In the afternoon.
After school, Tomori didn't go looking for Sakiko again. Instead, she headed to Starry with Anon for rehearsal.
While Ring had better facilities, there was no one there to guide them. At Starry, Nijika and the others could provide professional advice... after all, Ryo had been paid for it!
Aside from Tomori, everyone else had paid their "tuition" to Ryo.
Anon for guitar and Soyo for bass went without saying, but even Taki had paid up... Ryo didn't take the money in Nijika's name, but under the guise of teaching Taki composition. Originally, Sakiko was the composer, and Taki had taken over that burden after she left.
It wasn't that the others forced the job on Taki; it was that Taki desperately wanted to surpass Sakiko.
In the family of Kessoku Band, if Nijika was the mother, Ryo was the father.
Ryo handled the music and lyrics and was a master of both guitar and bass. She was collecting three separate paychecks!
Without Ryo, the Kessoku Band family would fall apart!
As for Sakiko, although she had decided to attend their live show, she didn't tell Tomori. The pride of a Toyokawa heiress wouldn't allow her to be that direct.
Besides, she had to find a new job.
Working as a customer support rep was humiliating, but at least it didn't require her to deliver papers and milk in the rain or snow; at least she could sit in an air-conditioned room.
Short-term part-time work was easy for a high schooler to find, but Sakiko needed something long-term that fit her schedule every afternoon and evening after school.
That was proving difficult to find.
Sakiko walked out of the school gates, her mind occupied with her career prospects.
Outside the gate, Mutsumi stood waiting like a silent doll, her hands clasped over her school bag. Sakiko walked past her without a word, and Mutsumi expertly turned to follow. Together, they headed toward their usual cafe.
"Are you here to act as a lobbyist for Tomori and the others?"
"No," Mutsumi shook her head. "I have something to tell you."
Sakiko narrowed her eyes slightly. She had assumed Mutsumi was there to convince her to join Tomori's band, or that Mutsumi herself was already a member.
But...
"It's not that?"
"Mmm. We'll talk when we get there."
Sakiko didn't press further. Their years of shared silence meant they understood each other without needing many words.
When they reached the cafe, Sakiko was looking for a seat when Mutsumi tugged on her sleeve and pointed. Looking in the direction of the finger, Sakiko didn't see an empty table, but a man.
Before Sakiko could ask, Mutsumi walked over and sat opposite him. Despite her confusion, Sakiko sat down beside her friend.
"Hello, Miss Toyokawa. My name is Rin Ito. I am the manager for Mutsumi's band."
As he spoke, Rin handed over a business card that contained only a name and a phone number.
"A band? A manager?"
Sakiko grew even more suspicious as she took the card.
As a celebrity's daughter, it was normal for Mutsumi to have a manager for events, but he specifically said he was a band manager. That was strange.
Mutsumi would never take the initiative to start a band. If she joined one, it would be with Tomori... and Tomori's group definitely didn't need a professional manager.
Rin's next words confirmed Sakiko's suspicions.
"It's like this: Karen Entertainment is preparing a new girl band project. We invited Mutsumi to participate, and she recommended you... Did she not mention this to you beforehand?"
Rin spoke with a warm smile, but his words only added to Sakiko's confusion. Why a talent agency under the Okiura family? Why not one under the Toyokawa Group?
Neither of Mutsumi's parents were Toyokawas, but her family was a branch relative. Mutsumi was slightly older than Sakiko; Sakiko could technically call her "Big Sister."
While the Toyokawa family didn't forbid the Wakabas from working with other agencies, they had much more influence within their own companies, making project management easier. Both of Mutsumi's parents were currently with Toyokawa-affiliated agencies.
"Mutsumi... what is this about?"
"Saki," Mutsumi turned her expressionless face toward her. "I feel like you're about to break."
"Break? What are you talking about? I'm not going to break." Sakiko instinctively thought of her life after leaving the manor. Her pride, already wounded, flared up into anger. "Mutsumi, what are you actually trying to do?"
"I want to form a band with you."
"There's no need. I don't even know what a 'band' is anymore."
Sakiko stood up and walked away. Rin shook his head helplessly and spoke loud enough for Sakiko to hear.
"Mutsumi, if Miss Toyokawa is unwilling, there's not much I can do. I spent a lot of effort convincing Miss Karen for your sake... Even if Sakiko doesn't join, this project must move forward."
As he spoke, Rin kept an eye on Sakiko. Once she was out of earshot, he nudged Mutsumi's foot under the table.
"Alright, the show is over. She's gone... Is that enough?"
Meeting Sakiko today wasn't Rin's idea; it was Mutsumi's... or rather, it was Mortis's idea.
Although it was an act, only half of the dialogue was scripted. The rest was the truth.
Rin's plan was to use Tomori's performance of "Haruhikage" to trigger Sakiko's competitive spirit. Mutsumi and Mortis didn't actually know the full extent of Rin's plan; Mutsumi didn't even know Rin wanted Sakiko in the harem yet.
She was the one who suggested Rin invite Sakiko. Rin didn't know what was going on inside her tiny head.
Rin only planned for Tomori to provide the stimulus, but if Mutsumi wanted to help, he didn't mind. One dose or two doses of stimulation didn't change much; two just increased the success rate.
Mutsumi didn't answer. She picked up her mango juice and watched Sakiko's retreating back, sipping through the straw like a hamster.
While she sipped, she communicated with Mortis in her mind.
Mutsumi: [Will she actually join because of this?]
Mortis: [If Sakiko understands your intentions and the sacrifices you've made, she definitely will!]
Mortis: [In truth, she desperately wants to play with you again. She just doesn't have the time because of her jobs.]
Mortis: [Beyond time, it's exactly as Rin said—she quit because her pride wouldn't let her be seen as 'poor.' She still wants to be in a band.]
Mortis: [So, we just have to give her a reason that bypasses her 'Ojou-sama' pride!]
Mortis: [Rin isn't part of the Toyokawa agency. From her perspective, you choosing a rival agency over her family's already makes her suspicious. In a few days, when they play 'Haruhikage,' we'll give her another push. Let her discover something 'abnormal.']
Mortis: [When that happens, Sakiko will choose to join just to save you!]
Mortis: [Plan success?]