The performance was nearing its end.
Three intense original songs back-to-back had pushed their stamina to its limit. As the drummer, Taki had stayed completely focused, gripping her sticks with all her strength from start to finish. Deep in the zone, she hadn't even registered the crowd's reactions. Her pounding heart felt synchronized with the beats she hammered out.
With a final slam of her right stick, the last note echoed into silence. The lingering melody dissolved into the air, and the bright lights illuminated the sweat glistening on her face.
As Taki lifted her head toward the top of the stage, she finally exhaled, her breath light with relief.
Clap clap clap~!
The sound of applause erupted like waves crashing in her ears, rising and falling, endless.
The moment the exhausted girls looked up, they were met with cheers and shouts from the crowd. Some audience members turned to their friends, laughing and chatting with excitement.
The joy and relief on the audience's faces alone seemed to breathe new strength into their tired limbs.
Taki gave her drumsticks a faint squeeze under the lights. The aching in her arms crept down her body in a satisfying, trembly numbness.
"We did it…"
A tide of fulfillment and joy surged into her chest. Her slender shoulders trembled slightly as she glanced at her bandmates.
Even the most skilled among them, the graceful white cat, was drenched in sweat. Yet her eyes were gently narrowed, her lips drawn into a soft, satisfied smile.
It was a complete transformation from the cold "boring" expression she'd worn at their last performance.
"Thank you so much, everyone! We're MyGO…"
Still slightly hoarse from singing her heart out, Tomori clasped the microphone and addressed the crowd with heartfelt sincerity.
Even the usually timid Takamatsu Tomori couldn't hide her happiness anymore. At the school festival, the same setlist had ended in disaster. But now, with hard training and growing teamwork, they had pulled it off, perfectly, in less than two weeks.
To say they weren't emotional would be a lie.
Like Anon, humming to herself while cradling her guitar.
She hadn't made a single mistake through the entire show. Her mood was sky-high. She tilted her head back, flashing a playful fang in a grin, forming a heart with her hands even though she hadn't spotted her tsundere boyfriend yet.
For the girls on stage, this performance wasn't just revenge against Kessoku Band.
It was proof.
Proof to Haru that they had worked, improved, and grown.
This time, they hadn't let him down.
"That guy… he's gotta be out there somewhere, right?"
Applause still echoed in their ears, but Taki wasn't lost in it. Instead, she opened her violet eyes wide and scanned the darkened venue, searching for one figure in particular.
Sure enough, she spotted the black-haired boy standing in a corner on the right.
He was grinning smugly, way too smug, and clapping along with the crowd. Their eyes locked in midair.
The moment their gazes met, Taki's heart skipped a beat. Her cool, catlike expression softened for a second.
"Idiot…"
She murmured under her breath and threw Haru a flirtatious glance, her cheeks tinged pink.
She was about to head backstage when her movements suddenly froze.
Something… caught her eye.
Next to Haru stood a very familiar figure.
Shoulder-length, pale blue twin-tails with completely unmistakable under the stage lights. There was no way Taki would mistake that face.
"Sakiko…?"
She whispered, stunned.
Even her quiet voice didn't escape Nagasaki Soyo, who had been smiling beside her. At once, Soyo's brows knitted, and she followed Taki's gaze toward the same corner.
Wait a minute, what was Saki-chan doing here?
"Huh?"
Anon, noticing Taki's sudden change in expression, turned toward Soyo. Her eyes practically screamed, Was this your doing? Did you invite the ghost?
Soyo, lips tightly pressed, looked like she wanted to explain but couldn't.
She had once tried to revive CRYCHIC, true but Sakiko showing up here? That had nothing to do with her. She had already abandoned the idea of bringing CRYCHIC back.
Still full of questions, the girls had no time to linger. With the next band already preparing to take the stage, they quickly gathered their instruments and made their way backstage. Even Tomori, notebook in hand, was glancing left and right, trying to make sense of the situation.
But not a single one of them brought up Togawa Sakiko.
…
After MyGO's performance, a very conflicted Sakiko followed Haru to the band's prep room.
Behind the door ahead were the very people who had once been part of CRYCHIC. Her former bandmates. People who shared a bond she couldn't fully cut off, no matter how hard she tried.
If she let herself slip back into those beautiful memories, everything she had worked to overcome would rise from the grave like Frieza.
Her hand trembled as she slowly breathed in and out. Reaching out, Sakiko grasped the door handle.
"Nervous?"
The voice beside her helped calm the storm in her chest. Haru, who had long since seen through her inner turmoil, looked at her with quiet concern.
To him, CRYCHIC's past was nothing more than a memory.
But now, he stood beside her as if it were his burden, too.
Gradually, the trembling in the girl's fingertips began to settle.
"Haru, don't underestimate me, alright?"
"This is something I was always going to face, sooner or later."
As Togawa Sakiko's words grew more resolute, she seemed to recover her commanding aura as the leader of Ave Mujica, the dignified but unwavering presence that came naturally to her. Born with the elegance and poise of a noble lady, there was no way she'd let herself lose face in front of the person she cared for.
This is my struggle to keep living.
Seeing that this particular ojou-sama really wasn't forcing herself this time, Haru let a small smile curl at the corner of his mouth. He spread his hands with a helpless expression and said,
"No wonder you're my boss. Now I really don't have to worry."
"Of course not!"
Like a proud swan, Sakiko lifted her head high, her pale neck held with pride. Then, she turned to the emotionless Wakaba Mutsumi behind her and softly asked,
"Mutsumi, would you mind waiting outside for a bit? I want to handle this myself."
"I understand."
Once Mutsumi nodded, Sakiko took a deep breath and reached for the door handle.
"Wait a sec!"
"Wh-What now?!"
Her courage, just summoned, was instantly snuffed out by Haru's sudden interjection.
Clearly flustered, Sakiko puffed up in irritation and turned toward the mischievous boy, only to see him reach out and gently tuck a lock of her pale blue hair behind her ear. After smoothing it slightly, he let go with a smile.
"You are my 'boss,' after all. Gotta maintain a perfect image at all times."
"…Thanks."
Rubbing her blue hair shyly, Sakiko's cheeks took on a faint blush. She murmured her thanks quietly.
With her mind finally settled, she took a deep breath and pushed open the door, the one that separated her from the past.
It felt like stepping back into that rainy day...
The moment she stepped into the prep room, all eyes turned toward her.
Anon, who had been chatting excitedly with the others, blinked in confusion. Soyo's usual composed face tensed slightly, her eyes narrowing. Taki, quick-tempered as ever, furrowed her brows sharply.
"Sakiko…?"
Tomori, clutching her notebook, whispered the name with visible sadness. Seeing her, the "little penguin" had made Sakiko's heart stir with conflicting emotions.
But before Sakiko could say a word, Taki moved in front of Tomori protectively, glaring at Sakiko with visible hostility.
Taki, already on edge, wore her usual scowl. Her tone was sharp, unwelcoming.
"Togawa Sakiko, what are you doing here?"
Having long known what kind of person Taki was, Sakiko didn't respond with anger. She simply exhaled slowly, her amber eyes starting to glimmer with clarity.
Under the silent scrutiny of the others, she spoke in a steady voice.
"…I came to explain what happened with CRYCHIC and to apologize."
"Apologize?"
Taki echoed the unfamiliar word, disbelief flickering across her face. She couldn't imagine the haughty girl who had once looked down on them ever coming here just to apologize.
Even now, she remembered that stormy day. The way this woman had barged in, full of disdain, and disbanded their band… how cruelly she had hurt Tomori's fragile heart.
"And you think apologizing now means anything? We don't need your apologies anymore!"
Oof. Calm down, sister, let's not nuke the room just yet.
Leaning by the door, Haru twitched at the force of Taki's words. He gave a subtle shake of the head. Tomori, clearly distressed, tugged gently on Taki's sleeve.
"Taki, please don't be like that… Let's at least hear what Sakiko has to say…"
Coaxed by both Haru and Tomori, Taki's anger began to subside. Though her temper had flared, it was already cooling.
She was a classic example of someone tough on the outside and soft within. If she hadn't been bottling all that frustration for so long, she wouldn't have exploded like this.
"…Fine. Only because it's for Tomori's sake."
She crossed her arms and huffed, her tone still cold but she was clearly willing to listen now.
"I don't have any other motive. I came just to apologize."
"The reason I disbanded CRYCHIC… it was something personal. I can't explain it all in detail. But I know I caused all of you a great deal of pain. I left the band purely for selfish reasons, without thinking about how any of you felt."
"So… I'm sorry."
As her words ended, Sakiko bowed deeply toward the three girls.
No matter how sharp Taki's tongue had been earlier, she hadn't expected this. A real, heartfelt apology from Sakiko.
Caught off guard, she stood frozen, face unreadable.
From across the room, Soyo's eyes darkened with quiet sorrow. Even though she'd long since let go of CRYCHIC, she could never forget the warmth of what had once been their "home."
She never thought someone as proud as Saki-chan would truly apologize.
"…"
Soyo glanced at the man who had brought her this far.
Haru met her gaze and smiled gently.
Seeing that, Soyo gave the faintest sigh and looked back at Sakiko, her heart a storm of emotions.
Even someone like Sakiko… changed because of Haru?
Tomori, whose eyes brimmed with sadness, quickly stepped forward and tried to explain.
"Sakiko… back then, I—"
"No. It wasn't your fault."
Sakiko interrupted Tomori's attempt to take the blame, almost as if she had foreseen it. They had once been close, so how could she not know what Tomori was thinking? That gentle, shy girl only wanted to shoulder the blame to ease Sakiko's guilt.
But Sakiko wouldn't allow that. The responsibility for CRYCHIC rested solely with her.
"In any case, I just wanted to apologize to everyone."
"Tomori, Soyo, Taki… seeing the three of you form a new band and stand on stage again, forgetting the past, I'm truly happy. Even if you can't accept my apology, I sincerely hope you continue your journey as a band. Somewhere in the world, I'll be watching over you."
Having spoken her heart, Sakiko lifted her head. For the first time, the deep guilt she'd harbored toward the former CRYCHIC members, especially Takamatsu Tomori, was finally beginning to ease.
A soft, familiar smile formed on her lips.
It may have been a selfish moment of "redemption," but knowing that Haru was by their side, she no longer felt the need to worry.
"Sakiko… thank you."
Clutching her notebook tightly to her chest, Tomori's eyes brimmed red as she bit down on her lip. Seeing her old friend smile like that, Sakiko's own expression softened, her eyes narrowing gently in a way that brought back the girl she'd been during their CRYCHIC days.
Tomori stood dazed, simply staring at that warm smile.
"I wish you happiness."
Leaving those words behind, the blue-haired girl gave a graceful bow and turned to leave the room.
Outside the door, Wakaba Mutsumi leaned quietly against the wall, listening the entire time. As Sakiko stepped out, eyes misty, Mutsumi blinked in silence.
Before she could speak, Sakiko gently patted her on the head with a laugh.
"Mutsumi, shall we go?"
The wooden girl gave a small nod. After exchanging a glance with Haru inside the room, she followed Sakiko down the hall.
The prep room still held the faint traces of that lingering sadness. Emotions heavy with the weight of the past shimmered like dust in the air.
Tomori hugged the notebook bearing Haruhikage against her chest, silently watching Sakiko walk away, lips parted as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she stood still, red-eyed and wordless.
She still had something left to do.
"Tomori."
Just as the uncertain girl stood frozen, the 'light' that always dispelled her fog drew near. A warmth like sunlight wrapped around her, chasing away her doubt and fear like slipping into a sunlit bed.
Haru smiled and patted her head, just like always. Then, without a word, he handed her a folded umbrella.
"Looks like it's raining out."
He murmured it casually, as if to himself. In Tomori's hazy eyes, stars seemed to shimmer.
The "Mr. Sun" standing before her didn't say anything more. He simply raised an eyebrow and gave her a wink. Understanding his meaning, Tomori's eyes sparkled with determination. She nodded, took the umbrella, and hurried off toward the door.
"Haru! Matcha parfait~!"
Completely ignoring the mood, Ranna chirped her way over, lips pursed in a demanding pout. Like a spoiled cat, she snuggled into Haru's arms as if claiming her reward. Anon, blinking in surprise, caught the signal and looked panicked.
She rushed up beside him, her voice a little too eager.
"Haru~! How did I do just now? Was I good? Was I awesome?!"
"You were great."
"Then… Matcha~ Parfait~!"
The pink hair and the catgirl's chatter completely broke the mood, turning the atmosphere almost rowdy again.
From behind, Taki stared at the infuriating guy, her expression unreadable before she let out a helpless sigh. Beside her, Soyo remained quiet, watching ahead with a complicated gaze.
This guy… really can't stop attracting trouble, can he?
…
Rainfall.
Drizzle blanketed the steps of STARRY as Togawa Sakiko stepped outside. She looked up absently into the cloudy sky and instinctively reached out a hand. Cool droplets gathered in her palm.
A shiver of memory flickered in her eyes.
"Just like that day."
The day CRYCHIC disbanded, it had rained just like this.
"…"
Beside her, Wakaba Mutsumi looked up and tilted her head, seemingly asking what they should do about the rain. But Sakiko only smiled faintly.
"Mutsumi, why don't you wait inside STARRY for a bit?"
"…Are you planning to go home like this?"
Sakiko raised an eyebrow at the calm question, then exhaled softly and replied,
"Just felt like walking home in the rain for once. Don't worry about me."
She stepped forward toward the stairs, but before she could leave, someone called her name.
Turning around, she saw a familiar little penguin running toward her, out of breath.
Tomori skidded to a stop and looked up. Her amber eyes, so much like Sakiko's, met her gaze.
"Tomori?"
Sakiko was clearly caught off guard.
"…Here. Take this."
Breathless, Tomori held out the folding umbrella. Sakiko stared at it, blank for a second, before murmuring a quiet thank you.
"Your voice, Tomori… it carries much more emotion now."
"Mm… thank you."
A brief silence passed between them. Tomori's eyes were red again, and she looked as though she still had something to say. But thinking back to Haru's gaze just now, she gathered her courage.
"I want to give you this too."
She pulled something from her pocket and gently placed it in Sakiko's hand. A smooth, snowy-white oval stone.
"A… stone?"
Sakiko blinked, puzzled. She examined the little pebble, polished and gleaming, clearly cared for. A softness flickered through her expression.
"Then I'll take it gratefully."
Smiling, she tucked the pebble into her bag. Then she opened the umbrella and waved Mutsumi beneath it.
Just as the two of them began to walk off, Tomori lifted her gaze one more time.
"Sakiko—"
"If you ever get the chance… would you come see us perform again?"
The twin-tailed girl paused.
A gentle, open smile lit her face as she gave a small, certain nod.
"Of course."
Tomori blinked in surprise, then furrowed her brows and broke into a stunning, radiant smile.
With her hands gripping the umbrella handle, Sakiko turned and walked away, her silhouette framed in rain.
Neither of them noticed that, just behind them, even the ever-expressionless doll, Wakaba Mutsumi, had the faintest smile at the corners of her lips.
---
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