Ever since she took on the job of designing an outfit for Chihaya Tetsuya, Togawa Sakiko had been in a state of constant elation.
This high was not only evident when she was drawing her design sheets, but also during recording sessions with her bandmates.
"Something good must have happened to you, Togawa-san, right?"
During a break in rehearsal, Yahata Umiri said to Sakiko, who was drinking some water.
"Compared to our last rehearsal, your piano has a lot more warmth to it."
"..."
Completely unaware of this herself, Sakiko paused for a moment, then lowered her head, embarrassed.
"I didn't even notice... I'm sorry, Yahata-san. I'll readjust as soon as possible."
"It's no problem. This is just rehearsal. As long as there are no major mistakes, a slight change in style isn't a big deal."
Faced with Umiri's understanding nature, Sakiko only felt more flustered.
"No, I've already decided on the tone and style of this song. It's just that I wasn't able to maintain my usual composure today..."
Sakiko said, her face flushing.
"I will get back on track shortly."
"Well, that's a rare sight."
Seeing the unprecedented, age-appropriate bashfulness on Sakiko's face, Yuutenji Nyamu couldn't help but marvel.
"So our captain really is only sixteen this year..."
"...Captain?"
This novel title made Sakiko look over at Nyamu, who nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You're in charge of composing, scheduling, and all the communications. It's not an exaggeration to call you the captain of this band, is it?"
"As the one who formed the band, these are my responsibilities. But let's drop the 'captain' thing. It sounds too strange."
Sakiko shook her head.
"If you really want to change how you address me, you can just call me Sakiko."
"..."
Hearing this, Nyamu froze on the spot, staring blankly at Sakiko. It wasn't until Sakiko's brow furrowed slightly under her gaze that she finally spoke again.
"I see. It looks like something really good happened..."
"Perhaps I should insist on you using formal language after all."
"No, no, my mistake! Let me call you Sakiko! Using honorifics all the time is just too weird! Ah, or would you prefer 'Oblivionis'? You seem to be quite fond of that stage name~"
"Yuutenji-san, how is your practice coming along with the score I gave you?"
"There we go... Sakiko's back to her old self."
Misumi Uika shook her head with a resigned look.
"You'd be better off saying a few less words, Nyamu-san."
"Alright, alright."
"..."
It might be a little rude to think this, but compared to Tetsuya-kun, this girl really doesn't seem like a mature adult at all. Still, the root cause of this exchange was her own inability to manage her mood and state.
I really can't let my guard down.
Just as Sakiko was thinking this, her phone rang.
When she saw the name on the screen, her expression stiffened.
She looked around at her bandmates, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately, between the options of avoiding suspicion and answering the phone quickly, she chose the latter.
"Good afternoon... Mother."
"!?" Hearing this form of address, Uika and Wakaba Mutsumi both wore expressions of utter shock. From the other end of the line came a voice devoid of any emotional inflection.
[Are you planning to come back anytime soon?]
"Come... back?"
The abrupt question made Sakiko freeze for nearly ten seconds before she asked in an uncertain tone.
"Are you talking about... the Togawa estate?"
[No... I'm talking about the house you used to live in.]
"? But, isn't that also part of the Togawa estate?"
[...]
Hearing her question, her mother fell silent for a moment before replying.
[I suppose it is. In that case, if you need to contact me in the future, you can just call this number directly.]
"Ah, yes."
Sakiko nodded, looking baffled, then asked.
"Are there any other instructions?"
[...]
No answer came from the other end. It was unclear if her mother was thinking or simply couldn't be bothered to say any more.
Communication breakdown, as expected.
But there was nothing to be done. In her sixteen years of life, Sakiko had never managed to build a harmonious relationship or have a proper conversation with her mother.
Even so, there was one thing she had to tell her.
"Regarding my father and me, you no longer need to involve yourself."
Sakiko stated.
"Whether it's the source of those funds or the cleanup work, Tetsuya-kun and I will handle it properly."
[...What?]
As if she hadn't heard correctly, a skeptical question came from the other end.
[Are you saying you've completely figured out your father's situation?]
"Yes."
[This isn't some trivial matter you can bluff your way through with stubbornness.]
"I know. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered reporting it to you."
Sakiko's tone was incredibly firm.
"On the day of the joint exhibition two months from now... you will understand."
[...]
Her mother fell silent again for a moment.
[I heard that you went to handle your withdrawal from school by yourself, in your father's absence.]
"Yes."
[The withdrawal confirmation documents should require a parent's signature, shouldn't they?]
"In cases of special family circumstances, a third party can act as a proxy. So I asked Yamabuki... an adult who has taught me a great deal, to sign for me. The documents for enrolling in [Filia] next year have also been signed."
Sakiko said truthfully.
"Please rest assured, since I have decided to leave, I will not cause any trouble for the main family... Is there anything else?"
[...No.]
"Very well. Then please take care of yourself. Goodbye."
As if trying to escape from immense pressure, after rattling off the final farewell in one breath, Sakiko decisively pressed the end-call button.
"Phew... That should settle it."
She put her phone away and said to the others.
"I'm sorry for the delay. Let's continue rehearsal."
"Uhh..."
Looking at her expression, Nyamu tilted her head with a complicated look, then asked with a hint of worry.
"Sakiko... are you sure you don't need another break?"
"Haven't we rested long enough?"
"No, it's just, you look like you just finished a super tough exam..."
Although Nyamu didn't know what had happened between Sakiko and her mother, the series of words she'd used—"withdrawal," "funds," and "main family"—were things an ordinary high school student would never say, and it gave her a sense of a rather heavy situation.
"Don't worry, I'm really fine."
Sakiko shook her head calmly.
"If anything, my current state is even more suitable for rehearsal than before."
Should I thank my mother? The elation brought on by the good news from Tetsuya-kun, which had been spiraling out of control, was instantly doused as if by a bucket of ice water the moment she heard that flat tone.
That's right. This wasn't over yet.
Until the joint exhibition was over, until her father's deal with Ko Ogino was complete, until Tetsuya-kun and Jean had thoroughly defeated [NozAK!], she couldn't consider herself completely free from the Togawa family.
Her happiness was certainly within reach, but the closer it got, the more she had to guard against getting carried away.
"In any case, let's continue. I apologize for making a scene."
"..."
Umiri didn't say anything, simply picking up her bass.
Faced with this obvious family drama, she had no intention of prying as an outsider. For a mercenary who had drifted through dozens of bands, she was long accustomed to viewing the unspoken troubles of others from the sidelines.
The other two, who were already aware of Sakiko's strained relationship with her family, also picked up their instruments, ready to drown out the awkward atmosphere with rehearsal.
And so, to the sound of Sakiko's newly cooled piano, [Ave Mujica] began rehearsing their new song once more...
...
"I see..."
Sakiko's mother put down her phone. A faint, almost imperceptible sense of exhaustion had crept into her previously placid voice.
"Even without her father around, for something as important as withdrawing from school, she doesn't need my signature?"
"You know she would never contact you for something like that, right?"
Mori Minami, who was sitting opposite her, said.
"Putting the relationship between you two aside, would you have even approved her withdrawal request?"
"First... I would have to know what kind of school this [Filia] she mentioned is."
Sakiko's mother said, jotting down the name on her phone.
"And then, find out who exactly signed in my place."
"Just drop it. Doing that will only make the frustration you're feeling now even stronger."
Minami couldn't help but shake her head.
"More importantly, didn't Sakiko just say... that she and Chihaya Tetsuya plan to solve that man's situation by themselves?"
"Yes."
Her mother confirmed it.
"From what she said, it seems they've already figured out the whole story and have a plan for how to handle it."
"Seriously? That's amazing."
Minami stated her first impression with frank honesty.
"You haven't even finished investigating what happened, and those two have already come up with a solution."
"...To be honest, I still find it hard to believe what she said."
Her mother's brow furrowed slightly.
"That man could never afford a sum of that magnitude. As for that young man, Chihaya Tetsuya, it's even more impossible."
"I'd advise you not to underestimate those two."
Minami once again voiced her disagreement.
"You should have investigated that boy, Chihaya Tetsuya, by now. While he himself has no background, the achievements he's made and the connections he's forged are nothing simple. As for Sakiko... that girl is now deeply tied to him."
Recalling the way Sakiko and Tetsuya had presented a united front before her that day, Minami sighed.
"If I had to say it, their bond of trust is probably stronger than that of most married couples in this world."
She paused for a moment before adding.
"I shouldn't have to remind you at this point, but if you dare to question their relationship in front of Sakiko, it will only make her push you away even more."
"..."
Another trace of powerlessness crept into her mother's expression.
Seeing her like this, Minami sighed.
"I'm telling you... can't you just decisively pick a side? This state of having to guard against the main family while being unable to open your heart to your daughter—you won't be able to keep it up forever."
"...If I weren't mediating, how could Sakiko and he have escaped from the main family unscathed?"
Her mother retorted.
"And... I at least have to leave her a path of retreat, for when she's cornered, right?"
"And what about you? If Sakiko and Chihaya Tetsuya manage to completely rid themselves of the Togawa family's debt, won't you have lost any reason to restore your relationship with her?"
"...Perhaps."
Her mother's reply was noncommittal.
"But until then, at least, I will always be Sakiko's last resort when she has nowhere else to turn."
"This family of yours..."
Knowing she couldn't persuade her, Minami shook her head helplessly.
An impractical father, a stubborn mother, and a daughter with a very strong will of her own.
Trying to piece a family like this back together would probably be far more difficult than paying off that debt, wouldn't it?
Looking at the woman before her, who had lowered her head slightly and was lost in thought, Mori Minami let out a deep sigh.