The less anxious Rin Ito was, the more anxious Rita became.
After being left hanging for a whole day, Rita finally found a chance to be alone with Rin Ito.
"You..."
"Don't go to Baumkuchen today." Before Rita could even speak, Rin Ito beat her to the punch. "Let's go out and have some fun."
Rita hesitated, swallowing her words.
Why was he suddenly asking her out?
Did Mashiro tell him that they had been discovered, so he came to corrupt her and make her keep the secret?
Useless, useless, useless!
She was absolutely going to take Mashiro away from his side!
But going out wasn't a bad idea... They could find a secluded spot outside and she could finally lay her cards on the table!
After changing out of their comfortable loungewear into outdoor clothes, the two headed out together.
Rita was wearing the same outfit she wore when they first met.
A thin scarf was tied snugly around her collar, and her pink shirt tapered at her waist, accentuating her slender figure while highlighting her full bust. Now that the weather had turned cooler, beneath her blue plaid skirt, she wore slightly thicker, opaque white pantyhose that wrapped around her lush legs.
Although her lips still habitually curled into a faint smile, her blue eyes were filled with a sharp, serious intensity.
There wasn't much talking along the way, until their ride-hailing car stopped in front of a four-story building decorated with various life-sized anime character standees.
It wasn't Rin Ito's first time here, and among these characters, the one he was most familiar with was from Explosion Dark Elf.
"Is this... Rouge en Rouge?" Rita looked at the sign in front of the building in confusion. "Why did you bring me here?"
"This is my friend's company. These characters are all from anime produced by her studio."
After confirming their appointment at the front desk, Rin Ito led Rita to Akane Kosaka's office, giving her a brief introduction along the way.
A moment later, in the top-floor office, they met Akane Kosaka, who was dressed in an office lady suit. Her wine-red shoulder-length hair was tied back into a simple, neat ponytail, and below her black tight-fitting pencil skirt, her beautiful legs were encased in sheer black pantyhose.
Looking at the girl beside Rin Ito, Akane's wine-red eyes carried a hint of amusement... Although Rin Ito had told her Rita's name when he made the appointment yesterday, he only said they were coming over for a tour.
She had looked up the name online.
Though not as dazzling as Mashiro, she could still be called a genius painter.
He said it was just a tour... but could he be trying to introduce Rita to me?
"Rita Ainsworth, a friend of Mashiro and mine. Akane Kosaka, the boss of Rouge en Rouge. My other friend's novel was handed over to her company for anime adaptation."
Rin Ito briefly introduced the two, and then Akane Kosaka took them on a tour of the company. Her employees were already used to this sight.
The work environment here was quite liberal. Her employees weren't corporate slaves but creators, and talented ones at that. They consistently produced high-quality anime.
The two followed behind Akane Kosaka, listening to her introduction. From time to time, Rita would turn her face to look at Rin Ito with a hint of confusion... Why did he bring me here? Just for a tour?
Noticing Rita's gaze, Rin Ito said, "Her company isn't huge, but it gathers a considerable number of excellent creators. Maybe seeing all this will reignite your desire to create?"
"Did Mashiro talk to you?"
"Talk about what?"
Rin Ito's eyes carried a hint of confusion. He knew what Rita meant, but he wasn't lying to her either... Mashiro genuinely hadn't said anything to him.
They had formulated this plan together, and they had deliberately let her discover them that night. There was no need for Mashiro to say anything.
"Nothing." Rita pursed her lips slightly. "Why are you helping me like this? Is it because of Mashiro?"
"Does there have to be a 'why'? I've experienced the exact same mindset you're going through. I just don't want to watch you continue to waste away."
"I don't need you meddling in my business!"
As they toured the place with Akane Kosaka, the two chatted casually. Akane, walking ahead of them, was paying attention to their conversation, which perfectly matched the background check she had done.
She and Mashiro came from the same art studio.
A genius painter had put down her brush for some reason, and now he wanted to make her pick it up again. However... this girl's attitude towards him didn't seem very good.
Come to think of it, he doesn't seem like the type to meddle in other people's business either. Most likely, Mashiro asked him to do this... Could it be that because I haven't fulfilled Mashiro's request for so long, she found someone else?
It couldn't be helped. I've been busy with the anime adaptation of Explosion Elf lately and really didn't have much free time.
But for Mashiro to bring in another young and cute girl... Tsk, it's a little bit annoying.
This girl named Rita seems unfriendly towards him. Is this what a real-life tsundere looks like? Or is it... playing hard to get?
Akane Kosaka continued the tour while pondering these thoughts.
Previously, during a gathering at Baumkuchen, Akane Kosaka and Mashiro had made a pact. Mashiro wanted her to seduce Rin Ito and snatch him away from Kaede, but she had been too busy lately to actually do it.
In her eyes, Mashiro was probably disappointed by her lack of action and decided to switch her out for someone else.
Akane could understand, but she was still annoyed by it.
In that case... I just have to put in a little effort.
...
The tour ended, and the three returned to Akane Kosaka's office.
Leaning her pencil-skirt-clad buttocks against the desk, Akane crossed her arms and looked at Rin Ito and Rita with a half-smile.
Akane's gaze made Rita a little uncomfortable... It's our first time meeting, so why does it feel like this woman is harboring hostility towards me?
"So? After seeing so many passionate creators in the company, do you have any interest in drawing again?" Rin Ito said to Rita, while discreetly shooting Akane a glance.
Where did this inexplicable hostility of hers come from?
Honestly, Rin Ito was also a bit confused.
Rin Ito and Mashiro's plan did not include Akane Kosaka. Bringing Rita here today was just to set the stage. Rin Ito had only told Akane he was bringing a friend for a tour and nothing more.
Rin Ito was absolutely certain it wasn't jealousy. They had known each other for so long; there was no way she would suddenly act jealous out of nowhere.
"Mmh... I don't have such plans at the moment," Rita said with a smile, then added in her heart: Unless he leaves Mashiro right now, then maybe.
"My company isn't something just anyone can join, you know," Akane provoked, raising an eyebrow. "You'd have to pass my test first."
"I have absolutely no plans to join," Rita repeated, her mouth twitching. Setting aside the fact that she didn't plan to join, even if she did, this woman's baffling hostility would have scared her off.
But Akane completely ignored Rita. Raising her chin, she smirked like a domineering CEO. Staring right at Rin Ito, she parted her red lips. "Unless you show me your resolve and sincerity. You wouldn't want Miss Rita to never be able to draw again, would you?"
"...?"
Rin Ito was stunned... Wait, that should be MY line!