In Bai Qiu's eyes, Wakaba Mutsumi stood there as straight and motionless as a tree.
Only her long hair swayed gently in the wind.
It would have been a beautiful scene.
Unfortunately, Nagasaki Soyo was still standing nearby, quietly shedding tears, making it impossible to appreciate the scenery any longer.
Besides...
The wind was picking up.
Bai Qiu suddenly realized—
Wait... now isn't the time to be thinking about that.
Mutsumi didn't seem to have any intention of saying anything.
As for Soyo...
There was even less need to mention her. Head lowered, eyes cast down, her face filled with sorrow, she clearly wasn't in the mood to speak.
Looking at her now, anyone could tell she needed someone to comfort her.
But who?
Him?
Bai Qiu didn't think he was particularly good at comforting girls who were crying.
Besides, no matter how he looked at it, there was someone much more suitable for the job.
Wakaba Mutsumi.
She had come here together with Soyo, after all.
Girls help girls.
Leave professional work to the professionals.
So Bai Qiu walked over to Mutsumi and gently reminded her,
"You're Wakaba, right? Umm... why don't you comfort Soyo a little?"
Mutsumi fell silent.
As if recalling something, her eyelids lowered before she slowly shook her head.
Bai Qiu looked puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
She answered quietly,
"I don't know how."
Isn't this the sort of thing girls are naturally better at?
That was what Bai Qiu was about to say.
But then another thought crossed his mind.
Wait...
Mutsumi has barely spoken from beginning to end.
Her expression rarely changed, either.
She always looked absent-minded.
Adorably absent-minded, admittedly.
She probably wasn't good at chatting or expressing herself.
I get it.
She's one of those emotionless, quiet girls.
Seeing that Mutsumi was still hesitating, Bai Qiu patted her gently on the shoulder.
"It's okay. You're good friends with Soyo, aren't you?"
"My relationship with her definitely isn't as close as yours."
"She's hurting right now."
"This is exactly when she needs you the most."
After hearing those words,
a faint glimmer appeared in Mutsumi's normally tranquil eyes.
She nodded obediently.
"Mhm."
Bai Qiu nodded back.
Mutsumi really is an obedient girl.
She walked over to Soyo.
"Soyo..."
"Sakiko has already left."
After saying that,
Mutsumi turned to look back at Bai Qiu with her beautiful eyes, as though asking,
Was that okay?
Bai Qiu saw Soyo's shoulders tremble.
Clearly, she had heard.
And somehow...
Her expression only became even gloomier.
The corner of Bai Qiu's mouth twitched.
Why are you making things worse?
Looks like he'd have to step in himself.
He beckoned toward Mutsumi.
She immediately trotted obediently back to his side.
Leaning close, Bai Qiu whispered into her ear,
"Say this to Soyo... and then give her a hug."
Mutsumi nodded her little head.
A moment later, she returned to Soyo and faithfully repeated exactly what Bai Qiu had taught her.
"Soyo."
"Can you stop crying for now?"
"There are still people passing by."
"I'm not leaving."
"I'll stay here with you."
When she finished speaking,
she gently wrapped her arms around Soyo.
Soyo's tears finally stopped.
Both Bai Qiu and Mutsumi brightened.
Then—
"Why..."
Soyo murmured quietly.
She slowly raised her head.
Looking directly at Mutsumi, she demanded,
"Why didn't you say anything just now, Mutsumi?"
"..."
Under Soyo's piercing gaze,
Mutsumi instinctively shrank back.
Sakiko...
didn't want anyone else learning about her circumstances.
But Mutsumi had no intention of explaining herself.
Watching Mutsumi remain silent,
Soyo's emotions grew increasingly complicated.
Along with her sadness came a deep sense of grievance and frustration.
She had worked so hard trying to bring Sakiko back.
Yet Mutsumi refused to help.
She could accept that Mutsumi hadn't helped before.
But just now—
Couldn't she have at least said something?
"Don't you want Sakiko to come back?"
"Say something, Mutsumi!"
"I..."
Mutsumi helplessly clenched the hem of her skirt.
Just as she was about to apologize—
Bai Qiu stepped in front of her.
"Wait!"
"Soyo, calm down."
"Don't blame Wakaba so harshly."
"You're frightening her."
"Maybe she has her own reasons."
Bai Qiu spoke on her behalf.
"...You're right."
His words seemed to wake Soyo from her emotional outburst.
She suddenly remembered something Mutsumi had once said.
"I've never thought playing in a band was fun."
A lonely smile appeared on Soyo's face as she laughed bitterly at herself.
"I'm sorry, Mutsumi."
"I know you didn't mean it..."
Mutsumi finally found the courage to lift her head again.
But Soyo's next sentence struck her like a bolt of lightning.
"After all..."
"...You've always been like this."
She hid it well.
Very well.
But Bai Qiu still caught the unmistakable disappointment in Mutsumi's eyes as her eyelids drooped even further.
Sigh...
He let out a quiet breath.
Why do these two feel so troublesome too?
At least...
Their emotional baggage wasn't nearly as overwhelming as Takamatsu Tomori's.
Looking at Mutsumi, Bai Qiu comforted her gently.
"Don't take it too much to heart."
"Soyo's emotions are a mess right now."
"...Mm."
Mutsumi answered in an almost inaudible voice.
Beep. Beep. Beep...
Just then,
the phone in Mutsumi's arms suddenly rang.
Bai Qiu heard it as well.
He quietly stepped back a few paces to give her some privacy.
Mutsumi quickly took out her phone and glanced at the screen.
She immediately realized—
It was time for her piano lesson.
But Soyo was still here.
And she still hadn't managed to comfort her.
Holding her phone tightly,
Mutsumi looked worriedly at Soyo before turning toward Bai Qiu.
"Please help Soyo."
This was someone even Sakiko had been willing to trust.
Mutsumi believed he could do it.
At the very least...
He would do a better job than she could.
If Bai Qiu hadn't been here,
she probably would have done nothing except silently stand beside Soyo.
Without saying a single word.
Until Soyo eventually calmed down on her own...
Or someone else happened to find them.
"Hm?"
Bai Qiu raised an eyebrow.
He guessed she probably had somewhere she needed to be.
"...Can't you?"
For the first time,
a hint of vulnerability entered Mutsumi's otherwise emotionless voice.
Meeting her calm gaze,
Bai Qiu nodded.
Truthfully,
even if Mutsumi hadn't asked,
he wasn't about to leave Soyo here by herself.
After all,
they were neighbors.
They'd shared meals together.
They were friends.
Besides...
There were still those note rewards.
He'd had enough fun watching the drama unfold.
Time to actually do some work.
Seeing him agree,
Mutsumi bowed deeply to him in gratitude.
"Thank you."
Then she hurried away.
Can't be late.
Can't be late.
If I'm late, they won't let me come out so easily next time.
Watching her figure disappear into the distance,
Bai Qiu turned back toward Soyo.
Her flaxen hair had been blown into complete disarray by the fierce wind.
Yet she made no attempt to tidy it.
Bai Qiu sighed inwardly.
Soyo...
You've kind of been abandoned, haven't you?
Is CRYCHIC really this dysfunctional?
Just because the band disbanded, does that mean everyone can't even stay friends anymore?
This band has some serious issues.
Thinking about it that way,
he suddenly felt a little sorry for Soyo.
If I were in her shoes...
...No.
I'd never end up in a situation like this.
Just then,
a raindrop the size of a soybean landed squarely on Bai Qiu's face.
Is it raining?
He instinctively looked up.
Without realizing it,
the once-clear blue sky had become completely covered by dark storm clouds,
casting a heavy shadow over the world below.
The howling wind grew louder and louder.
A storm was approaching.
Bai Qiu couldn't help but sigh.
"...It feels exactly like Soyo's mood right now."
The moment he finished speaking,
he nervously glanced sideways at Soyo.
Only after confirming she hadn't heard him did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
And just as Bai Qiu was indulging in the scenery—
Crash—!
The sound of torrential rain suddenly filled the air.
Driven by fierce winds and gravity,
countless raindrops came pouring down,
falling rapidly and violently from the heavens.