"It's just lyrics, Taki—no need to take it so seriously."
What caught Rikki off guard was that this time, Kamijou Mutsuki didn't counterattack head-on like usual. Instead, he brushed the topic aside as if it were nothing.
"Hah? Do you take me for an idiot?"
You even named names—do you think you can just wave it off?
"Oh? So you're not?"
"Are you really trying to start a fight?"
She genuinely wanted to throw hands. How could this guy be this irritating?
"Don't be insecure. Being dumb is cute too—I like it~"
"..."
Tomori-chan, don't hold me back—let me beat him to death!
Thankfully, Rikki was at least somewhat used to Kamijou Mutsuki by now. Otherwise, she really might have gone full brawl with him on the spot.
"Still, I didn't expect you to have had experiences like that…"
Rikki had learned her lesson—seeing she couldn't win verbally, she immediately switched topics.
"…Going to study in the UK and then running back because you couldn't handle it—man, that's stupid."
Because Anon hadn't been named directly, and because Kamijou Mutsuki had basically shoved the lyrics in her face earlier, Rikki subconsciously assumed that he'd been singing about himself.
Of course, only Rikki, driven by emotion, thought that way. The expressions on the other girls' faces were all a bit subtle.
After all, both Hanasakigawa and Haneoka were girls' schools. With a bit of thought, it was obvious the lyrics couldn't possibly be about Kamijou Mutsuki—but judging by Rikki's state, she wasn't going to think that far.
Anon, standing to the side, widened her eyes slightly. Why was she getting scolded again for no reason?
She shot an indignant look at Rikki.
But then it hit her—had Rikki misunderstood Kamijou Mutsuki as the subject of the lyrics?
Serves you right for digging up my black history—now you've lifted a stone only to drop it on your own foot!
Having already forgotten the pain before the wound even healed, Miss Anon started gloating again.
"Yeah, that really is stupid."
Yet faced with Rikki's mockery, Kamijou Mutsuki nodded earnestly.
"Running off to the UK in a burst of enthusiasm without having anything sorted out, only to come back because you couldn't take it."
"What an idiot~"
Alright, alright—that's how you want to play it, huh?
Being hit head-on yet unable to do anything about it, Anon could only glare angrily at Kamijou Mutsuki.
Messing with you really is like kicking cotton—even when you scold me, I don't dare talk back. Is this fun to you?
"Alright, alright. Band members need to get along—no fighting, okay~"
To stop Kamijou Mutsuki from continuing to output—and possibly exposing her—Miss Anon, though grinding her teeth in hatred, could only step up and play Soyo, acting as the peacemaker.
"Let's just keep singing…"
Kamijou Mutsuki???: "Eh? Perfect timing, I actually have another—"
"Shut up!"
Anon directly snatched the microphone from Kamijou Mutsuki's hand.
One song had already made her sweat like crazy. Another one and she'd ascend on the spot.
Anon swore that today, she absolutely would not let this guy touch the microphone again.
"Next, let's sing Sumimi's songs. Soyo, want to join us?"
"…Sure!"
After being thoroughly educated, Anon clearly didn't dare stroke Kamijou Mutsuki's tiger whiskers again, obediently chatting and singing along with the other band girls.
Watching this scene, Tomori-chan unconsciously let a smile appear on her face.
The sight before her couldn't help but remind her of when CRYCHIC had first been formed.
Back then, it had been just as warm as it was now.
"Eh? Tomori smiled!"
The same scene seemed to replay itself—only this time, the one being teased wasn't Mutsumi, but Tomori.
The girls immediately fell into another round of playful roughhousing.
After that, the band's first practice only lasted for about half a day. The rest of the time was spent messing around.
Still, everyone had fun, and after seeing Tomori's smile, Rikki had no way to say anything more.
By the time the sun had sunk halfway below the horizon, the group finally came out of RiNG.
When it was time to part ways, Anon looked at Kamijou Mutsuki, clearly hesitating—obviously still tangled up over the song he'd sung earlier.
In the end, though, Miss Anon didn't say anything. Instead, Kamijou Mutsuki smiled and reminded the girls:
"Oh right—an anime we all worked on together is airing tonight in Fuji TV's prime-time slot. Don't forget to watch it~"
"Eh? Didn't we just finish recording yesterday? That fast?"
Anon, who'd still been conflicted a moment ago, was instantly drawn in by his words.
"Sorry—when you've got money, you really can do whatever you want!"
In truth, the anime had already passed review. The only thing missing had been the voice acting.
As for why Kamijou Mutsuki could pull something like this off… all one could say was that in this country, there were very few things money couldn't accomplish.
And once you were rich enough, it was impossible not to have connections in that area. On top of that, MyGO!!!!!'s quality really was solid—so everything that followed naturally fell into place.
"..."
She really wanted to hit someone. She never should've asked!
By the time they got home, it was already completely dark. After eating the dinner Mutsumi had prepared, it was just about time for the anime to air.
"Mutsu-baby, want to watch it together?"
Kamijou Mutsuki invited her.
After so much effort, they could finally see the results.
It was just a shame that only Mutsumi was with him—but that wasn't a big problem.
"I still need to wash the dishes."
All one could say was that Mutsumi really was a virtuous girl.
"You can do that later~"
Mutsu-baby was already a bit curious about this anime involving CRYCHIC, so in the end, she accepted Kamijou Mutsuki's invitation.
"This is…"
As the commercials ended, MyGO!!!!!'s first episode finally began airing.
But as she looked at the images unfolding before her, Mutsumi's pupils contracted slightly.
At the same time, elsewhere, Soyo was lying on her bed, not even in the mood to eat dinner.
A duplex penthouse of several hundred square meters was undeniably luxurious, yet all Soyo could feel was emptiness and loneliness.
Her mom had gone to work overtime, and Kamijou Mutsuki wasn't around today either…
No—better that that bastard wasn't here.
Still, Mutsumi had probably already fallen out with her, and she herself…
Was left all alone.
Despite lying in a house hundreds of square meters wide, Soyo felt as if the entire world had abandoned her.
She took out her phone. The messages she sent to Sakiko were still one-sided, as always.
And just as the girl habitually slipped into her "cloud-depression mode," she suddenly remembered what Kamijou Mutsuki had said about the anime airing soon.
She had nothing better to do—might as well see how it turned out.
At the very least, it was an anime she, Sakiko, and… Mutsumi had voiced. If nothing else, she could hear Sakiko's voice.
Thinking that, Soyo got up, went to the living room, and turned on the TV.
But when the anime started playing, Sakiko showed the same shaken expression as Mutsumi.
The first thing to appear was a blurry traffic light. Then the image gradually came into focus, and the sound of rain falling filled the screen.
After showing some pedestrians, the anime presented its first character reflection.
Then, as the camera moved, a brown-haired girl wearing a Tsukinomori Girls' Academy uniform officially appeared on screen.
And this girl was someone she knew—no, it was herself.
Nagasaki Soyo!
Bro—are you serious? You didn't change the character at all?
You just straight-up drew her as-is?!
....................