By the time Chihaya Tetsuya and the lighting director had finished experimenting with all the costume and lighting combinations, it was already eleven o'clock at night.
Although it was a full two hours past the originally scheduled quitting time, the lighting director, fortunately, didn't seem to have any objections—
"The entertainment world has never been short of serious and meticulous people like you. For them to achieve the perfect effect in their work, staying until eleven is nothing; it's common for them to stay until the middle of the night."
The older lighting director said.
"But people in the design industry really do have all sorts of personalities. Some don't care about the details at all, even letting me decide the entire plan. Some are nitpicky, rejecting any plan for no reason. And then there are people like you, who seem easy to talk to, but are actually completely merciless when giving instructions to others."
"I-I'm very sorry..."
Tetsuya said, bowing apologetically to the older man in embarrassment.
"It's because this live is really important to me and to those two idols, so..."
"Don't get me wrong, I wasn't complaining. On the contrary, I personally prefer to deal with designers like you."
The lighting director patted Tetsuya's shoulder.
"Compared to fumbling around aimlessly, people like you who strive for a clear purpose make it easier to see the hope of success. Anyway, thanks to you, I'm starting to look forward to the effect on the day of the live."
"...That's wonderful to hear."
Hearing the director's words, a smile appeared on Tetsuya's face.
"Thank you so much for today... I hope we'll have the chance to work together again in the future."
...
Because it was so late, Tetsuya had to return to the hotel on his own.
Just as he walked through the hotel entrance, a strange noise from his stomach made him suddenly remember that, aside from breakfast, he hadn't eaten anything all day...
But it couldn't be helped. During the day, he had to decide on the lighting plans for all the performance outfits, and at night, he had been on the phone while seeing Sakiko home... There was simply no time to eat.
"At this hour, the hotel has stopped serving food. And if I go out to find a place to eat, it will cut into my rest time..."
A moment of hesitation flashed through his mind, and then he immediately made a decision.
"Forget it, this is fine."
For someone like him, who had grown accustomed to hunger since childhood, not eating for a single day was hardly a big deal.
With this nonchalant thought, he walked into the elevator and returned to his room.
But when he opened the door and stepped inside, the scene before him made him freeze on the spot—
"Eh?!"
Looking at the two people sitting on his bed, Tetsuya asked blankly:
"Why are you two in my room—"
"Stop!"
Before he could finish his question, Misumi Uika immediately cut him off.
"Before I answer your question, I'd like to ask, where did you have lunch and dinner today, Tetsuya-san?"
"Uhh..."
Faced with Uika's "interrogation," a guilty Tetsuya was rendered speechless and embarrassed.
The next second, when his stomach growled again, the two people on the bed came to their conclusion.
"See? I told you. Tetsu definitely didn't eat properly."
Hoshino Ai said in a tone that suggested she had known all along.
"If you put work and eating together, Tetsu will absolutely choose work without a moment's hesitation!"
"No wonder he's so thin..."
Uika couldn't help but shake her head.
"Before this, I thought Soyo's assertions were just her 'abusing her power for personal gain,' but now I see her worries and duties are quite necessary."
With that, she immediately gestured for Ai to get what they had prepared from the nightstand—
"Here. Eat this before you sleep."
"...Eh?"
Completely unable to keep up, Tetsuya just stared blankly as he took the convenience store plastic bag from Ai. When he looked inside, he finally, belatedly, understood why they were here.
"Ah, I see. Thank you for preparing dinner for me."
He then took out two onigiri from the bag, which was just the right amount for him, and continued to walk into the room.
But Uika and Ai didn't move at all after that, simply staring at him quietly—
"Um, I've received the dinner. You two can go back now..."
"No. We are absolutely not leaving until we've watched you finish those two onigiri."
Uika said with her arms crossed.
"Who knows if you'll just go straight to sleep so you can wake up early tomorrow."
"Um, with food on hand, I wouldn't go so far as to endure hunger and sleep..."
Stare...
"Alright, I get it."
Seeing that they clearly didn't believe him, Tetsuya obediently tore open the onigiri wrapper and ate it, bite by bite—
"...No matter how many times I see it, I think it's so cute."
Ai rested her chin on her hand, watching with a smile as he ate earnestly.
"I really want to feed Tetsu myself... It'd be even better if it was the kind of food you have to lick!"
"..."
Although Uika really wanted to comment on Ai's slightly perverted remark, after seeing Tetsuya's hamster-like eating movements, she couldn't bring herself to say anything in rebuttal.
On the other hand, although being stared at while eating was a bit uncomfortable, he did finish both onigiri properly.
Then, after he chugged the green tea that had been bought with them, he let out a long sigh—
"Phew... my stomach feels much better. Thank you, Uika, Ai."
"Honestly. Don't you dare do this again tomorrow."
Only after confirming that he had eaten everything did Uika stand up with a look of resignation.
"It's a good thing Ai reminded me. Otherwise, I can't believe you'd actually starve yourself for a whole day."
"Ahaha... there was just a lot to do on the first day of rehearsal. I promise it won't happen tomorrow."
Tetsuya scratched his head with an embarrassed laugh.
"Well, it's getting late, so you two should get to bed soon. I'm just going to take a quick shower and then rest."
"Mhm."
Uika nodded, then turned to call to Ai behind her.
"Let's go, Ai. Tetsuya-san has eaten properly. So we don't delay work tomorrow, we should also go back—"
"Hey, Uika."
Before Uika could finish, Ai suddenly looked up and proposed to her in a tone devoid of any hesitation or wavering:
"Tonight, how about the two of us sleep in the same room as Tetsu?"
"...Huh?" x2.