Roppongi Hills Residence Tower.
Soyo helped Rikuo out of the taxi and, with the help of a security guard, assisted him into the elevator and back home.
"Mr. Security Guard, thank you for your trouble, I really appreciate your help!"
"Serving our residents is our responsibility. If you need anything else, please call the security booth."
After all, it was a luxury residence valued at 980 million Japanese yen, so the location, accommodation standards, and service attitude were naturally impeccable.
The security guard didn't linger. Soyo took out her keys from her satchel, opened the door, and helped Rikuo into the room.
"Surprise, Soyo-chan! Mommy's back! Did you miss Mommy? Mommy missed Soyo-chan so much!"
As soon as Soyo opened the door, she saw her mother pulling a party popper. Her usually calm face began to tremble. It was even more exaggerated than encountering the Slit-Mouthed Woman jumping out at her. Soyo almost dropped Rikuo in fright.
Sure enough, the more you fear something happening, the more likely it is to happen. This world is just a big Murphy's Law. Soyo's head was almost pointy with fright.
"Mom! Why are you back?"
"Soyo-chan? Do you really have a boyfriend? You told me last time you didn't? And you've already brought him home?"
Soyo's mother saw Soyo helping Rikuo and thought they were embracing. Rikuo's lowered head was taken as shyness from being discovered by the girlfriend's parents.
Facing her mother's questions, sweat beaded on Soyo's forehead.
"No way! Mom, what I said last time was true! No, Rikuo-kun isn't my boyfriend right now either!"
"Oh, only not right now?"
"Oh, Mom! He probably won't be in the future either!"
"Mhm, that makes sense. By the way, why is Rikuo-kun looking down and not speaking? Is he shy because he saw me?"
When Soyo saw her mother, she wasn't as articulate as she was with others, becoming like a child beside her parents. She also forgot to explain about Rikuo-kun.
"Ah, right! Rikuo-kun was injured helping Mutsumi-chan and is still unconscious! I brought him back to rest."
"Is that so? Then Mommy misunderstood. Rikuo-kun is a good boy. How is he? Have you been to the hospital?"
"We've been to the hospital. The doctor said there was nothing serious, he just fainted."
"Alright then, let's take Rikuo-kun to the guest room first."
Soyo's mother took Rikuo's other arm, helping Soyo take him to the guest room. Watching Rikuo lie down on the guest room bed, Soyo let out a long sigh.
'Finally home. I'm so exhausted. But Rikuo-kun must be in even more pain right now, right? Although the doctor said there was nothing serious, he still hasn't woken up. It's still worrying. Has Rikuo-kun always been like this, alone? That's really...'
Soyo's mother watched Soyo staring intently at Rikuo on the bed, feeling that things weren't that simple.
'Why didn't she take Rikuo-kun to the hospital? Isn't it a lot of trouble to bring him home? She said it wasn't a big deal, but when she was helping Rikuo-kun, he didn't look like he'd be getting up anytime soon.'
"Soyo-chan, can you tell Mom how you met Rikuo-kun? Tsukinomori is an all-girls school, so you shouldn't have much contact with male friends."
Soyo's mother took Soyo's hand and led her to the living room. They sat on the sofa, and the mother-daughter talk began.
"Okay, Mom, it happened like this. I met Rikuo-kun when I was helping a friend bring something to the hospital, and then..."
Soyo explained how she and Rikuo met. Of course, she omitted the stalking and the Kamen Rider incident.
After listening to Soyo's explanation, Soyo's mother understood Rikuo's character and spoke with the tone of someone with experience.
"Soyo-chan, from what you've said, Rikuo-kun should be a very kind, gentle, and considerate child, right?"
"You don't need to add 'should be,' Rikuo-kun is exactly that kind of person. He always helps everyone and even thinks about protecting others' feelings..."
Soyo's mother heard Soyo's affirmation of Rikuo and continued.
"Yes, I trust Soyo-chan's judgment. So, Soyo-chan, do you like him?"
"Mom! What are you saying? Liking Rikuo-kun... that's definitely! It's too early, right!"
"It's not early, Soyo-chan. Not to mention you're already 16, old enough to get married. Do you think Rikuo-kun is popular?"
Seeing that her mother didn't seem to be joking, Soyo began to think seriously.
'Although Rikuo-kun speaks strangely sometimes, he's very popular with everyone. Except for Taki-chan, who doesn't know him very well yet, Tomori seems to treat him like an older brother. Although Mutsumi-chan doesn't say it, it's clear she trusts him deeply. And there's Anon-chan and Saki-chan...'
Soyo's mother looked at Soyo and already had her answer.
"Soyo-chan, it seems Rikuo-kun must be very popular, right? Then let me ask you again, do you like Rikuo-kun?"
"Mom, I, I, I don't know."
Soyo truly didn't know if she liked Rikuo. After all, they had only known each other for 4 days and hadn't met many times. Although her heart was pounding, and her blue eyes began to dart around uneasily, it might just be because Rikuo had protected her; it might just be because he had resolved the misunderstanding between her and Mutsumi; it might just be because he had always cared about her feelings; it might also just be because of that vegetable salad.
Soyo's mother looked at Soyo's expression and seemed to understand everything.
"Is that so? If you don't know, then spend some more time together. After all, Soyo-chan is still in high school, and Soyo-chan is so cute, you must be very popular, right? It doesn't matter if you miss out on Rikuo-kun! But Mom tells you, if there's something you like, you still have to fight for it, don't let happiness slip away by accident."
"Oh, Mom, you're joking again! I told you Rikuo-kun and I aren't like that!"
'Well, let the children sort out their own matters. Even if they don't end up together, being friends is good. I really like a child like Rikuo-kun too.'
Soyo's mother just smiled and said nothing more.
...
At Chihaya Anon's house.
"Was guitar always this hard?"
Anon held her middle school guitar, her large gray eyes full of wisdom, looking at her hands, realizing she couldn't even play the most basic chords anymore.
"I'm doomed, I'm doomed. If this continues, Taki-chan will definitely get angry. She won't scold me during practice, will she? I need to intensify my training, at least so I don't give myself away during rehearsals."
As mentioned above, the more you fear something happening, the more likely it is to happen, especially since Anon's head was already pointy. But she overlooked a very important point! Haha, she couldn't even join the rehearsals.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Read Advanced Chapters, and support this novel, please join me on [email protected]/geats2000