I_LOVE_RICE+

V4 Chapter 31: Dangerous in Every Sense of the Word

"What the heck is going on?! Why isn't Rikki replying now either?!"

With a growing sense of dread, Chihaya Anon didn't hesitate, she immediately bolted in the direction of RiNG.

She had a terrible feeling that Soyo might be with Haru right now. And if that was really the case, then things were bad, very bad.

She'd seen the future in a dream. She knew. She couldn't let Soyo spend time with her boyfriend so easily again.

Soyo was just too crafty!

If Nagasaki Soyo d...

V4 Chapter 30: She Was Born for This Line of Work

To sum it up, the current situation was incredibly awkward.

Kazami Haru had used the skill Soyo's Recon and Counter-Recon to detect that he was being tailed. But when he turned around and pinned the stalker against the wall, he was shocked to discover it was Misumi Uika.

What he didn't notice, however, was that Nagasaki Soyo was also nearby.

And, of all things—she had seen the exact moment he was pressing Misumi Uika against the wall.

Why didn't the counter-recon ski...

V4 Chapter 29: Because This Is [Destiny]

The soft light of the morning sun pierced through the clouds, shining gently through the thin, bluish curtains, casting a misty glow across the polished wooden floor. That light, refracted by the glass, landed softly on the girl's face.

Her long, silky hair spilled across the pillow, catching the warm orange hues of the morning light like strands of gold.

Lying on her side, Nagasaki Soyo had, at some point, opened her eyes. Her head felt heavy and foggy, and for a while, she could...

V4 Chapter 28: Understanding and the Eternal Autumn

[Though Nagasaki Soyo had unusually poor stamina and was easily knocked down by you, it was as if she was born with a supernatural ability to recover, just a short rest and she could resume playing.]

[As her experience with performing increased, she began to actively experiment with new strategies and flourishes.]

[Gentle by nature, like a model wife, Nagasaki Soyo made full use of this talent that was hers alone. Though she didn't go to school, she still wore the Tsukinomori unif...

V4 Chapter 27: Forget-Me-Not

[So, you decide—]

[1. Let's do this!]
[2. Not the time—hold back.]
[3. Virtual Reality—Enter personally.]

A sudden special choice appeared before him, catching him completely off guard.

But from the earlier simulation text, Kazami Haru already knew exactly what this was about.

Special choices like this carried unimaginable weight. Nagasaki Soyo wasn't just some ordinary girl. She was insecu...

V4 Chapter 26: Whatever, Let’s Fight!

[After careful thought, you ultimately chose to decline Togawa Sakiko's invitation.]

[You realized you no longer had the energy to take on the responsibilities of managing another band. Not to mention, the identities of Togawa Sakiko's band members needed to be kept secret. For someone with a girlfriend, this job might do more harm than good. Perhaps even Sakiko herself didn't want Nagasaki Soyo to find out.]

[With that in mind, you apologized sincerely to Togawa Sakiko. But it se...

V4 Chapter 25: Soyo, I Love You.

The sweltering heat at the end of July still lingered into the quiet of night.

Yet, thanks to yesterday's rainfall, the air carried a touch of coolness. The mist that had blanketed the night sky had silently vanished, and now, the silver river of stars glittered clearly above the city's skyline.

Plip...

A girl with soft chestnut-brown hair walked beside Kazami Haru, smiling brightly.

It was summer break, so Nagasaki Soyo wasn't wearin...

V4 Chapter 24: Nagasaki Soyo’s Confusion

Togawa Sakiko coldly threw out her final words and stood up. To her, Nagasaki Soyo was nothing more than someone indulging in her own self-satisfaction, making decisions for others without ever considering their feelings.

Worst of all, she had used Kazami Haru as a means to an end.

At this point, there was nothing left to say between them.

"Excuse me, customers? Your food is ready!"

A golden-braided waitress came over with a tray, her voice cautious as she noticed Saki...

V4 Chapter 23: CRYCHIC Isn’t Over Yet

"Mmm~ Mmm-hmm~"

Surrounded by stray cats, the white-haired Raana softly hummed the gentle melody of Haruhikage, expertly plucking her guitar strings with the tip of her pick. The shimmering tones flowed from the bent wires, elegant and flowing, as if she had become one with the music.

Her emotions intertwined with every note, poured through her guitar, and into the open air.

There was no doubt—this catgirl, who'd been playing since childhood, possessed a rare musi...

V4 Chapter 22: MatchaParfait~

The Next Day, at RiNG—

Kazami Haru arrived at RiNG at the agreed time to meet with Sakiko, just like usual.

Though Haru had encouraged Nagasaki Soyo to join in on band practice again, like before, it seemed Soyo still didn't want to face the rest of MyGO. So, for now, the matter was left hanging.

Even in the sweltering summer heat, the live house was packed with people. Many band members were getting ready for upcoming performances. With school on break, s...

V4 Chapter 21: I Gave In Again

The Nagasaki Household—

Led by Mrs. Nagasaki, Kazami Haru somehow found himself inside Soyo's home.

And wow, it was exactly what you'd expect from a luxury Tokyo duplex. The moment the door opened, a wide entryway, high-end furniture, an unbelievably spacious living room, and towering floor-to-ceiling windows came into view.

Just eyeballing it, the place had to be over 300 square meters. It looked more like a high-end hotel than a place anyone actually liv...

V4 Chapter 20: I’ll Do Anything

10:25 AM

A green-haired girl in a dark navy dress stepped wordlessly into a quiet café near Haneoka. The moment she entered, her calm golden eyes scanned the room as though searching for something.

This was a traditional, elegant café—quiet and refined, perfect for serious conversations. Nagasaki Soyo had once discussed Kazami Haru here with Kazami Haru, so Wakaba Mutsumi had a clear memory of this place.

"Mutsumi~ over here!"

A soft, cheerf...

V4 Chapter 19: There’s No Turning Back Anymore

Shiina Taki couldn't understand why Sakiko, a former member of their band, had come to the performance in the first place. So when Nagasaki Soyo lashed out emotionally afterward, she didn't get it and had no intention of trying to.

To her, Togawa Sakiko was ultimately just a selfish person who disbanded the band on her own and hurt Takamatsu Tomori.

She hated Togawa Sakiko.

Showing up unannounced just to cry and run away? That was utterly baffling behavior in Shiina Taki's e...

V4 Chapter 18: No Regrets Anymore

"You're right..."

A flicker of emotion crossed Nagasaki Soyo's face. The tips of her fingers, gripping her bass, turned slightly pale from tension. Before Takamatsu Tomori could notice, she quickly restored her usual gentle and elegant smile.

But in her eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible shadow of sadness emerged.

"Alright, Tomori, let's get on stage too~"

"Mhm... okay."

Tomori gave a firm nod, hugging her notebook to her chest as she slowly walked toward the st...

V4 Chapter 17: Form a Band for Life

"Little Soyo~ Mama's home!"

Wearing a sharp business suit, Mrs. Nagasaki playfully called out as she entered the house, instantly throwing herself into her daughter's warm arms. It was the kind of clingy greeting where their roles as mother and daughter felt completely interchangeable.

All the exhaustion from the day melted off her as she flopped onto the couch, not wanting to move an inch more.

"Welcome home, Mama~"

With her soft brown, slightly wavy long hair, Soyo s...

V4 Chapter 16: Sakiko-sensei Is Too Cute

What ramen shop could it be?

As Haru followed beside Sakiko, he started realizing the road felt incredibly familiar. Then they turned down an alley and walked right up to a certain shop's entrance. The moment he saw it, his face twisted into a rather complicated expression.

And of course, the ever-perceptive Sakiko noticed his subtle reaction.

"Is this place no good?"

Her brows knit slightly, wondering if she'd brought him to a place he didn't like.

"…No, I thi...

V4 Chapter 15: Sakiko, So Cute.

"It's been about a year since we last met, right? It feels like you've really changed, Sakiko."

"Has it been that obvious?"

Sakiko Togawa lifted her coffee cup with a grace etched into her very bones. Beneath her poised smile, though, her heart held a trace of bitterness.

Even her childhood friend Uika Misumi, who hadn't seen her in a year, could immediately tell something was different. That only made Sakiko feel more restless and suffocated.

Sakiko… Something's def...

V4 Chapter 14: We’re Gonna Flop If We Go On Stage Like This

Though the process was a little rocky, MyGO's band practice finally got off the ground.

The downside of going a while without proper training was painfully clear: their ensemble work was a mess.

The rhythm guitarist couldn't keep up with the drummer. The lead guitarist played way faster than the beat. The bassist didn't realize her amp wasn't even plugged in until the very end. And the vocalist's voice got quieter the longer she sang…

As the keyboardist, Kazami Haru was fi...

V4 Chapter 13: Bro, You Smell Kinda Nice.

Shiina Residence, Living Room —

"This is so lame!"

"What the hell were you thinking?!"

Still reeling from the jump scare of waking up to a pink-haired gremlin in her face, Shiina Taki was panting heavily, visibly shaken. She shot a sharp, hawk-like glare at Kazami Haru, as if she might actually lunge and bite him.

Takamatsu Tomori, seeing how agitated Taki was, thought she was the cause of the trouble. She lowered her head, visibly disappoin...

V4 Chapter 12: Wait, You’re Really Gonna Sing?!

Night.

In Tokyo, where neon lights blaze and skyscrapers tower in every direction, even the quietest hours of night can't dull the city's energy. Bars and clubs line the streets, their dazzling signs and electric colors lighting up the night, while the crowds and laughter make the city feel just as alive as it does in the day.

But next to one girl—

There was only an indescribable silence.

"Sorry, Soyo-chan. Mommy can't come home tonight."

The f...

V4 Chapter 11: Brotherhood Is in the Heart.

In a moment of panic, Shiina Taki grabbed Kazami Haru by the wrist.

Under her sister Shiina Maki's shocked gaze, she yanked Haru into the room and slammed the door shut behind them. Haru swore he heard the faint click of a lock turning.

Wait a second, she definitely locked it just now, didn't she?

Sure, this wasn't Haru's first time in a girl's room, but… something about this time felt off.

Shiina Taki stared sharply at the now-locked door before tu...

V4 Chapter 10: I Really Wanna Be Bros with Taki for Life

Wait a minute!

Chihaya Anon, fingers flying across the chat window, suddenly paused mid-message, her mind snapping into clarity.

If she texted Haru right now asking about Rikki's situation, wouldn't that just be pushing her own worry onto him and in turn, make Haru start worrying about Rikki too?

She knew exactly what kind of person her future boyfriend was. He'd definitely go check on Rikki himself.

"Hold on! Wouldn't that basically be me hand-delivering<...