"I see. So that's what happened."
After listening to Togawa Sakiko's story, Chihaya Tetsuya thought for a moment. A name involuntarily popped into his mind.
(French, the art world, and the timing... it almost perfectly matches when Jean-san appeared. Could it be that Sakiko's father's whereabouts are related to Jean?)
But even so, according to Sakiko, her father's skills weren't limited to just those areas. So, despite the many overlaps, Tetsuya didn't jump to a conclusion.
"I understand. I'll ask the people around me to help you look into your father's situation during this time."
Tetsuya said.
"Let's see... Chief Hasegawa, Ms. Nagasaki, Ms. Yamabuki, Ms. Higuchi... those people should be trustworthy..."
"Wait, Tetsuya-kun!?"
Hearing Tetsuya muttering to himself, Sakiko became flustered.
"It's more than enough that you came here to discuss this with me. I can't trouble so many people with my personal problems—"
"Your personal problems?"
Tetsuya frowned.
"Sakiko, think carefully. What is your main identity right now?"
"My... main identity?"
Sakiko was taken aback for a moment, then answered with an uncertain tone.
"Aspiring designer for [Starry Sky] and keyboardist for [Ave Mujica]?"
"Exactly. If I remember correctly, your band is currently recording its first original song, right? If your condition is affected, the other members will be affected as well. As for my side... that goes without saying. If something really happened to you, I'd definitely be so worried I couldn't even do my own work, which would in turn affect everyone related to [Starry Sky]."
Tetsuya shook his head at the girl who looked like she wanted to say something but was holding back.
"Don't forget who came up with the plan to get everyone involved in the first place. At this point, it won't be so easy for you, the instigator, to just remove yourself from the equation."
"Ugh—"
Although Sakiko wanted to retort, the reasons Tetsuya brought up left her at a loss for where to even begin. Just the point that it "would make Chihaya Tetsuya worry" was enough to render all her arguments invalid...
Besides, now that she had confessed everything to him, she probably couldn't stop his interference anymore, no matter how unwilling she was.
"I really didn't intend for you to go this far, Tetsuya-kun..."
Sakiko muttered under her breath.
"I was just thinking it would be enough to hear your voice on the phone. Why did you have to come over?"
"Isn't it because you have a 'prior record'?"
Hearing her words, Tetsuya couldn't help but pout.
"Who was it that was willing to drink herself into a blackout just to avoid troubling me? And who was it that was willing to become my maid rather than repent? I've completely figured out your style now. To make you learn to rely on others, I have to leave you with absolutely no room to put on a brave face alone! Just like right now."
With that, he brought his face right up to hers and asked.
"So, at a time like this, what are you supposed to say?"
"..."
Sakiko stared at the "just as planned" smile on his face. She stewed for a long moment before turning her head away and mumbling.
"...Thank you, Tetsuya-kun."
"Mhm, that's right."
Tetsuya nodded, very satisfied.
"I tell you everything, honestly. It would be a little too unfair if you still couldn't open your heart to me."
Hearing this, Sakiko quickly looked up and retorted.
"It's not that I can't open my heart to you, I just don't want to trouble you!"
"This isn't 'trouble.' This is us working together for our future."
Tetsuya said.
"In reality, even if I mobilized everyone I know to help you investigate, we might not be able to find out the truth. But I still want you to understand that no matter what happens next, you will absolutely not be facing it alone."
At this, he reached out and gently stroked her hair.
"After all, the two of us are long past the point where we need to distinguish between 'yours' and 'mine,' aren't we?"
"..."
Feeling the warmth from the top of her head and the peaceful tone of the person in front of her, Sakiko felt her originally chaotic heart instantly become calm and at ease.
Chihaya Tetsuya never lied, and he never made promises he couldn't keep.
Even at the most crucial stage for his personal brand, even when facing a crisis with no clear path forward, he never intended to abandon her...
"Aren't you worried that my father's situation will drag you down with it...?"
"If it's a crisis of this level, then I have all the more reason not to let you face it alone. As for my brand... as long as the two of us are still here, we can start over as many times as we need to."
Tetsuya said with absolute clarity.
"Just like I've said before, as long as I'm alive, I will never give up on the possibility of everyone achieving happiness together."
"..."
For a moment, Sakiko felt her heart fill with an indescribable sense of being moved, and an impulse to throw herself into his arms.
This person was always like this, earnestly and unreservedly giving his all to others.
Back then, Hoshino Ai must have been captured by him under similar circumstances, right? To be given a promise worthy of a lifetime commitment at one's most vulnerable moment...
However, it was precisely these reassuring and touching words that made Sakiko remember something very important again.
And so, before Tetsuya could react, Sakiko leaned forward and quickly, suddenly, kissed him on the lips.
"!?"
Tetsuya, caught off guard, subconsciously dodged backward. Seeing this, Sakiko didn't pursue him further, but let out a light "hmph."
"Even if you're just making a statement, don't say things that treat your own life so lightly ever again."
It was precisely to make him realize his own importance that she had created that "harem plan" centered around him. But now, it was her own immaturity and willfulness that had forced him to make such a statement to her again.
"You're right. As long as the two of us are here, we'll have a chance to start over, no matter what happens. But you'd better think this through, Tetsuya-kun. From now on, just like Hoshino Ai, I will become an existence you can never escape for the rest of your life."
"...In that case, it's not much different from how things are now, is it?"
Fortunately, this wasn't their first kiss, so Tetsuya didn't lose his composure as he did last time. Even so, a faint blush still crept onto his face...
But shy was shy; as a man, he still had his pride.
And so, he cleared his throat and said with feigned calmness.
"And as the man who took your first kiss, I was supposed to be responsible for you anyway. So, even if you didn't say it, I was already prepared to spend my life with you—"
"Hm? Hold on a second. Took your first kiss?"
Hearing this, Sakiko was stunned for a moment, then immediately retorted with great seriousness.
"Think carefully, Tetsuya-kun. The first time, it was clearly me who initiated the kiss!"
"Hiss..."
His cool line was instantly dismantled. Tetsuya's expression faltered for a moment before he tried again.
"B-but, after that, it was basically me who took the initiative—"
"The first time is the most important! As for the kisses after that... they were all because I was actively tempting you!"
Sakiko corrected him with a very serious expression.
"Therefore, I am the one who needs to take responsibility."
"No, no, that's not how it works!"
Dismantled once again, Tetsuya's voice began to grow hurried.
"It's true that you were the one who asked first, Sakiko, but you were completely defenseless from being drunk at the time! No matter how you look at it, I was the one who was the active party!"
"But if I hadn't actively asked you, you wouldn't have needed to go that far, right, Tetsuya-kun?"
In contrast to the flustered Tetsuya, Sakiko's expression and tone grew calmer and calmer.
"You're the one who needs to think this through again, Tetsuya-kun. Whether it was being attacked by Anon-san and Hoshino Ai, or being confessed to by Soyo, all of it happened because my plan provoked them. That's why you've ended up in this difficult situation today. In other words, this whole series of events between you and us was caused entirely by me. That's far more important than a few kisses. So, what I need to be responsible for isn't just a kiss, but your entire future!"
"???"
Looking at Sakiko, who had now completely pulled herself together, Tetsuya felt both relieved and bewildered.
Just a moment ago, he had been the one comforting her. How did the topic shift to her being responsible for him?
What made him even more frustrated was that, having always been the passive one in many respects, he really couldn't find a suitable argument to refute her...
While Tetsuya was still trying hard to think of a rebuttal, Sakiko had already fully recovered her spirits through this overwhelming debate victory.
"Phew~ a little bit of nonsense really makes you feel refreshed!"
She gave him a bright smile, completely free of any gloom or anxiety.
"I'll leave my father's matter in your hands, Tetsuya-kun. But it's a bit late now, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow to ask everyone for help."
"Ah, mhm, got it..."
Eh? Is that topic just over? I didn't even get a chance to counter-attack...
Tetsuya was still slightly dazed, but Sakiko, now revitalized, had already taken action again.
"Thank you, Tetsuya-kun."
With that, Sakiko pushed the low table aside, came right up to him, and once again, initiated a kiss.
This time, because she threw her entire body into his arms, and because he was worried she would fall, not only did he not dodge, but he even subconsciously propped himself up with his arms...
"...See? I told you so."
Moving her lips away, Sakiko smiled at the person who had instinctively assumed a passive posture.
"I'm clearly the one who should be taking responsibility."
"No, I just didn't react in time!"
Tetsuya was still being stubborn.
"You won't get your way again!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Sakiko raised an eyebrow.
"Then why don't you try kissing me?"
"I will... wait, no."
Just as he was straightening up, Tetsuya suddenly stopped an instant before his lips touched hers.
"If I kiss you back just like that... are you going to say I was led on by you again?"
"Oh my, you figured it out."
The corners of Sakiko's mouth quirked up again.
"That's why the 'first time' is so important, Tetsuya-kun. As long as I take the initiative that first time, all the initiative and right to interpret things afterwards belong to me."
"Then isn't it impossible for me to ever win against you?"
"That's right."
Sakiko gently pecked his lips again.
"From the moment your first kiss was stolen by me, you've never been able to win against me."
With that, she rolled off him and stood up again with a satisfied smile.
"Let's go, Tetsuya-kun."
"Go? Where?"
"To your house."
Sakiko said.
"Tomorrow, I plan to explain my father's situation to the others in person, and then, ask them for help in both our names. And anyway, I probably won't be able to sleep at all tonight, so I might as well stay somewhere I can feel at ease for a while."
"...In both our names?"
Hearing this, Tetsuya instantly realized that Sakiko had truly accepted his proposal and was ready to face the coming crisis and challenges with him.
"I understand. Well then, I'll call a taxi—"
"Let's take the train back. It's been a while since I've taken the late-night train with you, Tetsuya-kun."
"I understand."
Tetsuya put down the phone he had just taken out.
"Soyo might get mad, but I'll stay up with you tonight... Oh, right, while I was studying Goth culture, I sketched out a few drafts for your band's costumes. Let's look at them tonight."
"Hey, stop raising my affection level. Be careful or I might launch a night raid on you tonight."
"Huh? Is that really a line the girl is supposed to say?"
"What can I do? You're just always so gentle, Tetsuya-kun~ so gentle that you even get into a receptive posture before being forcefully kissed."
"Sigh... stop it. Can't I just admit defeat?"