"Thank you all for coming! We hope you enjoyed our performance! Have a good night, and we hope to see you next time!"

...

"...So, for those of you just tuning in, today we have the one and only Operation Phantasm on our show! Now ladies, if you don't mind me asking," the host leaned towards them, "which group or unit do you think is your greatest rival? We've heard about your plans to enter the competition circle."

"No doubt, that would be the Fae from 961 Pro," Chihaya nodded. "The two of them have excellent balance."

"Hm? But the Fae are a duet. You wouldn't normally be competing against them, would you...?"

"We are...expecting them."

"Ha ha! If you say so."

"Besides, there's no trio out there right now that we're afraid of," Makoto grinned, holding up a fist. "We can beat all of them!"

"Gutsy, I like it. Now, you three have only been working with each other for a short time, but you already have great synergy. Can you tell the viewers what you like best about your unitmates? We'll start with you, Azusa."

"Oh...there's just so much," Azusa touched her fingers together. "Makoto-chan has a very contagious energy. Chihaya-chan is very deliberate and decisive. It's something I wish I could emulate."

"That's something a lot of people wish they could do. What about you, Makoto?"

Makoto had been holding her chin for a while. "I really like how...when Chihaya talks, it's like she's singing still. There's this music and rhythm from her. And Azusa-san, as soon as she opens her mouth, you know that everything's going to turn out okay. Does that sound weird?"

"I didn't know you could be so poetic, Makoto-chan."

"Yeah, I guess that did sound kinda weird coming from me, huh? Um, let's see...oh yeah! I like watching Chihaya eat ice cream!" Makoto swung a fist good-naturedly.

"Come again?" the host asked, holding back laughter.

"She does this noise when she eats," Makoto help up her hands. "And she'll eat it so fast, too!"

"What was that - a noise?"

"Yeah! Like, really quiet, but kind of this 'nm nm' noise. It's totally cute."

"Don't be ridiculous," Chihaya looked aside.

"I'm serious! I could watch her eat ice cream all day!"

"Fu fu...and she probably would, too," Azusa smiled.

"Honestly, you two...!"

"Maybe we can bring in some ice cream and watch little Chihaya here eat it," the host turned around. "What? No? Okay, maybe another time. So what do you like the most regarding the other two members of Operation Phantasm, Chihaya? It must have been a completely different experience than your stint as a soloist, was it not?"

Chihaya was caught off-guard by that question. She should have been thinking about it while the other two were talking, but she had been too busy paying attention to what they were saying, and what Makoto had said had completely derailed whatever train of thought she had before, anyway.

She couldn't tell the truth, since that was entirely too personal and stupid-sounding. She...loved the way Makoto smiled, and that subtle wriggle she had when she was excited, like a little kitten or puppy. She loved the way that Azusa would take care of her, despite her saying that she didn't need to be cared for. The way that Azusa would hold her, or hold her and Makoto, was lovely. And that voice...both of theirs, perhaps. She would feel lonely if she couldn't hear them again.

She loved how that they took that belief of hers, that they could not work together, and proved her wrong.

Chihaya knew that she had to say or do something, as many eyes were on her. "I like..." Her hand had been slowly creeping up, and she laid the back of her hand on her forehead, with a single finger extended.

"This..."

The host nodded, making an assenting noise. The other two idols were staring at her, dumbfounded.

"And...this," she turned her hand around, putting two fingers up this time. She broke into a nervous grin. This was totally absurd and she knew it.

"Ah! I get it!" Makoto pointed at her, jumping in her seat. "Me and Azusa - our hair -"

"Oh, my," Azusa put a hand to her cheek. "Do you mean to say that you have ahoge envy, Chihaya-chan?"

"That's not what I meant...!"

"C'mere," Makoto pulled her in for a rough hug, wrapping an arm around Azusa as well. "You're just so cute I could squeeze you!"

"Wa - let go!"

But Chihaya was laughing before long. She would really have it no other way.