At this moment, Anon Chihaya finally understood what that line in the diary meant—
"Revive the C Kingdom."
The gentle Soyo Nagasaki…
was just an illusion.
Her only purpose in the band—
was to bind together the remnants of CRYCHIC.
Tomori Takamatsu.
Taki Shiina.
As for Anon… and Rana Kaname—
They were never needed.
That's why she could ignore their messages so easily.
That's why her attitude had been so obvious.
…
Honestly—
It hurt.
A lot.
Anon even had the impulse to step out right then and confront her.
But she didn't.
Because—
The recording was still running.
She had accepted the mission.
She had to capture everything.
So—
Even if it hurt this much—
She would record until the end.
"…A…"
Beside her, Tomori bit her lip.
She wanted to say something.
But Anon shook her head.
Watch it through.
Talk later.
And then—
Sakiko Toyokawa delivered her final verdict:
"From now on, don't involve yourself with me again."
She turned and left.
Cold. Final.
Soyo—
Struggled.
Her body trembled.
Words failed.
And when words failed—
She chose the only thing left.
To lower herself.
Endlessly.
"Please…!"
She grabbed Sakiko's hand.
Dropped to her knees.
Shattered her dignity.
"If you're not here, Sakiko—
What am I supposed to do…?
I'll do anything. Anything you want."
Silence.
Then—
A gaze.
Cold. Almost… disgusted.
Sakiko spoke:
"What kind of resolve do you think you have… to say something like that?"
"You're just a student. Can you carry someone else's life?"
"You're completely self-centered."
And then—
She left.
"..."
Anon pressed stop on the recording.
Her face was expressionless.
She opened @CH.
Typed.
AnonTokyo: Recorded.
AnonTokyo: Now I just feel bad.
AnonTokyo: How do I send this to you? Can't post it here.
AnonTokyo: As for my goal… I need to think.
AnonTokyo: I wanted Soyo back. I just didn't want my first band to end. But now… I don't know.
Post.
Ignore the random replies from confused strangers.
Screen off.
She looked at Soyo—
Still kneeling there.
Staring blankly in the direction Sakiko had left.
Not saying a word.
Eventually—
Soyo and Mutsumi Wakaba left.
"…Shouldn't we go after her?"
Tomori asked softly.
"You should say something… right…?"
This silence—
It hurt.
"You said it yourself… if there's something to say…"
Her words—
Were thrown back at Anon.
"Go after her—and then what?"
Anon stood up.
"No hiding anymore."
"Tell her we saw everything? That we saw her kneel? And if she doesn't want people to know, she should come back to the band?"
She shook her head.
"I don't need that kind of Soyo."
She turned to Tomori.
"She doesn't need me."
"…What about you?"
"Do you think CRYCHIC would be better?"
CRYCHIC…
CRYCHIC…
"…It's not like that…"
"Then what is it?"
"I… CRYCHIC… band… Sakiko… Soyo…"
"Sort your thoughts before you speak."
"…I don't know…"
"…Good."
Anon stared at her.
"Not knowing is good."
"If you don't know—then go think."
"Think until you figure it out."
"…It's late. Let's go home."
Tomori said nothing.
She couldn't.
…
Home.
"…What do I want?"
Soaking in the bathtub—
Anon stared blankly ahead.
Her thoughts—
Once clear—
Now blurred again.
Should I have brought Tomori?
Was I too harsh?
Should I have talked to Soyo directly?
Only in the quiet—
In the warmth of the water—
Could she return to that moment.
But honestly—
What shocked her most—
Wasn't Soyo's attitude.
Not CRYCHIC.
Not the past.
It was—
That kneeling.
That single act—
Shattered everything she thought she knew about Soyo.
So—
She didn't know.
And that was fine.
If you don't know—
Then think.
Until you do.
That wasn't just for Tomori.
It was for herself.
"..."
She sank deeper into the water.
Closed her eyes.
"…I still don't want it to end."
Even if—
Soyo never needed her.
Even if—
Tomori couldn't answer.
She still—
Didn't want it to end.
She was young.
A high school girl.
In the middle of youth.
Being a little selfish—
That was allowed, right?
AnonTokyo: I don't want it to end.
And so—
She wrote it.
…
Advanced Nurturing High School
[Daily Record Complete]
[Evaluation: C]
[Drawing Reward…]
[Reward Acquired: "Loyalty Collar"][
Toru Asakusa only got around to checking it now.
He'd been busy all day.
Lunch with Kushida.
Afternoon swimming class.
After school—stuck in the library.
Picked up a book—and got completely absorbed.
Only now, back in his dorm—
Did he remember.
Ah.
The reward.
He reached out.
The item appeared.
A cold, metallic collar.
[Name: Loyalty Collar]
[Type: Item]
[Effect: Bind a target and display their "loyalty" toward you]
[Note: "LOYALTY!"]
"…Wait."
He stared at it.
"…You're telling me this came from MyGO???"
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