"Ugh, damn it, where did you buy this outfit? And why do you have to make me wear it? Couldn't I just wear casual clothes? It's your concert anyway, I'm only singing one song, is this really necessary?" At this moment, Tohka was awkwardly twisting her plump thighs, her hands clutching the hem of the skirt, trying to pull it down as much as possible.
"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect little Tohka to be so shy. Look at the Yamai sisters, they don't react nearly as much as you." Seeing Tohka's reaction, Miku couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. Right now, Tohka was wearing the stage costume Miku had prepared: an ultra-short skirt paired with black stockings that created an absolutely tantalizing absolute territory, and her ample cleavage was half exposed, combined with her flushed, embarrassed face. Overall, even Miku herself wanted to pounce on her and take a bite.
"Didn't you say I'd just sing one song with you at the end? Do you really have to go this far?" Tohka was genuinely a bit upset. It was supposed to be just one song—why did she have to be dressed up so seriously? After all, she wasn't a professional singer. Even if she had the advantage of a voice actress, she still couldn't sing an entire concert like Miku.
"Oh, come on, little Tohka, it's a rare chance to share the stage. Of course you have to dress up nicely. Just stay here—I'm going out now." Satisfied with one last look at Tohka, Miku left the backstage area. As Miku took the stage, Tohka could clearly hear the shouts from outside. Obviously, with Miku's entrance, the atmosphere in the entire venue was rising rapidly.
"What's wrong, Tohka? Getting nervous?" At that moment, Kaguya Yamai looked amused as she watched Tohka fidgeting in embarrassment while listening to the cheers outside.
"Are you kidding? Wearing this is practically a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. And that bastard even snatched my safety shorts and threw them away. Damn it, that stage is really high!" Tohka squirmed uncomfortably at Kaguya's words but soon shifted her gaze to the Yamai sisters sitting beside her. She couldn't help but complain, "You two, seriously—why are you still wearing those maid outfits? That was obviously Miku's twisted hobby, and you're still playing along even now."
She really didn't understand what had gotten into them. They'd been wearing those maid outfits nonstop, and if she didn't know they were full-powered Spirits, she'd suspect Miku had secretly brainwashed them.
"How could we not? This is the outfit that best displays our charm, so of course we must wear it at all times." Hearing Tohka's comment, Kaguya proudly puffed out her chest and declared.
"Agreed. Until the day we settle who is superior, we shall keep wearing this equipment." Yuzuru Yamai added calmly. These two were always perfectly in sync in their arguments, and their opinions were practically identical. Watching them, Tohka's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Sigh, fine, forget I said anything." In the end, she could only weakly wave her hand.
Currently, they were in the same venue where Tohka and Miku had been practicing. After Tohka made her preparations, she obediently trained here with Miku. Miku's concert had also arrived right on schedule. Having been through the Marvel world, Miku's confidence was now sky-high. As soon as she returned to this world, she immediately started holding performances again.
Because of this, Miku's popularity was far beyond what it was in the original timeline. Plus, after going through so many things with Tohka, she'd also gained quite a few cunning tricks. At least the people who had offended her before had all been quietly toyed with until they were half-ruined, and their family fortunes were silently transferred under her name. Although she couldn't match Stark Industries' marketing, her tickets still sold out quickly.
Of course, the downside was that the unscrupulous media and Miku's own PR team had hyped everything up, so practically everyone knew she would sing a final duet with Miku. The problem was, Tohka was sure DEM also knew. Even though this was all part of the plan, she still couldn't help feeling uneasy as the moment approached.
"Forget it—you two stay here. I'm going to step out for some air and calm down. Anyway, Miku's concert will last one or two hours, there's no rush." She gave the Yamai sisters instructions, then left the dressing room and walked toward the balcony at the end of the hallway.
"Phew... Seriously, what a headache. Why did I agree to Miku's request in the first place? Now look, I've gotten myself dragged into this mess." Honestly, she wasn't afraid of performing—she'd seen far bigger crowds in Marvel. But the problem was wearing something like this was just too awkward. She wasn't Nero—someone who'd wear transparent skirts every day.
"Oh my, Oh my, what's wrong, little Tohka? Feeling nervous?" Just then, a familiar voice sounded in her ear. Tohka turned and saw Kurumi poking half her body out behind her, one hand resting casually on her shoulder.
"You—you old woman—are you seventeen or seventy? Where have you been these days? And why are you deliberately avoiding us? It's not like they'd do anything to you." Without turning her head, Tohka spoke in exasperation. This woman really was like some nosy old granny—always lurking around and refusing to show herself properly.
"Oh my, Oh my, I just didn't want to cause trouble for little Tohka," Kurumi replied, completely unfazed by Tohka's tone. But then she retracted her usual teasing smile and looked serious as she said, "Are you sure this plan will work? Using yourself as bait? I've been trying to infiltrate AST these past few days, and from what I've gathered, those people are planning something big tonight."
"Those guys? Good, let them come." Tohka didn't look the least bit worried. "But those small fries are all yours. Especially the DEM people—don't hold back. Just kill them."
"I understand. Little Tohka, you really are even more ruthless than me," Kurumi said with a glint of cold light in her eyes, then smiled sweetly at Tohka.