The dream was over...
So happy... yet so fragile...
Even though Sakiko Toyokawa was extremely reluctant to let go, an end was an end.
Sakiko lowered her head, the locks of hair on both sides hanging down the sides of her face, obscuring her expression...
...To be able to play music together with Bai Xian, I was so happy...
...Really, so happy...
Her vision blurred, unable to see anything clearly...
...What is this?
Are these... tears...?
...I'm crying? Why?
...Why...
"Why did you let me have it, only to take it away?"
...
"Toyokawa... miss?"
"Are you alright?"
Sensing that something was amiss with Sakiko, Bai Xian felt a pang of concern.
"Um, I'm fine."
Though she forced herself to remain calm, Sakiko Toyokawa wanted nothing less than for Bai Xian and Anon Chihaya to see her looking so weak right now.
Yet her shoulders, which kept trembling, and her faint, muffled sobs hardly made it look like she was fine.
"Hey, look up."
"Miss Sakiko Toyokawa."
"Please... look at me properly..."
Bai Xian stood up, walked over to stand right in front of Sakiko, cupped her face in both hands, and gently exerted force to lift it, forcing her to meet his gaze.
...
Miss Toyokawa's cheeks were soft and tender, so soft it felt as though a mere pinch would bring out water.
At that moment, the rims of her eyes were slightly red, her amber eyes shimmering with moisture. She had clearly reached her limit, yet her tears stubbornly refused to fall, just like the strong-willed Miss Sakiko Toyokawa.
Due to the height difference, Sakiko had to tilt her head back just to lock eyes with Bai Xian.
She saw the boy's dark, deep eyes, his short silver-white hair, the slight upward curve of his lips, and his gentle, spring-breeze smile...
And he saw straight into her heart.
"I don't know what you've been through, but..."
"Cry if you want to. You've worked hard enough..."
Those gentle words struck straight at Sakiko's heart. Finally, she could hold back no longer; she reached out, wrapped her arms tightly around the boy who had offered her such encouragement and affirmation, buried her small face in Bai Xian's sturdy chest, and broke down in heavy sobs.
...Sob... sob-sob... waaah...
...I really...
...I really have worked so hard already...
Gently, he wrapped his arms around the girl.
Bai Xian stroked Sakiko Toyokawa's head while trying to wipe away her tears with his hand.
A large patch of his chest was already soaked through by the girl's sorrowful weeping...
Meanwhile, Anon Chihaya merely bit her lip, watching the two embracing in silence, saying nothing.
How long it lasted, she didn't know, but Sakiko's muffled sobs gradually grew fainter, as if she had exhausted every ounce of her strength.
When he looked down at Sakiko's face again, her eyes were half-closed, her breathing steady, and strands of light blue hair stuck to her fragile face. She had clearly fallen asleep.
...
The vast Wind Instrument Club room was as quiet as if no one was there, save for the faint sound of breathing and the soft rustling of Bai Xian's fingers combing through the girl's smooth hair.
"Hey, Anon-chan, Miss Toyokawa is in your hands now."
"Mm..."
Perhaps driven by a sense of embarrassment, Bai Xian simply couldn't bring himself to hold a girl he had only just met like this with other people around.
He had been holding the sleeping Sakiko for a full half-hour now.
And throughout all of it, Anon Chihaya had simply stood to the side, watching him.
If looks could kill, Bai Xian felt he would have been hacked to pieces a thousand times over.
Tragic...
After handing Sakiko Toyokawa over to Anon, Bai Xian left.
The moment he walked out, Sakiko opened her tightly shut eyes and lifted the head that had been resting on Anon Chihaya's shoulder.
She had been awake all along...
It was just that...
She hadn't wanted to wake up...
"I've made a fool of myself in front of you, Anon-san."
"Mm, it's fine."
Sakiko Toyokawa patted her head, bursting with energy, seemingly returning once more to that omnipotent, highly capable Miss Toyokawa.
"Well then, I'll be leaving first. Excuse me."
"Yeah, bye-bye..."
Watching Sakiko Toyokawa leave, Anon Chihaya wore a deeply complicated expression.
...What is even going on...
...What a complete mess.
...I've really had enough of myself...
With that, Anon patted her skirt, straightened the slightly crooked collar of her outfit, and stood up to walk out of the Wind Instrument Club room.
Leaving the school.
Strolling down the streets, the slanting rays of the setting sun cast their glow upon Anon Chihaya, drawing her shadow long and stretched out...
She hadn't found her bandmates as she had hoped, nor had she joined the Wind Instrument Club; instead, she had witnessed a joint performance between Bai Xian and that girl named Sakiko Toyokawa.
Bai Xian was amazing.
Sakiko Toyokawa was amazing too.
...And what about me?
...I said I wanted to form a band, but honestly, I probably just wanted to play around.
...How despicable...
...
She was sick of being like this—a person who longed to be in the spotlight, yet constantly ran away from it.
Back then, and even now, she was running away.
She had run away from studying abroad in Britain.
She had run away from the expectations of her friends at her old school.
Even now, she was still running away.
After witnessing the performance between Bai Xian and Sakiko Toyokawa, deep unease settled into her heart. They were so dazzling, taking music so seriously.
...And here I can't even play the guitar properly.
Well...
With a bitter smile, Anon broke into a run, searching for a quiet place to hide and calm her racing mind.
She ran blindly, on and on, not knowing how long she ran or how far she had gone...
...
"Yikes!"
"Ow! It hurts..."
Nagasaki Soyo was sent stumbling from the impact, and Anon Chihaya was forced to a halt.
Both of them tumbled to the floor, crying out in pain.
「I'm sorry, I-I-I...」
"It's alright. Let's get up first."
Nagasaki Soyo brushed off her slightly dusty skirt, stood up with some effort, and extended a hand toward Anon Chihaya, who was still lying on the floor.
...Such a gentle person...
Looking at the offered hand, Anon reached out, used it for leverage to stand up, and cast a grateful look at the girl before her.
The girl had shoulder-length, warm chestnut hair and striking grey-blue eyes. Her gaze held a look of genuine concern, and her expression was warm and kindly.
...What a pretty girl...
"Let's wipe that off first."
Seeing Anon's dazed expression, Nagasaki Soyo let out a soft chuckle.
Then, she took a handkerchief from her bag and handed it to Anon Chihaya.
Taking the handkerchief, Anon didn't hesitate; she wiped away the tear tracks that had lingered on her face since who knows when, along with her dust-stained cheeks.
"Thank you... Um, what is your name?"
"You're welcome. My name is Soyo Nagasaki~"
"You came running in such a rush, you really gave me a fright~"
"Is something the matter?"
Soyo's sweet and gentle voice warmed Anon's heart, melting away all her defenses.
So, collecting her thoughts, she said:
"My name is Anon Chihaya. I'm so, so sorry for bumping into you!"
"Actually, it's like this..."
「...」
...
After listening to Anon Chihaya's explanation, Nagasaki Soyo absently twirled her fingertips, lowering her head in casual thought.
...Is that so...
...Bai Xian is at Haneoka.
...And Sakiko is there too...
...Wait for me.
...I'll find you...
...
"Hey, Anon-chan, shall we go inside and talk?"
"How about it?"
...
With a beaming smile and a gentle tone, Nagasaki Soyo pointed to the shop beside them, which turned out to be the LiveHouse "RiNG".
"Of course."
Without a second thought, Anon Chihaya immediately accepted Nagasaki Soyo's invitation.
...