Uika found herself at a loss as she dealt with the suddenly proactive Kikukawa Kyo.
The Kyo from before had simply flowed quietly, never flashy but never overlooked either. Just by standing there, Kyo naturally drew eyes to her.
Her speech was like a gentle stream trickling through a mountain valley, clear and soothing, playful yet tranquil.
Her actions, though less abstract due to their visible form, still immediately brought to mind the image of water. Even her so-called "bold drinking" had been a slow, graceful act akin to a stream drawing in a rainbow. Her dancing, too, was always fluid, gently twisting and turning in delicate patterns.
If Uika had to pick something unusual about the previous Kyo, it was simply that she didn't seem real.
It was almost as though she were a water sprite, an undine who had seeped out from ink-stained pages of a mythical text, becoming flesh.
Uika had wondered whether Kyo's ethereal demeanor might be an intentional performance, but her behavior had always seemed far too natural.
It wasn't like acting at all.
If anything, the way Kyo interacted socially felt far more deliberate. Uika often detected an artificial note, the practiced politeness of adult courtesy, causing her to instinctively be more careful when speaking to Kyo.
The other reason was the unsettling sense of being silently observed that she sometimes felt from Kyo.
But now... Kyo's demeanor was shining, vibrant, radiating absolute confidence—someone who seemed born to stand beneath the spotlight, effortlessly commanding everyone's gaze.
The gentle mountain stream had transformed into a surging wave, sweeping everything else aside and capturing every bit of attention.
Maybe Kyo is even more suited to being an idol than me? Uika thought briefly.
But the thought vanished immediately, almost as if admitting it would mean losing faith in herself. She quickly reassured herself repeatedly, like a mantra: I definitely won't lose to Kyo.
After failing again to decline Kyo's playful "reward," Uika gave in, accepting her fate and allowing herself to be hugged.
Mana was right earlier… Kyo-chan really feels cool and refreshing. Even though the practice room had air-conditioning, the sensation of hugging Kyo was undeniably comfortable.
Uika's feelings toward Kyo were complicated. She certainly didn't dislike this girl who naturally stood above her in the entertainment world. She wasn't even jealous of Kyo's obvious talent; if anything, spending time with her was genuinely interesting and novel.
But at the same time, Uika felt a slight hostility towards Kyo, precisely because she had once been Sakiko's bandmate. She couldn't help but think: If I want to stand beside Sakiko someday, I need to at least match someone like Kyo.
In a sense, Kyo was Uika's "rival."
Kyo's embrace didn't last long—after all, this was just a small reward for earning one point. If she gave too much now, the final prize wouldn't seem special, would it?
Sadly, Uika firmly ended the quiz prematurely. ("No sense of fun at all!" — Kyo and Mana's shared complaint.)
"Kyo-chan, come here and listen to the demo songs." Uika quickly shifted into work mode, moving her laptop over. "The manager already mentioned this new song should revolve around you, but since I'm not sure about your personal style yet, I composed two or three sample tracks based on our existing songs."
Mana leaned in as well, peering at the dizzying software screens she couldn't understand. To avoid seeming entirely useless, she offered some simple advice of her own:
"Kyo-chan, you can also sing something casually or perform live right now—then Uika can create a song perfectly tailored to you!"
Clearly, Mana had frequently benefited from such thoughtful care by Uika; that much was clear from listening to the demo tracks.
"These all sound quite cute," Kyo commented after carefully listening to all of them. "Or rather, they sound very 'Mana-like.'"
"After all, Uika always has that cool, serious look. At first glance, you wouldn't expect her to write or sing such cute songs," Mana teased playfully.
Uika was about to ask Kyo for her thoughts, but Kyo spoke first, turning the tables with her own question: "Uika, how do you actually feel about this style of music?"
Why is she asking me this instead? Uika was momentarily stunned, unsure what Kyo was getting at or how she should respond.
"Or maybe I should phrase it differently." The corners of Kyo's mouth curved upward slightly.
"Uika, do you really like sumimi's songs?"
!
As she asked this second question, Kyo's gaze fixed intensely upon Uika's face. Those eyes, previously calm and serene like still water, now held a powerful, aggressive clarity.
Has she noticed something?
"…Of course I do."
There was a deadly pause—brief enough to seem like normal hesitation, but Uika knew the person staring at her wouldn't overlook it.
Kyo definitely knows I'm lying.
Having learned long ago how to become a "perfect idol" after leaving her small hometown island to survive alone in the city, this was the very first time Uika's carefully crafted mask had cracked.
Now, she faced a formidable opponent, a clear-headed, exceptionally gifted monster at the height of her powers, who had just caught Uika in a lie.
What would Kyo do next? Would she strike again with those sharp, piercing words, unexpectedly tearing her lie apart in front of Mana?
If Mana learned Uika had never genuinely liked sumimi's style from the beginning, what would she think?
Could sumimi even continue after that? Would everything Uika had worked for crumble apart?
One negative thought was enough to break the dam. Panic surged through her mind uncontrollably, and Uika found herself spending every ounce of strength just to maintain her composed expression.
"I understand." Kyo merely nodded, abruptly pulling back all traces of hostility. "Then let's keep the new song in this style! After all, I'm the new member of sumimi—how rude would it be if a newcomer immediately demanded a change?"
Kyo had casually let it drop, as though her earlier fierce interrogation had been nothing more than a harmless joke.
Mana noticed absolutely nothing unusual, continuing excitedly chatting with Kyo about the new song.
Did she…really just let it go?
Uika felt as though she'd narrowly escaped disaster.
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bonus chaps
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200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
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