After dinner and a quick cleanup, Nanami began supervising their homework. Though they looked miserable, they sat down to work.
However... they kept getting up to use the bathroom, to get water, or to reply to messages. None of them were actually focusing. Nanami had decided to quit, but she was determined to finish her shift professionally.
Bzzz... Bzzz...
Ichika's phone vibrated on the quiet table. The girls reflexively looked at her. Ichika checked the screen—it was an unknown number.
Was it the audition results? Or just a telemarketer?
"I'll take this," Ichika said, hiding her anticipation as she walked to the balcony. "Hello?"
"Is this Ichika Nakano? Your performance at today's audition was quite good. Your look fits the role perfectly."
Ichika's breath caught. Did she get the part?
"Thank you so much!!!! Does this mean I passed?" She asked excitedly. But...
"While your look is great and your passion is clear, your acting skills are a bit lacking. However, that's no problem. I can give you some 'personal coaching.' With your potential, I'm sure you'll be perfect for the role."
"...."
Ichika had been thrilled at first, but now... personal coaching?
With his fingers?
Rin and the agency president had warned her, but she had brushed it off, thinking she'd never encounter it so soon. To think her very first audition would involve a demand for sexual favors. If she wanted the role, she had to "accept the coaching."
"I decline," Ichika said without a second's hesitation. But the voice on the other end was clearly used to this response and didn't sound angry.
"This is a great opportunity, you know. Not only can I coach you for this role, but if your skills improve under me, I can recommend you for bigger parts. If your acting doesn't improve, and my friends hear that you turned down such a generous offer, you might find other auditions quite difficult in the future."
Ichika hung up immediately.
The man hadn't said the exact words Nanami warned her about—"You wouldn't want to see your career ruined"—but the threat was clear.
Hmph... a blacklist threat?
Did he really have that much power? Like the president said, he was probably just trying to trick an "idiot" newcomer. And he didn't even say his name, speaking in circles. Was he afraid she was recording him to post online?
She refused to believe she couldn't pass an audition on her own merit.
Putting her phone down, Ichika slapped her cheeks lightly and walked back into the living room, acting as if nothing had happened.
"Who was it? You look so grumpy after that call," Yotsuba noted.
Ichika flinched. Her acting really was subpar.
"Nothing, just a telemarketer. Anyway, finish your homework or the teacher will scold you tomorrow." Ichika sat down and began to write. Yotsuba noticed something was off, but didn't press her.
Around 9:00 PM, they finally finished under Nanami's guidance. Mashiro had spent the time drawing all over her own notebook.
The first day of tutoring was over. Nino and Itsuki collapsed onto the sofa like burnt-out husks. The ever-energetic Yotsuba began clearing the table, while Miku had already retreated to her room.
Ichika helped Nanami pack and walked her and Mashiro downstairs. As soon as the door closed, Nanami couldn't help but ask.
"Was that call about the audition results?"
"Yeah. I failed." Ichika hid her hands behind her back, her knuckles white. "You were right... some director wanted to 'personally coach' me. Hmph... as if I'd ever do that."
"If you want to teach him a lesson, Kaede can help."
Nanami looked at Ichika, who looked away and forced a smile.
"It's fine. If this one didn't work, I'll just try another crew. No need to cause trouble..."
"Liar."
Mashiro interrupted, her bluntness cutting through Ichika's facade. Being exposed so mercilessly made Ichika's eyes sting. She always tried to be the strong big sister in front of her siblings, never showing her vulnerability.
Even though Nanami offered help, Ichika didn't want to be a burden. She bit her lip and tilted her head back to keep the tears from falling.
Since she was exposed, Ichika stopped pretending. She balled her fists and growled.
"Fine! Yes, I'm pissed! If my acting was just trash, I could accept it. But to work so hard for so long, and then have this happen... I want to stomp his balls into the floor!"
"Pfft..." Nanami laughed at Ichika's comical fury. "I'll call Kaede. Don't worry, it won't be a burden for us. We're friends, right?"
"Okay... thank you."
Nanami called Kaede and explained the situation before handing the phone to Ichika. On the other end, Kaede's lips curled into a smile. She opened her system interface and looked at the data on the Nakano quintuplets... This might be a perfect chance to finish a Main Quest.
After "attending" the party in Kaguya's closet, Kaede had finished the first Main Quest. Naturally, the system had issued a second one. And this one wouldn't be as simple as hiding in a wardrobe.
[Main Quest 2: Finding a Fellow Enthusiast]
She didn't even need to look at the details. The name said it all... find another girl who shared her interest in being "cucked" (NTR).
First of all! She didn't have a "cuck" fetish! It was all the system's fault! Secondly! Where was she supposed to find a girl like that? Thirdly! The girls already associated with Rin didn't count!
Kaede had been agonizing over this until Nanami brought Ichika into the fold. A plan formed... if she couldn't find one, she could cultivate one.
Someone she knew, but who wasn't intimate with Rin yet, and had the potential for a "cuck" fetish... Ichika Nakano!
She was the one!
If Kaede could pretend to have that fetish for her sister's sake, then Ichika, with four sisters, was the perfect candidate to develop one.
Kaede: "Mmm... I can't explain everything over the phone. Ichika, if you're free, why don't you come back with Nanami? Let's discuss it with Rin."