The next day, at the Wakaba Family home.
Sakiko led Rikuo to the gate of the Wakaba Family courtyard.
"Wow, it's a big house!"
"Rikuo, please don't be impolite when you meet Wakaba Takafumi later. He's a very serious person, not like the comedians you see on TV."
"Mm, I understand. Comedians, they don't really like to smile in private. Stephen Chow and Mr. Bean are both like that."
"If Rikuo understands, then there's no problem."
After Rikuo confirmed that Taki had finished composing the next day, he took back his 2 of Hearts and went home to find Sakiko. After all, he had promised to find a channel for the Wakaba Family. As for Taki, she was still catching up on sleep.
Sakiko pressed the doorbell. The video intercom at the courtyard gate opened.
"Wakaba-san, hello, I am Togawa Sakiko, who made an appointment to visit you. This is my friend, Rikuo. He is also Mutsumi's friend..."
Rikuo watched Sakiko establish a bunch of connections with Wakaba and say many flattering words before the gate finally opened.
Sakiko led Rikuo towards the villa. She noticed Rikuo's eyebrows furrowing and his expression becoming serious.
"Rikuo, do you dislike how I acted just now? But the status of comedians in society is very high, even above ordinary actors and singers. So..."
"Sakiko, you don't need to be like this in the future. If it doesn't work out, we can just leave."
"I know Rikuo cares about me, but."
"Sakiko, I want you to walk your own path. I want you to walk it happily, that's enough."
As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the villa's entrance. As expected of a big house, there were even dedicated servants to open the door.
Walking into the reception room, Rikuo saw Wakaba Takafumi sitting in the main seat, and Mutsumi standing by, hands clasped over her lower abdomen in the most standard etiquette. A surge of anger rose in Rikuo's heart.
'Dude, is this your daughter, or a servant?'
"Originally, I wanted to be polite. Now, I feel like you're insulting me! Wakaba Takafumi! You've been suffering from depression for a long time, haven't you? I can help you, but you have to agree to a few things."
Sakiko looked at Rikuo's suddenly arrogant attitude and wanted to interject, but Rikuo held her forearm, signaling her not to act.
"Young man, I let you in because you are Mutsumi and Togawa Sakiko's friend. But you come in with this attitude? It seems my education of Mutsumi is not enough; she actually befriended someone like you."
Mutsumi opened her mouth, looking as if she wanted to say something. However, seeing her stern father before her, she dared not utter a sound.
Rikuo completely ignored the other party's attitude, pulled out a chair, sat down, and propped his legs on the table, crossing them.
"Listen carefully, Wakaba Takafumi! I'm giving you a chance! You're an adult, still acting like a child threatening with a small whip? I can cure your depression. I just need a room without surveillance, and you blindfold yourself. Three seconds will be enough."
Rikuo, of course, knew that words alone were not enough, and he couldn't casually expose his identity as a Rider (he could only use his abilities on others when transformed into a Rider). So he had already prepared an Undead Card in his sleeve; this time, he used 6 of Clubs, Blizzard Polar (Ability: Supplements the next attack with ice).
He gripped it to use, and a flurry of ice and snow swept through. Rikuo completely froze the table in front of him.
"I've demonstrated my ability. If you don't believe me, I'll leave now. Of course, you're an adult; you wouldn't be so foolish as to give up a sure benefit for a mere honorific, would you?"
Wakaba Takafumi looked at Rikuo's fearless demeanor, stroking his chin as if contemplating something.
"I can agree to that, but with the ability you've shown, I can't guarantee my safety alone in a room without surveillance. So I need you to use Togawa Sakiko as a hostage..."
"Then there's nothing more to discuss."
"Rikuo, actually, it's not..."
Sakiko wanted to say that if it was just for a moment to be a hostage, she would be willing. But Rikuo didn't give her the chance.
"Sakiko, you know you're someone I like. Also, I don't have a habit of using friends as tools. Wakaba Takafumi, do you think I need to find a special room to deal with you?"
Wakaba Takafumi weighed his options and realized he seemed to have no other choice.
"Alright, then it's agreed, three seconds."
"No problem. Let's choose your daughter's room. You wouldn't be perverted enough to install surveillance in your own daughter's room, would you?"
"Kamiyama, you jest. How could I do such a thing?"
"But I don't believe you."
Rikuo swapped another Undead Card in his sleeve, 8 of Spades, Magnet Buffalo (Ability: Allows temporary control over magnetism). In an instant, the surrounding magnetic field fluctuated. All electrical appliances failed, and the room's chandelier also turned off, but luckily it was daytime with sunlight.
"Now, even if there's surveillance, it's useless. I'll disable the magnetic field in an hour. Wakaba Takafumi, you won't mind these trivial matters, will you?"
Wakaba Takafumi looked at the young man displaying another ability, not showing any anger, only a hint of barely contained joy evident in his serious expression.
"Of course, Kamiyama, you make me look forward to our future cooperation even more."
"First, Wakaba Takafumi, I need to make the conditions clear with you."
"No problem, I'm all ears!"
"First, and most importantly, your daughter, Wakaba Mutsumi, will no longer need to attend training classes. She will live with Sakiko from now on. Don't worry, I won't do anything to your daughter; I just don't like your parenting style."
Upon hearing Rikuo's words, Mutsumi's usually expressionless face showed a flicker of excitement.
Wakaba Takafumi pondered for a moment.
'Mutsumi clearly doesn't want to inherit my legacy. So, using her to build a good relationship with this kind of ability user can also ensure the longevity of my Wakaba Family. Besides, it's just a daughter, isn't it? I can always have another one, and a son would be better for inheriting the family business.'
"Alright."
"Second, my identity must not be exposed."
"No problem."
'Even if you don't say it, I wouldn't expose it. What if other families poached him?'
"Third, all matters concerning channels must be handled solely by Sakiko. There must be no asymmetry of information. For now, these are the three points. Any further issues will be added later."
"Okay, but any additional content later must also be discussed."
"Of course, this is a collaboration. Happy collaboration."
Rikuo extended his left hand. Wakaba Takafumi, seeing that the other party offered his left hand, hesitated for a moment, thinking it was just a different custom, and then also extended his left hand to shake.
"Happy collaboration."
In Mutsumi's room, Rikuo hid behind the door to complete his transformation, to prevent Wakaba Takafumi from breaking his word and not wearing a blindfold. After confirming he had indeed put it on, he used 2 of Hearts from behind him. The process was smooth, and he dispelled his transformation before Wakaba Takafumi turned around.
"Mm, I feel that the depression that has plagued me for decades has been cured in an instant. Our cooperation will be very smooth."
Seeing Wakaba Takafumi's beaming face, Rikuo merely smiled along with him.
...
One hour later.
Rikuo, Sakiko, and Mutsumi left the Wakaba Family home and were walking towards the apartment.
"Sakiko, did you dislike how I acted just now?"
"Not at all. It was a new side of Rikuo, very refreshing. And, Rikuo was protecting us, wasn't he?"
"That's right. With these dirty adults, you can only talk to them about benefits. And the lower your attitude, the more they think you're easy to bully. If you have ability, you must flaunt it in their faces. They'll think, 'This is how a capable person should act.'"
"That's true. Just now, Rikuo, why did you shake with your left hand? I remember we used to shake with our right hands."
"It definitely has to be the left hand! My right hand is for shaking hands with my friends, with people I care about. If I used my right hand for these dirty adults too, I feel like it would stain my feelings. In short, they're not worthy."
"Is that so? I feel like I like Rikuo even more now."
Mutsumi watched her other half and her new friend disparage her father like this. There wasn't a ripple in her heart; she even wanted to help curse a few words, but having been a young lady for 16 years, she lacked the vocabulary.
"Thank you, Rikuo."
"Mutsumi smiled! She looks so cute. It seems Wakaba Takafumi really isn't human. That kind of person should learn how to be human."
"Of course, she can smile! Mutsumi should smile more in the future!"
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