Usagui preferred to return to her room. She said she had a headache, went upstairs, and once she closed the door, she could no longer control her anger.
"How ridiculous," she said, looking at herself in the mirror.
She took a minute to breathe, then stared at her reflection again.
"It's fine. This isn't competition for me."
"But what was Kenji thinking?" Jun wondered.
Sayuri didn't look at him.
"Love? Are you okay?"
She shook her head, but still didn't meet his eyes. So he gently took her arm and pulled her closer, lifting her face with one hand.
"Are you okay?"
She took a deep breath.
"I am…"
Jun knew she wasn't. And since he didn't want anything between them, he insisted again. That's when she spoke.
"I was just surprised they hid our relationship from that girl…"
"It wasn't me… I would never hide it…"
He hugged her and repeated,
"Never."
The weekly rehearsals became increasingly uncomfortable with Usagui around. She marked her territory, circling Jun with compliments and touching his arms. Sayuri tried her best to hold herself back, especially since the guys needed the connection with TK Studios.
"Jun… I get more and more enchanted by your music. Your voice gives me chills."
Yume rolled her eyes at every word, while Jun tried to avoid Usagui's advances.
"Jun… play that song that made me fall for you. I mean… for the band."
He looked at her politely.
"Which song?"
"Cherry Blossom."
He instinctively looked at Sayuri. He didn't want to play that song for her, but Sayuri nodded, telling him it was okay.
He sat down and took the microphone. Usagui sat right in front of him.
"Incredible," Yume murmured.
He started singing, but as he always did, he sang looking at Sayuri. That bothered Usagui, who decided to speak provocatively.
"You know… I always imagined you singing this song to me… like it was made especially for me…"
Yume didn't miss the chance.
"I know how that feels. Sayuri felt the same way when she found out Jun composed this song for her."
A pause.
"It's his declaration of love for her…"
She smiled, satisfied, watching Usagui's expression fall.
After the song, Usagui stood up and called everyone's attention.
"So I have news."
"Here we go again," Yume muttered.
"I've been in contact with my father and told him a lot about you, so…"
Kenji leaned forward.
"So?"
"He wants to hear a demo. We need to send it by next week."
"I can't believe it," Jun said, excited for the first time. "That's amazing!"
Usagui smiled and grabbed his hand.
"You deserve it," she stepped closer. "You deserve it."
Jun froze, then quickly pulled away and hugged Sayuri, kissing her intensely.
"Well," Usagui turned away. "We have little time to record, so let's try to not waste time with other things."
During the first days of recording, Sayuri and Yume stayed with them, but Usagui started losing patience.
"You know… you don't need to come here all the time. It slows the boys down," she said, taking Sayuri's hand. "You don't want Jun to miss this opportunity, right?"
"You're right… he needs this."
In the following rehearsals, Sayuri stayed at the apartment, reading books and playing with Mike, but she was restless, unable to fall asleep until Jun came home.
One night, Jun arrived very late. When he entered, she was asleep on the couch. He leaned down and kissed her.
"Jun," she murmured.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Come on, let's go to bed."
That's when Sayuri noticed the smell of whiskey mixed with floral perfume.
"You drank?"
"Just a little… Kenji took Usagui to a bar…"
"And you went? Without telling me?"
"Kenji dragged me…"
Before he could finish, she interrupted.
"You smell like her…"
"I didn't notice… love…"
She stepped back.
"She was that close to leave her scent on you?"
"I don't know… love… what do you think I did?"
"Nothing, Jun… I'm just tired. Please take a shower. I can't stand that smell."
"Come on, Mike, let's sleep."
She turned away, leaving Jun frozen in the living room. He ran a hand through his hair, not knowing what to do.
Later, in bed, he held her tightly.
"You shouldn't think like that. I would never look at anyone but you."
"I know… I'm just worried," she kissed him.
"You shouldn't be…"
She smiled.
"Don't forget to pick up your suit Saturday morning."
"I won't. It's your big day, love. I want to dance with you."
The graduation ball was approaching, and another chapter of their lives was closing. Sayuri spent her days sewing her dress and finishing exams.
Saturday morning, Jun received a message while picking up his suit.
"I'll pick Yume up for the ball and go straight to the venue. See you there."
Kenji.
Sayuri was beautiful. A flowing white dress with delicate lilac details, a small hair accessory making her look enchanting. She looked at herself in the mirror, smiling, barely containing her excitement.
When Jun was heading home to pick her up, he received another message.
"Stop by the studio and pick up the flowers I forgot."
Kenji.
Jun checked the time and turned around quickly. He needed to hurry.
He entered the studio and saw the bouquet.
"Here…"
"Jun?"
The voice came from upstairs. It was Usagui, wearing only a towel.
Jun turned away immediately.
"I'm leaving."
As he was about to go, he heard a noise. Usagui had fallen down the stairs.
Jun rushed to her, dropping his phone.
"Are you okay?"
"Ahh, Jun… my leg… it hurts so much…"
"Should I call someone? A doctor?"
"No," she pulled him closer. "Help me to my room."
He hesitated, and she groaned.
"It hurts… so much…"
He picked her up and carried her to the bed.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I don't know… my head…"
Jun tried to contact Kenji's mother, but no one was home.
"I need to go…"
"No, please… it hurts and I'm scared," she whispered.
"I'll get ice."
He ran downstairs, grabbed ice, wrapped it in a towel, and came back up.
"Here."
"Thank you, Jun…"
He looked at the clock, nervous.
"I'm really late… I need to go."
"I understand…"
"I'm sorry. I have to go."
He ran out, leaving the bouquet and his phone behind.
Ring ring!
Usagui stood up and saw the phone on the floor.
"Love"
She smiled slightly and answered.
"Hello?"
"Jun?"
"No, Usagui…"
The line went silent, but she could hear Sayuri's breathing.
"He's a little busy. Want to leave a message?"
Sayuri hung up.
She fell to her knees, unable to believe what she had just heard. Her hand went to her chest as she clutched her dress in pain.
"No… no…"
Jun tried desperately to reach the apartment, but traffic slowed him down. He sped up the motorcycle, desperate to beat time.
When he opened the apartment door, Sayuri was sitting on the couch, no longer in her dress, only wearing a sweatshirt. Her face was covered in silent tears.
"Love…" he said, kneeling in front of her.
She looked at him, and he saw deep disappointment in her expression.
"Love… I'm sorry… I tried…"
"Tried?"
"I tried to get here on time…"
The tears fell harder. She kept looking at him without a word, knowing she wouldn't be able to handle it if she spoke.
Her chest hurt more than ever. She could barely breathe.
Sayuri was disappointed about missing her graduation ball, but what hurt the most was knowing it happened because of her… because of Usagui.