When Sen Getsusa turned around, she vaguely saw several young men and women accompanying their families putting down their phones and clapping softly not far away.
On the other side, Hiratsuka Shizuka noticed that the elderly man seemed to have remembered something. She excitedly strode over, nearly getting her toes crushed by the wheelchair.
"Who are you? Go away! Don't interrupt me listening to the song! You're such an adult, don't you know to respect your elders?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka:...I'm suffering, but not entirely.
"Is it okay to just let them record like that?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka asked Sen Getsusa with concern. She was the one who had asked Sen Getsusa to accompany her, yet this had happened; she wasn't sure if the girl was willing to be filmed.
"What does it matter? It's just my back anyway."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked her figure up and down.
"I think even if it's just your back, people who know you would be able to recognize you..."
Sen Getsusa didn't mind.
Ding.
The screen lit up.
A verification message popped up.
[I am Kasumiko. Hello, Tsukihime-sensei.]
Oh?
Wasn't this the person that Kousaka Akane mentioned yesterday?
After saying goodbye to the grandmother and Hiratsuka Shizuka, Sen Getsusa accepted the verification on her way back.
The other party sent a message immediately after.
[Kasumiko: I'm a bit excited. Is this really Tsukihime-sensei?]
[Tsukihime: Yes.]
[Kasumiko: As expected, you're quite aloof. You truly are the artist who could paint 'The Woman with the Sake Cup'.]
[Tsukihime: No, no (waves hand)]
[Tsukihime: I was just singing and even caught two butterflies!]
[Tsukihime: Hahahahahahaha!]
Kasumigaoka Utaha, lying on her bed:...Her personality is a bit different from what I understood.
[Kasumiko: Tsukihime-sensei, I am your fan.]
[Tsukihime: I heard from Akane... oh, I mean Akasaka Akane, she told me about your novel?]
[Kasumiko: That... is it okay? Please, you must take a look at my work!]
Of course, feel free to send it over.
Sen Getsusa told her to wait a moment. After arriving home, she took out her keys and opened the door—
Whoosh... slap!
A small piece of pink fabric slapped right onto her face.
At the end of the second floor, Izumi Sagiri was hiding behind her door—still in a 'post-throw follow-through' state, her angry little face puffed up like a pufferfish.
"It's been too long! Too long! Did Tsukisa forget to come see me!"
"How could I! Isn't school about to start recently? Well, there were just a lot of things to prepare." Sen Getsusa swung the little pink item on her index finger, bent down to change her shoes, and carried the fruit upstairs.
"Ugh... I haven't seen Tsukisa for several days! Muramasa has disappeared too!"
"She's been busy with the final sprint for her publication lately." Sen Getsusa walked into Izumi Sagiri's secret Base.
Dirty laundry all over the floor, opened but unfinished snacks, half-empty drinks, as well as brushes, drawing boards, and various manuscripts... "Sigh, how is Little Sagiri going to get married in the future?" Like an old mother, Sen Getsusa stuck her bottom out to tidy up for Izumi Sagiri. "Why don't you just sell yourself to me? I can afford to raise you."
"Hmph."
Hopping onto the bed on her tiptoes, Izumi Sagiri was still fuming.
"Alright, here, next time I'll bring that honey-skinned beach-version swimsuit sister over for you..."
Sen Getsusa patted Sagiri's head. To appease this little Miss Pufferfish, she sold out her friend without hesitation.
"Really?!"
The little one suddenly bounced up, excitedly gesturing: "And that strongwoman with the little dimples!"
"Hey, don't talk about people like that."
Though... Aoyama Nanami, Machida Mariko, I wish you both the best.
Sen Getsusa, who was gloating after getting the better end of the deal, feigned a frown: "As expected, Sagiri is a fickle girl. You clearly said before that you liked drawing me the most..."
Izumi Sagiri didn't fall for that at all.
Her eyes sparkled as she stared intently at Sen Getsusa, her gaze sliding down from Sen Getsusa's collarbone like it was on a steep water slide.
"Of course I like drawing Sister Yuesha the most. So, can I draw you?"
Sen Getsusa replied with a grin: "I'll arrange for Aoyama Nanami and Machida Mariko to come over as soon as possible."
Tch, unreliable liar sister.
Izumi Sagiri curled her lip.
"Lately..."
Hmm?
The girl tentatively scanned Sen Getsusa's expression. Seeing that she seemed to be in a relatively good mood, she spoke up hesitantly: "There's an interview with that person..."
What? That person?
"Tojo, Tojo Aoi!"
Sen Getsusa fell silent.
"Yeah, I know. So?"
Sen Getsusa turned her back and continued tidying the room.
Though her tone was stiff, Izumi Sagiri could hear a hint of concern in it.
"So, does Sister Yuesha want to see it? She mentioned you."
"Mentioned me...?"
The computer screen lit up.
The desktop wallpaper was a high-definition 4K photo of Sen Getsusa bending over to wipe the floor, though the camera angle wasn't from the front.
Sen Getsusa wasn't sure if this reflected the photographer's superb skill, but who else could the culprit be?
She curled her finger and flicked Sagiri, after which the other party clutched her head and moved the cursor to the video she had saved earlier.
The black frame opened, and sound began to emerge from the speakers.
[Interviewer: I see. Well then, Miss Tojo, regarding the future development of the Tojo Group, what...]
Blah blah blah.
[Interviewer: Exactly. So, Miss Tojo, do you have any hobbies in your daily life? I heard your father...]
Blah blah blah.
Here it comes.
[Interviewer:...Of course. But, is there someone you like? In other words, have you considered dating?]
[Tojo Aoi: I have been in love.]
The reporter followed up with a few more questions. In the footage, Tojo Aoi frowned and pursed her lips, seemingly wanting to say something but unable to speak.
Tojo Aoi couldn't say it.
The lights were very dazzling. She knew her makeup and outfit were perfectly coordinated and would not show any flaws on screen.
Except for this question.
The interviewer across from her was a bit puzzled.
Was this question really that hard to answer?
"Miss Tojo?"
He coughed, adjusted his sitting posture, and asked again: "Do you have any regrets about that relationship?"
"After all, we are all people who have lived through our youth (laughs), and we all harbor various different but equally painful regrets."
Actually, all she had to say was: 'Of course.'
That would have been enough.
But she couldn't say it.
The mystery suppressed her heart, her throat, and even her brain at this moment—she couldn't even manage a nod.
[Price]
Thump, thump, thump.
Her heart beat wildly as a pair of invisible hands firmly squeezed this organ that was already riddled with scars.
See, you know it. The Key, the Price, the Answer.
The girl shook her head blankly, her pale face appearing even more fragile on camera. "No regrets. I didn't like her at all. It was a mistake, and I'm even a bit happy it's over so cleanly."
It's over... The short-haired girl lowered her head slightly, feeling dejected for a few seconds before her years of training took over again.
She sat up straight professionally, wearing a standardized smile.
I hope... Tsukisa won't see this.
She probably won't, right?
She never pays attention to these kinds of commercial gimmick videos. Besides, isn't school about to start?
Phew, that's a relief... Click—the mouse button made a crisp sound.
Sen Getsusa closed the video with an expressionless face.
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