Initially, when Mutsumi sorted out all her thoughts and started practicing new dance steps with him, she indeed harbored the desire to tease Tetsuya a little, or rather, she wanted to see him fall into further confusion or even have his heart flutter because of her.
However, when Mutsumi pressed against Tetsuya's body and felt his heartbeat through his slightly thin chest, she suddenly calmed down.
After getting used to the ballroom dance steps and no longer holding his breath out of consideration for her, Tetsuya's breathing and heartbeat had calmed down significantly. In contrast, it was actually her own side—despite being more familiar with ballroom dancing—that transmitted a much more frequent and violent pounding.
Thinking about it calmly, although Chihaya-san had been in a frantic state since just now, his fluster was actually merely to avoid committing any offensive acts, and his blushing and racing heart were simply due to the exercise and forcefully holding his breath.
His thoughts and purpose had never changed from beginning to end: that was to answer her wish and become a dance partner worthy of her at the upcoming banquet. Aside from that, he didn't have a single extraneous thought.
This was merely a one-sided fluttering of the heart, an absolute unrequited love...
Thinking of this, Mutsumi suddenly turned her head to look at that dress she still didn't quite dare to wear out in public for the time being...
Creak!
"Wait a minute, Mutsumi!"
Just as Mutsumi was still silently gazing at the dress, following the sudden sound of the door opening behind her, an anxious-looking Sakiko suddenly came into her room.
"Are you okay... eh?"
Before Sakiko could finish her sentence, upon seeing the expression on Mutsumi's face, she—who had taken the initiative to chase after her—instead revealed a somewhat bewildered expression.
Because on that exquisite, pretty face, there wasn't the low spirits or depression she had anticipated beforehand, but rather an incredibly refreshing and rare smile.
Just what in the world was going on?!
"...It seems I accidentally caused a misunderstanding."
Seeing Sakiko's completely out-of-the-loop expression, Mutsumi sighed softly.
"Did you tell Chihaya-san and Soyo a reason before you came over, Sakiko?"
"Eh? Because I was too anxious, I didn't have time to..."
Sakiko, who hadn't yet recovered her wits, subconsciously answered truthfully. But very quickly, she came in front of Mutsumi and placed her hands on her shoulders:
"More importantly than that, why did you leave so suddenly, Mutsumi? You couldn't be thinking about doing something weird, right?"
"Something weird?"
Mutsumi tilted her head.
"Like what?"
"Like... out of consideration for Soyo and me, you just decided to drop all your feelings and walk away alone or something..."
Sakiko said with considerable worry:
"Although I only just realized it as well, Mutsumi... you've also fallen in love with Tetsuya-kun, haven't you?"
"...As expected, you'd be able to tell."
Recalling her series of proactive actions just now, Mutsumi nodded slightly and admitted:
"Mhm, that's right... I really do like Chihaya-san too. And just like you... I only just realized it myself."
"Was it because of that date?"
"I don't know. Although I've always cared about Chihaya-san, if you ask exactly when I fell for him... I can't really say clearly either."
"I see..."
Having received Mutsumi's admission, an incredibly complex expression couldn't help but surface on Sakiko's face.
Although they were childhood friends of the same age, in Sakiko's subconscious, Mutsumi had always been an existence that required her care.
Unproactive, unmotivated, immature, naive, introverted, and lacking in an understanding of emotions.
Generally speaking, this type of girl ought to be an existence completely insulated from romance.
"However, perhaps precisely because of this kind of personality, it's easier to fall for a not-so-great guy. I actually used to wonder if one day you'd suddenly elope with some bad boy who plays metal, and then get abandoned by him or something..."
"...I've never encountered a bad boy who plays metal, but there are quite a few weird women who play metal around me."
Faced with Sakiko's muttering to herself, Mutsumi couldn't help but retort:
"Should I say as expected of a future designer... isn't that imagination a bit too rich?"
Faced with Sakiko's baseless, wild imagination, Mutsumi couldn't help but be a bit dumbfounded.
"Also, although Chihaya-san can indeed be called a 'not-so-great' type, my reasons for liking him are still very sufficient... After all, no matter what you say, we've experienced quite a few things together."
"Ah... that's true."
After being continuously retorted against, Sakiko's emotions finally calmed down as well.
"But even so... are you really okay with this, Mutsumi?"
Based on her understanding of Mutsumi, she could be one hundred percent certain that Mutsumi would absolutely never make the choice to steal someone else's love, much less do something like having an affair with Tetsuya while hiding it from her. Setting aside the fact that Tetsuya fundamentally lacked the capability to hide things from her, Mutsumi had already used her actual actions to illustrate her own choice.
"Even though you finally confirmed your feelings, just like that... giving up on Tetsuya-kun and so on, it must still be very painful for you, right, Mutsumi?"
In Sakiko's view, Mutsumi handing the job of teaching ballroom dance over to her, to some extent, had already demonstrated her attitude towards this romance. Whether it was out of consideration for her or other reasons, in short, Mutsumi proactively yielded the opportunity for intimate contact with Tetsuya to her—
"Giving up... ah, so that's how it felt from your perspective, Sakiko?"
However, upon hearing Sakiko's question full of conflict and distress, Mutsumi let out a sound of sudden realization.
"That's completely your misunderstanding, Sakiko... Although it might not sound very good to say this, I actually have no intention of giving up on Chihaya-san."
"Eh?!"
Hearing these words, Sakiko immediately put away the bitterness on her face, transitioning into sheer astonishment.
"If that's the case... why did you suddenly drop Tetsuya-kun and walk away alone..."
"Because right now, I am still far from the point where I can approach that distance."
As Mutsumi spoke, she walked over to the dress, reached out her hand, and gently stroked it.
"My understanding of these feelings isn't clear enough yet, and the things I can do aren't enough yet either... Before I thoroughly figure out what I need to do next, I can't casually approach him to that degree for the time being."
Just as she still couldn't adapt to this dress yet, regarding these brand new feelings that had only just sprouted, Mutsumi temporarily wanted to observe them a little while longer.
"Moreover, a huge part of the reason why I fell for Chihaya-san is precisely because I like the way he is when he's with you, and with Soyo. So, me doing this isn't giving up; I purely just wanted to let you guys be together."
Under Sakiko's blank gaze, Mutsumi said this in that tone of hers that made it difficult for anyone to guess her mood:
"Don't worry, Sakiko. I won't be jealous or fight with you guys over him, nor will I go scrambling for anything. Because what I wish for is a future where you, Sakiko, and the others can always be together with peace of mind."
"Once this banquet is over, I will definitely, properly settle everything once and for all. So before then, please help me keep it a secret for a little while longer."
As if observing a potted seedling breaking through the soil, Mutsumi said this while continuing to gaze at the dress in front of her.