A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Xiangzi wanted to enter [Starry Sky] as soon as possible to help Mr. Tetsuya, and Ai had spent too much time and energy on Chihaya Tetsuya, which caused her proficiency in stage steps to fall behind a little.

……

If you think about it carefully, isn't it because of Chihaya Tetsuya's influence that she has come to where she is today?

If she hadn't been yearning for that glittering costume, if she hadn't been yearning for the trust between him and Xiangzi, she certainly wouldn't have been so actively involved and worked with the two of them...

"But even if we're partners in this... aren't they letting their guard down a bit too much towards me?"

During a break in the recording session, Mikado Hatsuka looked at Hoshino Ai again, as if trying to gauge whether her mood had changed since that morning. As for the result… apart from a somewhat curious and questioning look from Hoshino Ai, Mikado Hatsuka found nothing. She genuinely didn't seem to mind Chihaya Tetsuya staying over at her house the previous night, and she had no intention of probing into what had happened between them…

It seems that Ai's attitude will not change.

So what about Xiangzi?

Did she also realize the truth like Ai did, and would she express dissatisfaction with what she had done?

It just so happens that Ave Mujica is about to start a new round of rehearsals tonight, so I'll have to pay a little attention to Xiangzi's reaction then.

With this thought in mind, Sanjiao Chuhua quietly waited for the arrival of night...

……

"As for our band's second original song, I've already decided on the style... This time we're going to play 'melodic metal'!"

Toyokawa Shoko said confidently:

"Because we're going to be using an orchestra again this time, I've already asked Sushi to contact the wind band and orchestra of Tsuki no Mori. They'll be available to help at any time once the arrangement is complete!"

Yutenji Wakamu raised his eyebrows in surprise after hearing this:

"Hey... the young ladies from the aristocratic school are surprisingly easy to talk to."

"After all, the completion and performance of our first original song were very good, and the remuneration we offered was also very generous. Even these wealthy ladies had no reason to refuse."

Toyokawa Shoko said:

"Compared to that, the drum arrangement this time may be much more complicated than the first one, so you better be prepared."

"Good~"

"..."

While Toyokawa Shoko was still talking to other band members, Sankaku Hatsuka was silently watching all her performances.

At least from the perspective of issuing orders, Xiangzi's state is no different from usual.

"Chuhua."

Just as Sanjiao Chuhua was still trying to analyze Toyokawa Shoko's mood and thoughts at the moment, the other party called her name first.

"Before we start practicing, could you please come with me for a moment? I have something I want to talk to you about in private."

"Eh?"

coming.

It was as if the long-awaited scene had finally arrived. Rather than panic, Sanjiao Chuhua felt more satisfied that his expectations had been answered.

So, what awaits her next?

Is it a question, a warning, or a caution?

Sanjiao Chuhua couldn't make any predictions from Toyokawa Shoko's calm expression for the time being.

When she followed Toyokawa Shoko out of the recording studio and saw what she had taken out, her heartbeat suddenly became a few beats faster than before.

"This is one of the design drawings that Tetsuya-kun gave us this morning."

Shoko Toyokawa took out a neatly folded blueprint from her pocket. Then, under the gaze of Sankaku Hatsuka, she slowly turned the blueprint over, revealing the discarded music score.

"Then on the back of this blueprint... I found a very interesting melody."

Having said that, she raised her head and looked at Sanjiao Chuhua with a questioning look.

"This sheet music should be your scrapped draft, Chuhua, right?"

So that's how it is. Xiangzi discovered the truth through the music score... He is really Xiangzi, much more normal than Ai.

Sanjiao Chuhua complained in his heart while asking calmly:

"……Why do you say that?"

"Because this melody is very familiar. I heard you play it before when we were arranging the music together, so I have a deep impression of this melody."

Toyokawa Shoko calmly stated a reason that touched Sankaku Hatsuka a little.

However, since the reason was so clear, there was no need for Sanjiao Chuhua to be stubborn. So the next second, she nodded and admitted:

"Yes, this is my scrap."

"Sure enough, I said my memory was correct."

After receiving a positive answer, Shoko Toyokawa patted her chest with a little relief.

"I see, Zheye-kun went to Chuhua's house last night..."

She muttered this softly before continuing:

"Okay, let's get back to the sheet music. I was thinking about the new song a little bit today, and I found that this melody in your scrap could be used in the new song. So I thought that if [Summer Zodiac] can't use it anymore, then we can just use it in our [Ave Mujica], what do you think?"

"Of course there's no problem with this..."

"Well, I'm glad you agree! That's all I want to say!"

Seeing that Sankaku Hatsuka agreed to her proposal, Toyokawa Shoko smiled and nodded.

"Let's go back to rehearsal!"

After saying that, she folded the music sheet again and prepared to turn around and return to the recording studio.

Seeing this, Sanjiao Chuhua quickly grabbed her:

“…Wait, wait! Isn’t this weird?!”

"Huh? What's strange about that?"

Toyokawa Shoko turned around with a confused look on her face and asked:

"This melody is really good. It would be a shame to discard it like this..."

"I'm not talking about the new song!"

Sanjiao Chuhua shook his head and said:

"What about Mr. Tetsuya staying over at my house last night? Are we just going to skip over it like that?"

Faced with Sanjiao Chuhua's questioning, the confusion on Toyokawa Shoko's face deepened again.

"Well? Is there anything worth talking about?"

"You've already confirmed your relationship with Mr. Tetsuya, right? Your lover just went to spend the night at another woman's house. Don't you have any special opinions?"

"What special opinion are you talking about... He just spent the whole night drawing designs, right?"

Toyokawa Shoko tilted her head with a strange look on her face.

"And judging by his reaction, it seems he hasn't done anything else worth mentioning."

"Well, that's true. Mr. Tetsuya got tired from drawing and immediately went to sleep on the sofa..."

"I ended up sleeping on the sofa..."

Toyokawa Shoko first muttered something, then continued:

"I still can't think of anything to talk about."

"But... eh? What's going on? Is it me who's the weird one?!"

Faced with Toyokawa Shoko's self-righteous and frank attitude, Sanjiao Chuhua couldn't help but begin to doubt his common sense and cognition.

"Are you guys really okay with your attitude towards Tetsuya-san? In this situation, you should be more attentive no matter what you think?!"

"..."

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko's reaction was very similar to Hoshino Ai's. After taking a deep look at Sankaku Hatsuka's expression, she was the first to ask back:

"Speaking of this, I actually want to ask Chuhua...are you really okay on your side?"

"Eh? Me?"

Sanjiao Chuhua was even more confused by this inexplicable question.

"What questions can I have?"

"...Is that so? No problem."

Toyokawa Shoko shook her head for some reason.

"Let's leave it at that for now. Let's go in and rehearse first, Chuhua. Don't keep the others waiting too long."

"..."

For some reason, although Toyokawa Shoko never expressed even a hint of hostility or suspicion towards him throughout the whole process, Sanjiao Chuhua felt a little bit difficult to let go.

Both Ai and Xiangzi seemed to show unconditional understanding and tolerance for Chihaya Tetsuya staying overnight at her house.

This was truly bizarre! They were clearly wary of the French fashion models who had virtually no interaction with Chihaya Tetsuya, yet they showed no reaction at all towards them.

Was it out of complete trust in herself and Mr. Tetsuya, or was it simply that she thought her threat was not enough to arouse their vigilance?

If I were to go to someone else, I would probably ask a few more questions, but if it was Chuhua...

[Instead, I want to ask Chuhua...are you really okay with this?]

Recalling the two's profound answers, Sanjiao Chuhua's lingering annoyance was further fueled. She desperately wanted an answer, but judging by their indifferent attitudes, pressing them felt like admitting defeat, akin to admitting her own dullness and inadequacy...

……

"As expected, we should start with Mr. Tetsuya."

Sankaku Hatsuka whispered in a voice that only he could hear:

"If I go one step further, how will they react..."

……

In order to confirm this, Sanjiao Chuhua made a lot of preparations afterwards.

She bought the slightly firmer pillow that Chihaya Tetsuya had mentioned before, and prepared another set of toothbrushes of the same style as her own, but in a different color.

Then she prepared a lot of blank draft paper, pencils and other tools commonly used in fashion design, so that he would have more convenient drawing tools when he came next time.

After everything was ready, she waited silently for a week and prepared to send a text message to Chihaya Tetsuya as promised, inviting him to come again.

However, the night before the agreed date, she received a call from Chihaya Tetsuya.

【Actually, after that, they stopped punishing me.】

Chihaya Tetsu also truthfully reported his recent situation over the past week.

Not only did he stop pestering me, he even established some rules with me, leaving me enough time to rest.

Even though they hadn't met, it was enough to tell from Chihaya Tetsuya's voice that he was in much better condition than a week ago.

But it was precisely because of this that he said the line that Sanjiao Chuhua could not accept in any way:

[Looks like I won't have to trouble you anymore, Chuhua. Thank you for discussing this with me.]

Chihaya Tetsuya said this in a grateful tone:

[I'll work hard on TGC from now on——]

"No."

Before Chihaya Tetsuya could finish his words, Sankaku Hatsuka blurted out.

However, when she realized she hadn't figured out why she was interrupting him, her tone became a little panicked:

"Well, didn't I say before that my new song isn't finished yet, so your costume will probably need to be modified as well—"

"In that case, why don't you send me the progress of the new song online?"

Chihaya Tetsuya asked:

If you have any other questions, you can contact me directly by phone as you are doing now.

"Gu..."