Shiina Rikki shot Matsueda Azusa an embarrassed glare.
This is all your fault.
If he hadn't suddenly sung a love song, she wouldn't feel pressured to respond with one.
If she didn't sing something back, wouldn't that seem rude?
I didn't even want to sing this song…
Where does love really come from?
As she quietly asked herself that question—
She found she had no interest in anything fake.
All she wanted—
Was something real.
Her voice was soft.
Gentle.
Almost fragile.
Matsueda watched her, slightly surprised.
He never expected the usually intense "drummer" to sing something so delicate and girlish.
The contrast was striking.
Her technique wasn't perfect—just like his.
But the shyness, the raw emotion in her voice…
It made up for everything.
It felt like—
A girl sincerely singing a love song to someone she liked.
So you're the same as me, huh…
All emotion, no technique.
Their spontaneous performance quickly drew a small crowd.
Passersby slowed down.
Some stopped completely.
But just behind them—
Separated by a single wall—
Inside a cramped, unnoticed stall in the public restroom—
Someone else was listening.
Toyokawa Sakiko.
She had just gotten off work.
Originally, she planned to walk home to save money, maybe pick up some discounted bento along the way.
But halfway through—
She saw them.
Matsueda Azusa.
And Shiina Rikki.
If it had only been Rikki, she wouldn't have cared.
She could've walked past.
Avoided her.
Even if they met—
It wouldn't matter.
The weak "Ko-shou" from before was already gone.
But the moment she saw Matsueda—
She hid.
Almost instinctively.
Before she even realized it—
She was already inside this cramped, foul-smelling stall.
Her fingers tightened around her briefcase.
Through the wall—
She could hear his voice.
A love song.
A melody she had never heard before.
He wrote it himself.
And from what she could tell—
Rikki didn't help him this time.
He had done it alone.
Since when could he write songs?
He never wrote one for her.
So this one—
Was it for Rikki?
Of course it was.
He was singing it to her.
For the first time.
What else could it be?
"If I were to part ways with you like this… I'd rather die."
Her chest tightened.
It felt like something was stuck there—
Heavy.
Suffocating.
She wanted to leave.
Run away.
But her legs wouldn't move.
Her fingers clenched tightly into the fabric of her clothes—
So tight it hurt.
This feeling—
Was it anger?
Regret?
Powerlessness?
Something that used to belong to her—
Now in someone else's hands.
But—
She had no right to complain.
She was the one who broke up with him.
From his perspective—
He had simply been abandoned.
Without explanation.
But she knew the truth.
If she had told him—
He wouldn't have accepted it.
He would've tried to help.
But he couldn't.
He was just a high school student.
He couldn't carry her burdens.
And if he insisted—
They would've fought.
Said things they couldn't take back.
It would've ended badly.
She didn't want that.
So she chose—
Silence.
An abrupt ending.
Better than something ugly.
The weak me is already gone.
Focus on reality.
Debts.
Food.
Survival.
She had no right—
To think about love.
No right—
To think about the past.
Her breathing became uneven.
She thought she had moved on.
But clearly—
She hadn't.
Then—
Rikki's voice came through the wall.
A duet.
They're singing together…?
Rikki—
Singing like that?
So emotional.
So… happy.
Even from here—
Sakiko could hear it.
Joy.
Shyness.
Affection.
Like two people in love.
When did this happen?
She wasn't selfish enough to expect him to stay single forever.
But still—
Isn't this too fast?
At least a year.
No—
Two.
During Crychic—
They weren't close.
Rikki didn't even seem to like him that much.
So how—
Did this happen?
Because they rebuilt the band together?
That must be it.
She remembered the live performance.
She didn't go.
No money.
Too tired.
She only watched the recording later.
It was good.
Very good.
But—
It wasn't the same Crychic anymore.
And in that moment—
She truly understood.
Crychic… is over for me.
Completely.
She leaned against the wall in silence.
Listening.
Thinking—
How long will this go on…?
If I stay any longer… I'll miss the discounted bento.
The performance ended smoothly.
No tips.
No donations.
But both of them were satisfied.
Matsueda only sang the first song himself.
After that—
He accompanied Rikki.
Rikki wasn't nervous.
But after singing so much—
Her throat felt dry.
After parting ways with Matsueda—
She walked back toward RING.
Her phone vibrated.
"…Huh?"
She checked it—
And froze.
99+ unread messages.
Dozens of missed calls.
She quickly answered.
"Rikki?! Finally!"
Hachiman Karin's voice came through, relieved.
"Where are you? I couldn't find you anywhere!"
Rikki panicked and opened the messages.
All from Karin.
Message after message.
"I finished early, I'm heading back."
"I'm at RING—where are you?"
"I brought your drink."
"Rikki? Why aren't you replying?"
"Are you okay?"
Her face went pale.
"Oh no…"
"I'm sorry!"
"Azusa dragged me out for street performing, I couldn't check my phone!"
"I thought you wouldn't be back today!"
"…So that's what happened."
Karin sighed in relief.
"You scared me."
"I thought something happened to you."
"Sorry, sorry…"
Rikki quickened her pace.
"I'm heading back now. Wait for me."
"…And can you get me my usual drink?"
"Got it."
They hung up.
But—
Suddenly—
Someone blocked her path.
"…Soyo?"
Rikki frowned.
"What are you doing here?"
But Soyo didn't smile.
Her expression was cold.
Serious.
Her voice—
Even colder.
"You and Matsueda Azusa…"
"How long has this been going on?"
"When did it start?"
"…What?"
Rikki blinked.
She didn't understand.
What was she even asking?
"If you mean the band…"
She frowned, annoyed.
"That started a long time ago."
"You know that."
After all—
Soyo was the one who left.
And now—
She was asking this?
"…I don't get what you're talking about."
But Soyo—
Had already drawn her conclusion.
"…So it really has been going on for a long time."