Because the things Wakaba Mutsumi brought were mostly just clothes and books, unpacking didn't take too long.
Even so, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but intervene in the process—
"Mutsumi, folding clothes like that will cause wrinkles. You need to smooth it out properly before you fold it."
"..."
Mutsumi, who had lived under the care of others her entire life, nodded and then carefully folded the uniform skirt in front of her again.
Watching her clumsy movements, Soyo couldn't help but think of the person downstairs.
"It seems Mutsumi's housekeeping skills are only a tiny bit better than Tetsuya's."
"...?"
Hearing this, Mutsumi turned her head with a curious expression.
"Chihaya-san... is not good at chores?"
"He's not just 'not good' at them! What he does can't even be called housework; it's just actively making a mess!"
Soyo couldn't help but start complaining.
"He leaves books he's read lying around everywhere, he'll get a new cup from the kitchen for water even when there's already a used one on the coffee table, and he can't even make tea from a tea bag or instant coffee properly... Aside from being exceptionally meticulous with clothes, the man is unbelievably clumsy in every other aspect!"
"..."
After taking in all of Soyo's complaints, Mutsumi thought for a moment before speaking.
"He's just Soyo's type, isn't he."
"Huh? Was there even a single hint of 'liking' in anything I just said?!"
At Mutsumi's observation, Soyo's hair stood on end like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"I was just badmouthing him the whole time, wasn't I?!"
"...Is that so?"
Mutsumi tilted her head, a look of partial understanding on her face.
"I thought Soyo liked the type of person who is reliable in crucial moments, but unexpectedly needs to be taken care of in private..."
"Guh—"
Hearing such a precise and correct description, Soyo looked as if an arrow had just pierced her chest.
"...Saying he's 'just my type' is going a bit too far. I just... think that people with little flaws like that need me more."
Soyo cleared her throat.
"Don't you feel that way, Mutsumi? Compared to someone who is flawless and can solve all their problems on their own, someone with a few shortcomings is more endearing..."
"I don't know..."
Mutsumi shook her head, looking quite lost.
"Because I'm a person full of shortcomings myself. I haven't even figured out my own issues yet. I don't have the luxury of worrying about others."
"Mutsumi..."
Although Mutsumi's tone was as flat as ever, the dejection in her words was impossible to hide.
Come to think of it, during our time in [CRYCHIC], I never really got to know this quiet bandmate of mine properly.
If she hadn't heard about that unpleasant meeting from Sakiko and Tetsuya that day, she probably would have never imagined that the famous actress was such an arbitrary and overbearing figure at home.
But... it was precisely because she now knew about her family environment that all of her past behavior had a reasonable explanation.
Her silence, her clumsiness, and her desperation in leaving home to stay here—all of these were now results with a traceable origin.
"Our situations... are really completely different, aren't they."
Soyo couldn't help but sigh.
"I was abandoned by my father and neglected by my mother, while you were controlled so intensely you didn't have a shred of freedom. No wonder we could never see eye-to-eye after [CRYCHIC] disbanded... Well, this might not be the right thing to say, but I'm actually quite glad that Tetsuya and Sakiko met with your mother that night."
"...Glad?"
Mutsumi looked at Soyo, puzzled.
"Why would you be glad, Soyo?"
"Because if that meeting hadn't happened, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to learn about your past, let alone the chance to become roommates with you like this."
Soyo said with a smile.
"I've said it before, right? Even now, I haven't completely given up on [CRYCHIC]. So, being able to deepen my understanding and connection with my former bandmate like this is actually a pretty wonderful feeling for me."
"..."
After hearing Soyo's words, Mutsumi somehow felt the anxiety in her heart dissipate a little.
Although she and Soyo had already resolved the knots and misunderstandings between them, Mutsumi was still worried that her arrival might disturb Soyo or stir up some other unpleasantness.
But now, it seemed Soyo not only didn't reject her, but had shown a tolerance and welcome that exceeded her imagination...
"Soyo... you really do love [CRYCHIC]."
"Mhm, that's right."
Soyo admitted it generously.
"People always cherish their 'firsts,' after all. And for me, [CRYCHIC] was the first place my heart could call home after my parents' divorce... But for you two, who have much heavier pasts, I suppose [CRYCHIC] wasn't quite that important."
"..."
Mutsumi didn't answer.
As Soyo had said, [CRYCHIC] was indeed a very important and cherished memory for her, but in the end, it was an experience she had gained passively by following in Sakiko's footsteps. For her, who was emotionally closed off, the specialness of this experience was probably concentrated solely on Sakiko and Soyo.
It was probably the same for Sakiko. The feud with her family and the burdens of the future already occupied all of her thoughts; [CRYCHIC] was likely not as important to her as it was to Soyo. And that was why Soyo had said what she did when she reunited with Sakiko...
"Don't worry, Mutsumi. At this point, I no longer feel it's 'unfair.' After all, it's only natural for people to develop different ways of thinking due to their different experiences."
Soyo also remembered the words of complaint she had directed at Sakiko and Mutsumi that day.
"The most precious growth I've gained since meeting Tetsuya is probably this ability to see things from other people's perspectives."
Soyo continued.
"Just like how he always thinks about the clothes he designs from the wearer's point of view, I've gradually learned how to look at problems more comprehensively. So... Mutsumi."
"?"
"Although I don't know what answers you're looking for by coming here... as long as you spend more time with that guy, with Tetsuya, I'm sure you'll gain something too."
Soyo said with absolute certainty.
"So, you don't have to worry about anything from now on. Just live here in peace, and slowly observe and experience this new life."
"...Yes."
Hearing this, a faint smile finally appeared on Mutsumi's perpetually expressionless, doll-like face.
"I'll... try my best to adapt."
...
"...Mhm, yes, she's arrived at my place."
Chihaya Tetsuya stood on the balcony, speaking into his phone.
"Now then, please continue, Minami-san. About... the conditions for letting your daughter stay here."