Chapter Summaries

Sogo Doma tried to provoke Kotori Minami and Elisaki into continuing their dispute, but Kotori instead said she trusted Kotaro Katsura because of Sogo. Katsura revealed he had brought Sogo to help Muse, then began explaining how much the group had achieved through its members’ efforts before Honoka defended his contributions.

• Sogo Doma challenged Kotori Minami to decide whether she believed Kotaro Katsura, but Kotori firmly said she did.
• Kotori explained that Sogo’s attempts to make Katsura look suspicious convinced her that Katsura was trustworthy.
• Maki Nishikino recognized Sogo as the legendary piano prodigy, and the members of Muse were surprised by his talent.
• Sogo admitted he had ordered popcorn and cola to watch the argument, then urged Elisaki and Kotori to keep fighting.
• Kotori learned that Katsura had brought Sogo to help Muse, while Sogo pretended he could not help and encouraged them to reject him.
• Katsura praised the members’ work in building Muse, and Honoka began listing the ways he had helped them.

Katsura Kotaro explained that he wanted Sogo Doma to use his resources to help Muse reach the top of the school idol world. Sogo joked that earning a living by pleasing people was much like being an idol, and Maki Nishikino pointed out his extraordinary talent as a composer.

• Muse realized how much Katsura Kotaro had done for them, but Katsura said those efforts were simply part of his role as their manager and fan-club president.
• Katsura said outside resources could help Muse succeed and suggested Sogo Doma could provide them because of his wealth.
• Sogo bragged about his former fortune, then revealed that Utaha Kasumigaoka supported him as his sugar mommy.
• Sogo compared his work of pleasing his patron to idols pleasing their fans, while Katsura denied that this was why he had asked Sogo to help Muse.
• Maki Nishikino questioned why Sogo needed to please anyone when his casually composed songs could impress the music industry, but Sogo insisted that he still had to make a living.

Sogo Doma argued that tragedy could move audiences and teased the Muse members about needing a patron, while Utaha Kasumigaoka found herself unexpectedly intrigued by his creative advice. He claimed that someone who could help Muse would arrive in five minutes, but Honoka Kosaka insisted that the group wanted to succeed through its own efforts.

• Sogo Doma said artists needed to make a living and argued that tragic stories and melodies were more likely to move people, briefly inspiring Utaha Kasumigaoka before his beggar example put her off.
• Sogo Doma teased Kotaro Katsura about seeking a patron, and Kotaro asked whether he had the qualities to find one himself.
• Sogo Doma said help for Muse would arrive in five minutes and introduced himself as Toshiro Hijikata, the legendary Demon Vice-Chief.
• Sogo Doma claimed he used the names Sogo and Toshiro Hijikata depending on whether he was doing good or bad deeds, comparing his identity to Schrödinger's Cat.
• Honoka Kosaka said Muse wanted to reach the top through its own efforts, and the other members agreed.

Muse learned that Sogo Doma’s music was extraordinarily valuable, while he revealed that his patron was the famous author Utako Kasumi. Umi Sonoda recognized Utaha Kasumigaoka’s work Love Metronome, leaving Utaha embarrassed by the novel’s unintended reputation.

• Maki Nishikino told Muse that someone had offered over ten billion for Sogo Doma’s debut song and said she would spend her fortune to hear the full piece.
• Kotaro Katsura asked Sogo to help him learn music, but Sogo said he could not recreate his old composition.
• Maki questioned whether Utaha Kasumigaoka had become Sogo’s patron, and Utaha responded by teasing Maki about her chest.
• Sogo announced that his patron was the legendary Utako Kasumi, whose influence could help Muse.
• Umi Sonoda recognized Utako Kasumi as the author of Love Metronome and enthusiastically praised its relationship between Sayuka and Marina.
• Utaha felt embarrassed and regretted listening to the advice that had given her work its controversial reputation.

Sogo Doma discussed how he could help Muse succeed without composing for them, revealing his influence as the Doma Family’s second young master. He urged the girls to rely on their own efforts while hinting that he could use his connections to help, and stopped short of explaining exactly what he could do.

• Umi Sonoda and Utaha Kasumigaoka reacted awkwardly as Sogo Doma discussed Utaha’s influence as Utako Kasumi.
• Sogo told the Muse girls that he was a published author, surprising them, then Maki Nishikino identified him as the Doma Family’s second young master.
• Maki explained that the Doma Family owned services such as LINE and blogs, and Sogo joked about having once been very arrogant.
• Sogo told Muse that they needed to succeed through their own efforts, and Katsura Kotaro praised him for understanding his intentions.
• Sogo offered to let Muse use his influence, prompting Maki to question how much power he had despite running away from home.
• Katsura asked whether Sogo could influence websites for his election campaign, but Sogo dismissed the idea and began to describe the limits of his influence.

Sogo Doma introduced Mai Sakurajima as the person who could help promote Muse, sparking a rivalry between Mai and Utaha Kasumigaoka. As Sogo tried to explain his relationship with both women, Utaha interrupted him, worried about Umaru’s plans.

• Maki Nishikino clarified that Sogo could help promote Muse, and Sogo said someone else could provide the help.
• Mai Sakurajima arrived and teased Sogo before introducing herself to Utaha Kasumigaoka.
• Utaha and Mai recognized each other as rivals and traded barbs over their closeness to Sogo.
• Rin Hoshizora recognized Mai as a famous national idol, while Honoka Kosaka mistakenly thought Mai was a school idol.
• Sogo called Utaha his financial backer and began to explain their relationship, but Utaha stopped him because she feared Umaru’s plans.

Sogo Doma found himself caught between Mai Sakurajima and Utaha Kasumigaoka as the two women questioned each other about their relationship with him. They discovered a shared history involving Umaru and traded veiled insults, while Sogo remained trapped under their feet.

• Utaha Kasumigaoka challenged Mai Sakurajima to explain her relationship with Sogo, and Mai said she was his employee under a contract that barred workplace dating.
• Mai explained that Umaru had extended the no-dating rule to Sogo, and Utaha revealed that she also knew Umaru.
• Mai and Utaha recognized each other through their shared history of suggesting punishments for Umaru, then hurriedly concealed the embarrassing details from Sogo.
• Mai and Utaha exchanged polite but pointed remarks about each other’s age, career, and standing as an author and an idol.
• Sogo tried to speak, but Mai and Utaha silenced him together while continuing to stand on his feet.

Sogo Doma tried to recruit Mai Sakurajima to train Muse, but he had not told Mai about the plan and faced teasing from Mai and Utaha Kasumigaoka. The chapter ended with Sogo calmly enduring their pinching while he tried to explain himself.

• Honoka Kosaka asked whether Muse still had anything to do, and Kyoko recognized Mai Sakurajima when she brought the coffee.
• Sogo Doma teased Mai and changed the subject by confusing Muse with his explanation of “Erliuzi.”
• Sogo Doma revealed that he had brought Mai to help train Muse, surprising Honoka Kosaka and the others.
• Mai Sakurajima confronted Sogo Doma for inviting her under the pretense of meeting for coffee, while Utaha Kasumigaoka pinched him alongside Mai.
• Sogo Doma claimed he had combined the coffee visit and the training request to avoid troubling Mai twice, while silently enduring their hands and feet.

Sogo Doma tried to explain the difference between professional idols and school idols to Muse, but his blunt remarks and tangled relationships only stirred up more trouble. The chapter ended with Mai Sakurajima challenging Sogo’s claim that his relationship with her was innocent, then Umaru’s name leaving Utaha Kasumigaoka stunned.

• Honoka Kosaka questioned Sogo Doma for arranging training without informing Muse, and Sogo argued that Mai Sakurajima was a professional instructor.
• Sogo dismissed Love Live! as a business opportunity for capitalists and warned Muse that school idols might gain little from their efforts, prompting Maki Nishikino to challenge his motives.
• Sogo contrasted Mai’s paid idol career with Muse’s school idol activities, and Mai objected when he described her work as vulnerable to failure and flaws.
• Kotaro Katsura teased Sogo about a possible love triangle, prompting Sogo to insist that his relationship with Mai was only that of boss and employee.
• Mai questioned whether Sogo’s relationship with Utaha Kasumigaoka was equally innocent, and Sogo began to mention Umaru, leaving Utaha dumbfounded.

Sogo Doma explained his ties to Utako Kasumi and Mai Sakurajima through the Doma Family’s wealth, while the group joked about his aliases and his running away from home. Utaha Kasumigaoka defended her supposedly innocent research relationship with Sogo, but Muse questioned it because her debut novel was yuri.

• Sogo Doma said his family’s shares made Utako Kasumi and Mai Sakurajima technically his employees, and Maki Nishikino pointed out that the shares belonged to his family, not him personally.
• Honoka Kosaka admitted she had started talking to Sogo without knowing his name, and Kotaro Katsura told her to remember it.
• Sogo said he had changed his name to Toshiro Hijikata and joked that he used Hijikata as an alias for people to curse.
• Kotori Minami explained that the Doma Family was the fifth family among the Four Great Conglomerates, and Kotaro revealed that Sogo had run away from home.
• Mai Sakurajima challenged Sogo about his innocent relationship with Umaru, and Utaha Kasumigaoka countered by asking whether Umaru knew Mai was so concerned about Sogo.
• A member of Muse pointed out that Utaha’s debut work, Love Metronome, was yuri and asked whether she had researched it with a man.

Sogo Doma introduced Mai Sakurajima to the group, where she recognized Utaha Kasumigaoka as the author Utako Kasumi and clashed with her over Sogo's private life. The conversation ended with Kotaro Katsura denying that he had a married-woman fetish while admitting he felt sorry for lonely married women.

• Mai Sakurajima recognized Utaha Kasumigaoka's pen name, Utako Kasumi, and denied having read her work.
• Sogo Doma decided Mai was not suited to coach the girls because Kotaro Katsura was a married-woman fetishist and Mai's manager was married.
• Mai mistook Kotaro Katsura for a girl and questioned how many yuri girls he knew before Muse clarified that he was a man.
• Mai and Utaha argued over their concern for Sogo, with each questioning the other's motives.
• Kotaro joked that triangles were not the most stable shape, drawing hostile looks from Mai and Utaha.
• Sogo warned Kotaro that his desire to stab someone showed in his eyes, then accused him of seeking out married women; Kotaro denied having a fetish and said he could not bear to see married women lonely.

Kotaro Katsura defended his relationship with Chairman Minami and his work with Muse, while Sogo Doma questioned his credibility. Honoka Kosaka insisted Muse could succeed through its own efforts, and Mai Sakurajima reconsidered her view of the school idols.

• Kotaro Katsura denied having private contact with Chairman Minami and explained that he visited her office for work.
• Sogo Doma listed Kotaro Katsura's many unusual jobs, while Kyoko and Kotori Minami revealed that he spent large sums playing games at their shop.
• Sogo Doma questioned whether Kotaro Katsura should be allowed to work with Mai Sakurajima, but Mai pointed out that she had been called to train Muse as idols.
• Honoka Kosaka declared that Muse would succeed through the members' combined efforts without relying on others.
• Kotaro Katsura praised Honoka Kosaka's confidence but said Mai Sakurajima could offer advice, and Mai admitted she had underestimated Muse.

Mai Sakurajima warned Muse about the pressures and dangers of idol work, then urged them to uphold strict standards. Umi Sonoda began criticizing the members’ training and preparation, and Maki Nishikino revealed that Kazusa Touma had taken over the piano room, prompting questions about her connection to Sogo Doma.

• Kotori Minami apologized for Honoka Kosaka’s careless remark, but Mai Sakurajima said she had not been offended.
• Mai warned Muse about dangerous fans and coercive demands, including swimsuit photo shoots, while Kotaro Katsura and Chairman Minami reassured the girls.
• Mai told Muse that idols had to maintain a dazzling public image and hold themselves to strict standards.
• Umi Sonoda agreed with Mai and criticized Honoka, Kotori, and Maki Nishikino for neglecting training, work, and songwriting.
• Maki said Kazusa Touma had taken over the piano room, and Sogo Doma reacted with surprise before Maki asked how he knew her teacher, Youko Touma.

Kotaro Katsura explained that he had urged Kazusa Touma’s mother to transfer Touma to Otonokizaka Academy to protect her from Sogo Doma, whom he mistakenly believed was persecuting her. After learning that Touma had won Maki Nishikino’s piano room, Maki resolved to win it back herself.

• Mai Sakurajima and Utaha Kasumigaoka questioned how much Kotaro Katsura knew about Touma and Sogo.
• Kotaro Katsura revealed that he had suggested Yoko transfer Touma to Otonokizaka Academy because he thought Sogo was a dangerous Great Demon King.
• Katsura described his sympathy for Yoko and his attempts to comfort her, prompting Sogo and the others to suspect his motives.
• Sogo agreed to ask Touma not to monopolize the piano room, but Maki insisted she would reclaim it herself.

Sogo Doma teased Maki Nishikino about Kazusa Touma and turned her question about their piano skills into a demand for twenty million. Maki eagerly took his offer as a promise of help, but Sogo clarified that he had not agreed to teach her.

• Sogo Doma dismissed the others’ talk of school idols and comrades, repeatedly calling it “whatever-whatever” and then “non-burnable garbage.”
• Sogo Doma called Maki Nishikino “Tsundere Princess” and then “ATM Princess,” while Maki joked that even his runaway-from-home self was wealthier than she was.
• Sogo Doma asked why Maki wanted to know whether he knew Kazusa Touma, and Maki admitted she wanted to compare their piano abilities.
• Sogo Doma said that for twenty million he could make Maki’s piano skills surpass Kazusa’s, and Maki asked if he would teach her.
• Sogo Doma clarified that he had promised to make Maki surpass Kazusa, not to teach her.

Sogo Doma provoked Muse by suggesting they sabotage Touma, prompting them to reject him and accept Mai Sakurajima’s help instead. Kotaro Katsura revealed that Sogo had deliberately played the villain to get Mai involved while leaving Maki Nishikino confident she could surpass Touma.

• Sogo Doma suggested breaking Touma’s hands so Maki Nishikino could win, then raised his price after Kotaro Katsura reminded him that Touma was his junior disciple.
• Maki Nishikino and the members of Muse rejected Sogo’s underhanded advice and vowed to defeat Touma fairly.
• Mai Sakurajima offered to advise Muse, and Umi Sonoda accepted her help.
• Kotaro Katsura pointed out that Sogo had secured Mai’s support without discouraging Maki from believing she could surpass Touma.

Sogo Doma and Kotaro Katsura argued over whether Sogo’s offer to hurt Touma could help mend Touma’s relationship with her mother, Yoko. Maki Nishikino rejected the offer, while Mai Sakurajima reminded Sogo that he could collect her production budget next month.

• Katsura claimed that Touma and Yoko misunderstood each other and suggested Yoko’s refusal to let Touma transfer to Toyogasaki came from good intentions.
• Maki questioned whether Sogo truly thought highly of Touma, then asked whether he would really break Touma’s hand for twenty million; Sogo said she would have to pay more.
• Katsura proposed that Sogo intended to bring Touma and Yoko closer by staying beside Touma when she was hurt, but Sogo denied plotting and challenged Katsura’s talk about friendship.
• Maki said she could not support Sogo’s plan and questioned why the Doma family’s young master needed twenty million.
• Katsura pointed out that Sogo’s associates could provide money, and Mai added that Sogo could collect her production budget the following month.

Sogo Doma dodged Katsura Kotaro’s insinuations about Kazusa Touma by redirecting the conversation to Muse’s name and warning the group that its meaning could leave them open to criticism. Mai Sakurajima backed up the warning, and Honoka Kosaka was left worried about the group’s image.

• Katsura Kotaro teased Sogo Doma about helping Kazusa Touma and hinted that Sogo was the Great Demon King Yoko had mentioned.
• Mai Sakurajima and Utaha Kasumigaoka reacted to Katsura Kotaro’s knowledge and considered the possible feelings between Sogo, Touma, and Mai.
• Sogo Doma changed the subject by asking Honoka Kosaka what Muse meant, then told the group it referred to nine goddesses.
• Honoka Kosaka explained that a supporter had suggested the group’s name, while Sogo argued that Muse’s nine-goddess meaning implied they should have nine members.
• Umi Sonoda pointed out that a mismatch between the name and the group’s membership could be used against them, and Mai Sakurajima warned that opponents might exploit such details to slander idols.

Sogo Doma warned Honoka Kosaka that Muse could face trouble because its name promised nine members, while Kotori Minami and Umi Sonoda urged her to be cautious. When Honoka realized the group could not change its name or registration, Kotaro Katsura suspected Sogo planned to involve Muse in little Touma’s matter.

• Sogo Doma cautioned Honoka Kosaka that competition could bring out dishonest behavior, and Kotori Minami worried Honoka was too trusting.
• Kotori Minami and Umi Sonoda warned Honoka that others might take advantage of her and encouraged her to stay alert.
• Sogo Doma explained that Muse could face backlash if fans expected nine members because of the group’s name.
• Maki Nishikino suggested changing the name, but Kotori Minami said the registration period had ended.
• Mai Sakurajima asked whether Muse could recruit nine members, and Honoka Kosaka admitted it would be difficult.
• Kotaro Katsura asked Sogo Doma whether he planned to push little Touma’s matter onto Muse, startling Honoka and the others.

Honoka Kosaka considered inviting Kazusa Touma to join Muse after learning that Yoko Toma would support her if she was genuinely happy. Sogo Doma then counted the girls nearby and claimed Muse already had eight members, leaving Rin Hoshizora and her companion surprised.

• Honoka Kosaka imagined how Kazusa Touma might fit into Muse, but Sogo Doma denied that he had promised to persuade her.
• Kotaro Katsura explained that Yoko Toma wanted Touma to be happy and would not stop her from becoming an idol if it truly made her happy.
• Honoka Kosaka decided to invite Touma, while Maki Nishikino and Kotori Minami pointed out obstacles to her joining Muse.
• Sogo Doma counted the girls present and included Rin Hoshizora and the girl eating nearby among Muse's members.
• Rin Hoshizora introduced herself, and her companion began coughing after Sogo Doma teased Rin about her name.