However, just as Miyahito was marveling at "Utaha and Ayase actually get along pretty well," a sudden "Kasumigaoka-senpai" from Ayase on the phone made Miyahito's smile instantly freeze.
Hadn't Ayase just been calling her 'nee'?
Why did it suddenly shift back to the distant and formal "Kasumigaoka-senpai"?
Gradually, sensing something was off, Miyahito dropped his helpless, faint smile, his expression growing unconsciously serious.
'What happened? Why would Ayase...'
Instinctively, wearing a serious look, Miyahito reached out to Utaha, who was still smiling and chatting with Ayase about "funny school stories," signaling her to hand over the phone.
Seeing this, Utaha didn't immediately hand it over. After glancing at Miyahito's serious expression, she slightly shook her head, conveying a message with her eyes.
'Don't worry. I'll tell you later.'
Then, she continued chatting with Ayase about school.
Regarding Utaha's approach, although Miyahito still wanted to ask Ayase directly, he ultimately chose to respect Utaha's judgment.
Just as the Shinobu Publishing building gradually came into view for both of them, this "long" casual phone call was finally ending.
"Um... Kasumigaoka-senpai, I need to get ready for my shoot soon."
"Mhm. Then go ahead and prepare. Remember to bring sunscreen and light saltwater, okay? It's too hot out, absolutely do not get heatstroke."
"Yeah, I know, Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"Let's chat again next time?"
"Mhm. Bye-bye, Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"Bye-bye, Ayase."
Pressing the end call button, Utaha let out a relaxed, long breath.
Turning slightly, she handed the slightly warm phone to Miyahito's outstretched palm, smiling faintly as she said,
"Here you go."
Seeing Miyahito's tightly pressed lips and his expression of wanting to say something but holding back, Utaha, smiling brightly, reached out with her other hand, gently taking his free palm, and spoke softly.
"Ara ara, what's wrong? Why the long face, Mr. Miyahito?"
"Utaha, Ayase she...."
Before Miyahito could finish, Utaha—who had somehow let go of his hand—raised her index finger and lightly pressed it against his slightly parted lips.
Then, her wine-red eyes curving, she spoke to him softly but confidently.
"Leave it to me."
Slightly stunned, Miyahito stayed silent for a few seconds before quietly nodding.
Seeing her boyfriend nod, Utaha gently held Miyahito's right hand, which still showed traces of unease. She lifted it, pressing it lightly against her cheek.
Feeling the slight roughness of his palm and the calluses formed from years of gripping a bokken, Utaha didn't speak. She simply used her eyes to tell Miyahito,
'It's alright. No matter what, everything will work out.'
...
Afterward, watching Utaha follow Machida, who had come down to pick her up, into the elevator, Miyahito finally slowly withdrew his gaze.
Turning around, just as he was about to leave, he instinctively pulled his phone from his pocket.
Opening the contacts and staring silently at "Ayase's" number for a moment,
"Forget it." Turning off the screen, Miyahito slipped the phone back into his pocket and started walking, muttering quietly to himself.
"I'll let Utaha handle it."
Although, just handing things over to Utaha like this might sound irresponsible.
But after all, they're both incredibly important to him.
Stuck in the middle, the only thing Miyahito could do was offer feeble reassurances to talk to Ayase.
However, he also believed. Believed in Utaha, and believed in Ayase.
One was the girlfriend he loved most and was determined to spend his life with.
The other was his closest family, the little sister he had practically raised himself.
They would definitely get along well.
"Alright!" Lifting his face, Miyahito raised a hand to block the slightly glaring sun, smiling as he spoke softly to the clear blue sky.
"Time to work hard!"
.....
Sakuragawa Talent Agency.
"This isn't like you, Miyahito." Looking slightly surprised, Nakamura Maki put down the lead sheet in her hand, which already had lyrics written on it.
"Are you really sure you want to use this Love's Metronome as the theme song?"
"Isn't that your girlfriend's first light novel anime adaptation?"
Hearing the hesitation in Maki's words, Miyahito smiled and nodded.
He understood perfectly why Maki-nee, who rarely commented on his songs, was so explicitly expressing her disapproval this time.
'Maki-nee, actually, this song is my song.'
Feeling a pang of loss internally, Miyahito's expression didn't change as he reached out and took the lead sheet from the coffee table.
Gripping the edge slightly, his face tensing to hide the disappointment, Miyahito lightly tapped the sheet music and said, his voice quiet but firm.
"Maki-nee, please arrange the recording studio for me."
"Eh?" Maki's eyes widened slightly in surprise, her tone full of disbelief. "Miyahito, you mean you want me to book a recording studio?"
"You're going to record at the agency?"
"Yeah."
Miyahito nodded, then seemed to notice a problematic note in the sheet music. He stood up, grabbed a pen from a nearby empty desk, and replied absentmindedly while frowning, thinking about how to fix it.
"If possible, Maki-nee, please rent me a professional-grade studio. I'll need it for quite a while. Best to sign a six-month contract."
Hearing Miyahito's request, Maki's expression grew even more shocked.
"Six months?"
"If I remember correctly, the anime is scheduled to air next January. You're preparing new songs from now?"
Whether it was renting a studio or spending half a year preparing songs for an anime, Maki had never heard this from Miyahito before.
Up until now, he'd always just handed her a USB drive with fully recorded and mixed tracks, at most asking the agency's sound engineer to do a quick polish before release.
And more importantly.
"Miyahito." Watching him focus intently on revising the score, clearly already entering his "creative zone," Maki unconsciously swallowed, lowering her voice. "I remember your longest song to write was Gunjou, right? Took over a month?"
From his debut until now, his longest track took over a month, while Miyani—who normally dropped a new song every half month.
Now, preparing for an anime half a year in advance...
Just how many songs are you planning to make for your girlfriend?
But.
That lazy Miyani is actually taking this so seriously this time.
Looks like next year's releases are definitely something to look forward to.