"Who on earth are you trying to throw shade at?"
For a moment, Sakiko couldn't find the words to express her feelings.
However, more than that, Sakiko was genuinely worried that Mutsumi Kamijo might have installed a hidden camera somewhere around her.
That's a bit... perverted, isn't it?
But as she looked at Mutsumi Kamijo's LINE profile, Sakiko's brow furrowed for a reason she couldn't quite pinpoint.
This profile picture...
Mutsumi Kamijo's profile picture was straightforward, or perhaps confident—it was a photo of himself.
However, unlike the casually dressed and relaxed-looking young man standing before her now, the Mutsumi in the photo wore an elegant suit. He held a violin to his shoulder, his expression serious and cold, elevating his already handsome features to another level of charm.
But Sakiko wasn't captivated by his looks; rather, she felt a strange sense of familiarity looking at the boy in the picture.
And that name, Mutsumi Kamijo, also seemed...
"By the way, Miss Toyokawa, could I take a picture of you?"
Mutsumi's question interrupted Sakiko's thoughts. She looked up.
"...What do you need my photo for?"
"...To use it."
"..."
For the sake of her own sanity, Sakiko wisely decided not to ask how he intended to use it.
After getting Sakiko's photo, Mutsumi discussed the recording schedule with her and then left, looking quite satisfied.
Watching him walk away, Sakiko felt a vague sense of recognition and couldn't resist taking out her phone to search for information about him.
「Youngest National-Level Violinist」 「Car Accident」 「The Fallen Genius」
The search results appeared almost instantly, and the fuzzy impression in Sakiko's mind finally sharpened into a clear image.
"...It's him?!"
Her voice was filled with utter disbelief.
However, lost in her shock, the girl didn't notice that she had been spotted by someone troublesome.
"Is that... Saki-chan?"
"And that boy... who is he...?"
"As expected of CRYCHIC's 'unattainable dream'... she's really something else..."
Elsewhere, Mutsumi Kamijo sat in a car, admiring his "spoils of war."
Even under what could be described as coercion, Sakiko had surprisingly not given him a hostile look.
Although it was just a polite, business-like smile, it was enough to make Mutsumi, who had seen his fair share of beautiful girls, unable to look away.
If this was the old 'White Sakiko'...
Doubt Soyo, understand Soyo, become...
Ahem, let's not go there. He had no intention of stealing the role of Mutsumi's old man.
With this, however, the most difficult person was taken care of.
Next up were the remaining four members of CRYCHIC, two from MyGO!!!!!, three from Ave Mujica, and several other characters with smaller roles.
He had truly poured his heart and soul into making this anime.
So... who should be next?
Gazing at the photo of Saki-chan on his phone, Mutsumi thought for a moment before turning it off.
He would deal with her later. He already had someone else in mind.
The next afternoon, Mutsumi went to wait at the entrance of Tsukinomori Girls' Academy.
As expected of an elite girls' school, even with his discerning eye, he couldn't find a single student who wasn't attractive.
Many of the young ladies of Tsukinomori were curious about Mutsumi, who seemed to be waiting for someone. After all, for girls attending an all-girls school, interactions with boys their age were few and far between. How could they not be interested in this handsome stranger who had suddenly appeared?
However, out of their ladylike poise and good upbringing, none of them approached him to start a conversation.
Mutsumi, who was busy admiring the "scenery," was completely unaware that he himself had become part of the scenery for others.
Just as Mutsumi was appreciating (or being appreciated by?) the young ladies of Tsukinomori, a girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and a gentle, motherly aura appeared in his line of sight.
He quickly looked away. She wasn't his target today.
To his surprise, however...
"Excuse me... are you waiting for someone? Can I help you?"
A familiar yet strangely high-pitched voice spoke beside him. Turning his head, Mutsumi's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he saw the figure who had appeared before him, a look of "concern" on her face.
"Soyo-chan, you were amazing during today's club activities! As expected of you."
"I wasn't that great, I just had a good day."
"..."
"Aww, I wish I could be that good..."
"..."
"...You just need to practice a little more..."
Inside Tsukinomori, a girl named Soyo Nagasaki smiled as she chatted with her "friends."
Her graceful movements and gentle tone of voice exuded the air of a perfect young lady, as if the term was made just for her.
Because of this, no one noticed the darkness hidden deep within her eyes.
Why, Saki-chan...?
The girl couldn't help but recall yesterday's events.
After losing contact for so long, finally meeting her beloved Saki-chan again should have been a happy occasion.
She had so much she wanted to ask her. Why did you quit CRYCHIC? Why did you transfer from Tsukinomori? Why... did you cut off all contact with me?
But why did Saki-chan act that way?
She was so dismissive, even saying such hurtful things.
It was as if she were a completely different person from the confident and gentle "White Sakiko" in her memories.
The feeling was agonizing, as if confirming that the warmth she once felt from CRYCHIC, much like the gentle Sakiko of the past, was gone forever.
Just as Soyo was feeling tormented by Sakiko's attitude from the day before, the figure of a boy suddenly caught her eye.
That boy is...
The one who was with Sakiko yesterday...
The girl's heart, which had been crushed into a state of numb silence, began to beat again.
Even after Sakiko's cold words, she still hadn't given up.
I must have done something wrong. If I can get some information from this boy, maybe I can find out why Sakiko has changed so much. Maybe I can get her to come back!
With that thought, Soyo excused herself from her "friends" and, under their curious gazes, walked over to Mutsumi Kamijo.
"Excuse me... are you waiting for someone? Can I help you?"