Kyo and Anon kept chatting about bands, their conversation flowing naturally between them. Meanwhile, Tomori grew quieter and quieter, gradually sinking into memories of CRYCHIC.
Even though she had finally spoken with Sakiko today, and even though Sakiko had directly rejected her tendency to take all the blame upon herself, pulling out the thorn of guilt that had been buried deep inside her—
The scars of the past still remained.
The breakup of the band had been a crushing blow to Tomori, who had always longed to feel human, to understand others and be understood in return.
To her, CRYCHIC was without a doubt one of the most precious, beautiful experiences of her life. And the more she treasured it, the more devastating its loss had been, leaving behind a shadow that refused to fade.
Now, that shadow had been dragged back into the light. And even the faintest breeze seemed to stir it, making it ache all over again.
Every time Tomori felt the urge to be in a band again, that pain flared up, burning her hands until she instinctively recoiled. The lingering wounds alone were already unbearable—if she had to endure a loss like that again...
Over time, she had become like an animal kept in chains for too long, no longer willing to even try breaking free. She had resigned herself to her small, safe corner.
And yet—
From those shattered memories of lost happiness, a single, clear stream trickled through the cracks, bringing with it fragments of long-faded moonlight.
At the same time, a new warmth shone down on her, burning against her scars but also filling her with a different kind of heat.
Standing in front of her were Kyo and Chihaya Anon—water and light blurring together, softening into a hazy glow that mingled with the dampness of the past.
Without thinking, Tomori reached forward, wanting to grasp something—
Her outstretched hand passed through the mist and light, making contact with Kyo and Anon.
"Tomori, what's up?"
Both of them turned to her at the same time—one gaze cool and questioning, the other warm and encouraging.
Realizing she had done something strange again, Tomori's face instantly turned bright red. She jerked her hand back so fast it was almost comical, letting out a series of small, muffled noises of embarrassment.
Kyo and Anon were about to ask what was wrong, but the more they leaned in, the harder it became for Tomori to speak. The blush on her face spread wider and deeper until, in the end, she turned away altogether, refusing to meet their eyes.
Seeing no choice but to drop it for now, Kyo and Anon exchanged glances.
Maybe we should talk somewhere more private?
That way, Tomori wouldn't feel so pressured.
But where would be a good place for that?
Kyo's first thought was the bath. Her second was the pool…
...Wait.
She shook her head, realizing that while she considered those places private, for normal people, privacy probably meant something entirely different.
Luckily, there was still one person present who was normal—Chihaya Anon. And, as if on cue, Anon had just come up with the exact same idea.
"Alright! Since there's nothing else important going on today," Anon declared enthusiastically, hands on her hips, slipping effortlessly into the role of leader once again, "let's go out and have some fun!"
She struck a dramatic pose and shouted—
"Karaoke time!"
From the window of the music club building, Sakiko watched as Anon grabbed both Kyo and Tomori by the hands and took off running, dragging the other two along without a second thought.
The three of them disappeared down the street in a blur, their destination unknown.
"Tomori… is moving forward again," Sakiko murmured to herself.
Seeing her former bandmate finding new companions—new people to play music with—was something she was truly glad for.
She didn't watch them leave for long.
Turning away from the window, she continued walking down the hallway, her steps slow and unhurried.
She had been drawn here by the sound of a piano playing.
Sakiko considered herself someone who liked the piano—no, perhaps loved it would be more accurate.
At first, learning the piano had simply been part of her education as an heiress, one of the many skills she was expected to master. But unlike other obligations, she had genuinely enjoyed those demanding lessons. With her natural talent, she had excelled, earning praise from her instructors.
Back when she was still part of the Toyokawa family, the piano had been her favorite toy. The innocent, younger version of herself had formed a band, believing they could be bound by fate, playing beautiful music together for a lifetime.
Later, the piano had become the fragile thread that kept her from being completely consumed by the sudden, drastic changes in her life. It was the one thing she could still hold onto, preventing her from slipping into the abyss entirely.
Even now, after finding a place where she could feel at ease, she wanted to bring the piano into this new world of hers—to share her music once more.
The piano was the fastest path to the peak.
The Instrumental Club…
Following the sound of piano music, Sakiko made her way into a spacious music classroom, where an upperclassman was playing.
"Are you interested in joining the Instrumental Club?"
Another upperclassman approached her, eager to recruit new members.
Sakiko responded with a polite smile and a small shake of her head. "Thank you for the invitation, but I'm afraid I won't have much time for club activities in the future. I just wanted to take this opportunity to experience the club atmosphere while I can."
How graceful.
Even though she had declined, the upperclassman felt no awkwardness or disappointment. Instead, she found herself drawn in by Sakiko's poise and refined demeanor.
And so, she said no more, simply standing beside Sakiko as they listened to the piano performance together.
Before long, the piece concluded, and the gathered first-years offered scattered applause. Sakiko clapped along with them, but unlike the others, her attention wasn't on the performer—it was on the piano itself.
"Would you like to try playing?"
A gentle voice spoke beside her.
"May I?"
Sakiko was slightly surprised, though she had been thinking about playing again after so long.
After receiving an encouraging nod, she expressed her gratitude and, without any further hesitation—almost impatiently—took a seat at the piano.
As the onlookers wondered what kind of piece she would play, Sakiko lifted her fingers, poised them over the keys, and then—
A cascade of notes surged forth, flowing like the tide. Each sound rose and fell like ocean waves, carrying both immense power and deep emotion.
"Is this Chopin's Ocean Etude? I remember this one being pretty difficult!"
"It's a simplified version, but even so… to play it this well—she's incredible."
The music shifted between gentle ripples and crashing waves, capturing both the grandeur and the mystery of the sea. Fully immersed in her performance, Sakiko poured her heart into the melody.
Even though she hadn't touched a piano in a long time, the moment her fingers met the keys, the familiar sensation returned to her as if it had never left. And with it, all the emotions she had suppressed for so long rushed forth, unfurling into an endless tide of sound.
By the time she came back to herself, her body had already finished playing the entire piece, as if it had a will of its own.
"Please, you have to join the Instrumental Club!"
One of the upperclassmen, unable to contain her excitement any longer, eagerly approached Sakiko, hoping to persuade her to stay.
"I truly appreciate the invitation, but I really can't join. My apologies."
Once again, Sakiko declined, though her hand lingered on the piano, reluctant to part with it. How long will it be before I can play again?
Noticing the complex emotions in Sakiko's gaze, the upperclassman seemed to understand something.
After a brief moment of thought, she leaned in and whispered softly into Sakiko's ear:
"Our club activities don't start until four o'clock. Before then, on school days, this classroom remains unlocked."
Sakiko blinked, surprised—but also quietly delighted.
She met the upperclassman's eyes, as if to confirm what she had just heard.
The upperclassman smiled. "You really seem to love the piano. Good luck."