"What kind of socks is Kyo wearing?"
At this point, Anon had given up all pretense. She could tell that Kyo's slightly awkward smile was mostly an act—a deliberate attempt to tease her!
So, Anon decided to be bold and openly examined Kyo's legs.
Honestly, like this, Anon actually looked like a serious scholar dedicated to studying the latest fashion trends—far more respectable than when she had been sneaking glances earlier.
Kyo wasn't wearing a school uniform skirt today. Instead, she had on her casual knee-length shorts. Even though it was summer, she was also wearing cloth slippers that completely covered her feet.
Was Kyo also a fan of short socks?
After all, in the small gap where her slippers didn't cover, not even a hint of sock fabric could be seen. Her bare calves were entirely exposed.
Kyo had initially planned to tease Anon a little more, but seeing her put on this shamelessly defiant attitude—like a pig unafraid of boiling water—she couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'm wearing no-show socks. They're even shorter than Tomori's."
As she spoke, Kyo lightly kicked her slippers, revealing her feet.
No-show socks, often called invisible socks, only reach up to the ankle at most. And the ones Kyo was wearing belonged to the shortest category—just enough to cover her pearl-like toes, wrapping under her sole, and stopping right at the heel.
Her exposed, pale instep formed a striking contrast against the black socks. Through the fabric, the round shape of her toes was still faintly visible. As she playfully wiggled them in the air, every curve and contour of her foot exuded a delicate elegance.
"Now, this is rare," Anon mused, crossing her arms and resting a hand under her chin in deep thought. "For high school girls in their prime, socks are an important way to express personal style. A choice like this, where the socks are almost completely hidden—Kyo might be the only one among my friends who does this."
Tomori glanced at Anon, surprised at how she had just given such a serious-sounding analysis. Then, she looked down at Kyo's socks, feeling flustered. She wanted to add something but couldn't speak as smoothly or confidently as Anon.
I wish I had Anon's way with words…
After struggling for a while, Tomori finally blurted out, "Kyo's feet are… really cute…"
The moment she said it, she realized how weird it sounded and immediately shook her head in a panic. "…That's not what I meant! I mean, I wasn't saying Kyo isn't cute otherwise—"
The more she tried to explain, the worse it got. Tomori's face turned bright red, and she was so flustered that she couldn't get another word out.
"Of course, I'm cute. Thanks for the compliment, Tomori."
Kyo smoothly stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Tomori's shoulder. Since her own clothes were already damp, she moved behind Tomori instead and gently placed her hands on Tomori's shoulders, nudging her toward the house.
"Alright, stop standing around at the entrance. Let's go inside and find somewhere comfortable to sit."
After leading Anon and Tomori into the living room, the two still sat a bit stiffly on the sofa, but their curiosity got the better of them as they took in their surroundings.
In terms of size, the Kyo household was noticeably larger than the average home of an ordinary city dweller.
But what stood out were the various trinkets scattered everywhere—colorful snack jars cluttering the coffee table, a glass cabinet packed to the brim with CDs near the television, and a variety of decorative ornaments placed all around.
In one corner of the living room, there was even a small dedicated table, upon which sat a vintage-style record player.
The decorations were numerous yet perfectly arranged, filling the originally spacious room without making it feel cluttered. Though each piece was small, they collectively took up a significant portion of the space.
Moreover, each item was placed according to its unique style, carefully positioned in different corners of the room.
As a result, the living room alone was divided into several distinct sections, each with its own aesthetic. The divisions were clear, yet the space remained cohesive rather than fragmented. Whoever arranged these must be an exceptional designer.
"Most of the decorations in our house were done by my mom. When it comes to anything related to 'art' or 'aesthetics,' she has an endless passion for it."
After Anon and Tomori had finished taking in their surroundings, Kyo offered an explanation at just the right moment.
"Kyo's mom… is she an artist?" Anon asked.
"You could say that. Lady Shuku has held art exhibitions, published books, participated in operas, and even acted in films… I guess you could call her a part of the entertainment industry."
"Wait, Lady Shuku? Kyo, is your mom's name Kikukawa Shuku?" Anon nearly jumped off the sofa.
"Anon, you never made the connection? The surname Kikukawa?"
"The whole 'having a friend who's the daughter of a big-shot in the entertainment industry' thing… that's only something I'd dare to dream about!" Anon gasped. "Hey, hey! Didn't your mom collaborate with sumimi not long ago? Kyo, have you met them?"
"I have."
More than just met them—I'm practically a member of sumimi now. Soon, I'll probably start practicing for my first song with them. I'll have to figure out how to balance that with my band's schedule too…
"If you see them again, can you get me an autograph?" Anon stared at Kyo with hopeful eyes. If she could get the signature of a current top idol group, she couldn't even imagine the kind of attention she'd get at school!
"Of course."
"Awesome!"
As the conversation wrapped up, Kyo tugged at her damp clothes. "I'll grab you both something to drink first, but I think I need to take a shower. That okay?"
Anon and Tomori both nodded.
"What do you guys want to drink?" The moment she brought up the topic, Kyo's energy visibly picked up. "You can order anything you want! Even though we're at home—heh, heh—you might be able to guess why my mom handled most of the interior design, but when it comes to drinks, my house is stocked with everything."
Anon turned to Tomori first. Tomori thought for a moment but ultimately let Anon decide.
"I'll have a cup of black tea! Any kind is fine!" Anon's face looked oddly embarrassed, as if recalling some unpleasant memories she'd rather forget. "Back when Kyo was still 'Rainy Lady,' I always wanted to try the master's tea-making skills."
Anon blinked and suddenly called Kyo "master," something Kyo had never been called before.
"Heh, heh, since you put it that way, I guess I have to put on a good show. But since you dared to call me 'master,' I'll have to test your own tea-making skills later. If it's so bad I can't even drink it, I may have to disown you—"
"Wait, can I take that back? Can we negotiate?!"