Bai Qiu and Toyokawa Sachiko were unaware of what had happened behind them.
After all, neither of them had eyes on the back of their heads.
The two were walking along the road.
Toyokawa Sachiko suddenly remembered she hadn't thanked him, and said:
"Thank you for dinner."
"You're welcome."
Bai Qiu shook his head slightly.
Toyokawa Sachiko spoke seriously:
"Let me treat you to a meal next time."
"You don't have to be so formal."
Bai Qiu replied.
"Isn't it normal for friends to reciprocate?"
Toyokawa Sachiko tilted her head and blinked.
Bai Qiu was momentarily at a loss for words, wondering what to do with the fact that he found her a little cute.
Seeing that Bai Qiu didn't say anything, Sachiko continued:
"Then it's decided!"
"Okay."
This time, Toyokawa Sachiko got to wear the victor's smile.
It was a pity that Nagasaki Sumiyo and Wakaba Mutsumi, who were following behind, couldn't see such a warm and comforting smile.
At that moment, Nagasaki Sumiyo was toying with her fingernails, and she couldn't help but guess in her heart.
Could Bai Qiu be the reason why Sachiko left Crychic?
It was possible.
But it seemed that the two of them weren't a couple yet; after all, they hadn't had any intimate physical contact along the way.
But it was clear that the two of them had a good relationship.
She had never heard of Sachiko having any close male friends, a fact that Wakaba Mutsumi, who was standing to the side, could also attest to.
Wakaba Mutsumi glanced at Sachiko and Bai Qiu, then at Sumiyo.
She felt that if this continued, Sumiyo would break.
"By the way, there's something I want to tell you."
Bai Qiu suddenly said.
Toyokawa Sachiko looked at Bai Qiu with a puzzled expression, curious about what he wanted to tell her.
Bai Qiu thought for a moment, organizing his words.
I heard something about Tomoe's previous band at RiNG Livehouse.
It seemed that Toyokawa Sachiko was the catalyst and culprit for the band's disbandment.
But I'm not really in a position to delve into the rights and wrongs of it.
However, I'm now friends with Sachiko.
Bai Qiu felt that there was no harm in saying something to her.
It would be even better if some misunderstandings could be cleared up.
"It's about Tomoe."
"Tomoe?"
"Yes." Bai Qiu paused slightly, observing Sachiko's expression. "Actually, Tomoe recently formed a new band."
"Huh?"
Toyokawa Sachiko stopped walking, looking stunned.
She hadn't expected to hear this news from Bai Qiu.
She had considered this day would come, but not so soon.
No, it wasn't even that fast.
In the end, all of this was her own doing.
Although hearing this news left a somewhat bitter taste in her mouth, she mostly wished her happiness.
But now, Toyokawa Sachiko had another problem.
Since this news came from Bai Qiu, did that mean the person who formed a band with Tomoe was him?
"Is… it with you?"
Toyokawa Sachiko couldn't help but ask, clenching the bag in her hand tighter.
Bai Qiu shook his head first, then nodded.
What did that mean?
Sachiko was puzzled.
Fortunately, Bai Qiu quickly provided an answer.
"Tomoe and I are in the same class,"
Toyokawa Sachiko thought to herself. I know that.
"Tomoe and a female classmate from our class formed a new band together, and she's also my friend, so I'm helping them out."
"Also, I'm already in a band," Bai Qiu explained, then added with a smile,
"Otherwise, I'd have liked to form a band with Tomoe."
"Is that so..."
Toyokawa Sachiko's mood was complex. Hearing that Bai Qiu wouldn't be forming a band with Tomoe, she inexplicably felt a weight lift from her.
This made her blame herself for thinking that way.
But after hearing that Bai Qiu already had a band, she felt a little regretful, and also curious about what his band would be like.
However, she thought that with Bai Qiu's help, Tomoe wouldn't have any problems.
Toyokawa Sachiko comforted herself.
"I'll leave Tomoe to you, that child is a bit special." Toyokawa Sachiko looked at Bai Qiu.
But she then realized that her words seemed to have some ambiguity, and Sachiko hurriedly waved her hand to explain:
"Of course, I'm not saying anything bad about Tomoe, nor am I saying there's anything wrong with her, it's just that Tomoe sometimes..."
"I understand."
Bai Qiu waved his hand, not minding.
"Tomoe is also my good friend."
Toyokawa Sachiko finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then I should be a good friend too, right?
Before long, the two of them approached the station.
Nagasaki Sumiyo and Wakaba Mutsumi were also following not far behind.
Seeing that Toyokawa Sachiko seemed to be planning to leave here.
If they missed this opportunity, they wouldn't know when they could see her again.
So, Nagasaki Sumiyo could no longer hold back.
"Wait!"
"Sachiko-chan!"
The voice arrived before the person.
Bai Qiu and Toyokawa Sachiko looked over at the sound simultaneously.
Both of them saw a familiar face.
Nagasaki Sumiyo clutched her chest with one hand, gesturing to Sachiko with the other, and was running towards them.
Bai Qiu was a little surprised; Nagasaki Sumiyo and Wakaba Mutsumi.
Toyokawa Sachiko wasn't as composed. Her pupils trembled, and she clutched the bag in her hand even tighter.
Nagasaki Sumiyo!
The person she least wanted to see.
"I, I'll go first!"
Toyokawa Sachiko turned and tried to run away.
Bai Qiu was surprised, but he didn't stop her.
She couldn't see him, couldn't see him in this state!
She was already close to the platform. If she could just run up and get on the train, she would be able to leave.
In theory...
Nagasaki Sumiyo, being a shut-in, wasn't good at sports, and her body was heavier than Sachiko's. Meanwhile, Toyokawa Sachiko had been working for half a year, so her stamina was on a completely different level.
It's not something a nobody like Nagasaki Sumiyo can compare to.
So, Nagasaki Sumiyo can't catch up to Toyokawa Sachiko.
However.
Before she'd run two steps, Toyokawa Sachiko's foot kicked a protruding stone.
Toyokawa Sachiko winced, tripped.
Maybe? This is Tomoe's punishment for her?
Her body tilted forward, and her body's protective mechanism made her instinctively reach out her arm for support.
But then she remembered she was still holding the dinner Bai Qiu gave her.
If it were her own lunch, Toyokawa Sachiko wouldn't mind even if she spilled it, and would just go hungry that night.
But this one was different!
So thinking, to protect the lunchbox in her hand, Toyokawa Sachiko didn't reach out to brace herself.
Seeing her fair arm and pretty face about to scrape against the ground, Toyokawa Sachiko had already closed her eyes.
Nagasaki Sumiyo, who was running over, saw this scene too, and worry flashed in her eyes. But for her, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity.
She wouldn't miss.
Fortunately, the pain Sachiko had imagined didn't arrive.
Bai Qiu, who was closest to her, was quick to react and pulled her back from behind.
Toyokawa Sachiko leaned into Bai Qiu's arms, opened her eyes, and looked at him in surprise.
Holding the bag in her hand, a trace of satisfaction flashed across her face.
Bai Qiu then chided her irritably,
"Are you an idiot?"
"Don't you know to put your hands out to cushion the fall?"
"If I hadn't been so close...your face might have..."
"I didn't bring any band-aids today..."
It felt like she was starting to nag again, but it wasn't unpleasant.
Toyokawa Sachiko said, somewhat stubbornly:
"I'm not an idiot."
And then.
Rapid footsteps were already approaching from behind.
Toyokawa Sachiko gave a wry smile in her heart; she knew she couldn't avoid Nagasaki Sumiyo any longer.
It's been so long, yet it still lingers.
Well then, I'll take this chance to clear things up with her!