Chapter 303: Sayuri's Glorious Resurrection! (Patreon)

August in Tokyo—heat waves wrapped in cicada song beat against the glass curtain walls of the Tokyo Big Sight, layer after layer.

Inside the venue, though, it was a different world entirely.

Crowds surged through the halls, the air thick with the smell of ink and paper, sweat, and the whir of portable fans humming from every corner.

The corridors were full of participants lugging paper bags and backpacks, clustering in twos and threes, excitedly showing off their newest hauls.

Every year at this time, the place turned into a boiling sea of people.

Along the wall of the East Exhibition Hall, Tsushima Kagami's group had a booth that wasn't huge, but it still sat in the section reserved for major circles.

A hand-drawn promotional poster hung on the wall behind them.

It was the joint work of Kosaka Akane and Machida Sonoko, the art so polished that it caught the eye immediately even among the densely packed rows of booths.

As for promoting Tsushima Kagami's work, there wasn't much need.

After all, a big enough name cast a long enough shadow—whatever he sold, people would scramble to buy it.

Two stacks of doujinshi sat neatly arranged on the table.

The stack on the left had a cover showing the silhouette of a nun and a man in profile—Kagami's own book, 'The Nun on a Deadline to Marry.'

The stack on the right was the collaborative work by Kosaka Akane and Machida Sonoko, its cover showing girls in shrine-maiden robes in various poses, the colors so vivid they seemed to leap off the page.

Right in the middle of the booth stood a small handwritten sign.

"The Latest Masterpiece from Xuanyaye-sensei / Akane Kosaka-sensei!"

The lettering was Sayuri's—round, cute handwriting, with a tiny star drawn at the end.

"Kagami, more people are coming over there again!"

Sayuri stood at the side of the booth, arms full of freshly unwrapped paper bags, calling out to Tsushima Kagami.

Her voice strained a little against the noise of the venue, but the smile on her face was still bright.

Kagami followed her pointing finger and saw a line already snaking out in front of the booth like some long, winding creature.

The line stretched from the front of the booth all the way into the aisle beside it.

Men and women alike, most of them clutching wallets or programs they'd already bought.

Every so often someone would rise up on their toes to peer ahead.

"Got it. Sayuri, could you restock the right side, please?"

Kagami said, turning to pull two more stacks of books from a box behind him and setting them on the table.

Kosaka Akane and Machida Sonoko were already seated behind the booth.

Akane wore a white lace-trimmed blouse today, her long hair braided loosely into a side ponytail resting on her shoulder—she looked gentle and composed.

In front of her sat a fresh box of signing pens, lined up neatly by color.

Sonoko, as always, had an intellectual look about her—a navy cotton shirt paired with khaki trousers, black-framed glasses on her nose, idly flipping through a doujinshi she'd just bought from the neighboring booth.

But both women kept glancing toward the line forming in front of the booth.

"There are way too many people this year…"

Akane muttered under her breath, a hint of barely noticeable nervousness in her tone.

"Well, Kagami's basically the University of Tokyo's resident 'literary genius' now."

Sonoko closed the book in her hands, adjusted her glasses, the corner of her mouth curling slightly.

"And this time the nun book's apparently already gone viral online."

"Besides, we didn't attend last year, so with our comeback this year, plenty of fans specifically came out to support us."

"True. We shouldn't undersell ourselves either."

"Kagami has a lot of fans, sure, but we've never lacked for support either."

Akane finally remembered that even without Tsushima Kagami, she, Sonoko, and Sayuri—their circle, Rougeen Rouge—had always been big enough to sell thousands of copies on their own.

Still, watching the line snaking in front of the booth, it clearly felt like it grew longer every year.

She glanced again at the stack of books ready to sell on the table, and the still-unopened boxes behind them.

Somehow, even as their fanbase grew, the number of copies they printed kept shrinking.

This time each side had only printed a thousand copies, just to be able to wrap things up early.

It felt a little unfair to all these fans standing in line.

Akane took a deep breath, patting her knees with both hands as if psyching herself up.

Sayuri finished stacking the restocked books neatly on the table, then stepped back and clapped the dust off her hands.

She was dressed today in a light blue striped T-shirt and white shorts, her favorite pair of canvas sneakers on her feet—clean and crisp-looking.

Her usual twin tails had been gathered into a single high ponytail, showing off her clear forehead and long neck.

Only, her face—normally always grinning—still carried a smile today, but it felt like something was missing, some spark gone from it.

As the opening ceremony music began to play…

"All right. Let's get started."

The moment Kagami finished speaking, the line began to move forward.

"Hello there, which one would you like?"

"Both, please!"

"Here's your change—thanks so much!"

...

The noise in front of the booth kept up all the way until noon.

Kagami barely had a moment's rest, handing out books and counting change.

Akane and Sonoko weren't faring much better; both their wrists ached.

In a brief lull, they stretched their wrists, caught each other's eye, and burst into laughter without meaning to.

Sayuri was in charge of restocking and keeping order.

"Please form a line, no pushing!"

"There are still copies left—please be patient!"

Her voice sounded thin against the noise, but her tone stayed gentle throughout.

Only, whenever a satisfied fan walked off after buying their copy, she'd stare after their retreating backs for a moment, lost in thought.

Then she'd quickly snap out of it and go back to her work.

Just after eleven that morning, Kagami's nun book sold out first.

"Kagami! Your book's sold out!"

Sayuri looked at the now-empty side of the table, holding an empty cardboard box in her hands.

Looking at the crowd, it was clear there was nothing left to sell.

Kagami had no choice but to apologize to everyone, offering the usual polite words about their continued support, then directing people toward Akane and Sonoko's new work instead.

Some people went on to buy the girls' nun-themed book; others left the line, disappointed.

Akane came over and clicked her tongue a couple times.

"People really do love that kind of thing these days, huh."

"What kind of thing?"

Kagami pretended not to understand.

"You know, that whole vibe—abstinent types, nuns, priests, that sort of thing… Kagami, you don't actually have some weird fetish, do you?"

"Senpai Akane's overthinking this."

Kagami shook his head, expression unchanged.

"I just thought the subject matter suited the moment, that's all."

"Sure, sure~"

Akane drew the words out, clearly not buying it.

Sonoko watched the exchange between the two of them from the side, the corner of her mouth curving slightly. She didn't join in, but her gaze lingered on Sayuri for a moment.

Sayuri was bent over, tidying the now-empty section of the booth.

She shifted things toward the middle, her movements brisk, but she never once looked up at Kagami.

About half an hour later, Akane and Sonoko's collaborative nun book also sold out.

"Sold out, sold out!"

Akane threw her hands up, leaning back in her chair like a marathon runner crossing the finish line, letting out a long breath.

"I'm exhausted… but so satisfying!"

Sonoko sat down beside her as well.

"That went faster than expected."

"That's because Senpai Akane and Senpai Sonoko's work is just that good."

Kagami said with a smile.

"Don't try that with me."

Akane shot him a look.

"Your nun book sold out even faster than ours, though."

"That's just because I printed fewer copies."

Kagami waved a modest hand.

Sayuri stood off to the side, listening to the three of them trade compliments back and forth, her lips twitching.

She seemed about to say something, but in the end just pressed her lips together lightly and stayed silent.

Some fans who'd swept through other booths first arrived at theirs, only to hear everything was sold out, and let out a collective sigh of disappointment.

"It's all gone? Already?"

"I knew we should have come here first…"

"Xuanyaye-sensei, will there be a reprint next time?"

"Akane Kosaka-sensei, will there be a second edition?"

Kagami stood up and bowed toward the fans still gathered around the booth.

"Thank you all so much for your support! Today's copies are completely sold out."

"As for reprints and second editions, we'll discuss it with the publisher."

"Please keep an eye out for future announcements…"

He spoke earnestly, his tone gentle, his manner humble.

The fans, though disappointed, didn't press the issue further and dispersed in small groups.

A few familiar faces stayed behind just to shake Kagami's hand and offer a few encouraging words before reluctantly leaving.

Once the last fan had gone, the area in front of the booth finally fell quiet.

The group began packing up.

Empty boxes were stacked together, the remaining sample copies went into paper bags, and the promotional poster was carefully rolled up and secured with a rubber band.

"Great work today, everyone."

Kagami carried the last box to the cart behind the booth, then turned to look at the three girls.

"Should we all get together for a meal later?"

"Let's go to my place—I'll cook something good."

Akane's eyes lit up.

"Really? Kagami's cooking himself?"

"Yeah. Everyone's worked hard lately, so let me treat you all."

Kagami smiled, then turned his gaze toward Sayuri.

"Sayuri, I got your favorite ice cream ready, just for you~"

Sayuri was zipping up the cash pouch when she heard that, and her hands stilled for a moment.

She looked up, glancing at Kagami, then at Akane and Sonoko.

Her lips moved.

Then she looked down, tucked the cash pouch into her bag, zipped it shut, and patted it.

"I… I won't be coming today."

Her voice wasn't loud, but Kagami, Akane, and Sonoko all heard it clearly.

Kagami froze for a moment.

Akane and Sonoko turned to look at her at the same time.

"Huh? Why not?"

Akane tilted her head, her tone plainly confused.

"It's rare for everyone to get together like this, and Kagami even said he'd cook for us himself. Are you sure you don't want to come, Sayuri?"

"Yeah, today's just a little…"

Sayuri didn't meet anyone's eyes, just kept her head down, adjusting the strap of her bag.

"Next time. I'll definitely come next time."

She said that, then bowed slightly to the three of them.

"Thanks for all your hard work today. I'm heading out first."

Then she turned and walked toward the exit of the hall.

Her canvas sneakers made soft sounds against the floor, her ponytail swaying gently behind her.

Kagami stood there, watching her back, his mouth opening slightly as if to call after her, but in the end he said nothing.

Akane and Sonoko exchanged a glance, both seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes.

"Was Sayuri acting a little strange today?"

Akane lowered her voice, leaning toward Sonoko's ear.

Sonoko nodded slightly.

"Now that you mention it…"

"She barely talked today, aside from those customer-service smiles for the fans. I don't think I saw her really smile once."

"And earlier, when I had her help restock, she moved quickly enough, but it felt like… she was somewhere else entirely."

Akane replayed the details in her mind, her brow furrowing deeper.

"Also, she barely even looked at me today."

Sonoko added.

"Normally when she sees me, she runs right over, grabs my hand, and chatters away nonstop."

"Today… she just said hello, and never spoke to me again after that."

Both of them turned their eyes toward Kagami at the same time.

"Kagami."

Akane crossed her arms, a note of scrutiny in her voice.

"Did you… upset Sayuri somehow?"

Kagami blinked, then shook his head.

"No, I haven't even really seen her much lately."

Kagami spread his hands helplessly.

"After break started I barely saw Sayuri at all. Last time was when she came to drop off her illustration drafts."

"Drop off drafts?"

Akane raised an eyebrow.

"When was that?"

"Mid-July, I think… around the 17th or 18th."

"Oh right, that was around the time we were all together… a few days after."

When Kagami suddenly brought that day up again, both Akane and Sonoko couldn't help but flush a little, their hearts skipping.

So they immediately cut him off.

"Ah, forget about irrelevant stuff like that."

"Think about other reasons Sayuri might be acting strange."

"The last time we saw her, she seemed completely normal—it's only today that things turned weird."

"So the problem can't be on our end."

"If it's not us, then it must be your fault, Kagami!"

"No way! Senpai Akane's the one who's always pressuring Sayuri for no reason!"

"I think it's definitely Senpai Akane's fault!"

Just as Akane was about to argue back, Sonoko cut in to stop the two of them from going off-topic.

"All right, Kagami, think harder—was there anything suspicious when Sayuri delivered the illustration drafts to you?"

"Let me think."

Kagami tried to recall.

"That day she came from home to see me, said the illustrations were done, and brought them over to show me."

"And then?"

Sonoko pressed.

"And then… she seemed to have a cold, I think."

Kagami frowned, as if working hard to remember the details of that day.

"She had a mask on, her voice was a little hoarse. I asked her to come in and sit, offered to make her some ginger tea, but she said she didn't need it, handed me the drafts, and ran off."

"Ran off?"

"Yeah, ran off really fast. I called after her and she didn't even turn around."

Kagami's voice carried a note of confusion as he spoke.

"I figured at the time she was worried about giving me her cold, so she rushed off, and I didn't think much of it."

Akane and Sonoko exchanged a look, neither saying anything.

Kagami went on.

"A few days later I messaged her, asking if her cold had gotten better. She just replied 'I'm fine' and that was it, no follow-up."

"After that it was just her asking whether the illustrations needed any changes, I'd tell her what to fix, and then… that was it."

"Every time we talked after that, she'd finish asking about the illustrations and immediately say she needed to head back."

He paused.

"Now that I think about it…"

"It does feel like her replies got a lot slower than before. She used to reply instantly, but lately I'd have to wait hours sometimes. And she used to send tons of stickers and ramble about random stuff—now it's basically just… strictly business."

"Did you ask her what was wrong?"

"I did. She said it was nothing, just been busy lately."

"A few times when she came over I asked her to stay for dinner or something, but she'd always say she suddenly got an idea and wanted to rush home to finish it."

Kagami gave a wry laugh.

"I figured she really was just busy, so I didn't push further."

Akane listened to all this, fell silent for a few seconds, then sighed.

"Kagami, you really are dense as a rock."

"Huh?"

"When a girl says 'it's nothing,' that's exactly when something's very much the matter."

"How can you be so sharp about girls' feelings normally, and yet so clueless right now?"

Sonoko added quietly, almost mournfully.

Kagami opened his mouth, found he had no real comeback.

Still, he protested, a bit wronged.

"I mean, I always thought Sayuri was just about the least likely person to have any real worries."

"So I never really considered it."

"So…"

He hesitated.

"Is Sayuri… really angry at me?"

"Not sure."

Akane shook her head.

"But there's definitely something going on."

She fell silent for another moment, then turned to Sonoko.

"Sonoko, let's put the get-together on hold for now."

"Right."

Sonoko nodded, as if she already knew what Akane was about to say.

"The two of us are going to go check on Sayuri at her place."

"Now?"

Kagami asked.

"Yes, now."

Akane stepped out from behind the booth, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"The books are sold out anyway, so we've got nothing else to do this afternoon."

"I'll come too?"

Kagami said, reaching for his own bag.

"You stay out of this."

Akane raised a hand to stop him.

"If Sayuri really is upset with you, you showing up now would only make things awkward."

"Besides, it's easier for girls to talk among ourselves—there are things she might not be able to say in front of you."

Kagami's hand froze mid-air, then slowly withdrew.

"Then… I'll leave it to you two, senpai."

"Leave it to us."

Akane flashed him an OK sign, then walked off with Sonoko in the direction Sayuri had gone.

After a few steps, she turned back.

"Oh, and Kagami."

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry too much. Sayuri's the type who might get upset, but she'd never actually hold a grudge."

"I know."

Kagami nodded.

"Good."

Akane smiled, turned, and walked into the crowd side by side with Sonoko.

The two figures were quickly swallowed by the flow of people.

Kagami stood in place, staring in that direction for a long time without moving.

The noise around him carried on, but his ears buzzed dully, unable to take any of it in.

He looked down at the signing pen still in his hand.

It was the one Sayuri had given him specially, back during his very first summer convention.

Thinking back on Sayuri these past weeks, there really had been something missing from those eyes.

Had he simply assumed, because she was Sayuri, that she was a carefree fool without any worries at all?

Kagami realized, for the first time, that he'd apparently been overlooking her feelings the whole while.

Now that he thought about it, someone who could get into the University of Tokyo could hardly be a fool.

Kagami sighed, tucked the pen into his pocket, and began packing up the rest of the booth alone.

When Akane and Sonoko stepped out of the Tokyo Big Sight, the sun outside was blazing.

Heat shimmered up from the asphalt, the buildings in the distance warping faintly in the waves of it.

The two stood on the steps for a moment, adjusting to the shift into the scorching heat, then headed together toward the parking lot.

"What do you think it could be?"

Akane asked as they walked, her tone carrying more gravity and worry than usual.

"I don't know."

Sonoko shook her head.

"But whatever it is, to change a kid like Sayuri that much—it can't be something small."

Akane made a small sound of agreement and said nothing more.

They got in the car, Sonoko started the engine, and it rolled slowly out of the lot, merging into the main road traffic.

Akane buckled her seatbelt and leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the streets fly past outside the window.

Her mind kept replaying every one of Sayuri's movements that day.

That face, always grinning—today it had hardly shown a genuine smile at all.

When facing fans, she'd smiled brightly enough.

But it was obviously just a surface-level customer-service smile.

When talking to them, she'd smile too, but it would vanish in an instant—polite, distant.

And then there were her eyes.

Those eyes that normally sparkled, as if they held an entire sky full of stars inside.

Today, they'd lost that spark entirely.

Thinking about it now, there had been so many things off compared to usual.

And yet she herself hadn't noticed a thing.

As a friend, as club president, as her senpai… she'd really failed at all of it.

Sayuri must be feeling terrible right now.

Thinking about it, Akane's expression darkened.

"Akane."

"Hm?"

Sonoko, driving the car, suddenly pulled her out of her thoughts.

Akane looked over at her.

"What is it?"

The whir of the car's air conditioning vents and the low drone of tires against the road filled the silence.

After a while, Sonoko finally spoke.

"Let's stop guessing wildly for now, and stop blaming yourself too."

"We'll talk once we get to Sayuri's place and see her in person."

"Right."

Akane nodded, took a deep breath, and pushed those chaotic thoughts down for the moment.

The car wound through familiar streets.

Sayuri's place was about a thirty-minute drive from the venue.

By the time the two of them arrived, Sayuri had probably already gotten home ahead of them by subway.

Taito Ward, Asakusa 4-chome.

A high-end apartment building conveniently located near Asakusa and Iriya Station.

Sonoko parked the car, and the two of them got out, walking side by side into the building's entrance.

At the security door, they punched in the entry code with practiced ease, then walked inside and into the elevator.

There was no one else in the elevator.

Akane pressed the button for Sayuri's floor, and the doors slowly closed.

In the cramped space, there was only the hum of the elevator moving and the sound of their own breathing.

"Ding…"

The elevator doors opened.

The two of them walked up to Sayuri's door, and Akane reached out to press the doorbell.

"Ding-dong…"

The sound of the doorbell felt oddly out of place in the quiet hallway.

No one answered.

Akane waited a few seconds, then pressed it again.

"Ding-dong… ding-dong…"

Still no response.

"Could she not be home yet?"

Sonoko checked her watch.

"She left before us, so by all accounts she should already be here."

"Maybe she got held up on the way? Or…"

"Or maybe she didn't come back at all, and went somewhere else…"

Before Akane could finish, a faint sound suddenly came from behind the door.

Something like slippers shuffling against the floor.

Akane and Sonoko exchanged a glance, then both turned their eyes to the closed door.

Silence again for a few seconds.

Then came a more distinct sound—the click of the door lock turning.

"Click."

The door opened a crack.

Half of Sayuri's face appeared through the gap.

Her hair was messy, the ponytail undone, long hair loose over her shoulders.

The light makeup from earlier had been washed off, and her eyes were red and swollen, as if she'd just been crying.

She saw Akane and Sonoko standing outside and clearly froze for a moment.

"Senpai Akane… Senpai Sonoko?"

Her voice was raspy, with an obvious stuffed-up nasal quality.

"What are you two…"

"Just came to see you."

Akane kept her tone as gentle as she could manage, like someone speaking to a startled little animal.

"Kagami… did he come too?"

"He didn't."

Sayuri looked like she let out a breath of relief upon hearing that—then seemed to grow even more dejected.

"Won't you let us come in and sit for a bit?"

Sonoko stood in the doorway too, smiling at Sayuri.

Sayuri hesitated, then slowly opened the door wider.

She stepped back, clearing the way.

"Please, come in."

Akane and Sonoko changed into slippers and walked into the living room.

The apartment wasn't huge, but wasn't small either—the kind of place only an upper-middle-class household could afford in this area.

Akane and Sonoko knew Sayuri's parents were one of the rare dual-income households.

At this hour, they'd both be at work.

Sayuri led the two of them into her own room.

The room was kept very clean.

On the small coffee table sat several sketchbooks and a scattered pile of pencils.

The trash can beside it was stuffed full of crumpled draft paper.

By the window stood a drawing desk.

On the desk sat a lamp and a small electric fan, still spinning, humming faintly.

An unfinished illustration lay spread across the drawing desk.

Akane's gaze lingered on that drawing for a moment.

It showed a little boy's back, standing in a golden wheat field, a fox at his side.

They'd both heard from Sayuri and Kagami before that it was meant to be an illustration for 'The Little Prince.'

"Sit wherever, I'll go get some drinks."

Sayuri said, then turned and headed toward the kitchen.

The two of them watched her retreating back.

She really did seem to have lost some weight compared to the last time they'd seen her, at the end of July.

Her oversized loungewear T-shirt hung loose on her frame, exposing a slender line of collarbone.

Akane and Sonoko sat down on the cushions laid out by the bed.

Neither of them spoke, just quietly taking in the room.

The air carried a faint smell of paint, and something else… a little sweet.

Probably the scent of some kind of aromatherapy diffuser.

Sayuri came back in carrying two glasses of chilled lemon water.

She set the glasses on the coffee table, then sat down on the cushion beside them as well.

She reached over and picked up a throw pillow off the floor, resting her chin on it, not meeting either of their eyes.

The room fell into an odd silence.

"Sayuri."

Akane spoke first.

"Did something… happen to you?"

Sayuri's fingers trembled slightly against the pillow, but she said nothing.

"At the venue today, I could tell you weren't quite happy."

Akane went on.

"Even with us, you kept seeming distracted."

"And when you talked with us…"

Sonoko spoke up too.

"It felt too quiet, not like you at all."

Sayuri lowered her head, burying her face in the pillow.

"I wasn't…"

Her voice came muffled from the pillow.

"Sayuri."

Akane stood up, walked over to her, and crouched down to meet her eyes.

"We're friends, right?"

Sayuri didn't answer.

"Whatever happened, you can tell us."

Akane's voice was very gentle, like she was soothing a wronged child.

"Even if we can't help, at least we can listen."

The living room fell silent for a long time.

So long that Akane thought Sayuri might never speak.

Then, she heard a faint sound.

Like something breaking.

Sayuri's shoulders began to tremble faintly.

She buried her face deeper into the pillow, like a wounded kitten.

"Senpai Akane…"

Her voice came from the pillow, broken into fragments.

"Am I usually just stupid and annoying?"

"Am I… someone everyone dislikes?"

Akane's heart clenched sharply.

"How could that be?"

She reached out and gently laid her hand over the back of Sayuri's.

"Sayuri's so lovable—how could anyone dislike you?"

"Then why…"

Sayuri's voice shook badly.

"Why doesn't Kagami… like me?"

The air in the living room seemed to freeze.

Akane's hand froze mid-air.

Sonoko froze too.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing in the other's eyes the same answer they'd suspected all along but never dared confirm.

"Sayuri…"

Akane opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat had suddenly gone tight, and the words she'd meant to say caught in her chest.

Sayuri slowly lifted her head.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, tears clinging to her lashes, threatening to fall.

"I saw it all…"

"That day… when I came to bring Kagami the drafts… I…"

She paused, biting her lip hard.

"I saw Kagami and Senpai Akane and Senpai Sonoko… in the bathroom."

Akane's pupils shrank instantly.

Sonoko's fingers clenched unconsciously into the fabric over her knees.

"I didn't mean to…"

Sayuri's tears finally spilled over, falling drop by drop onto the pillow, blooming into small dark stains.

"I just… I just wanted to surprise Kagami… and when I got near the window… I heard…"

Her voice broke apart, as if someone had a grip on her throat.

"I saw… I saw the senpais and Kagami… you were all so close…"

"I'd never seen Kagami look like that before… the way his eyes looked at you two… he's never looked at me like that…"

She scrubbed hard at her eyes, but the tears only came faster, impossible to stop.

"I thought… I thought he was just slow to notice. I thought he just wasn't ready yet. I thought if I just stayed by his side long enough… he'd notice me eventually…"

"But that's not how it is at all…"

"He just… he just likes me."

A sharp ache hit the back of Akane's nose.

She wanted to say 'that's not true.' She wanted to say 'Kagami cares about you too.' She wanted to say so many things.

But when the words reached her lips, not a single one would come out.

Because she knew Sayuri's heartbreak went deeper than just this.

She glanced over at Sonoko, who was gently rubbing Sayuri's back.

Sonoko met her eyes, wearing the same guilty expression.

Both of them remembered the promise they'd made with Sayuri, back at the start.

That when it came to their feelings for Kagami, the three of them would move forward together.

Even a confession, or anything further, had to happen with all three of them together.

No sneaking ahead alone.

And yet they'd broken that promise themselves.

That day in the bathroom, she and Sonoko really had crossed the line into something more than ordinary friendship with Tsushima Kagami.

And Sayuri had been standing right outside the window, in the scorching sun, witnessing every bit of it.

"Sayuri…"

Sonoko stood up too, walking over to crouch on the other side of Sayuri, flanking her along with Akane.

"I'm sorry."

Sonoko's face was a mix of sorrow and guilt.

"What happened that day… that was our fault."

"We didn't consider your feelings."

"We…"

"No… please, senpai, don't say any more."

Sayuri shook her head desperately.

"It's not the senpais' fault…"

"You two are so much more… mature and refined than me… whatever happens between the senpais and Kagami… I have no right to say anything about it…"

"That promise back then… it was just a joke anyway."

"Feelings, in the end, come down to what both people want."

"I understand all of that."

"I just…"

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, until it became a nearly inaudible murmur.

"I just… feel a little bitter about it, that's all…"

The living room held nothing but the sound of Sayuri's stifled crying.

Outside the window, the cicadas kept singing on and on, as if mourning the whole summer on her behalf.

Akane reached out and gently pulled Sayuri into her arms.

Sayuri's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

She buried her face in Akane's chest and finally cried openly.

That crying held all the hurt, resentment, and self-doubt that had built up over this time.

She'd thought she could pretend nothing had happened.

She'd thought she could keep laughing and joking around Tsushima Kagami as carefree as before.

She'd thought that if she just never brought it up, never thought about it, those images would slowly fade, slowly blur, slowly vanish from memory.

But she couldn't do it after all.

Every time she saw a message from Kagami, she thought of that afternoon.

Every time she thought about messaging him, she thought of those eyes that had never once really looked at her.

So she started avoiding him.

Not answering messages, not picking up calls, not visiting his place, not seeing him at all.

She thought if she just stayed far enough away, the pain would hurt less.

But it didn't work.

The pain stayed.

Like a thorn lodged in the softest part of her heart, aching with every breath.

Akane held Sayuri, patting her back over and over.

"Let it out. You'll feel better once you cry it out."

Sonoko sat beside them, eyes rimmed red, watching the scene in silence.

She thought back to when Sayuri had first joined the Manga Research Club.

A little girl with twin tails, standing timidly at the doorway of the clubroom, clutching a sketchbook full of doodles.

"I'm Sawamura Sayuri, nice to meet you!"

Those eyes had once been full of hope and anticipation for the future.

Those same eyes were now full of tears, disappointed because of them.

After a long while, Sayuri's crying gradually quieted.

She lifted her head from Akane's arms, her eyes swollen like walnuts, her nose red, looking utterly wrecked.

"Sorry… I got the senpai's clothes all messed up…"

"Don't be silly."

Akane used her sleeve to wipe the tear tracks off Sayuri's face, her movements far gentler than usual for her.

Sayuri sniffled, lowered her head, and said hoarsely.

"Senpai Akane, Senpai Sonoko… please don't tell Kagami, okay?"

"I don't want him to know… I don't want him to think I'm pathetic… I don't want him being nice to me out of guilt either…"

"If that happened… I'd feel even worse…"

Sonoko and Akane exchanged a glance, and both fell silent.

They didn't know whether to grant this request or not.

If they didn't tell Kagami, he'd never know why Sayuri had been keeping her distance.

The misunderstanding would only deepen, the rift would only grow wider.

But if they told him?

What would he do?

Would he get closer to Sayuri out of guilt?

That wasn't what Sayuri wanted.

Would he accept Sayuri out of a sense of responsibility?

That was even less what she wanted.

But then again…

This all felt like a serious overreaction.

There was no way Kagami was that kind of person!

Now that they finally understood the root of Sayuri's distress, Akane and Sonoko—

having broken their own promise by sneaking ahead—felt it was pretty low of them.

Alongside their guilt and sympathy for Sayuri, part of them also felt relieved.

Because they now understood that Sayuri had simply gotten the wrong idea, all on her own.

Behind her, Sonoko now crouched in front of Sayuri as well.

Holding both her hands, she said gently.

"It's our fault that breaking our promise caused Sayuri so much pain."

"Please let me and Akane help make it up to you."

"...?"

Sayuri, still lost in her sadness, blinked in confusion at Sonoko's words.

"Senpai Sonoko… what do you mean by help?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Akane also smiled and knelt beside Sayuri.

Gently stroking her loose hair.

"Sayuri thinks she's been obvious enough about her feelings, but Kagami's just been oblivious to it, is that it?"

"So that's why you think Kagami doesn't like you?"

Sayuri turned to look at Akane, then nodded hesitantly.

"Idiot!"

Sonoko brushed aside Sayuri's bangs and flicked her lightly on her bare forehead.

"Kagami definitely likes Sayuri~"

Sayuri covered her forehead, staring blankly at Sonoko.

"What… what do you mean?"

"I'm saying, Kagami definitely likes Sayuri."

"You thinking Kagami doesn't like you is just you getting the wrong idea!"

Sonoko emphasized again.

Sayuri just sat there, dazed, processing Sonoko's words.

After a good while, she finally came back to herself.

"But…"

"No buts about it."

"Although, he really is a greedy, sneaky bad man!"

"That's exactly why he's caused this misunderstanding for you!"

Sonoko finished, glancing at Akane.

Akane picked up right after.

"Ha! A man who cheats behind Shizuku's back whenever she's not around."

"You think he'd spare only you, Sayuri?"

Sayuri's eyes lit up at that, then dimmed again just as quickly.

She hugged the pillow in her arms even tighter.

"But I was already so obvious, always ready…"

"And he just ignored it completely…"

Sayuri buried her face deep into the pillow again as she spoke.

"See, that's why he's a bad man, a terrible thing!"

Sonoko said with a laugh.

"Wanting to have it all with multiple girls, yet never making a move on any of them himself."

"That's exactly what's causing Sayuri's misunderstanding!"

"Is… is that really how it is?"

Sayuri suddenly lifted her head from the pillow, looking at Akane and Sonoko.

"Yes! Exactly that!"

"But Kagami's not really that bad, is he…"

"Otherwise you two wouldn't have…"

"We're trying to comfort you, and you're defending him now!"

Sonoko and Akane both bristled at that.

"No, no, no, the senpais are right!"

Sayuri looked between the two of them for a moment, her eyes darting around before she continued.

"So… earlier you said you'd help me…"

Seeing Sayuri like this, they could tell she'd basically pulled through it.

That was just Sayuri's nature—she rarely worried about anything, but once she did, she'd spiral into it, only to bounce right back the moment it was resolved.

Akane and Sonoko finally relaxed a little.

The two exchanged a smile, then looked at Sayuri.

The corners of Sayuri's mouth slowly curled upward too.

"So… how are you going to help me?"

"Well, crying alongside you kind of dried out our throats."

"Oh, right, right!"

Sayuri suddenly jumped to her feet, bumping into both Akane and Sonoko beside her, catching them completely off guard.

"What's gotten into you, Sayuri!"

Sayuri didn't stop to apologize or help them up.

She just grabbed the lemon water glasses and rushed straight out of the bedroom.

"I'll get you two some honey citron tea right away!"

Akane and Sonoko climbed helplessly off the floor, exchanged a look, and shook their heads with a laugh.

It wasn't long before Sayuri came bounding back in slippers, her steps lively now, carrying two steaming cups of honey citron tea and setting them in front of the two of them.

"Here you go, senpais!"

Akane and Sonoko picked up their cups and sipped slowly—their throats really had gone dry and sore from all that crying earlier.

But before they'd taken more than a few sips, Sayuri's insistent staring made them put the cups back down with a helpless look.

"Come closer, Sayuri."

Akane beckoned her over with a smile.

Sayuri leaned in immediately.

Then the three of them huddled into a tight circle.

Akane lowered her voice and spoke into her ear.

"Here's what we're going to do, step by step…"

Sayuri looked up at the two of them in surprise.

"Um, isn't that a bit much?"

"Won't Kagami end up really upset with me over this?"

"Don't worry. Kagami's the type who'd blame himself even if he found out."

Sonoko added with a smile.

"Besides, who's the one who caused this whole misunderstanding and made you so heartbroken for so long?"

"Think of it as collecting a bit of interest from him, so he treasures you even more from now on."

"Treasures me more?"

"Heh heh~"

Sayuri broke into a silly, blissful grin.

"Stop grinning like that and keep listening."

"Right, right, okay!"

Sayuri snapped back to attention and leaned in close to Akane and Sonoko again.

The three of them huddled together once more, heads bowed low like they were holding a secret conference.

"Mumble mumble, blah blah blah…"