Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

This time, she would be well prepared and could even win over other members to her side.

"Amoris's popularity should not be limited by masks."

She said softly, typing a reply on the keyboard:

"A tour? Great! I'm always available. But... do we need to discuss the details beforehand?"

After sending it, she leaned back in her chair, a sneer on her lips.

A three-city tour, this would be a chance to change everything.

...

The heating in Ave Mujica's rehearsal room had already been turned on, but when Kujo Renji opened the door, he still felt an inexplicable chill.

He stood at the door and glanced around the room - Sanjiao Hatsuka had arrived early and was sitting by the window fiddling with her cell phone; Hachiman Kairei was still silent, and Yutenji Wakami was sitting in the corner, flipping through the music sheet seemingly casually, but her slightly tense shoulders betrayed her inner unrest.

——If Ye Mu hadn’t come.

Why didn't she come?

"Xiao Xiang!"

When Sanjiao Chuhua noticed the visitor, his eyes lit up and he greeted him happily.

Kujo Renji's amber pupils appeared almost transparent under the indoor lights. She frowned, gathered her thoughts, placed the information in her hand on the table, and distributed copies to the members present.

When it was Yutenji Wakamu's turn to take the information, he noticed that the other person's fingertips were trembling slightly, and his eyes were always wandering away from his face - it was a mixture of fear and unwillingness.

Since the conflict in the last rehearsal, the girl who originally had "different intentions" has obviously begun to re-evaluate her position in the band.

——That’s good, but it’s not enough.

He took a seat near the door, ensuring he had commanding vision of the entire space.

From this angle, he could see the subtle changes in everyone's expressions and even feel the subtle flow of atmosphere in the room.

"Now that everyone is here..."

Jiujo Renji paused for a moment, his eyes deliberately sweeping over Ruoye Mu's empty seat:

"Oh, it seems Mu hasn't come yet."

"I just met her downstairs."

Hachiman Hailing suddenly spoke, her voice calm and without any ripples:

"She said she felt a little unwell and went back first."

Jiujo Renji remained expressionless, but began to feel strange in his heart.

From the last restaurant date to now, Ruoye Mu has avoided him for various reasons three times in a row.

It was hard not to be suspicious of this pattern of behavior—especially since she had directly questioned his identity before.

Renji Kujo recalled Wakaba Mu's vague glances in the restaurant and the way she carefully held the strawberry milk.

If Yutenji Wakami acts for profit, then Wakaba Mutsuki has a completely different driving force.

——Taking advantage of this may bring me unexpected gains.

"Since everyone is not here yet, let's get started."

Jiujo Renji flipped through the information and smiled gently:

"For this tour, the company has given us a lot of freedom. We have to make our own decisions on everything from the repertoire arrangement to the stage design and even the costume style. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

Sanjiao Chuhua seemed to be thinking about something, and immediately suggested:

“I think we can add more interactive elements to the drama segment to get the audience involved…”

Kujo Renji smiled and nodded, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Yutenji Wakamaki's fingers were tapping lightly on the table, as if he was brewing something.

Sankaku Hatsuka was still sharing her creative ideas, and Hachiman Kairei occasionally inserted some practical suggestions.

The whole discussion seemed to be going smoothly, but Kujo Renji could feel the almost frozen tense atmosphere in the room.

Finally, after a brief silence, Yutenji Wakamugi spoke:

"I wonder...should we consider the issue of masks?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly.

Kujo Renji turned to her, still with a kind smile on his face, but the temperature in his eyes had dropped to freezing point:

"Oh? What's wrong with the mask?"

Yutenji Wakamu bit her lower lip, but did not retreat like last time:

"I mean, this is our first official tour. If we could surprise the audience at one of the shows... like the last one... and take off our masks... maybe it would make the show more impactful?"

Her voice grew softer and softer, but the determination in her eyes did not fade.

The atmosphere was completely stagnant.

Kujo Renji put down the pen in his hand and just found it extremely interesting.

This Yutenji Wakamugi was actually more courageous than he had imagined, or rather, more foolish. The lesson from last time was clearly not profound enough.

"The mask is the soul of Ave mujica."

His voice was low and calm, as if he was discussing a very ordinary topic: "Without masks, we lose the difference from other bands."

Yutenji Wakamugi seemed to be weighing the risks of further argument: "But..."

"but what?"

Jiujo Renji interrupted her, his tone still gentle, but his voice a little deeper:

"I thought we had reached a consensus on this last time."

Yutenji Wakamu twisted his fingers nervously:

"I just think it would be better for the band if we could combine mystique with personal charm... We each have our own fan base..."

——Ah, I see.

Kujo Renji understood.

From Toyokawa Shoko's memory, he learned that Yutenji Wakami's side job was a beauty video creator, and the competition in this field has become increasingly fierce recently.

She was looking for a lifeline, and Ave mujica might just be the bargaining chip for her to turn things around.

Kujo Renji decided to deal with this problem in a different way.

"Everyone is thinking about the future of the band, and I understand that very well."

His tone suddenly became sincere and open:

"How about this? Let's put the mask issue aside for now. After the tour is over, we'll decide the next direction based on audience feedback. How about that?"

Yutenji Wakamugi was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting him to give in: "You mean..."

"I mean, everything is for the development of the band."

Jiujo Renji smiled, but his eyes were extremely sharp:

"If taking off the mask can indeed bring more opportunities, then of course we should carefully consider it. However, before making such a major decision, we need more market evidence, don't you think?"

Yutenji Wakamai hesitated for a moment, then nodded:

"I...I agree."

Kujo Renji could see a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

As the meeting continued, the atmosphere gradually eased.

When the discussion entered into the specific arrangement of the songs, Kujo Renji once again glanced at Wakaba Mu's empty seat, but the doubts in his heart did not diminish in the slightest.

Amid the changing light and shadow in the rehearsal room, he began to think about his next plan.

——The first thing to be solved is Wakaba Mu’s problem.

As for Yutenji Wakamugi...

Before this meeting began, the other party's fate was already determined.

...

After the meeting.

Kujo Renji walked alone on the way back to Yugaoka Girls' College, his blue hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.

On the surface, he seemed to have solved the problem raised by Yutenji Wakami - cleverly throwing out the bait of "think about it after the tour" and temporarily calming her ambition.

But Kujo Renji knew the nature of this kind of people too well: give her an inch, and she will take a foot.

He was too familiar with that smug look after victory.

His amber pupils shrank slightly, and Kujo Renji stopped under a cherry tree in a corner of the campus, took out his cell phone, and dialed a number.

"Hello, Mr. Yamamoto?"

His voice was clear and pleasant, perfectly replicating the timbre of Toyokawa Shoko, but his tone carried a calmness and confidence that did not belong to a high school student.

"It's Miss Xiangzi, is there anything I can help you with?"

Yamamoto Ryuichi's cautious and respectful voice came from the other end of the phone. After what happened last time at STARRY, his attitude towards Toyokawa Shoko had changed significantly.

"There is indeed a small matter that I need Mr. Yamamoto's help with."

Jiujo Renji leaned against the tree trunk, looking up at the distant sky, where several birds were flying freely.

"I remember Mr. Yamamoto has a wide network of resources in the entertainment industry?"

"Yes, I have some knowledge of it." Yamamoto Ryuichi answered cautiously. "I wonder what kind of help Miss Xiangzi needs?"

A barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of Jiujo Liansi's mouth:

"I need a little...cleaning up."

The mottled shadows of the trees fell on the girl's face, making the delicate face half in shadow and half bathed in sunlight.

"There's a blogger named 'Niyamuchichi' who mainly posts beauty content on PosTube..."

Kujo Renji's voice paused. "I hope this account, and all social media accounts associated with it, will be banned."

On the other end of the phone, Ryuichi Yamamoto was silent for a few seconds, as if trying to digest the meaning of this request.

"Miss Xiangzi, this..." His voice was hesitant. "Although it's not a big deal, it may require the use of some special connections."

"I thought the STARRY incident a few days ago had proven my 'sincerity', Mr. Yamamoto."

Kujo Renji's voice remained gentle, but the threat in his words was self-evident:

"After all, our cooperation has just begun, hasn't it?"

"Of course, of course!" Yamamoto Ryuichi immediately changed his tone:

"I just wanted to confirm the specific requirements. Don't worry, I will handle this matter personally and ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Great, I need to see results within 24 hours."

Kujo Renji nodded slightly, even though the other party couldn't see it. "After this is done, I will consider accepting the project cooperation that Mr. Yamamoto mentioned last time."

"That's great!" Yamamoto Ryuichi's voice was filled with joy. "I'll start making arrangements right away."

"A good dog is one that can be tamed."

He whispered to himself, his voice devoid of any emotion.

It seems to be talking about Yamamoto Ryuichi, or Yutenji Wakami

"Isn't this a bit too much?" Toyokawa Shoko's voice rang in my mind.

"She needs some lessons on what the boundaries are."

Kujo Renji answered casually, as if discussing a trivial matter:

"Don't worry, it's just a warning."

"But that's her job and her source of income..." There was a hint of uneasiness in Toyokawa Shoko's voice.

He looked up at the sky, his amber eyes reflecting the passing clouds:

"When someone tries to touch your bottom line, you have to make her pay the price. Otherwise, she will be even more unscrupulous next time."