Akihabara, being a well-known electric street in Japan, is also a famous symbol of otaku culture. It is renowned even globally and is one of those tourist spots that anyone visiting Japan would definitely want to experience.
Kaito wasn't a shut-in in the traditional sense, nor did he have much interest in 2D girls, but he had long heard of Akihabara's fame. So he took this opportunity to see it in person and maybe check if there were any interesting games to buy.
———
'Akihabara?'
At the same time, a brown-haired girl in a multi-story apartment looked at the chat message on her phone and bit her pink lips.
It's said that there are maid cafés every few steps, arcades every five steps, and posters of scantily clad 2D beauties are everywhere along the streets.
There are also shady shops that openly stand by the street, selling all kinds of obscene books and discs…
'Kaito-kun, does he also want to go there for these things?'
'If it's just to buy a little indecent reading material, then fine. After all, he's a boy—it's understandable.'
'But, the worry is that he might attract some shameless bad women…'
'Like maid cafés, like maid cafés, like maid cafés!'
Actually, Soyo would rather go to a theme park, aquarium, or movie theater, those places better suited for dating. But since Kaito made the request, she wouldn't refuse.
'Decision made!'
'I must dress up gorgeously the day after tomorrow. I'll make sure those bad women feel ashamed and unworthy to approach.'
Nagasaki Soyo was quite confident in her appearance. Even in Tsukinomori, a place full of elite girls, she was still among the best.
And if we talk about figure, her combat power could even be doubled.
"Didn't Mom send me a really pretty dress a while back…"
"But this one looks good too~"
"Maybe I should try the academy-style look?"
———
Putting down his phone, Kaito glanced out the window at the night. The rain was still falling, mixed with occasional thunder, giving the atmosphere a sort of doomsday vibe.
Kumiko has already crawled into the scabbard and fallen asleep. He was the only one in the house.
He was about to go to bed when he suddenly heard a "knock knock" sound.
Someone was knocking on the door.
Kaito thought it was Sakiko coming to find him for something. But when he opened the door, it turned out to be Wakaba Mutsumi.
The girl wore a thin white nightdress, barefoot, stepping directly on the hallway carpet. Her long, smooth green hair was slightly frizzed. Holding a mango pillow, she looked up with her big, beautiful eyes at him. Her delicate face had no expression.
"Miss Wakaba? What's the matter?", Kaito felt this scene looked very familiar.
Last time, Yumiko came at this exact time, and then Nijika, Kita, and Ryou followed, forming a full catds table inside the closet.
Checking Togawa Sakiko's status—
'Hmm, sleeping soundly. No sign of waking up for now.'
"Can't sleep," Mutsumi's voice was very soft, just lacking emotion, "So I wanted to come chat with you."
"If it's just to chat, wouldn't it be better to find Sakiko?", Kaito raised an eyebrow but still didn't move aside to let her in.
Reasonably speaking, this cucumber fairy had a closer relationship with Secretary Sakiko. If she wanted to chat, it should be with her instead.
"Because, there are some things…", Wakaba Mutsumi lightly lowered her eyelashes, "That can't be told to Sakiko."
"…Come in," Kaito was indeed intrigued, 'Topics that can't be told to Sakiko?'
He was interested in those.
Even though it was a guest room, it had a dedicated sofa, likely for guests to gather and chat.
The girl in the white nightdress quietly sat on the sofa, holding her cute mango plush. After a long silence, she said in a low voice, "Sakiko… has changed a lot."
"The Sakiko from before, after leaving the Togawa family, would never easily step through the Wakaba family's doors."
"Even if her mother personally invited her, she would probably still politely decline."
"Even though she isn't wealthy, whenever she occasionally met with me at the Hazawa café, she would still insist on paying."
"Like a weak but stubborn little hedgehog, she willl only curl up tightly and stubbornly reject all kindness from the outside world."
"But that stubborn Sakiko has changed a lot."
"She laughs. She gets jealous like a normal girl. She accepted mom's nvitation and boldly visit as a guest. She is no longer trapped in her own corner like before."
As if everything had quietly changed, going back to the starting point, back when CRYCHIC was as united as could be.
"Really?", Kaito thought back. His strongest impression of Secretary Sakiko was how stubborn she was. When they first met, her stomach was clearly growling, but she still refused to accept a thank-you gift.
Then came the "Flying Sakiko" moment, where he caught her sneaking around, and yet she still insisted she was just out for a walk.
Even Thanos couldn't erase that stubborn mouth of hers.
"The Sakiko from before… was close to breaking," Wakaba Mutsumi hugged the mango plush tighter. Her legs under the white skirt were very slender and tightly pressed together, "Thank you… for pulling her back."
Kaito did indeed pull her back. Well, in the physical sense of the phrase.
But he didn't feel like taking credit, "Even without me, with a childhood friend like you by her side, Sakiko would've come around eventually."
"It's different," Mutsumi shook her head, "You can make her smile. I can't."
After what happened in Sakiko's family, the only thing she could do was keep her best friend's secret, watching helplessly as she drifted further and further from the band and everyone.
Mutsumi wanted to change things, but she didn't know what to do.
Having parents with an intense need for control since childhood, her life was filled with endless dance and music classes. She was like a delicate doll, used to being controlled.
Dolls don't have hearts, so they can't create miracles.
But the one who can create miracles… had already appeared.
Kaito.
That was the name Sakiko kept mentioning. The one who changed her.
He brought back Sakiko's cheerful smile, and in that dark and deep dream, he saved her future.
Wakaba Mutsumi would never forget that burning light in the moment of crisis.
"You are Sakiko's sun."
What she didn't say aloud was, 'Mine too.'
Without the sun, flowers wither.
She wouldn't fight Sakiko for anything, because they were eternal friends.
'But… like the sun…'
'If just a tiny, almost negligible ray of sunlight can be shared with me, then even Sakiko… probably won't mind, right?'
"Please… give Sakiko happiness."
That way, even if she had to curl up alone in a dark, narrow corner, she could slightly rest her heart and catch just a little of that light that belonged to her.
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