Rinto looked at Sakiko's tear-smeared face and reached out to wipe her tears.
Maybe to make herself seem more adult for part-time work, she'd put on makeup—eyeshadow, too.
As Rinto wiped at the black-streaked corners of her eyes, it felt almost like fitting a mask over her:
"You're just a kid too. I don't know what happened that forced you to go against your heart and abandon your friends. But what you need isn't to take responsibility for Takamatsu Tomori; it's to take responsibility for this—to explain it clearly."
"...Do I go tell Tomori?"
Sakiko looked at Rinto, soft and fragile, asking for his opinion.
Right now she was truly delicate, even craving the judgment of someone she didn't know that well yet—Rinto.
He didn't decide for her:
"I trust my eyes. The Togawa Sakiko I know is capable, sensible, and stubborn in a good way. I believe you had your reasons. When you're ready to tell me, I'll listen—anytime."
"So what I hope most is that you can be at peace with yourself. Whether you need to find Tomori and lay everything out, you can decide that for yourself—just don't cry like this again."
Rinto cupped Togawa Sakiko's face.
He also wanted to know what had driven this girl—clearly born to privilege—to take a part-time job and avoid everyone from her past as if cutting all ties.
Reasons could be countless. But there was only one thing Rinto should—and wanted to—do:
"If you need it, I can help. I can find a chance to invite Tomori out so you two can talk, that kind of thing."
"Do you know the Yoshizawa sisters? I don't know if they're in your class, but they're celebrities at school now. If I ask, I'm sure they'll help."
"...Senpai, aren't you also..."
With her face cradled in Rinto's hands, Togawa Sakiko felt the warmth of his palm and only cried harder.
It was like she'd never felt another person's body heat before; that simple warmth moved her to the point of hiccuping sobs—nothing elegant about it.
She wailed, muffled and unclear: "Senpai, you're also just a high schooler!"
"But why are you so mature... you don't blame me, don't scold me, and you're thinking so much on my behalf... Compared to you, I'm just a willful child..."
"Even if we're both high schoolers, life mileage isn't the same."
Rinto grinned with an unearned, show-offy smugness: "I'm a two-timer playboy, after all, and I live with a twenty-year-old rock singer. Our life experience is not on the same level. From where I'm standing, yeah, you're just a kid putting on a brave face. So if you need help, don't be shy—ask me anytime."
"Uu... pwease don pinch my cheeks (please don't pinch my cheeks)~ (≧n≦)"
A moment ago Togawa Sakiko had been drowning in sorrow; now Rinto was squishing her soft cheeks, and she pouted and fussed like a child.
Their coworkers outside the break room saw the whole scene crystal clear and were dying of envy at these two high-schoolers living out a youth-drama moment... too blinding!
When quitting time hit, the outsourced call-center team scattered like birds and beasts—gone within five minutes.
Togawa Sakiko and Rinto blended into the flow and walked out together.
"...Senpai, do you have a shift tomorrow?"
Sakiko clutched her handbag a bit nervously, sneaking glances at him.
She'd cried hard at noon; though she'd touched up her makeup, her eyes were still pink around the edges, making her look even more doll-like and cute.
Rinto checked his phone:
"Tomorrow I've got plans with friends, so I dropped my shifts. Next time I'll be here is next week."
"But anyway, we can talk at school. If you don't mind, I can introduce you to my friends, too..."
Sakiko: "A girlfriend?"
The great Togawa-ojousama completely ignored his words and stepped closer instead.
She was even smaller than the Yoshizawa sisters at Rinto's place—only 155 cm.
Rinto was almost 30 cm taller, the size difference striking.
That feeling made Sakiko think he could scoop her up one-handed at any moment.
Like the way she handled a beloved dress-up doll, he could pick her up and turn her this way and that, controlling everything...
The indecent image made her heart lurch; her blush deepened:
"You're going on a date with your girlfriend? When you said at lunch you were 'two-timing,' you meant the famous Yoshizawa twins, didn't you?"
"So your relationship with them is licentious... That's too indecent! I think you should correct your lifestyle, and focus first on studies and career. With your talent and character, your future achievements will be limitless. I don't think indulging in women at such a young age is good!"
Rinto: "Oh? From the way you're saying it, are you planning to invest in my future—or build it with me?"
He narrowed his eyes playfully and leaned down to tease her.
As expected, the well-bred lady at her core flushed scarlet and muttered, "Pervert."
Ah... being called that by this kind of girl felt weirdly great. Rinto felt something awaken inside.
Jokes aside, Sakiko quickly smiled again:
"I'm very grateful for everything you've done. Because of your words, Togawa Sakiko has been reborn."
"The weak me from before is already dead. I'll shoulder the responsibility that is mine, and bring CRYCHIC's matter to a close. I'll go and talk properly with Tomori, and end what needs to end."
Rinto: "...Mm. If you've really decided and won't regret it, I support you."
Though the word "end" always stung a little, if she had truly resolved herself, it wasn't a bad thing.
Her guard had only broken for that moment at noon; soon after she rebuilt it, fast and firm. Rinto couldn't help admiring her strength.
Her smile grew sweeter:
"CRYCHIC may be over, but I now have you as an accomplice. In just two shifts you've seen me lose face so many times—I really do want you to take responsibility."
"Senpai, with your communication skills—especially your languages—working as a call center rep at a telecom is a waste. I need to think about how to let you use your talents better..."
As she spoke, her voice dropped into planning mode:
"Translation, or tutoring? A second-year teaching first-years might be hard; I'd have to convince Mutsumi's parents... No, I can think even bigger. Rinto-senpai is so handsome and tall—you could totally pass for a college student..."
Rinto: "Uh... Sakiko-san? What are you plotting?"
"It's nothing—my own business."
Cool big Sakiko flicked her long hair; confident, she looked like a petite queen.
Gold flashed in her amber eyes:
"I'll definitely repay this favor. Please be ready. ...Oh, and you said you live with a twenty-year-old rock singer? Is she pro or indie? Could you introduce me?"
Rinto: "Oh, sure. Her name's Kawaragi Momoka—just search Momoka and you'll find her."
As he spoke, Rinto opened the social app and showed her Momoka's account.
He also glanced at the private sub-account Yamada Ryo had told him about yesterday.
And in that instant, his eyes went wide.
[Enough. I'm going home.]
Just those six ambiguous characters. No caption, no emojis.
But those words alone sent a chill through Rinto like never before:
"Sorry, Sakiko—call me if anything comes up. I have to go!"
"...Senpai?"
Sakiko didn't have time to reach out before Rinto sprinted into the dusk.
His urgency made her feel, for a second, almost envious.
"...Kawaragi Momoka. The former vocalist of 'Diamond Dust,' right?"
A blur of online information reflected in the gold of Sakiko's eyes, swallowing up every trace of her innocence.