"But…"
Seeing Sakiko Togawa's attitude, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but become a little anxious.
"I just want to help Sakiko…"
"No one asked you to do that!"
Sakiko's emotions became somewhat agitated. Every sentence she exchanged with Soyo felt like someone tearing open her wounds.
She had never wanted to expose her current downfall to her former bandmates, and every word Soyo said now felt like dancing directly on her minefield.
"Even being self-righteous should have its limits, shouldn't it?"
"If you want to be a maid, you can do it anywhere!"
It was obvious that Sakiko was truly angry—so much so that she almost couldn't help wanting to physically drive her away.
"You're not welcome here!"
"I really just want to help Saki-chan…"
Seeing that she was about to be kicked out, Soyo finally panicked.
"Look—this is the money I earned recently from voice acting. I can give it all to Saki-chan!"
At this moment Soyo had already begun to lose her composure. She spoke recklessly, completely forgetting Kamijou Mutsuki's earlier instructions, and directly took out a card and stuffed it into Sakiko's hand.
"And not just this."
Soyo even tried the same trick again, grabbing Sakiko's arm and dropping to her knees while crying.
"My deposit slips, my salary, and even my New Year's money—I can give it all to Saki-chan!"
"I can help Saki-chan repay the debt together…"
"…As long as Saki-chan can come back, I'll do anything!"
At this point, she had forgotten every bit of her plan. She simply threw out all the bargaining chips she had at once.
"…"
Holding the salary card that Soyo had stuffed into her hand, Sakiko's eyes were hollow, her body trembling slightly.
"Saki-chan…"
Thinking Sakiko had been moved by her words, Soyo quickly lifted her head.
And right at that moment, someone happened to return.
"?"
Looking at the scene before him, Kamijou Mutsuki couldn't help but produce a mental question mark.
Wait—did his script leak?
Why were they already rehearsing it in his house?
And also—why was Soyo in his house, and even wearing a maid outfit?
"Mutsuki…"
Seeing Kamijou Mutsuki return, Wakaba Mutsumi, who had been standing awkwardly to the side, suddenly looked as though she had found her pillar of support.
However, before Mutsumi could say anything—
"You bastard—just how far are you planning to humiliate me before you're satisfied?!"
Sakiko, who had just endured Soyo's relentless barrage, finally exploded.
She stared at the brown-haired maid in front of her, her expression extremely unpleasant.
"Do you think I've become so pitiful that I need your charity money?"
After all, she would rather work as a maid than live for free in Kamijou Mutsuki's house.
For someone as stubborn and prideful as Sakiko, Soyo's actions were nothing less than the ultimate insult in a certain sense.
In other words, all of her effort had been completely misplaced.
"That's not what I meant…"
Looking at the agitated Sakiko, Soyo seemed to want to explain.
"Then what do you mean?"
Although the fallen Sakiko was no longer as gentle as the former "White Sakiko," aside from Mutsumi, hardly anyone could make her lose her temper so easily.
The fact that Sakiko-sensei had been angered to this extent could only prove that Soyo truly deserved her reputation as a master of stepping on landmines.
"You think that just by giving me money, I'll obediently smile and go back with you?"
"I…"
"That's enough."
Sakiko suddenly restrained the anger on her face—not because she wasn't angry anymore, but because she was already exhausted from being angry.
"I'm not interested in wasting any more time with you. What you want to do is your freedom."
"But don't come looking for me anymore!"
As she spoke, she stuffed the bank card back into Soyo's hand and prepared to turn around and return to her room—out of sight, out of mind.
"Don't!"
Seeing this, Soyo instinctively grabbed Sakiko's arm.
"Sakiko, don't go, Sakiko!!!
If I did something wrong, I can change it!
How am I supposed to live without you, Sakiko!"
"How much more do you plan to embarrass yourself?"
The last bit of patience Sakiko-sensei had was finally exhausted.
I heard your life is dazzling now; I wish you happiness and won't linger anymore.
So why are you kneeling in front of me, ending the last shred of dignity between us?
Sakiko didn't say anything more and returned to her room.
"Soyo…"
Looking at Nagasaki Soyo kneeling on the ground, appearing extremely desolate, Wakaba Mutsumi wanted to step forward and comfort her.
"Do I look like a clown?"
Soyo suddenly said this with a hint of self-mockery. Kamijou Mutsuki felt that the word look like could probably be removed.
"Soyo, you don't have to be so obsessed with Sakiko."
From Mutsumi's perspective, she naturally hoped that her two best friends could get along well. That way she wouldn't have to stand in the middle and be hurt from both sides.
But after what happened today, Mutsumi felt that Soyo should just let Sakiko go—and let herself go as well.
The way she and Sakiko were tormenting each other now really had no meaning.
Weren't Takamatsu Tomori and the others doing quite well?
Why did she keep clinging to Sakiko every day like some lovestruck creep—what exactly was she trying to do?
"What do you understand about me?"
Mutsumi's swordsmanship was as sharp as ever. Even though she meant well, Soyo instantly became agitated.
"To me, Sakiko is unique and irreplaceable!"
It had to be Sakiko.
That was Soyo's belief.
But… why?
They were both bands—so why did it have to be CRYCHIC? Why wouldn't MyGO!!!!! work?
Was she truly irreplaceable?
Or was it simply because…
She was the first?
That question was probably something even Soyo herself couldn't answer.
Those feelings had long since turned into an obsession, branded deep into her heart.
"Though… Mutsumi-chan probably can't understand either, right?"
Soyo suddenly revealed a mocking smile as she raised her head. The light had completely disappeared from her eyes.
"After all, for Mutsumi-chan, it doesn't really matter who's by your side, does it?"
"Whether it's me, or Sakiko… or even Kamijou-kun?"
"Soyo!"
The girl who usually resembled a puppet showed her emotions in front of Soyo for the first time.
For her, Kamijou Mutsuki, Sakiko, and Soyo were all important—but each of them meant something completely different.
What Soyo had just said to Mutsumi was much like when she had stuffed money into Sakiko's hands earlier.
One could only say that after arguing with Mutsumi so often, Soyo had learned a bit of her sharpness.
"…"
Soyo knew that what she had said was excessive, but in her current state there was no way she could apologize. She could only lower her head and fall silent.
Mutsumi, who had still been a little angry, could only bite her lip upon seeing this, not knowing what to say.
Seeing the situation, Kamijou Mutsuki gave Mutsumi a look that told her to leave first—he would handle things here.
Mutsumi naturally wouldn't disobey. With a complicated look in her eyes, she gave Soyo one last glance before turning around and going to Sakiko.
....................