Haneoka Academy rooftop.
Spring was nearing its end, but its final sunlight was even more intense. It was as if to reflect the arrival of summer, or perhaps to illuminate the sincerity of the young man at this moment.
"Perhaps, in Sakiko's eyes, I'm just a strange guy full of nonsense. Perhaps, what I just said was a bit far-fetched, making you feel it didn't concern you. But I am Kamen Rider Blade, and my name is sword, a sword to cut down those unpleasant futures."
"But what can I do... Even if father hadn't fallen, even if everyone in Crychic had pulled themselves together. It still wouldn't change the Togawa Family's..."
Sakiko watched Kamen Rider Blade shine in the sunlight, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the fringes of the warm spring sun, as if seeking some comfort. The sunlight filtered through the Rider, casting dappled light on her fair profile, but it couldn't dispel the tangled mist in her eyes.
"Sakiko, you still care about what others think, don't you?"
"..."
Sakiko lowered her head even further. Like a small hedgehog caught in a sensitive spot, she could only curl up into a ball and hide in a forgotten corner.
The sunlight illuminated the rooftop, seemingly dividing Rikuo and Sakiko into light and dark; Rikuo in the light, Sakiko in the dark.
"If you can't bring Togawa Kiyotsugu back to the Togawa Family, then it's definitely not your problem; the existence of the Togawa Family itself is the problem. Why must you care about a place that is fundamentally the source of error? Wherever you and Togawa Kiyotsugu are, isn't that your Togawa Family?"
"Since you are so insistent on wanting them to realize their mistakes, and wanting them to acknowledge your beliefs, I think the first step is, Sakiko, you must happily move towards your goal. Your cheerful and firm attitude is what the Togawa Family least wants to see. A family outcast who should be pitiful, but instead thrives even more after leaving the family, won't be brought back with a face full of depression. This is your best revenge against this unfair fate."
"Don't think about defeating conglomerates. Don't think about restoring your father's dignity. And don't think about the disparity in status. Your path is your own to walk. There will always be ill-intentioned gazes; just care about the gazes you want to care about and keep moving forward. Life has only just begun, hasn't it? If you can't tear it off, then keep moving forward. Your confident smile on your path forward is the strongest weapon against detractors."
After Rikuo finished speaking, he took Sakiko's hand and pulled her out of the dark corner of the rooftop. The moment their eyes met, Sakiko, like a startled cat, sharply turned her face away, but Rikuo cupped her face in his hands, stopping her gaze from trying to evade.
"The moon also needs to absorb the sun's light to continue shining, right? Sakiko, when you're moving forward alone, why not look around you as well?"
Rikuo released Sakiko's face, canceled his transformation, and took out the 2 of Hearts from the storage box.
"Hold it, and let your mental will merge with this Undead Card; you'll be able to look directly into your own heart. I originally thought of using the Rider's ability to directly help you. But now I feel that you can walk your own path; you don't need my help, you can do it yourself."
Sakiko took the 2 of Hearts, looked at Rikuo's encouraging eyes, closed her eyes, and focused all her attention on the 2 of Hearts.
Sakiko's worried eyebrows gradually relaxed, her slightly curled body gradually straightened, and the sorrow on her face also dissipated. It was as if she had returned to the HaruhiKage of that time. She opened her amber eyes, revealing a moonlit smile, appearing like the center of the world against the backdrop of the sunlight.
"Thank you, Rikuo."
"You're welcome, Sakiko."
The two seemed to be meeting for the first time, and yet also seemed to have known each other for a long time. They simply smiled and looked at each other, no longer speaking.
"Ah ah ah, Riku, you haven't given me the 2 of Hearts yet! I still need to practice guitar! I don't want to be scolded by Rikki again!"
Just then, the pink husky rushed up inopportunely, followed by Takamatsu Tomori who was trying to stop her.
"Why is the rooftop door locked? Riku, what are you doing?"
Listening to Anon's words, Rikuo gently shook his head and went to open the rooftop door.
Anon saw Rikuo and Sakiko in front of her, her gray eyes trembling in shock.
"Riku? Sakiko-chan? How are you two together, on the rooftop during lunch break? Is it a confession? I didn't interrupt you, did I?"
Rikuo and Sakiko exchanged a smile, and Sakiko extended her left hand, making a gesture of invitation.
"No, Sakiko and I were discussing something; we're not confessing now."
"Now? Riku, you don't like Sakiko-chan, do you?"
"Yes, I do like Sakiko. Didn't I say so during my self-introduction?"
"Come to think of it, you did! So you two knew each other for a long time?"
Anon thought back to Rikuo's self-introduction when he and she first joined the class. Although she didn't know Sakiko then (she had seen Sakiko playing the piano in the Wind Instrument Club, drawn by the music), she recalled Rikuo indeed saying that he liked Sakiko more than anything else.
"Sort of? We were neighbors for a while."
"Is that so? And, even though it's not a confession, you just directly told her you liked her in front of her?"
Anon looked at Sakiko, who smiled back.
"Actually, I also quite like Rikuo, but I'm not sure yet if it's a friend's liking."
"Is that so? Why don't you just get together? I'm so envious!"
Anon didn't know who she was envious of; her heart just felt a little sour, as if some feeling had ended before it even began.
"Anon-chan, wait, Rikuo-kun and Saki-chan seem to have something important. We shouldn't disturb them."
Tomori climbed up step by step with difficulty, her flushed face panting heavily.
"It's alright, Tomori, our conversation is over."
It wasn't Rikuo who responded to Tomori, but Sakiko, with a moonlit smile.
Tomori looked at Sakiko in front of her, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Saki-chan, the old Saki-chan is back."
"Tomorin? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Seeing Tomori crying, Anon, unaware of the situation, rushed to comfort her.
"Tomori, these are tears of joy. Sure enough, even though Tomori says she isn't human, she can perceive emotional changes better than ordinary people."
Rikuo looked at Tomori and couldn't help but feel relieved. Although they didn't exchange many words, they could both understand the changes in each other's minds.
"Riku, why can't I understand what you're saying? And don't forget the 2 of Hearts, I still need to practice guitar."
Anon didn't dare to disturb their atmosphere, so she tiptoed and whispered in Rikuo's ear.
"The 2 of Hearts is still with Sakiko. It doesn't feel right to interrupt now. Anyway, there's no band practice today, so you can practice by yourself for now."
"Alright, Riku, don't forget we're going shopping after school today."
Just then, Sakiko suddenly looked over, and the smile on her face seemed to have changed slightly.
"You said you have someone you like, but you're still going shopping with another girl? Rikuo?"
"...Anon, can we add one more person? Never mind, Tomori, you come along too."
"Alright, then let's call Soyorin and Rikki too. As for Raana-chan, I can't seem to reach her."
What was supposed to be an afternoon of shopping alone with Anon turned into the first team-building event for the yet-unnamed MyGO Band.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Read Advanced Chapters, and support this novel, please join me on [email protected]/geats2000