Chapter 17: Business…what? (4)

To put it simply, it just fizzled out.

Although Yuu’s face turned beet red as if it were about to explode, she rambled on with her words all mixed up, and there was the minor issue of her not letting go of me from her embrace…

It ended with her saying, ‘I’m sorry for avoiding you.’

‘There was nothing to apologize for.’

Of course, I didn’t think anything of it.

…No, well.

It’s normal for people to be like that sometimes.

As long as there are no hard feelings between us, isn’t that enough?

However… she didn’t clearly explain why she had been avoiding me.

But instead, she apologized to the point of almost groveling.

She couldn’t say it properly, but it definitely wasn’t because she disliked me, or so she said.

So, I just accepted it as is.

I don’t know why, but she was somehow cute, and it felt like even the disappointment I hadn’t felt disappeared.

…But, that aside.

“What’s this. Why are you two here together?”

“…It just kind of happened?”

…Why did you drag me along?

It’s your turn to record this time, Ms. Yuu… right?

“It’s my turn next anyway. Does it matter?”

“…Sure, whatever.”

But, despite that.

The excuse to the CEO was entirely my responsibility.

Normally, there would be one person around now who would be raising hell at the CEO….

“…”

But that very person was uncharacteristically quiet.

I don’t know why she’s like this, but it would be strange if I also kept quiet.

Anyway, Yuu’s condition is very peculiar.

Usually, she was a carefree and energetic person who didn’t care about trivial things.

But now, her atmosphere is a bit…

How should I put it. Girly-girly.

Aren’t you being shy at a completely random timing, out of nowhere…?

You weren’t like this even when we first met.

…But, seriously, why is she like this.

She has her head bowed low as if embarrassed, yet why is she holding my hand again.

“Well then, Ms. Yuu. Shall we start recording?”

“Huh? Ah, yes…”

Those thoughts were momentarily halted by the vocal trainer’s intervention.

But Yuu, who let go of my hand and headed into the recording studio, was still uncharacteristically fidgety.

“You, what did you do to her?”

“…I didn’t do anything?”

“Right, I’m sure you didn’t.”

“???”

Because of that, while I was getting an untimely scolding from the CEO.

My eyes met Yuu’s, which were wavering, having lost their place to go.

“Uh… good luck?”

“…?!?!”

It felt wrong to just ignore her, so I gave her a little encouragement.

And again, her face turned red, and her expression became quite a sight.

“Sigh.”

“Why, again.”

“Never mind. That suits you.”

“No, what have you been saying since earlier.”

Then, the CEO, like a ghost, latched onto that again.

…What in the world.

Contrary to the anxious appearance she had shown just before.

Yuu, once again, managed to succeed on the first take of her recording.

“Hoo!”

“Good work. You’ve improved a lot, haven’t you?”

Yuu, letting out a breath, walked out of the recording studio with a proud look.

Wiping her sweat with brimming confidence, she was definitely the Yuu I knew.

‘Did something loosen up after she belted it out like that?’

‘If so, that’s a relief.’

“You worked hard. You did well, okay?”

“Ah, u-ung… It’s because you cheered for me.”

Of course, she broke down again in front of me.

‘Our Yuu, why has she become like this?’

She doesn’t avoid me anymore, but… instead, her voice keeps trailing off.

It’s like watching me and Rio when we first met?

‘No, I think it’s even worse than then.’

Rio was passive, so she didn’t really seek anyone out first…

But still, if you approached her first, she responded reasonably well.

This girl made a move on me from the beginning, so why did she suddenly become a loner (botchi)?

(TL Note: “Botchi” is Japanese slang for someone who is alone/a loner.)

“…”

And so, while a situation of unknown iteration was unfolding.

The CEO, who was watching it intently, casually threw out a remark.

“…You two, want to try that once?”

“? Try what?”

“I was thinking of having you do it later, but I think it’s okay to do it now.”

At the sudden, incomprehensible remark, I looked at the CEO with an expression full of doubt.

The CEO, frowning for a moment as if something displeased her… continued speaking.

“Business yuri.”

(TL Note: “Business yuri” refers to faking a romantic girls’ love relationship for an audience/for business purposes.)