No one could have imagined just how stunned Takamatsu Tomori was when she received a "date invitation" from Hoshino Ai.
Especially when she saw that Ai had "something troubling her" that she wanted to talk about, Tomori felt a confusion she had never experienced before.
Why ask me for advice, and not Chihaya-san? Isn't her relationship with Chihaya-san much closer than mine?
It was only when she actually met up with Ai and they went to a café to talk that she finally understood why Ai hadn't chosen to discuss this matter with Tetsuya—
"I learned something very important recently. In a real battle, a virgin girl isn't necessarily stronger than a virgin guy."
Ai sighed with a sorrowful look on her face.
"Listen to me, Tomori. Before this, I always thought Tetsuya would just be my plaything in bed, but when it came time for the real thing, I was the one who surrendered first. What's even more terrifying is that Chihaya Anon was there too... Don't you think that's a disgrace? I don't even know how I'm supposed to face them now!"
"..."
This complaint, which started out of nowhere but was filled with a massive amount of information, caused Tomori's brain to shut down for a moment.
But in any case, she still managed to successfully extract the three main characters from the description—Hoshino Ai, Chihaya Tetsuya... and Chihaya Anon.
However, going back to the beginning of the conversation to extract the keywords again: virgin girl, virgin guy, in bed, surrendered first...
...
"Pl-please wait a moment... Ai-san."
Seeing Ai open her mouth to say more, Tomori, who was now fully aware of the dangerous nature of this topic, hurriedly waved her hands to stop her from continuing.
"No matter how you look at it, this isn't the kind of topic you should be discussing with someone like me, is it?"
"Hm? Why?"
Ai tilted her head with a curious look.
"Tomori, you should be an inexperienced virgin just like me, right... Eh? Don't tell me, you're actually experienced, Tomori?!"
"That's not what I meant! F-forget experience, I've barely even spoken to a boy!"
Tomori's face turned beet red as she proclaimed her innocence.
"What I mean is, this kind of deeply personal and private topic should be discussed with someone you're much closer to..."
"Hmm... I guess that's true."
Ai said, propping her chin on her hand.
"But, the only people I'm close to are Tetsu, Uika, and my manager. Tetsu is the person involved, so he's out. I definitely can't have a proper conversation about this with my manager, who's already married. As for Uika... we're sort of love rivals now, so I can't go to her either. If you count them all up, you're the only friend I have left who I can share my troubles with."
"Fr... iend?"
Tomori's eyes widened slightly when she heard that word.
"In your eyes, Ai-san... are you and I already friends?"
"Mhm, of course!"
Ai nodded without hesitation.
"After all, besides Tetsu, you're the person who understands me the most in this world."
"Eh..."
Faced with such high praise, Tomori was stunned for a moment before asking in an uncertain tone:
"The reason you think that... is it because of the lyrics I wrote?"
"That's right."
Ai said, looking directly into Tomori's eyes.
"Although I don't know how you did it, Tomori... those lyrics were without a doubt written with complete empathy for me. Since you understand my feelings for Tetsu to that extent, it means you already understand over eighty percent of who I am as a person."
"..."
For feelings for a single person to take up a full eighty percent... isn't that a bit too extreme of a composition for a young woman?
Although Tomori really wanted to make that retort, she knew very well that what Ai said was no joke. To her, Chihaya Tetsuya was just that important. That was probably why she had sought out the unreliable Tomori, trying to solve the problem she was currently facing... a problem filled with a great deal of personal privacy and girlish romance.
But, this point alone wasn't enough to justify this conversation!
"It's true that I know a lot about you, Ai-san, but you don't know me, right? Aren't you worried I might... reveal your secret to someone else?"
Tomori couldn't help but say.
"You're the most talked-about popular idol right now. How can you so easily tell something like this to another person?"
"Hmm... how should I put it..."
Hearing Tomori's perfectly reasonable and cautious question, Ai pondered for a moment before replying.
"It's probably because those lyrics were just so moving. I don't think the Tomori who could write lyrics like that would ever do anything to hurt others. As for you saying I don't know you, you're not wrong about that. So, from now on, let's just slowly get to know each other better."
Ai smiled sweetly at Tomori.
"I sincerely want to be friends with you, Tomori. So from now on, don't use honorifics with me anymore. Just call me Ai."
"Ai..."
Faced with such reckless and pure trust, Tomori's heart was suddenly filled with an intense sense of satisfaction from being acknowledged by another person.
Not only that, but this situation, of being trusted because of her lyrics, made her involuntarily recall her first meeting with Sakiko a year ago.
The main reason Tomori had become so introverted and withdrawn was that her sensibilities and way of thinking couldn't be understood by others. That was why she felt an irreplaceable sense of belonging with [CRYCHIC], where Sakiko was the first to affirm her lyrics, and with [MyGO!!!!!], where Anon was willing to proactively understand her true thoughts.
And now, Hoshino Ai had also become someone willing to proactively affirm and understand her, and had strongly expressed her desire to be friends.
Under these circumstances, how could Tomori possibly refuse her?
"I-I understand!"
As this bond of trust was established, a sense of mission, of being entrusted with a critical task, welled up inside Tomori.
"No matter what kind of problem it is... I'll help you solve it! Even if it's... about se—sex-related matters!"
Although her face was bright red and her voice was trembling slightly, there was no hint of avoidance in Tomori's expression or tone!
"So, please tell me what happened that night!"
"Mhm, mhm! I knew you were a dependable person, Tomori!"
Seeing Tomori agree to help her with her troubles, the smile on Ai's face grew even brighter.
"Okay then, let's get back to it. Basically, what happened that night was this..."
And so, the reckless confessor and her unreliable consultant began their girls' talk, a conversation with an unknown destination. Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous corner of the café, Chihaya Anon and Wakaba Mutsumi, who had been silently watching the two, exchanged a knowing glance.
"Mutsumi, can you hear what they're talking about?"
"I can't..."
Mutsumi shook her head.
"But, the atmosphere seems pretty good."
"It does, doesn't it?"
Anon, who had been worried that Tomori might be getting bullied by Ai, let out a sigh of relief.
"If they're just hanging out privately, then there's really no problem..."
Besides, for Anon, it was a good thing worth celebrating that Tomori was making more friends.
"Well then, let's just head back."
More than her friend's private outing, she was worried about her brother and Soyo, who were home alone!
Having set their minds at ease, the two exchanged a glance, then quietly left the café and began the journey home together.
And after they had completely left, Tomori, who had now heard the entire story from Ai, finally offered her first impression—
"This kind of thing is still way too early for me!"
Not only did she do something so bold to Chihaya-san, but she did it together with Anon!
Can I really still be good friends with these two from now on?
And... does doing that sort of thing really feel that good?
In the café on this extraordinary weekend, Takamatsu Tomori felt like she had grown up a lot.