Now, if I help you, it matters that you see
These sordid kinda things are coming hard for me
And furthermore I think Jesus thinks so too
JESUS WOULDN'T MIND THAT I AM HERE WITH YOU
I really didn't come here on my own accord

Or something. I don't actually remember the lyrics for this one.

Combing Ruby's hair felt therapeutic, it helped Ai center herself thanks to it being an easy enough task but needing some control of the hand to avoid hurting the girl. Plus, seeing Ruby's elated expression through the mirror filled Ai's heart with warmth and sunlight. It filled her with a form of happiness that she knew for certain was real, and that made it all the more special. She didn't want to compare it to the feeling of a job well done after a concert, or any appearance on TV, but… Well. This? This is real. What else is there to be said?

"Can we really not come with you?" The little girl's expression fell, making Ai chuckle as she drank in the fact that her child wanted to be with her so much. Fighting the ugly coldness that Ai had within with the purity of Ruby's feelings.

"I'm sorry~ but it's really impossible." Even if Ai wanted for it to not be the case, she had a duty to fulfill. She couldn't just put them at risk, even if she didn't really think that Hikigaya would try to hurt her precious babies.

She'd had that thought about someone else before, after all. And that had turned out… Badly.

"Ichigo-san and Miyako-san don't want 'that guy' to get too involved." Ai continued to talk like nothing had happened, scoffing and rolling her eyes to show the little girl that she didn't fully think like the Saitou couple.

That seemed to make Ruby's mood deteriorate even more.

"It's fine if you want to hang out with him, but please make a little time for me. Okay?"

"Awww~!" Ai couldn't help embracing the child from behind, pulling her in with more tightness than the rules for giving a good hug demanded. "Of course I'll have time for you! You're my sweet, talented, and brilliant baby!"

Ah… It feels so good…! Seeing Ruby's teary-eyed expression through the mirror calm down thanks to Ai's presence. Feel her tiny hands coil around her own hands… Ai breathed in her daughter's scent, let her brain be intoxicated by the kid's neediness. Had Aqua been there, she would've buried her face between their heads. She would've clogged her brain with the feeling of having them in her arms, made it so it was impossible to think about anything but them. Her lovely children…

"Besides, it'll be kinda boring. We better do something fun together, right?" Ai pushed Ruby back into place so she could keep combing the kid's hair. "We can dance, watch TV, do anything you want."

"I guess…"

"We're taking things easy, so I have more time for you!" Ai shook the little girl from the shoulders.

"Hmmm… True!" Ruby cheered up almost immediately. "Okay! I'll wait for you, mama."

"That's my girl." Ai gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Ehehehe…"

Ah, truly the best. No worries, no problems. This day started out rather good. Ai hadn't slept that well, thinking about some pretty heavy stuff. But hopefully, this reunion would start clearing up some of the problems that had been harassing her as of late. The fact that Hikigaya rescheduled out of nowhere threw a wrench into Ai's plans; so, hopefully, she'd regain the tools and presence of mind to deal with the… Heavier… Stuff.

Ai placed her hands on Ruby's shoulders when she was done.

"Wow, you're always a cutie pie. But now you're something else!" She resisted the need to pinch the kid's cheeks, because that might start a play fight and all the combing would be rendered pointless.

"It's because I have mama's genes!"

That's… Yes. True enough. Those are her genes, alright. Mhm.

"You're so smart too!" That was also probably because she was Ai's daughter.

"Hmmm~ You think it's really impossible to convince Ichigo-san to let us tag along?" Ruby pouted as cutely as she could, balling her hands and putting them close to her chin. Performing the textbook description of a kid using puppy eyes to get away with something.

Ai found it adorable, but she still knew it wasn't her choice.

"Only one way to find out!" Still, it didn't mean that she wouldn't help Ruby out. She'd love to have them close by, after all.

It might turn out to be a tricky day, after all.

"Ah…! I have to call Kyun…!" Personally, it'd be better to keep things private. But the girls were already on edge, and Ichigo-san considered that it would be worse if they got wind of some nebulous backstage agreements going on because of what Nino did.

It'd probably not keep them in line. But, well, Ai hoped that they'd see at least some reason when they see their boss being forced to bow down due to their stupidity.

…

Ai couldn't even lie to herself and say that it was a sound idea. But what could be done now? It's not like any meeting with Hikigaya had ever been easy. So she even made preparations and recharged as much of her energy as she could, ready to present her very best for what might as well be a terrible day.

There is tension in the air. A form of pregnant silence that Yui doesn't like. Her friends might've greeted her with enthusiasm, some even shed tears when they see Yui outside of her work uniform. But that moment is in the past now. It didn't last, because approaching the headquarters of Strawberry Production makes everyone somber.

The office they're led to is big enough to accommodate all of them. Filled with posters of models, children and adults alike, some other famous people that Yui doesn't recognize, and a great deal of B-Komachi merchandise. Like they want to make sure everyone knows what this company is all about. It still makes her feel like there isn't enough air in it. They all gravitate toward the two couches in the center, separated by a small coffee table like they're two opposing teams in a sports match. Like in the one Yumiko plays. With the net and rackets.

Ah… She knows the name, she really does. It simply… Escapes her mind at the moment. And it's not important anyway, not here. Not now. Not with so many emotions packed so close to her.

At boutiques and mall center stores in general, it's not hard to see the worker's dynamics when you've been there for a bit. People have a tendency to put up a kinder front with people that they don't know, and an even kinder one when they don't like them. Because, being forced together for long periods of time, it's easier to keep things civil than to affront their differences. Knowing that whatever problem detonates an argument wouldn't be solved easily. And having to deal with that for more than eight hours a day can drain anyone of their sanity.

This is what the girls standing around behind Saitou Ichigo remind Yui of. There is a dark-green haired girl dressed in a demure dress with a light sweater over her shoulder, which reminds Yui a bit of Yukinon's fashion sense. She looks bothered, she doesn't want to be there. And she stands a little bit too far from the other two girls. Brunettes with a difference in how light the brown is and how long their hair has grown. The lighter brunette is looking at her phone, but she strikes Yui as the energetic type. Maybe more like herself or her mom, while the darker brunette gives off the vibe of a teaser, although she's just looking over her friend's (?) shoulder while she scrolls down.

Saitou Ichigo sits in front of them, in the middle of his couch. The sunglasses he wears look off inside the office, but Yui can tell that he's quickly scanning her side of the room. Checking the kind of people that arrived at his company while his wife pours tea for him and the man sitting to his left; a man who Yui could only describe as an "adult Hikki" with growing brown hair and the hint of a beard he hadn't bothered shaving.

This unknown man has his eyes trained on Hikki, giving the same expression that her friend gives when he's pretending to not be interested in what's happening but is actually locked in on something he thinks it's important.

Yui would smile if the tension afforded her the time, but she doesn't want the attention on her. She knows, and felt when they looked at her, where that attention goes first. And… The tension is high enough as-is to add her own problems to it.

Her side of the room seems to agree, even if implicitly.

She sits to the far right, with Komachi-chan to her left, then Hikki to his sister's left, and then Shizuka-san on the opposite edge of the couch. She looks way more comfortable than the rest, even crossing her legs and stretching her arm on the backrest. Even though they have less space for themselves.

Komachi-chan sits with her back straight, arms crossed. Contrary to her brother, who is hunching and letting his arms hang uselessly between his thighs. Yumiko has a similar dissatisfied expression to Komachi-chan, standing behind Yui with her arms crossed like some sort of bodyguard. Yoshi-kun is doing the same, but he's trying to go for a cooler vibe. Legs spread a bit farther than necessary, while Sai-chan is awkwardly trying to get his eyes somewhere that won't bother anyone.

Too many people, too many mixed emotions. Normally, Yui would read all that as a single "mood" created and shared by everyone. But her mind can't keep so many tabs present anymore. It feels like she's being weakened in real time by having so many people ooze their feelings into the room, choking Yui until all she can do is hug the folder she brought with her close to her chest. Trying to cover her own insecurities with a physical barrier.

"Here you go." Saitou Miyako got the last cup in front of her husband, placing the disk-thing she used to hold the tea cups on the table itself and sitting to Saitou Ichigo's right. As close to the edge as she could, putting enough space between them that a small child could fit there. "Sorry for the wait. Are you sure you don't want anything?"

Aren't they married? Why the distance? Ugh… So many things happening at once!

"We're good, thanks." Shizuka-san replies carefreely, but that's as far as cordiality goes. Everyone else seems to bring their attention to the Saitou couple, tensing up a little more. "Shall we carry on with the presentations?"

"I… Suppose that's for the best." Saitou Miyako replies as she gives Yui's friends a look over. "Never mind that there's so many of you, I don't think we've exchanged formalities."

Formalities, huh. It's always so awkward… So much so, that Yui's brain just tries to oppose the idea. And…

Hmmm.

In summary, the dark green-haired girl is Ari, the lighter brunette is Kyun, the darker brunette is Watanabe. All of which gave no further names or identification features, to no surprise. They really don't want to be there, huh. Especially Ari, who was waiting for one of the other members and obviously took a hit to the mood when the girl didn't show up.

Director Gotanda's presence was a bit of a mystery, as he just said he'd been called by Saitou Ichigo. And then, it was everyone else's turn.

Yoshi-kun, Sai-chan, Komachi-chan, Yumiko, Hina, Shizuka-san, Hikki, and Yui herself. More people than on Strawberry Pro's side, but just as unwilling to breach the topic. They just… Said their names, with little to no friendliness. Not even Sai-chan, who still looked sort of awkward.

Seems like the silence would stretch again and…

"Say, Hikigaya." Saitou Ichigo's voice prevented that from happening, however. He doesn't seem very bothered by the coldness of the people present, and Yui can see it in the way he lets himself rest on the couch while stretching his back against it. "Quite the selection of people you have going on, huh."

What a strange way to start a conversation! Yes, there are many girls here. But not really! Most friend groups Yui knows have both boys and girls, after all. Like, okay. Hina and Saki-Saki aren't here. But even discounting that, Shizuka-san and Komachi-chan do not count. Even with more girls than boys, this should be a very normal group. Unless Yui missed something.

"These are the least pain in the ass people I could find." Hikki scoffs. It felt to Yui like he took offense on the comment, but not enough to acknowledge it.

He sits back, kind of mimicking Saitou Ichigo's motion. But a lot stiffer. Still uncomfortable.

The idols react oddly. Of course, they don't know that Hikki's joking. Neither do the older people sitting, but they don't seem to care enough to react too much to the comment. At least not the men. Saitou Miyako looks away, sort of trying to hide her expression. But it feels to Yui like she's simply putting herself out of the picture. Letting the ones engaged in conversation continue.

"Said like a real pain in the ass." Shizuka-san scoffs.

"Says the main pain in the ass." Yumiko did the same with only a second of difference.

"See what I mean?" Hikki rolls his eyes but doesn't take offense, since it doesn't seem like he wants to defend himself. It makes Yui chuckle, feeling like this is a scene she has seen before.

"Yeah. Sometimes people just don't appreciate what you do for them." Saitou Ichigo shakes his head, earning himself a glare from his wife. "Still, I'd have appreciated it if you told us more people would be coming beforehand."

"Would you have agreed?" Hikki asks while turning his head to the left a little. It does feel like it's unclear whether that'd be the case or not. But given the head of the company is here… Maybe it goes without saying?

"You don't think we'd give you this much leeway? I thought Miyako said you were a smart kid."

"It's precisely because I'm smart that I doubt that's the case."

"Well, you have us in a bit of a pickle. I think this much is fine, since they probably already know what's going on." The man turns his gaze to Shizuka-san, narrowing his eyes a bit when the teacher holds the stare with uncaring ease.

"Sup." The woman lifts her chin a bit, and that brings Saitou Ichigo out of his mental space enough that he has to look back at Hikki to concentrate.

Hehehehe… Seems like the guesswork Shizuka-san and Hikki made is true. Behaving like they're just playing around does bother someone trying to salvage their life's work… Not like Yui agrees to that sort of bullying; but seeing a boss having to scramble to keep the flow in his favor is… Very, very nice.

"That's… More upfront than I expected." Komachi-chan inters the conversation. As the most involved person here, she probably expected a lot more resistance. But, well. That doesn't seem to be the case.

"I did promise you'd be compensated for letting us deal with the fallout to our own discretion." Saitou Miyako also chimes in as the weight of her remorse makes her tilt her head down a bit. "Although we don't guarantee success in whatever you want to try, we will give you the tools to do so."

"And these girls?" Hikki, you can't just point at girls like that! They're not eyesores, they're probably here for a reason!

"They deserve to know what's going on behind closed door." Saitou Ichigo responds like it's the most evident thing in the world.

"Right. Of course you think that." Hikki comments.

"You think that now." Komachi-chan adds.

The idols seem confused for a moment. But it feels like it's starting to dawn on them that Hikki's basically harmless here. Or at least, they direct their distrust toward their boss instead.

Probably for the best in the long run. Bosses always look out for their own interests first, after all.

Still, that's probably not conductive to a normal conversation…

"Ummm, so that's it?" Yui lifts her hand, not letting anyone make things worse. Hikki promised her an interview, after all. But it seems like Yui would have to do the heavy lifting for herself. Fair, of course. But she still would resent Hikki for blowing it off before she could do anything. "So I don't need this?"

"What is that?" Saitou Miyako narrows her eyes as she sees what Yui is holding.

"It's, ummm. My resume." Yui stands up and reaches for the table, placing the folder on top. "I've only worked at stores and stuff, but that's still my work experience."

The Saitou couple look extremely confused now.

"Yui's looking for a job." Yumiko speaks up, probably puffing her chest a bit behind Yui. Using her natural aura to make everyone listen in spite of not really shouting or speaking too loudly. "Not a joke gig like the ones you offer; but an actual, stable job. You can provide her one, right?"

"You think we're playing around here, lassie?" Saitou Ichigo's reaction changes the idols' own. They might've taken offense by Yumiko's comment. Yet, once more, it read to Yui like they had something going on that changed their mood when their boss also took it badly.

"I know this is a fundamentally unserious company." Yumiko scoffs while Saitou Miyako reaches out for Yui's resume.

"That's why the public is the public, and producers are the ones making money." The boss-man shrugs.

The director has to hide a chuckle as to not make his side look too bad. That's… Probably a poor defense, right? At least Yui understands that no one on her side of the room really cares for the money or the fame, not in the way he implies it's important.

"Oh, dear. Minimum wage jobs…" Saitou Miyako looks like she's about to cry as she opens the folder. "I see, I understand."

"Anything you can give her is probably better. But I trust that you can do more than just 'better'." Hikki immediately interjects. Talking calmly, but his eyelids narrowed enough that it feels like he's physically aiming with an invisible projectile. Centering his concentration on the woman completely. "At the very least, something that lets her start the day at a reasonable time, and go back home at a reasonable hour."

"Is that it? This is an entertainment company; I think we can do a lot more for your friend here." Saitou Ichigo looks a little offended. But Hikki doesn't pay any attention to him, so the man turns to Yui instead. "You don't have any aspirations of trying something like that out?"

"Err… Well, when I was little, I wanted to be an idol. Hehehe…" Yui scratches the back of her head, but even without looking she can tell the girls behind the boss tensed up as soon as she said that. "But that's in the past. I'd rather have a real job to pay the bills."

"Being an idol is a real job." Ari seems offended by the comment, but Yui hadn't meant to do that. How troublesome, what should she say now? "Though it takes a lot of skill, dedication, and passion."

"It can't take that much skill." Yumiko scoffs, making Ari frown at her.

"Part of the charm is making that happen." Yoshi-kun chimes in. Yui hadn't noticed, but since he recognized these girls, he had been positively vibrating with barely contained excitement. Probably why he chose that cool-looking position to stay still.

Is this what "I'm holding my real power here!" means?! That's kind of cool…

"Yes, thank you." Ari smiles at the guy with that demure expression that Yui would often associate with Yukinon being cutely serious or seriously cute. "I see some people understand these things."

"Sorry, I'm an athlete. Not really too into these things." Yumiko scoffs.

The room is starting to heat up but no one does anything to stop them. It looks like the adults are a little amused by the exchange, even.

"Of course. It's not like you look like idol material anyway." An unexpected jab! Why did the serious lady-like girls always use that method to attack?!

"I don't want to hear that from a backup dancer." Yumiko lets out a grin, utilizing information she'd probably heard from the girl that attacked Komachi-chan before.

"You…"

"Hey, catty girls." Shizuka-san interrupts now. Getting into her serious teacher mode. "Calm down. Aren't you a little too old to be clawing at each other like that?"

"Compared to who?" Yumiko?! Are you insane?! You can't…!

"Huh?! You wanna go outside, punk?!" Shizuka-san gets to her feet in a single motion! She's lifting her fist and basically oozing bloodlust now! "C'mon. I'll throw hands with a kid. I don't give a damn…!"

The door to the office opens up, making everyone freeze in place as two new people enter.

"…And it's like… so…" A kind-faced man enters, giving the whole room a good look as his words die out in his mouth. A girl follows him close by, but she doesn't seem to pay attention to anything but him. "Ummm. Are we interrupting something?"

Normally, a question like that would get a quick response. A calm "no, that's fine" that would settle the dispute without anything going wrong. But that's not what happened.

Instead, it felt like the whole room changed when the girl kept walking into the side of Strawberry Pro. Heedless of the dangerous mood permeating everything.

Had her hair been darker, Yui would've thought that this is what a Haruno-san-like Yukinon would look like, or maybe a Yukinon-like Haruno-san. Carefreeness mixed in with an aura of being different from everyone else, being affected by anything in her physical proximity, moving at her own rhythm.

"Sorry for the wait!" The girl's brightness almost fooled Yui into thinking that people hadn't been arguing before she arrived. Even so, the other idols' movements grounded Yui. Making her realize that the girl's very presence pushed them away, opening a spot for her to reside between Ari and Kyun. Making Watanabe take the other edge.

She needed no introductions, and so no one moved to do that. Nor did she try to introduce herself.

The Hikigaya siblings visibly tensed up when Ai-chan stopped in her tracks, getting to her spot, and giving them all a cheerful smile in place of a greeting.

"Ah, there you are." Saitou Ichigo shakes his head, turning almost completely to give Ai-chan a look before addressing the other man entering the room. "Did you get lost or something?"

"We were just catching up." The man laughs it off, seemingly not minding the silence that had stretched out. Giving Shizuka-san time to sit back. "It's been a while since I saw Ai-kun."

"Oh, Kaburagi-san~" Ai-chan places her hands on her cheeks, moving from side to side like she feels embarrassed. But it doesn't quite hit. "I'm an adult now, please don't say weird stuff like that!"

It clicks when she regards everyone, though. Making Yui's mind go "aha!" when their eyes meet.

She's not looking at them. It's like… Yes, Ai-chan is looking in their direction. But she's not focusing on them like people do when scanning a room. Her gaze doesn't change when it lands on anyone, she just… Carries on like there's nothing there. It's the same stare that can be seen in magazines and on the stage. The brain doesn't find it weird, because people naturally understand that the image on the first is not alive. While the people at a concert are usually too far away and are too many for a single singer's focus to land on anyone in particular.

Like that. Ai-chan's stare is like that. A wide-lensed sort of stare. Like the room is a still picture to her, and she doesn't expect actual human interaction from regarding anyone.

It's like Yui has started a staring contest with a wax statue. Unilateral, and even a bit creepy.

"Fashionably late, I see." Saitou Miyako scoffs. Making Ai-chan's creepy gaze change direction. Yui almost sighed in relief. It felt like those high-tension scenes where something or someone is looking for the heroes with a flashlight, and the heroes narrowly avoid being detected; only for the wardens or whatever to hear a noise or continue looking elsewhere. "At least tell me you didn't sneak any modifications to the schedule this time."

Hikki had weirdly inexpressive and small eyes, yes. But… Who knows? Maybe Yui just grew too fond of them to really be creeped out anymore.

"Don't worry, Miyako-san. I'm taking things easy." Ai-chan closes her eyes in a kind smile. But it feels a little too wide now, a little forceful. "Eh? What is that?"

"It's this girl's resume." Saitou Miyako motions toward Yui, making Ai-chan actually regard her in full and…

There's surprise in Ai-chan's face.

Yui lowers her head, feeling heat spread there. She doesn't need any comment to know where Ai-chan is looking.

"Ummm. Just so you know, we don't do any gravure idols in the company." Ai-chan makes the mistake of trying to be obtuse with her thoughts regarding Yui's body.

"Ai-chan?!"

"Ai…!"

"Huh?!" Yumiko punches the backrest of the couch, close to Yui's shoulders. "The hell did you say?!"

"What even…?" Komachi-chan whispers, and Yui doesn't need to look to know that even Hikki is doing the equivalent of a cat ruffling the hair of its back as it gets pissed off.

"Ah! Haha…! That's… That's good to know! I guess!" Yui waves her hands while trying to get the attention back to her, feeling her face burn as she realizes that Ai-chan is still siphoning all the attention to herself.

"Take that back!" Now, Yumiko's voice is loud. "Apologize to Yui right now!"

"Eh? But it's the truth…" Ai-chan pouts, looking troubled but not actually confused. More like, not knowing what to do now that people are pissed off.

"What Ai is trying to say," Saitou Ichigo jumps in, standing up and placing a hand facing Ai-chan and the other to Yumiko. Like he was willing them to be pushed back. "Is that you should rest assured and trust our suggestions. I've been trying to show that we're willing to meet you halfway, whatever you choose to do. So, in return, we'd like a bit of trust if or when we make suggestions to help you. We're not the kind of people that will take advantage of young and beautiful girls."

"Well, I mean…" Watanabe looks away with a grin, shrugging. The little shit seems to be more comfortable thanks to Saitou Ichigo.

"You're not helping here…" The man hisses.

"Tell your center to stop being dumb then~" The girl hisses back.

"But…"

"Apologize!" Yumiko cuts Ai-chan off, angrier now.

"Yumiko-san…" Sai-chan looks a bit scared now, and Yoshi-kun places himself in such a way that Yumiko would have to sidestep him if she wants to approach the idol.

Shizuka-san looks ready to stand up too, eyeing the blonde girl with more seriousness than before. Even Hikki looks ready to stop her, but his attention is split between her and Ai-chan in such a way that makes Yui think he won't be on time if Yumiko jumps.

She won't, but he'd fail all the same.

"But…"

"Okay. Ai, they're civilians. Some people think that working as a gravure idol is more than a perfectly standard job, like any modeling business." Saitou Ichigo snaps his fingers, bringing Ai-chan's attention back to him. "Some people might take offense on that. Just apologize, will you? Or did you mean to offend the girl here."

"Eh? Of course not!" Ai-chan bounces back into disregarding the mood she herself set, bending forward into a 90 degrees apology stance. "Sorry! I didn't mean to imply anything! I truly, honestly thought it was worth mentioning."

Saitou Miyako had also bent down. But because she was still sitting down, it looked like someone had folded her, and she was waiting to be picked up like a bag. With her hands firmly on her face, or so it looked from Yui's position.

"It's… It's fine, hehehe…" Yui accepts the apology as soon as she can, preventing anyone from making it more of a problem than it already is. "It is reassuring! Kind of… I guess…"

The silence that stretched from that point could've muffled a gunshot from how deafening it was.

"So…" Hikki spoke up this time, barely containing his feelings as he regarded the still bent Miyako. "About Yui-san's job…"

"Right!" The woman lifted herself up, brightening as Hikki gave her a way to carry the conversation again. "If it's a normal job, we should hold an interview. See how we can accommodate her. How does that sound?"

Oh~! Accommodations sound like less time wasted coming and going from home to work and vice versa!

"That'd be lovely!" Yui cheers up instantly, clasping her hands together dreamily.

"Uh huh. Then, I guess you can come with me." Saitou Miyako stands up, clearly wanting to leave the room behind as soon as possible. "Ah, Hiratsuka-san…"

"Yes, my bribe." Their former teacher makes a money sign with her hand. Not as happy and unbothered as before.

"Your compensation." Saitou Miyako corrects her without much energy. "And… Anyone else that isn't looking to enter the industry itself?"

Hikki perks up at the question.

"I'm looking more at following Komachi close by. I don't know where that fits."

Saitou Miyako frowns a little.

"I… Guess we can talk it out?" She then looks at her husband, still frowning. "Guess you can take care of the rest?"

"Yeah." Saitou Ichigo sighs. "Guess I'll also interview everyone, see where they stand. Gotanda-san and Kaburagi-san are two close associates of ours. Any promising new talents we find should go to them, in case you want to try your way into theater, or the big or small screen."

He then turned to the girls behind him, giving them a stern look.

"That also goes for you, girls. Although you should talk to them directly while I interview these girls and guy."

"Guys." Ai-chan interjects almost instantly. "There's two guys here."

"Eh?" Saitou Ichigo turns around, regarding the group of friends again.

Ai-chan points at Sai-chan.

"He's a guy."

"…I am." Sai-chan looks uncomfortable with the attention.

"Ah… My bad." Saitou Ichigo scratches the back of his head. "Man, this meeting sucks. Tell you what. We have prepared sandwiches, cookies, stuff like that. Let's grab something to eat and we start again with the interviews, how does that sound?"

No one wanted to answer, so most of the team looked at Hikki for a decision.

Hikki already looks like he aged ten thousand million years in the span of ten seconds.

"Fine."

Phew. So glad he chose the right answer! It feels like the whole room thinks that while Ichigo-san motions toward the door leading to the main corridor.