While fleeing back from England was an embarrassing part of her past she didn't want to face, at most it was a blow to her pride. It might not even qualify as social suicide.
But if she gave in to Mutsumi Kamijo, it could affect her for the rest of her life.
Anon could still distinguish which was the lesser of two evils.
Faced with the threat, however, the girl did feel a pang of regret about her past decisions.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have tried to act all cool and gone to England. I would have been better off just going to Hanasakigawa!
All one could say was that the old Anon was too naive, truly believing that getting an easy diploma abroad would be as relaxing as a vacation.
"Miss Ann, don't make that face. I was just joking."
Seeing that the girl before him was about to get seriously angry if he kept teasing her, Mutsumi Kamijo chose to stop while he was ahead.
"I really don't think that was a joke..."
Having already made the worst possible impression, Mutsumi naturally wasn't going to earn the girl's trust so easily.
"Also, my name is not Ann. My name is Chihaya Anon!"
After saying this, Anon felt as refreshed and smug as a cat that had just finished an entire matcha parfait.
I may not be able to handle foreigners (my English classmates), but I can definitely handle you!
You don't look like a good person anyway, so I'll just go on the offensive.
"Alright, Chu Yuxun."
"?"
Who's that now?
"In any case, let's put such trivial matters aside for now..." Mutsumi said, "discreetly" changing the subject.
"It's not a trivial matter at all!"
Anon shot back. Are you taking me for a fool? My personal information is leaking like a sieve in front of you. The thought alone is terrifying, okay?
"That's just how it is in the internet age."
"Well, you have a point... Wait, who wants to discuss internet security issues with you?!"
"Ano-chan, you just asked Tomori-chan to form a band with you and got rejected, didn't you?"
"...How did you know that?"
The topic Mutsumi threw out successfully silenced Anon, but the wariness in her eyes grew even stronger.
It's one thing for you to know I studied in England, but how do you know what just happened?
Don't tell me you actually put a tracking device on me...
"More importantly... wouldn't you like to know what happened to Tomori-chan before she met you?"
"Tomori's past..."
Although she hated to admit it, Anon's attention was completely captured by Mutsumi's words.
That girl who's as dazed as a penguin... what kind of story does she have?
When I invited her to form a band today, why...
...did she have that expression on her face?
"Tomori-chan... she used to be the lead singer of a band, you know~"
Then, as Mutsumi slowly recounted the story, Anon learned about a band called CRYCHIC, from its formation to the story of no one showing up to their live.
"Tomori-chan... she went through something like that?"
So that's why she refused me before...
Is it because she failed once, so now she has a mental block?
Wait, that's not right!
Anon suddenly spotted a flaw in the story.
"You... how do you know so much about what happened to Tomori?"
Anon stared at Mutsumi, her face full of suspicion.
This guy... he's not planning to make a move on Tomori, is he?
"Relax, I mean no harm to Tomori-chan."
Mutsumi paid no mind to Anon's guard.
"...I just want to marry her, that's all!"
"Oh, so that's how it is, that's fi—WHAT THE HELL!"
"That's basically a criminal confession, isn't it?"
Anon realized her vigilance was justified after all. This guy was definitely up to no good with Tomori.
"How can you say that, Ano-chan?"
Hearing this, Mutsumi showed a rare, serious expression.
"Look, Tomori-chan is a woman, and I happen to be a man. How could such a coincidence exist in this world?"
"We are a match made in heaven!"
"?"
Is this guy completely off his rocker?
Anon was already too mentally exhausted to even bother retorting.
"Give it up! I will never let you hurt Tomori-chan!"
Protecting the best girl in the world, Tomori, was Anon's solemn duty.
"Also... what do you really want?"
Anon was now completely clueless about Mutsumi's true objective.
Especially since this guy was acting like a total goofball, which meant that even though Anon felt he was dangerous, she couldn't bring herself to be properly wary of him.
"Ano-chan, you want to form a band with Tomori, right? I will help you. In exchange..."
After all that buildup, Mutsumi finally revealed his goal.
"...help you win over Tomori?"
"...No, be a voice actress for my anime."
"?"
Anon suspected she might have been hit by King Crimson.
Wait... have we talked about anything related to anime before this?
How did the topic suddenly jump from Tomori to voice acting for an anime?
"Hold on, after all that... you just want me to do voice acting for your anime!"
Anon stared at Mutsumi, an indescribable expression on her face.
"...Or you could help me pursue Tomori?"
"Don't even think about it!"
"...In any case," Anon said, crossing her arms in front of her chest and looking as if she had finally gotten the upper hand.
"I refuse!"
"Whether it's helping you with Tomori or voice acting for your anime, I won't agree to either!"
This guy had had so much fun messing with her earlier. Now, it was finally her turn to be on the offensive.
"Don't force me..."
Even though Mutsumi still wore that same smiling expression, Anon subconsciously swallowed.
After all, she had been completely manipulated by him during their entire conversation. So, even though she felt she had the advantage now, a sense of unease lingered in her heart.
"...Don't force me to kneel down and beg you."
"..."
Anon almost lost it.
What do you call using the fiercest tone to say the most cowardly words?
And as if afraid Anon wouldn't believe him, Mutsumi stood up and, before the girl could react, expertly grabbed her arm.
"What will it take for you to agree? As long as it's something I can do, I'll do anything!"
Wait, are you for real?
(Soyo: You're using my ultimate move as a basic attack?)
"Let go of me!"
Faced with Mutsumi using the same trick again, Anon clearly didn't have the same powerful resistance as Miss Sakiko.
She noticed the curious gazes of the surrounding customers and her face instantly turned red.
"...I'll do it, now let go of me!"
Couldn't you have just done that from the start?
Looking at Mutsumi's instantly changing expression, Anon ground her teeth in frustration.
"...So, how can I get Tomori to agree?"
After a moment of silence, Anon subconsciously touched her smooth, beautiful pink hair and asked Mutsumi.
In truth, she had never planned to refuse from the beginning.
After all, she hadn't forgotten that this guy still had leverage over her.
While she wouldn't yield to blackmail, Mutsumi's request wasn't unreasonable.
Plus, he hadn't actually used it to threaten her later on and had even told her about Tomori's past, so Anon decided to give him some face.
She had just wanted to use this chance to get the upper hand on him, but as expected, she was completely countered.