After accepting Misumi Uika's proposal, the next thing for Chihaya Tetsuya to do was, as promised, to conceptualize and design based on the style and theme of her new song.
Meanwhile, Uika sat directly opposite him, wearing headphones and listening to some light music she used to relax, silently observing him as he worked.
Because the proposal had come so suddenly, she hadn't had time to prepare proper blank paper for him. As a substitute, she had to give him a few pages of sheet music to use the back of. Though the conditions were a bit simple, for Tetsuya, as long as there was a blank space to draw on, it was enough.
And so, while replaying the new song Uika had mentioned in his mind, he sketched out lines and silhouettes that she couldn't comprehend...
Uika had seen him adjusting clothes or cutting and sewing on more than one occasion, but watching him design from scratch like this was still a novel experience for her.
"..."
Seeing him completely immersed in his design, Uika suddenly had the urge to take off her headphones.
Tap, shhh, shhh...
Was it because he was a boy? Or was the paper he usually used thicker than sheet music? She felt that the sound of his pencil was quite loud, and the scratching of the tip on the paper was much clearer than she had imagined.
Is he drawing a top or a bottom right now?
What kind of image appeared in his mind after listening to the song I wrote?
Uika's heart was filled with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
Come to think of it, it was curiosity that had led her to proactively connect with this person in the first place...
Gazing at his face, so close to her, Uika's thoughts suddenly drifted back to the day she first heard of him several months ago.
At the time, she had been very interested in this companion of Ai's from the same orphanage, so she had specifically volunteered for the task of picking up goods from [KaZoKu] and had witnessed the scene of him personally sewing a performance outfit for Ai.
That scene had been so striking that even now, she could clearly recall the image, which was like something out of a religious painting.
Thinking back, that must have been the moment she became curious about him.
What kind of past had left behind a bond between him and Hoshino Ai that hadn't faded in seven years? What kind of feelings had led him to create that stunning outfit that had amazed the entire industry? And... how could she safely resolve the misunderstanding between him and Ai while also protecting [Summer Zodiac]?
After that, as her understanding of him deepened, and as Sakiko and Ai's relationships with him grew closer, she, who was close to both of them, seemed to have shortened the distance between herself and him as well... It was strange. At the beginning, she had approached him purely for her own benefit, but as she got closer, she found herself unconsciously drawn to him.
(Back then, I probably could have never imagined... that we would develop this kind of relationship in the future.)
Uika placed both hands on the table to prop up her chin and continued to watch him.
(Not only did I invite him to my home, but I even lied to Sakiko and the others for his sake, letting him stay the night here...)
To call them friends, the topics they discussed were far more private than what friends would talk about.
But to call it more than friendship... the two of them always maintained this current, reassuring distance.
Because Tetsuya was a strange person who was very considerate of others' feelings but at the same time, extremely lacking in self-awareness, Uika had often been flustered by his natural, artless actions. But the intelligent and calm her had always been clearly aware of one thing: he held no special feelings for her.
Whether it was riding the late-night train with him, altering clothes with him at [KaZoKu] at night, or now, about to become "roommates" under the same roof, this person never had his guard up around her, let alone any improper thoughts.
So, what about her?
How did she herself see this man, Chihaya Tetsuya?
"..."
At this thought, her gaze as she studied him became even more meticulous.
First, his eyes... When she met his gaze, did she feel her heart race?
...
Mmm... while they certainly have an appeal that makes me want to keep looking, I can't really say my heart races.
Next, his lips. Did she, like Sakiko, feel an uncontrollable urge to kiss them just by looking?
...
How could that be possible? If he were to kiss me, I probably wouldn't resist, but I would never have the thought to initiate a kiss myself.
[T/N: ????? :sob:]
Then, his neck and collarbone... Did she, like Ai, have any strange associations or impulses toward these places?
...
I don't really have any particular thoughts. Compared to those areas, I personally might prefer the part of his wrist that shows from his sleeve. But, that's just a personal preference...
And finally, the most important question.
Did she want to be with him forever?
...
(This one... doesn't seem to have much suspense.)
Uika sighed softly.
(Of course, I do.)
Perhaps she didn't greedily want to possess all of him like Hoshino Ai did, but when she received that tulle skirt from him, she had felt a satisfaction that she would remember for the rest of her life.
Perhaps she hadn't received a favor from him that would take a lifetime to repay, like Sakiko had, but she did want to continue being cared for by him with a clear conscience, just like now.
She felt at ease when she was with him. Her mood would inexplicably lift when she saw his face.
When talking to him, although she was sometimes exasperated by his naivety, she still wanted to keep listening to his voice.
When she heard him discuss the mindset of a "creator" with her, she respected this genius of design from the bottom of her heart. And when she heard about the exasperating troubles he faced in his love life, she would feel that he was, indeed, still a fool who needed to be taken care of.
Looking at it this way, perhaps she really did like him.
It was just... this "like" had perhaps not yet developed into the unwavering "love" that Hoshino Ai and Togawa Sakiko felt.
Rational and restrained, her way of dealing with the emotion of "like" was not as intense or passionate as others.
It didn't need to be too intimate. Just maintaining a safe distance and enjoying the sense of security he provided, like now, was enough.
It couldn't be too distant, either. Being the first person he came to for advice when he was troubled, like now, was quite nice.
She didn't want to cause him too much trouble, but she also hoped he would always keep her in his thoughts.
This kind of distant yet near, irreplaceable yet cunning relationship was perhaps exactly what she wanted right now.
"Tetsuya-san."
"Hm?"
The sudden call made him look up, a curious expression on his face.
"What is it, Uika?"
"Do you want to sleep on the sofa tonight, or on a futon on the living room floor?"
"The sofa is fine. I'm a still sleeper, so I won't fall off easily," he replied. "Sorry for the trouble."
"Don't say things like that, you'll make me angry."
Uika stood up and went back to her room to get a spare blanket.
"As for a pillow, you'll have to make do with a cushion from the sofa for now. I'll buy a new one the next time you come over... What kind of pillow do you like?"
"Eh? I can sleep well with any kind of pillow," he said confidently. "As long as I have a warm blanket, I can fall asleep soundly even just using my arm as a pillow—"
"I asked, what kind of pillow you like."
As if she hadn't heard him, Uika asked again in the same flat tone.
"Just state your preference, or tell me what the pillow in your room is like."
"Er... it's a bit firm, and a little high."
"Mhm, I'll remember that," she nodded. "From now on, when I ask you questions like this, just honestly state your preferences. You don't have to always lower your stance and needs, and don't always feel like you're troubling me... Those four should have made you properly aware of your position by now, right? You, who have always been quietly giving your all for everyone, are also loved by everyone... and that includes me, of course."
With that, she suddenly tossed something in his direction. He fumbled to catch it.
"Eh... a key?"
"A spare key to my place," she said. "My work hours are never fixed. If I'm not home, you can just let yourself in."
"?!"
An expression of utter shock appeared on his face. But just as he looked up, about to make his habitual refusal, he saw that she was watching him calmly, her quiet and silent posture looking as if she were waiting to deliver the next part of her lecture...
"Then... I'll accept it."
Under the formless pressure, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He could only take out his own keychain and silently add the spare key to her apartment to it.
Seeing him properly put the key away, Uika nodded in satisfaction.
"Mhm. That's more like it."
With that, she picked up the spare blanket and spread it on the sofa.
"By the way, when is your birthday, Tetsuya-san?"
"October fourth."
"Heh, isn't that coming up soon... Ah, which means, you'll be of drinking age soon." Uika suddenly clapped her palm with her fist. "If those girls at your house don't let you drink in the future, maybe I can secretly stock a few cans for you in my fridge."
"Just how far are you planning to take care of me..." Tetsuya couldn't help but shake his head. "No matter how dense I am, I can't just casually drink at another girl's house, can I?"
"Mmm... so for now, we're still at the 'another girl' stage?" Hearing his response, Uika showed a knowing expression. "Alright, then just pretend I didn't say that. In any case, you just need to relax here. I won't make demands of you like Sakiko and Ai, I won't have expectations of you like Soyo, and I won't rely on you like Anon... We just need to treat each other as equals."
"...Treat each other as equals, huh."
Faced with her trust and goodwill, although Tetsuya was a little embarrassed, he also felt an unprecedented sense of ease.
Unlike the four girls at home, Uika's level of dependence on him was by far the lowest.
Even without his outfits, she could become a sought-after idol with her own talent. At the same time, she didn't have any troubles or inner conflicts that required him to step in and solve.
Their relationship had always been one of mutual help, but not mutual dependence.
She had sought his advice when she hit a creative wall, and he would ask for her help with matters of the opposite sex.
If this were the old him, he would have thought that this kind of relationship, lacking a necessary connection, was completely untrustworthy. But now, under the influence of the other four girls, he had gradually accepted the reality that he was loved by others.
So...
"I understand," he nodded. "Then, from now on... I'll be in your care, Uika."
"Same here. I'll be in your care from now on too, Tetsuya-san," she said, sitting down in the seat right next to him. "You know, I've been a little curious since a while ago... whose outfit are you drawing right now?"
"Ah, actually, this isn't for the commission yet... it's just an abstract concept I'm drawing based on my impressions. For example, this part is a pattern based on the concept of a night sky and clouds..."
With her approach and his acceptance, the already thin atmosphere of awkwardness and restraint in the space vanished completely.
The calming aromatherapy, the ambiguous yet not-quite-touching shoulders, and the perfectly proper topic of conversation.
At least for the current Misumi Uika, this distance was more than enough.
And so, in this space free of distractions and surprises, the two spent a safe and relaxing night...