The next day, when Chihaya Anon brought Chihaya Tetsuya to the studio at [RiNG], everyone reacted differently—
Takamatsu Tomori was naturally very happy to see him, while Shiina Taki subconsciously straightened her posture, looking as serious as if she were in class.
As for Nagasaki Soyo, after an imperceptible frown, she began to quietly observe Tetsuya...
"Just like I said in the group chat, in order to catch that stray cat, and also to get the design sketches for us as soon as possible, my brother will be stopping by here every day for a while!"
Anon announced.
"If any of you have ideas for the costumes, you can tell my brother anytime!"
"Please don't worry, everyone. I'll usually be in the café drawing the designs, so I won't disturb your practice," Tetsuya added.
"But if you have any questions about the costumes, you can come find me anytime... Well then, I'll head to the café now. Anon, do your best in practice."
"Yes!"
Anon nodded with a smile.
"I'll message you if the stray cat shows up!"
"Mhm, got it."
Tetsuya nodded. However, as he was about to turn and leave the studio, he suddenly noticed Tomori staring at him, as if she were waiting for something—
"...You too, Takamatsu-san. Good luck with practice."
"! Yes!"
After getting a response from Tetsuya, Tomori's slightly tense little face immediately broke into a happy smile.
"I'll do my very best."
.....
After Tetsuya left the studio, the moods of both Anon and Tomori were clearly different from just a moment ago. Although Taki showed no outward change, her expression was also noticeably more focused.
And as Soyo took in her bandmates' reactions, the wariness in her eyes intensified.
Just as I thought. Under that man's influence, everyone is gradually coming together, developing into a complete and independent band.
This won't do.
Her preparations weren't finished yet. She couldn't let them reach a consensus so quickly.
So, what can I do to deepen the rift between them and this Chihaya Tetsuya again?
Soyo's gaze slowly swept over the other three.
And then, when she saw the sparkling earring on Tomori's ear, a brilliant spark of inspiration flashed through her mind.
"Chihaya-san seems to care a lot about Tomori, doesn't he?"
Soyo said suddenly with a smile.
"Not only did he give Tomori earrings, but he even made a point to cheer her on. It feels like he's treating her like another little sister."
"!"
Tomori first covered her mouth in surprise, then a visible blush began to creep up her cheeks.
"Chihaya-san's little sister..." she murmured, her eyes shimmering with an unreadable emotion.
Just as Soyo had thought, a comment like that would definitely make Tomori very happy.
But in contrast, as the real little sister, Anon should feel a little jealous about this—
"Hm? Another little sister?"
However, upon hearing Soyo's comment, Anon, who had always lived under Tetsuya's doting care, simply tilted her head with a thoughtful expression.
"That level of care is nothing for him. Things like lap pillows, headpats, and occasional heart-to-hearts are my brother's most lethal moves!"
"Lap pillows, headpats..."
Hearing these words, Tomori's face became even redder than before.
Just imagining the scene made her feel her heartbeat begin to race uncontrollably.
On the other side, seeing Tomori's suddenly flushed face, Taki immediately reprimanded Anon in a serious tone:
"Hey, don't you go putting such strange ideas into Tomori's head!"
"Eh? Did I say something strange?"
"Of course you did! Headpats aside, lap pillows... and stuff, it's too early for Tomori!"
Taki herself started to feel a little embarrassed midway through her sentence.
"That kind of thing, you should at least wait until Tomori is an adult!"
"Huh? I thought this stuff was pretty normal for high schoolers... I didn't know you were such a conservative type, Taki!"
Anon blinked in surprise.
"Besides, wasn't the context of this conversation just now between a brother and sister? It's totally normal for siblings to do these things... Taki, wouldn't you want to be doted on by your older sister like that?"
"Of course not!"
Taki retorted without a moment's hesitation.
"Don't think everyone is as shameless as you!"
"Sh-Shameless?!"
Hearing Taki's response, Tomori looked as if she had taken a heavy blow. She sank powerlessly to the floor, hugging her knees tightly.
"I see, so I'm a shameless person..."
"Huh? Tomori?! Wait, I wasn't talking about you just now!"
Seeing Tomori looking so dejected, Taki hurriedly tried to explain:
"I-I was talking about myself! I would never want to do those things with my own sister!"
Watching Taki's frantic explanation, Anon couldn't help but ask again with curiosity:
"If not your sister, what about a brother? If you had an older brother, Taki, would you want to do those things with him?"
"Well..."
Although Taki really wanted to snap back at Anon like she usually did, considering how her previous answer had just upset Tomori, she had to answer more carefully this time—
"S-Since I don't have a brother, I can't really imagine it."
Taki stammered.
"But, if my brother were a grown-up like Chihaya-san... maybe... I would want to try relying on him a little... I guess."
Hearing this, Anon couldn't help but pout.
"Why are you being so vague? It's perfectly normal for a younger sister to be doted on by her older brother! So
you don't have to worry about it at all, Tomori!"
"Mhm! Thank you, Anon."
"Showing off just because you have a brother... Can't you learn a thing or two from that low-key, steady air your brother has?"
"I only show off my brother to you guys! In a way, I'm already being plenty low-key!"
"I really don't get your standards!"
"...Eh?"
Watching the three of them, who were no different from usual, Soyo couldn't help but feel deeply confused.
Why isn't Chihaya Anon jealous of the special treatment Tomori is receiving? Does this person not have even a shred of possessiveness towards her own brother?
And why wasn't Taki, who has always been so overprotective of Tomori, wary of what that man was doing? Isn't she worried Tomori will be led astray by him?
However, while the reactions of the other three were completely contrary to her expectations, she had at least succeeded in disrupting the rhythm of their rehearsal.
As long as their rehearsal progress remained stalled, the band would never be able to truly become a single entity.
"...I can't wait any longer."
Soyo took her phone from her pocket and opened a chat window—
"This is for all of us. You can understand that, can't you... Mutsumi."
Then, after typing out several consecutive messages, she finally pressed the power button, darkening the screen.
And in the reflection on the now-dark screen, a trace of gloomy obsession was quietly burning in Soyo's eyes...