"Uncle Wakaba, Aunt Minami, and Mutsumi-chan, it's been a long time. This is my friend, Rin Ito."
Karen's window of opportunity only lasted until Sakiko returned to the Toyokawa family.
The day after Rin Ito had made contact with Uika and Tomori, she arranged a dinner with Mutsumi Wakaba and her family.
Mutsumi's father and mother were both high-profile celebrities.
Karen had met the family at various galas and dinners, but they were mere acquaintances, never sharing more than polite small talk.
After the brief introductions, the group took their seats.
The Wakabas were surprised and curious about Karen's sudden invitation, especially regarding the man they had never heard of.
They noticed that this man's focus wasn't on the national-level superstar couple, but entirely on their daughter, Mutsumi.
Karen quickly moved to clear their confusion.
"It's like this—my father handed the talent agency over to me, but I've been busy with my studies."
"Now that I have some free time, I want to try my hand at producing. Currently, I am preparing a project for a girl band."
Hearing the first half, Takafumi Wakaba and Minami Mori thought Karen was trying to scout them.
But when she mentioned the girl band, they realized her target was their daughter.
"Is Mr. Rin the manager of this band?" Minami asked with a graceful smile.
"No, he isn't," Karen paused. "Uika Misumi from sumimi has already joined."
"However, Uika is busy with her idol activities and school. Rin is a close friend of hers, and she has entrusted him with the task of scouting the rest of the members."
"Exactly," Rin nodded, his gaze settling on Mutsumi Wakaba.
A curtain of pale green hair fell down her back.
Her face was as exquisite as a porcelain doll's, yet her golden eyes were devoid of any emotion.
Standing barely five feet tall with slender limbs, she looked less like a person and more like a high-end mannequin.
"I've been following Crychic for a while. Miss Mutsumi was a member, but now that the band has disbanded, Uika is looking to start something new."
"I would like to invite Miss Mutsumi to join Uika's new band."
Rin kept his eyes on Mutsumi, but she merely turned her head to look at her parents.
"I see..." Minami nodded thoughtfully.
"Miss Misumi is a rising star in the idol world. We have many connections in the music industry, so future development would be quite easy."
"I think it's a wonderful idea. Darling, what do you think?"
"Mmm... it sounds good to me," Takafumi Wakaba agreed.
Tonight was only about establishing intent; the specific details would be discussed later.
The Wakaba couple raised their glasses in agreement, and Karen followed suit with her own wine glass.
The three of them raised their glasses, but Rin remained still. He simply smiled at Mutsumi.
"Miss Mutsumi, what is your opinion?"
"..." Mutsumi stared at Rin in silence, her expression unchanging.
Mutsumi's mental state was precarious.
Among the members of Crychic, she was the one in the most danger, the one with the largest "hollow" inside her soul.
But compared to the sharp-tongued Taki or the manipulative Soyo, she was actually quite easy to "trick."
One simply had to fill the void within her.
In the past, Sakiko Toyokawa and her guitar had filled that void.
But now, Sakiko was struggling just to survive and had no energy left to tend to Mutsumi's inner world.
This was the perfect time to strike while her defenses were down.
On the surface, Rin was here for a band; in reality, he was here to claim Mutsumi.
Seeing her remain silent, Rin didn't press her. He simply handed her his business card.
"Miss Mutsumi, if you haven't decided yet, take it home and think about it. Contact me whenever you're ready."
Takafumi and Minami looked at Rin with surprise.
Normally, once the parents agreed, the deal was done.
They couldn't understand why he would complicate things by asking their daughter, potentially risking a refusal.
They were curious but not offended. To them, this was just an heiress playing "talent agency" with her friend.
They figured if Mutsumi played with girls her own age, her isolated personality might improve.
Since Rin wanted to convince her personally, they had no reason to object.
Night.
Back home after the dinner, Mutsumi Wakaba retreated into the basement.
This was where she practiced her guitar and the only place she truly felt like she belonged.
The lights were off.
Mutsumi sat by the high window, clutching her guitar as the cold moonlight bathed her petite frame.
In her hand was the business card Rin Ito had given her.
"My own... opinion."
"Mutsumi Wakaba's... opinion?"
She stared blankly at the card, her golden eyes unfocused and hollow.
She hugged her seven-string guitar tighter to her chest.
"What... is Mutsumi Wakaba's opinion?"
"Does Mutsumi Wakaba want to join a band?"
"Why... why did he ask for Mutsumi Wakaba's opinion?"
The name "Mutsumi Wakaba" felt so distant.
Who was... Mutsumi Wakaba?
Since childhood, the label "The Child of Minami Mori and Takafumi Wakaba" had been etched into her skin.
When she did well, people didn't say "You did great," they said "As expected of their child."
It was as if she were a void. As if nothing actually belonged to her.
The concept of "Self" had been weakened until all that remained was the "Celebrity Child" doll.
Until she found the guitar. The only thing that felt like hers.
Only when she held the guitar did she feel alive, a solid reality.
Only then was she a human being rather than a superstar's daughter.
"Why... Mother and Father already said yes. Why did he still ask for Mutsumi Wakaba's opinion?"
Ring... ring...
"Eh?"
Mutsumi stared at her hand. Without her realizing it, she was no longer holding the business card, but her phone.
She had already dialed the number. A moment later, a familiar voice answered.
"Hello, who is this?"
"...It's me."
Mutsumi's cold, melodic voice reached Rin's ears. On the other end of the line, Rin's lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
"Miss Mutsumi, have you made your decision?"
"No," Mutsumi said flatly. "I want to ask you a question."
"Is it about the band? Ask anything you like. I'm an open book."
"Mutsumi Wakaba is the daughter of Minami and Takafumi. Why, after they agreed, did you still ask for Mutsumi Wakaba's opinion?"
Mutsumi instinctively held her breath, waiting for the answer.
Listening to her speak about herself in the third person, Rin knew her mental state was even more fractured than he thought.
She didn't even recognize herself as an individual.
But this state was exactly what he had anticipated.
"Why? There is no 'why'." Rin chuckled softly.
"Because I invited you, Mutsumi Wakaba, not 'their daughter'. I want you, not some celebrity's legacy."
"Therefore, I asked for Mutsumi Wakaba's opinion. Their daughter's opinion is irrelevant to me."
"!!!!"
The lifeless golden eyes suddenly sparked with a flicker of light.
I... am Mutsumi Wakaba?
"Okay... I'll join."