"I'm home."
Toyokawa Sakiko stood in the entryway, taking off the small shoes she'd worn all day, her feet in white socks slipping into slippers before walking into the narrow living room.
Without surprise, she saw a middle-aged man lying on the floor, his clothes disheveled, snoring loudly with empty beer cans scattered around him, filling the entire living room with a thick alcoholic smell.
Toyokawa Sakiko silently walked to the man's side, collecting the beer cans from the floor and putting them in trash bags, then cleaned up the living room and kitchen.
When she left this morning, the house should have been clean, but she saw twin tails emerging from the kitchen sink. Before she could scream, they quickly scurried away.
Toyokawa Sakiko stood there in silence for a long time until her stomach growled several times.
Soon, she took some bread nearing its expiration date from the refrigerator - this was her dinner tonight.
Since she could add some jam, it wouldn't be completely dry when swallowing.
Toyokawa Sakiko ate the bread while counting the money in her wallet. Now she had to carefully calculate every penny.
Otherwise she'd repeat her initial naivety, spending a week's worth of living expenses in just two days.
This incident still made Toyokawa Sakiko very regretful. Her current living expenses came entirely from her former allowance - every bit spent meant less remaining.
After counting several times, it could probably last about two more months.
Although she used to be the young lady of the Toyokawa Group, she had no desire to spend money back then and never paid attention to such things, so she'd never actively asked her family for money.
Now, life had finally taught her what money meant, what the pressure of living meant.
Reduced to this place, she could see traces of twin tails everywhere, everything dirty, even dinner consisting only of bread - everything here made the former young lady extremely uncomfortable.
Anyone experiencing such a dramatic fall would feel regret, right?
Half a month ago, Toyokawa Sakiko would have felt overwhelmed with grievance, especially seeing the man sleeping soundly.
However, she was different from her past self now.
She wouldn't show weakness anymore - she had to become stronger.
It should be like this.
But she had just become friends with a boy.
If she told Wakaba Mutsuki, would she find it hard to believe?
Having said such harsh words to everyone yesterday, planning to abandon past weakness, yet immediately making a new friend.
Originally not wanting to form any more bonds with people, she had accepted his jacket, and today even went with him to interview for a new job.
Was it because of what he said, or because she was too weak?
"Happy to help" - Toyokawa Sakiko slowly savored these words. She seemed to have had times when she was happy to help, like saving a girl on a bridge, though it was a misunderstanding.
Toyokawa Sakiko looked at her hands. She had lied to Hoshino Miru - she actually hated it, really hated this feeling.
She hated having people be happy to help her, hated that she would have a day when she needed help.
She should hate it, but she also felt this feeling wasn't bad.
Toyokawa Sakiko closed her eyes. No, she couldn't continue being weak. She had to learn to face life alone, take responsibility, and stop being selfish.
At this moment, she felt her phone vibrate slightly.
Toyokawa Sakiko took out her phone and first saw a message from Hoshino Miru.
「Hoshino Miru: If you have any trouble next time, feel free to tell me.」
Toyokawa Sakiko seemed to see the boy's smile again, and suddenly found herself reluctant to let go.
If not for Hoshino Miru, she'd probably still be struggling to find work right now.
Moreover, she hadn't repaid Hoshino Miru yet.
So she'd keep it for now, at least until she could repay this favor.
「Toyokawa Sakiko: I won't trouble you next time. I was just reflecting on myself.」
「Hoshino Miru: Reflecting on what?」
「Toyokawa Sakiko: If you had ulterior motives, I shouldn't have gone with you.」
「Hoshino Miru: You're just realizing this now?」
Toyokawa Sakiko bit her lip, annoyance flashing in her eyes. What did he mean she was just realizing it now?
Yes, she was indeed just realizing it now - girls shouldn't leave with strangers - but it wasn't her fault. He was the one who said they were going to a friend's house.
Just as Toyokawa Sakiko was thinking how to fight back, her phone vibrated again. Thinking Hoshino Miru was saying something else annoying, she discovered it was a message she least wanted to see.
「Nagasaki Motoyo: Hey, Saki-chan, did something happen? Can you tell me?」
「Nagasaki Motoyo: Quitting the band wasn't your true feelings, right?」
「Nagasaki Motoyo: We had such happy times in the band together - why would you suddenly do this?」
「Nagasaki Motoyo: I'm sorry, I'm not blaming Saki-chan. I really want to meet you. If you could come back, everyone would be very happy.」
「Nagasaki Motoyo: Where are you? Can we meet?」
「...」
Toyokawa Sakiko clicked in to find the other person had been sending messages continuously from last night until now - hundreds of persistent messages.
Since she hadn't had time to check her phone today, she'd completely ignored them.
Clearly, this approach wasn't working.
Toyokawa Sakiko fell silent. The days in the band were indeed her most unforgettable experience.
But she couldn't go back anymore.
The other person quickly noticed Toyokawa Sakiko had read the messages and sent over a dozen more in rapid succession.
「Toyokawa Sakiko: Please don't contact me anymore.」
After sending this message, Toyokawa Sakiko didn't wait for a reply but directly blocked the other person.
She put down her phone and began carefully thinking about how to proceed with her tutoring work.
Although it was just temporary work, she wouldn't give up.
...
At the same time, Eriri was lying in bed, tossing and turning while thinking about this afternoon's scene, occasionally giggling.
Ehehe, she seemed to have kissed a boy!
Though it was only an indirect kiss!
The girl hugged her pillow, her fair, delicate legs fluttering behind her like a lively lobster.
After fluttering for a while, Eriri stopped, seemingly remembering something and blushing.
Had Hoshino Miru really intended to kiss her then?
If he had really kissed her, should she have closed her eyes or held her breath?
Eriri imagined it and felt her whole body heating up. She touched her cheeks - fortunately he hadn't kissed her, or even her ears would be burning.
Well, she was a bit embarrassed.
Because before Hoshino Miru could kiss her, she had gone to the bathroom.
If he had really kissed her, she probably would have... right there on the spot.
Eriri covered her cheeks. There was no reason for this - she shouldn't be this weak, making her seem like a sexually repressed little virgin!
Damn it, it was definitely Hoshino Miru's fault!
The girl gritted her teeth while unconsciously moving her hand downward, wanting to practice and see if it really was her fault.
At this moment, Eriri suddenly heard the sound of a door opening and quickly turned around.
She saw her mother standing in the doorway, their gazes meeting.
"Sorry, I didn't see anything." Sawamura Sayuri quietly closed the door.
"I, I, I, I wasn't doing anything bad!" Eriri was both embarrassed and angry. "Mom, can't you knock next time? I'm not a child anymore!"
Sawamura Sayuri blinked. She was just very concerned about her daughter's relationship progress with her childhood friend, so she thought she'd ask about today's events.
However, it seemed there was no progress, otherwise she wouldn't be taking care of things at home.
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