Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

Ryan's face froze, a stoic expression taking over as he stared at the ceiling, trying to remain composed. "It's my phone..."

Rika raised her eyebrows, suspicious, but seeing Ryan's somber face, covered by a strange aura of despair, she decided not to press further. She turned her attention back to the screen, while Ryan silently prayed that the night wouldn't get any worse.

Rika stared at Ryan for a few seconds, as if trying to process his answer. However, unintentionally, she pressed a button on the controller, abruptly starting the game.

Ryan sighed with a smile, starting to explain how to create the character. They spent a good time adjusting the limited customization options. Rika, enthusiastically, decided she wanted to create Ryan in the game and dedicated herself to the task for almost forty minutes, examining every detail.

When she finally finished, she turned to him with a triumphant grin from ear to ear. "So, what do you think?"

Ryan stared at the screen. It was... Dark Souls 1. Character customization in this game was far from its strong point. The final model was... peculiar. If you can recreate yourself in this game, maybe it's time to face some hard truths.

After a long pause, Ryan responded in a drawn-out voice and a forced smile: "It's... the hair looks similar."

But that was enough for Rika, who let out a genuine laugh, satisfied with her masterpiece. Under Ryan's guidance, she chose the Master Key as her starting item and opted for the Warrior class, embracing the legendary strength build.

The game started. Rika appeared in a locked cell, looking around until a key was thrown to her. A little confused with the controls, she started pressing random buttons.

Ryan, seeing her initial struggle with the basics, placed his hands over hers, guiding her movements while enveloping her in an indirect embrace. "Calm down, Mini Miku. Like this, see... this button is for attacking, this one for dodging..." He explained patiently, even while feeling the disconcerting proximity.

The Dark Souls tutorial was straightforward and brutally simple. Rika eliminated the first hollows, who stood still, and felt invincible. When she found the first bonfire and lit it, the achievement notification appeared on the screen. "I'm so good at this!" She celebrated, confident, with a sparkle in her eyes.

Ryan just smirked, silently watching the poor girl enjoy the rare moments of ease the game allowed before revealing its true intentions.

Rika advanced to the large gate ahead, her chest puffed with confidence. "Who's gonna be the next weakling I'm gonna defe-"

Before she could finish the sentence, the Asylum Demon fell in front of her with a crash. The red health bar appeared at the bottom of the screen, accompanied by an epic and menacing music that filled the environment.

Rika's reaction was immediate and obvious. "KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

She began rolling frantically across the screen, mashing buttons like a maniac. In the process, her body moved uncontrollably, causing Ryan to feel the softness of her butt brushing against him.

Ryan swallowed hard, his mind a jumble of inappropriate thoughts.

"Focus, Ryan... Focus!"

Meanwhile, Rika tried to attack the boss. The impact of her blow caused... 2 damage. The Demon's life bar remained motionless.

"Why isn't he dying!?" she shouted in growing despair.

Before she could do anything else, the boss's club descended like a meteor, crushing her completely. The screen went dark, and the iconic words appeared in red: "YOU DIED".

Rika was silent, staring at the loading screen, still processing what had happened. When her character reappeared at the bonfire, she dropped the controller, raising her hands.

"Absolute Cinema!" she announced, with a serious and frustrated expression.

Rika looked back with shining eyes, her voice overflowing with excitement.

"Ryan! That was simply out of this world! I felt like I was in the character's shoes, desperate to face that grotesque monster! I've never seen him before, but just looking at him I felt an absurd fear, an imposing presence I can't even describe! My broken sword was useless against him, and his life bar seemed infinite! His name will forever be etched in my memory: Asylum Demon! How do I face that?!"

Ryan remained frozen, his eyes fixed on the void. He responded in a low, drawn-out voice, trying to disguise his embarrassment.

"I also... had to face a very difficult boss..."

It was a miracle he could formulate any coherent sentence. The way Rika had moved, practically bouncing on his lap during the fight, had tested the limits of his sanity. As much as he had a mature mind, it was difficult to fight against the hormones of a teenage body. After all, he had died at a measly 15 years old and now he was stuck at that age again.

He took a deep breath, focusing on her excitement about the game. With a mischievous smile, he theatrically raised his finger.

"You can't face him now, heheh."

Rika tilted her head, confused, and replied hastily.

"Why not? I overcame a hellish hundred-year loop! In this game, I can also retrace my steps, learn from my mistakes, and adapt! I will-"

Ryan interrupted her, even more theatrical.

"Remember: you only beat the loop when you got a powerful weapon... In this case, me!"

He gave a confident smile, but Rika raised an eyebrow and completed, with a provocative tone:

"And Yuno."

Ryan lowered his shoulders, pretending to be offended.

"Let me have my moment, come on..."

She laughed as he spoke again, this time more seriously.

"Jokes aside, a win is still a win, whether in life or in games. Right now, you can go out a side door and explore the asylum. There's some equipment there that can make your life a lot easier."

Rika listened attentively and, determined, picked up the controller again. Following Ryan's instructions, she found the passage to the side and explored the asylum. She grabbed her starting equipment, received the Estus Flask, and eliminated the smaller hollows with ease.

Ryan, watching closely, smiled proudly.

"Look at you, Mini Miku, you're already getting the hang of it. You're almost looking like a real person."

Rika rolled her eyes but didn't lose focus. When she reached the top of the arena, she crossed the wall of fog and, this time, managed to land the aerial blow on the Asylum Demon, taking a good chunk of the boss's life.

"Yessss!" she celebrated, beaming. But her joy was interrupted when the demon crushed her once more.

And so the hours passed. They laughed, joked, and shared taunts between Rika's countless attempts. During breaks, Ryan would grab snacks and drinks he had bought for the two of them, and they would watch funny videos before returning to the game. Gradually, Rika was learning the boss's patterns and managing to decrease his life bar even more with each attempt.

Until, after several frustrating hours, the miracle happened. Rika managed to land the final blow on the demon.

She dropped the controller and jumped, hopping between Ryan's legs, raising her arms.

"I DID ITTTTTTT!"

Without thinking, she threw herself at Ryan's chest, her warm back against him, who hugged her by the waist, laughing and celebrating together.

"FINALLY, MINI MIKU! IT ONLY TOOK YOU THE WHOLE NIGHT!"

Rika puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms and pouting adorably. Her voice came out sweet but melancholic.

"Ryaaaan, don't spoil it!"

Ryan laughed and pulled her into a tighter hug, feeling the sweet aroma that seemed to be a part of her.

"Just kidding, relax. For your first time playing something like this, you were amazing. Congratulations, Mini Miku!"

She smiled, her face slightly flushed, with the controller in her hands.

"Now let's see who's the next monster I'm going to crush!"

Rika laughed excitedly, running her hand across Ryan's face with an affectionate gesture.

"I'm definitely coming back here more often to finish this game!"

Ryan responded with the same energy, raising his eyebrows.

"This one and two more to go!"

Rika's eyes widened, her expression showing genuine shock.

"TWO MORE?!"

Ryan let out a sly smile, enjoying her reaction.

"Exactly. Dark Souls has two more sequels."

Exhausted, Rika threw herself into his arms, as if she had just climbed a mountain.

"And I thought I had gone through a great challenge..." She sighed, but soon raised the controller as if it were a trophy, completing with a satisfied smile. "At least I defeated a great boss! That's already a victory for today!"

Ryan looked away, almost laughing to himself as he thought.

"It's better if she doesn't know this was just the tutorial boss..."

Now that the moment had calmed down, Ryan began to notice just how close they were. Rika's soft breathing tickled his skin. She was lying against him, her long, silky hair spread out, its sweet aroma filling the air. She hummed softly, smiling in a way that was both innocent and intimate.

The silence between them was broken when Rika turned her head and looked back, her eyes meeting his. The smile she gave was as wide as it was mischievous, the two exchanging glances that seemed to linger longer than usual.

"You're staring at me a lot, Ryan..." she said in a low, almost provocative tone. "Do you think I'm pretty in this new form of mine?"

Ryan understood her intention. It was clear she was trying to embarrass him. But if she thought it would work, she was wrong. With a sly smile, he tightened his arms around her waist and replied, loading his words with a touch of provocation.

"There's no way to lie about this..."

Rika narrowed her eyes, suspicious, as she tried to decipher the tone in his voice. Her thoughts wandered, and she slightly adjusted her position... That's when she felt something pressing against her butt.

She froze instantly. Her eyes wide, fixed ahead, as her mind spiraled into self-criticism and regret. The blush quickly rose to her ears, and her breathing began to accelerate.

"I... what have I done?!"

Ryan, on the other hand, watched everything with a satisfied smile, his astute gaze making it clear that he understood exactly what was happening. He thought to himself, amused.

"Looks like the tables have turned... A hundred years of fanfic experience doesn't help much in the real world, does it?"

To further intensify her reaction, Ryan ran his fingers through Rika's hair, drawing her gaze again. Her face was as red as a cherry, and her trembling eyes revealed her anxiety. Her rapid, shallow breathing was almost audible, and Ryan could feel the cold sweat on her skin.

"Is he really going to do this?" Rika's mind was in complete chaos. "Is he going to kiss me? Like he did with Yuno? And then? Is it going to... happen? Oh my God, does he have protection? I don't! And my body now? Does he find it attractive? Does he prefer me as I was before?!"

But before Ryan could do anything, Rika raised her hand and placed it between them, preventing him from getting any closer.

Ryan stopped instantly, blinking as he tilted his head, confused.

"Huh, what's wrong? Did I misinterpret something?"

Rika, still blushing, took a deep breath, finding the courage to look him in the eyes. Her voice came out low, almost sweet, but full of sincerity.

"No... I want it too. It's just that..." She stopped, placing her hand over her chest, as if she wanted to hold the words inside. When she spoke again, her voice was soft and melancholic. "After a hundred long years... It's hard to believe this is really happening."

Her words hit him like an epiphany. He knew that, despite her confident and playful appearance, Rika was much more complex. She had been through much more than most people would ever dream of. Trapped in a body that did not belong to her, in a village that never changed, she had been denied many simple desires, basic life experiences.

Rika continued, her voice overflowing with affection.

"I want to enjoy every moment..." She paused, as if gathering all her courage before concluding. "With the one I chose."

Ryan remained silent for a few seconds, processing the weight of what she had said. Then, he gave a gentle smile, holding her face in his hands.

"Then let's enjoy it... In our own time."

She smiled back, more relaxed, and the two remained there, embraced, sharing a moment that seemed to last an eternity.

Rika turned to Ryan slowly, settling into his lap. Gently, she wrapped her legs around his waist, closing them in an intimate embrace while resting her hands on his chest.

"...I want to live this moment as I always imagined..." Rika began, her voice trembling slightly, but full of emotion. "Every second as if it were unique. I won't hide my heart from you, Ryan. I still feel like a little girl with silly dreams of romance..."

As she spoke, she leaned over him, lying gently against Ryan's chest. He, without hesitation, began to run his fingers through her long, soft hair, a gesture that calmed her. After a brief pause, Rika continued:

"...I'm still afraid that all of this is a dream." Her voice became choked. "And I feel like crying every time I remember Hinamizawa... But those tears turn into relief when I think of your voice. It was what brought me back."

Ryan remained silent, absorbing every word. He didn't know how to react. The intensity of Rika's feelings took him by surprise. Amidst the whirlwind of emotions, he began to realize something he hadn't considered before: the impact he actually had on her life.

"You said you couldn't be my hope..." Rika raised her teary eyes, looking directly at Ryan. "...But rather the solution. You were wrong, Ryan. You became much more than that. You are the man who pulled me out of the darkness, the man who gave me reasons to truly smile."

Ryan swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. He had never reflected deeply on what he meant to Rika. In fact, he had helped her out of self-pity, trying to fill his own voids... But, without realizing it, he had become her hero.

With a delicate gesture, Ryan raised his hand and wiped Rika's tears. She closed her eyes, resting her face in his palm. The warmth of his touch seemed to bring a security she hadn't felt in a long time.

Rika opened her eyes slowly, with unexpected firmness. Her voice was full of determination.

"Ryan, remember well what I'm about to say..." She paused, allowing the moment to linger, the words full of meaning. "...I've waited a hundred years to say this."

Her eyes sparkled with an incomparable sweetness, and a soft smile spread across her face.

"I love you."

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Hello, reader-kun! 💕 I'm so happy with our fanfic's progress! Exciting things are coming, so I'd love your support with power stones & Patreon! ✨

If we reach 20 Patreon subscribers, I'll post 2 chapters daily! I'm also increasing the advanceds chapters from 25 to 30 soon!

Love you all & thank you for following the story! 💖

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