Comet Dragon, breaking into the gravity field

"Mu? What happened to her?"

When Shoko Toyokawa, who was suffering from shame, heard Ritsu Narose suddenly mention Wakaba Mutsu, she raised her head.

"She seems a little unwell." Recalling what he saw, Naruse Ritsu rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "You can't say that the test I handed out today was too difficult and that's why she took so long to recover, right?"

"Mu is not feeling well..." With a frown, Toyokawa Shoko also began to recall her experiences tonight.

But in her memory, Ruo Yemu's every move had not changed at all from the past.

"Was Wakaba-san like this before?"

After returning home, Ritsu Narose replied to the message sent by Chihaya Aine while sitting in the study and talking to Toyokawa Shoko.

Shoko Toyokawa, who was typing away at her keyboard, slowed down her movements slightly. "Mu... she wasn't like this before. She used to be much more cheerful, but for some reason, she's just not willing to talk anymore."

Noticing that her tone was much lower than usual, Naruse Ritsu also fell silent, as if thinking about the reasons that caused Wakaba Mutsu to become an autistic little wooden man.

Somewhat concerned about Naruse Ritsu's sudden attention to Wakaba Mu, after finishing a section of the script, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but ask, "Why are you suddenly asking about Mu? Are you in trouble? Or did Miss Minami tell you something?"

"That's not the case," Naruse Ritsu shook his head and explained in an elusive tone, "I was just wondering... does Wakaba-san really hate me?"

"Mu hates you?"

Stopping the work at hand, Toyokawa Shoko looked at Naruse Ritsu in surprise, "Why do you think so?"

"There are many reasons, the most important of which is that she seems to be deliberately distancing herself from me."

"You didn't do anything weird to Mu, did you?" With her back to Ritsu Narose, Shoko Toyokawa's eyes quietly became sharp.

"How is that possible... I just want to have a good chat with her," sighed Naruse Ritsu, then asked, "Is Wakaba-san's current condition really suitable for the script of [Ave Mujica]? I don't think she can handle performing on stage."

"Mu's acting ability is really strong," Toyokawa Shoko said seriously, mistaking Naruse Ritsu for doubting Wakaba Mu's acting skills. "She's been on many TV shows before, and she often received praise from the audience and the production team."

"Let's put acting aside for now," she said, not expecting Toyokawa Shoko to be so clumsy in her thinking. Naruse Ritsu had to explain it in simpler terms, "I feel like she seems to be somewhat resistant to stage performances."

When he was in the office, Ritsu Narose had observed everyone's behavior.

From his perspective, Wakaba Mu had always shown little interest in the "little theater" proposed by Toyokawa Shoko, and her unconscious body movements also hinted that she did not like such performances.

"Didn't Xiangzi notice? Today, except when I handed her the test paper, Wakaba didn't say a word to anyone in the office."

"...Hey, Yin Leng, what about the Qi Wu and Guilty Master?"

Seeing the genuine expression on Ritsu Narose's face, Shoko Toyokawa's pretty face was left with a dull look.

"I've seen many children like Ruoye: whenever someone gets close to her, she panics, afraid of hurting them; but when they really stay away from her, she feels lonely and can only wipe away her tears in secret when she's sad."

Ignoring the vibrating phone in his pocket for the moment, Naruse Ritsu looked at the silent Toyokawa Shoko and said, "Shoko, how about we go talk to her?"

"I tried...but it didn't work."

"what?"

This time, it was Ritsu Narose who looked surprised.

"I told Mu-mi about this when we were at her house." As if not wanting to say anything bad about someone behind their back, Toyokawa Shoko frowned, revealing an extremely awkward expression. "'Mu-mi is clearly dissatisfied with some of Ms. Yutenji's actions, why didn't she just say it and stop her?' - I told her this before the movie viewing started..."

A look of frustration rarely seen on her face, she pursed her lips and said slowly, "But Mu didn't reply to me—whether she agreed or disagreed, she didn't say it."

For those who want to help their friends solve their problems, it is not that uncomfortable if the other party opposes their proposal. What really makes people distressed and even angry is always "silence."

The words of concern they expressed with great effort fell on deaf ears and received no response, which was the real blow that made them disappointed and frustrated.

"Could it be that Mu also hates you?"

"How is that possible!" Facing Ritsu Narose's questioning, Shoko Toyokawa's cheeks puffed up slightly, as if she had been greatly provoked.

"In that case..." After a moment's silence, Naruse Ritsu said seriously, "Then let me talk to Wakaba-san."

Unable to understand Naruse Ritsu's train of thought, Toyokawa Shoko asked in confusion, "Don't you think she hates you?"

"Because some things can be said to people you hate."

Having already made up his mind, Ritsu Narose said this.

55. Cat Hypnosis

"Well, I never heard of such a thing!"

The next day, as soon as Ritsu Narose opened the door of the office, he saw Wakami Yutenji standing there in her band uniform with her hands on her hips, staring at Shoko Toyokawa angrily.

"The band is going to perform a stage play during the live show? Are you serious?"

Based on her observations over the past few days, Shoko Toyokawa has gained considerable experience from the way Ritsu Narose treats Wakami Yutenji.

After the anxious drummer finished speaking, she calmly said, "I thought Miss Yutenji would like this unique place."

"Huh? Are you serious? I'm tired enough just playing the drums! Why would I have to do this?"

"Miss Yutenji, don't you want to enter the entertainment industry? Don't you know that stage performance experience is a plus?"

"This..." He was speechless for a moment, then Yutenji Wakamugi quickly found other objections. "But no one ever told me I had to fight on stage with weapons!"

"Unfortunately, this is already stated on page 3, line 27 of the contract, and Ms. Yutenji, you didn't express any objections when you signed the contract." Without a hint of guilt, Toyokawa Shoko remained calm. "Also, the format of the stage play isn't decided by me alone."

"What does this mean?"

In Yutenji Wakami's opinion, Toyokawa Shoko is definitely a guy with an extremely strong desire for control... at least when it comes to the band.

Therefore, when she heard Shoko Toyokawa claim that she wrote the script herself and others decided how to perform it, she just thought that this guy was lying.

Yutenji Wakamushi didn't realize that his protest had chosen the wrong target from the beginning.

Shoko Toyokawa, who signed the contract first, has already understood the principle of "what you want to gain, you have to lose something". Now she doesn't care about Belmont's interference in her script, nor does she care that the performance style of the stage play has become more "intense" under her influence.

Therefore, Yutenji Wakami is equivalent to attacking the air.

"If Ms. Yutenji has any opinions about the performance, you can talk to Ms. Belmont—the woman with red and white hair, whom you met during the interview."

After hearing these words, the person who was originally aggressive suddenly became depressed.

Yutenji Wakamu recalled the scene on the day of her interview. When she stood in front of the squinty-eyed woman, she had a creepy feeling as if she was seen through from head to toe.

The look that looked at people as if they were commodities made her feel physically uncomfortable, and when she revealed the desires buried deep in her heart with just a few words, Yutenji Wakamu knew that this was a terrifying woman.

She would rather go back to her hometown than say another word to that kind of person!

Realizing her opinion was just a pebble in the water, unable to stir up any ripples, Yutenji Wakamugi returned to the sofa in frustration. She flipped through a book, then sat there reading in a huff.

After dealing with this guy, Shoko Toyokawa finally had time to look at Ritsu Narose who was walking beside her.

Having just finished practice and gone through a laning battle, her face was flushed.

Soft long hair appeared in Ritsu Narose's vision like the azure sea. The well-cut clothes outlined the girl's well-proportioned body lines. Between the black silk gloves and the dark red top, the girl's healthy and fair arms exuded a vibrant charm.

She stood in front of Ritsu Narose without saying a word, but gently stroked her blue twintails with her hands. Even without words, the expectation in her heart was still clearly conveyed to Ritsu Narose.

Ritsu Narose cooperated by giving praise and saw that the expression on Toyokawa Shoko's face became joyful, like a piece of soft and glutinous rice cake soaked in red bean soup and boiled for a long time.

"..."

Just as she was about to say something, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly felt an unignorable gaze coming from behind her.

Turning around, she saw someone on the sofa holding up the book with the extremely suspicious name, "Teach You Hypnosis Step by Step!", and blocking his face.

Just as Toyokawa Shoko was wondering whether to start the second round of confrontation, Wakaba Mutsu, who was also wearing a performance costume, walked out of the room.

She was wearing a dark red beanie and holding a pink guitar in her arms. She walked around the room cautiously as if she was avoiding something.

"Wakaba-san—"

Seeing the target appear, Ritsu Narose immediately called out to her.

Hearing his voice, Ruo Yemu paused, then looked up at him stiffly.

"Are you free next time?"

"I... need to practice."

When Ritsu Narose asked this, she shook her head nervously, and then soft and weak words came out of her mouth.

Realizing her resistance, Ritsu Narose had no intention of forcing her to stay here for talk therapy.

After watching Ruo Yemu disappear at the door of the practice room, he heard a voice coming from the sofa, who seemed to be watching the fun.

——"You scared Mutsuko."

Covering her face with the book, Yutenji Wakamugi only revealed her pair of cunning pink-purple eyes as she looked at Ritsu Narose.

"I shouldn't have done anything excessive, right?" Turning to look at Toyokawa Shoko, Naruse Ritsu found that she was as confused as himself.

"That's where you're at a loss~" Wamugi raised his finger and shook it, retorting to Ritsu Naruse's earlier taunts while putting on the attitude of a seasoned veteran: "Mutsuko is so cute, but she looks so weak. Do you know why?"

Seeing her eagerness to show off, Naruse Ritsu asked, "Why?"

"Because she's not confident enough~" Striking a cute pose, Yutenji Wakamugi said with great emotion, "For a girl, no matter how good her makeup is, it can't compare to the charm that comes from confidence."

"What Muzi lacks right now is confidence, and at times like this, she needs some special means to help her."

"What method?" Having never thought of this reason, Mingse Ritsu immediately looked at the other party with the attitude of a learner.

"It's simple. All we need to do is boost her confidence." Pointing the cover of the book towards Naruse Ritsu, Yutenji Wakami's tone became more subtle. "All we need to do is hypnotize Mutsuko and make her more confident, and the problem will be solved!"

After a moment of silence, Naruse Ritsu asked in a caring tone, "Are you telling a bad joke?"

"Well~ It's normal for someone like A-lu not to believe~"

"What's that name again?"

Shaking the image of a pink figure from his mind, Naruse Ritsu said sternly, "Let's not talk about whether this kind of thing is reliable for now. Miss Yutenji, you don't know how to hypnotize, do you?"

"If you don't believe me, why don't you try it first?"

Finally, the fox's tail was exposed. Yutenji Wakami looked at Naruse Ritsu with a cute and harmless expression... and Toyokawa Shoko who was watching him with a fierce look.

56. Success?

The hypnosis instruction book was closed with a "swish", and the airflow raised by the pages ruffled Yutenji Wakamu's purple bangs.

With the mentality that it would be worth a try, Ritsu Narose sat on the sofa and watched her take out a metal pocket watch with a chain from her bag.

"Is this what you call 'hypnosis'? The kind of pocket watch hypnosis you only see in comics?" He complained as he picked up the book with the exaggerated cover on the sofa and began to flip through it. "Isn't this the 'hypnosis secret book' you found in the sale section of the bookstore?"

Standing in front of Naruse Ritsu, Yutenji Wakamu's voice came from above the two mountains: "This is a bestseller with five-star reviews on Amazon!"

"Humanity's bestseller is actually this kind of thing..."

For fear that Shoko Toyokawa next to him would misunderstand where his gaze was, Ritsu Narose could only temporarily focus his eyes on the book in his hand.

"Preparation for Hypnosis" - below the title of the first chapter, he slowly read out the first key point:

"First, you need to find someone who is willing to be hypnotized by you..."

...What the hell?

Before he finished reading, the book in Ritsu Narose's hand was taken away.

"Okay~ Now it's Meow Mengqin's hypnosis time~"

As if performing in front of the camera, Yutenji Wakamu winked at Naruse Ritsu while placing the pocket watch about ten centimeters in front of his eyes.

"Come, look at this pocket watch—"

It may sound a bit rude, but the pocket watch was located right in line with her thick front armor.

Even though Ritsu Narose deliberately focused his gaze on the brass pocket watch, he could not avoid catching a glimpse of the towering mountains that surpassed the Toyokawa Mountains.

A voice as sweet as honey appeared in my ears, and the pocket watch hanging on the chain swayed left and right in the air.

The light reflected from the pocket watch made Ritsu Narose squint his eyes, and his action seemed to make Wakami Yutenji think that his action had worked.

A hint of smug joy at having succeeded in her prank flashed across her eyes, and the doubts that had been lingering in her heart were dispelled.

He continued with this mechanical movement until Toyokawa Shoko next to him was feeling drowsy, then Yutenji Wakami suddenly put his hands together.

As the crisp sound of applause suddenly rang out in the room, Mingse Ritsu's body trembled and his eyes suddenly became dull and lifeless.

"law……"

Toyokawa Shoko's hesitant voice appeared in the room.

She looked at Ritsu Narose, who seemed to be in a hypnotic state, and a look of panic appeared on her face.

"It actually worked..." Yutenji Wakamu's expression gradually changed from astonishment to joy as he whispered in a voice almost as low as a whisper.