Just as Toyokawa, Sachiko had predicted, the time she lost almost falling allowed Nagasaki, Tomoyo to catch up.
Close behind her stood Wakaba, Mutsumi, observing quietly.
Her golden eyes turned towards Hakushu, seeming more interested in him.
Hakushu glanced at the two girls who had arrived.
Especially the girl with the flaxen hair.
Another bassist. Is the band complete this time?
I hope I don't have to meet another bassist.
Meanwhile, Nagasaki, Tomoyo's attention was completely focused on Toyokawa, Sachiko.
"Hoo…! Hoo…!"
Nagasaki, Tomoyo gently patted her chest, which was heaving from the intense activity, her breath still ragged.
Looking at Toyokawa, Sachiko's familiar figure, she asked with a mix of joy and concern:
"Saki-chan, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
Hakushu released Toyokawa, Sachiko.
Toyokawa, Sachiko pursed her lips and took a deep breath, seemingly making a decision.
Then, Sachiko turned to face Tomoyo, and her usual gentle demeanor vanished instantly.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you for your concern."
"That's good."
Nagasaki, Tomoyo smiled and gently clasped her hands together.
Great, Sachiko finally wants to talk to her.
Nagasaki, Tomoyo chose to drop the subject of Sachiko's earlier escape.
"Hey, Saki-chan, how about we go to a cafe and chat?"
The air became a bit heavy for a moment.
"I don't think we have anything to talk about."
"Eh? Why not?"
Nagasaki, Tomoyo's thin lips parted slightly, and she forced a smile again.
"It's been a while since we've seen each other."
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
Toyokawa, Sachiko said indifferently.
Nagasaki, Tomoyo seemed to have seized an opportunity, and quickly said:
"It's just..."
"Saki-chan, how have you been doing lately? Why did you suddenly transfer schools?"
"I sent you so many messages, but I didn't get any replies."
"Did you change your number?"
"Could you tell me your new number, please?"
Nagasaki, Tomoyo spoke, but she didn't notice Toyokawa, Sachiko's beautiful eyebrows slowly furrowing, her expression turning unpleasant.
Or perhaps she did notice, but simply refused to admit it.
"And about the band… our Crychic, everyone's waiting for you."
In her excitement, Nagasaki, Tomoyo stepped forward and grasped Toyokawa, Sachiko's wrist.
"I already said, I've quit that band," Toyokawa, Sachiko said coldly.
"Hey, Crychic was Sachiko's creation."
"Let go of me."
Toyokawa, Sachiko struggled against Nagasaki, Tomoyo's grip on her wrist.
Nagasaki, Tomoyo looked flustered and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Saki-chan. Did I accidentally hurt you?"
Toyokawa, Sachiko said nothing.
Nagasaki, Tomoyo took a deep breath and thought for a moment, her eyes turning serious.
"I know."
"Saki-chan, you must be facing some kind of difficulty or trouble, right?"
"Can you tell me?"
"I'll do my best to help."
"Just tell me, tell everyone, and everyone will help you."
"Right, Mutsumi?"
Nagasaki, Tomoyo turned her gaze towards Wakaba, Mutsumi, who hadn't said a word yet, hoping she would chime in and say something helpful.
Toyokawa, Sachiko's eyes sharpened because of Nagasaki, Tomoyo's words.
She also looked at Wakaba, Mutsumi, seemingly warning her not to speak.
Wakaba, Mutsumi, who had slightly opened her mouth, closed it again.
"I don't need your help with anything."
Toyokawa, Sachiko said in a colder tone.
"Didn't you say we were bound by fate?"
"..."
A flicker of struggle crossed Toyokawa, Sachiko's eyes.
But thinking that Hotaru now had a new band, and wanting Tomoyo to stop dwelling on the past, and also to stop Tomoyo from prying into her secrets by clinging to her.
So, Sachiko steeled herself and said:
"That was a lie."
"Eh??"
Nagasaki, Tomoyo took two steps back, disbelieving.
"No, Sachi... Sachiko wouldn't lie."
"That's right, Mutsumi, Mutsumi-chan."
"Say something! Sachiko wouldn't lie to us."
Nagasaki, Tomoyo looked at Wakaba, Mutsumi again.
Wakaba, Mutsumi still had her eyes lowered, making it impossible to read her emotions.
"Don't say anything more," Toyokawa, Sachiko shook her head. "I have something to do. I'm leaving. Please, don't come looking for me anymore."
"But, without you, our band…"
"Enough!" Toyokawa, Sachiko snapped, cutting her off. "If a band can't continue without someone, what's the point of its existence?"
Toyokawa, Sachiko already knew what Tomoyo was going to say.
Sachiko stared directly at Nagasaki, Tomoyo, as if questioning her.
Nagasaki, Tomoyo was frightened by the look, uneasy, until she lowered her head, unable to say anything.
"B-but…"
After all, she couldn't say that she didn't actually care about the band.
For her… she just wanted everyone in Crychic to be together, to give her a feeling of home.
Seeing that Tomoyo wasn't saying anything, Sachiko Toyokawa gritted her teeth and said in a low voice:
"Crychic is over."
"No!"
Tomoyo Nagasaki immediately responded, raising her voice.
The sudden reaction startled everyone.
"E-even if…even if it's Sachiko, please don't say that!"
Tomoyo Nagasaki shook her head in disbelief, her eyes filled with tears, looking at Sachiko Toyokawa, both sad and委屈.
Tears began to flow from the corners of her eyes, slowly tracing down her beautiful face.
Seemingly not expecting such a blow to Nagasaki, for Toyokawa, Sachiko, Crychic was truly over.
She also couldn't, and wasn't qualified to, return to that Crychic.
So, Toyokawa, Sachiko, advised:
"Please look ahead, Nagasaki-san."
The words fell silent.
Sachiko no longer paid attention to Tomoyo.
Toyokawa, Sachiko, first cast an apologetic glance at Hakushu.
If she could, she wouldn't have wanted Hakushu to see this scene.
Then, she stepped onto the platform, casting a final glance at Wakaba, Mutsumi.
"Sachiko..."
Nagasaki, Tomoyo looked at Toyokawa, Sachiko with pleading eyes, desperately trying to hold her back, but received no response.
Wakaba, Mutsumi quietly watched Toyokawa, Sachiko's departing figure, saying nothing.
Hakushu saw her lips part, expecting her to say something, but then they closed again.
With Toyokawa, Sachiko's departure.
Hakushu and Wakaba, Mutsumi instinctively turned their attention to Nagasaki, Tomoyo.
She stood there, stunned, looking quite shaken. Her head drooped, and her eyes had lost some of their sparkle.
Next.
Hakushu and Wakaba, Mutsumi looked at each other simultaneously.
Only now did Hakushu have the chance to observe this final member of Crychic.
Her attention had been completely focused on Tomoyo and Sachiko just now.
Long, pale green hair, crystal-clear skin, and golden eyes that shimmered faintly.
What puzzled Hakushu was this:
Even after such a conversation between her former teammates, she remained silent.
That face, more delicate and beautiful than a doll's, showed not a flicker of emotion.
It just gave Hakushu a kind of unfathomable calm