"Anon-san, would you be okay with sharing Chihaya-san with other people?"
"...Eh?"
Sitting by the window in a café, eagerly awaiting her meeting with Nyamu, Chihaya Anon was startled by the sudden question.
"Mutsumi!? Why are you asking something like that all of a sudden?"
"Just curious."
Compared to the flustered Anon, Wakaba Mutsumi's expression remained perfectly composed.
"On the day the live show ended, you slept in the same room as Hoshino Ai and Chihaya-san, right, Anon-san? You were so hostile towards her before, why would you allow something like that to happen?"
"Uhh..."
For a moment, Anon was at a loss for words.
If Soyo had asked her this question, she absolutely would have brushed it off with her usual cheerful act. However, Mutsumi was her guitar teacher, and her brother had told her to treat this new friend with a special family background well, so Anon didn't dare to give her a flippant answer.
And... she wasn't sure if it was the atmosphere from their walk over, but Anon felt that this girl, who looked as obedient and cute as a doll, was faintly exuding a dangerous aura that made her hard to defy...
...
Well, it should be fine to tell her, right?
After all, she was only temporarily staying at Soyo's place. Once Togawa-san's band got on track, she would probably leave. So, in a sense, she was a complete outsider. Besides, she had gone to Yokohama with her brother, so she was already in the loop. Plus, with her close relationship with Togawa-san, there was no point in hiding it from her.
So...
"Well, should I call it sharing or cooperation..."
After much hesitation, Anon finally decided to explain a little about that night.
"Strictly speaking, it was more like a compromise from both of us. I mean, you see, Hoshino Ai and I are definitely going to be by my brother's side from now on. Rather than constantly fighting and both losing, it's better to accept each other's existence sooner like this."
At this, Anon scratched her cheek, looking a bit embarrassed.
"And if Hoshino Ai is there, my brother can't use his guardian act to brush us off. And if I'm there, he's especially lenient with our requests. So, it's just a cooperation built on compromise."
"..."
Mutsumi tilted her head, then asked:
"Is there a difference between that and sharing?"
"Ugh... If you put it that way, I guess there really isn't much of a difference."
Anon shrank back, looking embarrassed.
"But it's better than the two of us constantly fighting out of jealousy, right? At first, I really did think she was a selfish person who only thought about herself, but now she's given up on the idea of monopolizing my brother and has become his exclusive model. So, how should I put it... For my brother's happiness, I guess I can accept her existence."
"I see."
Mutsumi nodded thoughtfully.
"...So, as long as the person is helpful to Chihaya-san's future, you'll make a certain degree of concession to them?"
"That's not it at all! It's only because Hoshino Ai's situation is special!"
Anon quickly denied it.
"She's my brother's savior and an indispensable partner for his career! I wouldn't share him so easily with just any girl!"
"You ended up saying 'share' again... but that's not important."
Mutsumi first shook her head, then began to list them off.
"Anon-san, I wonder if you've ever considered that Hoshino Ai isn't the only 'irreplaceable' girl by Chihaya-san's side."
"...Eh?"
Anon froze. Mutsumi then explained in detail:
"First is Soyo. You should know that the successful launch of [Starry Sky] is entirely due to the support of Soyo's mother. For Chihaya-san, without Soyo, [Starry Sky] would cease to exist."
"That... is certainly true..."
Anon nodded.
"It's not just [Starry Sky]. Soyo also takes good care of my brother in his daily life, like cooking for him, making coffee, and tidying his room. And I don't dislike Soyo myself... Mmm, if it's Soyo, if it's Soyo..."
Anon, who had been so resolute just moments ago, immediately softened.
Mutsumi then continued:
"As for Sakiko, she has also formed a very close connection with Chihaya-san. His first employee, a trustworthy design assistant, plus the future collaboration with [Ave Mujica], and the plan to attend [Filia] together in a year to develop their network. The time they spend together might even far exceed yours, his own sister. And with the heavy burden Sakiko carries, given Chihaya-san's personality, it's unlikely the bond between him and Sakiko will end anytime soon."
"Togawa-san is definitely close to my brother, too... but she still has a lot of things she hasn't dealt with, so she probably doesn't count yet!"
Anon said hurriedly.
"I know, Togawa-san is burdened with a huge debt that a normal person could never repay in a lifetime! So, if my brother can help her out a little, it's not a bad thing... that's what I think."
"...You two really are siblings."
Faced with Anon's kindness and soft-heartedness, which was identical to her brother's, Mutsumi couldn't help but sigh.
"Consider it a favor for all the care I've received from the Chihaya family. I'll give you a heads-up so you can prepare yourself."
"A heads-up?"
Anon looked confused.
"A heads-up for what?"
"Perhaps your recent success with Hoshino Ai has led you to believe you've seized the initiative. But... you two aren't the only ones capable of taking action. For instance, right now, with both of us out of the house, it's the perfect opportunity for Soyo to make her move."
"...Eh?"
Hearing this, Anon's expression changed instantly.
Mutsumi continued:
"But from what you said just now, you don't seem to mind sharing Chihaya-san with Soyo, so a small thing like this probably doesn't bother you."
"No, that's not... wait a minute... It's not that I don't mind, it's just that if things really developed to that point, there's nothing I could do..."
Anon muttered under her breath.
"If they're really doing that kind of thing at home behind my back... Ugh... I haven't even been intimate with my brother at home yet..."
As Anon's imagination ran wild, her expression became more and more conflicted.
Just then, the café door suddenly opened, and a stylish young woman with short purple hair appeared in their line of sight.
"Whoa, that face... It really is Mori Minami's daughter!"
The moment she saw Mutsumi, Yuutenji Nyamu's face lit up with delight.
"So that message was real! Then, this cute little sister over here is..."
"..."
Anon, whose feelings were still in turmoil, looked up with a complicated expression.
"Nice to meet you, Nyamu... I'm Chihaya Anon. From [MyGO!!!!!]..."
"...the band's guitarist."
"[MyGO!!!!!]... Ah."
Hearing the name, Nyamu suddenly remembered the work request she had shelved last week.
Why has this band, which I ignored, also sent someone here...
Eh? Don't tell me they have some kind of partnership I don't know about!?
"Well then, please have a seat, Yuutenji-san."
Mutsumi said to Nyamu with a blank expression.
"Let's talk about what was mentioned in the message... the matter of the band."