AN: I tackled the CS Towa/TX Towa from one angle already. Here's another, and also; what is meta?
Intellectual Property
"Hello, Kokonoe speaking!"
"Ah, sensei. Sorry to bother you like this – I got your number off Kou-senpai, I hope that's cool."
"Shinomiya-kun?" Towa asked, a little surprised. "N-No, it's not bother at all! Can I help you with something?"
"Maybe. Senpai mentioned that you were in the Computer Club in university, right?"
"That's right," she answered with a fond sigh, memories of simpler times coming back. "I might not have pursued it as a career, but I enjoyed my time there very much, and besides; the experience I gained lets me help the XRC! It was a worthwhile way to spend time, if I do say so myself."
"It uh… sounds like it. I did wanna ask, though – did any of your club members want to work in game design? And do you still keep In contact with any of them?"
Her other hand came up to stroke her chin, considering. "Hmm… only one, actually! It's been quite a while since I've spoken with him, though. I certainly hope he's doing well! I should really drop him a line now that you mention it, Toshi-kun was always very supportive…"
A muted chuckle.
"Got it. Now this all starts to make sense."
"What does?" Towa asked, a ring of curiosity in her voice. "Were you considering switching paths into game development after graduation, or…?
"… Sure, why not. Anyway, I've taken up enough of your time – thanks, Kokonoe-sensei!"
"Wait, I – "
The Xiphone went dead as the connection was terminated, and Towa was left staring wordlessly at the dimming screen with more than a couple of questions running through her head.
"Supportive," Rion snorted, her eyes locked onto the TV monitor that currently had an image of a diminutive brunette in a green uniform on it. "Right. Some of our fans are really supportive too, but I don't see them sticking us in video games without asking permission first!"
"Hmph, I've seen some of your fans. They'd do a lot more than that if they could get away with it."
"Hush, Takahata-kun. Anyway," Mitsuki continued with a placid smile, soothing the steaming idol with a pat to her hand, "I suppose that conversation does explain a lot."
"D-Don't you think they could have done more than just changed the last name, though?" Sora spoke up next, watching intently as Yuuki ran through the rest of the on-screen conversation with a bored look on his face.
"Probably, but what's done is done," Asuka sighed, massaging her temples before turning to the dark haired boy beside her. "Do you have any thoughts, Tokisaka-kun?"
"I will give you every yen to my name if you let me be the one to break this to her."
"Let me rephrase that. Do you have any thoughts actually worth voicing?"
"Whatever we do," Yuuki grumbled, "can I stop playing this now? If it hadn't been for our teacher's unscheduled cameo I don't think I'd have made it this far as is, Star Camera marketing blitz or no. I mean, it's only been a chapter and this lead's already pissing me off. He's a total wish-fulfillment type with a ridiculous yes-man complex to boot. Seriously, can this guy say no to anything?"
"… Y'know, I feel vaguely offended by that."
Asuka rolled her eyes. "I can't imagine why."