Before drying Kikukawa Kyo's hair, Soyo didn't forget about the vegetable pasta soup simmering on the stove. She lowered the heat to prevent it from overcooking.
By the time she returned to the living room with the hairdryer in hand, Kyo was already sitting properly on the couch, waiting patiently for her.
If only I really had a little sister like Kyo…
The thought surfaced in Soyo's mind before she could stop it.
But reality was never that convenient. The only connection she and Kikukawa Kyo had was CRYCHIC—and now, Kyo seemed intent on severing even that, refusing to rejoin the band.
Just thinking about it made Soyo tighten her grip on the hairdryer.
No, Nagasaki Soyo. There's still a chance.
Kyo's here, in my house, right now. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to convince her?
Steeling her resolve, Soyo stepped forward and sat beside Kyo.
"Alright, Kyo. Turn around a little."
Kyo obediently shifted, turning her back to Soyo without a hint of resistance.
Soyo plugged in the hairdryer but set it aside for now. She reached past Kyo's shoulders, gently gathering all of her damp hair into her hands before lifting it up.
"Just as I thought—your shirt is completely soaked in the back."
Still holding Kyo's hair in one hand, Soyo brushed her other hand against the back collar of her shirt. The fabric was damp to the touch.
But… Kyo's skin was so pale.
Lifting Kyo's hair naturally exposed the nape of her neck—smooth, fair skin almost luminous under the soft lighting.
Soyo had seen Kyo's neck before, of course. Most of the time, Kyo wore her hair up. But this was the first time she was seeing it from so close, and right after a bath, no less.
She absently combed through Kyo's pearl-gray hair, marveling at its silkiness. Just a few strokes were enough to make it settle neatly in her hands, like fine silk. Unable to resist, she pinched a small strand between her fingers, rubbing it gently.
The familiar scent of gardenia filled the air—the same shampoo Soyo used herself. The light floral fragrance reminded her of the incense she burned before bed, something that always helped her feel at peace.
Where should Kyo sleep tonight?
The question popped into her mind, seemingly out of nowhere, entirely unrelated to the moment.
Her house had plenty of guest rooms. It would only take a little effort to prepare a bed for Kyo.
But…
A voice inside her whispered—Convince Kyo to sleep in the same room as you tonight.
She wanted to spend more time with her, to extend this fleeting sense of warmth. It was a greedy desire, the kind that arose when someone who had wandered a desert for too long finally stumbled upon an oasis—an instinct to cling to that comfort for as long as possible.
Would Kyo agree?
Earlier, when Soyo had "accidentally" hugged her, Kyo hadn't seemed particularly opposed to physical closeness. Maybe… just maybe, she'd say yes.
Soyo picked up the hairdryer, which she had nearly forgotten in her thoughts.
She turned it to the highest setting, and the strong, whirring wind roared to life, drowning out the pounding of her own heart—so that the person in front of her wouldn't hear it.
---
As Kikukawa Kyo felt her hair being gently handled by Soyo, she quietly enjoyed the sensation of Soyo combing through and smoothing it out.
In truth, whenever people saw her with her hair down, they couldn't help but reach out and play with it. After all, Kyo always kept it up—even at home. Even her older sister rarely saw her with her hair loose.
Come to think of it, was Soyo the first person in the band to see her like this?
That rainy day when she found Sakiko—although she had spoken to her afterward fresh from a bath, she hadn't washed her hair at the time, too preoccupied with worry.
…But isn't Soyo playing with my hair a little too long?
Maybe she really is treating me like her little sister right now, savoring the moment.
Just as Kyo's only true fixation was the concept of flow, to the point of near-obsession—she also deeply cherished the one form of familial connection she actually understood.
So when she realized Soyo longed for the presence of family, Kyo, for once, found herself empathizing.
She didn't really mind, so she figured she'd let Soyo indulge just this once.
Of course, it would be better if Soyo wasn't just seeing her as the Kyo from CRYCHIC, but rather as who she was now.
Finally, Kyo felt Soyo's hands still, and a moment later, the hairdryer roared to life with a loud whoosh.
…Isn't that a bit too strong?
Kyo frowned slightly, feeling mildly concerned.
She took good care of her hair—its silky texture wasn't just luck, but the result of subtle, deliberate maintenance.
Though she had a habit of running in the rain, it wasn't as reckless as it seemed. She had a specially made waterproof hat, styled like a formal ribboned bonnet. Only when she was overwhelmed with emotion would she ditch it entirely and run headfirst into the downpour.
She was just about to remind Soyo that too much heat could damage her hair when—
Through the rushing wind, Soyo's voice suddenly cut in. Muffled, distorted, barely audible—
"Kyo——, ——"
Kyo furrowed her brows.
"What? Soyo, I can't hear you."
She raised her voice slightly and instinctively tried to turn her head, but with her hair still gathered in Soyo's hands, she couldn't move properly.
It was subtle, but she noticed it—Soyo's hands hesitated for just a fraction of a second.
That slight pause, that moment of hesitation—Kyo had seen it countless times before.
Even without turning around, she could tell.
Soyo had something on her mind. Something she wanted to say, but was unsure if Kyo would accept it.
Soyo pressed her lips together and lowered the hairdryer's setting by one notch. The wind was still loud, but no longer overwhelming. Just enough for Kyo to finally make out the words.
Soyo knew—she could just turn off the dryer and speak clearly.
But maybe, just maybe…
It was only with the cover of noise, this illusion of distance, that she had the courage to say what she truly wanted.
As if, if her words were swallowed by the wind, their rejection wouldn't hurt quite as much.
---
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