A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"Even if that's the case, she didn't do these things simply to hurt me, but because she loves me, right?"

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head and said:

"But after all these years, she still doesn't seem to have learned the correct way to express her love."

"…………"

Seeing Chihaya Tetsuya's calm appearance, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly felt an intense alarm in her heart.

"Um... Chihaya-nii, you're not... planning to agree to her pursuit, are you?"

Toyokawa Shoko asked nervously.

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsu looked at her in surprise:

"Huh? Why do you think so?"

"Because you're so calm! It's almost like you've figured something out!"

Toyokawa Shoko said quickly:

"Plus, you just confirmed Hoshino Ai's feelings for you, so of course it gives people the impression that you're already planning to accept her!"

"Ah...that's right."

Chihaya Tetsuya made a belated sound.

"I'm sorry, I've never been in a relationship before, nor have I ever been... well, liked by anyone, or rather, I haven't realized that I'm liked by anyone. So I don't know what the correct reaction is, but no matter what, there's one thing you can be sure of."

As Chihaya Tetsuya spoke, he took out a new piece of manuscript paper from the workbench.

"That is, no matter what happens, I don't plan to give up my career as a designer. And before I achieve something... I don't plan to fall in love with anyone."

"Eh, huh, is that so..."

Chihaya Tetsuya's answer made Toyokawa Shoko feel both relieved and confused.

The reason for feeling at ease was naturally because she didn't have to worry about Chihaya Tetsu being snatched away by Hoshino Ai.

The reason for the confusion is naturally because of the second half of the sentence -

"By the way, Chihaya-san, are you the type who thinks love will interfere with work?"

"No, it has nothing to do with the work content."

Faced with Toyokawa Shoko's curiosity, Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

"It's just that I probably can't look at 'relationships' as lightly and freely as other people."

"what does that mean?"

"That is, I'm probably the type of person who, once I fall in love with someone, I want to be together until the end."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"For someone like me who grew up in an orphanage, a relationship that can't last is meaningless and might even leave behind sad memories... Rather than a relationship filled with uncertainty, I want a family-like existence where we can always support each other."

"To do this, I need someone who can truly understand and support me, as well as the ability to face any challenges in the future. Before these two conditions are met, I will not fall in love with anyone... Of course, I also know that this concept is a bit too heavy in this era, so to some extent, I am also prepared to live alone for the rest of my life -"

"I don't think it's heavy at all!"

Suddenly, Toyokawa Shoko interrupted Chihaya Tetsuya.

"In fact, I agree with Chihaya-san's sentiment. A relationship that can't be stable and long-lasting... will only bring painful memories."

Shoko Toyokawa, who also came from a special family, could fully understand what Chihaya Tetsuya had just said.

"I also long for a relationship where we can always support and understand each other! So... I don't think Chihaya-san's thoughts are heavy at all. In fact, this is what I pursue, too!"

When Toyokawa Shoko said these words, her eyes were always fixed on Chihaya Tetsuya.

She really wanted Chihaya Tetsuya to realize that she completely met the conditions that Chihaya Tetsuya mentioned.

"Is it?"

However, after hearing these words from Toyokawa Shoko, Chihaya Tetsu simply regarded it as recognition of himself and said calmly:

"Then, we both have to work hard from now on... so that when we meet someone like that in the future, we can keep her by our side."

“………………Yeah, that’s true.”

Toyokawa Shoko's eyes were still fixed on Chihaya Tetsuya's profile.

"In order to make the other party fully aware of my existence... I really need to work hard..."

(No... the gap is too big, he couldn't even consider it as an option...)

Although Shoko Toyokawa felt a little disappointed in her heart, she was not discouraged.

She thinks more realistically than her peers and of course understands that even if Chihaya Tetsu really realizes her feelings, the two of them cannot yet establish the equal relationship they both pursue.

For this, she needs to grow further.

Both as a designer... and as a teenage girl.

"...Speaking of which, since Chihaya-san has decided to reject Hoshino Ai, then...how are you going to make her give up?"

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly asked curiously:

"She's already so obsessed with you, a few words alone won't be enough."

"I'm not going to make any plans until I actually meet Love."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

"After all, my suspicions about her so far have been completely contrary to the facts. In order to avoid further misunderstandings, I don't intend to do anything unnecessary. Compared to that, Aine and her band are more pressing."

He held the pencil and said:

"It seems they have already decided to attend the Live that day."

Chapter 37: The one who understands you best is your “enemy”

…………One day ago…………

Ever since Chihaya Tetsuya assigned her the task, Shiina Riki's composition has been unable to make any serious progress. Even if she wrote the score, it still couldn't reach the ideal standard.

"boring."

"Boring."

"It's boring."

As a reviewer, Lenai's evaluation can be described as extremely harsh and brief.

At least in her opinion, all the songs composed by Shiina Riki could not compare to the first one she brought out as the standard for her to judge.

"Lena, your choice of words is very rude."

Nagasaki Suyo first pushed the matcha parfait that the waiter had just brought to Lena, then turned to Shiina Riki and said:

"Li Xi, there's no need to compare it to Kasuga Shadow, right?"

"……no."

In the face of Nagasaki Suyo's persuasion, Shiina Riki's reaction was very stubborn.

"If I can't come up with a song on a similar level to 'Haruhi no Kage,' I won't be able to express the emotions in the lyrics of 'Light.'"

"Aha……"

Nagasaki Suyo tilted her head, half understanding, then took the lyrics that Takamatsu Deng had already written. After carefully reading every word, she gently shook her head:

"………………As expected, I never really understood the word for lights."

Whether it was the emotion that made Xiangzi cry, or the sincerity that made Shiina Riki almost worship her, Nagasaki Suyo was not moved at all.

"But in the final analysis, Lixi, is the song you want to make for CRYCHIC or this new band?"

"……What's the meaning?"

Shiina Riki, who was pressing his temples with his fingers, frowned slightly.

"What does this have to do with [CRYCHIC]?"

"Otherwise, what are you comparing it to?"

Nagasaki Suyo rested her chin on her hand, watching the people passing by the café window as she spoke:

"'The quality of the music' might be fine for an amateur like Chihaya Tetsuya... but for us, using it as an excuse is completely unnecessary... It's completely subjective. Unless you have very clear personal standards, it's not enough to objectively justify the entire band dragging their feet."

"…………"

Although this statement was very sharp and merciless, Shiina Riki understood Nagasaki Suyo's meaning very well.

"So what do you think of the quality of the songs I just performed?"

“There’s no sense of surprise, but it’s definitely not something we’d be embarrassed to perform on stage.”

Having said that, she turned to Lenai, who was concentrating on making matcha parfait, and asked:

"Lena, if I asked you to play these songs on stage, would you feel resistant?"

“? No way.”

Lenai said without raising his head:

"After all, they are just ordinary songs."

"Look, your composition skills have already reached the point where you can actually perform on stage."

Nagasaki Suyo spread her hands:

"It's just that you're stubbornly unable to accept yourself... So, what level do you hope your music will reach? Or... in other words... where do you think your music falls short of Kasuga Kage's?"

"…………"

Shiina Riki was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then he said in a low voice:

"Probably... coordination. Because Xiangzi... is always watching everyone, her music can maximize everyone's level and make everyone form a whole very naturally. I can't do that."

Shiina Riki admitted very frankly:

"I've already tried my best just to ensure I don't hold others back. Being able to utilize my own talents while also taking everyone's level and ideas into consideration like her... I can't do that."

"I thought you were going to say something..."

After hearing what Shiina Riki said, Nagasaki Suyo sighed slightly.

"After all, aren't you, like me, unable to fully recover from Crychik?"

"What do you mean?"

"How much of the sense of unity and harmony you mentioned is a glamorized feeling you created based on that memory?"

Nagasaki Suyo shook her head.

"Don't forget when we first formed. Deng couldn't vocalize properly, and you kept scolding him out of anxiety. Mu was only focused on his guitar, and I could only watch from the sidelines, unsure whether to intervene. Did we really have any sense of unity or coordination back then?"

“…………Eh.”

Hearing this, Shiina Riki's eyes widened.

She suddenly realized that she seemed to only remember what happened after "Kasuga Shadow" achieved success at the Live, but had naturally forgotten the time everyone had experienced before that.

"But this is normal. [CRYCHIC] is a beautiful and unforgettable memory for each of us. After it becomes the past, it is natural to subconsciously want to beautify it."

Nagasaki Suyo said:

"That's why I just asked you, is it a song you want to create for CRYCHIC or for this band? If it's a song for CRYCHIC, then it doesn't matter how high you set the bar, but... if it's for this new band, I think there's nothing wrong with setting the bar lower and starting from scratch together... Didn't that guy Chihaya Tetsuya say that? The responsibility and effort don't belong to you alone, but to the entire band."

Then, Nagasaki Suyo took out her cell phone and opened a chat window——

"Look, this is the design that guy drew for you... The three next to it are the designs for everyone except me. Even someone who knows nothing about clothes should be able to understand the meaning of the patterns, right?"

"…………"

Shiina Riki looked at the screen of Nagasaki Suyo's mobile phone, and when she compared the patterns of the entire band's uniforms, she immediately understood what Nagasaki Suyo wanted to convey.

"...Our patterns form a whole?"

"That's it. And that's what the guy wants to convey to you through this costume."

Nagasaki Suyo said as she took back her phone.

"Okay, I've said everything I need to say. You can continue composing. Lenai, do you want another one?"