Sakiko had already noticed that Hoshino Ai's attitude had softened during their conversation at the studio that day.
And Uika's "testimony" further confirmed her suspicions.
The condition that would allow Tetsuya to participate in "TGC" and the reason that would make Ai abandon her self-destructive live performance were no longer an irreconcilable contradiction. As long as they could persuade Ai to continue her idol activities for Tetsuya's sake, all their problems would be solved.
"But the prerequisite is that I have to convince her."
Putting down her phone, Sakiko let out a soft sigh.
"Although her mental state is much more stable than before, that doesn't mean she'll listen to me... And in her plans for the future, it seems going abroad with Chihaya-nii is still an option. So for her, the current situation isn't enough to make her completely change her mind."
Going abroad...
Although it sounded a bit far-fetched, to Sakiko, the option wasn't entirely unfeasible.
In her eyes, with Tetsuya's talent, he would surely be recognized and shine no matter where he was. And if he were to develop his career overseas, [NozAK!], whose reach was limited to Japan, would no longer be able to pressure him.
It was just that she, also bound to this place, would likely never be able to follow in his footsteps.
...
At this thought, an indescribable bitterness and anxiety instantly welled up in her heart.
In order to avoid such an ending, she began to fall uncontrollably into deep thought.
If the current situation wasn't enough to spur Ai into action, then what would happen if she increased the stimulus?
According to Uika, Ai seemed extremely displeased about [NozAK!] plagiarizing Tetsuya. So, if that displeasure became strong enough to make her want revenge, wouldn't she have a more compelling reason to stay here?
As the vortex of her thoughts deepened, she felt her consciousness gradually drift away from her body.
Before her was a selfish, reckless... even dark plan.
If she anonymously revealed the connection between Tetsuya and Ai's performance costume, then [NozAK!] would undoubtedly notice Tetsuya and pressure him further. At that point, Ai might change her mind in order to protect him.
And if that wasn't enough, what if she added the story of him being forced to drop out of university due to plagiarism?
If she made this information public, would Ai come to view [NozAK!] as an enemy, and then logically stay behind to help Tetsuya get his revenge?
And at that point, wouldn't she also have more opportunities to get closer to Tetsuya, and logically continue to be with him under his personal brand—
Click!
Just as the plan was taking shape in Sakiko's mind, her world suddenly plunged into darkness.
The next moment, bright and warm points of light suddenly lit up from behind her—
"Sakiko, look! The effect is even better than I expected!"
Tetsuya's slightly excited voice came from behind the specks of starlight.
He was holding the dual-layered fabric he had used for his experiment, happily showing her the results.
"Because it's a dual-layer design, the cut-out outer layer can even create a dynamic effect with the fluorescence when it moves! I'm thinking of redesigning the cut-out pattern on the outer layer to further enhance the visual effect. What do you think?"
"Eh..."
The specks of fluorescent light in the darkness, and the smiling face that looked a little strange beneath them, seemed to shine directly into Sakiko's heart, instantly dispelling her autocratic and dark thoughts.
In their place came a daze as if waking from a dream, and the dawning horror of realization.
What was I just thinking?
In order to change Ai's mind... I was going to help [NozAK!] pressure him? Reveal a secret he didn't want to talk about?
Ignoring the feelings of the person involved, acting on her own based on a predicted outcome, doing something that would hurt someone important to her.
If she had really done that, how would she have been any different from when she quit [CRYCHIC] a year ago?!
Her heart began to race uncontrollably, her breathing growing ragged.
She was immensely grateful that Tetsuya had interrupted her thoughts, and at the same time, she felt a self-loathing for her own stupidity in almost making the same mistake a second time.
She said it was for his sake, that she wanted to be a help to him... but in reality, she was just anxious about her own stagnation.
Needless to say, there was the popular idol, Hoshino Ai. His sister, Anon, had now successfully formed a band and was striding towards a major debut. Even Soyo, with her mother's help, had become an extremely important asset to him, forming a far more solid and genuine partnership than her own.
And what about her?
Besides providing a little bit of inspiration at the very beginning, what had she, as his apprentice and companion, ever done for him?
The persistent anxiety had gradually pushed her thinking to an extreme.
She had almost made that incredibly childish mistake all over again.
"..."
Sakiko's eyes gradually adjusted to the dim environment.
She saw Tetsuya, like a child, happily adjusting the position of the fabric in his hands, muttering to himself about how to present a more beautiful appearance.
Come to think of it, from the moment he found out about what [NozAK!] had done, to when he learned of Ai's feelings... his creative passion had never seemed to be affected.
He didn't care about the so-called plagiarism at all, nor was he shaken by Ai's almost fanatical love.
Talk of revenge, retaliation... Tetsuya's clothes were not born from such trivial reasons.
Warmth, comfort, becoming a source of strength for others—that was his design philosophy, and his pursuit as a designer.
"Huu..."
The restlessness in her heart might not have completely cooled, but she would no longer make the wrong choice.
The Tetsuya she admired was a gentle person who was always giving others care and guidance.
"...Chihaya-nii."
And the reason she was fortunate enough to have met him was precisely because of this clarity that could dispel the confusion in others' hearts, even in the dark.
"To ensure the stage effect, the cut-outs need to be a little bigger. Otherwise, the effect will be too subtle for the audience in the back rows."
Perhaps she couldn't be his support as a designer just yet, but even so, there must be other things she could do.
So, besides her entry-level knowledge of clothing and some trivial stage common sense, what else did she know?
The May live, Uika's new song, and what Uika had said at the celebration party, about hoping to invite the members of [MyGO!!!!!] on stage as well...
Uika's... new song...
"..."
And just like that, after shaking off the erroneous idea born of a momentary impulse, a new thought emerged in Sakiko's mind.