"So, Anon, how exactly did you and Kyo-chan meet?" Uika continued calmly, probing step-by-step for the information she desired, her questioning gentle and natural, betraying nothing.
"It was just a coincidence on the first day of school—we happened to bump into each other and started talking."
This sort of question—related to Anon herself but focused more heavily on someone else—made Anon relax considerably, gradually restoring her natural talkativeness.
"Now that I think about it, I was really lucky to meet someone as approachable as Kyo-chan right away. I had no idea at the time that she was actually someone so impressive! She's so amazing yet still so humble… Both you and Kyo-chan are such wonderful people, Uika-san!"
"Heh." Uika chuckled softly, casually tucking a strand of hair behind her ear—a seemingly simple gesture that effortlessly closed the distance between them, subtly emphasizing her graceful charm. "You and Kyo-chan must be very close."
"Do you think so? Hehe." Anon scratched her head bashfully, pleased by the compliment about her closeness with Kyo.
"Does Kyo-chan participate in any music-related activities at school?" Once Uika confirmed their friendship was strong enough, she immediately pressed forward. "After all, at the agency, I'm the only one who's juggling idol activities and school. It's rare to meet someone else my age connected to entertainment. I was wondering how Kyo-chan balances both—maybe I could learn something from her."
Being an idol seems really tough. Anon privately sympathized.
But music-related activities…
Anon frowned slightly, struggling to recall anything relevant. Uika gently prompted her, "Like music clubs…or perhaps, student bands?"
Ah, so she finally revealed her intentions openly.
"I don't think so," Anon shook her head. She'd never seen Kyo-chan sing at school, not even casually.
"I see." Uika's voice was calm and indifferent, betraying no hint of emotion beneath her lowered lashes.
So, Kyo had no intention of returning to band activities. But why? Was it due to the shadow of her previous band's breakup, or had she simply lost interest?
The latter would mean nothing, but if it was the former…
Band… Could CRYCHIC's disbandment be linked to Sakiko's sudden disappearance?
Yet, the keyword "band" triggered something else in Anon, who recently succeeded in forming a band herself and couldn't help proudly sharing:
"Actually, even though Kyo-chan didn't join herself, she helped me form my own band."
"Really?" Uika was genuinely surprised. Mentally, she raised her evaluation of Kyo and Anon's relationship once again. Anon said they'd met only at the start of school, and in less than a month, Kyo was already so supportive?
Or was Kyo-chan driven by her own hidden intentions?
"It must've been difficult finding enough members to complete a band, right?" Uika pressed gently.
"Hehe, it actually only took two days." Anon proudly bragged, despite not doing much herself. "Kyo-chan took me straight to her former bandmates. They were eager to form a new band, so it was quickly settled."
"!"
Suddenly, the truth Uika had been chasing seemed tantalizingly close.
Uika suppressed the urgency in her heart; this was precisely the moment to be careful and move slowly.
How could she steer the conversation toward Sakiko next? Directly asking Anon which instruments her bandmates played would be too conspicuous…
She had to be cautious. Navigating subtle intrigue was, after all, an essential skill in the entertainment industry. Uika had witnessed such strategies countless times alongside her manager, but never before had she been so invested.
Soon, Uika found the perfect opening. The key to victory lay precisely here—
"Since they're Kyo-chan's former bandmates, and you said Kyo-chan herself didn't join… Does that mean you're taking Kyo's original spot, while everyone else stayed the same?"
An extremely long question requires caution! Often, the true question isn't at the end, but hidden carefully within the phrasing itself.
—Excerpt from The Art of Conversation by Kikukawa Kyo, Chapter 2: "Questions Should Flow as Silently as Water."
Compiled by Wakaba Mutsumi's certified mentor, the precise, talented monster calling for love in the center of the sea: Kikukawa Kyo.
The cunning trap in Uika's question was the phrase "everyone else stayed the same," something Anon never explicitly said.
Sure enough, the unsuspecting Anon immediately corrected her exactly as Uika had anticipated. If Anon hadn't reacted, it would have meant Sakiko was definitely in Anon's band, and Uika could focus fully on the easier-to-manipulate Anon next.
However, if there was an error, Anon would naturally correct it:
"Hm… I'm indeed taking over Kyo-chan's original position as guitarist, but not everyone from her former band joined. Besides Kyo-chan herself, the keyboardist also didn't join."
Anon didn't know about Wakaba Mutsumi's existence. Neither Kyo nor Soyo or Rikki had mentioned her, so Anon mistakenly assumed CRYCHIC had only one guitarist, Kyo.
Anon had perfectly fallen into Uika's trap. Unfortunately, the answer wasn't what Uika had hoped. If Sakiko hadn't joined Anon's band, Uika would have to spend even more effort tracking down her whereabouts.
The feeling of having come so close, only to fall short at the last moment, was frustrating even for someone as composed as Uika.
Just as Uika prepared to probe further, the door suddenly swung open.
"Ahem~ Uika-nee, Anon, what were you two chatting about?"
The one voice Uika least wanted to hear right now rang out, accompanied by those eternally watchful blue eyes that seemed capable of absorbing every detail around them, eyes that contained infinite depths.
Instantly, Uika's guard went up, her mind and body fully alert, as if confronting an imminent threat.
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T/N: Uika is a hidden freak btw frfr