Chapter 142: Ryota Kise, Sister Cerberus
"Wow! Master... Ren, Ren, Ren! It's so lively here!"
The exclamation burst from Cerberus the moment they stepped off the bus. She spun around on the pavement, her twin white pigtails whipping through the air like excited pendulums. Her crimson eyes were wide, trying to take in the sheer density of the city center all at once.
Ren stepped up beside her, adjusting the collar of his casual jacket. He looked around the bustling district. It was a sea of noise and color. Giant LED screens played advertisements for the latest idol groups, the music thumping in a rhythm that matched the heartbeat of the crowd. The air smelled of exhaust, perfume, and the faint, sugary scent of crepe stands.
"It is lively," Ren agreed, extending a hand. "Stay close. Don't get lost in the current."
Cerberus grabbed his hand immediately, interlacing her fingers with his. Her grip was tight, a mix of excitement and the instinct to stay tethered to her anchor.
"Mm-hm!" she hummed, her step bouncing.
They began to walk.
It was a simple act—a man and a girl walking down a street—but in a place like this, appearances were everything. And they were striking.
Ren moved with a calm, athletic grace that drew the eyes of passing women. He didn't look like a chef; he looked like a model or an athlete on his day off. Beside him, Cerberus was a magnet for attention. Her exotic features, the stark white hair against the vibrant city backdrop, and the boundless energy radiating from her made heads turn.
"Look at that girl," a passerby whispered. "Is she a cosplayer? She's cute."
"That guy is totally her boyfriend. Lucky..."
Ren ignored the whispers, used to being the center of attention whenever he walked with the supernatural residents of his shop. He let Cerberus drag him from window to window.
"Ren, Ren, Ren!" Cerberus tugged his arm, nearly pulling him off balance. She pointed a gloved finger at a brightly lit booth squeezed between a game arcade and a clothing store. "What's that thing? It's flashing! And music is coming out of it!"
Ren followed her gaze. "That is a Purikura booth. A photo sticker machine."
"Stickers?" Cerberus blinked.
"Yes. Friends and couples go inside, take photos, and then decorate them with digital stamps and sparkles. Then the machine prints them out as stickers."
Cerberus's mouth formed a perfect 'O'. "Stickers... of us? Can we do it? Please, please, please!"
Ren checked the time. They had the whole day. "Let's check it out on the way back. We have plenty of time to explore first."
"Okay!" Cerberus chirped, satisfied with the promise.
They continued their aimless wandering. To Cerberus, who spent most of her time in the Underworld or the confines of the Restaurant, this was an adventure. Every shop window was a treasure chest; every street performer was a marvel.
However, as they moved away from the main shopping district and toward a more open community area, a different sound began to cut through the ambient city noise.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
It was a rhythmic, heavy thudding. A sound of impact.
Ren stopped walking. His head tilted slightly as he analyzed the sound. It wasn't construction work. It was sharper. More resonant.
Sister Cerberus looked at him in confusion, her ears twitching beneath her hair. "Ren, Ren, Ren! What's wrong? Is it a monster? It sounds like something hitting the ground really hard!"
Ren smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pinpointed the source. "No, not a monster. Just a rhythm."
He changed direction, guiding Cerberus toward a fenced area near a public park. "Follow me."
As they got closer, the sound became distinct. It was the hollow thud of a synthetic leather ball striking asphalt, followed by the metallic rattle of a rim and the squeak of rubber soles.
Swish.
"Good shot!"
They turned a corner and found themselves facing an outdoor basketball court. It was enclosed by a high chain-link fence. Inside, the summer heat radiated off the pavement, but that didn't stop the group of tall young men running drills inside.
Sister Cerberus pressed her face against the wire mesh, her fingers hooking into the links. "Ren, Ren, Ren! What is this place for? Why are they hitting the ball? Are they mad at it?"
"It's a basketball court," Ren explained, watching the players through the fence. "It's a ball sport, just like tennis, but this one doesn't use a racket. You use your hands to dribble and throw the ball into that hoop up there."
"Basketball?" Cerberus repeated the word, testing it on her tongue. She watched a player leap into the air. "It looks... intense. More running than tennis."
"It can be," Ren nodded. "Let's go in. We might even run into someone we know."
"Mm-hm!"
Cerberus didn't care where they went, as long as she was with Ren. She unhooked her fingers from the fence and skipped after him through the open gate.
The smell of the court was distinct—rubber, sweat, and sun-baked asphalt. Ren scanned the players. Most were average high schoolers enjoying a day off, their movements unrefined but enthusiastic.
But one figure stood out.
He was playing on the far half of the court. He was tall, lean, and moved with a fluidity that separated him from the rest. His golden-blonde hair caught the sunlight as he drove past a defender with a lightning-fast crossover.
Bang.
He slammed the ball into the hoop with a casual, practiced ease. It wasn't a showy dunk; it was efficient. Precise.
"Good shot!" his temporary teammates cheered.
The blonde young man wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He walked over to the bench, grabbed a water bottle, and tilted his head back to drink. His throat worked as he gulped down the water.
As he lowered the bottle, he turned around to scan the court.
He froze.
The water bottle paused in mid-air. He blinked, rubbing his eyes with his wrist as if he were seeing a hallucination brought on by heatstroke.
"Brother Ren?!"
The young man capped his bottle quickly and jogged over, a wide, charismatic grin spreading across his face. He was undeniably handsome, with piercing golden eyes and a model-like quality that made even his sweat-drenched jersey look stylish.
Ryota Kise.
[Akarin's Note: Ryota Kise is a member of the "Generation of Miracles" from Kuroko no Basket and a fashion model. He first appeared in Chapter 142.]
"Brother Ren! Why are you here!" Kise exclaimed, stopping in front of them, radiating golden retriever energy.
Ren smiled, reaching out to pat the younger man on the shoulder. The muscle under his hand was dense and toned—the body of an elite athlete. "I was just shopping nearby and heard the sound of a good game. I didn't expect to find you here, Ryota. Shouldn't you be at practice?"
Kise laughed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, you caught me! How did you know? Did you see my social media post?"
"Yes," Ren admitted. "You posted a selfie with the hoop ten minutes ago. It popped up on my feed."
"Busted," Kise grinned. "Well, there was a small family matter yesterday, so I took a day off. I thought I wouldn't make it back in time, but I arrived last night. A rare holiday! I wasn't in the mood for a date, and singing karaoke alone is sad, so I came here to wander around. And I really did find some fun."
He looked past Ren, and his eyes landed on Cerberus.
His eyebrows shot up into his hairline.
"Whoa," Kise whispered. He looked at Ren, then back at Cerberus, then back at Ren with a look of pure, unadulterated admiration.
"As expected of Brother Ren!" Kise shook his head in disbelief. "You're never short of beautiful girls around you! Hello! I'm Ryota Kise!"
He flashed his signature model smile—the one that usually made high school girls swoon and ask for autographs. It was dazzling, practiced, and completely ineffective on the girl in front of him.
Sister Cerberus stared at him blankly. Her crimson eyes blinked once.
"Cerberus..." she muttered.
Kise faltered slightly at the lack of reaction. Usually, girls giggled. "Just... Cerberus?"
"This kid is Ryota," Ren intervened, saving Kise from the awkwardness. "He's very enthusiastic with people he knows. Don't mind him."
Ren turned back to Kise, looking him up and down appraisingly. "Your basketball skills have improved. Your center of gravity is lower when you drive. It seems your goal hasn't changed."
Kise's expression turned serious for a split second, a flash of competitive fire burning in his golden eyes. "Of course! I must defeat Aomine-cchi!"
"Daiki, huh?" Ren nodded. "He and Satsuki are at Touou Academy now, right?"
"Yes! That lazy genius..." Kise shook his head, then brightened up again. "Hey? Brother Ren! Since you're here, are you going to play? There's still a little time before lunch. Let's play a game! Then we can go eat together!"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "You want to play against me? You're not planning to imitate my moves, are you?"
"Copy you?" Kise laughed nervously, waving his hands. "I don't have your physical fitness, Brother Ren. Copying you would probably tear a muscle. Just a friendly game! You can rent a jersey at the front desk. My rental hasn't expired yet."
Ren considered it. He looked at Cerberus.
"Do you mind waiting for a bit?" Ren asked her.
Sister Cerberus shook her head vigorously. She walked over to the bench and sat down, kicking her legs. "No! I want to watch! Run, Ren, run!"
Ren nodded and walked toward the reception desk to get a jersey.
While he was gone, Kise stood near the bench, wiping his face with a towel. He looked at Cerberus curiously. She was humming a tune, completely absorbed in her own world.
"So," Kise started, trying to make conversation. "Sister Cerberus, where are you and Brother Ren from today? A date?"
"From the shop!" Cerberus replied cheerfully. Then she paused. "Sister Cerberus?"
She tilted her head. No one had ever called her "Sister" before. It sounded... respectful. She liked it.
"Yeah," Kise nodded. "You're with Brother Ren, so you're Sister Cerberus. Are you living at Brother Ren's place?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Cerberus nodded vigorously. "I've always lived at the shop! I sleep upstairs!"
Kise's jaw dropped. He looked toward the changing rooms with newfound awe.
"Living together..." Kise muttered to himself. "As expected of Brother Ren! He's really amazing... fast worker..."
"Ryota," a voice called out.
Kise jumped. Ren was walking back onto the court. He had changed into a loose rental jersey that showed off his toned arms. He spun a basketball on his finger with casual ease.
"What bad things are you whispering about me?" Ren asked with a smirk.
"Nothing!" Kise stood up straight. "Just praising your... efficiency! But seriously, Brother Ren, how did you get a physique like that? You're a chef! It's unfair! It's too cool!"
Ren tossed the ball to him.
Thwack.
Kise caught it instinctively with one hand.
"Cooking is physical labor," Ren said simply, stepping onto the painted key. "Now, show me what the Generation of Miracles can do."
Kise grinned, his demeanor shifting from playful model to focused athlete. The air around him changed, becoming sharper.
"You asked for it!"
Ren glanced at Cerberus, who was watching them with wide, excited eyes from the bench.
"Cerberus," Ren called out. "We'll go eat right after this game."
Cerberus raised her fists in the air.
"Okay!"
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