"Chihaya-nii... I'd like to ask for a day off this Saturday."
As soon as Tetsuya arrived at the studio, Togawa Sakiko said to him directly:
"Mutsumi and I are planning to see Nagasaki Soyo this weekend."
"Eh... so suddenly?"
Tetsuya raised an eyebrow in some surprise.
"I thought it would take you a while longer to mentally prepare yourself."
"Before now, I really hadn't thought about seeing her so soon, but this time... the problem isn't on my end."
Togawa Sakiko shook her head, her expression looking a little conflicted.
"Up until now, Mutsumi has always been the one putting Nagasaki Soyo off for me... but I don't know why, Soyo has suddenly gotten very anxious recently. Not only has she started messaging Mutsumi day and night, she's even started using her friendship with Mutsumi against her... Mutsumi was never good at lying to begin with, and now she can barely delay any longer."
"..."
Tetsuya fell silent upon hearing this.
In fact, on his way to the studio today, he had made a point of observing Soyo's expression.
Though it was only for a moment, he had indeed caught a flicker of displeasure on her face.
But considering her reasons for forming this band, that displeasure wasn't hard to understand.
"I think... it's probably because of me?"
Tetsuya said this to Sakiko's uncomprehending face:
"Ever since Takamatsu-san came to my house last weekend, she and my sister have become even more determined to form a new band. As for Shiina-san, although I haven't had a chance to ask her directly, she seems to have decided to unconditionally support all of Takamatsu-san's decisions. On top of that, they've recently met a stray... an incredibly skilled guitarist. This band, which was once just a scattered mess, is finally starting to get on the right track."
"And once this band officially takes shape, her plan to reunite [CRYCHIC] will go up in smoke..."
Hearing this, Togawa Sakiko finally understood.
"That girl... does she not care about the members of the current band at all?"
"...As I've said before, a child's world is far too narrow, and that memory was far too dazzling for all of you."
Tetsuya shook his head.
"Although I don't know what kind of past Nagasaki-san has, based on her current behavior, the meaning of [CRYCHIC] to her is perhaps more important than you imagine... And don't forget, regardless of whether her current obsession is right or wrong, it doesn't change how rash and reckless your decision was back then... You are also one of the ones at fault."
"That... of course, I know that... which is why my original intention was to end all this myself."
Sakiko's expression immediately dimmed.
"But no matter what, she shouldn't use Mutsumi like that... Mutsumi was the one in [CRYCHIC] who cared about her the most."
"Once a person becomes obsessed, it's easy for them to become blind. You and I should both understand that feeling well."
Tetsuya said as he picked up the desk calendar.
"Since you're going to meet anyway, you might as well make everything clear... On Saturday, I'll go with you and Wakaba-san to see her."
"Eh?"
Sakiko was stunned for a moment, then she quickly said:
"This is just our own private matter, there's no need to trouble you, Chihaya-nii—"
"You are my apprentice, and my sister is her bandmate. The outcome of your conversation that day could affect your future work performance, and it could also affect the future of my sister's band."
Tetsuya said as he circled the date on the calendar with a pen.
"Under these circumstances, I don't consider myself an outsider."
"Ugh..."
Sakiko found it truly hard to refute.
Although it was somewhat unbelievable, due to a series of coincidences and fate, Chihaya Tetsuya, who should have had no connection to that past, had now become a related party with close ties to both sides.
"Sigh, I really didn't mean to cause you trouble, Chihaya-nii..."
Sakiko sighed with a vexed expression.
"I'm sorry, Chihaya-nii, for getting you involved in all of this because of me."
"I don't find it troublesome at all."
Tetsuya shook his head with a nonchalant expression.
"On the contrary, if it weren't for you, Togawa, I would never have known that the band my sister joined had such a past. Then, if she were to really get hurt by Nagasaki-san and the others, I, knowing nothing, could only stand by and watch, unable to do anything for her. See, when you think about it that way, I should be the one thanking you instead."
"...That's not how it works, is it?"
This had happened more than once.
Whenever she tried to express her apology or gratitude to Tetsuya, he would come up with a clever excuse she couldn't possibly refute, turning it around and inexplicably making her the one being thanked.
Was it an adult's composure, or simply a difference in eloquence?
Sakiko herself didn't know.
But in any case, with Tetsuya's companionship and support on that day, even she, who was not yet mentally prepared, would surely be able to find the courage and determination to face that past.
However, while feeling the encouragement and warmth from Tetsuya, she did not forget another thing—
"Chihaya-nii."
"Hm?"
"If, in the end, she refuses to give up on reuniting [CRYCHIC], what will you do?"
"..."
Tetsuya was silent for a moment before saying:
"I would probably find a way to warn her before she takes any further action."
When he said this, although Tetsuya's tone was as calm as usual, Sakiko felt an inexplicable chill from it.
"I do sympathize with her situation, and I can understand how much she treasures that past. But that doesn't give her a reason to hurt my sister. If she really is that obstinate, then I certainly won't consider her feelings any longer."
"..."
(That's right, Togawa Sakiko, don't forget. A large part of the reason Chihaya-nii is getting involved so resolutely is because of his sister. And don't forget what your own goals and wishes are.)
Thinking of this, the faint sense of dependency that had been growing within Sakiko instantly vanished, replaced by her usual calm and collected thinking.
She wanted to become someone who could truly walk beside him, not a beggar who only received handouts.
So, for this weekend's negotiation, besides trying to persuade Nagasaki Soyo with words, what else could she do?
...
"Let's have today's design lesson, Chihaya-nii."
Sakiko first glanced at the calendar that Tetsuya had marked, and then said:
"On my end... I'm ready to try designing for the first time."