Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

After Ryan caught his breath in Rika's new clothes, the two decided to walk to the festival area. The sun was already painting the sky with orange hues, and the sound of birds mixed with the distant echoes of laughter and conversations. The scent of burning wood and food prepared in the tents began to fill the air, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Between jokes and indirect compliments from Ryan, the path was filled with subtle teasing.

"So, Mini Miku, enjoying your debut in the world of modern fashion?" he said, sidestepping a rock on the trail.

Rika smiled faintly, hiding her slightly blushed face. "Mii~... It seems like this was something you wanted more than I did, Masachika."

Ryan smirked smugly, placing his hands in his pockets. "Well, I just thought it was a good upgrade. That little dress of yours was begging for retirement."

When they reached the Furude Shrine area, the festival's setting was beginning to take shape. Colorful tents were arranged in neat rows, adorned with paper lanterns and streamers dancing in the wind. The sound of conversations and preparations filled the lively environment.

"I bet you're already tired of seeing the same setup over and over," Ryan remarked, observing the area with a critical eye.

Rika sighed, adjusting the ribbon in her hair. "Yes... Even though some worlds have slight differences, it's not enough to feel new. It's like watching the same movie repeatedly."

Before the conversation could deepen, an excited voice interrupted them.

"Rika-chan! Masachika-kun!"

They turned to see Mion waving with a broad smile, accompanied by Rena. The two approached enthusiastically, carrying bags that swung with the rhythm of their steps.

"Good morning, girls," Ryan greeted, his expression relaxed as he tilted his head slightly. "You arrived early at the festival. Seems like your excitement is above average today."

Mion was the first to respond, brimming with energy. "Of course! Watanagashi is the village's biggest festival, and we always make sure to help with the organization!"

Rena, ever kind, smiled ear to ear, but something quickly caught her attention. Her eyes sparkled as they landed on Rika.

"Rika-chaaaaaaan! You look adorable! I want to take you home!" Rena exclaimed, running to hug her. She rubbed her cheeks against Rika's with such intensity that it almost felt like a strength contest.

"Mii~! Do you think I look pretty?" Rika asked in an angelic voice, placing her hands together in front of her face, her innocent smile lighting up her expression.

"You look like a little city girl, Rika-chan!" Mion replied, holding Rena by the shoulders to prevent her from actually "kidnapping" her.

Rika, still smiling, casually but pointedly commented, "Nipaa~! >⩊< ♡ Masachika got these clothes for me."

Mion and Rena's gazes immediately fell on Ryan, their expressions a mix of judgment and curiosity. Sensing the weight of their suspicions, Ryan raised his hands in surrender.

"Calm down, girls. I just made the girl happy with a new outfit. Keep those dirty thoughts to yourselves."

Rika, clearly enjoying the situation, let out a soft giggle. "Mii~!"

Soon, everyone was laughing, and the atmosphere lightened. While Mion and Rena explained the final details of the festival preparations, Ryan let his eyes wander around the shrine. He observed the tents, lanterns, and activity, appreciating the harmony of the scene.

"I admit I didn't expect such a small village to pull off something so well-organized," Ryan commented, more to himself than to the others.

Mion crossed her arms, raising her chin proudly. "Did you think we country folk would fall below your expectations, Masachika?"

Ryan shook his head. "That's not it. I just find the effort impressive."

Rena smiled warmly. "Even though we're a small village, Hinamizawa is very close-knit. Right, Mion? Right?"

Mion nodded vigorously. "Yes! Even the kids help with the organization. It shows how much everyone cares."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "You had school on Saturday and still helped with the decorations? That's what I call dedication... or child labor."

Mion laughed. "It's not like that! It's more of a tradition."

Before they could continue, another energetic voice approached.

"Hey! You're up early!"

It was Keiichi, walking with a wide grin. He greeted Ryan with a firm handshake.

"Good morning, my bro Ryan!" Keiichi said, almost laughing.

"Good morning, my bro Keiichi!" Ryan replied in the same tone, the two exchanging a quick fist bump.

The girls, watching the interaction, sighed in unison. "Men are so simple..."

"Well, since we arrived early, how about helping set up the stage where Rika will perform?" Mion suggested, crossing her arms with a confident smile.

"Great idea, Mion! With everyone helping, the stage will be ready in no time!" Rena replied, visibly excited. Ryan, however, cast a curious glance at the girl.

If he hadn't known beforehand about the Hinamizawa Syndrome, he might have thought Rena had some kind of split personality. One moment sweet and angelic, and the next, broken enough to make Yuno seem normal—which, in itself, was an impressive feat.

"Masachika-kun, could you lend us a hand? It'd be great to have a strong boy help!" Mion asked, her voice tinged with teasing.

Keiichi sighed, slumping his shoulders in mock indignation. "You talk as if Masachika is the only man here!"

Ryan raised his arms theatrically, his voice dripping with mockery. "Wow, unfortunately, it seems there's no man around here to help me."

"Masachika-kun! I thought you were my friend!" Keiichi retorted, punching the air as if imagining Ryan's face right in front of him.

But then, as if something had just occurred to him, Keiichi paused for a moment. A faint blush spread across his cheeks, and he addressed Ryan in a slightly embarrassed tone:

"Changing the subject… Where's Yuno-san? Isn't she coming to the festival?"

Ryan turned slowly, a sly smile forming on his face. He raised his hands dramatically as he turned his back to the group. His voice was casual but full of innuendo:

"Let's just say the surprise I gave her last night left her sleepless."

The group fell into absolute silence for a few seconds, their eyes wide as they tried to process what he had just said.

"That is…" Mion attempted to respond, but her mind seemed to be spinning in circles. Her eyes wandered aimlessly, searching for some logic in his statement.

Rika, with a slightly awkward smile, let out a short and sharp "Mii~."

Keiichi, on the other hand, was completely frozen, his cheeks redder than a tomato. He stammered, trying to form words that simply wouldn't come.

It was Rena, still processing the situation, who voiced the question on everyone's mind:

"By the way, Masachika-kun, what's your relationship with her? Are you really just friends?"

Ryan smirked sarcastically as he turned back to the group. "Interpret it however you like..."

Keiichi felt his heart race. He was visibly flustered, but before he could articulate a response, Ryan continued, the ironic smile still plastered on his face:

"Pinkie got all shy when we started sweating in the middle of the action, but honestly, it's her fault for being so full of provocations."

The effect was immediate. Mion, Rena, and Keiichi all turned as red as peppers. Mion was the first to react, stammering as she hid her face with her hand:

"P-pervert…"

Ryan waved his hand dismissively, laughing as he brushed off the misunderstanding. "Ah, come on, guys! Relax! I'm just joking! Look at you all!"

Keiichi let out a deep sigh, scratching his head in frustration. "That's not something to joke about, Masachika! What if this kind of misunderstanding spreads?"

Without missing a beat, Ryan slung an arm around Keiichi's neck, pulling him into a brotherly embrace. "The way you're talking, it almost sounds like you're relieved it's not true..."

The blush on Keiichi's face returned, even more intense. He stumbled over his words, trying to explain:

"N-not at all… Ah! Masachika, how about we start working on the stage already, huh?"

Meanwhile, Mion observed the interaction between Keiichi and Ryan closely. It was hard not to notice how flustered Keiichi got whenever the topic involved Yuno. She smiled to herself, thinking about how simple and transparent men could be sometimes.

In an effort to lighten the mood, Mion quickly rallied the group toward the next task. "Let's get moving! We still have work to do!"

Ahead of them, the scene was far from encouraging: several wooden planks were scattered across the ground, alongside disassembled frames and large, rustic torches that looked like they belonged in a medieval festival.

Ryan raised an eyebrow as he took in the chaos before him, letting out a tired sigh. "So, this is all that's left for the stage?"

Before anyone could respond, Rika seized the moment to tease him. With a playful smile, she raised her arm in a cheerleader-like gesture. "I know you can do it, Masachika-kun! faitoooo!ooo nano desuu~"

Ryan, with no way to dodge the implied challenge, rolled his eyes and began rolling up his sleeves. "Damn it, and here I thought I'd have a chill day…" He bent down and grabbed one of the larger planks.

"Wait, we'll help you carry that—" Mion started to say, but her sentence trailed off. Ryan had already lifted a massive wooden plank with unsettling ease. It must have weighed around 110 kilograms, yet he carried it as if it were part of a casual workout.

Turning to the group with his usual nonchalant demeanor, he sighed theatrically before speaking:

"Look, I at least hope Rika's dance is worth the effo—"

He stopped as he noticed the group's wide-eyed stares. Mion, Rena, and Keiichi were all gaping at him, utterly incredulous. Even Rena, usually sweet and optimistic, seemed at a loss for words.

"Fuck... I messed up," Ryan thought, realizing he might have gone too far.

Rika, as always, was a step ahead. She let out a soft giggle, clearly amused by the situation, which almost made Ryan laugh as well. He decided to improvise, turning the moment into a theatrical act.

Suddenly, he began to fake his legs trembling violently, as if he were on the verge of collapse. "Guys, my show's over… mind helping me out here?"

The performance was so obviously bad that anyone with common sense would have seen through the lie. But in that absurd context, the group went along with it, perhaps because the alternative—believing he had lifted that plank so easily—was even harder to accept.

"You're terrible at this," Rika muttered quietly, still smiling.

"And yet, it worked," Ryan whispered back, winking at her before placing the plank in its designated spot.

Keiichi finally regained his composure, crossing his arms and huffing. "Alright, alright… Enough showing off, Masachika. Let's get this done before the festival starts, or we'll still be here lugging wood."

Mion shook her head, still perplexed, but chose to drop the subject. "Keiichi's right. Everyone, let's get to work! Let's finish this quickly."

Despite the oddity, the group quickly returned to their work, but the memory of Ryan's "performance" lingered in each of their minds. Rika, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the situation even more, keeping a mischievous smile on her lips as she helped organize the stage.

Suddenly, a deep, drawn-out voice cut through the relaxed atmosphere. "Oya, how fortunate to find you all so easily. That saves me some effort."

Everyone turned to see Ooishi, the old detective, walking toward them. His expression was serious, though not hostile. He stopped in front of Rena and fixed his gaze on her.

"Ryuuguu Rena, could you come with me for a moment? I promise it won't take long."

The lighthearted mood evaporated instantly. Rena's face turned serious, her usual brightness fading away.

"Hm… How can I help you, Ooishi?" Her voice was cold, almost devoid of emotion.

The detective hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "We can talk right here, if you don't mind…"

Rena cut him off immediately. "No. Let's go somewhere more private."

Without waiting for a response, she began walking toward the back of the Furude Shrine, leaving her friends behind. Ryan watched the entire exchange with a calm yet observant expression. When Rika glanced at him, seeking answers, he simply winked, reassuring her.

"Trust me," she seemed to infer from his demeanor, even though he hadn't spoken a word.

At the back of the shrine, Ooishi finally spoke, his voice laced with frustration and weariness. "Rena-chan… I…"

Rena interrupted him curtly, her tone icy. "Be direct."

Ooishi took a deep breath before continuing. "About the case of the missing woman who was dating your father… We've received confirmation at the station. It was ruled a suicide."

Rena felt a cold shiver grip her chest. Her mind began to spin with doubt as she whispered:

"But… how?"

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I finally managed to reach 20 advanced chapters on Patreon, and I'd be so happy if you could help me keep this story going! The upcoming arcs will focus on a more recent anime, with more romance featuring the popular characters hehe. By the way, do you have a favorite? 😊 Anyway, thank you so much for all the support with the power stones and comments — they really motivate me to keep writing! 💖 Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday! ☀️

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