"Kyo, what's wrong?" Sakiko looked at Kikukawa Kyo. She didn't seem to have any obvious symptoms, yet something felt off. "Are you sure you're not sick?"
"I'm not sick, don't worry." Kikukawa Kyo shook her head and openly admitted how she felt. "I'm just feeling a little down."
"Because of what I just said?"
"No." Kikukawa Kyo denied it again, though the smile on her face seemed somewhat forced. To Sakiko, it was almost unbelievable. "Doing poorly doesn't make me upset. I just hate that I haven't made any real progress."
Just last night, she had been lecturing Soyo about stagnation, yet now, looking at herself—though she had been constantly seeking change—she still hadn't achieved any real success.
"Kyo…" Seeing Kikukawa Kyo showing this rare moment of vulnerability, Sakiko didn't know how to comfort her. Ever since she started getting to know Kyo better, she had gradually discovered sides of her that she hadn't known before.
But she had never expected the always composed, carefree, and nonchalant Kikukawa Kyo to have a moment of such weakness.
"Ah, it's fine. You don't need to think about how to comfort me." Kikukawa Kyo waved it off lightly, as if dismissing her own emotions. "I know this is just me being 'melodramatic.' I'll get over it soon."
Even in this low moment, Kikukawa Kyo's keen perception hadn't dulled—she could see the hesitation in Sakiko's eyes, the concern she wanted to voice but didn't know how.
"If you're really worried but don't know what to say…" Kikukawa Kyo recalled Raana from this afternoon—the way she lived so instinctively, like a wild animal. "Then why not just express it through action?"
She teased lightly. She knew what kind of person Sakiko was—stubborn and awkward. There was no way she'd act like a cat, nuzzling up to someone so easily—
Sakiko took a step forward.
So suddenly, so unexpectedly, she gently wrapped her arms around Kikukawa Kyo.
"Will this help you feel a little better?"
Sakiko's embrace was light, as restrained and proper as the refined young lady she had once been. Her hands merely rested on Kyo's back, and not even her arms pressed closer—almost as if she were afraid that stepping over that line would be crossing a boundary.
Yet even such a controlled hug was like a pillow stuffed with feathers—soft, warm, and filled with tenderness.
But instead of comforting her, Kikukawa Kyo only felt more restless, more powerless—
She remembered that day at VA-11 HALL-A, the moment she had handed Sakiko a Mojito. That was when she realized—no matter how much she sought understanding, the emotions she could grasp were only fragmented, misleading pieces of a bigger picture.
The more she drank in, the more she gained, the clearer it became just how vast the gap was between her and true emotional understanding—an impossible distance to bridge.
Just like now—
What was Sakiko really thinking?
Kikukawa Kyo couldn't sense the atmosphere, couldn't instinctively grasp emotions. She only knew one undeniable fact—
She was being held.
Sakiko was showing concern for her. That much was certain. But she understood this conclusion not because she felt it, but because she logically deduced it.
If… if Sakiko held her tighter, would she be able to feel something more?
"…Sakiko."
"Hm?"
"…Could you hold me tighter?"
"W-why all of a sudden—"
"Just for a moment. Just a little while."
Sakiko remained silent. The embarrassment she had felt moments ago was pushed aside as the distance between them closed even further. She tightened her embrace.
For a few fleeting seconds, time seemed to stop. Sakiko could feel it—the rhythm of their heartbeats, the warmth of their bodies, and the natural sense of comfort that a hug brought.
"…That's enough. Thank you, Sakiko."
They released each other, stepping back to the distance where they had started. Kyo's expression was as composed as ever, but Sakiko still caught sight of the faint redness in her eyes.
"Do you feel any better?" Sakiko asked, hoping that she had managed to help, even just a little.
Kyo closed her eyes, as if replaying the moment that had just passed.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have done much to solve my problem." She sighed, though her tone was noticeably lighter than before. "But that's okay. Your hug still gave me a lot of encouragement. Don't worry, I'll be able to adjust myself soon enough."
"…Can you tell me what's really troubling you?" Sakiko asked cautiously. "We're in this together, aren't we?"
"Of course." Kyo smiled, agreeing without hesitation. "But if I were to explain it properly, it'd take a long time. Right now just isn't the right moment."
After all, Anon and Tomori were still waiting for her.
"Then, next time."
"Mm."
"Sorry to keep you waiting—!" Kyo jogged back to the front of her apartment building, where Anon and Tomori were already waiting.
Even though it had only been a short run, Kyo wasn't out of breath, nor was her heart pounding from exertion—but she was still drenched in sweat.
"It's seriously hot today. I barely moved, and I'm already sweating this much."
"It is hot, yeah, but honestly, I think the bigger problem is you, Kyo." Anon teased. "Remember last time at karaoke? You were drenched just from being in there for a little while—even though the room had air conditioning."
Once again, Kyo had ended up in that strangely enticing, sweat-soaked state. This was the second time now—Anon wasn't about to pretend she hadn't noticed!
She tried to keep her gaze fixed straight ahead, focusing on the road. But it was as if some unseen force was pulling at her, dragging her attention toward Kyo, who was walking in front of her.
Dammit. This is the second time I've seen Kyo looking that good. How am I supposed to hold myself back?!
Frantically, Anon turned to look at Tomori instead. That had to be the problem—since Kyo was in front, she kept ending up in Anon's line of sight. If she just focused on Tomori, she wouldn't get distracted—
Except when Anon glanced over, she saw Tomori staring directly at Kyo, making absolutely no effort to hide it. She wasn't even sneaking side glances—her whole head was turned, watching Kyo as she walked.
Tomori… You've already given up resisting the temptation, haven't you?!
No! Don't let yourself be lured in by the wicked siren's call!
Ironically, Anon's constant internal screaming helped her fight off the urge to look at Kyo again. Somehow, she managed to keep herself in check all the way to Kyo's front door.
"Ta-da!" Kyo stood by the entrance, holding out her arms in a grand gesture. "This is my place! Remember the apartment number—next time, you guys can just come over on your own."
As Kyo pulled out her keys, Anon held her breath, eyes shining with anticipation.
What kind of place did Kyo live in? Given her bizarre affinity for water, maybe her home was like a hidden cave behind a waterfall. Or maybe she had an indoor lake. Or—what if her bedroom was actually a giant pool?!
The more she imagined it, the wilder her thoughts became.
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