The audition lasted exactly two minutes. It felt like the anti-climax after a long build-up. Back at home, Ichika lay on her bed, feeling empty.
She wasn't obsessed with being a star; she'd just been scouted. If she made it, great. If not, whatever. Should she ask Rin for help? No, I don't want to owe him a favor I can't pay back yet.
She stretched, stripping off her uniform and underwear while lying down. She crawled into her bed stark naked and drifted off to sleep.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Ichika! Wake up! Are you dead in there?" Nino's voice shouted.
Ichika blurred her eyes and looked at the clock. It was afternoon. Wait, already?
The door opened. Nino stood there with Nanami and Mashiro. Ichika had forgotten about the tutoring session.
"See? I told you she was sick," Nino said to Nanami. "So, no tutoring tonight, right?"
"Yeah!" Yotsuba nodded. "We're tired from covering for her. Let's rest!"
"I know a great restaurant nearby," Itsuki added. "Let's go, Nanami-chan! Our treat!"
The four girls tried to pull Nanami away. They wanted to corrupt her, to turn her into an accomplice who would help them lie to their father about their progress.
But Nanami was honest. And she knew Ichika was an actress.
"Sick? Let me check," Nanami said, pulling away from Nino and walking to Ichika's bed.
"Nanami...!"
Nanami leaned down and pressed her forehead against Ichika's.
!!!! Ichika froze. Not because of the intimacy, but because she knew she'd be caught.
Nanami pulled back, a smirk—one very similar to Rin's—appearing on her face. She leaned into Ichika's ear and whispered:
"You don't want your sisters finding out you've signed with a talent agency, do you?"
"AAHHH!" Ichika screamed to drown out Nanami's voice. She sat up abruptly, forgetting she was naked under the covers. "I... I'm cured! I rested all day! I missed classes, so please, Nanami, tutor me!"
"Huh? Ichika, you really are crazy," Itsuki muttered.
The sisters were stunned. Ichika, the queen of laziness, was asking to study?
"Since Ichika insists, let's start," Nanami said firmly.
"I... I'll go put some clothes on."
Nanami smiled, satisfied. I've been corrupted by Rin, she thought. I never would have blackmailed someone before.
She looked at the other sisters. "Ichika is fine. Get your textbooks. I'm going to give you a diagnostic test."
Nino pouted but led the others downstairs. Mashiro tugged Nanami's sleeve, stood on her tiptoes, and bumped her forehead against Nanami's. Then she walked away.
Nanami blinked, then smiled. Mashiro was jealous of her touching Ichika's forehead.
A few minutes later, the five sisters were gathered around the table. Nanami handed out a stack of papers. "One hour. They're simple questions."
The quintuplets groaned. They fidgeted, picked at their toes, and looked everywhere but at the paper.
Nanami sighed. They weren't stupid; they just didn't want to learn. Rin had motivated Mashiro with sex... but Nanami couldn't do that.
How do I get them interested? she wondered.