WebNovels

Chapter 37 - Chapter 37 Togawa Shoko Cried

Hotaru watched Sakiko with a worried expression.

She had already recognized this girl as the shop assistant she had seen at the instrument store before.

However, she seemed a bit disheveled now.

Though, all of this was thanks to her.

Just now, after watching the performance at Starry.

Nijika was too worried about Rana, such a small girl, going home alone so late.

She planned to personally escort her back.

Hotaru happened to be going in the same direction, and she had also tricked Rana.

Out of guilt, Hotaru proactively took on this task.

She even helped her pull her suitcase the entire way.

Then there was Ryo, who decided to stay at Nijika's house for dinner tonight.

Lastly, there was Hitori.

Upon hearing that her commute would take two hours.

Even Nijika hesitated.

Let alone Hotaru.

As everyone knows, Hotaru has always been fond of children.

As for Hitori,

Hotaru could only wish her safety.

Afterward, she came here to drop Rana off at the station.

As soon as she stepped onto the pedestrian bridge, Hotaru witnessed the shop assistant attempting to take her own life.

Hotaru's face instantly changed.

Are you crazy!

From her perspective, Sakiko was standing on the guardrail.

Half of her body was over the guardrail.

She could fall at any moment!

So, Hotaru rushed over in a hurry.

She had intended to pull her down.

Unexpectedly, because she ran too fast.

Coupled with the inertia from the electronic keyboard on her back.

She couldn't stop in time,

As a result, she pushed Sakiko down.

Thinking of this, Hotaru's expression became a bit awkward.

Next time, I'll store the electronic keyboard at the Light Music Club or Starry.

That would be more convenient.

"Um… are you alright?"

Hotaru asked tentatively.

No, sister.

Say something, are you okay or not!

Sakiko hadn't said a word from then until now.

Instead, it made Hotaru worry if her action had caused her to hit her head.

Sakiko awoke from her memories, only to be drawn in by the sight before her.

Her eyes… they're so bright,

Gentle, dazzling, warm, beautiful…

It's like…

It's like Tomori's lyrics.

Her chest felt… not so painful anymore.

"Can you stand up?"

Hotaru bent down, extending her hand towards Sakiko, wanting to help her up.

It wasn't good for her to keep sitting on the ground, especially since she was wearing a skirt.

Sakiko's golden pupils reflected Hotaru's hand.

A voice kept repeating in her mind… repeating…

No way!

No!

You can't do this!

You can't hold this hand!

Because, once she held this hand, her weak past self seemed like she would revive!

However, her hand had a mind of its own.

Sakiko's dust-covered fingers had already lightly grasped Hotaru's hand.

Hotaru used her wrist strength, carefully helping Sakiko up.

"Tha… thank you…"

Sakiko's voice was barely audible, and a blush crept onto her face.

On an autumn night, their fingers were slightly cold, but Sakiko felt very warm.

After ensuring she wouldn't fall.

Hotaru let go of her hand, and at the same time, sighed in relief.

"You scared me, you finally spoke."

"Are you hurt anywhere? Should I take you to the hospital for a check-up?"

Sakiko was first a little embarrassed, then an inexplicable sense of loss welled up in her heart.

But soon, she shook her head again.

Now was not the time for wild thoughts.

"No, I'm fine, no need to go to the hospital."

This was the truth; it had indeed hurt a lot when she fell to the ground just now.

Now, there was no serious problem.

Besides, she no longer had spare money to go to the hospital.

Hotaru didn't believe her, and said with some worry and self-reproach,

"Let's go anyway! I'll pay for the medical expenses."

"No, it's really not necessary."

Sakiko said with a serious expression.

"But… you were clearly crying from the pain."

Hotaru said, staring at the tear stains on Sakiko's face.

"Eh?"

Sakiko froze for a moment, then remembered that she had been shedding tears just now.

So she quickly reached out to wipe away the tear stains on her face.

She looked a bit flustered.

She didn't want others to see her crying.

Because that made her seem weak.

Hotaru watched quietly.

A moment later,

"You've become… a little messy-faced,"

Hotaru said.

"Huh?"

Sakiko showed a puzzled expression.

Hotaru reminded her, "Your hand…"

Sakiko looked down at her hand, only to find that her fingers were covered in dust at some point.

Among them, the few whitened fingers clearly had dust smeared on her face.

Hotaru chuckled lightly; she thought it was quite cute.

"Ah!"

Sakiko let out a soft cry, frantically patting away the dust with both hands and wiping the dirt from her face.

But she found that she only made herself look more disheveled.

Her arm suddenly began to ache again.

Suddenly, a sense of grievance inexplicably welled up in Sakiko's heart.

This made her eyes quickly moisten again.

Why?

Why do you have to see me in such a state?

"Why are you crying again?"

Hotaru asked, puzzled.

Indeed, she should go to the hospital, right!

"I'm not!"

Sakiko shouted defiantly, and her tears fell even faster.

She seemed to have given up.

Hotaru was startled and quickly coaxed,

"Okay, okay… you're not crying."

Then she found a tissue and handed it to her,

"Wipe it off."

Sakiko stubbornly covered her eyes and turned her body away.

It was this person in front of her who made her fall, made her cry, made her so disheveled.

Yet she was still laughing at her.

Hotaru had no choice but to hold the tissue in front of her face.

After quite a while,

Hotaru said, "If you don't, I'm going to wipe it for you, okay?"

"My arm is so tired."

"No way…"

Sakiko's voice was slightly choked, and then she took the tissue.

She wiped the dust from her face, cleaned her fingers, and stopped her tears.

Hotaru opened her mouth; she had wanted to say that the dust on her face had already been washed away by her tears.

But she felt that this might make things worse.

It's better to keep quiet.

After doing all this, Sakiko's emotions also seemed to calm down.

Realizing what she had just done,

Her cheeks flushed, and she softly said, "I'm… I'm sorry, and thank you."

Hotaru waved her hand, "No, no, I'm the one who should be saying sorry."

"Then… the hospital?"

Hotaru looked at her tentatively.

"No."

Sakiko refused outright.

"Alright…"

Hotaru sighed helplessly.

She felt that this shop assistant's emotions were a bit unstable, gentle one moment, cold the next.

"Then at least… put on a bandage?"

Hotaru took out a bandage and pointed to Sakiko's scraped arm, illuminated by the streetlight.

"Mm…"

Sakiko didn't refuse this time and even actively extended her hand.

Hotaru tore open the bandage and carefully put it on for her.

She thought to herself,

You're a big help, Tomori.

Hotaru felt that she couldn't let down Tomori's kindness.

Leaving the bandages to gather dust at home.

Although she didn't need them, Hitori and Ryo might have a chance to use them.

And recently, quite a few people around her seemed to be falling down.

Soyo, Tomori, Hitori…

And the most exaggerated, Yui, who would fall flat on the ground at the slightest provocation.

At this moment,

Sakiko also noticed the guitar case on Hotaru's back.

It was the one she bought at the store last time.

It was so late, and she was still carrying her instrument.

It seemed she was practicing diligently.

Thinking of this, a bright smile appeared on Sakiko's face.

Unfortunately, Hotaru was looking down and couldn't see this beautiful sight.

At the same time, a sense of envy couldn't help but arise in Sakiko's heart.

Looking at the applied bandage.

Hotaru smiled contentedly,

"How does it feel?"

"You're very skilled."

Sakiko answered subconsciously.

"Ah, no… thank you is what I meant…"

Sakiko's face flushed, what nonsense was she saying, she quickly added.

Hotaru coughed awkwardly.

Sakiko looked at the applied bandage, her expression changed slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

Perhaps Tomori would be very happy to see it.

"Oh, by the way, please don't do something like that again next time."

Hotaru suddenly said seriously.

"Life is precious."

Sakiko was slightly stunned,

"I wasn't thinking of giving up on life, you know."

She let out a soft laugh, looking a bit playful.

Indeed, it was just like that time.

However, this time she was the one being saved.

"Ha… huh?"

Hotaru's mouth hung open as she looked at her.

Then, Sakiko explained that she had just happened to stand on the railing.

She wanted to grab a leaf.

She firmly stated that she had no thoughts of giving up on life.

Sakiko didn't want to leave the impression in her mind that she was weak and incompetent.

They also learned each other's names.

"Is that… is that so…?"

Hotaru's mouth twitched, repeating incredulously.

"Yes, it is."

Sakiko looked a bit mischievous, and she was very satisfied with Hotaru's reaction.

"Even so… don't stand on the railing, it's too dangerous…"

Hotaru said with great difficulty.

"Okay."

Sakiko looked at her and blinked.

Hotaru's face was full of embarrassment and shame.

After all that, she was the culprit again.

Wait, why did she say 'again'…

"Toyokawa Classmate!"

Sakiko was slightly startled.

"Please give me a chance to make amends!"

...

At the crossroads.

Sakiko stopped.

"This is far enough."

"Thank you, Hotaru."

"Okay."

Hotaru nodded,

"Goodbye then, Toyokawa Classmate."

"Mm, goodbye."

Sakiko waved lightly,

Watching her retreating figure,

Until she completely disappeared down the road,

Only then did she turn and walk towards the deepest part of the alley.

At least, I want to preserve the last shred of dignity in your heart.

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