huh? Finding words like that 'cool' and all."
"Ahh, this is why I like talking to you, Kyo. If it were Taki, she'd just go, 'Adults like you…'" Ririko waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, I won't keep you. Taki's working over at the drinks counter—you can find her there. And if possible, Kyo, maybe teach her a thing or two about how to talk to people?"
After bidding Ririko goodbye, Kyo took a moment to check herself over. Looking back on their conversation, everything had gone perfectly.
Now, it was time for the real challenge.