"I'll have the usual," Soyo said with a cheerful smile—though her way of ordering was far from proper.
This immediately made Taki raise an eyebrow and sigh softly, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she dutifully jotted it down in her small notebook. They had once been bandmates, and while she wouldn't claim to know Soyo inside out, she at least remembered what she liked to drink whenever they went out together.
Soyo's smile grew even brighter. She loved these little details—reminders that even though the band had disbanded, the traces of their time together still lingered in everyone's hearts. That feeling, that proof their past hadn't been forgotten or reduced to nothingness, gave her immense reassurance.
"What's the usual?" Anon asked, staring at the menu filled with an overwhelming variety of drinks. Even just among the teas, there were several options, leaving her momentarily unsure what to pick. Curious about the others' choices, she decided to ask.
Soyo didn't answer herself. Instead, she turned to Kikukawa Kyo with an expectant look. The way she did it the moment Anon asked made it an unusual gesture, enough to draw Anon's gaze toward Kyo as well. For a second, she wondered if something was wrong with her.
But Kyo didn't react at all. There was no nostalgia for an old band reunion, no usual enthusiasm when discussing different drinks. She simply sat there, elbow resting on the table, face propped against the back of her hand, her expression calm—so calm that Anon almost thought it looked... indifferent.
That icy coldness lasted only for a brief moment. As soon as Soyo looked at her, Kyo immediately softened her expression into a faint smile, as if she had merely been lost in thought.
Kyo has been acting weird ever since we got here… Anon thought to herself.
"It's hot Earl Grey tea. Soyo orders it all the time," Kyo finally said.
"Of course, Kyo remembers it perfectly," Soyo replied, clearly pleased.
"I see..." Anon had been the one to ask in the first place, but now, she found herself more focused on Kyo, worried that what she had just sensed wasn't just her imagination. "Then what about you, Kyo? What are you getting?"
"I'll have a cappuccino. Consider it a little quality check," Kyo said, the previous indifference completely gone. When she mentioned the cappuccino, she even shot a mischievous grin at Taki.
"…"
Taki hadn't planned to bring up the fact that Kyo had cried here once before. Yet, Kyo herself went ahead and ordered the same drink that Taki had made for her that day. While writing it down, Taki huffed, clearly unimpressed. "I hope you won't end up like last time. I won't be cleaning up after you again."
"So heartless!" Kyo playfully accused her. "It was your fault I cried in the first place!"
"You made Kyo cry?"
"Huh?"
That single remark shocked the other two at the table. Anon was stunned, but even Soyo looked surprised—she had never seen Kyo cry before. And Taki was the one who made her cry?
Taki was always strict, and her blunt way of speaking often made her seem harsh. But Kyo had always been able to handle her well. Aside from being reliable herself, Kyo had a way of absorbing everything Taki said—like the vast ocean swallowing words whole, remaining calm and steady, flowing at her own pace.
"Wait... did Taki hit Kyo or something?" Soyo asked uncertainly. The chances were low, but not impossible.
"Tch, as if," Taki clicked her tongue in annoyance and shot Kyo a glare. She was wording things like this on purpose. Without another word, Taki snapped her notebook shut, turned around, and headed toward the backroom.
"Wait, I haven't ordered yet!" Anon quickly called out. "I'll have a cappuccino too!"
But Taki disappeared behind the door, acting as if she hadn't heard a thing.
"Did she even hear me?" Anon mumbled, feeling thoroughly ignored. That was just plain rude. "She really is as short-tempered as Kyo said."
"Don't worry. In a bit, you'll see her come back with a scowl, carrying three drinks."
"Taki's all bark and no bite, huh?"
Once again, they were talking about something she had no clue about—something she couldn't join in on. That feeling of being left out gnawed at her. Anon slumped onto the table, sulking. If the band ended up being made entirely of former CRYCHIC members, did she even have a place in it? Wouldn't it be better if they just used this opportunity to reunite with their old group instead?
"But if you don't like Taki, Anon, you can always choose not to invite her into the band."
Anon lifted her head, meeting Kikukawa Kyo's calm, blue eyes. She knew Kyo had seen right through her thoughts again, yet she didn't feel uncomfortable about it.
On the other hand, Soyo's smile froze the moment she heard those words.
"Can I really?" Anon asked.
"Of course. This is your band, after all. That means you get to decide who joins. If you're worried about Tomori's opinion, you can always put the member search on hold for now and talk to her first before making a final decision."
My band...
Anon turned those words over in her mind. She knew Kyo had been helping her build this band from the start, but now, she truly felt it—this band was something she had the power to shape. The realization settled in her heart, bringing a sense of warmth and reassurance.
"I don't know much about Taki yet, so there's no rush to decide," Anon said as she straightened up again. "And thanks, Kyo, for helping me put this band together."
Kyo waved a hand dismissively. After all, helping Anon wasn't purely out of goodwill—there were personal reasons behind it as well.
But Soyo remained silent for a long time. Under the table, her fingers toyed with each other as waves of emotions crashed in her heart.
Why would Kyo say Anon could give up on inviting Taki? Did that mean she didn't want to bring CRYCHIC back together?
No, that wasn't it. Anon was the one leading this band. Kyo had merely been presenting possible members to her, which meant Kyo was still willing to form a band with everyone. But the power to decide now rested in Anon's hands.
Soyo finally spoke up. "Anon, why do you want to start a band? Did you invite Tomori and Kyo yourself?"
"Because everyone at school seems to be in a band, and girl bands are really popular right now. I figured I'd give it a shot too!"
Anon grinned and pulled Kyo's hand toward her. "It was Kyo who told me all this, actually. And I wouldn't have been able to get Tomori to join without her help!"
"I see."
Soyo clasped her hands together and rested her chin gently on them. A few thoughts had already begun to take shape in her mind.
---
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