Not family, nor friends.
Greedily demanding from each other, while also giving everything for each other.
Trust, dependence, spending every day together, sharing joys and sorrows.
"...Thinking about it now, our relationship back then wasn't really different from 'lovers', was it? In fact, it was probably much more intimate than ordinary lovers."
Recalling the conversation he had with his sister that day, Tetsuya said:
"It's just that, having grown up in an orphanage, I never had the chance to learn about that kind of knowledge or common sense, while Ai, with her unusually special family situation, learned those things far too early."
Although it was too late to re-examine these things now, for Tetsuya, resolving this seven-year-long misunderstanding before they met again was also an incredibly important matter.
"To Ai, I was probably already her 'lover' as far back as seven years ago."
Whether it was her unilaterally slipping into his bed at night, or the cautiousness and forcefulness she showed towards any girl who approached him, it was all proof that Ai already had an extremely strong sense of possessiveness over him back then.
And after a full seven years of separation, this rediscovered longing was now intertwined with that long-brewing possessiveness, forming an even more fiery and intense obsession.
"Hiss..."
Hearing this, Uika couldn't help but subconsciously suck in a sharp breath.
Seven years ago... meaning when Ai was nine years old.
For girls, who tend to mature earlier, knowing what it means to like someone at the age of nine might not be world-shaking. But to have such a clear sense of possession and competitiveness at that age was, no matter how you put it, a bit too extreme.
"It's not Ai's fault... Given that twisted childhood experience, just becoming precocious is already something to be thankful for."
Seeing the incredulous expression on Uika's face, Tetsuya took the initiative to explain on Ai's behalf.
"Although her actions and choices may seem a bit extreme, the only thing she has ever wanted is me... from seven years ago until now. Rather than saying she gave up everything, it's more like she never desired those things to begin with."
At this, he looked out the window again, towards the city's nightscape in the distance.
"Compared to her, I'm the greedier one. After leaving her, I gained a new family, an ideal to strive for, and trustworthy companions... And all of these have become important parts of my life that I can't let go of."
"That's because a person shouldn't be fixated on just 'love'. 'Ideals' and 'the future' are equally important for a person."
To this, Uika spoke with great seriousness and conviction.
"Compared to Ai's extremism, Chihaya-san's situation is the correct one!"
"Of course, I understand that principle, but... you can't stop Ai with just so-called 'correctness'."
Even though the two had yet to meet, Tetsuya was keenly aware of this.
"Judging from her various actions seven years ago, Ai's feelings for me have long transcended the normal sense of right and wrong. Instead of using 'grand principles' that she won't accept, I need to see it from her perspective, in a way she can accept... to make her understand my thoughts."
"That process... will probably be quite difficult."
Recalling her own conversations with Ai, Uika couldn't help but shake her head.
"I can feel that her mind is filled with only one thought right now, and that is how to get you, to possess you. She will absolutely not accept anything that gets in her way, even if you were to tell her yourself."
"I know, and that's precisely why I'm here."
Tetsuya nodded with a wry smile.
"Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to think of any particularly good method."
"...Please, you must think it over very carefully."
Uika also understood that even for Tetsuya, the person involved and the one in Ai's heart, the possibility of stopping her was minuscule. But even so, he was still the only person in the world who could do it.
"I tried to persuade Ai before, but unfortunately, she had no intention of listening to me at all..."
Uika said.
"Right now, all she can think about is repaying me and the agency for taking care of her before she 'elopes' with you. The reason I have the luxury of being out at this hour is also thanks to her... In order for me to focus on the music I love most, she proactively took on all my other work. Even though I've repeatedly told her she doesn't need to repay me for anything, she still insists on doing so... Hm? What's wrong?"
At this point, Uika suddenly noticed that Tetsuya was staring at her in utter shock.
"Did I say something strange just now?"
"You said... to repay you, Ai proactively took on your work?"
Tetsuya asked with a dazed look.
Uika nodded in response.
"That's right. Because she knows I don't like participating in those interviews or radio shows, she just went and did all of that work by herself."
"..."
After receiving confirmation once more, Tetsuya stood愣 in place for a good while before speaking.
"Minami-san, think about it carefully. The act of 'repaying' someone, what kind of feeling does it usually stem from?"
"...It should be guilt, right?"
Uika replied after a moment of thought.
"A person only wants to repay someone when they feel guilty."
"Exactly. If she truly didn't care about anyone or anything other than me, then she wouldn't have any need to do these things for you, would she?"
Tetsuya said.
"From a normal standpoint of right and wrong, it's perfectly normal for Ai to want to repay those who have been kind to her... but Ai is not someone who can be viewed through such a normal lens. Unless it's someone she cares about, she would absolutely not feel 'guilt' towards them, let alone want to 'repay' them."
As an equally stunned expression grew on Uika's face, a new line of thought had already formed in Tetsuya's mind.
"This is it! Minami-san, the key to changing her mind isn't just me, it's you too!"
"Me?!"
Uika let out a startled cry.
"But I've already tried before. She had no intention of accepting my opinion..."
"A few words alone are certainly not enough to easily shake a longing she's held for seven years, but that doesn't mean she's completely incapable of listening to what you have to say."
At this, Tetsuya suddenly remembered something else.
In order to say goodbye to the past, and to Togawa Sakiko, Shiina Taki and Takamatsu Tomori had written the first original song for their band.
In that case, what about Minami Uika—
"Come to think of it, Minami-san, it seems you came here because you hit a wall with your composing, right?"
"Y-Yes, that's right..."
"If that's the case, why don't you try writing a song for Ai?"
"...Eh?"