Just like the songwriting, the costume production on Tetsuya's end had also reached its final stages.
After repeated tests, considering various colors under different light intensities, and numerous comparisons in dark and bright environments, Tetsuya had conquered the most difficult part: the luminous fibers.
All that remained was the final garment construction.
"...So much has happened recently."
For some reason, Tetsuya couldn't switch gears and focus on the remaining work as quickly as he usually did.
In the empty studio, he leaned back in his chair alone, staring at the mannequin in front of him, his entire expression becoming somewhat dazed.
Although he kept telling Ai to be greedy and ask for more, he himself hadn't managed to prepare for it mentally.
This was especially true after hearing Tomori's perspective on the many changes in Hoshino Ai; a sense of uncertainty had started to grow in his heart.
When he was adopted by the Chihaya family, he had thought he'd found a supreme happiness that would leave him wanting nothing more. Yet here he was, with new desires already taking root in his heart.
When Anon accepted the gloves he made, he had thought being a designer was the main goal he could strive for. Yet now, not only was he a designer, but he was about to strike out on his own and have his own brand.
His world was always undergoing changes that caught him off guard.
Especially in the last two months... the changes had been exceptionally intense and rapid.
Ever since the day Anon returned to the country, it was as if someone had suddenly slammed on the accelerator of his life, hurtling him forward at a speed he couldn't possibly react to.
Striking out on his own, idols and bands, new goals... and matters of the heart he had never considered before. It was inevitable that his brain, once limited to design and clothing, had fallen into a state of overload.
At this thought, Tetsuya suddenly reached for the other side of his workbench.
Piled there was a large stack of documents given to him by Sakurakoji Luna and Nagasaki Soyo.
Although the process of signing these documents had been very straightforward, that didn't lessen their weight.
If anything... it was precisely because it had been so easy that just looking at them now made Tetsuya feel immense pressure.
Once he left [KaZoKu], once he was truly responsible for a clothing studio, once he really stepped onto a broader stage, would he still be able to handle things with such ease?
"..."
This wasn't a question of his own abilities, nor was he regretting his decision.
This nineteen-year-old young man was simply, instinctively, feeling uneasy about the changes happening around him.
"Let's... call it a day for now."
Realizing he was no longer in the right state of mind to continue working, Tetsuya first lowered his head, jotted down tomorrow's tasks on a piece of paper, then stood up and left the studio.
...
"Huh!?"
When Anon saw Tetsuya suddenly come home, her face showed utter surprise.
"Chihaya-nii, how come you're home so early today?!"
"It's nothing, I'm just a bit out of it. More importantly..."
Tetsuya said, averting his gaze.
"Go put on some proper clothes."
"Eh... I just got out of the bath, cut me some slack!"
Anon, with only a bath towel wrapped around her, replied.
"If I change into my pajamas right now, I'll just get them wet."
"Then at least dry yourself off a bit more."
"I already dried myself off really well, but there's still somehow moisture!"
Anon said, nonchalantly sitting down on the living room sofa.
"Anyway, I'll change after I've cooled down a bit. You said you were out of it? What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"That's not it."
Tetsuya took off his suit jacket and sat on another sofa.
"I'm just... a little mentally fatigued, I guess. A lot has happened recently... What's wrong? What's with that look?"
"Oh my gosh!"
Anon covered her mouth, a look of shock on her face.
"My dear brother can actually feel mental fatigue... I thought you'd evolved into a superman who never gets tired!"
"...What nonsense are you spouting."
"Just think about it! In the last two months, Chihaya-nii, you've done so, so much. First, you made a costume for Hoshino Ai, then you helped everyone in the band resolve their conflicts and made our costumes, and now you're running all over the place to start your own business, and you even have to make the costumes for [Summer Zodiac]'s May live..."
At this, she couldn't help but rub her arms.
"If it were me, I would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago, and yet you're just a little 'out of it'! That's already pretty incredible for a human being!"
"...That's true."
Hearing his sister list the series of events, Tetsuya couldn't help but lean back and lie down on the sofa.
"It seems my endurance really is a bit out of the ordinary... Hm?"
Halfway through his sentence, Anon's face suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
"What is it, Anon?"
"Hee hee, up until now, it's always been me being spoiled by you. Now it's your turn, Chihaya-nii."
Anon came around from behind the sofa and sat down right next to him.
At the same time, because she had just finished her bath, the strong scent of her shampoo and body wash invaded Tetsuya's thoughts.
Then, just as he was feeling flustered by the sudden fragrance, a pull on his shoulder made him let out an involuntary gasp.
"Eh—!? Wait!?"
Completely unguarded, he toppled over in Anon's direction.
The next second, when his cheek clearly felt the soft, still-warm touch, his body instinctively tensed up.
"Anon?! Wh-What are you—"
"It's a lap pillow!"
Anon looked down at him with a faint smile.
After all, for her, whenever she was tired, her brother's lap pillow and hugs were always the best remedy, so she naturally thought of returning the favor in the same way.
"Until now, it's always been you taking care of me. Now... it's finally my turn!"
Anon gazed at her brother's slightly panicked eyes and said:
"Tonight, let me be the one to heal you!"