…But that was 16.8 billion yen, wasn't it?
Could it really have nothing to do with her?
Anon Chihaya found it hard to imagine.
Her father was scammed out of 16.8 billion. The family collapsed. That's why Sakiko Toyokawa ended up living in that shabby apartment with him.
That was what she had assumed.
But according to the diary… that didn't seem to be the case?
Sure, the scam happened—but Sakiko could apparently still ride around in a… Maybach?
That was a super expensive luxury car, right?
Thinking about it carefully, although there was news about the Toyokawa Group being scammed, that was already a year ago.
Even now, TGW Group was still doing just fine.
So… did that mean only Mr. Kiyotsugu was bearing the responsibility?
And Sakiko… was still actually a rich girl?
"Whoa…"
Anon was having way too much fun thinking about this.
Knowing secrets no one else knew, piecing together truths from scattered clues—
It was addictive.
Especially when the target was Sakiko.
That feeling of peeking into someone else's life…
That was the true charm of the diary.
And the best part?
She could sit in class, right in front of the teacher, reading the diary and grinning like an idiot—
And no one would scold her.
Amazing.
Grinning foolishly, she kept reading.
Then she hit a line she didn't understand.
"The darkness of the Toyokawa family is Sakiko's dark forest."
…What did that even mean?
Oh, never mind—he said it was just power struggles, like those dramas on TV.
Got it.
Then—
"You are a JK high school girl beauty."
Heh heh.
That's right. Miss Chihaya is a beauty!
Her nose lifted proudly.
Being called cute by yourself and being called cute by someone else—totally different feelings!
Hehe, I'm a beauty.
She straightened her back proudly—well, as straight as her completely flat figure allowed.
But soon…
She slumped again.
"…What do you mean 'a high school girl who's so dramatic she gets tired of herself'?!"
I'm not that annoying, okay?!
Seriously, I was just about to praise you.
But then—
Her expression slowly turned serious.
Purpose.
Right.
Purpose.
At the very beginning, she hadn't really wanted to take the band seriously.
Just like the diary said—
It was vanity.
…Did he really have to say it so bluntly though?
Ugh…
And other people could read this too, right?
It felt like being stripped open and displayed for everyone.
Though… she had been enjoying watching others get exposed before.
So she didn't really have the right to complain.
Yes.
She knew it herself.
She wasn't serious.
The band was just part of her social life.
Practice? Just enough.
Studying? Just enough.
Focus? Always on things that made her look good.
Rikki had already said all of this.
She didn't deny it.
She just… avoided it.
But now—
Things were different.
Since deciding to do the LIVE—
Something had quietly changed.
So what did she really want now?
"..."
Harmony?
Or attention?
When she wrote her name earlier—
What was she really thinking?
Did she want to shine in the eyes of others who also had the diary?
Or…
—Did she want the band to not fall apart?
The answer surfaced instinctively.
Even though the band had so many problems—
This was the first time she had ever taken something this seriously.
Practicing properly.
Caring about others' feelings.
Standing on stage for the first time.
Hearing the crowd cheer.
She just didn't want that to end.
No need to overthink.
No need to bind herself.
Youth. Regret.
None of that mattered more than one simple sentence:
"I like this."
That's right.
She was just a high school girl.
Emotional. Dramatic. Reckless.
So what?
She puffed up proudly—
Hands on hips.
Private Anon Chihaya—acknowledging orders!
Hehe.
She almost stood up to salute—but noticing her classmates, she restrained herself and sat properly again.
Then she looked at the final part of the diary.
The instruction.
Follow Sakiko.
Ignore the stray cat.
Record the "widow-like rich lady high schooler."
...
"Let's go home together."
"Practice today?"
"Hey, that shop I told you about before—"
After the excitement came the torture.
The diary came too early.
And as a student, Anon had no choice but to sit through class patiently.
Thankfully, time passed quickly.
Soon, the final bell rang.
Her classmates gathered into groups, chatting and laughing as school ended.
Normally, she would be part of that too.
She would go with Tomori Takamatsu to the astronomy club, waiting for a reply that might or might not come.
But today—
Things were different.
"Sorry, Tomori… I have something to do. You go to the astronomy club first, okay?"
Anon apologized sincerely.
She had to go follow Sakiko.
"…Ah… okay…"
Tomori seemed like she wanted to say something.
But after looking at Anon, she lowered her head again.
She was the kind of girl who never refused others.
"Hmm…"
Anon frowned.
"I don't like that."
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't keep it inside—I won't scold you."
Before, she might have used a softer approach.
But now—
She felt being direct was better.
Because of yesterday's diary.
Suppressing yourself hurts.
Suppressing emotions hurts.
No one would be happy that way.
Gentle methods were fine.
But the attitude had to be firm.
"…Soyo… practice… everyone… band… Sakiko…"
Tomori muttered fragmented words like a lost little animal.
Ah…
Seriously.
Anon grabbed her hand.
"Then come with me."
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