Soyo-chan, Version 2.0—Courtesy of Me! [191]

This woman… is insane!

Togawa Sakiko felt like her entire world was crumbling.

She had thought today would be one of the most significant days of her life.

And she wasn’t wrong—it was significant. Just in all the worst ways.

She desperately wanted to sever all ties with this woman who never spoke a word of truth, who found amusement in toying with others.

She had genuinely believed, for a fleeting moment, that Chihiro had approached her that day without a mask, showing her true self.

That they had become real friends.

But in the end… it had all been just her wishful thinking.

"Sakiko, looking forward to working with you~"

"…"

She refused to respond.

Yet the esteemed Miss Tsuzuki didn’t seem the least bit bothered by her silence.

With a small, knowing smile, she simply placed her bag down and settled into the seat behind Sakiko—as if nothing had happened.

And in that moment, Sakiko finally understood why Chihiro had insisted on sitting behind her instead of in front.

Because her desk was by the window, second-to-last in the row.

Meaning Chihiro was now in the very last seat.

For the rest of the morning, Chihiro didn’t initiate any conversation.

But Sakiko felt it.

That gaze.

She wasn’t imagining it.

Even without turning around, she knew Chihiro was watching her—staring holes into her back.

What a horrible woman.

"The lesson ends here. Since we’ve wrapped up this section, go ahead and head to lunch."

At some point, the final morning class had ended.

But for Sakiko, the passage of time felt like pure agony—each class more unbearable than the last.

The teacher had left.

Logically, she should have used the distraction of her classmates flocking to Chihiro as an opportunity to slip away.

But just as she was about to stand—

A soft, smooth hand landed on her shoulder.

"Sakiko~ Don’t be mad at your big sister, okay?"

"…You—"

Sakiko’s mouth twitched.

She turned and was met with Chihiro’s pitiful, almost pleading gaze.

And strangely enough, the students who had been all over Chihiro just moments ago… had tactfully stayed back.

The girl’s expression—this carefully crafted display of vulnerability—was eerily familiar.

It was the same act she had put on when they first met.

That delicate, sensitive persona.

A soft, warm demeanor that naturally drew people in.

Sometimes, Sakiko wanted to believe that this side of Chihiro was real.

But reality had never once aligned with her expectations.

Nothing ever went the way she hoped.

"Come on, let’s go. I have something I want to talk to you about."

Chihiro smiled.

But this time, her tone left no room for refusal.

—

Yet, even after they left the classroom, nothing particularly nerve-wracking happened.

Chihiro simply walked beside her, playing the part of a new student, asking about the school like any normal transfer.

Sakiko found herself wondering…

Had Chihiro really dropped out years ago?

If so, then coming back to school now… wasn’t that a good thing?

"Sakiko, you went to Tsukinomori for middle school, didn’t you?"

"None of your business."

"So that’s a yes."

"…"

Arguing with a shameless person is absolutely infuriating.

Especially when said person was so good at acting, that even if Sakiko tried to expose her in front of their classmates…

One, no one would take her side.

And two, everyone would assume she was just a bratty little sister picking a fight with her kind, understanding onee-chan.

"I’m curious about something."

Chihiro casually kicked a pebble as she spoke.

"I thought maybe something happened to your family."

"Oh… sorry, I guess I don’t really care about your feelings at this point."

Her tone remained light, as if she were merely discussing the weather.

"I just want to know, Sakiko—your family is perfectly fine, so why did you disband CRYCHIC?"

"Did those days mean nothing to you?"

At those words, something in Chihiro’s voice shifted.

Because last night, while she had been lying in bed with Soyo, holding her close, she had listened.

Listened as Soyo spoke.

A girl who spent her days snapping at her, biting at her, now curled up beside her, whispering—

"Chihiro, do you know what Sakiko once said to me?"

"…What?"

"I hope our band can be a place where we share joy and carry each other’s burdens."

"!?"

Sakiko’s face paled instantly.

Chihiro narrowed her eyes.

"Didn’t you say that, Sakiko?"

"I… I never said that."

"But Soyo—"

"She misremembered."

Sakiko’s expression was dark, but she refused to waver.

"Middle school bands are just a phase."

"People grow apart—it’s only natural."

"What conflict made you split apart?"

"Huh?"

"Soyo told me more than once how unbreakable CRYCHIC was."

"And from what I hear, that day, it was you—"

"Enough!"

Sakiko clenched her fists, her voice sharp with frustration.

"Yes, it was my fault CRYCHIC broke up."

"I own that mistake."

"But why—no, why do you all refuse to let it go?"

"Even if I told you my reasons, would you even understand?"

"Would you act like nothing happened?"

"And you—you weren’t even in CRYCHIC!"

"So why do you care so much?!"

"Why do you think no one would understand you?"

"Because they don’t."

Chihiro exhaled.

"You never understood anyone else, either."

"…What?"

"No one understands you?"

"Maybe that’s because you never gave them a chance to."

That line… could’ve applied to a certain quiet, cucumber-growing guitarist as well.

"Ridiculous."

Sakiko let out a bitter laugh.

"Why would I tell my reasons to someone not worth trusting?"

"But, well… looks like I accidentally told you a lot of things Soyo doesn’t even know."

"And now, you’ve taught me a valuable lesson, Tsuzuki Chihiro."

She straightened up, meeting Chihiro’s gaze with cold resolve.

"That only I can be trusted."

"For that, I owe you my thanks."

With that, Togawa Sakiko—under Chihiro’s utterly amused stare—gave her a noblewoman’s curtsy, then turned and walked away.

…Or rather, she walked faster.

Then even faster.

Then, when she noticed Chihiro shifting slightly as if to follow—

She bolted.

"…Now that was interesting."

---

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!