Soyo: "Safe travels~!"
The band practice didn't end too late. Taki and Tomori headed home together since they lived in the same direction.
Well, "same direction" meant Taki lived closer, but she always walked Tomori all the way to her door before doubling back.
Rana, Anon, and Soyo left separately. Soyo, of course, was faking it. She walked a short distance with them before stopping once they split up.
Rin, meanwhile, accompanied Mutsumi to the curb to hail a taxi. Today, Mortis and Mutsumi had been switching personalities like crazy. Whenever they needed to talk, Mortis took over; whenever guitar was needed, Mutsumi returned. It was enough to make Rin dizzy.
While chatting with Mortis, Rin scanned the street for a cab. He raised his hand to flag one down, but Mortis stopped him.
"What's wrong? If you want me to stay, I'll visit you tonight."
"No." Mortis shook her head with a cunning smile. "I saw it, you know. You and Soyo have a secret, don't you? You can't hide that look on her face from me~"
"You're too smart for your own good." Rin pinched Mortis's cheek. "She messaged me in the rehearsal room asking to meet after we finished. I have no idea what she wants."
Just as he spoke, Rin's phone buzzed with a location and a message from Soyo.
Soyo: [I'm waiting for you here.]
"We're coming with you~"
Following Soyo's location, Rin and Mutsumi arrived at a nearby park. It wasn't a busy area, and the park was deserted at night.
From a distance, Rin could see Soyo standing alone under a streetlamp with her bass case, periodically checking her phone.
Rin and Mutsumi walked up to her. Soyo's face lit up with surprise at seeing Rin, but her expression quickly became complicated when she noticed Mutsumi.
"Did you have something to tell me?"
"I... Mr. Rin..."
"Just say it." Rin smiled at her hesitant, pained look. "If it's awkward in front of Mutsumi, we can talk over there."
"Mutsumi... Mutsumi can stay. It's fine."
Hah... hah...
Soyo took a deep breath, forcing a gentle smile onto her face.
"Mr. Rin... could you... could you sign our band?" After saying it, she immediately added, "You don't have to invest resources or pay us. Just... a nominal, official signing."
"Oh?" Rin sized her up with interest. "A nominal signing? Why would you want that?"
"Because Tomori wants a band for a lifetime. She didn't show it much today, but she's insecure... she's terrified the band will fall apart like Crychic. An official contract would give her peace of mind... please."
"Miss Nagasaki, you're so kind." Rin laughed and shook his head. "I'm a manager, but I don't own the agency. I can't just sign people on a whim. To be honest, only Rana is actually up to professional standards. And... is this really for Tomori?"
"Eh...?" Soyo took an instinctive step back, looking lost.
"Miss Nagasaki..." Rin sighed. "Your true goal is to use this agency as a way to resurrect Crychic, isn't it?"
"...Why? Why would you say that?" Soyo froze. When she regained her composure, she immediately began to defend herself. "Look... Mutsumi, you know, don't you? We were so close... we were so happy every day. And now everyone is scattered... it's just wrong!"
"Sakiko said a band is a community of shared destiny... I just want to start over. I want to go back to those happy days with everyone. Tomori and Taki must want it too. And Mutsumi... you want that too, right?"
Soyo's voice was trembling uncontrollably. She looked at Mutsumi with pleading eyes, hoping for an ally to help convince Rin.
"I..." It wasn't Mortis who spoke, but Mutsumi. "I have no intention of doing that."
"Eh?" Soyo stood frozen, her eyes wide as she stared at Mutsumi. "Tomori, Taki, and now you... am I the only one who feels this way? Crychic... Crychic isn't over. People just stopped coming. If we're all together, we can definitely..."
Thud!
Soyo dropped to her knees in front of Mutsumi and Rin. She grabbed both of their hands, her face a mask of desperation.
In reality, Soyo knew. She knew the chances of Rin signing them and Crychic being resurrected were non-existent. She knew she was the only one who wanted it back.
She had been lying to herself, and even now, being exposed by Rin and Mutsumi, she refused to accept it.
Crychic was the only thing that had ever filled the void in her heart. It was her home. Even if they weren't the same band, being under the same agency meant there was a chance for a reunion... even if that chance was one in ten thousand.
Like a drowning woman reaching for a straw, she had to try.
"Please... if I don't have Crychic, if I don't have everyone, I'm... I'm... what do I have to do? How can I bring Crychic back? What do I have to do to make you sign us? I'll do anything... anything you want!"
"How much determination do you have to say something like that?" Mutsumi... no, Mortis, spoke this time. She knelt down to bring her eyes level with Soyo's. "Anything? Are you really capable of that?"
Mortis glanced at Rin. Rin hadn't told them his exact relationship with Karen, but from what she'd seen, they were incredibly close. Mortis instinctively felt their bond was deeper than "just friends."
For a conglomerate like Okiura, signing a few girls was nothing. If Rin asked, Karen would agree. He could even throw resources at them if he wanted.
"I'll do anything! I really will! No matter what it is!"
The hope in Soyo's eyes flared back to life at Mortis's words. She looked back and forth between Mortis and Rin.
Crychic meant more to Soyo than to anyone else. Only in that band did she feel needed. Only there did she have a home to escape the lonely nights.
As long as there was a sliver of a chance to revive those days, she would pay any price. Any price at all!
Rin knelt down, his eyes meeting Soyo's.
"In that case... let me see your determination and your sincerity." Rin paused. "Let's go to a hotel, and you can show me exactly how sincere you are."
"A hotel...?" Soyo's body gave a violent shudder. Then, she lowered her eyes. "I... I understand. I... I will show you my determination."