Bro, using me as a stepping stone to flirt is one thing, but why are you even making me the object of your oath too?
Isn't that a bit too much?
Please, I'm begging you—be a human being!
"Um…"
Still, what made Anon happy was that after hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's vow, Tomori showed a hesitant expression.
"Using Ano-chan's future as the wager… isn't that not very good?"
Tomori, my angel—I knew I hadn't misjudged you!
Anon was so moved her eyes filled with tears, secretly swearing that from now on, Tomori would be her very best friend!
"…Then how about switching it to my future?"
Kamijou Mutsuki didn't really care. As long as he could persuade Tomori, that was all that mattered.
"..."
Who would've thought that in response, Tomori would unexpectedly fall silent?
She glanced back and forth between Kamijou Mutsuki and Anon, then finally spoke.
"…Then let's forget it."
Anon: "???"
The girl who had just been deeply moved instantly felt like she'd turned into Gotham City's crime boss.
No—what do you mean, forget it?
I'm the one who's your friend, Tomori! Why are you siding with an outsider?!
"Then… it's a promise…"
However, as if she hadn't hurt Anon enough already, Tomori looked seriously at Kamijou Mutsuki.
"…For a lifetime."
As she said this, Tomori felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt since crychic disbanded. On her usually expressionless face, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted into a faint curve.
It was only the slightest smile, almost imperceptible—but to Tomori, it was incredibly precious.
At the very least…
Anon had never seen her smile like that.
In that instant, Ano-chan not only put on a red clown nose, but also donned a bright green crown.
Whether it was meeting you, or wanting to form a band together—it was all me who came first. So why did things turn out like this?
Today my hands tremble, today my heart aches. I went to such lengths just to form a band with you—Tomori, why…
Just as Anon's resentment was about to reach critical mass and she was on the verge of erupting and blasting Kamijou Mutsuki apart, the Maybach they were riding in happened to arrive at the entrance of RING, barely allowing her to regain her composure.
No matter the process, the result was good!
Tomori was surely just temporarily bewitched by that scumbag. Once she calmed down, she'd definitely know who truly treated her well!
Still, she had to keep an eye on Tomori. After all, Kamijou Mutsuki really did have some tricks up his sleeve—she couldn't let Tomori be fooled by him again.
However, even though she swore in her heart to protect Tomori, Anon failed to notice the confusion and hesitation in the little penguin's eyes as she got out of the car and looked toward RING.
Though she had more or less been persuaded by Kamijou Mutsuki, Anon's earlier words still cast a shadow in her heart.
Even if they formed a band together, everyone would still have their own lives… right?
She thought again of Kamijou Mutsuki's earlier suggestion: if they got married, could they really be together for a lifetime?
The girl thought about her own parents, and realized that it did seem to be that way.
If she could be with Kamijou Mutsuki for a lifetime through marriage, then how could everyone be together for a lifetime?
She wanted to be in a band for a lifetime, and marriage = being together for a lifetime. With Tomori's single-threaded CPU, an equation was quickly established.
If everyone married Kamijou Mutsuki, wouldn't they be able to form a band for a lifetime?
In that instant, it was as if Soyo had possessed her—Tomori awakened world-shaking wisdom.
The girl slipped the marriage registration form she had secretly pocketed in the car into her pocket. Though she didn't voice the thought aloud, a seed was quietly planted in her heart.
"Mutsumi-chan, you and that person…"
As they were getting out of the car, Soyo and Mutsumi also arrived at RING from the other side—and even a bit earlier.
Although he hadn't gone personally, Kamijou Mutsuki had still sent a car to pick them up. After all, he couldn't show favoritism.
"Kamijou Mutsuki… just what exactly is he…?"
As expected, Soyo tirelessly tried to extract information about Kamijou Mutsuki from Mutsumi. The relationship between those two was completely beyond her expectations, making her deeply uneasy.
Meanwhile, Mutsumi, as usual, turned herself into a doll—nod if spoken to, silent if questioned.
That familiar feeling sent Soyo's blood pressure skyrocketing, yet she couldn't lash out at all, leaving her feeling unbearably stifled.
"Yo~ Soyo and Mutsumi are here too?"
Seeing that the two of them hadn't noticed this side yet, Kamijou Mutsuki took the initiative to greet them.
"Mutsuki…"
Mutsumi nodded lightly in response. Soyo, on the other hand, first darkened slightly in expression, but her attention was quickly and completely stolen by the figure standing beside him.
"Tomori…"
In truth, just like Sakiko, ever since CRYCHIC disbanded, she had more or less lost contact with Tomori as well.
Now that they had suddenly run into each other, even the negative emotions she'd just felt were almost entirely swept away.
"Soyo-chan… Mutsumi-chan…"
Reuniting with her former bandmates after such a long separation, Tomori's feelings were just as complicated.
"…Alright."
Seeing the girls looking like they were about to keep gazing at each other emotionally forever, Kamijou Mutsuki smiled, stepped into the middle, and clapped his hands.
"I know you have a lot you want to say… but how about we go inside and talk?"
After they entered RiNG, Kamijou Mutsuki didn't forget about Taki-chan either, pulling this part-time worker out from the back.
"Huh? What are you trying to do?"
Taki initially tried to resist.
"Tomori's outside."
She instantly fell silent.
"So… what is this supposed to be?"
Inside RiNG, the six of them looked at one another. Taki and Soyo, in particular, had no idea what was going on and were completely confused.
That said, compared to confusion, there was more excitement in Soyo's eyes.
After all, even if she didn't know what was happening…
Tomori, Mutsumi, Taki, plus herself.
Just missing Sakiko—then all the former CRYCHIC members would be here!
Was she dreaming?
"Anon-chan,"
Kamijou Mutsuki ignored the two girls' confusion and instead turned to introduce them to Anon.
"These two are the band members I prepared for you."
"This is bassist Soyo Nagasaki. Her talent is being a comedian, and in the band she takes on the 'mom' role. You can usually think of her as a mom too."
"…A comedian… a mom role… are you sure you didn't say that wrong?"
Kamijou Mutsuki's introduction earned him a subtle look from Anon. A bassist whose talent was comedy was one thing, but why was she supposed to treat someone the same age as her like a mom?
She was looking for band members, not a mother!
Seriously, do people actually treat someone their own age as a mom?
Isn't that a bit too messed up?
"..."
Not just Anon—Soyo herself also stiffened at Kamijou Mutsuki's introduction.
Putting aside the slander of being a "comedian," while she did sometimes overflow with maternal energy when facing Tomori and the others, she really wasn't trying to be a mom!
Soyo couldn't help but imagine Sakiko and Tomori acting spoiled and calling her "Mom," and then, in the next instant—
…it kind of didn't feel that bad?
A trace of unnatural blush quietly surfaced on Soyo's face. In that moment, it was as if the girl had unlocked some truly dangerous new kink.
......................