[She just messaged Takagi.] 00:30
[I replied as you instructed.] 00:30
[You'll keep your promise, right?] 00:30
In Kyouka's room.
Sasaki extricated himself from Yuka's clinging arms and Koharu's weight against his shoulder, sitting up on the bed's edge.
Then, picking up his phone from the nightstand, he replied to Kirishima:
[Are you still wearing the outfit
I prepared for you at the hospital?] 00:32 ✔️read
The message was read instantly, Kirishima had clearly been waiting. Her reply came swiftly:
[Yes... I've only worn this. But I've washed it! It's not dirty or damaged.] 00:32
Seeing her cautious reply, Sasaki couldn't help but smile.
It seems that she really wanted to change back, especially after she had paid so much.
But... was this truly how she felt?
In order to confirm what he was thinking, Sasaki asked again.
[Did you use the perfume I gave you on him?] 00:32 ✔️read
[Yes. It ran out yesterday—there was too little.] 00:33
Good. It being gone was ideal.
After confirming Kirishima's current situation, Editor Sasaki sent her a message that made her ecstatic.
[You've done well. I'll tell you now—the medicine to change back is hidden inside your skirt.] 00:33 ✔️read
[Cut open the hem. The powder in the small pouch is what you need.] 00:33 ✔️read
Sasaki had no idea whether Kirishima could actually transform back.
Fuji Tsubaki had told him that secondary transformations were influenced by too many factors, like emotions, hormones and environment, any of which could cause the transformation to fail.
In short, it could be summed up in one sentence:
There were currently no successful cases of secondary transformations.
So Sasaki had been stringing her along this whole time.
Though perhaps not entirely...
The powder Fuji Tsubaki had him give Kirishima did have a chance of transforming her back, there just weren't any confirmed successes yet.
Knowing the odds were slim, Sasaki had even prepared a small bottle of "Nurturing Affection Perfume" for her, the very same one recovered from Kitou Masami.
Its effect? Making the target develop feelings for the user.
As long as Kirishima "voluntarily" fell for Takagi, Sasaki wouldn't be breaking their agreement.
Hmm... At the moment, Kirishima still hadn't realized her own feelings.
But it didn't matter. Once she took the powder... she'd notice her obsession with transforming back wasn't as strong as before.
And then she'd realize what was influencing her thoughts, Takagi, who had been by her side all this time.
Her ensuing emotional journey was sure to be... fascinating.
After giving Kirishima a few more instructions and ensuring she'd keep her end of the deal, Sasaki turned off his phone and walked out of Kyouka's bedroom.
The reason he brought Kirishima and Takagi together was ultimately because of Tsukimi.
Now that she knew the truth about Takagi...
It was time for him to make his move.
BOOM—
Thunder rumbled outside as Sasaki returned to his room and sent her a message:
[That thunder was loud. Did it wake you?] 00:45 ✔️read
[Smile.jpg] 00:45 ✔️read
She didn't make him wait long.
Within seconds, the messages were marked as read and her reply followed immediately:
[Mm.] 00:45
Knowing she was utterly heartbroken and in need of comfort, Sasaki responded again.
[Can't sleep. Want to talk?] 00:46 ✔️read
Without giving her a chance to refuse, Sasaki immediately initiated a video call after sending the message.
The idiot Chifuyu didn't answer right away, but Sasaki wasn't in a hurry.
After about a minute, the call connected.
Just as he'd expected, Chifuyu's eyes were swollen from crying.
Even with her attempts to hide it with makeup, it was painfully obvious.
Keeping things casual like their earlier chat, Sasaki smiled gently.
"Sorry for bothering you so late."
"Did you hear that thunder just now? So loud it felt like the sky was cracking apart. Did it scare you?"
Sniffling, Tsukimi Chifuyu looked at her friend, the bitterness in her heart growing thicker.
The tears she'd just wiped away began spilling again:
"Fuyumi~"
Her soft voice trembled, hoarse and fragile, like a kitten huddled under a roof in the rain, shivering from the cold. It was heartbreaking.
Hearing her like this, Sasaki's expression instantly shifted to concern. "What's wrong, Chifuyu? Did something happen?"
His question was like opening a floodgate.
The quiet trickle of Tsukimi's tears turned into a torrent.
"Uuuu~ Ta-Takagi-kun, he... uuuu~"
Showing urgency would let her feel his care, but too much would only make her cry harder.
So Sasaki kept his voice calm and steady, even as his face showed worry:
"What about him? Take your time. I'm here, I'll help you. Don't rush."
He comforted her like this for three or four minutes as Tsukimi haltingly explained everything between sobs.
Now Sasaki "understood" why she was crying so hard...
"It's okay, don't overthink it. Videos and photos can be edited, this might all be fake."
"You haven't talked to Takagi yet. Until you hear it from him directly, don't take any of it seriously."
As Tsukimi's good friend, of course Sasaki had to help salvage her relationship.
So he kept offering encouraging, reassuring words.
But because of his earlier hesitation, Tsukimi didn't believe him.
"Uuu~ F-Fuyumi... you don't really think that, do you? You suspected Takagi-kun was acting strange all along... but you didn't tell me... uuu~"
Her words came out between sobs as she buried her face in the pillow, leaving only the top of her head visible to Sasaki.
"Ah..."
Sasaki seemed surprised that Tsukimi could see it, and his expression was somewhat helpless:
"I did have my doubts, but it was just speculation... Warning you without proof would've strained our friendship. I didn't want you to hate me."
"Besides, I don't think Takagi would betray you. After all, Chifuyu is adorable, kind, and thoughtful, who wouldn't like you?"
Though his words were meant to praise her, compared to Takagi's evaluation of her, they didn't feel genuine, just empty comfort.
"Uuu... I'm not adorable at all... I'm slow and boring... I just cause trouble for others... No one could ever like someone as annoying as me... uuu~"
She pressed her face deeper into the pillow, her muffled voice thick with grief.
Even through the screen, Sasaki could feel her anguish, making the corners of his lips curl slightly as he spoke in a soft voice.
"Chifuyu... is that really how you see yourself?"
"A girl who only causes trouble for others?"
Confused by his question, Tsukimi lifted her head slightly from the pillow, revealing eyes blurred with tears:
"I... sniff... I do always bother Fuyumi..."
"Then why does Chifuyu always come to me for help?"
Sasaki tilted his head with a gentle smile.
Her efforts being despised by her lover made Tsukimi Chifuyu's heart ache again as she pursed her lips pitifully:
"For... for Takagi-san's grades."
"Exactly. You've always done it for him. I've seen all your efforts, it's just that Takagi never appreciated them."
Smiling reassuringly, Sasaki met her teary gaze:
"It's Takagi who lacks judgment, not you. Chifuyu is wonderful."
"And don't say no one likes you. Someone who likes you has been by your side all along, you just didn't notice."
Someone who likes me... by my side... didn't notice...
Aside from Takagi, the only other close male friend she had was...
Under the blankets, her fair little feet shifted slightly, delicate toes curling tightly in nervous tension.
Unclear about the exact meaning behind his words, Tsukimi Chifuyu stopped crying as her teary eyes blinked, staring stared blankly at her smiling friend on the screen.
Is he saying...?
Without denying or avoiding it, Sasaki nodded directly:
"It's exactly what Chifuyu is thinking~ I like you, Chifuyu."
Hearing such a straightforward confession, Chifuyu's face, pale from heartbreak over Takagi's betrayal, now flushed with flustered pink and eyes widened in disbelief as she murmured:
"Li... like... as in...?"
Seemingly encouraged by her shyness, Sasaki's smile softened further:
"Yes. The kind of liking where I want to be your lover. The kind where I want to be with you."
His utterly direct response shattered the last bit of denial in Tsukimi's heart.
'I didn't mishear!'
Hearing him say he liked her... The girl buried her face deeper into the pillow, her plump little hands covering her increasingly red cheeks:
"This... this is just you comforting me, right? How could anyone like a girl as terrible as me... I have no charm at all..."
"If Chifuyu is terrible, then there are no good girls left."
Sasaki chuckled lightly.
"Actually, I've always envied Takagi."
His words made Tsukimi peek through slightly parted fingers, revealing shy eyes hiding behind them:
"Envied him?"
"Yeah. Envied him for having such an amazing girlfriend.
Pretty, with a great figure, sweet and obedient personality, so devoted to his studies, always thinking about their future together... That's why I've always been drawn to you, Chifuyu."
"From the time we first met and started talking to each other, until now, I have always liked you."
Meeting her hidden gaze, Sasaki pursed his lips and was the first to look away.
"Though I feel guilty saying this... when I heard about Takagi's cheating, part of me was happy."
"Because I never thought he deserved you. Chifuyu gave so much for your relationship, what did Takagi ever do?"
"..."
Her eyes behind her fingers lowered slightly as Tsukimi bit her lip, clearly recalling Takagi's half-hearted attitude during study sessions and those hurtful words from the video.
She didn't mind giving more, she only feared being disliked.
Nothing was more heartbreaking than having your efforts dismissed.
But compared to that...
Meeting her gaze again, Sasaki shook his head with complicated emotions:
"Chifuyu is comparing me to Takagi now, right? Thinking I'm better than him?"
"But I didn't say all this to put Takagi down and make myself look good... or to make Chifuyu like me instead."
"Because compared to Takagi, I'm not much better... maybe even worse."
Knowing why he'd say this about himself... Tsukimi quickly defended him:
"That's because of Otome-senpai—"
"True, but the essence doesn't change, does it?"
Cutting off her words, Sasaki retreated to advance:
"So... the main reason I said all that wasn't to make Chifuyu my girlfriend."
"Of course I 'want' that, but I know it's unrealistic. If I'm worse than Takagi, why would Chifuyu ever like me?"
"I told you this because I wanted Chifuyu to know that you're not terrible, and you are loved."
"Chifuyu is amazing. Chifuyu is someone worth loving."
"To me, Chifuyu isn't inferior to any girl."
"..."
Each word, each sentence fell like raindrops from the sky, dripping into the lake of her heart.
The rainwater merged with the lake water, creating ripples that spread outward, lingering endlessly.
Takagi Kenta's earlier evaluation of her was completely negated by Sasaki's words, stirring an indescribable sweetness and joy in Tsukimi Chifuyu's heart.
Being recognized, being liked... For someone who had just been abandoned, this was an irresistible poison.
At the same time, freed from the constraints of her identity as "Takagi's girlfriend," Tsukimi Chifuyu also began recalling the intimacy between them that she had deliberately ignored, prompted by his words, "Why would Chifuyu ever like me?"
Like the many times they held hands, the times they hugged... and all those little actions of his that constantly danced on the borderline between friendship and something more.
And then there was the bitterness she had felt upon learning he had a girlfriend... Though she had attributed it to "my good friend won't care about me as much now that he has a lover," was that really the truth?
Had their usual interactions truly stayed within the bounds of friendship?
Had she really seen him as just an ordinary good friend?
With the shackles now broken, Tsukimi Chifuyu began digging deeper into thoughts she had never dared examine before.
From the first time they held hands, to the hugs that followed, to the head pats and cheek pinches she never resisted... The reason why Fuyumi did these things was because he liked her.
But what about her?
His every actions, his every touch, every head pats, every hugs...she never resisted any of them, instead they made her heart skip a beat... what did that mean?
The fondness she had accumulated for him began to shift in nature.
Lowering her hands from her face, Tsukimi Chifuyu's gaze wandered as she glanced at Sasaki's encouraging smile.
"Um... Fuyumi, in my eyes, you're... you're also the best boy."
"No worse than anyone else, no worse than Takagi... so don't say such things about yourself."
.
.
.