Disclaimer: Same as before

Round Table Conference

There was a round table in their office. Shiny, new, round table. It placed beside their usual, the rectangle table, and the sofa. Three seats, circled around this table, had already occupied.

On the first one, there was Kikuchi Makoto. She was seating with her usual manly aura surrounded her, and maybe with a bit of feminine side hidden behind.

Next, in the direction of rotating clock, seat Yukiho with her feminine pose and shy posture. In front of her, on the table, there was a glass of green tea, her favorite drink. Next again, there was Hibiki with her lovely hamster sat on her shoulder.

The three were talking to each other around this lovely round table. Now, what's the topic of their talk? Well, it is the rumor. Oh. How human always like something like this very much. What did you think of him? Was he cheating on his wife? Were they close or not? And blahblahblah whatever the truth is.

Don't be shy to admit it. You, all, like that too, right? Though, there was rumor with some malice in it, there was rumor as harmless as kitten too. So... why were they talking about it? And what rumor they were talking?

"Aggh. Why do they think I like Haruka like that just because I said I like her in that interview. This is so weird…," said Makoto while hiding her face behind her arms. Her tone sounded very frustrated.

"Hha… even though we all said the same things. You are always taking the spotlight for thing like this, huh? Not like me minded!" teased Hibiki with a grin, showing her fangs to others.

"Don't say it like I'm the one who want it," mumbled the young pretty boy—actually a girl idol. "Sigh… there was time when they paired me with Yukiho too. Now what? And next what?"

"Aa… c-calm down, Makoto-chan. I think they just like… making up rumor like that… because it's… err… interesting or something," said Yukiho, frantically, trying to reassuring the black-haired boy—sorry, girl.

"You calm down too, Yukiho," Makoto lifted her face from the table, looked at the brunette with her charming smile. "I'm only hoping… well… someone doesn't mind it too much. About the rumor, I mean."

"Ahh… I-I see," Yukiho blushed.

"Stop acting like the lovebirds in front of me. Me feeling like a third wheel right now, no thanks to you two," grumbled the animal lover, frowned.

"Right, right, Hibiki doesn't understand what I mean, yeah?" Table has turned. Not literally. It was now Makoto's time to teasing her friend. The shorthaired girl grinned widely.

"Ha? Whatcha talking 'bout?"

"No, no… you have to thinking about it yourself," Makoto shook her head, satisfied.

"Yukipo?" Hibiki turned her head to the shy, gentle girl. She wouldn't tease her like Makoto.

"E-eh… I think Makoto-chan means is… someone… like… Chihaya-san. Maybe…"

"Huh?" Hibiki blinked. "What does that mean?"

There was round table at their office. It was shiny, new table. It placed beside the old, usual table, without care of the interior. Maybe someone from the feng shui would object this placement. It would bring bad luck! However, forget about them. Three seats, circled around the table, were used.

First, on one of them, Shijou Takane, the silver queen, sat. She was eating orange elegantly as if they were in kotatsu. Her wavy silver hair was flowing down on her back gracefully. She is really an epitome of high class.

Beside her, in reverse order from the clock's rotation, Azusa sat with her usual carefree smile. Her right hand was on her cheek while she posed as if enjoying her time. Well, maybe she was. Next, on the last seat, there was Ritsuko with her customary business attire. She looked busy, working as usual, just not on her own desk.

The three were busy doing their own things (eating, my-my-ing, and working) while talking from time to time. Now, what's the topic of their conversation? Well, it is the gossip, of course. Oh. How people like it very much. What did he do when he came to hotel? Was she seeing someone right now? Maybe they're a couple and baaaam! Blahblahblah… the truth had been forgotten.

"Hey, what do you think of the gossip? Is it bad? Should we do something or let it go? Waiting for it to die itself?" asked Ritsuko, looking up from her work. Maybe she was a bit tired, if she tried talking about her work to the idols.

"Hm? What's gossip you're referring to?" replied Takane quietly, still eating orange.

"Is the one about Haruka-chan and Makoto-chan?" asked Azusa, putting up her most worried face. My my…

Ritsuko nodded. "Yeah. That one."

Takane smiled mysteriously. She continued peeled one orange after another. "I think you don't have to worry about that. Kikuchi Makoto is… a magnet of gossip like that. She is the most boyish idol from our agency, after all."

"Yeah, I think so too," agreed Azusa. "Like in the gossip in the past… about her and Yukiho-chan. It died down rather quickly."

Ritsuko sighed at their reply.

"Of course. If it was about them, I took precaution and separated their work for a while after that," said the female producer.

"Is that so?" Azusa looked surprised. "My, my…"

"Relax, Ritsuko-san," said Takane calmly. "Gossip is still just gossip no matter how you look at it. As long as there's no truth in there, you should take it easy."

"Well, it's true," muttered Ritsuko. Her eyes hidden behind the glasses. "I just hope someone doesn't take this too seriously and doing badly on the job."

Takane nodded at that. They were reaching conclusion. "I think its fine. They are professional."

"My…?" Azusa blinked in confusion. "What do you two talking of…?"

There was round table. It was new. Still new. Why this table placed beside their old table? The square, more efficient table. Maybe there was something wrong with this table business. Maybe. But for now, three chairs were circling this object, with the user on them.

First, there was Minase Iori, the princess of Minase household. She was sitting, while hugging her favorite bunny plushy, Usa-chan. Next to her, sitting cheerfully, there was Takatsuki Yayoi. She was wearing her trademark orange jacket. Then, the last… Ami-Mami sat on one seat.

""Of course not!""

No?

""No!""

Ah. Okay. Four seats were circling the table. From the first to the last, sat Iori, Yayoi, Ami, and Mami.

""Wrong!""

"Mami next to Yayoicchi!"

"And Ami next to Iorin!"

Is that so? So that's it. Well, no matter. They were seating at their respective seats, talking to each other rather noisily. The topic was really varying… from Usa-chan, dinner's today, their job, nii-chan, till… the news. Oh how people love the news. Hey… tomorrow class has been canceled. The professor is busy doing something else. Yeah. Love it.

"Makoto has been gossiped again," Iori commented while reading the magazine she has bought.

"Eh? What? What?" Yayoi asked curiously, trying to sneak a peek at Iori's magazine.

"No, no… Yayoicchi. You can't do that," said Ami playfully. She tsk-tsk-ed with her pointer finger, moving it a few times.

"Yeah, Yayoicchi," agreed Mami, posing almost like Ami. "News like that isn't something you should dwell it out."

"Unn…? What do you mean?"

"We mean… the news is false. But even false news can turn as the truth if there are many people whom believe it."

"Therefore, it's better if you don't know about it, and decreasing the chance it changed to truth."

Ami and Mami said in turn. Their tone sounded serious. But maybe too serious to be believable. Iori sighed, watching their acts.

"I-is that so? I understand. I don't need to know," said Yayoi earnestly.

'No, no… why do you believe in them so easily?'

"You have done a good job, Yayoicchi. We know we can count on you to be the one."

"Yeah. As someone has said… ignorance is bliss. It's better if you don't know rather getting hurt because of it."

"Uh.. uh yeah! I'll do my best!"

'This was going too far…'

"Stop it, you two!" said Iori annoyed. "Don't teach her something like that!"

""Eeeeh~?""

"Don't 'eeh' me!"

"Iorin no fun…"

"Mm… no fun…"

Ami and Mami whined, acting as if they're the victims. Iori ignored them. She knew it'd no good for her.

"Like I care about your fun," added her harsh.

The twin pouted. They quieted down. Iori did the same, back to her reading.

"Umm…? Ummm?" Yayoi looked confusedly between them. However, the silence prevailed.

There was a round table in their office. It was a mistake from the manufacturer. They actually had to send it to the neighbor building. Nevertheless, for now, the new table still there, beside the old table. There were three chairs circled around it, with three people on each it.

First, Amami Haruka, the other star of this rumor, gossip, and news, was sitting with not-really-her usual demeanor. Next to her, seating rather calmly, Kisaragi Chihaya. And the last, Hoshii Miki sat, slumped on the table, sleeping.

The three sat in silence for some times. Since Miki was napping, Chihaya likes quiet atmosphere, and Haruka wasn't like herself, the silence would not break at all. Although, the brown-haired girl looked like she wants to say something, nervously playing with her hem of skirt.

"…Nee, Chihaya-chan," called Haruka after a while.

"Yes?"

"Do you… what do you think of the rumor?" asked her softly. She looked down on her lap, missing her friend's reaction.

"…I don't think anything," answered Chihaya flatly. However, her body seemed flinched a bit when she heard the question. "It's just gossip."

"…Oh… I see," Haruka nodded to herself, seems understand. Then, she frowned at the table, looked unhappy for some reason. They went quiet again, retaining the tense atmosphere they created.

Meanwhile, Miki sighed deeply in her slumber. What a dense couple.

A/N: I want puchidoll... \A/