"It was more fun than I had thought it would be."
"Yes, I also learned a lot."
As the two finished visiting the fashion exhibition, they went out to eat somewhere nearby as they talked about their experiences.
When he heard that they would go to the fashion exhibition, inwardly, he thought that it would be a display of an avant-garde fashion show that was impossible for normal person to understand, but as he entered, he realized that he was wrong since, as Saki had said before, as the designer had learned the psychology before, she used different attempt of approach at designing her clothes by using emotions.
It might seem weird, and he also wasn't sure how to describe it well, but it seemed that the designer used something known as synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon where a sensory stimulus from one pathway triggers an involuntary experience in another, such as seeing colors when hearing sounds or tasting words. It is not a disease but a different way the brain is wired, often presenting as a genetic trait, and it can lead to unique cognitive experiences, sometimes linked with heightened creativity.
They discussed this complicated stuff as they walked home, and naturally, Tobe sent Saki home as it was pretty late.
"I wonder if I can make such a work..."
Genius.
That word was the only way to describe that designer, which, despite making her able to learn a lot, also made Saki less confident in her choice as a clothing designer.
Tobe couldn't deny her worry, since for someone who could stand at the top, talent was necessary, but did she want to become a genius?
"Do you have to be like her?"
"Huh?" Saki was confused by his question. "What do you mean?"
"Hmm... let's say that people want to learn about politics, but will they say that they want to become a prime minister?"
"....." Saki.
"No, right? Instead, what they seek is probably a stable job in the government area."
"Well... that's true." Saki nodded at his words. After all, even if one learned about politics, there weren't many who wanted to become a prime minister, and even if they wanted to, they knew that they couldn't do it.
"But when they have a job in the government area, they will have a chance to enter the stage, right? Even if they can become a prime minister, there might be a chance of them becoming a governor in their home area."
"...what do you want to say?" Saki felt like she was about to grasp something from his words, but she needed more push, so she urged him to tell her more.
"What's important is to enter the stage first, to become a clothes designer, as you wish to be. Let's start with a small step. When you are able to accomplish your goal, one by one, even if it's small, when you collect all of them, it will become a mountain. Not everyone who stands at the top is a genius; many of them are working hard. That designer might be dazzling in your eyes, but behind the scenes, she must be working so hard that she is bleeding all over."
On those words, Saki widened her eyes, feeling guilty as she nodded. "You are right. When I can't accept something, I shouldn't just blame everything on talent or whatever when I have never tried before."
"...I have never said those words, okay? Also, don't blame yourselves too much." Tobe softly patted Saki's back, which made her feel how fragile her body was despite her tough outward exterior. She was weak, but even so, she tried to be strong by wearing armor, such as wearing good clothes, masking her emotions, and doing many other hard works that couldn't be seen by others.
Yet despite this, what Saki couldn't forgive herself for was how she would easily judge people like others.
"Come on. Stop being in a bad mood."
"...sorry."
Tobe was helpless, then said, "Still, let me ask you a question."
"A question?"
As she was distracted, he quickly asked, "Let's say that there is a horse race, what kind of horse will win the race?"
"...what kind of a horse will win the race?" Saki was confused, but she answered, "Isn't it obvious that it is the fastest horse?"
"No."
"....."
"The horse with the most stamina?"
"No."
"Then, what kind of a horse?"
When Saki was completely confused, her previous worries had been cleared up as her mind was filled with another emotion, but it was also because of that, Tobe had to give her an answer.
"It's the horse that enters the competition."
"...." Saki.
"It's obvious, right?" Tobe smiled and said, "It's because it's obvious that people often forget. It will be nice if we have that; it will be nice if we work on that place; it will be nice if we can go on a trip to a foreign country. There are a lot of examples, but those who work hard and show an effort to do what they want to, even if not all of them succeed, they have a higher chance to succeed than those who are just thinking and don't do anything at all."
As he said so, he rubbed Saki's hair softly with a gentle smile. "So, do your best. I will support you, push your back, and when you want to rest, then lean on me."
"...."
Saki couldn't say anything, as her eyes kept staring at his gentle gaze, starting to feel how her heartbeat started to race. His words seemed to unravel the doubts in her heart that were in a tangled mess, warming her up, and made her rely on him more and more.
Even though she knew that she had to be strong and had made up her mind to just stay by his side, like how it was before, she couldn't help but wish to seek more.
'No, I have to stop this.'
When she thought about her life, instead of trying to think about how to be with him, she should try to be independent as soon as possible, so she wouldn't bother and trouble her mother anymore.
Yet, as she was with him, she grew weaker and wished to lean on him, kiss his lips, and be embraced tightly, as she let herself be owned by him.
Her lips trembled, her gaze couldn't look away, and the feelings in her heart were overflowing, then in that moment—
"Saki? Huh, also Kakeru-kun?"
"....." 2x
As Tobe and Saki turned, they saw a beautiful woman with many groceries in her hands.
"Mom?"
"Akiko-san?"
Yet, after he called Akiko, he could feel Saki's gaze was turned toward him with many emotions that it was better left unsaid, but without a doubt, she wondered how he knew her mother, so...
"...if I told you that I hired your mother as a manager at my cafe, would you believe me?"
"..." Saki.
"Hmmm?"