"Is that so? I understand."
Toyokawa Sakiko held her phone, a wry expression on her face.
"That sounds quite exhausting. In any case, just leave Mutsumi to me."
[Yeah, thank you...]
Chihaya Tetsuya's rather weary voice came through the receiver.
[I'll come get her as early as possible tomorrow.]
"Don't worry about it. I'll bring her back to you tomorrow. You should use that energy on yourself, Tetsuya-kun."
Sakiko shook her head.
"See you tomorrow, Tetsuya-kun. Good luck."
After leaving him with that rather helpless blessing, Sakiko hung up the phone and turned to Wakaba Mutsumi.
"You heard that, didn't you, Mutsumi? Tetsuya-kun has been captured by Chihaya Anon and Hoshino Ai. He won't be able to meet up with us until tomorrow."
"..."
Mutsumi stared at Sakiko's face for a good while before asking in a voice that betrayed neither joy nor sorrow:
"Aren't you... jealous, Sakiko?"
"Well, it's impossible to say I'm not at all. If it were just Hoshino Ai, I'd definitely find a way to get Soyo and Uika over there to stir things up. But since Chihaya Anon is there, I'm not too worried."
Sakiko said.
"Given how much Tetsuya-kun dotes on her, as long as Chihaya Anon doesn't agree, Hoshino Ai won't be able to do a thing."
For Sakiko, who was already aware of Anon's true feelings, Anon and Ai were on the exact same level in terms of "threat level." If either one of them were to spend the night alone with Tetsuya in a hotel, Sakiko would absolutely be too worried to sleep. However, with both of them together, the two, who occupy the same ecological niche, would naturally restrain each other.
It was for this reason that while Sakiko felt a little jealous, she wasn't overly concerned.
Meanwhile, after hearing Sakiko's explanation, Mutsumi first tilted her head thoughtfully, then asked again:
"What if Anon-san agrees?"
"...What?"
Sakiko was momentarily stunned.
"Agrees? Agrees to what?"
"Agrees to Hoshino Ai being intimate with Chihaya-san."
Mutsumi said with a blank expression.
"Or rather, agrees to be intimate with Chihaya-san together with Hoshino Ai."
"Wh-wh-wh... How is that even possible?!"
Hearing Mutsumi's bold speculation, Sakiko couldn't help but cry out.
"Do you have any idea what you're saying, Mutsumi?! The two of them together... that's... it's just too shameless!"
"But you yourself just came up with a 'harem plan' not long ago."
"That was just similar in form! It was about having everyone become a team centered around Tetsu, not about having Tetsuya-kun actually form a harem!"
Sakiko argued defensively, her face flushing.
"Besides, a normal person wouldn't interpret it as a literal 'harem,' right? Why would you suddenly think of such a bold possibility, Mutsumi?!"
"...It's nothing. I was just talking."
Compared to the flustered Sakiko, Mutsumi's reaction was calm and unruffled.
"But, putting that speculation aside, you did say before that if one person takes the initiative to get close to Chihaya-san, then to maintain the balance, everyone has to make corresponding adjustments, right?"
"Well... I did say that."
Sakiko nodded.
"After all, including me, there are already several girls in this group who have clearly fallen for Tetsuya-kun. If we start fighting over him, it will only get in the way of our work. So when it comes to matters involving Tetsuya-kun, we must maintain a minimum level of fairness."
"..."
On the surface, it sounded like a relationship of mutual restraint. But if you thought about it carefully, if Tetsuya-san really did something with one of them... or had something done to him, then the others could use that as a reason to do the same thing. In that case, this already flawed system of restraint would instantly transform into a tacit "pact of accomplices." As long as the "culprits" could reach a consensus, Tetsuya-san would be passively reduced to an excuse for them to maintain their balance...
Realizing this, Mutsumi wanted to warn Sakiko immediately. However, when she saw the lingering blush of embarrassment on Sakiko's face, she obediently kept her mouth shut.
She didn't want to further provoke the girl who was already so flustered she couldn't control her expression, nor did she want to add to her worries over something that was still just speculation. And besides... for someone like Sakiko, who prioritized her career, if there could only be one winner in the end, her chances were slim to none. But if the situation really developed into what she had imagined, Sakiko might actually end up benefiting from it...
"...Sakiko."
"What is it?"
"You're aware of this, right? In the so-called circle of prestigious families, the family structures and romantic lives of important people are completely different from what normal people understand."
"Ah, of course, I know."
Sakiko lifted the hem of her maid dress.
"That's why I have to hurry and get used to my role as a personal maid before Tetsuya-kun starts at Filia. That way, I can prevent those 'pests' from getting close to him... Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"...It's nothing."
Mutsumi first shook her head nonchalantly, then immediately changed the subject.
"Right, about that drummer I mentioned before, I wanted to show you the practice video she just uploaded."
"???"
Although the change of topic was a bit abrupt, it concerned official business for [Ave Mujica], so Sakiko, just as Mutsumi wished, turned her attention to the drummer...
...
"...Sigh. Anyway, that's the situation."
Putting down his phone, Tetsuya spoke to the two beside him.
"You two will just have to make do in my room for tonight, and then we'll all go back together tomorrow morning."
"Mhm!"
Ai, who was already fully equipped with a hat and mask, nodded.
Meanwhile, Anon, who had returned after removing her makeup, clung to Tetsuya's arm while continuing to glare viciously at Ai.
"As long as I'm here, don't even think about making a move on my brother!"
"I'm not planning on doing anything. After all, I just finished a whole live show. I just want to get a good night's rest tonight."
Ai spread her hands innocently.
"If you're the one with improper thoughts, don't you dare drag me into it."
"...Hmph."
Anon didn't retort, but instead tightened her grip on Tetsuya's sleeve.
"Am I really going to get any rest tonight?"
Faced with the tense atmosphere between the two, which showed no signs of easing, Tetsuya couldn't help but sigh inwardly.