Misumi Uika was undoubtedly an exceptional girl.
Beautiful, mature, intelligent, and strong.
She possessed solid professional skills, a powerful musical sensibility, and a flawless face and figure.
Even though she was only sixteen, everyone, from the people at her agency to the other staff she had worked with, was certain that this girl already had all the necessary qualities to become a star.
However... in Chihaya Tetsuya's eyes alone, there was one final, unresolved contradiction in her—
"I prefer your current expression over the one you had when you first walked out of the changing room."
Tetsuya clapped his hands.
"What do you think, Uika? You like the clothes I made, don't you? Otherwise..."
He pointed a finger to the corner of his own mouth.
"You probably wouldn't be smiling so contentedly."
"..."
Hearing this, Uika once again turned her gaze to her reflection in the mirror.
Just as Tetsuya had said, she hadn't even realized when her expression had changed to this.
A bold, satisfied, and confident smile.
What on earth was going on—
"I believe I've told you before, Uika. As a creator, what you need is a strong sense of self, strong enough to let you ignore anyone else."
Tetsuya said.
"Although you have indeed tried to change compared to the past... ever since Togawa-san decided to participate in the arrangement, it seems you've once again 'let go' of your self."
Uika opened her mouth as if to say something, but after a long moment, she swallowed her baseless rebuttal and asked in return:
"...Why would you say that?"
"Because you handed over the lead role in your own work to Togawa-san, of course."
Tetsuya shook his head.
"That won't do, Uika. For a creator, that is an absolute taboo."
"The only reason I gave the arrangement work to Sakiko is because her talent is truly superior to mine!"
At this, Uika finally had a rebuttal.
"In order to stabilize Ai's emotions, to make her truly realize her own value, this song must have the highest possible quality and level of completion! What's more, the things Sakiko took into consideration were in line with my own ideas, so even if I give her the lead, the result won't be any different—"
"I'm not just talking about your work, but also about your own position as a creator, Uika."
Tetsuya interrupted her "defense" of herself... or rather, of Togawa Sakiko.
"You're happy to be able to compose with Sakiko, aren't you, Uika? Happy enough to give up something that was originally yours."
"!"
Uika was stunned.
She desperately wanted to refute his statement, but she knew that the smile she had worn when the lights dimmed and the starlight shone was enough to overturn all of her lies.
"This won't do, Uika. Togawa-san may indeed be exceptional, perhaps even someone you admire. But none of that is reason enough for you to relegate yourself to being a 'backdrop'."
At this, Tetsuya hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"In our fashion design industry, there's a type of person we call 'celebrity worshippers.' Most of them enter the field out of admiration for a famous designer, and from then on, they continue to imitate their 'idol's' design style. They may indeed create many excellent works standing on the shoulders of giants, but they can never express their own ideas and convictions. They are destined never to create works that belong only to them, and destined never to become truly top-tier designers... even if they actually possess more than enough skill."
"As your friend and your senior, I don't want you to become like that."
Tetsuya's tone and expression were incredibly serious.
"You have a charm that is brilliant enough to shine on its own, and a personal conviction that is strong enough to form the core of a work. Even if the person you've always admired has come to your side, it doesn't mean you have to abandon everything about yourself to accommodate her. On the contrary, only by continuing to be yourself will you truly grow closer to the person you admire."
"..."
Uika was a very smart person, so smart that she could clearly recognize the excellence and strength of those around her.
And for that very reason, she respected Togawa Sakiko and Hoshino Ai all the more.
They both possessed a talent and ability that was beyond the reach of ordinary people, and they both had a sense of self and conviction that far surpassed her own.
But the problem was, Uika was also an overly gentle person.
So gentle that she was willing to slightly dim her own light for the sake of these shining stars.
Since Hoshino Ai was willing to become an idol to search for the person she had been longing for, then she didn't mind becoming the night sky that set off her brilliance.
Since Togawa Sakiko wanted to use this opportunity to contribute to Chihaya Tetsuya through her composition, then she didn't mind giving this opportunity to her.
After all, compared to them, she didn't really have any particular convictions she needed to uphold or any ambitions she had to achieve...
...
Was that really the truth?
If she truly had no such ambition, how could she explain the smile she just had?
If she truly had no personal conviction she wanted to uphold, then why did she want to become a singer in the first place?
"Uika, do you know why I wanted to make you a 'haute couture' level outfit this time?"
Just then, Tetsuya suddenly asked her.
Hearing his question, Uika immediately replied in a matter-of-fact tone:
"Isn't it to make the May live even more spectacular, so that Ai will realize just how precious everything she has is?"
"No, it's not."
Tetsuya decisively refuted her answer.
"It's simply because I hope that every child who wears the clothes I design can become the protagonist on stage. Right now, that's Ai, [MyGO!!!!!], and you, who are about to wear this gauze skirt."
"...Eh?"
This answer, which was completely unexpected, made Uika let out a sound of utter astonishment.
"The protagonist?! But, I never said I wanted to be the protagonist at this live—"
"A starry sky where only a single star shines alone isn't the sky you're looking for, is it? I remember you saying you don't really like the sky in Tokyo, because you can only see the few stars bright enough to break through the city's neon lights... Perhaps you can't change the entire sky just yet, but at the very least, you have indeed become a part of that starry sky you admire. Of course, this is just my own view. In the end, the choice is yours."
Under Uika's incredibly shaken gaze, Tetsuya asked once more:
"So, tell me, Uika. After putting on the clothes I made for you, are you still content to be the backdrop for Hoshino Ai and Togawa Sakiko?"
"Or... do you want to become a part of the Summer Triangle, shining just as brightly as them, or perhaps even more dazzlingly?"