Speaking of which, why didn't Miyahito ever tell me... that his manager was such a beautiful woman?
While Maki wasn't paying attention, Utaha quietly glanced at the manager's figure from the corner of her eye. Then compared it to her own... Hmm, I win.
But thinking about her status, and her boyfriend's status... Instantly, countless idol-scandal scenarios flashed through Utaha's mind: late-night meetings, secret songwriting sessions, illicit encounters...
What to do! Miyahito's cheating!(Miyahito: Eh!?)
Just then.
"Miss Kasumigaoka, we've arrived at the studio."
"Ah! Right!" Snapped out of her wild thoughts by Maki's voice, Utaha flusteredly replied.
Noticing her state, Maki smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Why so flustered?"
Then, as if remembering something, the smiling manager blinked and added in a teasing tone, "Ara~ Could it be you're getting shy about seeing Miyahito later? Mou, kawaii desu ne~"
"I-It's not like that at all, Miss Nakamura!" Utaha quickly denied, her cheeks heating up.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing." Seeing this cute side of Miyahito's girlfriend, Maki knew when to quit and waved her hand with a smile. Have to say, this kid's girlfriend is actually pretty fun to mess with...
Sigh. For some reason, Utaha couldn't help but feel like she was dealing with her own editor. Are all highly competent career women like this?
"Oh, welcome back, Maki."
"Mhm." Pushing the door open, Maki stepped into the control room first. She glanced at Miyahito through the glass window, then turned to Ishida Yousuke, who was wearing headphones and occasionally adjusting knobs. "How's it going?"
"Feeling much better. I think he's finally in the zone."
"Oh, let me hear." Maki quickly walked over, took the spare headphones from Ishida, put them on, and slowly closed her eyes, carefully listening to the vocals coming through.
Meanwhile, following Maki into the control room, Utaha curiously surveyed the various machines and screens filling the space. Then, her gaze settled on Miyahito, completely focused on recording, occasionally stopping to jot down notes on the sheet music before him.
So, this is how Miyahito records songs.
Watching her boyfriend, so deeply immersed in his creation that he hadn't even noticed she'd arrived, Utaha didn't mind being ignored at all. Instead, her gaze toward the serious Miyahito grew even softer.
Slowly raising both hands, she overlapped her palms and lightly pressed them against her chest, bowing her head slightly as she let a wave of profound understanding fill her heart.
We're the same, Miyahito.
You, the singer, compose soul-stirring music with notes.
I, the writer, tell warm, moving stories with words.
And for someone like you and someone like me to meet, understand each other... and eventually fall in love... No wonder everything feels so natural.
Miyahito's serious expression when he's creating is so handsome.
Hands clasped behind her back, Utaha sat on the lounge sofa, unconsciously crossing her legs and resting her chin on her right hand, which propped against her thigh. Her eyes, fixed on Miyahito as he grew more immersed in his performance, were filled with gentle affection.
Mou, why is my boyfriend so handsome? I really want to lock him up at home and never let anyone else see him looking this cool. Well, except for Uncle, Auntie, and Ayase.
A short while later.
"Hoo..." Letting out a soft breath, Maki took off her headphones, her eyes filled with quiet approval as she watched Miyahito, still lost in his singing. However, the worry on her face hadn't completely faded.
His vocal performance was definitely better. But the overall quality of the lyrics and melody still wasn't quite there... At the very least, this wasn't the standard expected of "Miyani."
Well, it's only day one. Miyahito is a genius, after all. But even the most unparalleled musical geniuses need time to translate their heaven-sent talent into something mortals can hear. Didn't someone once say it? "Talent is just the key to the door. To walk into the fantasy world, you still have to take every step yourself."
"Let Miyahito take a break."
Only after speaking did Maki suddenly remember she'd completely left Miyahito's girlfriend hanging. She quickly turned around. "I'm sorry, Miss Kasumigaoka." Looking at Utaha sitting politely on the lounge sofa, Maki apologized.
"It's fine. Miyahito's recording is more important right now." Utaha smiled understandingly, then asked, "How's it going? Is everything smooth?"
"Mm... I'd say so." Glancing toward the recording booth, Maki winked playfully. "Well, I'll let Miyahito answer that one himself."
The moment she finished, the door connecting to the recording booth swung open. Before Miyahito even appeared, his anxious voice echoed into the control room. "Crap, I gotta head back first, Maki-nee, Utaha is still..." Mid-sentence, as he jogged into the control room, his voice abruptly stopped.
Seeing Utaha suddenly sitting in the room, smiling softly and waving at him, Miyahito's brain completely short-circuited. He unconsciously finished his sentence: "...the agency... wait for me to go pick her up...."
A second later, as his brain finally rebooted, he blurted out in surprise, "Utaha! Why are you here?!"
"Hehe I came to pick you up from work." Rising from the sofa with her hands clasped behind her back, Utaha walked up to her boyfriend with a bright smile. Leaning forward slightly, she tilted her head up to look at his stunned face, her tone brimming with joy. "Are you happy, my dear Mr. Miyahito~?"
"Y-yeah, super happy." Grinning uncontrollably, Miyahito suddenly looked a bit goofy as he nodded. "It's a huge surprise."
"I'll give you a pass for that." Proudly tilting her chin, Utaha playfully pinched her boyfriend's silly-smiling cheek and added, "At least my special walk from Shinobu wasn't wasted. It's boiling hot out there."
"Thank you for your hard work, Utaha." Hearing her slightly coquettish complaint, Miyahito instinctively raised his hand. Just as he was about to wipe sweat from his girlfriend's refreshed face—
"Ahem."
A pointed, mood-killing cough shattered the thick, sugary atmosphere.
"I mean, I get it... Young couples in love are always like this." Maki sighed, looking utterly drained by the PDA. She calmly turned to the pair, who had both turned to look at her, and said in a deadpan tone, "But could you please consider the feelings of others? Especially you, Miyahito."
Hearing the heavily resentful complaint, Miyahito and Utaha instinctively turned to look at each other.
Then.
"Pfft... Hehehe..."
"Pfft... Hahaha..."
The twin bursts of laughter echoing through the control room made Maki's already long, 'I'm blinded' expression darken considerably.