The feeling of a real kiss was completely different from that earlier dragonfly-like peck.
Her whole body felt tingly and numb, wrapped in a sense of reassurance she had never experienced before.
"You also want to thank Mutsuki?"
After all, earlier Sakiko had pulled Mutsumi away—only to immediately take her place.
Sakiko-sensei: No, I didn't, don't make things up!
So Rikki's behavior naturally made Tomori suspect she was trying to recreate that classic scene.
"Why would I want to kiss him?!"
Rikki instantly understood what Tomori meant and retorted with a flushed face.
Her? Want to kiss this guy?
No matter how you looked at it, that was impossible!
Aside from Rikki, Kamijou Mutsuki himself was also feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Are we really doing this one by one?
Tomori, did you even ask for my opinion?
Or had he been reduced to some kind of "shared band-use X disposal prop"?
"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?"
At that moment, Anon rubbed her eyes and walked in.
"Rikki, did you find Tomori—"
Then she saw the rather delicate scene in the bedroom.
"…Um, what exactly are you all doing?"
Looking at the one man and four girls in the room, Anon swallowed slightly as she asked.
"Rikki also wants to kiss Mutsuki."
Tomori answered immediately.
What—Rikki wants to kiss Kamijou Mutsuki?
Anon was startled.
Since when did those two get that close?
"I do not!"
Faced with Anon's subtly complicated gaze, Rikki instantly overheated.
Was Tomori's mastery of language something she had honed in Britain alongside that genius painter who shared Rikki's surname?
"But Rikki did the same thing as Sakiko."
Now it was Sakiko's turn to take collateral damage. She really hadn't meant it like that!
Tomori was on a rampage—she was unstoppable!
Wait, Sakiko did it too?!
Compared to the already numb Sakiko, Tomori's words hit Anon much harder.
And if she remembered correctly, Tomori had said "also" earlier…
Wait—you guys are holding an impromptu party without inviting me?
No, actually—never mind. She'd sit this one out.
She just wanted to be a normal band girl.
This was way too intense for her.
"I told you, I don't have that kind of idea!"
On the other side, Rikki was so flustered she was starting to lose control of her words. She pointed at Anon, who had just arrived.
"Even if it were with her, I still wouldn't kiss this guy!"
Sure, they were both annoying—but at least Anon was a girl.
"N-no no no, Rikki, you should find someone else!"
Whoa. There's yuri here!
Suddenly being pointed at by Rikki, Anon jumped in fright.
She had no intention of joining any "Impart"!
"I—I have a perfectly normal orientation!"
"You—"
Seeing Anon trembling like that, Rikki nearly fainted from anger.
It was just a metaphor! Why was this idiot reacting like that?
As expected, she was an annoying person!
"Never mind that for now!"
Rikki forcefully suppressed her skyrocketing blood pressure and decided to deal with the main issue first.
"Tomori, why did you just kiss this guy?"
"Because I wanted to thank Mutsuki."
Tomori answered honestly.
"You thank someone by kissing them?!"
Rikki felt she had to correct Tomori's dangerously skewed understanding.
"Mutsumi and Sakiko did it that way."
Found the culprits!
So that's why Tomori picked up such a strange idea—you two corrupted her!
Under Rikki's fierce glare, Sakiko had completely given up resisting, while Mutsumi's expression remained unchanged.
What's wrong with me kissing my own fiancé?
"Just because someone else does something doesn't mean it's right."
Rikki deployed the same tactic Sakiko had used before—defeating Tomori's logic with Tomori's own logic.
"So if Tomori wanted to thank me, would you…"
Rikki's cheeks flushed faintly.
"…would you kiss me too?"
"No."
Immediate answer.
This principle applied only to Kamijou Mutsuki—because she liked him.
Tomori still possessed at least a little common sense.
"Why can he but I can't?!"
However, faced with Tomori's instant, decisive rejection, Rikki's composure shattered again.
Of course she had no inappropriate intentions toward Tomori—
But wasn't the difference in treatment a little too obvious?!
Was the gap between her and Kamijou Mutsuki really that big in Tomori's heart?
Rikki felt wronged.
And you're saying you're not into girls?
Anon, unaware of Rikki's inner thoughts, instinctively took a few steps back upon seeing her so agitated over being rejected by Tomori.
Meanwhile, watching Rikki look so pitiful, even Kamijou Mutsuki felt a little sorry for her.
"For that matter… maybe I should just kiss him now. At least I could taste Tomori's flavor."
"Because Rikki isn't Mutsuki."
Tomori gave her answer.
"And girls aren't allowed to do that with each other."
Why did you suddenly regain common sense at a time like this?
"Then what exactly am I to you, Tomori?"
Looking at her, Rikki finally couldn't hold back the question.
"Rikki is my friend."
Beep—friend card issued!
"You're irreplaceable. We're going to be together for a lifetime!"
Tomori said it earnestly, taking Rikki's hand in hers.
They were going to be in a band together forever!
"A… a lifetime…"
The three words instantly struck Rikki down.
She was someone who would stay with Tomori for a lifetime—why was she even getting hung up on something like this?
This time she had simply let Kamijou Mutsuki slip through her guard. Next time, she would definitely protect Tomori properly!
Meanwhile, off to the side, Anon narrowed her eyes.
Tomori… do you say that to everyone?
"Eh? Mutsumi, what are you doing?"
Just as the atmosphere was gradually calming down, Mutsumi suddenly leaned over and kissed Kamijou Mutsuki again.
Seeing something this stimulating for the first time, Anon's face instantly turned red.
Hey—aren't you at least going to avoid doing that in front of people?
Caught off guard, Mutsuki instinctively tried to struggle.
Mutsumi, not now.
You've already had your turn—what is Rikki supposed to taste later?
But how could mere Kamijou Mutsuki possibly resist Mutsumi at this moment?
Sakiko and Tomori's repeated disregard of her presence had clearly provoked the Cucumber Sword Princess.
Even a cucumber will bite when cornered.
Even so, Mutsumi's movements were gentle.
Bit by bit, she neutralized and erased the lingering trace that had belonged to Tomori—
Until only the faint fragrance of little cucumber remained.
And this time, no one would stop her.
"…"
Only when she felt it was enough did Mutsumi slowly pull away, breathing lightly.
"Mutsuki, good night."
After so many unexpected incidents tonight, she didn't linger. After the kiss, she simply left.
Next was Sakiko-sensei—she needed to calm down.
Then Rikki dragged Tomori away as well, afraid she'd stay and continue being "bullied" by Mutsuki.
In the end, only Anon remained.
"So? Did it feel good?"
She looked at Mutsuki, who seemed slightly unsatisfied, and asked in a faintly sarcastic tone.
.....................