Chapter 61: Chapter 61
"So," seeing that Sakiko seemed to be getting genuinely angry, Mutsumi Kamijou decided to be serious. "What does the great Teacher Sakiko want with me?"
"And what's with that weird nickname, 'Teacher Sakiko'?" Sakiko had wanted to ask this for a while. "...But, never mind." Looking at the smiling boy before her, she let out a soft sigh and decided not to dwell on it.
"Anyway, about what happened before..." The girl turned her head slightly, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks, seemingly a little embarrassed. "...Thank you." In the end, she managed to say the words.
"What did you say? Am I dreaming already, even though I haven't gone to sleep yet?" It wasn't that he was intentionally teasing the girl in front of him, but he truly hadn't expected to hear those words from "Teacher Sakiko."
"I said, thank you!" Mutsumi's attitude seemed to provoke Sakiko, and her fair face turned bright red. "What kind of image do I have in your mind? Is it so unbelievable that I would thank someone?"
"Isn't it? The high and mighty Miss Sakiko?"
"I'm not high and mighty!" Hearing this evaluation again while she was calm, Sakiko frowned, an inexplicable discomfort rising in her heart. "Anyway, thank you for what you did for Tomori." There was a hint of self-blame in the girl's voice. "If it weren't for you, I probably would have continued to hurt her, wouldn't I? My choice back then was indeed too self-righteous."
"So, are you planning to make up with Tomori and the others and go back to how things were?" Hearing this, Mutsumi Kamijou raised an eyebrow slightly. Could it be that he had accidentally accomplished what Soyo had been striving for all this time?
"You should know my situation," however, upon hearing Mutsumi's words, Sakiko frowned, as expected. "We can't go back to the past. This isn't something I can decide."
"I will do my best to make it up to Tomori, but that's all I can do."
"Have you ever thought about telling Tomori about your current situation? I'm sure they would understand."
"My business has nothing to do with them!" This time, it was as if a sore spot had been hit, and Sakiko became agitated instantly. Although Mutsumi's song had hinted at her current situation, some things, even if tacitly understood, are different when spoken aloud. For Sakiko to bring it up herself was no different from begging for sympathy. She had always been the leader and the one everyone relied on in CRYCHIC; this was unbearable for her pride. "There's no need to tell them!"
As expected, Sakiko is still Sakiko, Mutsumi thought. The stubborn girl who values her pride more than her life, hurting others and herself in the process. A single song clearly isn't enough to change her completely. Do you really think Tomori needs you to 'make it up' to her? Haven't you ever considered what she truly needs? You really only think about yourself, don't you!
"Well, if you think that's for the best," Mutsumi ultimately didn't say the comment that would have angered the girl, simply replying with a smile.
"..." The boy's perfunctory, child-like response made Sakiko inexplicably angry. However, she clearly didn't want to argue. Since she had already expressed her thanks, she prepared to turn and leave.
But just then, a knock came from the door.
"Mutsumi, can... I come in?" It was Tomori's voice.
There's someone else here? Mutsumi didn't think much of it, but Sakiko panicked instantly. The situation was compromising: late at night, a boy and a girl alone, both in their pajamas. If someone saw them, they would definitely be misunderstood! The thought of Tomori seeing such an intimate scene made her heart pound with anxiety.
Seeing Mutsumi casually moving to open the door, her blood pressure soared. As his hand touched the doorknob, her thoughts in a jumble, Sakiko instinctively dove into the nearby closet, not wanting to face Tomori in this situation.
Watching Sakiko's bewildering action, it was Mutsumi's turn to be confused. If it were Rikki or the others, it might be a problem, but Tomori? Although the situation was indeed ambiguous, how could Tomori's innocent nature possibly misunderstand? A simple explanation would have cleared everything up. Sakiko was making things worse, digging her own grave.
"Mutsumi?" Seeing Mutsumi open the door but just stare into the room without a word, Tomori couldn't help but tug on his sleeve.
"...Come in first," Mutsumi shifted his gaze back to Tomori and welcomed her into the bedroom. As for Teacher Sakiko... although he thought it was unnecessary, he'd let her do as she pleased.
"So, what can I do for you, Tomori?" Only then did Mutsumi seriously observe the girl before him. Tomori might seem dazed and cute, but she was actually quite well-endowed. Well, at least more so than Teacher Sakiko. And her pure white pajamas perfectly accentuated her "assets." Paired with that innocent, blank expression... Oh no, I'm getting ideas again!
"I want to... thank Mutsumi." The girl, who seemed to have offered herself up, appeared oblivious and spoke with a serious face.
"...Have I done anything that deserves Tomori's thanks?" Although Mutsumi rarely suppressed his desires, he felt that deceiving a child was not right. Besides, with Teacher Sakiko watching from the closet, if he tried anything, he would probably be stopped on the spot. Therefore, he didn't directly state his desires as he had with Anon.
"If it wasn't for Mutsumi, Sakiko wouldn't have... been like that." Hearing Mutsumi's question, Tomori lowered her head, her eyes dimming slightly. "Ever since leaving CRYCHIC, Sakiko has been... pushing me away. As if she... hated me. I always thought, did I really do something wrong? To make everything... fail."
"It's not your fault."
"But, it's because of Mutsumi that I know." Hearing Mutsumi's words, Tomori suddenly raised her head, meeting his gaze without any fear. "Sakiko... she doesn't hate me. I don't know what Saki-chan... has been through. But, she just doesn't want to hurt us."
So, that's what Tomori thinks? Hiding in the closet, Sakiko's heart became complicated upon hearing Tomori's words.
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