Although he couldn't find out about the woman behind Takamatsu Tomori, Kanzaki Saku understood one thing: Tomori, in this state, had probably fixated on him.
Kanzaki Saku really wanted to reply with something like, "You're just a student, can you fight magic with magic, deal with a Great God using a Great God's sayings, and shoulder my life?"
But looking at Taki, who had a troubled expression, Kanzaki Saku thought of a more interesting idea that could kill two birds with one stone.
Since Takamatsu Tomori was so persistent in "conquering" him with her unique "Gala Geimu" logic, why not play by her rules?
Perhaps he could even use this opportunity to advance some matters he was already interested in.
"So, ultimately, you want to increase my affection level, and if successful, it will be a highly efficient event."
"In that case, you probably wouldn't mind fulfilling some conditions I propose, right?"
Takamatsu Tomori nodded, eager for the opportunity.
"Very good." Kanzaki Saku smiled. He turned sideways and pulled Shiina Taki, who was trying to minimize her presence, forward a bit.
"Look, Taki-san here, she's involved in forming a band. And I'll probably have some deeper connections with this band too."
"If you want to increase my affection level and successfully capture me, then joining the band Taki is in will be a highly efficient event."
Hearing Kanzaki Saku's request, Takamatsu Tomori sighed inwardly, thinking, 'As expected of a Great God in the Gala Geimu domain; following her guidance, a special event was triggered so quickly again.'
"I accept!" she said decisively. "I will bring my talent to Shiina Taki's band!"
Taki: "Huh?"
Taki couldn't believe her ears. How did it suddenly go from a conquest target marker to joining a band? She hadn't skipped any plot, had she?
She showed strong resistance: "W-wait! Brother Kanzaki, isn't this joke too much?! Me? With her? In one band? Absolutely not!"
Taki shook her head like a rattle, her tone extremely agitated: "Do you even know who she is? Takamatsu Tomori! The famous 'Great God'! Her head is filled with nothing but rocks and... well, nonsense!"
"Forming a band with her? That's torture!"
Takamatsu Tomori was completely indifferent to Taki's accusations. Perhaps in her eyes, Taki wasn't even human, so her opinion wasn't needed.
Takamatsu Tomori merely cast a questioning glance at Kanzaki Saku again, as if saying, 'This is the plot you started, so continue it quickly.'
Kanzaki Saku leaned closer to Taki, whose cheeks were flushed with agitation, lowering his voice to a level only they two could hear.
"Taki-san, it seems you've forgotten our transaction from yesterday?"
Taki's body instantly froze. Fragments of those burning memories from last night, along with Kanzaki Saku's agreement to "help me expand my client base in the band scene," resurfaced in her mind.
She could even recall the feeling of excitement mixed with immorality when she nodded in hurried agreement at the time.
"I said you'd help me expand my business well, right? Having Tomori join the band, isn't that precisely in line with this direction? Or are you, Taki, not really taking our agreement seriously, and merely perfunctory in what you promised me before?"
His voice rose slightly at the end, carrying a hint of disappointment.
Taki wanted to refute him, to insist on her own opinion, but Kanzaki Saku's implication was already very clear.
Refusing Takamatsu Tomori meant breaking her promise to Kanzaki Saku, and possibly losing out on the subsequent "priority booking rights" and "custom services" that made her legs weak just thinking about them.
On one side was an unbearable bandmate, on the other was Kanzaki Saku, whom she had acquired a taste for and longed to explore more deeply.
This was an adult's dilemma: either take everything or take nothing at all.
The weighing of her star domain against reality, the tug-of-war between desire and endurance, ultimately, Taki made the choice everyone could have guessed.
"...I, I understand." She turned to Takamatsu Tomori, her tone stiff and her face grim. "Alright! You want to join the band, right? I'll help you ask about it!"
Takamatsu Tomori merely nodded at Taki, not even offering a word of thanks.
Taki watched her take it all for granted, and her stomach clenched again. But then, she realized a crucial issue, as if grasping at a last straw, and hastily spoke to Kanzaki Saku.
"Wait! Brother Kanzaki, don't celebrate too soon! I'm not in charge of this band! Sakiko Togawa is leading it! I'm just an invitee; I haven't officially joined yet!"
"Even if I agree to introduce her, if Sakiko doesn't approve, it's all for nothing! She's very discerning; how could she agree to let a 'special talent' like Takamatsu Tomori join?"
She deliberately emphasized "special talent," trying to make Kanzaki Saku back down.
However, the smile on Kanzaki Saku's face didn't change at all. He reached out and gently patted Taki—a movement that made Taki involuntarily shiver.
"You don't need to worry about that, Taki-san. You just need to complete your part: bring Tomori over and introduce her to Sakiko. As for the rest..."
"I have my own arrangements."
Taki looked at Kanzaki Saku's confident expression, momentarily at a loss for words.
But anyway, the responsibility was shifted, wasn't it? When the time came, Sakiko Togawa would be the one refusing, not Shiina Taki refusing to help!
But with such confidence, did he have a backup plan? Could he really persuade that proud and stubborn Sakiko Togawa?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
She had to have faith in Sakiko Togawa; she would definitely not let this Great God join the band.
As long as Sakiko Togawa didn't falter, she would both fulfill her "transactional" obligation and avoid the nightmare of forming a band with Takamatsu Tomori, while also continuing to enjoy the "priority rights" and "custom services" promised by Kanzaki Saku.
Sakiko Togawa, my happiness rests entirely on you!
Just as she was thinking this, Kanzaki Saku, as if seeing through her hopeful evasion, casually added another sentence.
"Oh, and Taki. If your attitude is poor during the introduction, I might consider that you haven't fully honored our agreement."
Taki's back went cold: "I-I know! I'll introduce her very, very well!"
"Very good." Kanzaki Saku praised. "So, Taki-san, please arrange for Tomori and Sakiko to meet as soon as possible. As for the timing, sooner rather than later, don't you think?"
Taki's scalp tingled from his gaze, which seemed like a suggestion but was in fact an undeniable command; she could only steel herself.
"I-I know! I'll go talk to Sakiko after school today! But let me say this upfront, I'm just bringing her over; if Sakiko doesn't take her, you can't blame me!"
"What" their indeed is great.
_____
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