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43.24% Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze / Chapter 14: Me and my g-

Bab 14: Me and my g-

"Well..." Ryan began, his voice tired and slightly bitter as he pulled the hoodie over his head. Luckily, he was wearing a white t-shirt underneath. "When I left home, it was cold and there was a forecast of rain." He paused, furrowing his brow as if reflecting on fate. "But damn... why is it so hot here?"

In front of him, Yuno continued marching with long strides, ignoring his comments. However, this wasn't enough to silence him.

"And what kind of place is this? It's six in the morning, and not a single shop is open! Do you realize we've been walking for TWO HOURS?!"

Finally, Yuno stopped, audibly sighing before turning around, her eyes glowing with irritation.

"Why don't you save your energy? We're almost there."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, looking at her with clear exhaustion.

"We are? And how do you know that, huh?"

With a look of disdain, Yuno lifted her chin, her voice full of superiority.

"It's a matter of geolocation, idiot."

Ryan let out a half-smile, responding with the same sarcastic tone.

"Oh, sure. You're just praying we get there soon, that's it."

Without bothering to respond, Yuno spun on her heels and hurried on, the silence between them falling once more. For a moment, Ryan almost thought he might finally get some peace, but then the unexpected sound of a stomach growl echoed through the air.

Yuno froze in place.

Ryan stopped behind her, trying to process what he'd just heard. Just as he was about to speak, Yuno's voice sliced through the air like a sharp blade.

"If you say ANYTHING, I swear... I SWEAR I'll tear up that contract and send everything to hell!"

He froze, trying to hold back a laugh that was rising in his throat. With an evident smile on his face, he decided to tease.

"Just answer me one thing..." He tilted his head, his voice full of amusement. "Did you eat anything before leaving home?"

Yuno clenched her fists, her face visibly reddening in irritation. Without answering, she spun on her heels and resumed walking, muttering sounds of pure displeasure as her footsteps echoed on the empty road.

Ryan stayed behind, now laughing softly to himself. "Definitely, this trip has been worth it..."

As he tied the hoodie around his waist, Ryan let his thoughts wander, analyzing the situation. "It's curious... physically, I don't feel tired, but the challenges are still here: heat, thirst, hunger... It seems these 'upgrades' we got aren't as impressive as I expected."

He kept walking, his gaze fixed on the ground, the unbearable heat draining his mood. After a few seconds, he sighed deeply, letting out loud:

"God, but I'm dying of thirst..."

Ahead, Yuno kept her pace, her hands now stuffed in the pockets of her coat while her expression hardened. "Damn..." she thought, feeling a slight discomfort in her stomach. "I didn't eat anything before leaving home... and now I'm dying of thirst too..."

Despite the obvious frustration, she would never admit it to Ryan. "That idiot doesn't need to know I'm in the same boat as him." With this thought in mind, she quickened her pace, as if trying to escape the conversation—and perhaps, the need to stop.

As she quickened her steps, Yuno spotted some houses appearing in the distance. Before she could say anything, Ryan, at her side, interrupted with excitement:

"Ahhh! Finally! The village is right there!" He exclaimed as if he were seeing the finish line of a marathon.

"I really hope there's a shop open..." she muttered in frustration, wiping sweat from her forehead.

Yuno kept silent, her gaze fixed ahead. It was then she noticed a girl walking toward them from the opposite direction, strolling leisurely. She had short orange hair, with two strands framing her delicate face. Her large blue eyes displayed a friendly, maybe slightly shy, expression. The school uniform she wore was classic: a white blouse with blue details, a yellow tie, and a matching blue skirt. Dark shoes and folded white socks completed the look, while her posture gave off a reserved and modest air.

Ryan noticed the girl soon after, and his voice rang out, loud and unmistakable:

"HEY, GIRL!"

The girl immediately stopped, her eyes wide with surprise as Ryan approached with hurried steps, clearly exhausted.

"Please, tell me this is Hinamizawa..." he asked, almost pleading, his breath heavy from the endless walk.

The girl placed a fist to her chest in a polite gesture, slightly tilting her head before responding softly:

"Good morning. Yes, you're in Hinamizawa."

Her curious eyes shifted from Ryan to Yuno, who was approaching right behind him, her expression cold and impassive. Yuno said nothing, just raised an eyebrow as if silently evaluating the newcomer.

Ryan smiled kindly while bowing politely.

"Sorry for approaching you like this out of nowhere. My name is..." He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing in a quick thought. 'Wait, do I use Ryan Gosting or Masachika Kuze?' Deciding quickly, he settled naturally on:

"Masachika Kuze."

He then gave Yuno a meaningful look, as if saying: 'Your turn.'

Yuno kept her eyes on him for a few seconds, her expression clearly judgmental, before suddenly softening. With an unexpectedly sweet voice, she replied:

"Hello, my name is Yuno Gasai." Accompanying her words, she gave a slight bow, as polite as it was forced.

The girl, maintaining a warm smile, responded kindly, mirroring the gesture:

"Welcome to the small village of Hinamizawa. My name is Ryuuguu Rena."

Her voice was calm and friendly, but not without a hint of curiosity as she looked at the two of them. Then, with a gentle smile and her eyes briefly closing, she continued:

"I suppose you're here for the Watanagashi festival, right?"

Her tone was so welcoming that it almost felt like a personal invitation, though it was clear it was just the village's typical hospitality.

Ryan furrowed his brow as his eyes scanned the village, taking in the simple, rustic environment. After a brief moment, he turned his attention back to Rena and began speaking:

"Kind of... I and my g-..." He hesitated, glancing at Yuno, whose irritated expression stared at him like a sharp blade. Ryan gave an awkward smile before continuing:

"...my friend and I are exploring historical places, but..." He scratched the back of his neck, letting out a defeated sigh.

"Due to a miscalculation, we've ended up without water or food..." His voice took on a nearly dramatic tone as he finished:

"Please... tell me there's a shop around here..."

At that moment, the silence was broken by another loud stomach growl from Yuno. Her cheeks instantly flushed, and her fists clenched tightly as if she were fighting the urge to punch the air—or maybe Ryan.

Rena gently placed a hand over her face, hiding the understanding smile that appeared. Her voice was kind:

"Well, it's still too early for many shops to be open... Actually, none of them are."

The tired sigh that escaped Ryan was almost audible. He ran a hand over his face, trying to maintain composure.

"And at least one place to buy water?" he asked, exhaustion evident in his tone.

Rena placed a finger on her chin, assuming a thoughtful expression.

"Hmm... Well, my house is just over there. I wouldn't mind offering you some water."

Before Ryan could respond, Yuno quickly spoke up with surprising speed:

"Yes, please."

Ryan's eyes widened, surprised by her eagerness. His smug smile appeared almost immediately as he thought, 'Look at that... Miss Pride was really desperate.'

He shot a playful look at Yuno but said nothing—which, for him, was already a heroic feat.

Rena gestured delicately, pointing in the direction. Her voice was naturally sweet:

"Come on, my house is just over there."

Ryan nodded, beginning to follow her, with Yuno doing the same, though in complete silence. As they walked, Ryan glanced sideways at Yuno, noticing how visibly stressed she seemed. A mischievous thought crossed his mind: "Look at that... walking with a cute girl makes everything easier. Little does she know, this pink-haired girl could make even the devil run crying to God."

They walked for a few minutes until they spotted Rena's house—a neatly kept residence by village standards, surrounded by a low wall and an impeccably maintained garden.

Rena stopped at the door and turned around with her typical gentle expression.

"I'll bring a jug of water and some glasses for you."

"Thank you very much, Ryuuguu-san," Ryan replied politely, while Yuno remained completely silent, her arms crossed.

As soon as Rena stepped inside, Ryan took the opportunity to provoke Yuno:

"You know… you're sweating more than you should. Not that it's any of my business, but don't you think that coat is a bit... unnecessary in this weather?" His remark was, as always, dripping with sarcasm.

Yuno lifted her chin, looking at him with the disdain of someone stepping on something unpleasant.

"How I dress is none of your business." Her voice was sharp but controlled, though the irritation in her eyes betrayed her real frustration.

Ryan crossed his arms, a mocking smile spreading across his face.

"You're naked under that coat, aren't you?"

Yuno made a sound of contempt, twisting the corner of her lips into a pure expression of disgust.

"Tch."

The exchange was brief, but the discomfort in the air was almost tangible — at least on her side. Ryan, of course, was simply enjoying himself.

_____________________

If you wish to see the advanced chapters, you can check the link below:

patreon.com/ErisNoSeraph


PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
ErisNoSeraph ErisNoSeraph

Hey, everyone! Just a quick reminder about the message regarding your support on the 16th when the power stones reset. I’m counting on you to help keep our story strong in the monthly rankings! In the meantime, I’ll keep working hard to deliver 2 chapters a day as promised. Thank you for everything!

next chapter

Bab 15: Waifu's NPC dad

After a few minutes, Rena returned, balancing a tray with a pitcher of water and two glasses. Her gentle smile seemed to brighten the already calm morning even more.

Before Rena could say anything, Yuno reacted quickly, almost snatching the pitcher from her hands and placing it on the low wall with barely concealed haste. Ryan watched the scene, holding back a laugh as he noticed the barely hidden desperation in the girl as she filled her glass with the precision of someone carrying liquid gold.

Taking advantage of the moment, Ryan, with his trademark theatricality, approached Rena and hugged her without warning, raising his voice dramatically:

"AAAAHHH! YOU'RE A TRUE HEROINE!"

Rena was completely surprised, her face turning slightly red as she raised her arms, unsure how to respond to Ryan's sudden enthusiasm.

"Ah... it's just water..." she murmured shyly, trying to hide her confusion.

Meanwhile, Yuno, already with a full glass in hand, watched the scene with a mixture of disdain and resignation. Her thoughts were as clear as the water she was drinking: "He's a pervert... A clever pervert, but still a pervert."

She took a slow sip, as if she needed the strength from the water to stop herself from throwing the glass at his head.

Rena, visibly embarrassed, made low, almost inaudible sounds as she tried to break free from Ryan's embrace. He, on the other hand, wore a smug smile, clearly enjoying her reaction as the girl grew more and more lost in her embarrassment.

It was then that a firm and curious adult voice interrupted the moment:

"Ah! Rena... Who is this guy?"

Ryan released Rena with a light contained laugh, and she, still dazed, quickly turned to face the man.

"It's a misunderstanding, Dad! He was just..." She seemed to search for words, but confusion overtook her expression.

As she turned to the man, Rena found him accompanied by a woman with short, pink hair, styled in a modern way with bangs falling over her face. Her deep, expressive red eyes conveyed confidence with a touch of provocation. She wore a tight yellow top, strapless, highlighting her silhouette, paired with light pink fitted pants, creating a casual yet bold look.

Rena, now visibly more serious and with a heavier tone, responded without hesitation:

"He was thanking me for bringing water to him and his friend."

She turned to Masachika and Yuno with a cold, almost impassive expression.

"I need to go now, I have to head to school." And without waiting for a response, she began to walk away, leaving the two of them behind.

Ryan watched with an amused smile as Rena's father approached, clearly curious:

"I apologize, is there anything else I can do to help?"

Ryan smiled and walked toward Yuno, who was watching everything in silence.

"Geez, Yuno-chan, you drank almost all the water!" He said playfully, filling his own glass as Yuno glared at him. However, she said nothing, relieved that at least her thirst was quenched.

Ryan finally satisfied his own thirst and, after returning the pitcher and glasses to the man, said with a courteous smile:

"Please thank Rena when she comes back, she was very kind."

The man, a bit awkward, collected the items, smiling kindly.

"Rena is a sweet girl, I'm not surprised she does things like this," he said with a smile, while the woman beside him murmured:

"I need to talk to her later..."

Ryan began to walk away, with Yuno following him in silence, until she finally spoke in a threatening tone:

"Don't add 'chan' to my name."

Ryan glanced at her for a moment, smiling smugly.

Ryan, with a mocking grin, said:

"I have something that will improve your mood..."

Yuno furrowed her brows, staring at him distrustfully, until he looked up and shouted:

"Arona-chan! I need you!"

In an instant, Arona's voice rang out beside them, filled with energy:

"Present, Sensei!" Ryan looked down and found little Arona already holding the glowing blue glass panel.

With a smug tone, Ryan continued:

"When I hugged that girl, I felt a tingling all over my body. What could that be?"

Yuno tilted her head, paying more attention to the conversation.

Arona, with a gleaming smile, showed them a chart on the vial's screen, saying:

"Look! Look!"

Both of them looked at the screen, which displayed 'Divine Level 12%'. Ryan placed his hand on his chin, thoughtful, before speaking:

"Let me guess, it's not her, but... she's probably close to the right person?"

Arona beamed with pride, nodding her head.

"That's right, Sensei! You're sooo smart!" She blushed with happiness, visibly excited.

Yuno, with a serious expression, stepped forward and spoke:

"Great, let's follow the girl and track her connections. If you want, you can start with her father." She looked directly at Ryan.

Ryan shrugged and waved his hand, disinterested:

"No, don't is the father."

Yuno tilted her head, looking at him with contempt:

"Huh? I didn't see you hug him to confirm."

Ryan smiled with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"I didn't hug him, but did you see his face?" He paused dramatically before adding:

"The guy is literally an NPC dad of a Waifu."

Ryan's comment made Yuno lose her patience. She slapped him hard across the face, and Ryan, narrowing his eyes, stared directly into hers. With a dark expression, she said in a grave tone:

"Take this seriously... idiot."

Ryan smiled perversely, unbothered, and replied:

"Of course... Captain."

Ryan kept his mocking expression while locking eyes with Yuno.

"It doesn't make sense for it to be him..."

Yuno, still with a serious look, stared at him intensely and asked bluntly:

"How can you be so sure?"

Ryan approached Arona, gently running his hand through her hair. Arona made a satisfied expression, and Ryan began to speak in a calm tone:

"Twelve percent... is really low. If it were her father, I'm sure it would be higher. Isn't that right, Arona?"

Arona, with her sweet voice, confirmed:

"He's right, Yuno-sensei."

Yuno took a deep breath, clearly frustrated, and started walking without looking back.

Ryan watched the scene, and with a provocative tone, asked:

"Where are you going?"

Yuno, without diverting her gaze, replied curtly:

"Following the girl."

Ryan shrugged and, before walking away, ruffled Arona's hair once more.

"That's it, Arona-chan. I'll call you if I find something out or, who knows, if Yuno tries to kill me." He finished with a wink toward Arona, who responded with a playful smile and a similarly mischievous wink.

He then approached Yuno while continuing, thoughtfully:

"Twelve percent... It seems like a lot, but still, it's quite low if you think about it..."

Yuno glanced over her shoulder, her tone mocking:

"Yeah, it's really low, but it surprises me that the first girl you approached in the village is connected to the Fortunio..."

Ryan made a dismissive expression, replying quickly:

"It wasn't harassment, I was just thanking her."

Yuno, uninterested, responded:

"Whatever. Let's find that girl again and track the people she's in contact with."

Ryan shrugged again but, as he turned his gaze, noticed a small shop open, selling fresh fruits. A sly smile formed on his face as he began to walk toward the store.

Yuno noticed he was deviating from the path and shouted, furious:

"Where are you going, idiot?"

Ryan made a calming gesture while answering her with a mischievous grin:

"Calm down, pinky. I'm just going to buy something to improve that mood of yours."

Yuno practically growled in frustration, but her stomach rumbled as the scent of fresh fruit reached her nose.

Ryan approached the fruit stall and, with a polite smile, asked the vendor:

"Good morning, please tell me you also have some sweets here…"

At that moment, two little girls, who were shopping, turned almost simultaneously and stared at Ryan for a few seconds. He observed them with curiosity. The first girl had long, light indigo hair styled in a hime cut, fitting the image of a miko. Her eyes were amethyst purple, slightly drooping, and she was shorter than the other girl beside her. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt with a pink bow, a navy blue skirt, blue suspenders, white stockings, and red shoes.

The other girl, standing next to the first, had short blonde hair and pink eyes, with sharp canine teeth visible. She wore a black headband, a bright green dress, a yellow sun-shaped bow, a white sailor collar, black stockings, and brown shoes.

The two stared at him for a while until the blonde girl spoke in a playful tone:

"You're not from around here, are you?"

Ryan tilted his head, responding casually:

"No, I'm definitely not from here."

Yuno approached, arms crossed, her expression visibly annoyed as she cast a look of disdain at Ryan.

The blonde girl, excited, clapped her hands and exclaimed:

"Ah! So this year we'll have visitors from other cities for the festival!"

The blue-haired girl, with a calm expression, simply observed him curiously without speaking.

The blonde girl continued, gesturing enthusiastically:

"You're lucky, you know? They sell some candies and ready-made snacks here! I was shopping with Rika."

She turned to her friend, who remained silent but seemed to nod slightly.

Ryan smiled genuinely, looking at the vendor:

"Put some sweets and..." He cast a glance at Yuno, who was still with her arms crossed and a serious expression. "...eight snacks, please."

Yuno let out a small "Humpf," enough for Ryan to notice. He smiled slyly, his smug expression returning to his face, but his attention was quickly diverted by the blonde girl again.

"You still haven't confirmed... Did you really come for the Watanagashi festival this year?"

Ryan adopted a thoughtful expression for a few seconds before responding:

"Ah, yes! You mean the traditional festival in the village, right?"

He smiled, thinking to himself: "Good thing I read a bit about this place before coming... even without pictures, the texts about the festival were helpful."

The blonde girl responded enthusiastically:

"Wow! See, Rika? This year you'll have an audience from outside!"

She laughed cutely while poking her friend, trying to cheer her up.

Curious, Ryan crossed his arms and asked:

"What do you mean, she'll have an audience?"

Satoko spread her arms, gesturing energetically:

"Well, she's the shrine maiden! She's the one who does the dance during Watanagashi."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly before speaking casually:

"Ah, I see. By the way, my name is Masachika Kuze. And this here..." He hesitated for a moment, casting a quick glance at Yuno. "...is Yuno Gasai, my friend."

The blonde girl smiled gently, bowing politely:

"I'm Hojou Satoko, and this is my friend, Furude Rika."

Ryan turned his gaze to Rika, who had remained silent for almost the entire conversation. He noticed something peculiar in her posture until she murmured something almost inaudible:

"Ni..."

Curious, Ryan furrowed his brow and leaned slightly toward her.

"What did you say, little Hatsune Miku?"

Rika murmured again, a bit more audibly:

"Ni..."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, as he tilted his head. Then, suddenly, the girl broke into an angelic smile, tilting her head slightly to the side, and spoke with an incredibly sweet and sing-song voice:

"Nipaaaaa~! >⩊< ♡"

Ryan felt a sudden stab in his chest, his hand flying to his heart as he thought incredulously:

"Shit! I didn't expect a critical hit like this!"

_____________________

If you wish to see the advanced chapters, you can check the link below:

patreon.com/ErisNoSeraph


PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
ErisNoSeraph ErisNoSeraph

Hey, everyone! Just a quick reminder about the message regarding your support on the 16th when the power stones reset. I’m counting on you to help keep our story strong in the monthly rankings! In the meantime, I’ll keep working hard to deliver 2 chapters a day as promised. Thank you for everything!

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