The girl with sky-blue hair was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and a gray plaid skirt.
Upon closer inspection, a certain crease at the hem of the skirt looked faded from washing.
But this was already the only decent set of clothes that Tomogawa Sachiko had.
Even so.
The ordinary clothes couldn't hide her unique charm.
Her somewhat round and pretty face looked a bit tired at the moment, like those office workers who had just finished overtime.
That was indeed the case.
Tomogawa Sachiko had just finished her work at the music store and was preparing to go to her next customer service job.
Thinking about how the work ahead wouldn't be easy.
Tomogawa Sachiko couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Just as she was a little dazed, Hakushu had already walked towards her, waving his hand in front of her to remind her:
"It's not a good habit to space out on the road, Tomogawa."
"Eh?"
Tomogawa Sachiko was startled, suddenly looked up, a guarded expression on her face.
However, after realizing it was Hakushu, Tomogawa Sachiko patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. She thought she'd run into a classmate.
Seeing Tomogawa Sachiko's somewhat flustered appearance, Hakushu found it a bit amusing and said with a slight apology:
"Sorry, did I startle you by suddenly greeting you?"
"N-no, not at all."
"I was lost in thought." Tomogawa Sachiko shook her head apologetically, then returned to her proper demeanor, slightly bowing. "Long time no see."
"Yeah, long time no see." Hakushu replied.
Come to think of it, the two of them hadn't really run into each other much at school.
Hakushu blinked, puzzled. "But what's with that greeting etiquette of a young lady?"
Tomogawa Sachiko's lips twitched. Logically, she should have curbed that habit, but she couldn't help but show it after meeting Hakushu.
Hakushu didn't mind and instead sincerely praised,
"But Tomogawa-san really does look like a well-mannered young lady."
"..." Tomogawa Sachiko forced a smile, and inwardly she gave a wry laugh.
"Did you just finish working?" Hakushu asked.
"Yes." Tomogawa Sachiko nodded.
Then, she looked curiously at the case Hakushu had slung over his back, which wasn't the electronic keyboard he bought at the music store last time.
"You look a bit pale, don't you?" Hakushu suddenly asked.
"Ah, do I?" Tomogawa Sachiko touched her cheek.
"Yep! You look really pale."
Hakushu nodded seriously, then leaned in for a closer look.
Tomogawa Sachiko averted her gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed by Hakushu's scrutiny.
It wasn't that close, but for her, who hadn't interacted much with boys her age, it felt a little too close.
"Could it be... lack of sleep? No, it's not that. Didn't eat, maybe?"
Hakushu concluded.
"No, I ate."
Tomogawa Sachiko shook her head. Even though she'd only had a small piece of leftover bread for lunch, she had eaten something.
"Grumble..."
However, her stomach chose that moment to rumble.
Tomogawa Sachiko's face flushed with embarrassment.
"You... you haven't had lunch, have you?" Hakushu asked.
"I'm not hungry."
Tomogawa Sachiko patted her stomach, mentally scolding it for betraying her.
Even though her stomach had made a noise, she really didn't feel hungry. Though, she did feel a bit weak, it was true.
"This won't do, Tomogawa-san," Hakushu sighed, his tone earnest. "Taking care of yourself is the first thing you need to do before taking on a part-time job."
"I know..."
Hakushu felt that she hadn't taken his words to heart.
"You look like you're already on the verge of low blood sugar."
"Think about it, what if you faint on the road because of low blood sugar?"
"Or if you get sick, the medical expenses will be even more expensive."
Hakushu's words made sense, and Tomogawa Sachiko couldn't refute him for a moment, her expression complex.
This kind of long-winded but caring words, only her mother would have said to her before.
"So, please eat properly."
Tomogawa Sachiko nodded blankly.
"I understand, I'll eat properly from now on."
"Then…"
"Please take care of this."
Tomogawa Sachiko looked up, puzzled.
Hakushu was offering her the dinner he'd packed from Yoshinoya.
"No, I can't." Tomogawa Sachiko waved her hands in refusal.
"You just promised you'd eat properly."
"Even so, I can't take your dinner." Tomogawa Sachiko countered. "I'll go buy my own."
"You look like you're about to faint from hunger."
"But..."
"No buts. Just take it."
Hakushu said without leaving room for refusal, "Tomogawa-san, are you going to make me carry this for half a day again? My arm's getting sore."
It seemed she remembered the times they had met before, when he had given her band-aids and mineral water, and he had said the same thing.
Tomogawa Sachiko was a little stunned again.
But this time, before she could react, Hakushu had already shoved the bag of food into Tomogawa Sachiko's weak little hands.
Her weak and cold fingers made Hakushu even more certain that she hadn't been eating properly.
Tomogawa Sachiko, startled, clutched the bag and wanted to return it to Hakushu.
She couldn't keep accepting his kindness like this; it made her feel that they weren't on equal footing.
Tomogawa Sachiko said anxiously, "Wait!"
"I can't take this."
"You should."
"I'm not hungry."
"You are."
"I'll go buy it myself. I'll go right now."
"The line is really long right now."
"Don't hide!"
"I'll hide."
"Don't hide!"
"Be careful not to drop it!"
In the end, Tomogawa Sachiko returned empty-handed.
She sighed helplessly.
Then, with a mix of anger,委屈, and感動, plus ninety-one parts of indescribable emotions, she stared fixedly at Hakushu.
Hakushu wasn't the least bit intimidated. Instead, he wore the expression of a victor, nodding in satisfaction.
"How much is it? I'll pay you."
Seeing this, Tomogawa Sachiko pretended to reach for her wallet.
"Tomogawa-san, I'll be upset if you say it like that."
Hakushu feigned seriousness, pretending to be angry, and wagged his finger, saying,
"A friend's kindness can't be measured with money."
"Friends, huh..."
Tomogawa Sachiko fell silent. Ever since she'd come to the new school, she hadn't planned on contacting any new classmates or making friends.
Holding the warm lunchbox, Tomogawa Sachiko felt her hands gradually warm up, and her heart seemed to grow warmer as well.
On the other end of the Shimokitazawa street.
Two very beautiful figures were slowly walking on the sidewalk.
One was elegant and mature, with a warm, gentle smile on her face, like a wealthy woman.
The other was petite, and even though the person next to her was trying hard to find a topic, she only occasionally opened her mouth to respond.
If it weren't for the fact that the two girls looked equally beautiful and young, everyone would probably have mistaken them for a mother and daughter going out together.
Then this daughter threw a temper tantrum and refused to speak to her mother.
Nagasaki Sayo arranged to go shopping in Shimokitazawa with Wakaba Mutsumi today.
On the one hand, she learned from Hakushu's analysis that Sachiko might have appeared here.
On the other hand, Wakaba Mutsumi was the only person from Crychic she could currently get together with.
So, she wanted to come and take a look around.
Wakaba Mutsumi didn't refuse.
When she first heard "Shimokitazawa," a trace of worry flashed through Wakaba Mutsumi's heart.
Wakaba Mutsumi knew that Sachiko was attending a school nearby.
But today was the weekend.
Clearly, she didn't know Tomogawa Sachiko also worked here on weekends, because with Tomogawa Sachiko's proud self-esteem, she wouldn't tell her.
And then, Sayo was pitiful.
It looked like no one was with her.
However.
Just as Wakaba Mutsumi was thinking this.
The two turned the corner of the street, and Wakaba Mutsumi saw a scene that made her feel somewhat incredulous.
Sachiko, standing with a boy.
More importantly, the expression on Sachiko's face was a warm one, a smile even gentler and more genuine than Sayo's, a sight she hadn't seen in ages.
Was Sachiko getting better?
Wakaba Mutsumi wondered.
However, even faced with such a surprising scene, Wakaba Mutsumi's pupils only slightly contracted.
Her face remained expressionless, as if she hadn't seen anything, as if it couldn't stir any emotion within her.
But soon, a gentle voice reached her ears, snapping Wakaba Mutsumi back to reality. She instinctively reached for the phone in her arms.
Should she inform Sachiko? She couldn't let Sayo see this.
But it was already too late.
Even if Wakaba Mutsumi's hesitation was only momentary.
Nagasaki Sayo, who was observant and had been focusing on Wakaba Mutsumi, still noticed a slight change in her.
"What's wrong? Mutsumi."
Nagasaki Sayo's expression showed a hint of confusion and concern, and Wakaba Mutsumi quickly lowered her head.
However, Nagasaki Sayo still followed her gaze.
Then, Nagasaki Sayo's pupils trembled.
Because.
She finally saw the figure she had been longing for, day and night, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Sa… Sa-chan!?"
Nagasaki Sayo blinked, as if she couldn't believe it, and exclaimed in surprise and joy.
Instinctively, Nagasaki Sayo was about to rush forward.
Wakaba Mutsumi pulled her back.
"Is Mutsumi-chan trying to stop me?"
Nagasaki Sayo turned her head and looked at her wrist, her voice returning to normal.
Wakaba Mutsumi didn't speak, but lowered her eyes and bowed her head.
Nagasaki Sayo's heart softened. Oh well, she thought, returning to her gentle, high-pitched voice.
"Mutsumi-chan, even if you hadn't told me where Sachiko was, I wouldn't have blamed you. But now that I've found her myself, you can't stop me, you know."
After saying that, Nagasaki Sayo easily broke free from Wakaba Mutsumi's grip and went to move forward again.
Fortunately, after seeing a familiar figure standing beside Tomogawa Sachiko, Nagasaki Sayo paused.
Wakaba Mutsumi breathed a sigh of relief.
In an instant, Nagasaki Sayo's thoughts raced.
"Hakushu is here too, so they really know each other..."
Did Sayo know that boy too?
Wakaba Mutsumi was confused, then clutched the phone in her arms tightly.
Is it necessary to quickly inform Sachiko? Sayo has discovered her and intends to tail her.
But, at this point, would it be too late to tell Sachiko?
While Wakaba Mutsumi was hesitating.
Nagasaki Sayo, who had regained her composure, noticed Wakaba Mutsumi's small movements. She spoke softly,
"Mutsumi-chan, you don't need to do anything, okay?"
Hearing this, Wakaba Mutsumi's small hand stiffened slightly, then dropped, abandoning the thought of warning Sachiko.
Perhaps, she also wanted to follow and see what was going on, to see what Sachiko's relationship with that boy was.
Why could Sachiko show that kind of expression in front of him, but not in front of her?
Seeing Wakaba Mutsumi follow her instructions, Nagasaki Sayo also breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, Sayo didn't want to lose her temper with Mutsumi unless absolutely necessary.