Because of that, she didn't notice a certain blonde girl who had been secretly observing her the entire time.
So Sakiko really…
-----------------------------------
[After that came the scene where Anon goes to the astronomy club to "flirt" with Tomori. Aside from making real-life Rikki show a displeased expression, there wasn't much to comment on.
Then the camera shifted back to Sakiko-sensei. She was playing the piano in the wind ensemble room.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, she looked like a breathtaking oil painting.
Yet the girl playing Moonlight Sonata didn't look well at all.
She closed her eyes, and the scene of her withdrawing from CRYCHIC surfaced in her mind.
When she opened them again, her expression overlapped with the one from her memories.
She wasn't crying, yet a nameless sorrow could be felt.
Clearly, her actions back then had not only hurt Tomori and the others—but herself as well.]
As this scene appeared, the accusatory bullet comments on the screen almost completely disappeared.
Even Rikki—the only former C-group member who still held grievances against her—had a slightly complicated look in her eyes.
As for a certain Ms. Soyo, there was even less to say. The negative emotions she had just felt toward Sakiko-sensei were instantly swept away.
I was in her memories!
She looked so sad—how could she possibly blame her?
It must have been because I was too persistent.
But if not like that… how else could she make Sakiko change her mind?
Soyo fell into deep thought.
-----------------------------------
[The scene shifted again. Sakiko-sensei had already finished playing the piano.
"She's from Tsukinomori!"
"Didn't someone from there come before too?"
The whispers of the surrounding students seemed to foreshadow what was about to happen.
But the girl was still immersed in her emotions and didn't notice.
Until a certain girl appeared before her—then her eyes widened.
"Long time no see."
There was no denying it—at that moment, Soyo's smile was beautiful.]
"You're way too impatient, aren't you?"
Seeing how anime-Soyo immediately went to Haneoka to wait for Sakiko-sensei right after getting information from her, Anon couldn't help but tease.
Even though she already understood Soyo's obsession with Sakiko, she still couldn't fully get used to it.
"Huh? I just wanted to see Saki-chan sooner."
Soyo responded with her usual mask-like smile.
"Because I have something I want to say to Saki-chan…"
"Soyo is like this—"
But the moment a certain boy opened his mouth, cracks began forming in her mask.
"Diagnosis: long-term vegetarianism."
"Kamijou-kun, I have no idea what you're talking about~"
Soyo forced her smile to remain in place.
"Soyo-nee, stop squeezing your voice. My head hurts."
"Would you like me to help you fix it?"
Soyo clenched her fists. Her face instantly darkened.
["Wait."
In the anime, Soyo—who had finally managed to catch Sakiko-sensei—clearly had a lot she wanted to say.
But Sakiko had no intention of paying her any attention, so Soyo could only speak while chasing after her.
"Please, I want to talk to you!"
"There's nothing for us to talk about."
Sakiko-sensei's attitude was painfully clear.
"I've been looking for you this whole time—"
Soyo seemed completely unaware of it. Or perhaps she was simply choosing to ignore it.
"Why did you transfer schools?"
Sakiko stopped walking.
"Was it because of CRYCHIC?"
"It has nothing to do with that."
Sakiko-sensei denied her guess.
"Please… don't involve me in your life ever again."
And just like that, their first conversation after CRYCHIC's disbandment ended in a few short, decisive lines.]
-----------------------------------
Soyo wasn't actually surprised by how things played out in the anime.
After all, during this period, she had already become painfully aware of Sakiko-sensei's attitude toward her.
But the question anime-Soyo asked still stirred her curiosity.
"Saki-chan… why did you transfer schools?"
She softened her tone as much as possible. Yet perhaps influenced by a certain scoundrel nearby, she subconsciously followed up with a guess: "Was it because you didn't like Tsukinomori?"
Sakiko: ?
Why didn't you attend Tsukinomori? Because you didn't like it?
What do you think?
At that moment, in Sakiko's eyes, Soyo's figure overlapped perfectly with a certain man standing beside her.
Oh, so this is what you've learned all this time?
"That has nothing to do with you."
"Saki-chan…"
Seeing Sakiko's darkened expression, Soyo immediately realized she had said the wrong thing. Panic flickered across her face.
Soyo, who was usually the one "possessing" others with her sweet act, hadn't expected that one day she herself would seem like she'd been possessed.
[The scene shifts back to the anime. After Sakiko-sensei leaves, Soyo receives a message from Anon inviting her to RING.
As soon as she arrives, she sees Tomori already sitting there.
Rikki, who had been working, is also dragged over by Anon.
Clearly, Saint Anon is about to start outputting.
"Alright, let's communicate!"
Anon claps her hands together. The adorable gesture visibly melts quite a few viewers.]
[Okay, rational analysis time.]
[Anon is so cute~]
[That "okay" was way too cute, wasn't it?]
[How can Anon-chan be this cute?]
Am I really that cute?
It's not that exaggerated…
Watching the flood of comments praising her cuteness, Anon tries to stay humble—but the smile on her face refuses to be suppressed.
-----------------------------------
["Soyo-san, please sit down too."
"Wait a moment!"
Since everything happened so suddenly, anime-Soyo needs a moment to analyze the situation.
"Let me sort this out."
"Anon, you brought Tomori here?"
"I think everyone should talk things through properly first."
"..."
Soyo looks at the three girls present. After finally piecing together the situation, her thoughts surge.
World-shaking intellect, activate!
"I see. Thank you~"
A smiling mask settles over her face.
"And thank you too, Tomori, for coming."]
[That close-up just now felt kind of off.]
Thanks to the anime's tight shot, some viewers sense something strange.
[That smile just now was a bit…]
[But Soyo-san is so gentle though.]
[Are they finally forming a new band?]
Anon also feels that something about that shot is slightly subtle—but out of trust for her teammate, she doesn't overthink it.
-----------------------------------
["Did you get home safely yesterday?"
Soyo first demonstrates her trademark thoughtfulness.
Tomori nods lightly in response.
"I'm glad."
"You asked yesterday why CRYCHIC disbanded, right?"
The camera slowly lowers, showing Soyo fidgeting with her fingers.
"After that… Tomori stopped coming to practice."
"And it became harder and harder for everyone to gather together."]
......................