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Ever since that day when Nijika didn’t realise Ryo had been so stressed about the band and making good music, she had felt a bit guilty and always made an effort to pay attention to Ryo’s feelings.
…Which always ended being a nuisance to her, with how much Ryo loves faking sincerity as well as trolling. But still, she didn’t want to take chances, and for once, it seemed that Ryo was actually a bit more down than usual. She seemed to get lost in thought, ignoring people and wearing a faraway expression..
Wait, isn’t that normal?!
Nijika lets out a sigh and sits beside Ryo, who seems to currently be lost in thought. She stares at her for a while, trying to figure out what it is about Ryo that is bothering Nijika and making her feel worried.
“Nijika, you’re being really creepy right now. Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?” Ryo says suddenly, making Nijika jump. Ryo looks at her as if she is disappointed in Nijika, but Nijika can see past that and knows that Ryo is just poking fun at her. Ugh, this bastard! I’m worried about her and she decides to act like this!
“Ay, don’t act all high and superior now.” Nijika glares at Ryo, resisting the urge to pinch her. “I was just wondering if there was anything bothering you! You seem a bit-“
“There’s nothing wrong.” Ryo cuts in. When she realises she’s spoken too fast, she looks away, knowing she just gave herself away. Wait, there’s actually something bothering her? Ryo rarely interrupts Nijika unless on purpose to annoy her, so now Nijika is actually worried-
“I actually just ran out of allowance to pay for my grandmother’s hospital fees. I’m so worried about my grandmother, so I am going to go visit her in the hospital.” Ryo says and tries to get up, but Nijika grabs her and forces her to sit down again.
“I’m not gonna fall for that! Are you trying to skip out of work?!” Nijika scolds her, really annoyed now. Sigh, Ryo is so insufferable!
Ryo grows quiet again and doesn’t say anything more. Nijika lets out another sigh and leans against her seat and looks around. Her sister is sitting on a bar stool, typing away at her laptop. PA-san sits beside her, silently scrolling through her phone.
Bocchi seems to be in one of her usual moments, blubbering about something as both she and Kita clean the mess of an accident Bocchi caused with the drinks. More than Ryo, maybe Nijika should be worried about Bocchi. But Kita seems to be taking care of her right now, clearly having a lot of fun and chatting with Bocchi happily as they clean together.
Nijika looks back at Ryo, and realises that Ryo has been staring at them as well. Nijika can’t be sure, maybe Ryo is just idling around and watching the two as entertainment (Nijika can’t deny, Bocchi and Kita are really funny), but Nijika as thinks about recent things that have happened that she’s noticed, she feels like she just might have an idea of what’s going on.
“Ryo, you better not try to run away once we close up.” Nijika warns her and Ryo looks like she’s about to complain, so Nijika escapes and goes over to Bocchi and Kita to help them out.
Once the clean up is done, Kita thanks Nijika enthusiastically and Bocchi does it very meekly. Nijika lets out a small laugh and shakes Bocchi’s shoulder lightly.
“Don’t worry about it, Bocchi! We all make mistakes! It wasn’t anything too crazy and we managed to clean it all up, so it’s all good!” Nijika consoles her.
“That’s right.” Ryo pops in to say. “You know, one time me and Nijika forgot about the water and snuck out, and when we came back the place was flooded!” Ryo said, looking extremely proud and doing a thumbs up at Bocchi.
“AAAAGH, YOU DON’T NEED TO TELL THEM ABOUT THAT!” Nijika yells in embarrassment, swatting at Ryo. “And why do you look so proud of that!?” At least Bocchi seems to have cheered up, though Nijika sweats a bit as she hears Bocchi mumble ‘even such capable people have made even bigger screw ups than me.. heehehehee..’
“It’s hard to imagine you both being so careless!” Kita laughs, surely thinking about how angry Seika must have been at them.
“Don’t remind me of that. The water bill that month was absolutely horrendous.” Seika shudders and glares at Nijika and Ryo, while shooing out Kita and Bocchi. “Come on, we’re closing up now.”
As Bocchi and Kita start leaving, Ryo tries leaving with them and Nijika has to call her back. She was definitely trying to escape! That’s enough to resolve Nijika into talking with Ryo and helping her out however she can.
“Nijika, you’re so horrible, trying to keep me away from my ill grandma in the hospital. She has very little time left..” Ryo fake sniffles. Remember your resolve Nijika, and resist punching her!
“Come on, I’ll get you a snack at the food truck.” Nijika sighs and Ryo immediately perks up.
“Wow, I just got a message that my grandma has made a full recovery and that my parents will be taking her home.”
“You haven’t even checked your phone!”
-
Nijika and Ryo sit by the pipes, sharing some fries.
“So about what’s been bothering you..” Nijika starts. Now that they’re alone, maybe Ryo will open up to her!
“Now that my grandma is doing well, I am totally fine.” Ryo responds. Still dishonest as always!
“You’re still keeping that up!” Nijika rolls her eyes. “You’re so dishonest. I can tell something is up. If you won’t say anything, I’ll say what I think it is!” Ryo looks at her silently for a while.
“..Alright.” Ryo gives in. She pops another fry in her mouth and looks at Nijika expectantly.
“I hate to say it, because I think she deserves way, way better than you, but I think you’re worried about love.” Nijika says. Just as she expected, Ryo makes a face at her and looks like she’s about to hurl.
“Absolutely not.” Ryo glowers at her. Nijika knows that Ryo is not the biggest fan of romance, always cringing at happy couples doing excessive PDA or expressing their love. But Nijika has noted that Ryo doesn’t seem to mind whenever Kita gets all excited or expressing her affection for her. In fact, it seemed Nijika was the one who always got annoyed, especially when Ryo jumps at every opportunity to get money or food from Kita and Nijika has to step in since Kita can’t resist spoiling Ryo’s undeserving ass.
“Come onnn, admit it! I know something is up!” Nijika probes her. Nijika thought Kita could do a lot better and she doesn’t see why in the world you’d ever want Ryo for a romantic partner, just being friends is insufferable enough, Nijika thinks. More than anything though, she wants her friends to be happy, so if Kita truly loves Ryo and Ryo feels the same for her, Nijika will take it upon herself to drag Ryo out of her denial before it becomes a problem for them all.
“What a delusion you’ve fooled yourself into believing. There is nothing worse than people in love. Acting so frivolous and thoughtless, these couples never think about those around them and do whatever they want while bothering everyone.” That sounds exactly like you, minus the couple part!
“You’re so impossible.” Nijika sighs. Yeah, Nijika guessed that this wouldn’t be easy. “You say that you hate when couples fawn over each other, but you sure don’t seem to mind when Kita-chan does that with you!” Nijika says.
“Love is great. You can get free gifts and food from the person who likes you.” She changed her stance immediately?!
“I know you, Ryo. You aren’t fooling me!” Nijika shakes her head. While Nijika can’t deny that Ryo does jump at every opportunity to make Kita spoil her, the only reason Nijika hasn’t totally stopped it or made Ryo make things clear with Kita is because she knows that Ryo does care about her and Nijika had suspicions that this wasn’t a simple case of unrequited love on Kita’s part. “The only reason I bring this up is because I’ve noticed you’ve been off and it’s annoying to see you be in denial.”
Ryo grows quiet, seeing that Nijika is serious and that it’d just be more trouble than benefit to keep annoying her, and there’s no worth in continuing to be in denial.
“I need some time to think. I need some calories to get my brain working, so I’ll be taking the rest of this.” Ryo says, snatching the paper bowl in Nijika’s hands and claiming all the fries as hers.
“Wha- Hey!” Nijika exclaims in surprise. Shaking her head, she snatches up one last fry and lets Ryo have the rest. I suppose I’ll let her have a treat if she’s going to be less annoying. But god!
Ryo took some time to start talking, eating up all the fries before talking. “…At first, I had doubts that Ikuyo’s feelings would last, so I didn’t really consider having any feelings or take anything really seriously because I thought things would come to pass with time. I thought it would be great to mooch off her while I could, without getting her hopes up or breaking her heart.”
“Your dishonesty in annoying but your honesty is something else as well.” Nijika sweats but laughs, and Ryo chuckles along with her.
“Heh, you could say I was just being upfront about who I am to her. She kinda ignored that sometimes, but I was pretty indifferent. But months went by and she didn’t seem to lose her interest. I guess I can’t blame her, I am pretty great.” Ryo says, not dropping the chance to fan her ego.
“Hey now, let’s not get overconfident.” Nijika warns, but she continues listening to Ryo. It’s nice to hear Ryo being honest, even if she can’t resist adding on annoying comments. Nijika can’t help but think that she really wishes Kita didn’t encourage Ryo so much!
“Right, right.” Ryo waves Nijika off playfully and then continues. “Something changed recently. I said before that Ikuyo used to ignore things about me or see me in a different light, but she doesn’t anymore. I think she’s been trying to get to know me better now, which caught me off-guard.” Ahhh, that’s what it was. There’s been a shift in their relationship that Ryo wasn’t really expecting, and it’s got her thinking now.
“Wow, you really are capable of care and thought.” Nijika can’t help but poke fun at her. Ryo grows quiet again, not having much else to say. “Hmm, alright, I understand now! So you’re not really sure how to take things forward from here, right? I didn’t expect you to have such a cute side!”
Ryo lets out a small groan, her look of disgust coming back. “Don’t say that. I’d never stoop to the levels of something so silly and mushy. I’ll have you know that I am far above that level of pathetic.” What are you even saying?!
“…Right. Alright then, what’s your plan then?” Nijika asks, curious of Ryo’s feelings and if she really ‘far above’ it all.
“…I don’t know.” She isn’t! “I need more time before I can decide if I want to be committed. …But, I wouldn’t say that I don’t like her.” Ryo says quietly. Not wanting Ryo to make another face and say something strange, Nijika refrains from saying she seems very sweet right now.
“Alright, I can tell you care. I don’t know why Kita-chan is into you, but I give you my blessings!” Nijika says, playfully smacking Ryo’s back.
“What are you, Ikuyo’s father?” Ryo asks, but she smiles at her. Nijika smiles back at her, enjoying the moment they’re having together. It’s rare to have a moment like this with Ryo, which shows that she really does care.
“Excuse me, father, but can we discuss the dowry?”
“Get lost and stay away from Kita-chan!”