Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

Ryan stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed, toweling his hair dry as he strolled leisurely across the living room. He cast a casual glance at the clock on the wall, murmuring in a calm voice, "What time is Yuno bringing Rika? It's almost nine o'clock at night..."

As if summoned by his words, Yuno appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye, bringing Rika along. She wasted no time before launching into a visibly irritated speech.

"Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I want you to—"

She froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she took in the scene before her: Ryan, standing completely naked, casually drying his hair as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Yuno's face turned bright red in an instant. She hurriedly covered Rika's eyes, screaming in sheer panic:

"YOU IDIOT, WHY ARE YOU NAKED!?"

Ryan, completely unfazed, rested one hand on his hip, replying casually, "Well, I'm in my own house. I have the right to walk around like this whenever I want..."

Yuno nearly exploded. "BUT YOU KNEW WE WERE COMING, YOU PERVERT!"

Ryan shrugged, maintaining his usual calm. "Yeah, but it's not normal for visitors to appear in my living room without knocking. So the mistake is yours, not mine."

Yuno, burning with shame and anger, struggled to keep her eyes fixed on his face, while firmly holding Rika's eyes closed. But the small girl wasn't helping, trying to peek through her fingers.

"Can you put on some clothes or cover that thing!?" Yuno practically begged, in a tone that sounded more like a desperate order.

Before Ryan could answer, Rika, with her innocent and provocative voice, blurted out, "I wonder... Will it fit?"

Yuno's indignant cry came immediately. "What are you saying, Rika!?"

Rika, unfazed, made a short, mischievous sound as she squeezed her eyes shut, as if she were just playing. "Mii~!"

Ryan, with a lazy sigh, walked to the bedroom. He put on simple, comfortable clothes and returned minutes later, pulling on a loose T-shirt while still drying his hair.

Yuno, now with her arms crossed, forced an authoritative posture to hide her embarrassment. "Tomorrow, at eight o'clock sharp, I want her back home. Do you hear me?"

Ryan scratched his neck, clearly annoyed. "And why don't you come get her yourself? Literally, it only takes you seconds."

Yuno furrowed her brows, her frustrated tone escaping in her hesitant reply: "It's just that..."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, urging her on. "It's just what, girl?"

With a heavy sigh, Yuno finally finished, the irritation evident in every word: "It's just that my mother wants to see you, you fucking asshole, trash, scumbag."

Ryan let out a mocking laugh. "Damn! A combo of insults! You're inspired today."

Meanwhile, Rika, with a mischievous smile and her hands behind her back, approached Yuno. "I already know the rules, Yuno. You can go, you're free to leave."

She made an exaggerated gesture with her hand, as if she were shooing Yuno away.

Yuno raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "And why are you in such a hurry for me to leave, huh?"

Rika, with a sly smile, put one hand near her mouth, pretending to confide something. "It's because you're wasting my time with Ryan."

The words dropped like a bomb. Yuno shot Ryan an icy glare, laden with threat. "No funny business, Ryan Gosting."

Ryan raised his hands in surrender, a cynical smile already on his face. "For my part, I'm clean. Now, if she attacks me, that's not my problem."

Yuno sighed, giving them both one last cold look before disappearing before their eyes in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Yuno disappeared, Rika, with a curious tone, turned to Ryan. "You don't mind her insults?"

Ryan shrugged as he walked to the fridge, grabbing something inside. "Nah. I know deep down it's her way of showing jealousy."

Rika raised her eyebrows, clearly intrigued, as she settled on the couch. "Jealousy?"

Ryan turned around, displaying a tub of ice cream he had just taken out. "Ever heard of a tsundere?"

Rika brought a finger to her face, thoughtful. "Actually, I read a lot of novels while I was stuck in that eternal loop..." She blushed slightly before continuing, staring at Ryan with an appraising look. "But, on second thought, isn't she more like a yandere?"

He approached with his usual calm, handing her the tub of ice cream. "It's all a matter of interpretation."

Rika opened the ice cream, her face lighting up with excitement. "Mii~! You got my favorite flavor! How did you know?"

Ryan winked at her, his humor sharp. "I'm observant enough to remember that it was the same flavor you chose at the Watanagashi festival."

Rika's happy smile was enough of an answer for him.

After a relaxed moment, Ryan got up and grabbed a controller from the shelf. Noticing, Rika tilted her head curiously. "What's that?"

Ryan smiled, already expecting this question. "This, my dear Mini Miku, is one of humanity's greatest creations... The video game!"

Rika's eyes sparkled with genuine interest. For someone like her, whose biggest dream was to experience the new, this seemed fascinating.

Ryan sat down next to her, placing the controller in her hands. "And since I'm a natural observer, I noticed that you try to hide it, but you're amazed by the things here in the big city. You're trying to appear superior, but deep down..." He paused dramatically, teasingly. "You're just a dazzled little kid, used to the simple life in your peaceful little village."

Rika puffed out a cheek, indignant. "That makes me sound like a hick..."

Ryan made a careless gesture with his hand, the provocation evident in his tone. "Am I wrong?"

Rika looked away with a short, cute "Hmpf!", trying to keep her composure, but her expression already betrayed her amusement.

Ryan, however, softened the teasing with a genuine smile and a sweeter tone. "But you're a very cute hick, I won't disagree with that."

Rika let out a small smile, but it was enough for Ryan to feel satisfied.

He then began to explain how to use the controller, patiently guiding her as he turned on the PS5. When the console interface appeared on the screen, Rika's eyes shone even brighter, like a child's on their first trip to an amusement park.

Ryan stood up as if presenting a grand spectacle, raising a finger in the air dramatically. "And now, Miss Mini Miku, it's time for the fun part!"

Rika gripped the controller with her small hands, looking at him with complete concentration, as if ready for a great challenge. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Ryan couldn't help but smile, already anticipating that it would be a long night — and full of laughter.

"Now, get ready for the best game ever invented by man..."

As Ryan spoke, the screen came to life with the FromSoftware logo, accompanied by the iconic sound that heralded something epic.

Rika, practically hypnotized, fixed her eyes on the screen. Then, the cinematic intro began.

"In the Age of Ancients, the world was unformed, shrouded by fog..."

She remained speechless, absorbing every word and scene, while Ryan sat on the floor, facing the sofa, legs crossed, an expression of satisfaction playing on his face.

"A land of grey crags, archtrees, and everlasting dragons..."

Rika didn't even blink, completely immersed until the end of the cutscene. When the title screen appeared with the logo "DARK SOULS: REMASTERED", accompanied by the message "Press any button to start", she turned to Ryan, her eyes wide and her breath quickening.

"When did all this happen!?" she asked, fascinated.

Ryan blinked, surprised by the question, but couldn't help but burst into laughter. He slapped his hand on his leg as he laughed uncontrollably.

"Wait, wait... You thought this actually happened?" He tried to catch his breath, wiping away the tears that were streaming down his face. "Rika, it's just a story! A very good story, but just a story!"

Rika blushed slightly, puffing out her cheeks.

"You could have warned me! Geez, you go back in time! Why couldn't there be dragons and all that soul stuff!?"

Ryan continued laughing, almost sobbing. Every time he tried to stop, another wave of laughter hit him. Noticing this, Rika narrowed her eyes. A mischievous smile spread across her face, an idea taking shape.

She slowly stood up, calmly adjusting her skirt, and walked towards him with slow, almost calculated steps. She sat down on the floor, exactly between Ryan's crossed legs, getting close enough that he could smell the sweet scent of her hair and the softness of her skin.

In a lively, almost innocent voice, she let out a sonorous "Mii~".

Ryan stopped laughing instantly, his face taking on a surprised expression. Rika noticed his reaction and, with a smug look, added as if nothing was happening:

"It's better if I stay really close like this so you can teach me how to play properly!"

Ryan swallowed hard, his mind racing.

"Shit... I forget she has about 100 years of experience... I'm a poor innocent boy compared to this evil old woman!"

Determined not to show nervousness, he adopted an indifferent tone.

"You can start the game by creating a character..."

As he spoke, Rika settled in further, leaning her back against his chest, practically using Ryan as a pillow. He could feel her softness and warmth, as well as his own heart racing.

Rika, noticing his restlessness, thought to herself, a mischievous smile forming.

"I knew it, hehe... He's nervous!"

Meanwhile, Ryan was fighting an internal battle.

"For the love of me, control yourself... Don't get hard... DON'T GET HARD!"

But not all prayers were answered.

Feeling something growing against his butt, Rika asked with a curious, almost innocent tone:

"What's that hard thing?"

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