Meari and Ruribird Nadeshiko were not fools. Meari knew that since Ruribird Nadeshiko's confession had failed, there was no point in bothering her further on the topic of "confession." She deliberately used the term "bad woman" to change the subject.
Although Ruribird Nadeshiko had argued a bit after her failed confession, giving herself a way out, she still felt embarrassed. At this moment, she cooperated by acting as if she cared deeply about her reputation and started arguing with Meari.
The effect was excellent; everyone seemed to have forgotten her failed confession.
However, soon, the manager who had gone to settle the bill returned, breaking the atmosphere.
She held the bank card with both hands, handed it to Ayanokoji, and then politely asked, "Sir, the money has been debited from your bank card. The piano will be packed tomorrow. Would you like your girlfriend to play it a bit more now? If there's anything about the piano that isn't to your liking, we can address it on the spot."
Meari pouted and explained unhappily, "Girlfriend? Ruribird isn't his girlfriend! And that piano wasn't bought for her!"
"Huh?"
The female manager was stunned.
She had originally thought that Ruribird Nadeshiko was Ayanokoji's girlfriend, and Meari and the others were Ruribird's best friends, just coming along for the fun. But why did this girl seem to be jealous?
Could it be that she had thought wrong? Ruribird Nadeshiko wasn't his girlfriend, but this young lady was?
But Ayanokoji and Ruribird were still hugging intimately just now. What exactly was going on?
This circle was too chaotic; the manager was a bit confused.
Seeing the manager looking at her with a complex expression, Ruribird Nadeshiko felt something was amiss.
She had visited this Steinway flagship store many times, always with an arrogant demeanor, picking pianos with a critical look that seemed to say, "It's not that I can't afford it; it's that your pianos here aren't to my liking."
This Steinway B-211 model piano was also the one she had chosen after trying several different models here and finally settling on her favorite.
To convince them of her purchasing power, Ruribird Nadeshiko had mentioned her father's name and the names of several friends with whom she had performed on the same stage.
Ruribird Nadeshiko's father had some reputation, and some of her friends had also made purchases at this store. Otherwise, this flagship store wouldn't have treated her with such importance, assigning a manager specifically to serve her, and maintaining their attitude even though she hadn't bought a piano on her previous visits.
If Meari continued speaking and let this manager know that she was actually "borrowing prestige" and had no purchasing power at all, and that this piano wasn't bought specifically for her, even if the manager maintained her professional attitude and showed no hint of mockery, Ruribird Nadeshiko would still lose face.
Perhaps the very next day, rumors would spread throughout the piano world, saying that she, a future star of the piano world, couldn't even afford a steinway piano and shamelessly fought with others over a man.
What made Ruribird Nadeshiko's heart sink was that the female manager actually turned to Meari and asked, "Excuse me, then, who is this piano being bought for?"
The manager had no other intentions. Everyone has a different feel when playing an instrument, and even the same piano can feel different.
Especially with a steinway piano, this aspect is particularly important. To give the player the best feeling, the piano's mechanism needs to be adjusted so that the player can still feel the keys under their fingers even when touching the weakest keys.
Originally, the manager thought that Ruribird Nadeshiko was the only player, so she was preparing to have the tuner adjust it according to her feel. But if there were other players, then more things would need to be considered during adjustment.
She hadn't thought of mocking Ruribird Nadeshiko or anything, but Ruribird couldn't help but think the worst.
Seeing Meari about to open her mouth to explain, looking indignant, Ruribird Nadeshiko's heart was in her throat.
Just then, Ayanokoji's gentle voice, tinged with a hint of indulgence, suddenly rang out: "Meari, that's enough. You don't even play the piano. If you want one, I'll buy it for you later. This piano is indeed for Nadeshiko."
"Eh?" The manager was stunned again, and her mind quickly began to ponder.
Ayanokoji's words carried a lot of information.
Firstly, this piano was indeed for Ruribird Nadeshiko. Secondly, this girl named Meari had an extraordinary relationship with Ayanokoji, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka even promised to buy her other gifts.
From this perspective, this girl's words were quite intriguing.
A bold guess appeared in the manager's mind: Could it be that besides Ruribird Nadeshiko, this girl was also Ayanokoji's girlfriend?
Was she just expressing her dissatisfaction?
She had worked in stores frequented by upper-class individuals for many years and had, of course, seen wealthy people keep mistresses and have several girlfriends.
But bringing other girlfriends along when buying a gift for one girlfriend was truly a first. Indeed, the upper circle was too chaotic for her to understand.
Meari also noticed the change in the manager's gaze towards her. She quickly understood the reason, glared fiercely at Ayanokoji, and once again told the manager the truth.
"Don't misunderstand, Ruribird Nadeshiko is really not Ayanokoji's girlfriend!"
Although Ruribird Nadeshiko didn't understand why Ayanokoji was "supporting" her at this moment, she wouldn't miss this opportunity. Crossing her arms, she sneered, "Meari, if I'm not his girlfriend, then are you? He's choosing a gift for me right now, you know?"
With that, Ruribird Nadeshiko even deliberately threw a flirtatious glance at Ayanokoji, acting as if they were very intimate.
When Ruribird Nadeshiko had said this before, she was mocking Meari, and she still was now.
But to the manager, the meaning of these words had changed. She became increasingly convinced of her earlier guess—that both girls were Ayanokoji's girlfriends.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
After confirming this premise in her mind, no matter how Meari explained and clarified, saying that Ruribird Nadeshiko was a bad person and had only known Ayanokoji for one day, she took the direct words as their opposite, interpreting them as rivalry between girls.
Meari painstakingly explained for a long time, but the manager only maintained a professional smile, not taking it seriously at all, while Ruribird Nadeshiko stood with her arms crossed, looking at her smugly, seemingly mocking her for her futile efforts.
Meari was half-dead with anger. She glared at Ayanokoji in exasperation, wanting him to clarify again, but she also knew that even if she forced Ayanokoji to speak, the manager would just see it as her throwing a tantrum and wouldn't take it seriously at all.
Seeing the argument erupt, Hanatemari Kazura had already stopped playing the piano and came to the door of the room.
"Meari, what happened?" she asked curiously, completely unaware of what had transpired.
Turning her head to see Hanatemari, Meari suddenly had an idea to "retaliate" against Ayanokoji.
She stepped forward and hugged Hanatemari, her exasperated expression suddenly transforming into a sweet smile as she chided, "Kiyotaka, you're too biased!
We're all sisters, and Hanatemari also plays the piano, but you're only buying one for that Ruribird Nadeshiko! Hanatemari is even angry. Aren't you going to come and coax her?"
"Eh!?"
It wasn't just Hanatemari; everyone present was stunned.
Meari's words had too wide a scope.
The manager was dumbfounded.
Sisters...?
Could it be that besides her and Ruribird Nadeshiko, even this Hanatemari and the white-haired girl next to her were this male customer's girlfriends?
Now, only one thought filled her mind—the circle is truly chaotic.
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