The sudden addition of the cat clearly made the other girls a little uncomfortable.
Taki, in particular, frowned and stared at Raana, her eyes never leaving her.
"Why are you staring at Raana-chan?"
In the end, it was Kamijo Mutsumi who spoke up, breaking the somewhat strange atmosphere.
"...Do you want some too?"
"Huh?"
What kind of stupid thing is that to say?
Does he think I'm a greedy little kid?
For Taki, his words were practically a form of mockery.
However, before she could even retort, he made a preemptive move.
"Ririko-neechan, get one for Rikki too. Speaking of which, I said I'd treat Tomori-chan before..."
"...Forget it, one for everyone. Otherwise, people will see this and think I can't afford it."
Although they weren't obsessed like Raana, it was always hard for girls to refuse a dessert like a parfait.
This was especially true for Anon. She had been through so much today; she deserved something nice to clear her head.
Getting this guy to cough up some cash was truly no easy feat.
Taki initially didn't want to give him the satisfaction, but since Tomori was the first to pick up her spoon, she decided to just treat it as payment for emotional damages.
"I have no problem with the stray cat's skill level."
As the saying goes, one's tongue is softened after accepting a meal, but Taki-chan, who never hid her likes and dislikes and always spoke her mind, couldn't care less about such niceties.
"But on what authority can you arbitrarily decide the band's lineup? Even for a manager, aren't you overstepping your bounds?"
As a RiNG employee, Taki was well aware of Raana's skill level. She was more than qualified to join their band.
But on what authority could Kamijo Mutsumi just add whomever he wanted?
That was what she was dissatisfied with.
It wasn't really that she had a problem with him personally; she just didn't want her and Tomori's band to become someone else's plaything.
"Taki-chan, don't say that. Kamijo-kun is also doing this for the band's sake," Soyo said with a smile, seeming to defend him, but only seeming.
"However, I also think... two guitarists is a bit redundant."
"Even if we want a new member... it would be better to have a different instrument, like a keyboardist, for example?"
Soyo's abacus was clicking so loudly, Sakiko could probably hear it from home while cleaning beer cans.
"I trust Mutsumi."
Unlike Taki and Soyo, Tomori stood firmly on Kamijo Mutsumi's side.
That was just the kind of person she was. Once she trusted someone, she would never doubt them.
"Um... I also think there's nothing wrong with adding another guitarist."
Anon also, surprisingly, sided with him. The main reason was that with three out of the four members being relics of a former band, she, the yuri outsider, felt a bit out of place. Having another cat would give her a companion.
"Tomori, you..."
Being backstabbed by Tomori again, Taki was on the verge of losing it. This time, she really wasn't being personal; she was trying to fight for Tomori's control over the band.
And remembering how Tomori seemed to always protect him, Taki instantly felt her heart grow cold.
But the ever-loyal Taki would never blame Tomori. She could only silently add another mark against Kamijo Mutsumi's name in her heart.
This grudge, she will remember it! (Sad)
With Taki's surrender, the situation became clear.
Although Soyo didn't want another person hindering her grand plan to revive her old band, she could only pinch her nose and agree to Raana's inclusion.
As for Raana herself, the person in question, she showed no negative emotions regarding their discussion. Instead, she ate her parfait while watching Kamijo Mutsumi's side profile with great interest.
"An interesting man..."
Recalling the conversations between him, Soyo, and Anon yesterday, Raana's mouth curved into a cute, cat-like arc.
"Alright, now that the band matter is settled, let's get down to business."
Finally, we're at this step!
The things I do to make an anime!
I entered the black hole with my own body, all just to win against heaven by half a move!
He then told the girls about the voice acting for the anime.
Those like Anon and Soyo, who already knew, needed no further explanation. Tomori would naturally not refuse him, and Raana could be won over with offerings of parfaits. The only one left was Taki...
"Why should I help you?" the girl said bluntly, her arms crossed. "We're a band, not voice actors. Why should we do voice acting for your anime?"
She had more or less accepted him as a manager, but that didn't mean she would be his unpaid laborer.
"Do you dare to defy me, the one who possesses Tomori?"
And with that one sentence, the arrogant Taki-chan was nearly broken by him.
"You..."
Using Tomori to threaten her directly? So he's not even pretending anymore?
"Taki-chan, you wouldn't want to see Tomori get bullied by me, would you?" Kamijo Mutsumi put his arm around Tomori's shoulders again, smiling at Taki with the perfect look of a blonde-haired villain from an adult manga.
"..."
My fists are clenched. They're rock hard!
As the wronged party, Taki wanted nothing more than to fight the blonde-haired antagonist before her to the death.
But to her despair, even after he said all that, Tomori had no reaction at all.
Tomori, why are you just watching?
"Tomori, this guy is saying all this, you..." Taki looked at her with one last shred of hope, wishing she would see his true colors.
"Rikki, can you help Mutsumi?"
"..."
The light in Taki's eyes faded. Her heart died completely.
She had fallen for someone for the first time, only to lose so utterly and completely!
"If Rikki really doesn't want to..." Tomori began, wanting to help him but not wanting to force Taki.
But seeing Tomori's disappointed expression, Taki's dead heart instantly ached with pain.
"Actually, I'm not that reluctant..."
Forget it. Worst case, I'll just take the child's last name.
As long as Tomori is happy (╥_╥)
"...For Tomori's sake, I'll do it."
In that moment, even Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker seemed clumsy in comparison.
Shotaro hung his head in shame, admitting that she was Philip's true partner.
Anon, eating her parfait off to the side, sighed silently.
To think this girl with the face of a perpetual victim is my teammate. This is so lame.
"Interesting woman~" was Raana's assessment.
Having finally gathered everyone, Kamijo Mutsumi wasn't willing to wait. He declared that there was no time like the present, and they should go try out the voice acting today.
And so, these still somewhat bewildered girls were tricked into his car.
"So where are we going to record? I know a recording studio that's pretty affordable."
The modified Maybach 62S didn't feel crowded even with everyone inside. Ano-chan looked at him curiously and made the suggestion.
Although Saint Anon was a rich girl, she was surprisingly frugal.
"No need. We're not going to a recording studio."
If not a recording studio, then where?
Just as Anon was feeling puzzled by his reply, their car arrived at its destination.
She then realized that his target was apparently a building with a sign that read "Houbun Animation," a high-rise office building of more than ten floors.
The staff at the front desk seemed to notice the group gathered at the entrance and walked over directly.
Anon, who hadn't quite processed the situation, thought they were being shooed away. She instinctively stepped in front of him, ready to apologize.
Then, she saw the expression on the receptionist's face become distinctly respectful as she addressed the young man beside her, calling him "President."
"..."
Ano-chan's neck turned stiffly as she looked at Kamijo Mutsumi.
Dude, are you telling me you actually own an animation company?