As for why the interview was set for the evening, Chihaya Tetsuya didn't think much of it. After all, he was a bona fide night owl himself.
However, Chihaya Anon was quite concerned about it.
"If the other person is a woman... isn't it strange to choose to interview her at night?"
Chihaya Anon frowned:
"Going out for an interview alone at night, if she gets home too late, it could be dangerous on the way, right?"
As a girl who had once lived alone abroad, Chihaya Anon was particularly sensitive to such safety issues.
"...You have a point."
Hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya immediately nodded in agreement with Chihaya Anon's words.
"When the interview is over, I'll see her home."
"Eh, won't you get home even later then?! But... well, I guess there's no problem with you doing that, Brother..."
Faced with her brother's gentlemanly conduct, although it did reduce the time they could spend together, Chihaya Anon couldn't bring herself to object in any way.
(Well, it's just for tonight. I'll just have to put up with it for now...)
Although Chihaya Anon was a complete bro-con, she was still, at heart, a good girl who thought of others.
"By the way... what kind of person usually works as a designer's assistant?"
Chihaya Anon asked with some curiosity.
"That's hard to say. It could be a student still in art university, a seamstress with many years of experience, or even a pattern maker who is currently unemployed..."
Chihaya Tetsuya stroked his chin, recalling what he had seen and heard at work:
"I've even seen housewives come in as assistants before, and their skills were surprisingly good... They might have been professionals in the fashion industry before."
"Ohh... the range is surprisingly wide."
Chihaya Anon first nodded in understanding, then, with a flash of inspiration, suddenly pointed to herself.
"What about me? Can I be your assistant, Brother?"
"Hmm..."
Under Chihaya Tetsuya's influence, Chihaya Anon did indeed possess a certain degree of skill in draping and sewing. However... her questionable taste in fashion made it difficult to entrust her with work.
"You still have to prepare for your entrance exams, right? Plus the time you'll need to adjust to a new environment... Yes, I'm afraid not."
"Oh, okay then~"
Since she hadn't held out much hope to begin with, the rejected Chihaya Anon didn't feel disappointed.
"So, until what time do you usually work, Brother?"
"It varies, but at the latest, it shouldn't be past midnight."
"Eh? That's so late! Won't it affect your university classes?"
"..."
Upon hearing this question, Chihaya Tetsuya fell silent for a moment before speaking:
"I've already dropped out of Geika University."
"......What?"
For a moment, Chihaya Anon couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with her ears.
Only after she looked at Chihaya Tetsuya again and confirmed that there was no hint of a joke in his eyes did she ask in a trembling voice:
"Dr-Dropped out?! Why?! Didn't you work so hard to get into Geika, Brother!"
"...It was a few months ago. It's not worth bringing up."
Faced with Chihaya Anon's shock and questioning, Chihaya Tetsuya just shook his head, refusing to answer the question directly.
"Besides, in the fashion industry, what takes a year to learn in university can be learned in just a month in the workplace. Going straight into employment requires a rich foundation of skills and work experience, and luckily, I happen to have both. I've now found the job that suits me best. It doesn't matter if I've dropped out of university."
"But..."
Ding-dong—
The sudden ring of the doorbell interrupted the words Chihaya Anon had yet to say.
Unable to let it go, she stared intently at Chihaya Tetsuya, trying to read something from his impassive face.
However, Chihaya Tetsuya had no intention of responding to his sister's gaze. Instead, he walked directly to the door to greet the delivery person...
Although Chihaya Anon's heart was full of confusion and worry, she could tell from her brother's series of reactions that he didn't want to talk about this topic for the time being.
Realizing this, Chihaya Anon could only bury the question deep in her heart. She first shook her head slightly to clear her mind of distracting thoughts, then stood up from the sofa, ready to welcome her first lunch with her brother since returning to the country.
...
After lunch, the siblings began a major cleanup.
Besides clearing out the mountains of discarded drafts, they also dusted, mopped the floor, did laundry, and restocked daily necessities together.
Although Chihaya Anon repeatedly insisted that she could do it all by herself, Chihaya Tetsuya insisted on accompanying her.
"Doing things I don't normally do helps stimulate my inspiration." Though this explanation sounded like a lie, Chihaya Anon simply couldn't resist the temptation of doing chores with her brother.
This long-missed warmth and busyness made Chihaya Anon once again feel the tangible sensation of being "home."
And after a series of busy activities, the time soon arrived at seven in the evening.
It was time for Chihaya Tetsuya to leave for the interview.
...
[Have a safe trip... and come back soon.]
Remembering Chihaya Anon's reluctant expression before he left, the corners of Chihaya Tetsuya's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
Even if they weren't related by blood, even if Anon was now in high school, some things were destined not to change.
Family, affection, warmth, trust.
These beautiful things he had once longed for, he now possessed.
And it was for this very reason that he hoped even more to convey the words he most wanted to say to Hoshino Ai through this job—
(Thank you, Ai. I have now obtained what I desired most... So, I hope that you, too, can find your own happiness.)
He didn't understand idols, nor did he know what kind of life Hoshino Ai had lived since then.
He, who only knew how to make clothes, could only convey his feelings and thoughts to her in this one way.
He absolutely could not fail.
He absolutely had to complete this job well.
He absolutely had to create a work with no regrets!
To do his utmost, to rack his brains, to devote his entire being without reservation.
This was Chihaya Tetsuya's resolve.
And in order to turn this resolve into results and actions, this interview was also crucial.
As a helpmate in his work, and an assistant in fulfilling his wish, he had to ensure that he recruited a companion he could trust.
Thinking of this, he immediately quickened his pace, eager to meet this interview candidate.
However, when he actually arrived at the interview location and saw the "prospective assistant" he had been so eagerly anticipating, an expression of utter astonishment appeared on his face—
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chihaya Tetsuya. My name is Toyokawa Sakiko."
A girl in a high school uniform, with long blue hair and a lovely, refined face, gave him an elegant bow.
"For this interview, I ask for your favorable consideration."