NOVEL WEB Chapter 36: Even your sister?
Another day, and there they were: rays of sunlight invading his face without permission. Ryan squinted, grumbling as he rubbed his eyes, feeling his back as stiff as a board after spending the entire night sprawled on the couch.
"Damn it, Yuno… You're a raging pink lioness," he muttered, still half-asleep.
With a sigh, he began unwrapping the cloth that covered the cut on his arm, already expecting the damage from the previous night. But, to his surprise, the wound was almost fully healed.
"Well, that's what I'm talking about." he remarked, letting out a chuckle as he briefly entertained the idea of going back to sleep.
He patted his pockets in search of his phone, but a sudden thought hit him like a punch.
"Shit! I left my phone with Mini Miku!"
He stumbled to his feet, dragging himself to the bathroom. At least there was water. He washed his face, letting the cold sensation clear his mind. With a quick glance in the mirror, he checked if his clothes were stained with blood.
"Well... I guess I'm not anyone's lock screen wallpaper — at least not yet." He laughed to himself, fixing his hair and examining his reflection with a smug smile. Then, as if a mischievous idea had popped into his head, the grin widened.
"You know what? It's totally possible that I'm Yuki's lock screen wallpaper..."
After the brief reflection, he shrugged and left the bathroom. The morning was starting way too early for his liking, but he decided to make the most of it. Opening the front door, he was greeted by the rising sun, painting the horizon with shades of orange and gold.
"Alright… Better pick up the pace. If I'm lucky, I'll get to Rika's house before she starts getting ready for this festival thing."
And with that, Ryan set off, feeling the morning breeze as he walked through the quiet streets.
As he walked, Ryan noticed the village already beginning to stir in the festive spirit. Some villagers were up, taking care of the last details for the festival.
"Damn, they got all this done fast… When everyone pitches in, things really move," he murmured, observing the activity.
Climbing the steps leading to the village shrine, he saw the stalls being set up, already filled with traditional sweets, regional foods, and even improvised carnival games. The air was filled with the smell of frying and spices, making his stomach rumble.
Despite the lively atmosphere, no familiar faces appeared. With nothing else to do, Ryan continued his way to Rika's house.
When he arrived, the place was cloaked in silence. The only sign that someone was there was an open window on the second floor. He assumed she was home.
Approaching the door, he decided to announce his arrival in a rather unconventional way: cupping his hand to the side of his mouth, he called out in a playful tone:
"Mini Miku, Mini Miku, throw down your braids!"
His voice carried a teasing note, and the echo made the silence feel even deeper for a few seconds. Then, the door slowly opened, revealing Rika. She peeked out with only half her face visible, letting out a soft "Mii~..." that sounded more like a tired sigh.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, suspicion evident in his gaze as he stepped closer.
"Did something happen last night, Rika?"
She shook her head slightly, opening the door wider to let him in.
"Not exactly…" Her voice was serious, almost resigned. "The truth is, I've done the ritual dance so many times that… it's become irritating to me."
Ryan stopped, staring at her. Rika's expression seemed calm, but he could read beneath the surface. Something about her aura screamed exhaustion, a burden heavier than she let on.
"Relax, Mini Miku," he said with a sincere smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I told you I'd take you to Tokyo, didn't I?"
Rika hesitated for a second but then stepped forward and hugged him. Her voice came out low, almost filled with hope:
"Thank you… for helping me fight against fate."
Ryan returned the gesture, running his fingers through her hair in a soft motion.
"Fate…" he murmured, as if the word tasted bitter, before letting silence fill the moment.
After Rika let go and stepped back, she quickly changed the subject, now with a playful tone and an almost innocent smile, though laced with sarcasm:
"Someone called you yesterday, Masachika."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, already expecting something strange.
"Oh, I figured. So, did you send an excuse by text or answer? Because if you answered… it'll be hard to explain why a l0li has my phone."
Rika was already walking back inside, and he followed as she responded casually:
"Of course I didn't answer. I don't even know how to use a phone like that."
He stopped in the doorway, surprised.
"Seriously? Why didn't you tell me that before?"
Rika turned to him, handing him the phone.
"I tried, but you ran off after Yuno and disappeared… so I didn't get the chance."
Ryan took the device and opened the messaging app. As soon as he saw the responses Rika had sent, he looked up, clearly amused.
"Didn't know how to use it, huh? But it looks like curiosity got the better of you. You learned pretty quick."
Rika put a finger to her chin, pretending to think, before asking in a voice filled with disguised malice:
"Mii~ Masachika, are they your girlfriends?"
Ryan nearly choked on his laugh and replied with his best sarcastic tone:
"Yes, they're part of my personal harem. Just waiting for you to complete the cast."
Rika narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms with a suspicious expression.
"Even your sister?"
He laughed again, raising his hands in an exaggerated gesture of denial.
"Of course not, Mini Miku. One's my sister, as you said, and the other's just a friend from school."
Rika tilted her head slightly, still giving him a side-eye, and let out another classic "Mii~," this time dripping with skepticism, as if saying, Sure…
"And what's this about needing me to complete the cast?"
Ryan sighed, replying, "I went too far with the joke…"
Rika sighed too and, dropping her playful tone, returned to a more serious posture:
"So, Masachika, what are we going to do about Rena and Satoko's uncle? They're just two of the problems we need to solve… and the deadline is tomorrow morning, at the latest."
Ryan tilted his head back, thoughtful, his eyes lost on some distant point. After a few seconds of silence, he sighed deeply, his exhaustion evident in his voice as he replied:
"Well… Rena committed murder, and Satoko's stuck with an abusive uncle. Correct?"
Rika nodded firmly. Ryan, still staring into the void, continued:
"Then there's no other way. I'll have to turn to him…"
Rika tilted her head, letting out a "Mii~" filled with curiosity.
Ryan pulled out his phone, opened the gallery, and stopped on his sister Yuki's profile picture. He stared at the image for a few seconds, his face expressionless, almost melancholic.
Rika raised an eyebrow, even more intrigued.
"That's the plan?"
Ryan clicked his tongue and replied in a playful tone:
"No, I'm just adding some drama." He finished with a smug smile and a wink.
In his mind, however, the thought was much more serious: My Masachika side doesn't like this idea… but I don't have another choice.
He opened his contacts and started scrolling through the list, searching for a specific number. When he found it, he tapped to make the call.
The sound of the ringing echoed through the speaker. Each ring heightened Rika's curiosity as she narrowed her eyes at Ryan, trying to decipher his next move.
For a moment, it seemed like no one would pick up. Then, suddenly, the call connected. The initial silence on the other end was broken by a deep, elderly voice, rich with authority:
"Ah… an unexpected surprise. I didn't think you'd call so soon."
Rika slowly turned to Ryan, noticing the growing smile on his face. It wasn't an ordinary smile; it was one of those filled with sarcasm and malice that he wielded so effortlessly.
Then, in an almost theatrical tone, he responded to the voice on the other end:
"I've got something that'll get you excited... Grandpa."
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Yesterday, I couldn't release a chapter because I had a terrible migraine, but to make up for it, I'll be sharing two chapters on Sunday! 💕✨
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