When Sakiko gently cradled Kikukawa Kyo's face and leaned in so intimately, Soyo genuinely wondered if she had provoked Sakiko a bit too much earlier—enough that Sakiko was now prepared to brazenly kiss Kyo right in front of her.
Yet even as Sakiko held Kyo's face, she didn't angle Kyo toward herself. Their gazes remained slightly askew, preventing either from fully seeing the other's expression. They could only sense the warmth emanating from each other's faces and fingertips, enough to evaporate the raindrops that still lingered on their skin.
If this scene were part of a film, and the protagonists were about to embark on that timeless ritual—charged with romance, love, and perhaps even a hint of desire—how would you shoot it?
If Kyo herself were the director…
Certainly not like those sugary, mass-produced romances filled with exaggerated blushes and excessive close-ups, where beautiful faces practically crash together, driven solely by predictable love-at-first-sight clichés.
Granted, at a critical moment, zooming in with a blunt close-up might give the audience immediate gratification, and Kyo held no disdain for films that took that approach. But she wouldn't let such lazy choices dishonor this lovely moment, this rare day of cool rain mingling gently with warm sunshine.
Instead, perhaps the camera would pull slowly away, framing a distant gazebo tucked within lush greenery, the curtain of falling rain lending a soft, misty veil to the scene.
Fine cords holding delicate wind chimes extended gently from the gazebo's eaves, droplets gathering and falling in shimmering strands. Even inside, the stone railing was streaked wet, making it inevitable that the water-like girl seated upon it would herself become damp. A few strands of her ash-gray hair clung wetly together, catching the light reflected from water and rain until they seemed to gleam a pale silver. Here she was, sheltered yet not quite out of the rain.
If this girl appeared carefree and unrestrained by the drizzle, the other girl seemed disciplined and earnest by contrast.
Though similarly touched by the rain, Sakiko's long blue hair was still meticulously arranged down her back, neat and composed, maintaining her elegant, ojou-sama poise. Yet, at this moment, she seemed almost eager to taste forbidden fruit, drawing the rain-soaked girl deeper into the intimacy of the gazebo, their closeness charged with ambiguity.
The camera lingered at a perfectly ambiguous distance, softened by the blur of moving rain, capturing the quiet tension of their stillness.
There was power in their suspended motion—the more absolute the stillness, the more eager one became for the fleeting moment when it would shatter into movement.
If Sakiko chose this moment to kiss her, perhaps it would suit the rain after all.
Kyo thought quietly to herself. She didn't spare a thought for what such a kiss might mean or how it would affect their future interactions.
She was simply curious, anticipating whatever this rain would bring.
But, unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Sakiko paused at precisely this boundary.
Sakiko's lips hovered close, only brushing softly near Kyo's ear, rather than meeting her lips, prompting a subtle sigh of relief from Soyo.
The only lingering issue might have been how close they still remained, but Soyo lacked the moral high ground to reprimand Sakiko. After all, her own earlier behavior hadn't exactly been restrained either.
"So, Sakiko…what did you want to say?" Kyo blinked slowly, making no attempt to escape Sakiko's gentle hold on her face.
"Ah…"
Before Sakiko could speak, just the gentle parting of her lips sent a soft breath dancing warmly against Kyo's earlobe. Even though Sakiko wasn't deliberately breathing against her, it was already pushing Kyo's composure dangerously close to its breaking point.
Kyo subtly shifted, trying to regain some personal space, but Sakiko firmly held her in place.
"I'll begin now," Sakiko said softly.
"All right, I'm listening."
Her prepared words came forth clearly, steady and assured:
"I didn't leave the band because of you—it's my own personal issue. I won't tell you what it is, and I don't want you looking into it, either.
"But don't worry; I'll handle it myself."
She closed her eyes briefly, reopening them to continue:
"Our past relationship is over because the weak, helpless version of me from back then has died. Clinging to those beautiful memories…would only hold me back.
"In the future, I'll reach the place I'm aiming for. Perhaps, when that day comes, we'll meet again—and you'll see me as someone completely new.
"I've found my own guiding light, my own 'source of strength.' You shouldn't dwell on the past anymore, either."
...
Sakiko spoke swiftly, and afterward, it was Kyo's turn to carefully convey these words to Soyo.
Kyo fulfilled her role as a perfect messenger, adding nothing and omitting nothing, relaying Sakiko's words exactly.
"Would you two like a moment alone?" Kyo asked considerately, noticing the thoughtful expressions that crossed both their faces. "I can step out and enjoy the rain."
"I only agreed to pass on the message once. What you both do from here is entirely up to you."
Sakiko was the first to reply, her previously tense expression softening noticeably as she faced Soyo. "There's no need. I believe Soyo and I have already reached an understanding."
"Yes…" Soyo agreed quietly. "I still have a few questions, but you've answered the most important ones."
Though Soyo still wasn't entirely clear on the reason Sakiko had left the band, she'd finally pulled free the sharpest thorn from her heart—Sakiko's feelings about their time in CRYCHIC.
Sakiko had acknowledged those memories were precious and beautiful…
Just that admission alone was enough to ease much of Soyo's lingering pain.
Moreover, Sakiko hadn't completely closed the door on seeing each other again someday. Soyo didn't know exactly what Sakiko was pursuing, but if it was Togawa Sakiko, surely she would reach it.
Meanwhile, Sakiko took this opportunity to finally grasp Soyo's feelings toward her, clearing some past misunderstandings, allowing her to sincerely wish Soyo well on her own path forward.
As for the so-called "understanding"—while each had intentionally omitted certain details when speaking through Kyo, they immediately understood each other's hidden meanings once those words reached their ears.
Why Soyo no longer insisted on answers, and Sakiko's newfound strength…
Both understood these referred to the same person.
It seemed that even if they'd wished for a clean break, they were destined to remain connected by a certain flow of water.
"Hm?" Kyo suddenly turned toward the gazebo's entrance.
Outside, the rain had finally stopped, leaving only brilliant sunlight streaming softly down upon the three of them.
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