[T/N: Thus spoke Zarathustra ahh]
"I didn't expect you to come to an agreement with her so quickly."
Listening to Mutsumi's report over the phone, Togawa Sakiko finally put down her pencil.
"Well then, I'll handle the specifics of her salary and the band's activity schedule from here. Thank you for your hard work, Mutsumi. To be honest, inviting a new member is something I should have done myself."
[Inviting Yuutenji-san was my decision, so I should be the one to take responsibility for it.]
Mutsumi's voice came from the phone.
[The reason you had me leave the Wakaba house was so I could learn to do these things, right, Sakiko?]
"...Mhm, you're right."
Sakiko held the phone with her shoulder and used her other hand to gently massage the indentations left on her fingers from holding the pencil for so long.
"I just didn't expect you to grow up so quickly... Is it because of Tetsuya-kun's influence?"
[Well, I'm not really sure myself...]
Faced with Sakiko's question, Mutsumi's tone became a little hesitant.
[Even though Chihaya-san hasn't done anything special for me, just seeing him working so hard for his brand and for the people around him somehow makes me want to try and work hard too...]
"Yes, yes, that's exactly it."
After smoothing out the marks on her fingertips, Sakiko picked up the phone again and stood up to stretch her stiff legs around the room.
"I felt the same way when I first met Tetsuya-kun. Even though he's just seriously doing his own thing, he's able to inspire the people around him to move forward with him. I don't know if you'd call it infectious, or if his very existence is just something to aspire to. In any case, for people like us who have seen too much of the complex side of human nature, someone so pure and kind is indeed very easy to be captivated by."
[...]
After hearing Sakiko's heartfelt words, Mutsumi was silent for a long moment before she spoke.
[Soyo is the same. Ever since she got together with Chihaya-san, she smiles more and more, and seems happier and happier. She now completely sees Chihaya-san as her place to belong. From the way she is... no matter what choices Chihaya-san makes in the future, she will always stay by his side.]
"Mhm, I figured as much when I first heard she moved in upstairs from Tetsuya-kun."
Sakiko wasn't surprised at all by the choice Nagasaki Soyo had made.
"Compared to a group of kids who haven't even decided on their future direction, Tetsuya-kun is a far more worthy person for her to place her feelings in."
Combined with their inseparable work connection, a living situation that was practically cohabitation, and Tetsuya-kun's own undeniable charm, it was only natural that this heavy dependence would develop to the point of entrusting her entire life to him.
"And Tetsuya-kun? How did he respond?"
[Although it's just my guess, it seems he's also decided to properly respond to Soyo's dependence.]
Recalling what Soyo had confessed to Chihaya Anon, Mutsumi said:
[In a sense, she has also become an unbeatable "exception," just like Anon-san and Hoshino Ai.]
"..."
Hearing this unsurprising answer, a trace of bitterness inevitably welled up in Sakiko's heart.
She was the one who met Chihaya Tetsuya first. She was the one who first fell for him. She was the one who decided to become his strength... And yet, Nagasaki Soyo had undoubtedly beaten her to the spot by his side.
As for the reason, besides Soyo's own charm and her talent for taking care of others... the more important reason was her mother, a woman with a keen eye who was willing to unconditionally help both her and Tetsuya-kun.
Mrs. Nagasaki's only condition for providing aid to Tetsuya was that the two of them must maintain a close relationship. And this so-called condition was the ideal relationship both of them had been striving for all along. In other words, not only did Soyo face no "resistance" in her pursuit of Tetsuya, she even had an "assisting force" binding them firmly together.
As for herself...
...
[Sakiko...]
The long silence made Mutsumi let out a worried voice.
[You might not be happy to hear me say this, but I think you could rely on Chihaya-san a little more... You saw the message I sent you, right? He's secretly studying your favorite Gothic culture and design so he can support "Ave Mujica" with their outfits.]
"...Mhm, of course I saw it."
A complex smile, a mixture of being moved and feeling bitter, appeared on Sakiko's face.
"He always takes a lot of notes when he's learning a new design or culture. I saw it back when he designed the first performance outfits."
[So you should understand, right, Sakiko? Just as you're working hard for your future and Chihaya-san's, Chihaya-san also really wants to help you...]
Mutsumi said.
[So, if you find it difficult to work hard alone, Sakiko, maybe you could try sharing the burden with Chihaya-san again—]
"I know what you mean, Mutsumi."
Sakiko cut her off.
"After the disbandment and reconciliation of [CRYCHIC] last year, I'm no longer as paranoid and stubborn as I used to be. I'm sure there will be times in the future when I need Tetsuya-kun's help, but it won't be now."
[Even so, you don't have to keep such a distance from Chihaya-san, do you?]
Mutsumi was still very confused.
[As the music arranger for the live show, you were also invited to the celebration party, Sakiko, but Chihaya-san doesn't know about it at all, and he never mentioned going with you—]
"Mhm, that's because I have no intention of going with Tetsuya-kun."
Sakiko said, gazing out the window at the night sky.
"As for the reason, it's not that complicated. It's just that among the important people attending tomorrow, especially those from the music industry, there's a high chance they know about 'Togawa Sakiko.' It wouldn't be good if Tetsuya-kun and [Starry Sky] were looked at differently by others because of me."
Tomorrow's celebration party was a precious opportunity for Tetsuya and [Starry Sky] to expand their network. To prevent the negative rumors about the Togawa family from affecting other guests' first impression of him, Sakiko decided to act alone as much as possible tomorrow, avoiding Tetsuya and securing all the support she needed in the name of [Ave Mujica].
"Don't worry, Mutsumi. This is just a temporary endurance. Once [Ave Mujica] officially starts its activities, I'll be able to return to Tetsuya-kun's side openly."
And until that day officially arrived, she would have to keep striving alone for a little while longer.
It was to protect her own dignity, and at the same time, to protect the ideals of the person she admired.
As for how many more people will win his promise and response before I do...
How much longer will it take for me to even catch up to everyone else's starting line?
...
No matter what, I just have to keep doing my best... Togawa Sakiko.
"After all, life is just that unfair."
Listening to the white noise on the other end of the line, which had fallen silent, Sakiko returned to the low table and picked up her pencil once more.