The girl with sky-blue hair wore a white long-sleeved shirt and a gray plaid skirt.
A crease in the skirt's hem was washed whitish.
It was the only decent outfit Sakiko had left.
Even so.
Ordinary clothes couldn't hide her unique temperament.
Her slightly rounded, pretty face looked exhausted, like a corporate slave after overtime.
Indeed, it was true.
Sakiko had just finished work at the instrument store, heading to her next customer service job.
Thinking of the upcoming work, Sakiko sighed softly.
As she dazed, Hotaru walked up, waved, and said:
"Standing in the road dazed isn't good, Sakiko-san."
"Eh?"
Sakiko's heart skipped, looking up warily.
Seeing Hotaru, she patted her chest, relieved; she thought it was a classmate.
Hotaru found her flustered look amusing, saying apologetically:
"Sorry, did I scare you?"
"No, no."
"I was distracted." Sakiko shook her head, returned to her dignified posture, bowed slightly, "Long time no see."
"Mm, long time no see," Hotaru replied.
They hadn't seen each other much at school.
Hotaru blinked, asked curiously, "What's with this 'young lady' greeting?"
Sakiko's smile stiffened; she'd controlled this habit, but it slipped with Hotaru.
Hotaru didn't mind, praised sincerely,
"Sakiko-san really looks like a well-educated young lady."
Sakiko forced a bitter smile.
"Just finished work?" Hotaru asked.
"Mm." Sakiko nodded.
She looked curiously at the instrument bag on Hotaru's back, not the electronic piano from the store.
"You look unwell?" Hotaru asked.
"Oh?" Sakiko touched her cheek.
"Mm! Very pale."
Hotaru nodded, leaned closer to observe.
His gaze made Sakiko shyly turn away.
Not very close, but too close for her, unused to boys her age.
"Could it be lack of sleep... no, haven't eaten?"
Hotaru concluded.
"No, I ate."
Sakiko shook her head; she'd eaten a small piece of morning's leftover bread for lunch.
Grumble...
Her stomach rumbled.
Sakiko flushed with embarrassment.
"You didn't eat lunch, did you?" Hotaru said.
"I'm not hungry."
Sakiko rubbed her stomach, cursing its betrayal.
Though it rumbled, she didn't feel hungry, just weak.
"You can't go on like this, Sakiko-san." Hotaru sighed, earnest, "Part-time jobs require taking care of your body."
"I know..."
Hotaru felt she didn't take it to heart.
"You're showing signs of low blood sugar."
"Think, what if you faint on the road?"
"Or get sick, medical expenses are costly."
Hotaru's words made sense; Sakiko couldn't refute, her expression complex.
These nagging, caring words were like her mother's.
"So, eat properly."
Sakiko nodded foolishly, "I'll eat properly from now on."
"Then..."
"Finish this."
Sakiko looked up, confused.
Hotaru handed her his Yoshinoya dinner.
"No, I can't." Sakiko waved her hand.
"You promised to eat properly."
"I can't take your dinner." Sakiko retorted, "I'll buy my own."
"You look like you'll faint from hunger."
"But..."
"No buts, take it."
Hotaru said firmly, "Sakiko-san, want me to carry it all day? My arm's sore."
She recalled him saying the same with a band-aid and water before.
Sakiko dazed.
Hotaru stuffed the bag into her delicate hand.
Her weak, cold fingers confirmed to Hotaru she hadn't eaten properly.
Sakiko, startled, tried to return it.
She couldn't keep accepting his kindness; it felt unequal.
Sakiko said anxiously:
"Wait!"
"I can't take it."
"You have to."
"I'm not hungry."
"You are."
"I'll buy my own, now."
"The line's long."
"Don't hide!"
"I'll hide."
"Don't hide!"
"Careful not to drop it!"
Sakiko failed to return it.
She sighed helplessly.
With three parts anger, three parts grievance, three parts gratitude, and ninety-one parts indescribable emotion, she stared at Hotaru.
Hotaru wasn't intimidated, showing a triumphant nod.
"How much? I'll pay."
Sakiko reached for her wallet.
"Sakiko-san, that'll make me angry."
Hotaru feigned anger, wagged his finger, "A friend's kindness isn't measured by money."
"Friend, huh..."
Sakiko fell silent; at her new school, she hadn't planned to make friends.
Holding the warm bento, her hands warmed, her heart warmer.
...
At the other end of Shimokitazawa street.
Two striking figures walked on the sidewalk.
One elegant, mature, with a gentle, warm smile, like a socialite.
The other petite, responding sparingly despite the other's efforts to talk.
If not for their equal beauty and youth, they might be mistaken for mother and daughter, the daughter sulking.
Soyo invited Mutsumi to shop in Shimokitazawa.
She deduced from Hotaru that Sakiko might be here.
Mutsumi was the only Crychic member she could invite.
Mutsumi didn't refuse.
Hearing Shimokitazawa, worry flashed in Mutsumi's heart.
She knew Sakiko attended school nearby.
But it was Saturday, so no issue, right?
She didn't know Sakiko worked weekends, her pride hiding it.
Soyo looked pitiful, like no one accompanied her.
As Mutsumi thought this.
Turning a corner, she saw an incredible scene.
Sakiko, with a boy.
Sakiko's face showed a warm, genuine smile Mutsumi hadn't seen in ages.
Was Sakiko better?
Even this surprising scene only made Mutsumi's pupils contract slightly.
Her face stayed expressionless, unmoved.
But a gentle voice snapped her back, instinctively reaching for her phone.
Should she warn Sakiko? Soyo mustn't see her.
Too late.
Though Mutsumi paused briefly, Soyo, observant and focused on Mutsumi, noticed.
"What's wrong, Mutsumi-chan?"
Soyo showed confusion, concern; Mutsumi lowered her head.
Soyo looked in Mutsumi's gaze direction.
Her pupils trembled.
She saw the figure she longed for, hadn't seen in ages.
"Sakiko, Sakiko-chan!?"
Soyo blinked, disbelieving, voice surprised and joyful.
She was about to rush forward.
Mutsumi held her back.
"Mutsumi, stopping me?"
Soyo looked at her wrist, voice normal.
Mutsumi didn't speak, eyes drooped, head lowered.
Soyo softened, thought, 'Never mind,' returned to her gentle, high-pitched voice.
"Mutsumi, even if you don't tell me where Sakiko is, I won't blame you. But now I've found her, you can't stop me, okay?"
She broke free, moved forward.
Seeing Hotaru next to Sakiko, Soyo paused.
Mutsumi sighed in relief.
Soyo's mind raced.
"Hotaru's there, they know each other..."
Does Soyo know that boy?
Mutsumi's heart was confused, clutching her phone tighter.
Should she warn Sakiko that Soyo found her?
Too late now?
As Mutsumi hesitated.
Soyo noticed Mutsumi's small movement, said softly,
"Mutsumi, you don't have to do anything!"
Mutsumi's hand stiffened, dropped, giving up warning Sakiko.
Perhaps she wanted to know Sakiko's relationship with that boy.
Why could Sakiko smile like that with him, not her?
Seeing Mutsumi obey, Soyo sighed in relief.
She didn't want to get angry with Mutsumi unless necessary.