"I see, it's already that time."
After listening to Mutsumi's explanation, Sakiko first glanced at the calendar, then nodded in understanding.
"So... Minami-san contacted you this time just to ask you to return and attend the banquet, not to ask you to come home?"
"...Mhm."
Mutsumi nodded.
"She even told me... if it's still inconvenient for you to show your face back there, Sakiko, I can ask Chihaya-san to accompany me."
"Eh? Seriously?! To think she would allow you to bring an outsider back on such an occasion..."
Hearing this, Sakiko instantly widened her eyes.
When the Wakaba family hosted banquets, they usually only invited people with whom they had close ties or business dealings. An outsider like Tetsuya, who had little connection to the Wakaba family, had never been invited before...
Was it because she valued Tetsuya or [Starry Sky], or was she simply being considerate of her daughter's feelings?
Sakiko had no way of knowing.
"But at least this time she properly considered that you don't like attending banquets alone, even though she always forced you to attend alone before this."
"Actually... ever since I started living here, she hasn't forced me to do anything like she used to."
Mutsumi kept her head down as she spoke:
"Honestly, I think I really should go back and show my face for a bit... So, are you going to go back with me, Sakiko?"
"Mhm... about that..."
A somewhat hesitant expression appeared on Sakiko's face.
"Although it's true I don't really have any ties with the main Togawa family anymore... if I go back now and see people from the main family, it'll still be a bit awkward."
According to her current plan, she intended to wait until her mother formally laid her cards on the table with the main family before returning properly as her mother's supporter. As for now, whether for herself or for her mother... the time was far from ripe.
...
"I think you should have Tetsuya-kun go with you after all."
After thinking it over repeatedly, Sakiko finally decided to have Tetsuya accompany Mutsumi.
On one hand, it was because Tetsuya, as Jean's student and the absolute winner of this [TGC], had his status universally recognized by the fashion industry and society at large. Having him as Mutsumi's companion would greatly elevate Mutsumi's own standing.
On the other hand, the Wakaba family's banquet might also be a good opportunity for Tetsuya to expand his network. Those involved in the entertainment industry might even provide him with more collaboration opportunities.
"If he runs into producers or directors who are about to start new projects, he might even be able to connect [Starry Sky] directly with the entertainment industry. That would be incredibly helpful for the brand's future development!"
"...Sakiko, you've completely become a member of the Chihaya family."
Seeing Sakiko looking so full of business calculations, Mutsumi couldn't help but shake her head helplessly.
Ever since Sakiko and Tetsuya formalized their relationship, Sakiko's thoughts and decisions were almost entirely based on the interests of Tetsuya and [Starry Sky]. As for her behavior at home, it went without saying that she acted exactly like a newlywed wife...
"But aren't there more important things to care about than business and the brand?"
Mutsumi couldn't help but point out.
Hearing this, Sakiko showed a rather confused expression.
"Hm? More important things? What do you mean?"
"Are you serious..."
Faced with Sakiko's confusion, Mutsumi shook her head in disbelief.
"Letting your lover attend a family banquet with another woman... no matter how you look at it, it's a bit too weird, right?"
"Ah... so that's what you meant."
Sakiko suddenly realized and nodded.
"Although it does sound a bit suspicious, there's no helping it, right? If I can't accompany you, you'd have to attend the banquet alone, Mutsumi... I really can't bear to leave you in that kind of environment all by yourself."
"If I had to... I could probably ask Soyo to go."
Mutsumi muttered with her head down:
"Given Soyo's family background, Mother-sama definitely wouldn't say much."
"Mmm... you say that, but Soyo probably wouldn't like that kind of occasion herself..."
Sakiko said in an uncertain tone.
"But I can definitely help you ask her a bit."
With that, she took out her phone, ready to send a message to Soyo explaining Mutsumi's request.
But the next second, Mutsumi hurriedly spoke up:
"Wait, Sakiko... I'll do it myself."
"Eh?"
Hearing Mutsumi's words, Sakiko's movement of taking out her phone paused slightly, and then a slightly touched smile appeared on her face.
"Alright... then you can talk to her yourself."
"Mhm."
Mutsumi nodded lightly. She took out her phone and racked her brains for the right words, repeatedly editing the message in the chat box. Seeing Mutsumi's unpracticed yet unflinching appearance, Sakiko couldn't help but nod.
(Mutsumi... is completely different from before too.)
Before leaving the Wakaba household, Mutsumi had always acted like a marionette. She would obediently do whatever others told her, never proactively expressing her thoughts, let alone making requests of people. Yet after leaving the Wakaba household, she not only proactively helped the band find a suitable drummer candidate, but she would also calmly help everyone analyze problems during their girls' meetings. And like now, she even proactively took on the responsibility she was worst at: communicating with others...
Sure enough, for Mutsumi, breaking away from control was the only way she could truly grow—
Bzz~
At the sound of a vibration, Mutsumi immediately picked up the phone she had just put down.
"An instant reply... Could Soyo be really free right now?"
"Probably. After all, Tetsuya-kun is still altering Uika's dress, and there are no band activities scheduled for today, so Soyo can only kill time at home."
Sakiko said:
"At least before I came upstairs, she was sitting on the living room sofa looking at her phone the whole time."
"She's completely become a housewife..."
As Mutsumi made this remark, she opened Soyo's reply.
And when she saw Soyo's response, a rare look of helplessness appeared on her small face, which usually lacked emotional expression.
"...She said Chihaya-san would be much more suitable for this occasion than her. And she seems to have misunderstood that I approached her because I was too embarrassed to ask him directly, so she should have already passed my request on to him for me..."
"Well, that reaction from her is indeed quite normal."
Sakiko wasn't surprised at all.
"If you consider me a member of the 'Chihaya family' only after confirming things with Tetsuya-kun, then she was already his little wife back when she partnered with him to open [Starry Sky]. As for things I can think of, she'll only think of them sooner than I do."
"If that's the case, then you shouldn't let your husband go to a banquet with another woman even more so..."
Mutsumi complained speechlessly:
"You two should properly uphold your stance as wives... Both Soyo and you, Sakiko."
"Our stance is already quite firm. Did you forget about the time when Tetsuya-kun just returned from Paris?"
Faced with Mutsumi's complaint, Sakiko replied with a rather righteous tone:
"Although he didn't actually make any mistakes. To show our attitude, and at the same time to make Tetsuya-kun properly realize his position, we completely forbade him from going out for two whole weeks. Isn't that enough to show our stance?"
"Mmm..."
Recalling the noises that occasionally penetrated the floor and reached her ears during that time, Mutsumi's fair skin instantly flushed with a faint blush. Alongside her embarrassment, she also remembered just how terrifying the person in front of her could be when she got jealous...
But if that was the case, why was she so calm about Mutsumi inviting Tetsuya to the Wakaba family banquet?
Could it be that she really didn't realize... what kind of ambiguity this action held for the Wakaba family, or rather, for Mother-sama?
"Mutsumi."
Just as Mutsumi was still conflicted about this, Sakiko suddenly asked proactively:
"What kind of existence is Tetsuya-kun to you?"
"C-Chihaya-san?"
Faced with this sudden question, Mutsumi froze for a moment before saying in a cautious tone:
"He is an incredibly reliable... adult who is worthy of trust and learning from."
Hearing this, Sakiko chewed over this series of descriptions for a moment before speaking up again:
"So... something like an older brother or a father?"
"Eh!?"
This completely unexpected summary made Mutsumi unconsciously let out a gasp of surprise.
Although she had inevitably felt envious when seeing Anon acting spoiled with him, and although she had felt a coziness and relaxation she had never experienced before when reading quietly alone with him. But no matter what, it wasn't to the level of an older brother or father! Moreover, considering the not-so-large age gap between them, calling him 'older brother' might be somewhat acceptable, but calling him 'father' would only make people think of a very unhealthy relationship!
"How could that be! I've never looked at Chihaya-san with such disrespectful eyes!"
Because her emotions were fluctuating too violently, Mutsumi's tone even became forceful.
"Huh...?"
Faced with Mutsumi's decisive denial, Sakiko tilted her head blankly for a moment, then rephrased:
"Well, in any case, Tetsuya-kun is no longer some distant stranger to you, right?"
"...Mhm."
This time, Mutsumi finally gave a relatively clear answer.
"Receiving so much care from him, even I can't treat him as an outsider..."
"And based on that, you are both my family and Soyo's friend."
Sakiko spread her hands:
"Looking at it this way, when you ask Tetsuya-kun to accompany you to the banquet, to us, it's just two people who are already close attending a banquet together, and it's a banquet that will be very helpful to both of you... At least I can't think of any reason to refuse."
"Mmm..."
At this point, Mutsumi finally understood Sakiko's perspective.
Sakiko wasn't purely standing on the basis of being a lover, but on the basis of a purer interpersonal relationship, categorizing her and Tetsuya together into the range of "close people."
If that was the case...
"I understand."
Since it had come to this, if Mutsumi argued further, it would be equivalent to opposing the feelings between herself, Sakiko, and Tetsuya. Although Mutsumi still felt a little embarrassed about borrowing Sakiko's lover, she truly didn't want to deny the relationship Sakiko had described.
"Then, I'll go and explain this properly to Chihaya-san later."
"Mhm, that's right!"
Seeing Mutsumi finally let go of the grudge in her heart, Sakiko immediately beamed with joy.
"Since you've already broken free from your family's restraints, your way of thinking should also become a bit broader, Mutsumi... Oh right, speaking of which, did you bring the dress you'll wear to the banquet here?"
"No."
Mutsumi shook her head.
"Before leaving home, I thought I wouldn't be required to attend any banquets this year..."
"In that case, I have a proposal!"
Sakiko held up a finger and said happily:
"When Tetsuya-kun has time... how about asking him to go out with you to buy a new dress?"
"...Eh?"
...
"Next weekend, right? No problem."
Because he had already heard the rumor from Soyo beforehand, upon actually hearing Mutsumi's request and Sakiko's proposal, Tetsuya nodded in agreement almost without hesitation.
"I've finished altering Uika's outfit, so next we just need to find a time that's convenient for you, Wakaba-san."
"Eh... about that..."
Because Tetsuya agreed too decisively, Mutsumi couldn't even find a moment to thank him before she was immediately asked for a time.
"How about... tomorrow. To avoid troubling you too much, Chihaya-san, I want to get the necessary preparations done before the [TGC]..."
"You don't need to worry so much. Anyway, it's just helping you pick out a dress, it won't take too much time."
Tetsuya replied very easily:
"It's just a pity it overlaps with the [TGC]. If we had a bit more time, I might have even been able to design a new dress for you myself, Mutsumi."
"Eh?! I couldn't possibly! I never planned to cause you so much trouble, Chihaya-san!"
Mutsumi hurriedly shook her head in refusal, while Sakiko, seeing Mutsumi being so polite, patted her shoulder and said:
"Don't worry, Mutsumi. For Tetsuya-kun, designing clothes for the people around him isn't a burden at all. If anything, he'd love it if everyone around him only wore clothes he made..."
"Mhm, that's exactly it."
Tetsuya said with a smile:
"But there's nothing wrong with buying outside either. I might even learn a lot from other people's designs this time."
"Hah... gathering material is fine, but don't forget the most important task."
Seeing Tetsuya's eyes already filling with anticipation, Sakiko couldn't help but remind him.
"This concerns Mutsumi's and the Wakaba family's face, and even your own. You absolutely must pick the one that fits Mutsumi the best."
"Mhm, leave it to me."
Tetsuya patted his chest, then said to Mutsumi in an incredibly gentle voice:
"I swear on my honor as a designer, I will definitely choose the most perfect dress for you, Mutsumi."
"Mmm... mhm."
To avoid those clear eyes completely devoid of ulterior motives, Mutsumi could only lower her head and respond in a tiny voice:
"Then, I leave it in your care, Chihaya-san."
And so, after a series of discussions and communications, two incredibly important arrangements suddenly appeared on Mutsumi's schedule—
1. Buy a dress with Chihaya-san.
2. Attend the banquet with Chihaya-san.
...
"Oh right, Sakiko, do you need a new dress?"
"I don't. Rather than a dress, I'd like to get the band's stage outfits done first."
"Do you want me to help?"
"No need. This time, from design to pattern making, I'm going to do it all by myself!"
Whether it was discussing things with her or making decisions about her own affairs, Sakiko was always like this: forging ahead with full confidence.
(When will I... be able to be like Sakiko, making all the decisions by myself, relying solely on my own thoughts?)
Looking at Sakiko's profile, Mutsumi's heart was filled with longing and admiration.
—There are 10 days left until the Wakaba family banquet.