Hotaru and Sakiko were unaware of what was happening behind them.
After all, neither of them had eyes on the back of their heads.
The two walked along the road.
Sakiko suddenly remembered she had forgotten to say thank you, so she said:
"Thank you for dinner."
"You're welcome."
Hotaru shook his head slightly.
Sakiko, however, spoke earnestly:
"Next time, please let me treat you to a meal."
"There's no need to be so serious."
Hotaru replied.
"It's normal for friends to reciprocate, isn't it?"
Sakiko tilted her head and blinked.
Hotaru was momentarily at a loss for words, wondering what to do about her cuteness.
Seeing Hotaru silent, Sakiko said again:
"Then it's settled!"
"Alright."
This time, it was Sakiko who wore a triumphant expression.
Regrettably, Soyo and Mutsumi, who were following behind, could not see such a warm and healing smile.
At this moment, Soyo toyed with her fingernails, unable to help but wonder in her heart.
Could Hotaru be the reason Sakiko left Crychic?
It was possible.
However, it seemed the two were not yet boyfriend and girlfriend, as there had been no intimate physical contact throughout their walk.
But it was clear their relationship was good.
She had never heard of Sakiko having any close male friends, and Mutsumi, beside her, could also attest to this.
Mutsumi, meanwhile, looked at Sakiko and Hotaru for a bit, then at Soyo.
She felt that if this continued, Soyo would break.
...
"Oh, there's something I wanted to tell you."
Hotaru suddenly said.
Sakiko looked at Hotaru, puzzled, curious about what he needed to tell her.
Hotaru thought for a moment, organizing his words.
He had heard some things about Tomori's former band at RiNG live house earlier.
The band's disbandment, Sakiko seemed to be the fuse and the culprit.
However, he had no right to delve into the rights and wrongs of it.
But now he and Sakiko were friends.
Hotaru felt there was no harm in telling her.
If it could clear up some misunderstandings, all the better.
"It's about Tomori."
"Tomori?"
"Yes." Hotaru paused slightly, observing Sakiko's expression, "Actually, Tomori recently formed a new band."
"Eh?"
Sakiko stopped in her tracks, somewhat stunned.
She hadn't expected to hear this news from Hotaru.
She hadn't not thought about this day coming, just not so soon.
No, it wasn't soon at all.
Ultimately, all of this was her own doing.
Although hearing the news left a somewhat bitter taste in her mouth, more than anything, she wished her happiness.
But Sakiko still had one question.
Since this news came from Hotaru, did that mean he was the one forming a band with Tomori?
"Is it... with you?"
Sakiko couldn't help but ask, tightening her grip on the bag in her hand.
Hotaru first shook his head, then nodded.
What did that mean?
Sakiko was puzzled.
Fortunately, Hotaru quickly provided an answer.
"Tomori and I are in the same class."
Sakiko thought to herself, I know that.
"Tomori formed a new band with a female classmate, who is also my friend, and I'm helping out."
"Besides, I already have a band." Hotaru explained, then smiled and said,
"Otherwise, I would have liked to form a band with Tomori too."
"I see..."
Sakiko's emotions were complex; hearing that it wasn't Hotaru forming a band with Tomori, a string in her heart inexplicably relaxed.
This made her scold herself for thinking such a thing.
But upon hearing that Hotaru already had a band, she felt a little regretful and curious about what his band would be like.
However, she thought, with Hotaru's help, Tomori would be fine.
Sakiko comforted herself.
"Please take care of Tomori; that child is a bit special." Sakiko looked at Hotaru.
But she then realized her words might be ambiguous, and Sakiko quickly waved her hand, explaining anxiously:
"Of course, I'm not speaking ill of Tomori, nor am I saying Tomori is bad, it's just that sometimes Tomori..."
"I understand."
Hotaru waved his hand dismissively, saying,
"Tomori is also my good friend."
Sakiko finally breathed a sigh of relief, then I must be a good friend too, right?
Soon, the two approached the station.
Soyo and Mutsumi were also following not far behind.
Seeing that Sakiko seemed to be planning to leave here.
If this opportunity was missed, it would be unknown when they would see her again.
Thus, Soyo could no longer hold back.
"Wait!"
"Sakiko-chan!"
Her voice arrived before she did.
Hotaru and Sakiko looked over simultaneously.
Both saw familiar faces.
Soyo, with one hand covering her chest, extended a hand to Sakiko, running hard towards where the two were.
Hotaru was slightly surprised, Soyo and Mutsumi.
Sakiko was not so composed; her pupils trembled, and she clutched the bag in her hand even tighter.
Soyo!
The person she least wanted to see.
"I, I'm leaving first!"
Sakiko turned to flee.
Although Hotaru was surprised, he didn't stop her.
She couldn't see her, couldn't see her in this state!
They were already near the platform; she just needed to run up quickly and take the train away.
Logically speaking.
Soyo, being a shut-in, was not good at sports, and her body weight was greater than Sakiko's, while Sakiko had been working part-time for half a year, her stamina was incomparable.
Soyo, a mere minnow, simply couldn't compare.
Therefore, Soyo wouldn't be able to catch up with Sakiko.
However.
After only two steps, Sakiko's foot kicked a protruding stone.
Sakiko cried out in pain, tripping.
Perhaps? This was Tomori's punishment for her?
Leaning forward, her body's protective mechanism made her instinctively reach out her arms to brace herself.
But then she remembered she was still holding the dinner Hotaru had given her.
If it were her own bento.
Sakiko wouldn't care even if it spilled and she went hungry that night.
But this one, no!
So, thinking this, to protect the bento box in her hand.
Sakiko did not extend her hand to brace against the ground.
Seeing her fair arms and pretty face about to scrape the ground.
Sakiko had already closed her eyes.
Soyo, who was running towards them, also saw this scene; a flicker of worry crossed her eyes, but this was undoubtedly a good opportunity for her.
She wouldn't miss it.
Fortunately, the pain Sakiko imagined did not come.
Hotaru, who was closest to her, swiftly pulled her back from behind.
Sakiko tumbled into Hotaru's arms, opened her eyes, and looked at the close-by Hotaru with great surprise.
Clutching the bag in her hand, a hint of satisfaction instead flashed across her face.
Hotaru, however, scolded her crossly,
"Are you an idiot?"
"Don't you know to put out your hands to cushion the fall?"
"If I hadn't been so close... your face might have..."
"I didn't even bring any band-aids today..."
She felt like she was nagging again like a mother, but she didn't dislike it.
Sakiko said in a stubborn whisper:
"I'm not an idiot."
And at this moment.
The hurried footsteps had already closed in behind them.
Sakiko smiled bitterly in her heart; she knew she could no longer avoid Soyo.
So much time had passed, yet it still remained entangled.
Well then, she would take this opportunity to clear things up with her!