Chapter 24: I can be the solution

Ryan stared at Rika for a few seconds, the silence hanging heavy between them. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he started messing with his own hair, his voice taking on a playful tone.

"You want me to be your hope? Well..." he dragged the words, as if savoring the moment, glancing sideways at Rika, who was watching him with evident apprehension.

After a moment, Ryan took a deep breath, finally continuing.

"I'm not anyone's hope, Rika. That sounds like a lot of work. But..." he paused dramatically, pointing at himself with his thumb, a defiant gleam in his eyes.

"...I can be the solution. And, you see, it's a solution only I can bring."

Rika pressed her hands to her chest, trembling slightly. Her teeth clenched as her cold voice sliced through the air.

"And how can you offer me a solution? What can you do?"

She stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Ryan, laden with years of frustration and pain.

"I've been stuck here for a hundred years, watching everyone and everything I love die, and I couldn't save anyone. Not even myself."

Despite the harshness in her words, Rika's face seemed frozen, her expression almost anesthetized by the weight of endless years.

Ryan looked away for a moment, as if pondering his response. Then his eyes landed on a small stone on the ground. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"As for that..." he murmured, crouching down to pick up the stone. With a fluid motion, he turned and threw it with surprising force. The impact against the old tree beside the house was so strong it knocked off an entire branch.

The dry sound of the branch hitting the ground echoed through the area. Rika stepped back, her eyes narrowing in surprise.

Ryan turned to her, a smug smile on his face.

"So, Rika..." he began, walking slowly toward her, raising his hand as if expecting her to hold it.

"How about we make a deal? From a guy you just met..." he paused, tilting his head with a provocative smile.

"...for a mini Hatsune Miku project."

Rika's eyes widened, surprised by the sudden and almost absurd comparison, but Ryan continued before she could protest.

"Let's help each other."

Rika took a deep breath, the weight of his words echoing in her mind. Finally, her firm expression returned, and her voice sounded with renewed determination.

"Hm... alright. I accept the alliance. Let's bring a solution to this hell."

She shook Ryan's hand – or rather, Masachika, as she knew him. He smiled, tilting his head slightly in a casual gesture.

"Great. Well, I don't even have water to offer you, but I think it'd be better if we talked inside rather than out here."

As they headed toward the house, Ryan couldn't resist adding, murmuring to himself with a mischievous grin.

"Although, thinking about it, calling this little Hatsune project to an old, dark house seems a bit suspicious... But who's going to judge me? God?"

Ryan opened the door with an exaggeratedly polite gesture, bowing slightly as he indicated for Rika to enter.

"After you, miss of over a hundred years." His voice was laden with sarcasm, but the casual smile on his face softened the tone.

Rika shot him a wary glance before entering. The inside of the house was simple. The lights were already on, revealing a dusty but still functional room. A worn sofa occupied the center of the space, surrounded by modest furniture that had seen better days. Despite the neglected state, the scene wasn't as bad as Ryan made it seem.

He closed the door behind him and, with a theatrical flourish, spread his arms.

"Make yourself at home, Rika."

Rika clasped her hands behind her back, walking slowly as she assessed the environment. Her curious expression was accompanied by a slightly firm tone that contrasted with her childlike appearance.

"Just Rika?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he stared at her.

"Yeah, is there a problem with that?"

His indifferent tone was clear – he wasn't very interested in the issue. Rika, however, gave a slight smirk, clearly enjoying the provocation.

"No, it's nothing. It's just that before you referred to me as 'Rika-chan'."

Ryan let out a short laugh, shaking his head as if reviewing his own choice.

"Oh, that? Well, considering you're over a hundred years old, the 'chan' started sounding kinda weird, you know?"

Rika immediately frowned, her face adopting a look of slight disdain mixed with indignation.

"Ah? I want you to know I'm stuck in my 11-year-old body."

Ryan feigned a serious expression, as if deeply reflecting on the situation. Then, with a voice full of irony, he responded.

"Don't even go there, Rika. You're hitting the second century, for sure."

She waved her hand impatiently, keeping her serious demeanor.

"But that doesn't mean you need to treat me like an old woman. I'm not a child either—"

Before she could finish, Ryan raised his hand, interrupting her with a mock solemn tone.

"Please, Rika. I passed that moral dilemma when I chose Arona as my waifu."

The silence that followed was full of incredulity. Rika blinked a few times, clearly processing the words, before placing her hand on her forehead and murmuring something like "idiot." Ryan simply smiled, amused, as he flopped onto the dusty sofa, clearing a bit of space beside him with his hand.

"Are you going to stay standing, or do you want to continue the philosophical debate right here?"

Rika sighed deeply, as if preparing for the inevitable, and walked over to the sofa. She sat on the other end, carefully adjusting her dress, but Ryan didn't wait a moment before firing his question.

"Alright, what's with that shadow that keeps sticking to you? Is it... like, a burden or something?" He vaguely pointed toward what he saw, his voice full of teasing.

Hanyuu immediately raised her hands, her expression showing a mix of indignation and frustration.

"Hey! I told you, I'm not a shadow! Auau~~!" As she protested, she stamped her feet like a petulant child, though the sound didn't really echo.

Rika watched carefully, noticing that Masachika didn't react at all to Hanyuu's indignation. It was as if her behavior was invisible, almost nonexistent to him.

The girl glanced back at him, her serious eyes seeking confirmation.

"You can see her, but not hear her, right?"

Ryan tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as if analyzing something. His response came in a calm, almost casual tone.

"Look, all I see is a purple blur. It looks like a blurry hologram."

Rika turned her gaze back to Hanyuu, who had stopped her lamenting upon sensing the change in atmosphere. Rika took a deep breath and spoke slowly, as if weighing each word.

"She is... Hanyuu. The only companion I've had all these long years. She's also the one who put me in the time loop..."

Hanyuu lowered her head, her ears drooping slightly, while she whispered something inaudible to Masachika. Ryan, however, didn't take his eyes off Rika. His usual smile was gone, replaced by a serious, almost contemplative expression.

"So, she's the one who's keeping you stuck in this cycle?" He asked, his voice lower now, without any trace of sarcasm.