Taki looked difficult to approach, but she was just blunt with her words. She was actually quite easy to ask for help.
When he walked into the RiNG lobby, Taki's emotional intelligence had probably not reached the level where she would ditch her friends to go train alone, so everyone was there.
The cat was currently clinging to Taki's side, stuffing candy into her.
Naturally, Taki would not deliberately misunderstand like Kamijou Mutsuki did. She accurately tossed the candy straight into the cat's mouth.
Well, not that accurately.
Because the candy was intercepted midway by Kamijou Mutsuki and thrown into his own mouth.
Matcha flavor again. Does the cat like this flavor that much?
No, wait—are you even human, stealing candy from a stray cat?
Watching his action, Taki widened her eyes.
She thought she already understood how absurd this guy was, but every single time he managed to come up with something new.
Damn it, you stole my candy again?
After waiting for a long time and not receiving her candy, the cat immediately understood when she saw a certain scummy person. She puffed up her cheeks and pounced over.
Since he ate her candy, he had to compensate her with a parfait!
After petting the cat for a while, Kamijou Mutsuki appeased her with a matcha parfait.
Only then did he turn his attention to his target for today—Yahata Umiri.
In the Bang Dream universe where everyone's hair was colorful, Umiri-sensei's plain black hair instead appeared somewhat special.
Her shoulder-length medium hair was worn loose, a relatively uncommon style. Not being very knowledgeable about such things, Kamijou Mutsuki could not name the exact type.
Perhaps because she had come straight to RiNG after school, she was still wearing her Hanasakigawa Girls' School uniform. It formed a strange contrast with her own somewhat mature and cool temperament.
"You're the one who wanted to see me?"
While Kamijou Mutsuki was observing Umiri, Umiri was also observing him.
Only, compared to Kamijou Mutsuki's appreciation, Umiri's gaze could even be described as scrutiny.
After all…
"This is the first time Taki has asked me for a favor because of a boy."
"Umiri, don't phrase it in a way that makes people misunderstand!"
Hearing her friend's words, Taki could not help but frown. It made it sound as if she had some special feelings for Kamijou Mutsuki.
"Don't look at me like that. There's no need to be so serious at our first meeting, right?"
Facing Umiri's stare, Kamijou Mutsuki first tried to ease the atmosphere, then handed her a boxed drink as a way to win her over.
Of course, it was not only for Umiri—everyone got one.
However, when Soyo took the drink, her expression seemed somewhat hesitant and complicated.
"You seem to know me well?"
Umiri accepted the drink from Kamijou Mutsuki without the slightest awkwardness, directly unwrapping the straw and taking a sip.
It was just an ordinary hundred-yen boxed drink, but Umiri did not find him stingy. Instead, she felt surprised.
Because this was exactly the flavor she usually drank.
Taki's friend was indeed somewhat extraordinary.
"I only know what I ought to know."
Diagnosis: watched MyGO!!!!! a lot.
In response to that answer, Umiri merely gave a noncommittal expression.
"So, what exactly do you want from me?"
She didn't waste time and went straight to the point.
"You know about the anime Taki and the others are participating in, right?"
"You want me to join too?"
After only a brief moment of thought, Umiri guessed Kamijou Mutsuki's intention.
"But why should I agree to you?"
Even as she drank the beverage he had given her, Umiri-sensei showed no awareness whatsoever of "owing someone a favor."
"I'm not short on money, and I'm not particularly interested in voice acting."
She said this while staring at Kamijou Mutsuki without blinking, as if trying to observe his reaction.
Umiri, you wouldn't want Taki to get bullied, would you?
…Forget it. That line had already been overused—and he'd just used it earlier today.
"Miss Umiri, if you refuse—"
Faced with her rejection, Kamijou Mutsuki instead revealed a smile.
"Then I'll just thoroughly toy with Taki and dump her without mercy."
So in the end, he had merely changed the phrasing.
If someone refuses you, you just threaten them directly?
Is this how you recruit employees?
Isn't that way too vicious?
Hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's words, Anon couldn't help but complain internally.
Ha, what nonsense is this guy spouting?
As the person involved, Taki naturally frowned.
Why is he threatening Umiri with something about her?
And "toy with" her? Is he still dreaming?
Is he not afraid of her fists?
If Tomori hadn't been holding her back, she would have already taught him a lesson!
"Taki?"
However, upon hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's words, Umiri revealed a hesitant look.
Her gaze swept across the four distinctive girls of MyGO!!!!!, then returned to Kamijou Mutsuki, her expression clearly saying:
Are you sure you didn't get that wrong?
Although Umiri was well aware of her friend's gentle nature, aside from that pretty face, Taki really wasn't the type to attract the opposite sex—especially when compared to the other four girls in MyGO!!!!!.
Low attack power, extremely high humiliation value.
And it was all aimed at Taki.
"Umiri!"
Taki never thought that one day she would be so thoroughly roasted by her own best friend.
Was she really that bad?
Still, she knew it herself—blunt-tongued, not particularly gentle by temperament, her appeal to boys really couldn't compare to the other four members of the band.
But so what? Was she living just to please other people?
"Please don't say that."
To Taki's surprise, Kamijou Mutsuki spoke up in direct rebuttal.
"Sure, Taki speaks bluntly, isn't especially gentle, moves a bit roughly, and sometimes doesn't even look like a girl—"
"Ha? You really asking to get punched?"
With a dark expression, Taki clenched her fist.
There were things you could acknowledge in your own heart—but having someone else say them out loud was a completely different matter.
"But those are just surface impressions."
Before Taki could make her move, Kamijou Mutsuki smoothly changed direction.
"Speaking bluntly means Taki doesn't lie. That's actually a huge plus."
"She only looks rough. At heart, Taki is very gentle."
"It's just that only those she acknowledges get to enjoy that gentleness."
"She's considerate. She cares about people. She struggles and feels sad over certain things. Shiina Taki is that kind of adorable girl."
"If you dated her, she would definitely love you with her whole heart and protect you!"
"Even if it's not obvious on the outside, Taki is the kind of person who could make anyone's heart race—"
"Shut up!"
Before he could finish, the blushing Taki clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Don't spout nonsense in front of Umiri."
She glared at Umiri, trying her best to look fierce—but with her cheeks flushed bright red, the result only made her look cute.
"Don't think I'll start liking you just because you said that."
"S-So behave yourself!"
PS: How did this turn into a Taki-focused segment while writing?
But honestly, Taki is really cute. The author likes all five members of MyGO!!!!!.
(I'll take them all.)
..........................