"And this one is Shiina Taki."
After finishing Soyo's introduction, it was naturally Taki-chan's turn.
"Drummer. Species: stress monster. Strength: high emotional intelligence."
"If you ever feel like you're bad at talking, you should learn more from her."
"Huh? Learn from her? Are you serious?"
Hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's introduction of Rikki, Anon instantly broke into a sweat.
Unlike Soyo, who was a complete stranger to her, she knew Taki at least a little.
Her? High emotional intelligence?
And the 'stress monster drummer' Kamijou Mutsuki mentioned earlier—that was her?!
Could she refuse this?
"What?"
Kamijou Mutsuki's borderline-mocking introduction instantly darkened the face of the blunt and hot-tempered Taki. However, Anon's subtle reaction just happened to help Kamijou Mutsuki draw the aggro onto himself.
"You got a problem?"
"Ah… no… um…"
Sure enough, she didn't get along with this guy at all. The moment she opened her mouth, everything felt off.
"And this one is Chihaya Anon."
After introducing Soyo and Taki, Kamijou Mutsuki turned to introduce Anon to them.
"Guitarist. In the band, she takes the role of the straight man."
"Who are you calling the straight man?! And why does a band even have such a weird position?!"
Hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's introduction, Anon blurted it out almost on instinct.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize something and covered it.
Crap. She really had become the straight man.
"Lastly, the vocalist is Tomori, also my wife."
"Who's your wife?!"
It was hard to imagine Tomori responding in such an agitated tone—but that line didn't come from Tomori at all. It came from Taki standing beside her.
Hearing someone spread rumors about her dad, she immediately stepped forward to fulfill her filial duty.
Kamijou Mutsuki raised an eyebrow. Then, under Taki's gaze that looked like it wanted to kill someone, he wrapped an arm around Tomori's shoulder and said with a benevolent expression: "Taki, I know you can't accept this right away, but I'll definitely treat Tomori well."
"From now on, we'll each address each other our own way. I'll call you Sister Taki, and you can call me Dad."
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Who did he think Taki was—how could she tolerate this?!
She grabbed a chair beside her, ready to throw down with Kamijou Mutsuki right there.
Just as the exchange was about to turn into an all-out brawl, Tomori stepped in front of Kamijou Mutsuki.
"Taki-chan,"
Facing Tomori's gem-like amber eyes, Taki's movements froze instantly.
"…Don't be mean to Mutsuki."
"Tomori…"
Hearing that, Taki's eyes widened in disbelief.
In that instant, it was as if she had been abandoned by the world itself, her entire being fading into grayscale.
The red nose and emerald-green crown that had once belonged to Anon now seemed to have transferred onto Taki's face, as sorrowful BGM practically began playing outside the window.
"Kamijou-kun, please stop teasing Taki-chan."
At this point, it naturally fell to Soyo, the one in the 'mom' role, to smooth things over.
"Still, what you mentioned earlier about a band means…"
As a die-hard remnant of the old regime whose mind was filled with reviving CRYCHIC, Soyo naturally wouldn't miss the keywords in Kamijou Mutsuki's earlier words.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
"…Does that mean Tomori will also join this band?"
Soyo asked the question she cared about the most.
"Mm."
Before Kamijou Mutsuki could answer, Tomori nodded and answered Soyo herself.
"I want to… keep forming a band…"
"With everyone…"
"I've always… been blaming myself…"
The girl lowered her head, clenched her fists, her voice so heavy it made one's heart ache.
"It was because I didn't sing well… that Sakiko became disappointed in me…"
"Feeling sad… feeling hurt…"
She clearly couldn't cry, yet the dull heaviness lingering in her chest—what exactly was it?
"So I didn't want to form a band anymore…"
Because she didn't want to feel that kind of loss again.
"But someone told me that I wasn't the only one suffering…"
"If… it's my fault, then I have a responsibility…"
"So… I want to keep forming a band!"
"…Everyone… together for a lifetime…"
"So that's how you felt, Tomori?"
Tomori wasn't very good at expressing herself, and her words weren't especially clear, but Soyo could fully understand her feelings.
Because she could feel the same sadness as Tomori.
Trapped in the past, unable to move forward.
"That Tomori was able to walk out of it really is wonderful!"
"We all made mistakes, that's why CRYCHIC broke up…"
"But mistakes can be made up for, as long as we work hard…"
"Now there's me, and Tomori… Rikki probably won't refuse either, right?"
"Huh? Of course not!"
Since Tomori had spoken, Taki would've gladly turned herself into Tomori's microphone. There was no way she would refuse.
"I'll absolutely never make Tomori sad again… As long as Tomori wants it, I'll keep forming a band with her…"
"For a lifetime…"
"That's right, I'll form a band with Tomori for a lifetime!"
It seemed what just happened hadn't affected her enthusiasm for Tomori at all.
"Me, Tomori, Rikki, and Mutsumi…"
After hearing Rikki's answer, the smile on Soyo's face grew even brighter.
She stretched out her hand and counted on her fingers, her eyes filled with longing for a beautiful future.
"Let the four of us reform the band together! Let's make up for everything together… This time, it'll definitely work!"
On the day CRYCHIC disbanded, Soyo had sworn silently to herself.
The happiness she lost—one day, she would reclaim it with her own hands!
Not to prove how amazing she was, but because CRYCHIC would never truly disband!
And now…
"One day" meant today!
With just Sakiko left, her CRYCHIC could be revived once more!
"Um…"
Only then did Anon, standing to the side, finally realize something was wrong.
Crap. She'd become the outsider!
"Sorry… what about me?"
She was clearly the one who started the band, so why did it feel like she couldn't get a word in at all?!
"Why are you still here?"
Kamijou Mutsuki smiled as he delivered the final blow.
Anon: "???"
What, seriously—was she really just a tool?!
Believe it or not, she'd really flip out on him!
"Anon should come too!"
At that moment, Tomori's voice sounded like an angel's hymn to Anon's ears.
"And Mutsuki too…"
"Huh?"
When Tomori said Anon would come too, Soyo's gaze flickered for a moment, while Rikki had no objections at all.
But when Kamijou Mutsuki was mentioned, Taki immediately couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Tomori, are you serious?"
"You want this man to join our band?"
In the Bang Dream world, bands were naturally mostly made up of cute girls.
Male bands existed too, but comparatively, they were far fewer.
What's more, unlike Kamijou Mutsuki's previous life, this world drew a clear line between mixed-gender and single-gender bands.
And especially Kamijou Mutsuki—this guy she hated so much her teeth itched—there was no way Rikki would be willing.
Rikki: No men allowed!
..................