"Ms. Toudou, how did I suddenly become the person in charge with decision-making power?"
"You are currently the biggest sponsor of this Antarctic scientific expedition, so naturally, the right to speak is in your hands."
"!? He's actually the sponsor!"
"Yes, Mr. Jhin also plans to take his friends along to Antarctica, so he is the best person to decide whether you can join."
Jhin actually wanted to agree to let them join this Antarctic scientific expedition immediately. Unfortunately, their current team was still missing one person—Shiraishi Yuzuki. Without the necessary conditions for clearing the stage, naturally, he couldn't just let them pass.
Just as he was thinking about how to tactfully refuse the three of them, Tamiko Shiraishi, Shiraishi Yuzuki's mother and manager, walked into the izakaya wearing a white hat and sunglasses. She greeted Gin Toudou.
"Captain Toudou, you look quite busy?"
"It's fine, matters here have already been settled. We have received sponsorship from Synapse Company. Ms. Shiraishi, your daughter's recording environment will also be better now."
Tamiko Shiraishi frowned and sighed. She took off her sunglasses, her eyes filled with an lingering helplessness. "Regarding that matter, there might still be a bit of trouble. Yuzuki... she really doesn't want to participate in this scientific expedition operation. She didn't even come to the gathering."
"I'm worried that if this continues, the 'Antarctic Girls' program will be directly cancelled."
Gin Toudou hadn't expected that just after resolving the issue with Jhin, trouble would arise on the other side. This 'Antarctic Girls' program was a relatively important part of this Antarctic scientific expedition. It involved having the famous singer Shiraishi Yuzuki live with the expedition team to conduct live broadcasts and record educational videos to disseminate knowledge related to Antarctica.
While securing TV station sponsorship, they could also use this method to promote their civilian scientific expedition team, attracting more like-minded people to join them.
If this program were cancelled, the idea of promoting the expedition team would fall through. With manpower already insufficient, and without fresh blood coming in, carrying out the subsequent third and fourth Antarctic scientific expeditions would be harder than ascending to heaven.
Hearing the conversation between Gin Toudou and Tamiko Shiraishi, Jhin exchanged a few words with Kazami Kazuki in a low voice. A good idea immediately formed in his mind—one that could kill two birds with one stone.
"Ms. Toudou, and this Ms. Shiraishi, I have an idea that happens to solve your problem."
"Captain Toudou, he is?"
"I forgot to introduce you. He is the boss of Synapse Company, Mr. Jhin."
"Hello, Mr. Jhin, I am Tamiko Shiraishi." Tamiko Shiraishi shook hands with Jhin and then asked, "You just said you have a way to solve our current problem?"
"Correct." Jhin nodded, then looked toward Shirase Kobuchizawa and her two companions. "The three of them are the key to solving the problem."
"Eh? Us?" Shirase Kobuchizawa felt completely baffled. She had come to join the Antarctic expedition team, not to run an 'Odd Jobs' agency to solve problems for people. Just as she was about to voice her refusal, her mouth was immediately covered by Miyake Hinata.
"Shirase, let's listen to Mr. Jhin's proposal first." Miyake Hinata didn't want their Antarctica plan to go down the drain because of Shirase Kobuchizawa's straightforward and outspoken personality.
Among these three, Miyake Hinata really does have the fastest reaction speed. I remember she dropped out of school because she couldn't stand the chaotic, two-faced atmosphere in the track and field team. Should I have her enroll in Mihama Academy after this trip to Antarctica ends?
Jhin decided to put this thought aside for now. The most important thing at the moment was to assign a quest to the protagonist trio: to gather the final piece of their four-person puzzle.
"Don't you want to join the Antarctic scientific expedition team? I can agree to let you in."
Shirase Kobuchizawa was so excited she almost broke free from Miyake Hinata's restraint. Fortunately, the latter used all her strength to suppress her, preventing her from doing anything potentially rude, like hugging Jhin and wailing while refusing to let go.
"Don't celebrate too early. Allowing you to join comes with conditions. You heard Ms. Shiraishi's troubles just now. As long as you persuade that Shiraishi Yuzuki to change her mind and agree to record the 'Antarctic Girls' program, then you can successfully join this Antarctic scientific expedition. If you fail... well, I don't think I need to spell out the result, right?"
"Mari, what do you think?" Miyake Hinata was a bit unsure.
Tamaki Mari didn't think too much about it. Currently, they had no better way to join the Antarctic expedition team. As long as they persuaded that girl named Shiraishi-something-moon to come back, they could join. No matter how she thought about it, it was a good thing. She nodded repeatedly, "I think we can agree to this matter."
"Shirase, what about you?" Miyake Hinata had completely forgotten she was still covering Shirase Kobuchizawa's mouth and only released her hand after Tamaki Mari reminded her.
"Wuha~ I... cough cough cough, we accept this request!" Shirase Kobuchizawa accepted the task Jhin handed them with a resounding declaration.
"Very good, then I'll be waiting for your good news." Jhin watched them leave to discuss their battle plan, then looked at Gin Toudou. "How about it, Ms. Toudou, Ms. Shiraishi? My method isn't bad, is it?"
"Hmm... it is indeed a very novel method."
Outsourcing the outsourcing. What's so strange about that?
"Since the matter has been discussed, we will take our leave now. Goodbye, everyone."
After instructing Takako Kobuchizawa not to reveal her identity in front of her best friend and daughter, Jhin and Kazami Kazuki returned to the record company. He went to wash the makeup off his face first before walking up to the second floor.
Kessoku Band was still recording songs. Jhin, having nothing to do, plopped down on the sofa and stared blankly at Bocchi-chan inside the recording booth.
By the time they finished recording, it was already nine in the evening. They walked out of the recording studio one by one, dripping with fragrant sweat. Recording an album was even more tiring than they had imagined; the intensity far exceeded their usual practice.
While wiping sweat with a towel, Nijika asked, "Jhin, what is our record company called?"
"Hmm? It's just called Kessoku Band Record Company. This building is called Synapse Technology Company, which is also one of my companies. Although I'm just a hands-off boss; both companies are managed by Nymph and Kazuki."
"No problem, as long as you have money." A golden light flashed in the corner of Ryo's eyes as she gave Jhin a thumbs up.
"By the way, did you all bring pajamas?"
"Don't worry, we all brought changes of clothes in advance."
"That's good. Go to the rest area; that place was designed specifically for sleepover situations like this."
Strictly speaking, it was only called a 'rest area' in name. In reality, the interior decoration was no different from a normal home. Television, refrigerator, kitchen, and bathroom were all available, and it was even divided into several bedrooms.
"I feel like we can just practice here from now on..." Ryo swallowed her saliva looking at the ridiculously luxurious rest area.
It's so good to be rich!
____
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