"Kikukawa Kyo, right? Come in, come in!"
The manager warmly waved Kyo over, but the moment she stepped inside, the woman nearly jumped in shock.
"Whoa, what happened? You're completely drenched!"
Kyo glanced down at herself. Really, it was just the usual—she'd sweated a lot again. But the sheer amount made it look as if someone had dumped an entire bucket of water over her head. She waved it off, unfazed.
"Just sweating a little more than usual. It'll dry off soon."
"Kyo, how many times have I told you? You need to stay dry, or you'll end up with a fever again."
Kikukawa Shuku let out a resigned sigh, clearly all too familiar with her daughter's strange quirk and the trouble it brought.
"My apologies—could someone take her to freshen up?"
"Of course, no problem." The manager nodded eagerly.
"Uika, Mana, could you take young Miss Kikukawa to the break room? I believe there are some towels there. And if she wants to change, we even have a few spare idol outfits she can try on."
"Understood." Uika nodded but didn't rush to approach Kyo.
She'd been waiting for this moment for so long—there was no need to be hasty now.
I'll take my time getting closer to her. Then, when the moment's right, I'll ask about Sakiko.
She made a mental note before turning to Mana.
"Mana, could you grab some snacks and bring them to the break room?" she suggested.
Uika knew how much Mana loved donuts. If she brought some to share, it would naturally help her get along with Kyo. It was a small gesture, but it would be good for Mana to connect with her.
Though Uika's mind was often occupied with thoughts of Sakiko, she also cared about her cheerful groupmate. Mana was an easygoing, carefree girl—so carefree, in fact, that she rarely overthought things.
She had probably only seen Kyo as just another girl their age. Uika doubted she had considered why their manager specifically asked the two of them to escort Kyo.
"Eh? I can really go get some donuts?"
As expected, the moment Mana heard the word snacks, she let out a delighted squeal and even bounced on the spot, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked at the manager.
The woman chuckled helplessly.
"Go ahead, go ahead. Since we have a guest today, I'll let you take a few extra—but you'll have to make up for it with extra training later."
"Yay!"
Mana cheered, then bolted out of the room, practically skipping past Kyo on her way out.
"Thanks! I'll bring you the two biggest ones!"
"Uh—"
Before Kyo could even respond, Mana had already dashed off.
Kyo blinked, watching her go.
I kind of like people like that.
They were easy to understand. No unnecessary complications, no hidden meanings.
"Kikukawa-san, this way, please."
Kyo obediently followed behind Uika, watching the idol's back as she walked ahead.
Mana had run off too quickly for Kyo to get a good read on her, so she decided to start profiling Uika first.
I might only see her today, but it never hurts to be prepared—just in case I need to add another face to the board later.
Blonde hair. Violet eyes. A well-maintained figure. A refined, striking face. A smooth, pleasant voice.
For an idol, her appearance alone is more than just "acceptable."
Despite her cool and stylish look, she was surprisingly warm and outgoing.
Unlike Mana, whose cheerfulness was carefree and impulsive, Uika seemed more considerate of others' feelings.
Kyo had looked up some videos and articles about sumimi before coming here. From what she'd seen, Uika took her idol work seriously.
Her guitar performances in live recordings had left a deep impression on Kyo—elegant, polished, and dynamic.
Thoughtful, responsible, warm yet composed…
She seems like an easy person to get along with.
Kyo made a tentative conclusion but then shook her head slightly.
Ugh, am I getting PTSD from dealing with Sakiko and the others?
They were outliers. If everyone in society was that emotionally exhausting, the world would be a terrifying place.
Kyo let out a small breath and patted her chest in relief.
Hearing the faint rustle of fabric, Uika assumed Kyo was fidgeting with her damp clothes out of discomfort.
"The break room's just ahead," she said, quickening her pace slightly. "We'll be there soon."
"Hm? Oh, okay."
Kyo quickly realized that Uika had misunderstood her actions, but she didn't bother correcting her.
If anything, she was starting to appreciate how observant Uika was.
"Kikukawa-san, please have a seat. I'll grab you a towel."
As an idol, singing and dancing were a regular part of the job, meaning physical exertion was unavoidable. Because of that, the break room was always stocked with towels and other necessities.
On the towel rack, Uika's and Mana's towels hung side by side. Naturally, Uika took her own, then walked over to the sink in the break room.
Using warm water, she dampened the towel. Wiping down with a cold towel would only make someone more prone to catching a chill.
She wrung it out—though not completely dry, leaving just enough moisture to soften the rough texture and prevent any discomfort when wiping down sweat.
All these small tricks were things Uika had picked up over time, mostly from tending to Mana while she was too busy stuffing her face with donuts to wipe her own sweat. She hadn't expected to be using them on someone else today.
"Here, Kikukawa-san."
"Just call me Kyo."
"Alright, Kyo."
Uika accepted the correction easily. After all, she had hoped to get along with her.
But still—just like her mother, Kyo had no airs about her.
She held out the towel, still carrying traces of warmth from the steam. Only then did she take a proper look at Kyo.
She had already seen old photos of her from her band days on social media, and having been stunned by Kikukawa Shuku's beauty more than once, Uika thought she had prepared herself.
Yet, now that she was seeing Kyo up close, she couldn't help but be surprised again.
Despite being drenched in sweat, there was no unpleasant odor—if anything, it was as if she had simply been rinsed in clean water.
As Kyo took the towel from her, she naturally lifted her head, exposing the delicate curve of her neck.
Beads of sweat trickled down her jawline, trailing along the smooth contours before gliding past her collarbone like a choker of glistening water.
There was something undeniably captivating about the sight.
And yet, Kyo herself seemed utterly unaware of it.
Her clear, unguarded gaze held no trace of self-consciousness—after all, for her, being this drenched in sweat was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Thanks, Uika."
Kyo squeezed the warm, slightly damp towel in her hands, letting out a small, content breath before beginning to wipe herself down.
Strangely enough, as she gradually dried off, the near-hypnotic allure she had been unconsciously radiating began to fade.
By the time she had wiped away the last traces of sweat from her face, neck, and collarbone, she had returned to a level of beauty that—while still eye-catching—was at least within the realm of normalcy.
Like some spirit from an old tale, revealing its true form only when touched by water…
Uika mused at the thought.