"Thank you, Shouko."
"Eh??"
Looking at the surprised expression on Shouko's face.
The corners of Sakiko's mouth curled slightly, but her smile immediately faded.
Her entire demeanor reverted to a fragile state.
After what had happened earlier... she had already realized that the Shouko in front of her was someone who responded to softness but resisted force.
If she were to put on her young lady act again, she feared she would only be humiliated even more harshly.
Therefore, she sensibly adopted the appearance of a well-behaved little rabbit.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might have really walked into the kind of ending you described."
"So, are you... planning to return to the CRYCHIC Band??"
"I'll pass. After saying those things today, I'm no longer qualified to go back anyway."
"Hmm? What's wrong? You're not going to try to persuade me to go back?"
"There's no need. I can tell that you... were actually just playing along with a group of little girls."
"Yes, experiencing society has certainly made you grow up quickly."
Shouko nodded with a smile and then directly reached out to embrace Sakiko.
Smelling the other's fragrance at such close range, she closed her eyes comfortably.
Feeling Sakiko's somewhat stiff body, she smiled slowly... "I, Soyo, Rikki, Mutsumi, and Tomori—you were the one who pulled us all together."
"All along, you have been the soul of the CRYCHIC Band."
"Even though you were thinking of leaving, you didn't really want to disband this team."
"Everyone could have continued to practice and perform together."
"You felt that with my help, everyone would definitely be able to become better."
"And then later..."
"Once you found a new direction and returned, perhaps everyone could have rediscovered the happiness they once had."
"What a pity..."
"Too many trivial matters have caused you to overlook many details."
"Or rather, your pride as a young lady made your subconscious choose to evade certain problems."
"But no matter how much you evade, this matter is set."
"The moment you stepped out, it meant the CRYCHIC Band was disbanded."
"Without you, the core, there is no center. Who would lead CRYCHIC??"
"Soyo and Mutsumi, who only focus on you??"
"Or Rikki, who focuses on Tomori??"
"Or perhaps Tomori, who is waiting for you to give her support??"
"Do you think that once you're gone, any of them could truly lead this team into the future??"
"And I, actually, think it's quite a good thing for everyone, who is still quite immature, to experience a setback."
"Although I don't advocate for growth through pain, I have to say that pain indeed allows one to grow."
"See? You now... haven't you grown a lot more than before?"
Listening to Shouko's words, Sakiko's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Even though she knew this was indeed the future outcome.
The happy memories in her mind still made her completely unwilling to think in this direction.
But as Shouko spoke it all out, her expectations for the future were once again ruthlessly torn to shreds.
"Shouko, I really didn't realize before that you... are truly cruel."
"The world is cruel. Haven't you already discovered that? I'm just going with the flow."
"..."
Feeling Shouko blowing air while whispering softly into her ear.
The distress that Sakiko had originally felt somehow grew fainter and fainter.
Instead, a strange, uncontrollable sensation caused her body to tremble even more violently.
"Don't, Shouko, stop blowing..."
"Hmm, if you think you can't forget, do you think they can?"
"I'm going to leave this place next, so they won't be able to find me."
"Will they really not find you? Can Mutsumi really ignore the friendship of her former teammates and treat Soyo with a cold face??"
"They..."
Recalling the personalities of Soyo and Mutsumi, Sakiko had to admit that Shouko was right.
Even if she could hide for a while, she definitely couldn't hide for very long.
"Right?"
"Yeah."
"When the time comes, once the secret is out, the little ship of your friendship will completely capsize."
"But, but Shouko, can't you help me??"
"What, do you think because I care about you now, you can PUA me??"
"It's not that, why would you think that? I just, I just..."
"The CRYCHIC Band is destined to disband, and you are destined to never go back."
"I..."
"You are very short on money, and you also want to achieve something. Your future is destined to take the route of an absolute commercial band."
"But, why can't I take the CRYCHIC Band on a commercial route??"
"Exactly, why not? So why did you leave?"
"I..."
Hearing Shouko's words, Sakiko couldn't help but clench her fists tightly.
Meanwhile, Shouko continued as before, blowing on Sakiko's ear.
"You've understood all along; it's just that you're unwilling to face the beauty of the past."
"That is the reason why I didn't stay in the CRYCHIC Band as you wished."
"The method of moving forward by knowing pain, though undesirable, is the most effective."
"Everyone, who previously had their own agendas, will learn to think more after experiencing this."
"Only by learning to think can they, and you, move toward a brighter future."
"And..."
"Although I talked a big game in the rain earlier, the situation isn't actually that bad."
"Your Grandfather kicked your father out, and you're very angry, right??"
Hearing Shouko's question, Sakiko nodded gently: "Yes, he even said he wanted to adopt me as his daughter. What an absurd fellow."
At this moment, she had made a decision to truly trust the Shouko before her.
Though her previous actions were excessive, they were also strangely warm.
Most importantly... she knew that Shouko had the ability and confidence to truly bear the weight of her tragic life.
Therefore, she didn't need to keep too many secrets from the Shouko in front of her.
Since her mask as a young lady had already been bloodily torn away by the other party.
Then, let her shamefully rely on Shouko for a bit.
"Wow, you've actually opened up to me. Do you not plan on putting your young lady's pride back on?"
"Shouko!!!!"
Lifting her head, Sakiko glared unhappily at Shouko.
But upon seeing the belt in the other's hand, she immediately lowered her head and became well-behaved.
Too ruthless, too ruthless!!!
That hateful Shouko actually even brought a belt.
Did she think she wouldn't listen and was prepared to whip her with the belt??