"But it's precisely because of that, that I absolutely must cherish the band I have now... cherish Anon, who allowed me to start all over again!"
"...What do you mean?"
Hearing the first half of the sentence, Tetsuya had almost reached his conclusion. However, the second half of Takamatsu Tomori's reply suddenly added a great deal of confusion to his heart.
"What does wanting to reform [CRYCHIC] have to do with Anon?"
"Because I know that even if you really can get back in touch with Sakiko and Mutsumi, Chihaya-san, the Sakiko and Mutsumi of today are no longer the same as they were during the [CRYCHIC] era! Even if we really got back together, we... would no longer be the [CRYCHIC] of the past!"
Unexpectedly, Takamatsu Tomori expressed a view very similar to Togawa Sakiko's.
Her voice when she said these words was much louder than usual, and her expression showed none of its usual timidity.
As if she were venting, as if she were trying to convince herself with this uncharacteristically firm resolve.
Just how long had she been holding these words back in her heart?
Just as Tetsuya was still stunned by this sudden outburst, a trace of indescribable loneliness crept into Tomori's tone.
"I haven't seen Sakiko and Mutsumi for too long... so I can't be sure at all if they would still enjoy our time together like they used to! Or rather... I just don't want to leave them with any more bad memories."
Takamatsu Tomori unconsciously clenched her hands, her voice trembling as she spoke:
"Before we formed [CRYCHIC], I was always alone. No one could understand me, and I could never understand others... It was [CRYCHIC] that gave me the chance to change all that. It was everyone who made me no longer lonely... It was Sakiko who taught me how to properly interact with others!"
"But even in the end, I still couldn't do anything for them... It was all because I was too weak, too incompetent! And now... because of Anon's encouragement and companionship, I finally have the courage to start over. So this time, I absolutely don't want to repeat the same mistakes, and I don't want to lose my important companions again!"
At this point, she lifted her head, her incomparably resolute eyes, shimmering with tears, fixed on Tetsuya.
"Whether it's now or in the future... I will never abandon Anon. This is both my atonement for the past and how I will cherish the future. I... I don't want to be disliked by others because of my weakness anymore..."
"..."
Takamatsu Tomori's answer sent Tetsuya into a state of intense shock.
On one hand, it was because of this uncharacteristic frankness and strength; on the other, it was because of the unforgettable regret and guilt she held in her heart for [CRYCHIC] and Sakiko...
This child, it seemed, had placed the blame for [CRYCHIC]'s disbandment entirely on herself.
But in reality, according to what he had heard from Sakiko, Sakiko had explicitly wanted to use that method to make everyone resent her, thereby logically shifting the responsibility to herself.
Their perspectives didn't match up at all.
But even so, they had both reached the same conclusion—
[CRYCHIC] was destined never to return to how it was, so compared to a past filled with regret and remorse, they should seize the present and the future.
...
"I'm sorry, Takamatsu-san."
Tetsuya, who now completely understood Tomori's feelings and thoughts, bowed his head deeply to the girl who was on the verge of tears before him.
The suspicion and wariness in his heart had completely vanished, leaving only sympathy and compassion for the girl in front of him.
"I said some very irresponsible things to you just now... I made you feel troubled and sad, and for that, I am truly sorry. But please rest assured, all of my actions were entirely my own idea and had nothing to do with Anon, so you don't need to worry that Anon might harbor these same suspicions towards you."
Tetsuya gave Takamatsu Tomori his assurance.
"So whether it's disgust or fear, you only need to direct it at me."
"Eh? I-I don't think that at all!"
Faced with Tetsuya's solemn apology, Tomori hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and reverted to her previous volume and tone.
"I understand. You weren't deliberately trying to make things difficult for me, Chihaya-san, you were asking me those questions out of consideration for Anon! So I don't blame you at all! In fact... that thoughtfulness and gentleness you have for Anon, I-I really like it... ah, no, not like! Should I say admire it? Or yearn for it... Ugh, what's the right word to use here..."
Takamatsu Tomori, unskilled in social interaction, descended into incoherent confusion over her own choice of words.
But in any case, the fact that she did not hate Tetsuya because of this was, in the end, properly conveyed to him.
"Whether it's about [CRYCHIC] or the band you've formed now, I am a complete outsider. So I have no right to meddle in your band's affairs... As Anon's older brother, there is only one thing I want to say—"
Tetsuya maintained his bowed posture and said to the girl before him in an incredibly solemn tone:
"Takamatsu-san, from now on, please continue to be good friends with Anon."
"Yes!"
Takamatsu Tomori also nodded seriously in response:
"I will definitely cherish my friendship and connection with Anon!"
"...Thank you, Takamatsu-san."
Tetsuya's heart finally relaxed, and a faint smile even appeared on his face.
And Tomori, who had been watching Tetsuya intently from the start, saw this subtle smile and also broke into a genuine grin.
She could feel that, at this moment, the two of them had truly understood each other's thoughts and accepted each other's existence.
She was no longer as nervous as when she had first arrived. Not only that, but just looking at the side of Tetsuya's face, now devoid of all defensiveness and suspicion, she could feel the same warmth that had surged through her when she had poured out her heart—
"I should be thanking you... Chihaya-san."
Takamatsu Tomori clutched the uniform over her chest and said to Tetsuya:
"What I just said were secrets I never had the chance to confide in anyone. Thanks to you, I was finally able to let them out and clarify my own thoughts. This feeling of relief, as if a heavy burden has been lifted... I haven't felt it in a very long time."
At this, she suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added:
"Right, this might be asking too much, but... I hope you can keep this a secret from Anon for me for now, Chihaya-san! Um, I will explain it all to her in my own way one day. Until then... please give me a little more time."
"Don't worry. The reason I deliberately sent her away was to prevent her from hearing this in the first place. The matter of [CRYCHIC] has nothing to do with her. And the issues between you all should, of course, be resolved by yourselves."
Tetsuya agreed readily:
"But before that, I'll have to trouble you to wash your face, Takamatsu-san... Your eyes are a little red right now. If Anon sees them, she might notice something."
"Ah! That won't do!"
Hearing this, Tomori quickly stood up from the sofa.
"I-I'll go wash my face right now... Um, excuse me, the washroom is..."
"It's straight down the hall. Ah, as for a towel, you can borrow Anon's for now. It's the pink one."
"Yes! I understand!"
With that, Takamatsu Tomori hurried to the washroom and quickly used cold water to cool the residual heat in her eyes.
Then, just as she was about to borrow the pink towel as Tetsuya had suggested, the sea-blue towel placed next to it instantly caught her attention.
(This towel... it must be Chihaya-san's, right?)
Sea-blue, huh... I wonder how it's different from Anon's...
...
As if possessed, Tomori inexplicably reached her hand out towards the light blue towel. But the moment her hand touched the slightly damp softness, she immediately retracted her fingers as if she'd received an electric shock—
(Wh-What was I just trying to do!?)
Her consciousness restored, Tomori hurriedly grabbed the pink towel and hastily wiped the water droplets from her face.
(It must have been that conversation that made my mind all fuzzy... I'm still a guest in someone else's house. I absolutely can't let my guard down like this again!)
Bang—!
"I'm back!"
Just as Tomori was feeling extremely flustered over her own muddle-headedness, Anon finally returned home with the drinks she had just bought.
"Eh? Where did Tomori go?"
"I'm here!"
Hearing Anon's call, Tomori quickly came out of the washroom.
"I was just washing my hands! Um, I borrowed your towel for a bit, Anon..."
"No worries, no worries. I was just about to wash my hands too! Here, Brother, this is for you."
As Anon spoke, she handed the plastic bag in her hand to Tetsuya, then walked into the washroom with the same cheerful spring in her step as when she had left.
"..."
"..."
After that, Tetsuya and Tomori exchanged a subtle, knowing glance before each walking towards the dining table.
"I heard from Anon that you don't like fish roe, so I made sure to avoid those... Oh, and I didn't order shrimp either. Since that would also give you that... what was it, 'eating a living thing' feeling, right?"
"Eh? You can understand that feeling too, Chihaya-san?"
"I wouldn't say I understand it, more like it's easy to imagine. After all, part of a designer's job is to understand these kinds of abstract and subjective feelings as much as possible."
"I see..."
"I'm done washing up—Hm? What were you two just talking about?"
"About the relationship between 'life' and 'sushi'."
"Is that the title of a philosophical essay or something?"
"Alright, alright, hurry up and sit down... Takamatsu-san, how much wasabi do you want?"
"Just a little is fine."
"Okay... I won't bother asking for you, Anon."
"Hehe, I'll leave it to you, Brother~"
Just like that, as if nothing had happened, Tetsuya continued to clumsily but earnestly host Takamatsu Tomori.
However, unnoticed by either of the siblings, the frequency with which Tomori looked at Tetsuya had become much higher than before.
"...How nice."
"Hm? Tomori, did you say something?"
"Nothing."
This weekend, it seemed, was destined to be much longer than usual.