"What do you think?"
Black, white, and gray—colors that typically gave off a stiff, conservative, even dull impression—somehow radiated an entirely different charm when worn by Kikukawa Kyo.
As she moved forward, Kyo seemed invigorated by her new outfit, filled with a playful curiosity. Midway through her walk, she impulsively began varying her steps.
Her left foot stepped forward, the right quickly following but crossing into the left's territory. Blocked, the left heel rose gracefully from the ground, pivoting onto its tip.
Continuing, her toe traced a gentle circle on the floor, gracefully guiding her ankle, leg, and body into a smooth spin.
Continuing, she seamlessly converted her forward momentum into an elegant rotation. Her right foot became the pivot, anchored firmly, while the left, ready and waiting, escaped gravity's constraints, tracing an elegant arc through the air.
Continuing, the left foot gently landed, producing a soft tap, and then the right gracefully rose again…
Continuing, again and again, rotating rhythmically, spinning continuously.
The boundaries between black, white, and gray blurred into a swirling blend amid Kyo's rotations, creating a mesmerizing fusion. The asymmetrical skirt seemed freer, more unruly than a traditional one, fluttering in beautiful disorder, while the exposed slender leg offered an entirely contrasting, captivating visual.
Even these normally stark, somber shades couldn't overshadow Kyo's nimble elegance.
Kyo twirled her way gracefully in front of Uika and Anon, stopping with a clean flourish and concluding with a polite, elegant bow.
"Kyo-chan, this new look is truly stunning," Uika praised sincerely, and Anon quickly nodded, eagerly holding up her phone, hoping for permission to snap a picture.
"Though I'm sure Anon already knows this, I still have to remind you," Kyo began gently. Personally, she didn't mind being photographed, but this outfit was officially part of sumimi's branding. The agency clearly planned to make her joining sumimi a big announcement, so casual photos weren't allowed yet.
"My joining sumimi is still confidential. Even if you take a photo, you absolutely can't share it. Actually, practically everything you've seen here today must be kept secret."
Then, with a playful smile, she added, "But if you just want a photo to keep privately as a souvenir, I don't mind at all."
Anon raised her hand solemnly, fingers straight and thumb bent—a gesture of sincere oath. "I swear to keep it secret!"
She then slumped slightly, muttering pitifully, "It'll be tough…but I'll definitely manage it!"
For someone who loved showing off like Anon, having to seal away something so envy-inducing was practically torture.
At that moment, Mana stepped out from behind Kyo, puffing out her cheeks cutely and pointing accusingly at Uika and Anon:
"That's all the reaction you have? Kyo-chan looks soooo amazing! When I saw her changing into this outfit, I was completely stunned! Your reactions are making me look silly now."
Uika quickly latched onto a key detail: "Wait, Mana, you were watching Kyo change clothes?"
It was now unclear exactly why Mana had been stunned. Was it simply because the new outfit looked amazing, or because Kyo herself was stunning?
Anon's expression, directed toward her idol, turned subtly complicated.
"Wait—no, it's not like that!" Mana waved her hands frantically in denial, but her blush and flustered demeanor weren't particularly convincing. "Don't you think this outfit really is breathtaking? It feels like way more thought went into Kyo-chan's costume compared to mine or Uika's. Honestly, I'm a bit jealous."
"Well, even though Kyo-chan hasn't officially debuted, if we're being realistic, her status and popularity in the industry already surpass ours," Uika noted lightly, smiling as she delivered the somewhat bitter truth.
"Ugh… So this is the dark side of showbiz. It's scary! Comfort me, Kyo-chan—I need a hug!" Mana dramatically feigned distress, but given her naturally cheerful personality, even her faux-sadness carried a sense of boundless energy. Her so-called sadness clearly had zero staying power.
Kyo allowed Mana to embrace her, though Mana quickly became greedy, openly nuzzling her cheek against Kyo's shoulder.
"Hehe, Kyo-chan's skin feels so cool and nice."
"I guess it's because I'm always sweating to cool down," Kyo replied calmly. "Don't hug me for too long; you'll feel sticky once I start sweating again."
"But Kyo-chan's sweat isn't even like sweat at all! It's almost like water—never sticky!" Mana protested, hugging Kyo's arm tighter and giving it a playful shake. She vividly remembered the last time Kyo visited the agency—it had felt more like Kyo just stepped out of the shower rather than genuinely sweating.
Anon and Uika nodded emphatically, clearly agreeing with Mana's assessment.
"All right, shouldn't we get down to business?" Kyo gently reminded everyone. They had gathered today specifically to review the first song featuring her in sumimi.
"Um…" Anon raised her hand hesitantly. "Should I maybe step out now?"
She'd already felt incredibly lucky just to meet sumimi in person, talk casually as friends, and even witness Kyo's secret costume reveal. Although Anon desperately wanted to hear the new, unreleased song, she wondered if an outsider like her was really allowed to stay.
"I trust Anon completely," Kyo reassured her, "but I'm not officially an established member yet, either. We might need to double-check with the manager."
After all, Kyo had initially told the manager she was just bringing a friend by for a casual visit.