"Eh... sothing important to confess to everyone?"
Looking at the ssage Tetsuya had just sent on her phone screen, Sakiko, who was in the living room discussing the band and new songs with everyone, pondered for a mont before saying in a slightly curious voice:
"What kind of big event could it be?"
"For Tetsu, there are only two possibilities when he says 'sothing important'. One is work-related topics, and the other is romance-related topics. Plus, considering he's at Uika's house right now..."
Ai shrugged with an indifferent look on her face.
"I think Uika has probably already succeeded."
She very naturally ca to this inaccurate conclusion.
"I see..."
Hearing this, Sakiko nodded very easily. Her expression didn't show the slightest hint of surprise, making it seem like she directly accepted this guess as reality.
"Then I'll just reply with 'Understood' for now... Mhm, OK."
After finishing this concise and clear reply, Sakiko put down her phone again and spoke to Ai once more.
"By the way, I originally thought I was the only one who knew about Uika's hidden feelings for Tetsuya-kun... When did you start noticing, Ai?"
"If it was before she received that dress, at most I was just a little mindful of her attitude towards Tetsu. But ever since she received that dress, her behavior started becoming more and more obvious."
Ai said:
"Not only did she start taking the initiative to think about problems from our perspective, she even occasionally asked the managers if there was any new work that could collaborate with [Starry Sky]..."
"Ah... that is indeed quite obvious."
Hearing this, Sakiko nodded in sudden realization.
"Although she definitely has the kind of personality that would lend a helping hand to those around her, it's actually very difficult to get Uika to take the initiative to do sothing for others."
"Eh?! Is that so?"
Upon hearing Sakiko's response, Soyo, who had only recently learned the truth from Sakiko, covered her mouth in slight surprise.
"I never expected Uika to have harbored those kinds of feelings for Tetsuya all this ti... I always thought soone with her independent, strong career woman personality would find it hard to fall for soone."
"It is indeed very hard. Don't be fooled by how friendly and gentle Uika is to everyone; in reality, the number of people she truly acknowledges can be said to be incredibly few."
Sakiko said:
"Her style of doing things is actually a bit similar to Tetsuya-kun's. Although she really likes helping others, she absolutely hates relying on people, and when she encounters a problem, she will solve it all by herself. It's just that, unlike Tetsuya-kun's fundantal lack of self-worth, Uika's side stems purely from genuine confidence and independence."
"Oh, oh, I've seen this kind of situation online! The more soone is this type of person, the more they can't leave soone with my brother's personality alone!"
Anon said with a look of great interest:
"It's like how those super capable won always end up with useless guys. For soone with clear self-awareness like Uika, a person severely lacking in self-awareness like my brother is exactly the type she worries about the most... Eh, thinking about it carefully, isn't it the sa for you, Sakiko? Because you wanted to correct my brother's perception, you beca even more determined to beco his lover..."
"Mhm... that's why I get along so well with Uika."
Sakiko first nodded, then asked the people in front of her:
"By the way... naturally, I don't have any objections to Uika joining, but what about the rest of you? Ah, please absolutely do not worry about Tetsuya-kun's or my feelings and thoughts here. For the sake of our shared future, you must honestly state your true thoughts! After all, when compromises and grievances accumulate to a certain point, they easily turn into sothing far worse."
"...I have no problem with it."
Ai was the first to speak up:
"Before I reunited with Tetsu, Uika gave a lot of help and care... Although we used to get jealous and compete for his attention occasionally, since I've already gotten my wish and am together with Tetsu, it should be Uika's turn next."
"I have no objections either. After all, Uika already has an inseparable relationship with many of us, plus considering what happened back at [RiNG]... I actually don't treat her as an outsider anymore anyway."
Soyo also expressed her agreent.
As for Anon...
"As long as my brother agrees, I agree!"
This practically spineless thought made everyone present helplessly shake their heads. Ever since Anon beca lovers with her beloved brother, this person's way of thinking had directly devolved into a single-threaded process centered entirely around her brother...
But being simple-minded also had its benefits. At least for now, Anon was definitely the happiest and most blissful one among them all.
"Geez, don't look at with those pitying expressions, okay? Fine, I admit, I have another reason on my end, and that is—back when I first found out about [Sumr Zodiac], I really liked Uika!"
Faced with the pity of everyone present, Anon hurriedly supplented her statent:
"So, being able to beco family with an idol I like, of course I wouldn't have any objections!"
"Heh... this is the first ti I've heard this."
Ai suddenly leaned forward with great interest.
"Since you were already interested in Uika back then, what did you think of ?"
"Eh..."
Hearing Ai's question, Anon first dragged out a long note, indicating she didn't really want to answer. Upon realizing that Ai didn't seem to have any intention of letting her off easily, she had no choice but to reply helplessly:
"I guess you could say it was curiosity and amazent. On one hand, I was very curious about what kind of relationship you had with my brother, and on the other hand, I thought your face was indeed a bit too much..."
"Even though you thought I was cuter, you still preferred Uika more?"
"Because compared to looks, I value aura more! Plus, back then, you always gave off a feeling where people couldn't tell what you were truly thinking inside. Honestly, I'm a little afraid of that type... And actually, the first ti we t, you really did say a lot of scary things to ! Unlike Uika, who not only proactively perford on the sa stage as us and helped us out of a jam, but even volunteered to be a supporting perforr for us after that..."
At this point, Anon imdiately shot a complaining look at Ai.
"Looking at it that way, it's only natural that I would like Uika more, right!"
"Heh~ Is that so? So that's what you thought."
Recalling the scene when she first interacted with Anon and the others, Ai suddenly showed a hint of a mysterious smile.
"Although Uika did indeed take the initiative to help you guys out of that jam... in reality, back then, she also harbored a little bit of malicious intent, just like ~"
"Eh? Malicious intent? What does that an!?"
"Hehe, it's nothing. You can just go and ask her yourself when she gets ho tomorrow."
With that, she stood up from the sofa, preparing to go to Tetsuya's room to rest first.
In order to guarantee her condition for the [TGC], her recent daily routine and diet were all strictly adhering to the agency's standards. Especially over this past week, to avoid ending up with a stiff waist and legs due to excessive nightti exercises like before, she simply decided to practice complete abstinence until the [TGC] arrived.
"...Hm?"
Right after she stood up, she suddenly rembered that while everyone was still discussing these topics, the always-silent girl brought over by Sakiko was currently reading at the dining table not far away—
Thinking of this, she imdiately turned her head to look in Mutsumi's direction. Then, when she noticed that Mutsumi had also been silently watching them, and imdiately turned her head away after their eyes t, Ai let out a thoughtful mutter:
"It seems like every ti we talk about topics related to Tetsu, she always eavesdrops on the side..."
Was it because she didn't want to be left out by everyone, or simply out of curiosity?
Ai had no way of knowing.
But regardless, this child had never caused trouble for anyone from beginning to end, and even helped everyone out occasionally...
...
"Forget it. I'll just leave her matters for Sakiko and Soyo to think about."
Although she would also occasionally complain about Anon's complete obedience towards Tetsuya, she, who had long since sunk body and soul into Tetsuya, was actually no different from Anon.
Therefore, putting her various thoughts aside at the bottom of her heart for now, Ai let out a big yawn and walked straight into Tetsuya's room.
...
"...It really seems like she's completely changed into a different person."
After Ai returned to the room, Anon, who had just been recalling the scene of their first eting, couldn't help but say:
"Even though she looked like a dangerous elent just half a year ago, she's actually beco so well-behaved and sensible now..."
"It's not just her. All of us have changed a lot... Like how Soyo was also quite wary of Tetsuya-kun at the very beginning."
Sakiko suddenly said with a slightly amused tone:
"Whenever we talked about things related to Tetsuya-kun, Soyo would always have a gloomy expression."
"! Let's not bring up things from the past anymore!"
Soyo, who also had fresh mories of when they first t Tetsuya, imdiately blushed and said:
"Rather than that, we might as well think about how to entertain Uika tomorrow morning..."
"That's true... By the way, notifying us at this ti is a bit too sudden, and if they're coming over tomorrow morning, the preparation ti left for us is even shorter."
Sakiko couldn't help but complain:
"Maybe we should just make a reservation at a restaurant for tomorrow."
"We'll have to wait until the two of them get ho before deciding... However, I imagine they won't be back too early."
Soyo said:
"For the first ti... it will definitely consu a considerable amount of energy. After all, they won't be able to stop themselves from doing it over and over..."
"Well, but regardless... Uika definitely won't be as weak as Ai. Just looking at her aura, you can tell Uika is absolutely the type who would take the initiative the whole way through. Even if she's not that skilled the first ti, her situation will at least be much better than Ai's—"
Thump!
Before Soyo could finish her sentence, the muffled sound of a fist hitting the wall from behind made Anon shrink her neck.
"Not good, she heard that."
"It's better not to bully her too much. She hasn't been intimate with Tetsuya-kun at all lately for the sake of the [TGC]... Ah, but speaking of which, Uika is the finale model. For the first ti, we can let her indulge a little bit, but we can't spoil her too much after that."
Sakiko glanced at the ti and said with a serious face:
"We definitely have to properly remind her when tomorrow cos!"
...
"As a result... not only did nothing happen between you two, but you even didn't get a good night's rest because you were worried we'd be angry..."
After listening to the truth confessed by the two, everyone present fell into a brief silence.
And the one who broke the silence first was Tetsuya, who hadn't been able to understand this bizarre atmosphere at all from the very beginning:
"So, you guys already knew about Uika's feelings for before this?"
"Mhm, at least Ai and I have known for a long ti."
Sakiko first nodded, then looked at the completely frozen Uika.
"Rather, Uika... you actually thought Ai and I answered you with that attitude because we looked down on you?"
"Eh..."
Looking at the tea and snacks placed in front of her, Uika's brain still hadn't recovered from the temperature difference between expectation and reality.
"After all, you guys were clearly so sensitive about Tetsuya-san going to Paris, but you didn't care at all about matters on my end. So I subconsciously thought you didn't view as a threat..."
But the truth was, they didn't have the slightest rejection towards Uika joining in the first place, which was why they showed that nonchalant attitude. In fact, the mont they learned that Tetsuya had stayed over at Uika's house last week, everyone had already accepted the fact that she could join this family at any ti...
In other words, Tetsuya's clumsy cover-up, and Uika's complex and conflicted emotional journey, had been a battle of wits and courage against thin air right from the very beginning.
"...I feel so ntally exhausted."
Realizing that she had been making futile efforts all along, Uika showed a rare look of dejection.
"What was all my ntal preparation over the past week even for..."
"Heh, and to think you're always saying Tetsu lacks self-awareness. Looking at it now, you're exactly the sa."
Ai, who had intended to compete with Uika regarding their "first-ti performance," also said with a hint of disappointnt:
"Just thinking about it, you should know that it's impossible for Sakiko and to underestimate you to that extent, right?"
"You really have more and more similarities with Tetsuya-kun."
Sakiko couldn't help but shake her head too.
"So, you should be able to rest easy now, right? Starting today, you are also a mber of this family, Uika."
"Eh... Ah... Mhm."
Faced with the joint declaration of the two, Uika first stamred for a mont. After seeing the gazes of everyone, which indeed lacked any resistance or hostility, she said in a slightly awkward tone:
"Please... take care of from now on as well."
...
[Ai, if you ever encounter anything you don't understand regarding vocals from now on, you can ask !]
[It's fine, I can keep Sakiko company and discuss things at any ti!]
[I'll calm the audience's emotions down... and hold the fort for you guys while I'm at it.]
[If Tetsuya-san ever encounters any gender-related questions in the future... you can discuss them with anyti!]
Those who treat the world gently will, as a matter of course, be gently accepted by the world.
It's just that, for soone whose nature is highly competitive, simply being accepted seems to be far from enough...
"I just feel a little uncomfortable being forgiven by you guys just like this... How about you show a bit more reluctance? Or maybe set a few conditions for or sothing?"
"Eh???"
From the looks of it, it would still take a while longer before this girl with a slightly complex personality completely integrated into this family.
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