The Next Day.
Sakiko Toyokawa dragged her tired body to the call center for more misery pay.
Meanwhile, Tomori and the others headed to the Starry Live House.
Looking at the stairs leading underground, the group was confused.
Is this really a live house? It looks nothing like Ring!
If not for the "Starry" sign on the wall, they would have thought they were in the wrong place.
Taki took the lead, cautiously pushing open the heavy black door.
"Welcome! ━(｀∀´)ノ亻! We aren't open for business yet... Ah, Tomori-chan~"
Nijika, who was cleaning the counter, thought they were regular customers.
Once she saw Tomori hiding behind Taki, she rushed forward and yelled toward the back.
"Tomori and her friends are here~!"
The rest of Kessoku Band, who had been cleaning up for the evening shift, ran over.
Seeing so many people, Bocchi instinctively shrunk to the back of the group.
Ryo Yamada lunged forward to shake their hands one by one.
"Hello! I'm Ryo Yamada, the bassist of Kessoku Band."
"This is Nijika Ichiji, our drummer. Ikuyo Kita, our vocalist/guitarist, and Hitori Gotoh, our lead guitarist."
"Let us know if you need anything!"
"Ryo!" Nijika yanked the over-enthusiastic bassist back.
As Ryo's "Mother," Nijika knew exactly what she was after.
"Don't you dare lend her money!"
"Look, Nijika! Their clothes and shoes are all high-end brands!"
"And Miss Nagasaki said 'Gokigenyo' earlier—that's a rich girl greeting!"
"Borrowing a little cash should be easy, right?"
"...NO LENDING!" Nijika delivered a heavy chop to Ryo's head.
"Seriously, no money. If you borrow anything, I'm telling HIM and letting him punish you!"
"What's the big deal? Didn't that agency scout us?"
"Once we sign, we'll be living the high life, buying whatever instruments we want!"
Seeing the comedy duo in action, Kita stepped forward.
"I am so sorry. They're always like this."
Soyo: "It's fine. The lively atmosphere is nice."
Rana: "Interesting girls!"
After the greetings, Nijika led them to the rehearsal room.
Starry's room was much smaller than Ring's; nine people made it feel quite cramped.
Luckily, Soyo's group hadn't brought instruments, or they wouldn't have fit.
Tomori hadn't come just to hang out; she had a mission.
At the celebration party, Rin had told her: To have a band for a lifetime, you must first form one!
The band was formed. Now it was time for the activities that deepened their bond.
Once the door was shut, Tomori spoke up urgently.
"The band is formed. Now, what do we need to do to deepen our friendship and bond?"
"What can we do to become closer than just friends?"
Hearing her questions, Soyo and Taki shared a look and a fond, helpless smile.
Tomori was still obsessed with the "lifetime" idea.
Rana and Anon muffled their giggles.
They were only here to humor Tomori's request for "relationship-building tips."
"Well, uh..." Tomori's question made Nijika's face flush.
I can't exactly tell them we have group sex, can I?
Last time, she thought she could just brush it off.
But Tomori was so serious she had followed them here to ask.
"Licking feet," Ryo interjected flatly.
" " " " " EH!?!? " " " " "
The five newcomers recoiled, looking at the Kessoku girls like they were absolute freaks.
Licking feet? What the hell!?
And looking at Ryo's face... She actually did it!?
However...
Taki glanced at Tomori's feet in her black ankle socks.
If it's Tomori... maybe it's not so bad.
"WHAT-WHAT-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!??"
A beet-red Nijika reached for Ryo's throat.
She wanted to kill Ryo and then herself.
How can you say that in front of outsiders!?
Actually, even if they were alone, Nijika would still be mortified.
Unlike Nijika, Ryo didn't care.
It seemed like these girls were going to be "eaten" by Rin anyway, so there was no point in hiding.
"It was an accident! Just an accident!" Nijika explained frantically.
"The second time she tried, I kicked her until her nose bled."
"There was a second time?" Soyo asked, stunned.
"I... I... I'M DONE!!!!!"
Utterly humiliated, Nijika bolted out the door to hide like an ostrich.
"Ahem," Ryo cleared her throat.
"I don't have a weird fetish. Don't you think teasing a shy Nijika is hilarious?"
"Very funny!" Rana nodded in deep agreement.
Truly interesting women!
Ryo had licked Nijika's feet twice.
Once in her apartment, and once during a party.
The second time, she really did get a bloody nose.
Nijika had used her feet to make Rin cum all over them.
To vent her frustration from previous pranks, she had mischievously stuck her legs in Ryo's face and told her to lick them clean.
Nijika only meant to scare her.
She never expected Ryo would be so shameless as to actually do it!
She'd licked them perfectly clean, getting every drop of Rin's "proof of charm"—even between the toes!
Teasing Nijika was fun, but Taki and the others had a lingering question...
Under what circumstances do you even get the chance to lick feet!?
"Is... is there anything else? Other methods?" a blushing Soyo asked.
"Mmm... Using your tongue to lubricate the other girls on their first night?" Ryo tilted her head.
"RYO-SENPAI, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!!!!"
Kita had found Nijika's embarrassment cute, but now that the fire was on her, she wanted to die.
"RYO-SENPAI, YOU IDIOT!!!!"
Kita bolted out of the room as well.
Finally, Ryo turned her gaze to Bocchi.
"I... I'll see myself out."
A trembling Bocchi left the room without looking back.
She knew she was next to have her secrets spilled—likely the time she leaked urine on stage.
She figured if she wasn't there to hear it, she could pretend it didn't exist.
Watching the three flee, Ryo nodded in satisfaction.
She stood up, walked to the door, and with practiced ease, clicked the lock shut.
Hearing the lock, Tomori instinctively swallowed.
The things they just said were already intense... could there be something even crazier?
With the room secured, Ryo pulled out her phone.
The five girls stared at the device, swallowing hard.
Is she going to show us some scandalous photos!?
Under their intense scrutiny, Ryo unlocked the screen and held it out to them.
It was... a payment QR code!
"10,000 yen for one 'relationship-building tip'."