The two childhood friends harbored strange emotions, but Hoshino Miru naturally shifted the topic to Toyokawa Sakiko.
"By the way, what do you plan to do in the future?"
What to do? Toyokawa Sakiko was somewhat stunned, then realized he was talking about her work. Sumita Mana couldn't employ her long-term - she just temporarily wanted to learn some piano.
After Sumita Mana's stage performance, it would very likely end there.
For a singing and dancing little idol, piano wasn't a skill that had to be mastered. As said initially, this was temporary work.
Therefore, besides treating them today, Hoshino Miru also wanted to discuss this issue with Toyokawa Sakiko - at least to understand what she was thinking now.
"If you want to make money from this, continuing as a tutor wouldn't be bad." Hoshino Miru thought for a moment. "Though your age is a bit of an issue, with Mana there, someone might be interested."
Sumita Mana definitely wouldn't mind being a backdrop for a gold medal pianist and might even actively recommend Toyokawa Sakiko to others.
If that didn't work, Toyokawa Sakiko could still work part-time as a shop pianist. Generally, no one would refuse a beautiful girl who looked good and had good skills.
However, facing this suggestion, Toyokawa Sakiko's reaction was somewhat unexpected.
"That's enough, Hoshino-senpai. I understand what you mean, but I can't accept your suggestion."
Toyokawa Sakiko tried not to meet Hoshino Miru's eyes. Her hands slightly gripped the coffee cup tighter, her voice almost forcibly squeezed out.
"I have my own ideas and can't continue troubling you and Mana-san."
Was she already sensitive to this degree? She couldn't even accept suggestions between friends?
Hoshino Miru looked at Wakaba Mutsuki beside him. The girl lowered her head as if extremely familiar with such a Toyokawa Sakiko.
"It's fine, just a suggestion. If you have better plans, that's okay too." Hoshino Miru took a sip of coffee, but his brain was running at high speed.
To conquer a target, there were usually two relatively simple methods.
Either infiltrate the other party's life, slowly eroding them until they became an idiot who couldn't leave you, or increase the other party's investment cost so they couldn't bear to leave due to high sunk costs.
Hoshino Miru thought about it - neither seemed suitable for the current Toyokawa Sakiko.
On the other side, Toyokawa Sakiko became even more silent.
Actually, she knew Hoshino Miru's suggestion was very reasonable - better, more respectable, and more comfortable than the work she could find now.
But she couldn't accept such an arrangement.
If she had to accept help every time, what was the meaning of her persisting until now? She might as well go home and be a young lady.
"Do you and Mutsuki talk about other things besides guitar normally?" Compared to work, Toyokawa Sakiko was somewhat more concerned about this.
"We talk about other things, but most of the time we're talking about guitar." Hoshino Miru wanted to sigh. Facing such a taciturn person, even if he wanted to chat about other topics, he couldn't!
"You haven't brought her home to play games together?" Toyokawa Sakiko glanced at him sideways, somewhat teasingly.
"Don't make it sound like I bring everyone home." Hoshino Miru shook his head. "Last time, letting you stay overnight was already the limit of what I could do."
Seeing the two talking about herself, Wakaba Mutsuki listened very carefully. Too late to think about the meaning of going home to play games together, she finally only focused on one word - staying overnight.
"Saki-chan, stayed overnight?" Wakaba Mutsuki couldn't help looking at Toyokawa Sakiko. Her originally flat voice already showed some confusion and surprise - there were probably great fluctuations in her heart.
"Last time something happened, so I had to stay overnight at Hoshino-senpai's house." Toyokawa Sakiko had instinctively wanted to show off, but seeing Wakaba Mutsuki staring at her intently, she couldn't help feeling guilty. "Ahaha, staying overnight between friends is very normal, right, Hoshino-senpai?"
After saying this, Toyokawa Sakiko glared fiercely at Hoshino Miru. Why did he have to mention staying overnight just now?
Hoshino Miru felt somewhat innocent. Weren't you the one who actively brought up playing games?
"It is very normal..." Hoshino Miru noticed Wakaba Mutsuki's gaze toward him inexplicably became very resentful. "Does Mutsuki also want to play games together?"
"Are games fun?" Wakaba Mutsuki actually wanted to ask more about the overnight stay, but hearing Hoshino Miru mention playing games together, she seemed somewhat interested too.
"Hard to say. Without friends to play together, games get boring easily." Hoshino Miru smiled. "Next time I can let you try."
Wakaba Mutsuki nodded with slight anticipation. Toyokawa Sakiko beside her was stunned.
Wait, was this her imagination?
Toyokawa Sakiko was confused. She felt the current Wakaba Mutsuki seemed more proactive than before.
In her impression, without someone leading Wakaba Mutsuki, the latter couldn't possibly actively say such things, let alone show such expectant eyes.
Toyokawa Sakiko suddenly felt sour. She'd clearly seen such a Wakaba Mutsuki before - more willing to smile, more willing to speak up than now.
And now, Wakaba Mutsuki was showing Hoshino Miru an expression even she rarely saw. Was she looking forward to playing games with him?
What exactly had the two experienced when she wasn't paying attention? Weren't they just practicing guitar?
"Mutsuki, you'd better be careful. This boy is particularly terrible when it comes to games." Toyokawa Sakiko pretended to smile relaxedly. "If I find out you're bullying Mutsuki, don't expect me to easily let you off. Next time I'll definitely beat you until you're searching for your teeth on the ground."
"Last time I was careless. When you see my full power, you'll regret it." Hoshino Miru sneered as if not afraid at all.
"So you're challenging me?" Toyokawa Sakiko also huffed.
"Try if you dare." Hoshino Miru's mouth remained hard.
"Fine, then I'll beat you together with Mutsuki until you're completely convinced." Toyokawa Sakiko glanced at Wakaba Mutsuki and smiled. "Don't worry, Mutsuki. With me here, he's no match at all."
Wakaba Mutsuki's expression stiffened slightly. Why was Toyokawa Sakiko also coming along? Hadn't you already stayed overnight at Hoshino Miru's house once?
You're Hoshino Miru's friend, and she's also his friend. Couldn't you let her experience a bit of what you've experienced?
She also wanted to play games with friends. She also wanted to stay overnight at a friend's house. She also wanted to experience many fun and beautiful memories with friends.
Besides you, Hoshino Miru was also her friend, right?
These thoughts flashed through one by one. In the end, facing Toyokawa Sakiko's smile, Wakaba Mutsuki just lightly nodded and quietly hummed an acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Toyokawa Sakiko felt somewhat reassured. Wakaba Mutsuki indeed still cared about her childhood friend.
So she wouldn't easily let it go - she should at least understand what was going on between the two.
Toyokawa Sakiko somewhat reservedly took a sip of coffee. Only the small hand holding the cup was slightly trembling. They were both clearly her friends - why did she have that unpleasant feeling just now?
Was she jealous of Hoshino Miru, or jealous of Wakaba Mutsuki?