Title: Boss Kamijou Keeps His Word.
What is this idiot rambling on about! Rikki felt her face must be terrifyingly red, and her heart was beating uncontrollably. Under Kamijou Mutsumi's surprise attack, even she found it hard to withstand the sudden, direct assault.
Anon, watching from the side, squinted. Why do his words sound so familiar? As expected of this player, even someone like Rikki can be flustered like this. Terrifying! The girl silently complained, suppressing an inexplicable annoyance in her heart.
"Rikki," Umi sighed, watching the scene unfold, her gaze deepening. Tsk, did I just assist this guy? "Did you call me here just to watch you two flirt?"
"Who's flirting!?" Rikki finally noticed their ambiguous posture and snatched her hand back as if she'd been electrocuted. "And you," she crossed her arms, trying to appear calm, but she couldn't hide the blush on her face. "Stop saying things that cause misunderstandings, or I'll hit you!" But, just like before, it held no threat.
"So, Miss Umi, your answer?" Finally unsealed, Kamijou Mutsumi looked at Teacher Umi and continued to ask.
"It seems if I don't want Rikki to be bullied by you, I have no choice but to agree." Now that she had probed for most of the information, Umi didn't continue to refuse.
"Who would be bullied by this guy?!" Rikki, however, was very dissatisfied with Umi's words. Why was it a given that she would be pursued and bullied by him? Her, liking Kamijou Mutsumi? Impossible! If she ever fell for him, she'd eat the stray cat!
Neko: ?
"..." Umi didn't reply, just thinking to herself that her friend really had no self-awareness. Although from her perspective, the current Rikki indeed had no romantic feelings for him. But he was the only male around her right now. Who could say what would happen later? Moreover, from her observation, he and Rikki were not on the same level at all. Without her, her friend would definitely be completely wrapped around this man's finger. "But, do you really like Rikki?" After all, to be able to list so many of her friend's good qualities in one breath was something even she couldn't do unprepared. To know her so deeply, she didn't believe he had no feelings for Rikki at all.
"Umi!" Rikki, who had just barely calmed down, blushed again. Why did Umi think there was something going on between them? Before today, she had never imagined she would have such an ambiguous connection with that scumbag. From her perspective, he only ever bullied Tomori and made her angry.
"I like Rikki," however, Kamijou Mutsumi's reply was unexpected by everyone. Rikki's mind went blank for a moment. This scumbag... likes her? How is that possible?!
"...and everyone else!"
Can't you speak without taking such a dramatic pause? The girls' gazes all turned a bit resentful. Rikki, again, felt the urge to hit someone.
"I have a gig with another band later," seeing her question easily deflected by him, Umi didn't feel the need to probe further. In fact, she didn't mind him being with Rikki, provided he could make her happy. So, before that, she would observe him closely... she would be watching him! "I'll be taking my leave."
"Contact me if you need anything!" As expected of Teacher Umi, efficient and carefree.
With that, the only remaining voice actor for Mygo was Myamu.
After Umi left, the taskmaster Rikki naturally chose to lead everyone in practice, but even Anon had no objections. There was nothing left for Kamijou Mutsumi to do, so he returned to the large house.
By the time he got home, Mutsumi Tōgō had already prepared dinner.
"Mutsumi, what are these...?" However, the little cucumber seemed a bit puzzled by the pile of cardboard boxes in the house.
"These are the guitars I bought today." He opened the boxes, revealing the guitars inside. Mutsumi Tōgō was even more confused by his answer. Why would he buy guitars for no reason? And so many of them.
"Isn't your guitar at your old house, Mutsumi?" Facing her question, he answered truthfully. "I saw you seemed a bit out of sorts, so I thought I'd buy you a guitar. I didn't know which kind you liked, so I just bought them all."
"For... me?" Mutsumi Tōgō caressed the guitar, her eyes looking a bit dazed. He even noticed that?
Speaking of which, she hadn't thought about her old home for a long time. There, she only felt emptiness and oppression. Her father, when he was occasionally home, would only put pressure on her. And while Kamijou Mutsumi seemed scummy on the surface, she could feel a sense of security with him that she didn't even have with Soyo and Sakiko. She didn't have to be careful, nor would she be hurt from both sides. Having him as a fiancé was indeed her good fortune. Recalling everything that had happened recently, the girl felt as if a lifetime had passed.
"Of course, just because I bought them doesn't mean you have to play. They'd be nice as a collection at home too." Kamijou Mutsumi, misunderstanding her thoughts upon seeing her reaction, said casually.
"No," hearing him, Mutsumi Tōgō lifted her head, her eyes firm. "I love Mutsumi's gift!" Due to her childhood experiences, while she didn't hate the guitar, she couldn't quite feel love for it either. That's why she had said what she did when Sakiko quit the band. But at this moment, her feelings were different. Because this was a gift from him to her.
"I want... Mutsumi to hear my voice." She wanted to play for him.
With that, Mutsumi Tōgō picked up a pink seven-string bass guitar from the collection.
"Mutsumi, what do you want to hear?"
"Haruhikage!" he answered instantly.
"...Mutsumi, you're mean." Mutsumi Tōgō puffed her cheeks slightly, though she didn't seem surprised.
Then, in the villa that no longer belonged to Teacher Sakiko, Mutsumi Tōgō began to play the "Haruhikage" that no longer belonged to her. The distance between them quietly closed amidst the sound of the guitar she played.
...
After successfully recruiting Uika and Umi, Kamijou Mutsumi didn't rush to find the remaining Myamu. For the next few days, he spent his days at STARRY building goodwill, and his afternoons practicing with Tomori and the others.