"And this is Taki Shiina."
After introducing Soyo, it was naturally Taki-chan's turn.
"Drummer. Her race is 'pressure-freak,' and her strong point is 'high emotional intelligence.'"
"If you ever feel like you don't know how to talk to people, you should learn from her."
"Huh? Learn from her? Are you serious?"
Hearing Kamijo Mutsumi's introduction of Taki, Anon instantly broke into a sweat.
Unlike Soyo, who was a complete stranger, she knew a little bit about Taki.
Her, with high EQ?
And she's the 'pressure-freak drummer' he mentioned before?
Can I refuse?
"What?"
Kamijo Mutsumi's borderline mocking introduction naturally caused the straightforward and hot-tempered Taki's face to darken instantly. However, Anon's strange reaction conveniently diverted Taki's hatred away from him.
"You got a problem?"
"Ah... no... um..." Yep, I definitely can't get along with this person. The moment she opens her mouth, I find her completely insufferable.
"And this is Anon Chihaya."
Having introduced Soyo and Taki, Kamijo Mutsumi turned to introduce Ano-chan to them.
"Guitarist. She plays the 'tsukkomi' role in the band."
"Who's the tsukkomi?! And why is there such a weird position in a band anyway?!" Ano-chan retorted, almost instinctively.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize something and clamped her hand over it.
Oh no. I really have become the tsukkomi.
"And finally, our lead singer, Tomori-chan, who is also my wife."
"Who's your wife?!"
It was hard to imagine Tomori refuting someone with such an agitated tone. And indeed, those words didn't come from her, but from Taki.
Seeing someone spreading rumors about her beloved leader, she couldn't help but step forward to perform her filial duty.
Kamijo Mutsumi raised an eyebrow at this. Then, under Taki's murderous gaze, he put his arm around Tomori's shoulders and said with a fatherly look:
"Taki, I know this is hard for you to accept right now, but I promise I will treat Tomori well."
"From now on, we'll have our own way of addressing each other. I'll call you Big Sis Taki, and you'll call me Dad."
"I'll f*cking kill you!"
Who did he think Taki-chan was? Did he really think she'd take that insult?
She grabbed a nearby chair, ready to stage a full-on martial arts brawl with him.
Just as the conversation was about to devolve into a physical fight, Tomori stepped in front of Kamijo Mutsumi.
"Taki-chan,"
Facing Tomori's gem-like amber eyes, Taki froze instantly.
"...Don't be mean to Mutsumi."
"Tomori..."
Hearing this, Taki's eyes widened in disbelief.
In that moment, it was as if she had been abandoned by the entire world. Her whole being turned to grayscale.
The red nose and green crown that were on Anon's face moments ago had now been transferred to Taki's. Outside the window, a sad BGM seemed to begin playing.
"Kamijo-kun, please stop teasing Taki-chan," Soyo, the band's 'mom,' said, stepping in to smooth things over. "But, when you mentioned a band earlier..."
As a relic of a former dynasty obsessed with reviving CRYCHIC, Soyo naturally wouldn't miss the keyword in his earlier statements.
"It's exactly what it sounds like."
"...Does that mean Tomori-chan will be joining this band?" Soyo asked the question she cared about most.
"Mhm."
Before Kamijo Mutsumi could speak, Tomori nodded, answering Soyo's question herself.
"I want to... be in a band again..."
"With everyone..."
"Before... I was always blaming myself..." The girl lowered her head, her fists clenched, her low voice heart-wrenching to hear.
"It was because I didn't sing well... that Sakiko was disappointed in me..."
"Feeling sad... feeling pained..."
I can't cry, but what is this dullness lingering in my chest?
"So I didn't want to be in a band again..."
Because she didn't want to feel that pain of loss again.
"But someone told me that I'm not the only one who's suffering..."
"If... it was my fault, then I have a responsibility..."
"So... I want to be in a band again!"
"...Everyone... together for a lifetime..."
"So that's how you felt, Tomori?"
Tomori's ability to express herself wasn't the best, and her words weren't very clear, but Soyo could completely understand her feelings.
Because she could feel the same sadness as Tomori.
Trapped in the past, unable to move forward.
"I'm so glad you're able to move on, Tomori!"
"We all made mistakes, that's why CRYCHIC disbanded..."
"But mistakes can be fixed, as long as we try..."
"We have me and Tomori-chan now... I doubt Rikki would refuse, right?"
"Huh? Of course not!"
With Tomori herself saying it, Taki, who would have gladly served as Tomori's microphone stand, would naturally not refuse.
"I will never let Tomori be sad again... As long as she wants to, I'll be in a band with her..."
"For a lifetime..."
"That's right! I'll be in a band with Tomori for a lifetime!"
It seemed the earlier incident hadn't affected her passion for Tomori in the slightest.
"Me, Tomori, Rikki, and Mutsumi..."
Hearing Taki's reply, the smile on Soyo's face grew even wider.
She counted them off on her fingers, her eyes filled with hope for a beautiful future.
"Let's the four of us reform the band! We'll make up for our mistakes together... This way, there will definitely be no problems!"
On the day CRYCHIC disbanded, Soyo had made a silent vow.
The happiness she lost, one day she would get it back with her own hands!
Not to prove how great she was, but to ensure that CRYCHIC would never disband!
And now...
One day? That day is today!
All that was missing was Sakiko, and her CRYCHIC could be revived!
"Um..."
At this moment, Anon, who had been standing to the side, finally noticed something was wrong.
Oh no, I've become the third wheel in this yuri-fest!
"Excuse me... what about me?"
I'm the one who started this band, so how come I feel like I can't even get a word in?!
"Why are you still here?"
Seeing her, Kamijo Mutsumi smiled and delivered the final blow.
Anon: "???"
Are you serious? Are you really just using me as a tool and then tossing me aside?
Don't test me, I might actually lose it on you!
"Anon-chan too!"
At that moment, Tomori's voice sounded as sweet as an angel's to Anon's ears.
"And Mutsumi..."
"Huh?"
When Tomori had said "Anon-chan too," Soyo's eyes had flickered for a second, while Taki had no objection.
But when she mentioned Kamijo Mutsumi, Taki-chan instantly couldn't hold it in.
"Tomori, are you serious?"
"You want to let this man join our band?"
In the world of BanG Dream, those who played in bands were, naturally, mostly cute girls.
There were male bands, but they were relatively few.
Furthermore, unlike in Kamijo Mutsumi's previous world, male and female bands were clearly separated here.
Let alone a guy like him, who she already hated with a passion. Taki was naturally unwilling.
Taki: No boys allowed!