After a period of careful selection, Togawa Sakiko finally chose a white blouse she used to be very fond of, one with ruffles, horizontal stripes, and adorned with a black ribbon. For her bottom, she wore a light gray plaid skirt.
Pure, demure, and proper.
These three words were the best summary for this outfit.
"...Speaking of which, the symbolism of horizontal stripes seems to have changed starting from the French Revolution."
Looking at herself in the mirror, Sakiko suddenly recalled what she had learned at [KaZoKu].
"The pattern that originally represented prisoners and clowns became a symbol of resistance and the pursuit of freedom..."
If she hadn't met Chihaya Tetsuya, she would surely still be that "prisoner" struggling bitterly under the ravages of fate.
But now, with Tetsuya by her side, she felt she had finally been given a chance to change her destiny.
...
"Although it might not make Mutsumi completely understand our relationship... it should at least put her mind at ease."
Sakiko muttered to herself as she adjusted her collar.
Clang—
Just then, the sound of an empty can falling suddenly came from the depths of the room.
Hearing the noise, a flash of disgust subconsciously crossed Sakiko's face. Then, she hesitated in front of the mirror for a moment before slowly saying:
"I left last week's bonus on the table... use it however you want."
"..."
As soon as Sakiko's voice fell, a rustling sound came from the back of the room.
Without waiting for any further response from inside, Sakiko turned unhesitatingly towards the entryway and walked straight out the door.
...
"Phew... with this, I shouldn't have to deal with him for a long time."
After walking several blocks, Sakiko finally let out a long breath.
"I'm sorry, Chihaya-nii... for using your money on something like this."
Even though the one-million-yen bonus was nominally a thank-you for her help on the last job, Sakiko knew perfectly well that the money was clearly a product of Tetsuya's kindness and consideration.
Although the money couldn't solve the problem instantly, it at least helped her deal with the immediate crisis.
"Thank you so much, Chihaya-nii."
Sakiko couldn't help but mutter this to herself.
And in the next second, a voice from behind her made her freeze on the spot.
"Hm, you're welcome."
"...Eh?"
Sakiko looked with disbelief at the man who had appeared behind her at some unknown point.
"Ch-Chihaya-nii? What are you doing here?!"
"To meet up with you, of course."
Tetsuya said in a matter-of-fact tone:
"If I went to the meeting spot to wait, I would likely run into your friend directly... For her, suddenly having to be alone with a strange man she doesn't trust would surely be quite awkward, right? So it's better to meet up with you here first, and then go together."
"...Y-You have a point."
The overly sound reasoning left Sakiko with no room to refute or question him.
In fact, this extreme thoughtfulness made her once again realize just how meticulous Tetsuya was.
(I wish Mutsumi could have heard that.)
She couldn't help but think to herself.
"Also... Togawa."
"Yes?"
"Your outfit today is very nice. It suits you."
Tetsuya said this nonchalantly, as if it were just a passing comment.
"Well then, let's go."
"Eh? W-Wait—"
Although his tone was very calm and casual, Sakiko's mood instantly soared to its peak.
The gloom and oppression that had been weighing on her chest were instantly dispelled, replaced by a brightness and clarity sufficient to light up the entire night sky—
"Launching a surprise attack like that is too cunning! Let me evaluate your outfit too, Chihaya-nii!"
The ever-competitive Sakiko couldn't accept being on the receiving end of a one-sided "attack."
Today, she wasn't wearing a uniform or work clothes, so... just for today, she had to summon the resolve and courage worthy of this carefully chosen outfit.
"...?"
On the other side, upon hearing Sakiko's words, Tetsuya immediately stopped and turned to face her.
"Sure. Go ahead and try."
As a fashion designer, Tetsuya naturally wouldn't reject others' evaluations.
And so, in the next second, Sakiko began to carefully scrutinize Tetsuya's look for the day—
Although it was just a minimalist combination of a black shirt and slim-fit trousers, it had extra bonus points when worn by Tetsuya.
On one hand, Tetsuya's lean figure perfectly supported the lines of this formal attire. On the other hand, this cunning man had even specifically rolled the cuffs up to his forearms and unbuttoned the top button.
It was the most proper and serious of outfits, yet when he deliberately exposed his wrists and collarbone, a certain indescribable masculine tension was added to his elegant and simple aura.
"As expected of a designer... even such a simple outfit can show off your own little tricks."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
Sakiko shook her head, feigning calmness, then quickly walked to Tetsuya's side.
"I'm glad I didn't choose to wear my uniform today."
"I think the Haneoka uniform is designed quite nicely."
"That's not what I'm talking about!"
He wins this time. If there's a next time, I'll definitely beat him!
Sakiko thought, her steps now inexplicably light.
...
There were still ten minutes until the appointed time. Tetsuya and Sakiko had already arrived at their meeting spot—
"By the way, why did you specifically choose a KTV?"
"Probably because... it can provide a relatively private and safe environment."
Faced with Tetsuya's curiosity, Sakiko averted her eyes slightly as she explained:
"And for us, the KTV is a place full of memories."
"I see..."
Tetsuya nodded in understanding while looking around the private room.
"You know, this is my first time inside a KTV... so this is what it's like."
"Eh? You've never been to a KTV before, Chihaya-nii!?"
"Nope. I've been focused on studying clothing knowledge until now, so places of entertainment have basically been off-limits for me."
"..."
Does that mean... I've unintentionally taken Chihaya-nii's "first time"?
...
(No, what am I thinking!)
Sakiko quickly shook her head, banishing the improper, wicked thought from her mind.
Just then, the door to the room was gently pushed open— and in the next second, a girl with long, light-green hair and golden eyes appeared at the doorway.