The quiet, off-white walls and deep walnut bookshelves had clean lines, with a large oak desk solidly occupying the center of the room.
The air was filled with the faint woody scent of new furniture and an indescribable "sense of emptiness."
This observation point, temporarily requisitioned by Fuuki, exuded efficiency and practicality, a testament to the work of [Spider].
The serene and simple European style, with an ordered feel like an old library, unexpectedly suited Fuuki's taste, bringing a touch of almost "nostalgic" comfort.
Warm-toned wall lamps softly illuminated the corner by the entrance. Under the light, a brand-new coffee machine rested on the counter, its mirrored body reflecting a gentle sheen.
Below, inside transparent glass cabinet doors, neatly arranged matching utensils and several unopened bags of coffee beans were displayed.
Everything was impeccably perfect, precisely controlling "comfort" at the critical point that stimulated efficiency rather than bred laziness.
"This is a bit too well done…"
Fuuki's gaze swept over the excessively professional coffee machine, and a subtle pressure flickered in his heart. The other party's outrageously efficient execution made even him, who prided himself on diligence, feel a little ashamed.
"Want to try it~?"
A clear yet somewhat lazy voice sounded from behind him.
The blonde girl, who had just left for a moment, had now taken off her low-brimmed black baseball cap. Her smooth blonde hair cascaded down, making her beautiful face appear even more delicate.
Under the warm light, her amethyst-like eyes sparkled with a unique brilliance as she curiously examined the coffee machine.
"No," Fuuki walked directly to the chair behind the long office desk, without a moment's hesitation.
"Band practice should be starting soon; I need to focus now."
He sat down, his gaze fixed on the laptop screen on the desk, where the real-time monitoring feed of the adjacent rehearsal room was clearly displayed.
"The warmth from hot coffee can actually make one unnecessarily sleepy."
"That's the first time I've heard that~" The girl tilted her head, a mischievous smile flashing in her purple eyes, and she nimbly walked around behind Fuuki.
"Speaking of which, [Spider]," Fuuki's gaze remained fixed on the screen, "isn't it almost time for your work too?"
On the screen, Sakiko was trying to encourage Tomori, who had her head down, while Mutsuki quietly stood by with her guitar, Taki adjusted the cymbals, and Soyo watched it all with a gentle smile.
"While I'm happy you remember my work~" The girl's voice carried a hint of resentment, like a cat ignored by its owner.
She naturally leaned in, resting her chin lightly on the top of Fuuki's chair back, just a few centimeters from his shoulder.
"But there's no need to be in such a hurry to send me away, is there?"
She extended a slender finger and tapped the girls on the screen who hadn't started playing yet.
"See, they haven't started playing either, have they? Everything is already prepared for them."
"The vocalist's problem," Fuuki said succinctly.
In the monitor feed, Tomori's orange-pink eyes were downcast, her fingers tightly clutching the edge of her notebook, as if she wanted to shrink into an invisible shell.
"For Takamatsu Tomori, singing her truest feelings in front of strangers is as difficult as dancing on the edge of a cliff."
Fuuki added, a faint glimmer of understanding passing through the depths of his black eyes.
"It really is!"
The girl seemed to find common ground, rubbing her chin on the chair back as she recalled the information she had dug up.
"This girl has been out of sync with other people since kindergarten; her ideas are always wild. Once, she even gave a jar full of pill bugs as a precious gift to a friend! Although I personally don't really mind bugs…"
She paused, as if truly imagining the scene.
"But thinking of a jar full of dark, crawling pill bugs right in front of you would definitely give you a fright!"
"Is that so," Fuuki's response was calm and unruffled.
"No way~!" The girl suddenly straightened up, walked to Fuuki's side, and pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Your response is too cold. If this continues, Saki-chan will really dislike you!" She held up both hands, crossing her index fingers to form a small "X" in front of Fuuki's face, her expression unusually serious, as if emphasizing an undeniable rule.
"As an older brother, you must take good care of Saki-chan! This is the necessary responsibility of the eldest child in the family!"
"Responsibility, huh…" Fuuki murmured the word.
As an adopted son of the Togawa Family, he indeed maintained the stability of the family members and affairs. But this kind of "responsibility" was rooted in cold logic and a weighing of pros and cons, having little to do with the warmth of blood ties.
"Sodayo~ (That's right)" The girl nodded vigorously, seemingly pleased that he had listened. But then, her tone took on a hint of almost imperceptible, petulant complaint.
"And also, when we're alone, don't use that codename!"
"Although I used to love catching grasshoppers, spiders, and dragonflies on the island, for a codename… I really want something more special, a more… familiar address."
Her voice softened, carrying a hint of cautious anticipation.
"Is that so…" Fuuki turned his face noncommittally, his gaze calmly fixed on the girl.
The warm light outlined her delicate facial contours, and in the depths of her amethyst-like eyes, something seemed to flicker uneasily, a mix of expectation and a hint of imperceptible fear.
He understood that unease.
"…" Fuuki was silent for a moment, as if confirming the pronunciation of a name. Then, clearly and calmly, he called out:
"Uika."
"…"
"Ah…"
The girl, whose real name was called, stiffened as if pricked by an invisible needle, her eyes instantly darting away in panic, afraid to meet Fuuki's gaze.
"It really won't work… just call me by my codename…" She instinctively tried to escape that name, her voice trembling with embarrassment.
But Fuuki didn't give her a chance to retreat.
He raised his hand, his fingertips holding an irresistible force, gently pinching the girl's small chin, forcing her to turn her head back and meet his gaze.
"Uika."
He repeated the name clearly, word by word.
"Mmm…" The girl was forced to meet his gaze, and her beautiful purple eyes instantly welled up with moisture.
She suddenly lowered her head, her blonde hair falling like a fragile curtain, trying to hide her undoubtedly unsightly expression at that moment.
Why? Even though she was being called by her own name by the only person who could understand and see through her, what surged in her heart was not joy, but an overwhelming bitterness and sharp pang of sorrow?
As if the name itself was a huge wound.
Fuuki keenly caught the girl's emotional fluctuation. Instead of directly using the power of White Snake to interfere, as he had in the past when dealing with "troubles," he continued to voice his thoughts.
"Uika, I only know you."
The girl's lowered shoulders trembled imperceptibly.
"It has nothing to do with anything else."
"Perhaps, there are many people in this world with the same name as you. There might even be dolls with identical appearances and memories."
"But, for me—"
"The name 'Uika' can only represent you."
The air was silent except for the faint hum of the computer fan and their shallow breaths.
After a long while, the girl finally slowly, and with extreme difficulty, raised her head.
Tears stubbornly welled in her amethyst-like eyes, but ultimately did not fall.
She looked into Fuuki's eyes, and in those unfathomable depths, she clearly saw her own reflection.
Only her.
"Mmm…" A suppressed sob escaped her throat.
"Waaahhh…!"
The next second, the girl seemed to be completely overwhelmed by immense emotion, letting out a cute, ungraceful shriek that was both a cry and a laugh!
She abruptly broke free from Fuuki's fingers, springing away like a startled rabbit, so quickly that she almost created a gust of wind.
She snatched up the black baseball cap she had casually tossed on the desk earlier, haphazardly pulled it onto her head without looking, the wide brim instantly covering most of her face, along with her disheveled expression.
"I-I'm going to be late for work! I-I-I… I'll take my leave now!"
Her voice came through the cap, thick with a nasal tone and obvious panic.
She turned and rushed towards the door, her steps faltering. Just as her fingers touched the doorknob, she seemed to remember something, abruptly stopped, and whirled back.
She unceremoniously shoved a black coffee with ice cubes into Fuuki's hand, which was still suspended in mid-air, having just pinched her chin.
"I'm leaving, ja ne! (See ya!)"
Before her words finished, the golden figure had already pulled open the door and vanished into the hallway with a whoosh, like a panicked gust of wind.
The door gently closed behind her, shutting out the sounds of the outside world and taking with it that brief, chaotic burst of emotion.
Silence once again settled in the room.
Fuuki looked down at the black coffee in his hand, which gently swayed due to the girl's abrupt movements. Ice cubes floated and collided in the dark brown liquid, making subtle crisp sounds. Drops of condensation on the cup slowly slid down his fingers.
He silently raised his eyes and looked at the computer screen again.
The situation on the other side was not good; one couldn't say it was difficult progress, but rather no progress at all.
When would the Gravity he awaited finally appear?
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