“Um… Chi-chan…”
Togawa Sakiko felt a little uncomfortable being held around the waist, with Chihiro hiding behind her like this.
It made her back feel itchy somehow.
So, when she saw the reddish-brown-haired girl finish filling out a form and walk away, she spoke softly to the “frightened” Chihiro behind her.
“She’s gone now. You can come out. I don’t think she saw you.”
“Whew…”
Only then did Tsuzuki Chihiro step away from Sakiko.
Of course, aside from taking the opportunity to hug the adorable Sakiko, she genuinely didn’t want Nina to see her there.
Meeting as Soyo was one thing—she just didn’t want to run into her main account.
“Was she someone you know?”
“Mm… sort of.”
Chihiro didn’t like lying when she didn’t have to, so her response was vague.
“I just don’t want her to see me like this.”
“I see…”
Sakiko understood.
She really understood.
No one in the world could relate to this feeling better than Togawa Sakiko—
A feeling that might seem unnecessary or even ridiculous to others, but to her, it was all too real.
Sakiko didn’t want her thoughts and feelings to be dismissed.
So, seeing someone else who seemed to share her struggles, she desperately tried to think of the right words to comfort her.
But…
She couldn’t find anything particularly useful to say.
“Maybe it’s best if you don’t come here again. You probably don’t want to run into her again, right?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to see her. I just… don’t know how to talk to her.”
“I get it.”
She really got it.
Just like how Sakiko didn’t want to run into Soyo while working—
Seeing her like that, all awkward and pathetic, not knowing how to escape the situation…
She really got it.
“Actually…”
As they walked along the street bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Sakiko tilted her head slightly toward Chihiro.
“I feel the same way.”
“I don’t want to see old friends from the past.”
“I don’t want them to know what I’m doing now.”
“So when you told me you were working at Soyo’s place, it really surprised me.”
“Even today, when I offered to go with you to check out the prep school, it was just an excuse.”
“I didn’t want to go home.”
“Soyo… she told me about your past together.”
Chihiro thought about it.
This might be a good opportunity to ease things between Sakiko and the others.
After all, the same words coming from Soyo might trigger an emotional response, but coming from an “outsider” like herself, they wouldn’t seem as suspicious.
Just as she expected, Sakiko didn’t react badly.
Instead, she furrowed her brows slightly, unsure what to make of Soyo’s intentions.
Clearly, she no longer felt the strong aversion toward Soyo that she once did.
On one hand, they had once been friends.
On the other, their current dynamic had improved to the point where Sakiko had no reason to treat her coldly.
“What did she tell you?”
“She said she used to be in a band with all of you.”
“That those times were really happy.”
“That even though they’re in the past now, she’ll always carry those memories with her.”
“…I see.”
“Sakiko.”
“Hm?”
Sakiko turned to Chihiro, already predicting what she was about to say.
It didn’t matter whether Soyo had sent Chihiro to convince her or if Chihiro had simply been moved after hearing those stories—
Sakiko already knew her answer wouldn’t change.
No matter what, she couldn’t go back.
There was no way she could return to how things used to be, without any barriers between them.
So before Chihiro could say anything, she spoke first.
“Sorry, Chi-chan.”
“If this is about getting the band back together…”
“Forget it.”
“We can’t go back.”
—
Meanwhile, in a Luxury Apartment in Roppongi…
Nagasaki Soyo was busy in her kitchen.
She had checked the guest rooms earlier.
Chihiro’s belongings had already been packed up in the second bedroom, and the guest room was locked tight.
Which meant—
Despite all her usual sharp-tongued attitude, Tsuzuki Chihiro still kept her promises.
She did what she said she would.
“But… what even was today?”
Had she successfully completed her mission?
Or only half of it?
The band had broken apart, sure—
But she had also burned her own relationships in the process.
Even if things with Sakiko seemed to be improving, maybe even enough to pull both her and Mutsumi back in someday—
Today, she had definitely driven Tomori and Taki away.
She really was… an idiot.
“I’m home~”
Hearing that voice behind her, Soyo suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to avoid Chihiro.
For some reason, she didn’t want to face her right now—
She wanted to disappear.
“Huh? Soyo, why are you ignoring me?”
“Haha… am I?”
Soyo pressed her palms together in a sheepish gesture, tilting her head awkwardly—
A clear “please spare me” expression.
“Wait a second.”
Chihiro narrowed her eyes.
“You’re hiding something.”
“You look guilty as hell.”
“Did you do something stupid?”
“Uh…”
Soyo quickly turned off the stove before things could escalate into a repeat of last time.
Then, stumbling over her words, she recounted everything that had happened today.
The more she spoke, the quieter her voice became—
And when she finally looked up, she was met with Chihiro’s stiff expression, like she was barely holding back the urge to strangle her.
Soyo instinctively took two steps back, grabbed the nearest pot lid, and held it up like a shield.
“Nagasaki Soyo…”
“You’re a genius.”
“…”
“I thought you were just going to check things out.”
“But no—you went in there and blew up my whole damn house!
“Are you a Husky?!”
“No—even a Husky would’ve handled this better than you!”
“I—”
Soyo started to protest, but Chihiro cut her off before she could defend herself.
“Don’t even try arguing.”
“Wasn’t the plan for you to subtly favor Anon and Raana, while—”
“You’re seriously talking back to me right now?”
“…”
Soyo immediately shut up, her submissive expression returning in full force.
Chihiro sighed, dropping her shoulders.
She decided to let it go.
“You really think pissing off Taki means the band is over?”
“With her personality, she’ll probably drag Tomori onto that stage no matter what.”
“Hell, even if she has to find random strangers to fill in, she’ll make it happen.”
“…Oh.”
Thinking about it, Chihiro was probably right.
Takiwasn’t mad at the band—
She was just disappointed in her.
Her bond with Tomori, and even with Anon and Raana, was still intact.
“From now on, stay away from RiNG.”
“Until I sort everything out, just focus on your job—being a guardian for Mutsumi and Sakiko.”
“…Okay.”
“From now on, run everything by me first.”
“Tell me whenever you message anyone.”
“And also—”
Chihiro smirked.
“As punishment for ruining my plan, you’ll be my personal maid for the next few days.”
“Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning—”
“You’ll even prepare my bath, change my bandages, and scrub my back.”
“Wait, hold on, Tsuzuki Chihiro!”
“Don’t push it—!”
“No talking back.”
“Say yes.”
“…Yes.”
—
T/N: HUUUH? a wins a win
This is a fan translation of 素世同学，恭喜你被我优化了 by 杰克喵. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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