"Uh, so... just like I said before, I have to meet with that 'business partner' again this week... just like last time, at their place."
Chihaya Tetsuya, acting like a child who couldn't hide a secret, stared nervously at the ground as he spoke to his two lovers in front of him.
"This time it's really for work too! So, um..."
"..."
Compared to Tetsuya's restlessness, Hoshino Ai and Togawa Sakiko's expressions could be described as completely deadpanned. While he was still keeping his head down, struggling to find the right words, the two of them exchanged a brief glance and nodded in unison.
"Alright, you don't need to explain, we already know."
Sakiko spoke up first.
"Anyway, it's just that the work from last time isn't finished yet, right? Don't worry, we understand—"
"Ah, no, the work this time is different from last time."
Tetsuya instinctively blurted out part of the truth. However, upon realizing that telling the truth might make his subsequent explanation even more difficult, he reverted back to his previous stammering state.
"But... well, it's still work after all, and it will involve you guys in the future. It's just that I can't reveal the details to you right now..."
"...If that's the case, then you really don't need to explain anything to us."
Ai directly interrupted his futile explanation.
"Don't worry. If we were really worried about you, we wouldn't have even given you the chance to explain... just like before."
"That's right, so just go do your work with peace of mind!"
With that, Sakiko even took the initiative to fetch his jacket from the coat rack.
"We'll be waiting for you at home!"
"...Mhm, I understand."
Seeing the two of them trust him so much, Tetsuya felt both relieved and moved.
"Once all the work is finished, I promise I will explain everything to you properly! Until then, please wait for me just a little longer! Well then, I'm off."
"Mhm! Have a safe trip!"
And so, watched off by the two of them, Tetsuya took his toolbox containing his sewing kit and walked out the door...
...
"...So, what do you think?"
After he left, Ai immediately looked at Sakiko beside her.
"Is he... still going there just to work this time?"
"Mmm... it's hard to say."
Sakiko shook her head.
"But at least from Tetsuya-kun's own perspective, he is indeed going there for work this time."
"In other words, the uncertain factor is Uika..."
Ai nodded, then sat back down on the living room sofa, her expression returning to normal.
"I really don't understand her. Even though the two of us already know what happened between her and Tetsu last week, why is she still acting so mysterious about it this week?"
"Mmm... about that..."
Sakiko pondered for a moment before saying:
"It's probably because our reactions last time failed to satisfy her. So this time, she hopes that by knowingly repeating the offense, she can force us to react more in line with her expectations."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
Ai's expression instantly became even more puzzled.
"Did we do something to make her dissatisfied?"
"Ah... how should I explain this to you..."
A helpless, wry smile appeared on Sakiko's face.
"As her groupmate, you should be able to feel it, right? Uika is actually a very competitive person who hates to lose."
"Mhm, I only just started to realize that recently."
Ai nodded.
"At the very beginning, Uika took great care of me in every way, and her attitude was always very gentle. But ever since I reunited with Tetsu, she's become increasingly assertive. Whenever we have activities or work together, she always shows a desire to beat me in every aspect..."
"Mhm... and that relates to another facet of her personality."
Sakiko held up two fingers.
"Simply put, she is someone who is both gentle and competitive."
When it came to Uika's gentleness, both Ai and Sakiko had experienced it firsthand.
For instance, before Ai reunited with Tetsuya, when she was all alone, she often received Uika's care. During training and even work, Uika would always patiently teach her and keep her company.
And for Sakiko, back when she hadn't resolved her debt and was at a dead end with no one to rely on, Uika had almost unhesitatingly canceled all her plans and appointments upon receiving her call for help, setting aside time just to talk with her alone.
To some extent, Uika's essence was very similar to Tetsuya's... They would both reach out to help those around them who were in trouble, without asking for anything in return. It was just that in terms of degree, compared to Tetsuya's self-sacrifice, Uika's help was more restrained and rational.
And this rationality wasn't only reflected in the gentleness she showed to others; it was also reflected in her other side—
"You also know that Uika is an islander from a small island. Yet, this country girl from a remote background came to Tokyo all by herself at this age, joined an idol agency, and became a top-tier idol... Her independence and strength speak for themselves."
If Uika didn't have this kind of personality, she would have proactively contacted Sakiko when she first arrived in Tokyo, perhaps even seeking company and help. But the reality was that she hadn't revealed her situation to Sakiko at all until she formally decided to debut, nor had she ever shown her weakness to anyone.
Having also worked desperately hard all by herself, Sakiko had always held a considerable degree of respect for Uika's strength.
Thinking of this, Sakiko couldn't help but feel a little regretful about the nonchalance she had shown Uika last week.
"Thinking back on it now, the reason she repeatedly asked for our opinions must have been because she mistakenly thought we didn't see her as a threat at all..."
If she wasn't wrong, the reason Uika had invited Tetsuya to her home this time, despite knowing that the two of them were aware, definitely wasn't as innocent as last time.
"As long as it's something she wants, she will definitely fight for it with everything she has, and absolutely not by relying on others... And naturally, this includes matters of the heart."
So—
"I just hope Tetsuya-kun won't be scared off by a highly motivated Uika tonight..."
...
"When you were in Paris before, you were probably at this distance and in this kind of situation when you helped those models change their clothes, right?"
As Tetsuya continuously backed away, Uika spoke while untying the ribbon of her long dress.
"So now, please do your job properly, just like you did then... Tetsuya-san."