"So that's how it is. In short, for the future of our band, my big brother told me to have a proper talk with everyone again!"
On a day off a week later, Chihaya Anon spoke to her fellow band members.
"So, today, every single one of us is going to state our goals for the next stage and our plans for the band's future!"
"...It's certainly important for us all to sit down and talk properly. But you should have told us this before inviting us over so we could be a little mentally prepared, don't you think?"
Shiina Taki looked at Anon, completely exasperated.
"Suddenly calling people over to your house and then suddenly hitting us with such a profound question, it'd be a miracle if anyone could answer it!"
"Then just think about it for a little longer. It's a day off today, so nobody should have plans."
"Who says? I was supposed to go to the fabric factory with Tetsuya, but you suddenly said this morning that you had something important and that I had to stay."
Nagasaki Soyo looked at Anon helplessly.
"Next time you have something this important to discuss, please give everyone a little more advance notice."
"You say that, but you still stayed, didn't you, Soyo?"
Anon scratched her head with a sheepish grin.
"I've learned my lesson this time. I won't do it again."
"Honestly... Well then, everyone can just think here for a little while longer. I'll go get us some drinks... Rana."
"Hm?"
"Don't touch the draft papers on the coffee table."
"Oh..."
Kaname Rana obediently retracted the little hand that was just about to reach for the design sketches.
Meanwhile, having given her instructions, Soyo walked into the kitchen with incredibly natural steps. The sounds of daily life—the fridge opening, glasses clinking—caused everyone present to look at each other in bewilderment.
"...She's acting completely like the mistress of the house."
Taki couldn't help but comment.
"Isn't she fitting in a little too well? Has she already married into the Chihaya family without us knowing?"
"Well... Soyo kind of has that aura about her, you know?"
Anon, long used to this, said with a normal expression.
"That's not the point. Let's figure out the band stuff first! Come on, Taki, you're up first!"
"Huh? Why me first?"
Taki couldn't help but frown.
"Didn't I just say I can't answer right away?"
"Eh? Because you've always seemed pretty straightforward, Taki, so I thought it'd be easier for you to answer this question."
"I told you, it's not that simple! Before, I could have just fudged it by saying 'major debut,' but now we've basically got one foot in the door, right? I haven't had any time to think about what comes after!"
Taki crossed her arms, a hesitant look on her face.
"But... well, if I really have to say if I have any other goals, I guess it would be to further improve the band's skills, and then one day, perform on a stage like the K-Arena on our own merit..."
A glint of fighting spirit flashed in Taki's eyes.
"As a way to prove something to myself."
"Ooh, not bad!"
Anon couldn't help but applaud her answer.
"It's proper and safe. Choosing you to go first was a wise move after all!"
"I can't tell if you're praising me or insulting me..."
Taki sighed, then immediately looked at Takamatsu Tomori, who had been in deep thought since the beginning.
"What about you, Tomori? Is there anything you want to do after our major debut?"
"I..."
Tomori hesitated for a moment before answering weakly.
"For me, it's enough just to be with everyone forever... If I have to pick a goal, um, I guess it would be to become an amazing person like Ai."
"Eh, eh?! Tomori... you want to be like Hoshino Ai..."
Taki was shocked at first, then she couldn't help but briefly imagine Tomori becoming an idol, standing in the spotlight...
...
"I guess... it's not impossible?"
"No, I don't mean literally become Ai! I just want to be as confident as her..."
Tomori quickly shook her head in denial.
"As a vocalist, I also want to have the kind of courage she has, to bravely express her feelings even when all eyes are on her."
"So, you want to become braver than you are now while remaining a member of the band, is that right, Tomori?"
Anon summarized.
Tomori nodded shyly, then returned to her previous posture, quietly waiting for the others to answer.
At the same time, Soyo had returned to the living room, holding a tray.
"There's black tea and juice, everyone can choose what they want to drink... and here are some tea cakes I bought earlier. Please, help yourselves."
"Really, she's totally the lady of the house..."
This time, even Anon couldn't help but make the comment.
Soyo shot her a glare.
"Between the two of us, who has the surname 'Chihaya'?"
"Hehe, I do."
"Then stop talking nonsense."
Soyo said as she sat back down in her original spot.
"Also, I heard your answers just now. So, I'll talk about my plans next... For me, I also intend to take our band to the next level."
Soyo said with a calm expression.
"But unlike Taki, who's focused on the music, I'm more interested in developing the band's actual commercial value... Um, you can just think of it as me wanting to act as the band's manager after our major debut."
"That's so realistic, I can't believe a high school student is saying it..."
Anon couldn't help but grimace in amazement.
"Soyo, you've really gotten more and more mature since you moved into my house."
"Is that a bad thing? Every band needs someone like that."
Faced with Anon's comment, Soyo's expression didn't change.
"Otherwise, if we really left a hot-headed person like you in charge, we'd be ruined sooner or later."
"You don't have to be so harsh... but you're not wrong. I am a hot-headed person. All my goals might just be a whim, and all my decisions could be reversed halfway through, but even so, I have one fundamental goal that will never, ever change—"
At this, she looked pointedly at Rana and announced in an incredibly serious tone.
"I... want to be the girl in our band that my brother likes the most!"
"...Huh?" x4.