"Togawa-san, you're just too dishonest!"
Once someone started, the rest of the Tomori Sakiko supporters in the class could not hold back and surrounded "Sakiko-sensei."
Although Sakiko usually kept to herself in class, they were still classmates, so naturally they sided with their own.
Besides, after Sakiko left Tsukinomori Girls' Academy, out of so many schools, why did she choose Haneoka Girls' School?
What she was thinking did not even need to be said.
This was love!
Thinking of this, the supporters became so excited they could barely contain themselves.
"Exactly, with your starting position, wouldn't winning over Tomori be easy?"
"Even though Tomori already has a new band, and Haruhikage no longer belongs to CRYCHIC, it's not over yet."
Sakiko felt like her heart had been struck by an arrow, her expression stiffening.
Mutsumi, when did you get here?
"However, when you're sad, you go to Miss Uika… although she is indeed cute and most girls would not be able to resist, being too fickle is not a good thing."
"What's with that expression? And those tears? Can that help you win Tomori back? Togawa-san, you cannot act like you did in the anime!"
"Tomori belongs to everyone. We cannot let that class monopolize her."
"Togawa-san, take us with you and let's snatch Tomori back from that pink-haired girl!"
Because they usually did not dare talk to Sakiko, they ended up venting everything at once, and the scene became chaotic.
"Everyone, please calm down."
After sorting out her somewhat chaotic thoughts, Sakiko looked at the noisy group of high school girls around her and spoke to regain control.
"I said, quiet!"
As someone who had once single handedly held together a band like CRYCHIC, Sakiko's leadership ability needed no explanation.
With just a couple of sentences, she managed to regain control of the situation.
"Please do not misunderstand."
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Sakiko began to explain.
"There is nothing between Tomori and me. We do not have that kind of relationship everyone is imagining."
Sakiko stated that although she played in a band, she had never been involved in messy relationships.
What charm demon, what white moonlight—those were all just rumors!
"I left the band back then because it was a mutual decision."
"I'm happy that Tomori has a new band now. I hope everyone won't waste time on things like this."
"But in the anime, Togawa-san was clearly crying—"
However, as soon as Sakiko finished speaking, someone immediately spoke up to contradict her.
"She was running while crying. She looked really sad."
"…Please distinguish between anime and reality!"
What did the anime version of Sakiko breaking down and crying have to do with the real Sakiko?
What?
The real her cried too?
Well, it's not like they knew that anyway.
"Togawa-san, don't you have even a little lingering attachment to Tomori?"
Sakiko's words clearly disappointed the Tomori Sakiko supporters.
"No!"
Sakiko could not help but blush as she snapped back irritably.
What kind of strange question was that?
But soon, she felt her response had been too absolute and added an explanation.
"CRYCHIC is already in the past. Whether it's performing Haruhikage or forming a new band, those are Tomori's choices."
"Everyone… has their own life."
As she said this, for some reason, Sakiko felt a faint ache in her heart.
"A broken mirror can be mended, so why not a band?"
Sakiko had thought that after saying this much, this ridiculous farce would finally end. But the blonde girl in front of her still continued to persuade her.
She glanced at a certain figure who had appeared behind Sakiko at some point, and could not help but break into a slight sweat.
"Even if you can't be in a band together, you can still be good friends!"
"..."
It had to be said, the girl's words truly touched something in Sakiko's heart.
But… could they really go back to how things once were?
Even Kamijou Mutsuki could not easily persuade Sakiko, let alone anyone else.
"Tomori is very happy now. I shouldn't go disturb her."
Even Sakiko herself did not know whether these words truly came from her heart.
"The past is already over. There's no need for us to cling to it anymore…"
Sakiko found herself unable to continue.
Wait, what were those strange looks?
And that blonde girl—why was she suddenly winking at her?
"Saki-chan…"
The familiar voice that suddenly came from behind made Sakiko's body stiffen instantly.
She turned around and saw Takamatsu Tomori, holding her lyric notebook, staring at her blankly.
Beside Tomori, Chihaya Anon scratched her head, showing a helpless expression.
"Tomori, I…"
Seeing Tomori in person, for some reason Sakiko instinctively felt flustered and immediately wanted to explain.
However, just as she opened her mouth, the girl found herself at a loss for words.
What could she even say?
Weren't what she said… the truth?
Weren't they…?
"…I wish you happiness!"
While Sakiko was still hesitating, Takamatsu Tomori spoke first.
After saying that, she turned around and left.
"Tomori!"
Seeing her back, Sakiko instinctively reached out her hand, but in the end could only lower it weakly, watching as Tomori and Chihaya Anon disappeared from her sight.
"Sorry, Togawa-san,"
At that moment, the blonde girl beside her walked over.
"If it weren't for us, you wouldn't have…"
In a sense, this was a case of good intentions leading to bad results. After all, no one expected Tomori to show up at that moment, and for Sakiko to be so stubborn.
"It has nothing to do with you. And… you didn't do anything wrong."
Aside from when facing Wakaba Mutsumi and Nagasaki Soyo, Sakiko's emotions were usually quite stable.
"Togawa-san, tsundere is already outdated."
Seeing Sakiko still being stubborn, the Tomori Sakiko supporters around her were somewhat speechless.
The toughest substance in CRYCHIC was Sakiko's mouth— even if the earth were destroyed, her stubbornness would remain.
At this rate, she might as well sit at the same table as Shiina Taki.
Meanwhile, those secretly supporting Tomori and Anon felt like they had completely won.
Our holy Anon is unbeatable!
"Togawa-san, would you consider me? I can dye my hair gray or blonde…"
Some even tried to take advantage of the situation, only to be immediately suppressed by the Tomori Sakiko supporters nearby.
"Togawa-san, actually Mutsumi is pretty good too…"
As the Tomori Sakiko faction weakened, the Sakiko Mutsumi supporters began to rise.
In the end, it was still the blonde girl from earlier who stepped in to disperse the crowd, finally giving Sakiko a moment of peace.
However, sitting in her seat, Sakiko could not calm down for a long time because of what had just happened.
If Tomori misunderstood her words just now…
Wait, wasn't she originally trying to distance herself from Tomori?
Then why was she thinking like this?
Had she… become weak?
Or perhaps, the weak version of Sakiko had never truly disappeared.
It was just that recently, the mask of her stubborn strength had finally been torn away?
..........................