Summer vacation had officially begun, bringing with it an even harsher, more relentless sun scorching the earth—
And nearly melting a certain water-based lifeform.
"It's so hot… Staying at home is unbearable too."
Right now, Kikukawa Kyo was at home, specifically in front of the "archive wall" in her study.
She sat properly on a tall wooden stool, dressed as neatly as ever. This time, however, her usual white button-up was short-sleeved, and she had forgone her usual vest. She wore knee-length shorts, revealing a long stretch of pale, slender legs, and on her feet were breathable ankle socks—Kyo had an inexplicable fondness for the term boat socks.
Maybe it was because of the word boat.
The study's large floor-to-ceiling windows allowed the blazing sunlight to pour in freely, striking Kyo directly without the slightest obstruction.
Perhaps because she always kept herself well-hydrated, Kyo also seemed to sweat more easily. Right now, her shirt was nearly soaked through, the fabric clinging to her skin, and the white straps underneath were clearly visible.
The intense heat and direct sunlight made her body feel uncomfortably warm, yet at the same time, she didn't mind the sensation of being covered in sweat. It was an odd mix of discomfort and satisfaction.
She picked up a glass bottle beside her and took a big gulp of its contents.
By the way—today's drink of choice was honeysuckle dew, a staple in summer drugstores!
Honeysuckle had a sweet, cooling fragrance. It could clear heat without harming the stomach, its aroma could ward off illness, and when made into honeysuckle dew, it had a refreshing, sweet taste. The best part? No need to chill it beforehand—it was instantly drinkable and provided excellent relief from the summer heat.
After taking a deep sip, Kyo perked up and returned to her work—updating and refining the archive wall.
After that rainy day, which had changed everything, Kyo had started doing some research.
She wanted to better understand her bandmates—not just because they had spent a month together, but because those days had been genuinely enjoyable.
Her efforts had paid off.
She had gathered all sorts of information—where they lived, their family backgrounds, school grades, height, weight, measurements, and plenty of other details, useful or not.
It might all seem like a random collection of facts, but in Kyo's experience, a person's personality influenced their actions and achievements. And at the same time, their environment and behaviors would, in turn, shape them.
Despite all this data, she hadn't yet gone to see Tomori or Taki.
She had sent a few casual greetings via LINE, but Tomori hadn't responded at all, and Taki was still clearly upset. She flat-out refused to talk about Sakiko.
After thinking it over, Kyo decided to give them more time. Let them process the whole quitting the band thing first—she'd wait for the right moment to ask about their plans.
Sipping her honeysuckle dew, Kyo quickly finished updating the archive wall. Then, her gaze landed on two photos that were positioned rather close together—Nagasaki Soyo and Wakaba Mutsumi.
She wondered how Soyo felt after these past few days.
Soyo had been messaging her daily, mostly casual chats and simple morning-and-night greetings.
As for Mutsumi, Kyo had made some new observations.
Mutsumi definitely had some kind of special feelings toward Soyo—something different from what she felt toward the rest of the band.
But whether it was admiration, love, reliance, or even some twisted form of resentment… Kyo couldn't tell.
With the archive updated, Kyo decided to spend the day at her family's bookstore and check out the latest arrivals.
After finishing off her bottle of honeysuckle dew, she grabbed a lightweight, deep-blue summer vest and slipped it on—mainly to help cover up her sweat-soaked shirt.
Grabbing a large thermos filled with chilled boiled water, Kyo strolled out the door, taking her time.
---
Togawa Sakiko slipped into her newly purchased white dress—cheap, but elegant enough.
She had wanted to dress up properly to look more formal, but makeup was an absolute luxury for her these days. Instead, she settled for washing her face, hands, and arms with clean water, making sure she at least looked neat and presentable.
Today was her interview.
The job, of course, was at the bookstore Kikukawa Kyo had recommended. Kyo had reassured her that she didn't need to stress over it, that she could take it easy—but Sakiko refused to treat it that way. She would do her best. If she was going to take this job, she would make sure she earned it.
After double-checking that everything was in order, Sakiko set out.
Kikukawa Bookstore wasn't far from her home—it was also in the Akabane area, which made commuting incredibly convenient.
Checking the location on her phone, she saw that it was right near Akabane Station. Even on foot, it wouldn't take her long to get there.
Still… she hadn't expected it to be in Akabane of all places.
Her circumstances were different—she and her father had moved to Akabane because the rent was cheaper. But the Kikukawa family? They were obviously well-off. Even if they couldn't afford a spot in Ikebukuro's high-traffic shopping districts, surely they could have picked somewhere better than Akabane?
That said, this was still Tokyo. Even in the outskirts, a bookstore right next to a train station would never be lacking in business.
As she walked, Sakiko's mind drifted.
Ever since moving here, her thoughts had become far more practical—scouting for discounted groceries, keeping track of supermarket sales, figuring out her long-term plans…
None of these had ever been her concern before.
Back then, everything had been laid out for her. All she had to do was lift her chin and walk the path set before her.
Sakiko thought of Kyo then.
Kyo, who always carried a water bottle.
Kyo, with her calm, fluid presence.
Kyo, who was effortlessly reliable during band activities, handling every task with ease.
But on that rainy day, Kyo had been completely different.
That day, she wasn't a still ocean but a raging tide.
In the downpour, she had moved so freely, so wildly, as if no hardship could ever slow her down. Even Sakiko's pride had found itself humbled before her.
It was as if Kyo had seen right through her. Throughout their conversation, Sakiko had never once held the upper hand.
Even their so-called deal—when she thought back on it after leaving Kyo's house—seemed less like a negotiation and more like she had been led into accepting Kyo's help.
Deceived, even.
The moment her thoughts veered too far, Sakiko snapped back to the present—she had arrived.
Kikukawa Bookstore.
Sakiko stood still for a moment, taking in the sight before her.
Even from the entrance, she could tell—the space inside was vast, the shelves filled with countless books.
It was clear this was a bookstore that truly needed staff to manage it.
Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she composed herself and put on the perfect, practiced smile of propriety.
Just as she was about to step inside—
"Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening."
A peculiar greeting.
A voice—cool, but tinged with an easygoing laziness—spoke from behind her.
Sakiko turned.
Kyo was approaching, her usual unreadable expression in place.
"What a coincidence, Sakiko."