I keep rereading this like once a year and I'm always in awe at the character of Riku. Such a cunning, highly observant and concsious yet neutral party, only involved to tweak things a little for his own entertainment and petiness. Always close enough to do something, yet never empathic enough to do good enough.
I though he was more "good" than evil since he technically helped MC here and then, until I encountered someone in my life (in a similar yet extremely toned down context compared to this story fortunately) with his exact personality and the absolute heartache I felt at the apathic betrayal of whom I considered a close friend who saw just how vulnerable I was becoming yet dropped hints at best, and worsened the situation behind my back at worst, truly broke me more than the pain inflicted by the partner I had at the time.
Now I'm still in awe at Riku, but despise his every desicion and wished he recieved punishment next to the psycho... But just like in real life, Riku and his kind will always find a way to slip and restart all over again without much trouble. Harada truly hit the nail on the head with this depiction and I cannot help but rereading this yet again.
It looks like he took out a whole hairless cat what were they thinking drawing it like that!!!!