"If it weren't for Uika, I'd probably be locked in my room by them right now..."
After the two entered the private room and began their meal, Chihaya Tetsuya's first sentence immediately plunged Misumi Uika into silence.
"Lately, I've had absolutely no space to properly rest at home... Ah, right. It's a bit embarrassing to admit it directly, but when I say 'locked in my room,' I actually mean-"
"...It's okay. I know what's happening even without an explanation."
Even if he didn't explain, Uika understood exactly what "locked in his room" meant.
Seeing Uika's face begin to blush, Tetsuya also rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Sorry. I know this isn't a topic I should be discussing with another girl... but you're the only person I can talk to about this kind of thing, Uika."
"..."
His words once again made Uika realize just how special her position was.
It wasn't just Ai and Sakiko; Tetsuya himself also placed an extraordinary amount of trust in her...
(So, is this really okay? Ai, Sakiko, you know I could reveal what you tell me to him at any time, right? And you too, Tetsuya-san. These complaints you're making to me could go straight to their ears and provoke them into doing something even more drastic!)
(Don't you guys have even a single shred of doubt in me?)
Just as Uika was feeling puzzled by this unconditional trust, Tetsuya misinterpreted her slightly furrowed brow as hesitation about him personally.
"Of course, if this is really troubling you, you don't have to force yourself to talk about it!" he said, quickly waving his hands. "Actually, just you accepting my invitation today and coming out with me has already helped me a lot!"
"Don't just back down the moment you see someone hesitate! You should try to push a little harder!" Uika blurted out almost instinctively, having experienced a similar situation before. "I'm not that unreasonable, am I?"
"Sorry. It's just that this topic isn't something one can easily discuss with a girl, so I was a little worried it might make you unhappy..."
It wasn't out of suspicion of her, but simply because he didn't want to earn her disgust.
It was a way of thinking that was very typical of him, but—
"Have you forgotten? We already made an agreement, didn't we? That you could come to me with any problem you had with the opposite sex that you didn't understand. And that, of course, includes topics of that nature!"
Uika's face grew even redder.
"Besides, after you've said all this, how could I possibly refuse! So you don't have to worry so much. Just say whatever is on your mind!"
With that, she adopted the air of an adult at a drinking party, picked up the glass of iced lemon water in front of her, and downed it in one go.
"I'll see this through with you to the end!"
"Uika..."
Faced with such a responsible and bold response, Tetsuya couldn't help but show a moved expression.
"I understand. Well then, I'm counting on you."
...
After that, Tetsuya explained, in detail, everything that had happened to him since the joint exhibition.
Aside from being taken turns and worn out by the four girls, something Uika already knew, his entire daily life was now completely dominated by them.
"From the moment I'm woken up in all sorts of ways, to the moment I pass out and fall asleep... aside from work, I have almost no time to myself. Even the food I eat is meant to replenish my energy..."
"...They've gone too far."
Listening to his tearful accusations, Uika couldn't help but shake her head in sympathy.
As a young woman in the prime of her life, she could understand their excess energy, but it shouldn't have gone so far as to completely eliminate his personal space. Especially given Sakiko's and Soyo's personalities; while their long period of suppression might have caused a temporary outburst of their other side, they shouldn't be this unreasonable...
"Did you do something to make them angry?"
"Mmm..."
Hearing her question, Tetsuya hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Well, after the joint exhibition, I went to Paris with Jean-san for a bit..."
"Mhm, I know," Uika nodded. "Sakiko was complaining and pouring out her sorrows to me almost every day that week."
"And while I was in Paris, Jean-san took me to visit a lot of fashion studios, and I met many designers and pattern makers he's good friends with. You've probably heard of a few of the brands..."
Tetsuya described his trip to Paris vividly. Just from his slightly faster speech and animated expression, it was clear how much he had enjoyed it.
"On the last two days, I even participated directly in a small fashion show and served as a temporary assistant to the designer backstage. I already have a rough concept and idea for my own first fashion show design!"
"Heh... isn't that great?" Uika raised an eyebrow, listening with great interest. "The opportunity to be an assistant at a Paris fashion show isn't something just anyone can get."
"That's right. I really cherished the opportunity and learned a lot..."
But even as he said so, his expression became incredibly bitter when talking about this memorable experience.
"The problem was that fashion show. As an assistant, it's inevitable that you come into contact with the models, like adjusting their clothes, helping them change, or even making last-minute alterations before they go on stage..."
"...Ah."
Hearing this, Uika's mouth fell slightly agape.
"You didn't... 'see,' did you?"
"...Yeah, I saw," he nodded with a heavy expression. "But it couldn't be helped! It's perfectly normal to adjust clothes before a show! And I told them I felt absolutely nothing for those models, and I certainly didn't have any reaction—"
"But, seeing is seeing."
Uika shook her head, giving him the exact same answer as the four girls at home.
"And the fact that you saw top Paris fashion models makes it an even greater crime."
"But my attention was completely on the clothes and my work the entire time! I didn't pay any attention to the models! To be honest, I've already forgotten what they even look like," he said, feeling greatly wronged. "Does this mean I shouldn't have accepted Jean-san's invitation and just given up on this learning opportunity...?"
"It doesn't have to go that far," Uika shook her head. "If you encountered the same situation again, the four of them probably wouldn't actually stop you."
"...But the punishment would still continue?"
"Mhm. That's a separate issue."
"How can that be..." he said, slumping in his seat. "If this punishment continues indefinitely, I really won't be able to take it..."
"Mmm..."
Seeing his on-the-verge-of-tears expression, the kind-hearted Uika couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
"Did they say when this punishment would end?"
"They didn't... they just said they'd make it so I'd never have the energy to cheat again."
"..."
Right. So that's basically a life sentence.
Although he was indeed guilty, those four, having tasted a new pleasure, were surely not doing this just for the sake of punishment. Especially remembering the eager look on Sakiko's face as she left yesterday, Uika was certain they had already forgiven him. The so-called "punishment" was just an excuse to indulge...
"Can't you just use work as an excuse to fend them off, like you used to?"
"Not really. Most of the remaining work for the [TGC] is being handled by the organizers, and I've already sent my designs and instructions to the factory. So this month is probably my least busy in the last six months, which is precisely why I've lost any excuse to escape."
Leaning back in his chair, Tetsuya let out a long sigh.
"Not to mention, my schedule is now almost entirely managed by Soyo. It's no exaggeration to say she knows whether I have free time on any given day better than I do..."
"You're really under their thumb."
Looking at the very conspicuous hickey on his neck and his loose-fitting sweatshirt, Uika's gaze became increasingly sympathetic.
"Have you tried refusing them more forcefully?"
"Refuse forcefully..." He thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you really think I can do that?"
"...Sigh. Probably not," Uika said, silently averting her gaze from his clear, gentle eyes. "If they just pleaded with you a little, you'd probably surrender immediately..."
Because he already felt guilty about his "harem," this guy who never knew how to refuse couldn't bear to say "no" to the girls.
And that was precisely why he had come to her, an "outsider," for help...
...
"Since you've already thought to ask me for help, you must have a specific 'rescue plan' in mind, right?" Uika asked, propping her chin on her hand. "If there's anything I can do to help, why don't you tell me?"
"Uika! You're so reliable!"
Hearing her direct and frank words, Tetsuya's heart filled with gratitude and emotion.
"I did think of a plan, but it relies heavily on your cooperation—"
As he spoke, he took a square box out of his bag.
When Uika saw the box, a look of astonishment appeared on her face.
"...A phone?"
"Mhm. This is the key item for the plan," he said, handing it to her solemnly. "Now, I need you to use this new phone to register a new number and pretend to be my business partner. Then, you'll call me out from time to time... just like today!"
"...Eh?"
Although the plan was only a single sentence, Uika was stunned for a good while.
A new phone, a new number, a fake identity, secret meetings at irregular intervals.
"This is exactly the M.O. of an idol meeting a lover in secret..." Uika said, looking dumbfounded at the box in her hand. "This is the self-rescue plan you came up with?"
"Mhm!" he nodded with great force. "It's true they've been a bit rough on me, but I was in the wrong first, so I don't want to refuse them completely. I just want them to give me a little time to rest. Plus, they've always taken my work very seriously and give me the utmost leeway when I'm working. So... having someone I trust pretend to be my business partner is the only option that will make them allow me to leave their sight! And the person I trust most for that... is naturally you, Uika!"
"..."
His confident tone and guilt-free eyes made Uika swallow involuntarily.
He trusted her so much that he didn't even realize what a terrible "handle" and what a convenient "tool" he had just placed in her hands.
He was so defenseless that he hadn't even considered that the price of this lie would be set unilaterally by her, the accomplice.
She weighed the phone in her hand for a moment before asking, "So... after I call you out as your 'business partner,' what do you plan to do? It's true they won't interfere with your work, but you'll have to give them some kind of explanation, right?"
Uika looked him straight in the eyes.
"Don't forget, you're extremely bad at lying. If the answer you give is too casual, they'll see through it in an instant."
"That..."
He also showed a troubled expression. "I haven't really thought that part through yet. I was just thinking of escaping their grasp for a bit, hiding somewhere and resting for a day or so..."
But it was just as she said. If the girls questioned him afterward, his poor acting and inability to lie would likely get him exposed immediately, making his already precarious situation even worse.
What should he do...
"I have a way for you to relax without having to lie—"
Just as Tetsuya was stuck, Uika suddenly looked up and said in a calm, unreadable tone, "If they really ask, just tell them you were invited to your business partner's home to discuss important matters... What do you think?"
"...Eh?"