This was definitely something Kiyokawa Kyo hadn't expected.
Raana pressed her cheek lightly against Kyo's, her smooth, soft skin rubbing against hers, gradually warming from the friction. The gentle heat, coupled with the velvety sensation, made the contact surprisingly pleasant.
But mixed in with that warmth was an odd, sticky feeling...
"Kitty, you just smeared cream all over my face," Kyo reminded her helplessly. But Raana didn't seem to care at all. Instead, she gave one final, firmer nuzzle.
"Ah-la?"
Right at that moment, Ririko had just finished her phone call and walked back out—only to witness this rather intimate scene between the two.
Raana, having expressed her affection, immediately returned to devouring her parfait, not lingering in the moment at all. It was as if, while Kyo was indeed a "good woman," that goodness only extended to making matcha parfaits for her. And in the grand hierarchy of importance—well, Kyo still ranked below the parfait itself.
Kyo, meanwhile, was left touching her face, now smeared with whipped cream—just like Raana's.
"I didn't expect you two to get so close so quickly~" Ririko teased, resting her cheek in her palm with an amused, almost motherly smile. To her, Kyo and Raana were just a couple of kids.
"If we're being precise, I think Raana's relationship with the matcha parfait is much stronger," Kyo shrugged. Though inwardly, she wondered: This time, Raana was the one who got close to me first. That means I haven't let my sister down, right?
Ririko grabbed a few napkins and gently wiped Kyo's face for her. As for Raana, she was still too busy wolfing down her parfait—there was no point cleaning her up now, only for her to get messy again. Best to wait until she was finished.
"Oh my, this child has always been a little wild. You don't see her being that affectionate very often—Little Raana really does like you."
As she wiped Kyo's face, Ririko took the opportunity to study her up close.
She'd had plenty of conversations with Kyo before, mostly about coffee and tea. To Ririko, Kyo was someone quite capable for her age—her manners and demeanor were graceful and pleasant, but not overly rigid. She carried herself with a polite warmth, and every now and then, she would even show glimpses of childlike playfulness.
Yet now, she'd somehow already grown close enough to Raana—who was untamed and difficult to handle—to the point where Raana had willingly rubbed her cheek against hers. For a girl as catlike as Raana, that level of closeness was something rare.
And now, with this up-close view of Kyo's bright, clear eyes and delicate features, Ririko found herself increasingly satisfied.
She had long been accustomed to people asking her to look after Raana. She had practically started seeing her as half her own child. But now, there was finally someone around Raana's age who could truly connect with her. How could Ririko not be pleased?
"Kyo, I'll be leaving Raana in your care from now on."
"...?"
Why did that sound like she was entrusting her daughter to someone for life?
Having wiped Kyo's face clean, Ririko then turned her attention to Raana, who was now uncharacteristically well-behaved, happily enjoying her matcha parfait.
"Little Raana, once you finish your parfait, it's time to head back to school. You still have classes this afternoon, don't you?"
"Mhm." Raana gave a soft hum of acknowledgment through her nose—she hadn't skipped class just to run off, but that didn't mean she was eager to go back so soon.
"I want to play guitar for a bit."
"Playing guitar, huh…" Ririko glanced at her phone. There was still some time left before lunch break ended. "Sure! I'll go find a guitar for you and get things set up."
Kitties can play guitar too? Kyo, who had been listening from the side, couldn't help but picture Raana holding a giant scratching post, strumming at it like she was clawing at something.
"Little Raana is actually a fantastic guitarist," Ririko said with a smile. "Oh, and Kyo, you used to play guitar in your previous band too, right? Maybe you should jam with Raana a little. There are some instruments stored in the café's storage room for musicians who want to perform here."
"You play guitar too, Kyo?" For once, Raana's eyes drifted away from her parfait, glancing at Kyo with rare curiosity. She hesitated for a moment before settling on the word, "Interesting… girl."
Ririko enthusiastically added, "Guitar is such a popular instrument—we actually have more than one on hand."
That reminded Kyo of something.
"Ririko-san, actually, I came here today to see if I could borrow a keyboard."
"A keyboard?"
"Yeah. I recently joined a new band, and they already have a guitarist, so I'm planning to try out the keyboardist position."
"Well, that makes this the perfect opportunity then! You should take this chance to test out the keyboard, too. Come help me bring it over."
With Kyo assisting, the two of them made a couple of trips, setting up a guitar, a keyboard, and a few small speakers in the corner of the café. By the time everything was in place, Raana had already finished every last bite of her parfait.
"All set?" Raana asked, standing nearby as Ririko plugged in the cables. She looked eager, as if she was bracing for the moment she'd be dragged back to school at any second.
Ririko didn't waste time. She finished setting up and handed the guitar straight to Raana.
Raana slung the strap over her shoulder, and the instant her hand touched the strings—
The music exploded without warning.
Her small hands, delicate fingers, tore across the guitar with reckless abandon. She played with raw intensity, her body swaying uncontrollably to the rhythm, creating a stark contrast between her petite frame and the sheer force of her performance.
Kyo instinctively took a step back from the overwhelming sound.
Raana's guitar playing was a perfect reflection of her personality—wild, untamed. If Kyo had to sum it up in one phrase, it would be complete and utter freedom.
There was no sheet music, no familiar song, nothing structured about it. Raana was simply playing whatever rhythm she wanted. At times, the notes barely connected, transitions were abrupt—but she bulldozed through it all with sheer technical skill and raw, unfiltered energy. The speed, the aggression—it was a sonic assault.
Raana's guitar skills were… impressive. Kyo reached that conclusion almost immediately.
After a full minute of relentless shredding, it was obvious that this kind of chaotic, heavy playing wasn't exactly suited for a café setting—it was too loud, too intense. Especially today, for some reason, Raana seemed to be playing even more fiercely than usual.
And then, she smiled.
It was the first time Kyo had seen it—the kind of genuine, elated grin that stretched across Raana's face, revealing a perfect row of white teeth.
Kyo could tell.
Raana loved playing the guitar. That was the kind of smile Kyo herself wore when she finally perfected a new drink recipe.
She recalled something she had once heard: Compared to other forms of art, music has the most direct connection to human emotions.
Watching Raana play, Kyo was reminded of the deep curiosity she had felt just yesterday at Soyo's house—the very curiosity that had ultimately led her to join a band, even if only temporarily.
CRYCHIC had been too short-lived.
Now, Kyo wanted to see for herself—if music could bring her closer to understanding emotions.