"Sorry, customer. Taki is a bit introverted and not very good at communicating with others."
After speaking for Taki, Ririko turned her gaze to Kamijou Mutsuki.
"What would you like to order? It's on me—consider it my apology for Taki."
Sure enough, as a mature senior, Ririko was flawless in her handling of the situation; even the pickiest person would find nothing to fault with her.
"Ririko-senpai, I—"
Seeing her own senior apologizing to Kamijou Mutsuki, this frivolous man, Taki immediately couldn't hold it in anymore.
Obviously, she wasn't introverted at all like Ririko said—if anything, she was very good at making other people introverted.
Faced with this scene, she immediately felt the urge to blow up at Kamijou Mutsuki.
Although she wasn't a rich lady like Soyo or Anon, Taki's family wasn't short on money either, so she wasn't going to swallow her pride for a living like a certain customer service worker named Sakiko who didn't want to be named.
If Taki-chan had to put up with this kind of grievance, worst case she'd just quit!
Still… Soyo really has terrible taste!
Miss Nagasaki Soyo would probably never imagine that her reputation among her former bandmates would be damaged because of Kamijou Mutsuki.
"There's really no need for that."
Oh no, I've turned into the villain!
To avoid being rushed by band girls shouting about dreams and friendship and then having his head smashed by guitars, Kamijou Mutsuki could only smile at Ririko.
"We weren't arguing. I was just joking around with Taki-chan…"
"Taki-chan…"
Hearing Kamijou Mutsuki address Taki so intimately, and having not seen him seamlessly switch between two pretty girls, Ririko clearly misunderstood something.
"So I misunderstood, then… I won't disturb you two. Please continue talking."
After saying that, she gave Taki a rather suggestive look before leaving.
"I—"
Taki-chan didn't even have time to explain, and in the end could only glare viciously at Kamijou Mutsuki.
"You bastard… are you looking for a fight?"
It could only be said that Taki-chan was a straightforward person—when she got angry, she really would throw hands.
"I just wanted to order…"
Kamijou Mutsuki wisely chose not to further provoke the girl in front of him. After all, he only liked watching women fight, not fighting women himself.
What's more, given his current physical condition, he might not even be able to beat Taki-chan. If that happened, it would be too embarrassing.
"…What do you want?"
Her last shred of rationality stopped Taki from physically going at Kamijou Mutsuki.
"Cucumber-flavored parfait?"
"..."
Seeing that the girl really seemed ready to make a move, Kamijou Mutsuki could only change his words.
"What flavors do you have?"
"…Only matcha flavor left. Do you want it or not?!"
"Then four matcha parfaits—two for here, two to go."
Perhaps thinking it wasn't easy to make Kamijou Mutsuki behave himself, Taki didn't keep giving him attitude, and instead honestly packed up what he ordered.
"Your parfaits…"
Of course, there was no good tone to it.
Kamijou Mutsuki naturally paid promptly and without complaint, though in the end he only took the two parfaits to go.
"Hey, your parfaits!"
Although Taki still didn't get along with Kamijou Mutsuki, she couldn't help but call out to him.
"No, I mean your parfaits!"
"Huh?"
Clearly, Taki wasn't on the same wavelength as Kamijou Mutsuki.
"Consider it my apology to Taki-chan and Ririko-senpai…"
Kamijou Mutsuki said with a light chuckle and left before Taki could even react.
"This guy…"
Coming back to her senses, Taki looked at the two matcha parfaits on the table, unsure what to do with them.
"Taki-chan,"
At that moment, Ririko, who had been observing quietly, walked over.
"How was it talking with that handsome guy?"
She teased slightly as she looked at the girl beside her.
"I have nothing to do with that guy!"
Even faced with her senior's misunderstanding, Taki spoke her mind directly.
Ririko let out a small chuckle. She didn't continue the conversation, but she didn't mind either.
Even if her practical experience was zero, you don't have to have eaten pork to know what a running pig looks like.
At least, the gentleness in Kamijou Mutsuki's eyes when he looked at Taki…
She wasn't mistaken!
"Taki-chan, these two parfaits are for—?"
"That guy gave them to you!"
Upon hearing this, Taki turned away, deciding ignorance was bliss.
"Eh?!"
Still, after some persuasion from Ririko, and not wanting to waste it, Taki eventually ate her own parfait.
"Want some parfait?"
After leaving RiNG, Kamijou Mutsuki unsurprisingly saw the green-haired Mutsumi waiting there.
"Too bad there's no cucumber flavor… but matcha is pretty good too. Even the cat is almost drooling."
"..."
The Mutsumi didn't speak, only stared at Kamijou Mutsuki expressionlessly.
"Not to your taste? Should I go get some cucumber ones?"
"…Why are you approaching Soyo? What do you intend to do with her?"
Finally breaking her silence, her tone was extremely hostile.
"…I just wanted her to help voice my animation… You don't need to guard against me like I'm a thief, Mutsumi."
Kamijou Mutsuki seemed to understand why the girl treated him this way, yet still spoke in a tone tinged with helplessness.
"Why did you go to Soyo?"
Even after hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's explanation, the Mutsumi's attitude didn't soften at all; her brows only furrowed deeper.
"Aren't I enough for you?"
The girl's words were rather ambiguous—any uninformed passerby might easily misunderstand them.
But in reality, the Mutsumi wasn't jealous. In fact, before today, the two had never even met.
She had only seen photos of Kamijou Mutsuki and knew he existed.
"What am I supposed to say to that… Let's get in the car first and talk. It's getting late."
The Mutsumi had no objections, and then got into Kamijou Mutsuki's car. She looked like a pure girl deceived by a rich, scumbag playboy, which made quite a few onlookers feel a pang of sympathy.
Inside the car, she sat expressionlessly beside Kamijou Mutsuki. Her pale golden eyes had no highlights, and she showed no trace of anger—looking like a bird about to be caged.
"Don't make such a sour face."
Seeing this, Kamijou Mutsuki spoke up.
"Have some parfait."
Saying that, he opened the parfait in front of him, trembling slightly as he brought it to his mouth.
Cool and refreshing, the matcha flavor was slightly bitter at first, but gradually revealed a soft, sweet richness—a taste no girl could resist. It was no wonder the cat liked it so much.
But the Mutsumi had no mood to enjoy the treat; even a matcha parfait beloved by the cat tasted like cardboard in her mouth.
"Besides me… do you still intend to go after Soyo?"
The girl pressed her lips together and looked at Kamijou Mutsuki, asking sharply.
.....................