"3, 2, 1- and stop."
The fashion model in charge of teaching the runway walk turned off the stereo and nodded at the two in front of her.
"That's all for today's practice. Both of you did very well... especially Uika."
The model instructor gave Misumi Uika an approving look.
"The coordination of your hips and stride has completely reached the level of a Tokyo Fashion Week model! If it weren't for your idol work, I'd want to recommend you to our agency!"
"Thank you for the compliment, but if I wanted to be a fashion model, my height isn't nearly enough, is it?" Misumi Uika smiled and shook her head. "Being able to walk the runway at [TGC] is enough for me. Compared to being a model, being an idol and a singer suits me better."
"Mhm, that's true."
The model instructor nodded, then picked up her bag, waved to the two of them, and left the dance studio with the elegant stride only a fashion model could possess, leaving the two who had just finished training alone.
The next second, just as Hoshino Ai was about to pack her things and leave, Misumi Uika suddenly spoke to her.
"...You've been slacking off quite a bit recently."
"?"
Hoshino Ai, who was bending over to put a towel in her backpack, paused and shot a confused look at Misumi Uika.
"Why do you say that? I don't think I made any mistakes today, did I?"
"That's true, but... you also showed absolutely no drive to beat me."
If this were the old Ai, and the instructor had only praised Uika, she would have definitely asked for a clear breakdown of the difference between them, and then stayed behind to practice repeatedly until she was on par with or even surpassed Uika's level. But now, not only did she lack that drive, but her perfectly calm expression showed not a single trace of resentment.
No, it wasn't just her drive. Recently, Hoshino Ai's entire aura, and even her appearance, had changed quite noticeably.
Should she say she'd become more mature, or more composed...
In any case, all sorts of changes had occurred in Hoshino Ai ever since the joint exhibition ended.
As for the reason for this change, even though Ai herself hadn't mentioned it, Uika knew it in her heart.
"It's because of Tetsuya-san, isn't it?" Misumi Uika stated the truth with great conviction. "I don't know what exactly you all did, but ever since the joint exhibition ended, it's as if you've achieved all your goals. You've become completely settled. I shouldn't have to remind you at this point... but the one who won the final spot at the [TGC] was the brand [Starry Sky], not you as an individual model."
Uika looked into Ai's eyes and said in an incredibly serious tone, "In other words, the person who walks the finale... will still be decided between the two of us."
"Of course, I know that." Hoshino Ai tilted her head, her expression a little puzzled. "But, we're both models representing [Starry Sky], right? So it doesn't matter which one of us walks the finale-"
"Then what if I were to be the main model and spokesperson for [Starry Sky] for the next year?"
Hearing this, Hoshino Ai, whose expression had been perfectly calm, finally widened her eyes slightly.
"Would that be okay with you?"
"Mmm..."
Hoshino Ai's expression became hesitant.
Uika wasn't exaggerating. Although they were both exclusive models for [Starry Sky], there was ultimately only one final spot at the [TGC]. To others who didn't know the models or idols and simply wanted to do business with [Starry Sky], the model who walked the finale would naturally become the face of the brand. If Uika really took that spot, then all future work for the brand would naturally go to her first...
...
"That... doesn't sound so bad, actually?"
"What did you say?"
Hoshino Ai's counter-question, which held not a shred of insistence or worry, made Uika freeze for a moment.
"Hey, Ai, you were listening to me, right?"
"I heard you. There's nothing wrong with my ears. It's just about you being the main model for [Starry Sky], right?" Hoshino Ai waved her hand. "Compared to the newcomer Mana or that amateur influencer, if it's you being the main model, I have no objections. Besides, your proportions and aura were always better suited for fashion modeling than mine anyway."
"Are you serious..."
Not a single trace of competitiveness or survival instinct.
Compared to the old Hoshino Ai, who was always fighting for first place and was endlessly possessive about anything related to Chihaya Tetsuya, she had now completely lost that obsession. Even her way of thinking and her focus had started to align with his... She was like a victor who had already reached the finish line.
"Don't tell me, you and Tetsuya-san, have you already... done it?" Misumi Uika asked tentatively.
And Hoshino Ai's reaction immediately confirmed her suspicions.
"Mhm, we did," she nodded and replied frankly. "We've already done that kind of thing, after all. With Tetsu's personality, that can be considered a definite answer."
"Eh..."
Misumi Uika was in deep shock.
Only two weeks had passed since the joint exhibition. She had thought Ai would at least wait until after the [TGC] before launching her next offensive, yet in just half a month, she had reached the realm of adulthood in a single leap...
Wait, if they followed that plan Sakiko mentioned before, then doesn't that mean—
"...Sakiko and the others did it too?"
"That's a weird way to put it." To Uika's stunned question, Ai just continued to nod. "But you're not wrong. In fact, the mastermind behind it was Togawa Sakiko herself. The ones who lost themselves in it the most were her and Nagasaki Soyo... I was actually the most restrained one of the group."
"..."
Hearing this, Uika finally understood the reason for all the changes in Hoshino Ai.
Just then, her phone buzzed. A new message had arrived, and it was from the very person Ai had just mentioned.
[Uika, are you free tonight?]
It was an invitation from Togawa Sakiko.
[There's something I'd like to talk to you about.]