"That isn't important. First, let me explain the use of the 2 of Hearts. This is the only known undead card without side effects."
"How can it not be important! Forget it, Anon-sama is magnanimous and won't mind your unintentional words."
Rikuo originally wanted to seriously explain the card's function, but hearing Anon say she was magnanimous, his half-smile turned into a full laugh.
"Riku, if you keep this up, I'm really going to get angry!"
"Alright, alright, I won't laugh! Pfft."
"Riku!"
Anon's pink hair began to stand on end.
"Okay, I'll continue explaining. The ability corresponding to the 2 of Hearts is soul, which means it can better control one's mind and body. If used by you, Anon, it can significantly speed up your guitar learning."
"Is that so? Riku, that's really great! Although I can't learn it directly, if I'm making progress, Taki probably won't scold me too much."
"One can't become an UZI in one go, and experience accumulated slowly is the most valuable."
"Although I don't know who UZI is, I understand."
"Oh, and one more thing, possessing an Undead card attracts Anomalies."
"Ah? Then, Riku, let me give the 2 of Hearts back to you. Compared to being pressured by Taki, I care more about my own safety and the safety of those around me. If an Anomaly comes, the innocent people around would be too pitiful."
Anon's greatness needs no words!
"You don't need to worry about that. According to my estimation, Anomalies only appear during the Ouma ga toki, which is from 3-5 AM and 5-7 PM. And I will stay by your side whenever you are holding the 2 of Hearts."
"Is that so? Then I'm relieved! Thank you, Riku!"
"You're welcome, Pink Husky!"
"Riku! You're calling me that again!"
Tomori watched the two harmoniously interacting (in her opinion, Anon was just being held by Rikuo's forehead so she couldn't reach him), and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She also thought Anon was going to confess to Rikuo, and if that were the case, she wouldn't know how to face them. She didn't have any romantic feelings for Rikuo, just simply regarded him as an older brother, only afraid that he would leave her behind.
'After all, we promised to be friends for life.'
...
"Anyway, since you've calmed down, let's try out the 2 of Hearts's effect first."
"Hmph, I'll let you off this time, Riku. If you call me that again next time, I won't be so polite!"
Anon showed her little fangs, pretending to bite. But her grand roar and pink-haired coloring only made people find her adorable.
'Fangs... No, stay calm, Rikuo! Sakiko-sensei is invincible!'
Anon slung her guitar over her shoulder, picked up the card as a pick (the card is hard, so let's assume it's hard, otherwise, with one less hand, she couldn't play), and activated the ability as per Rikuo's instructions. She felt her mind become exceptionally clear, and her finger movements became more flexible. She casually picked a song, and although still a bit stumbling, she could basically control the chords and rhythm.
"So amazing! I feel like a guitar genius!"
"As long as it's useful, you can practice for now. I'm going to take a call."
Rikuo saw his phone screen light up, showing a call from Soyo. He walked to the side, not to disturb Anon's practice.
"Hello Soyo, did you find any clues? That fast? It hasn't even been 30 minutes."
"Yes, Rikuo-kun, the person is the younger brother of a friend of mine. She told me after I asked. She also kept complaining to me that her brother's chuunibyou was getting worse and worse."
"I have to say, as expected of Soyo, you have a wide circle of friends."
"Rikuo-kun, don't tease me. What should we do now?"
"You ask your friend to arrange for her brother to come out. I'll explain things to him. Let's set it for when the band rehearses this afternoon. You go to the band, and I'll negotiate with him."
"Then let's do that, Rikuo-kun. If there's nothing else, please hang up."
'If it weren't for Soyo, it would probably be quite troublesome. Tsukinomori students are all direct promotions from middle school, so their social circles don't overlap with Anon's.'
After hanging up, Rikuo looked at Anon, who was still practicing guitar.
'To be on the safe side, I'll have to take back the card during rehearsal. Anon, you'll have to fend for yourself.'
Watching Anon proudly show off her learning speed to Tomori, Rikuo laughed again, but this time he was far away, so Anon couldn't hear.
...
The day's classes passed quickly, and the three of them arrived at Ring.
Rikuo immediately saw Soyo at the entrance, as well as a girl wearing the same Tsukinomori uniform beside her, and Tanaka Ninosuke standing next to the girl. The other party clearly recognized him too.
"Oh, Dark King of the Abyssal Domain, were you summoning me?"
His sister covered her face, looking like she didn't like to talk.
"My eighth great general, the Master of Magnetic Fields, since you have met the Dark King, why do you not submit and hand over the eighth fruit from the deep darkness!"
Soyo pulled the girl in the Tsukinomori uniform beside her and entered Ring.
"Tanaka-san, let me introduce you to the members of my new band. Tomori-chan, Anon-chan, you two hurry and follow."
"Wait, Anon, because I might not be present later. Just in case, you need to give me the 2 of Hearts."
"Riku, are you really leaving at a time like this? Never mind, for everyone's safety, being pressured by Taki is fine."
To ensure no accidents in his absence, Rikuo had to retrieve the 2 of Hearts, which was a hardship for Anon. Now she looked like a big pink dog, her hair, which had been lively all day, drooped down.
"If there's a way, I'll be back as soon as possible. But, Anon, you'd best not have too much hope."
"Alright, Riku, it was me who deceived everyone anyway. If my guitar skills were better, I wouldn't have made things so difficult for you."
"These are all minor matters. Anyway, just try your best to play well for now."
After hearing Rikuo's best encouragement, Anon reluctantly followed Soyo's pace.
"Now it's just the two of us. We can have a good talk, right? No, I can't communicate with you in a normal way."
"No need, Kamen Rider-san, I can communicate normally too."
"Oh, is your chuunibyou cured?"
"Same to you, perhaps?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? I don't have chuunibyou!"
"...Do you believe that yourself?"
Rikuo looked at Tanaka Ninosuke with what he felt was his most serious gaze. Tanaka Ninosuke seemed to succumb to his intimidating presence.
"Sigh, whatever you say. Starting the night before last, I kept feeling like something was watching me. Although that feeling disappeared yesterday afternoon, it reappeared around 4 AM this morning."
'Was he targeted by an Anomaly?'
"Since that's the case, let's try to lure the other party out first. Anomalies prefer uninhabited environments. Perhaps that's how they can create maximum fear; this might be the source of their power. Anyway, let's head to Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park first."
Rikuo led Magneto Kai towards Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park.
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