Soyo-chan, Version 2.0—Courtesy of Me! [131]

At the dinner table, the only topic of discussion was the next phase of their plan.

No matter what, Soyo had no intention of going back on their agreement. She had no reason to.

“So, Chihiro, what’s your plan? Letting Taki think I’ve lost my mind… is that really okay?”

“Hard to say. But for now, keeping her in the dark is the safest option.”

Although they had nearly finished eating, neither of them got up.

After some thought, Tsuzuki Chihiro finally shared her next steps:

“But in a couple of days, I still need to check in on Taki and the others. They’re in a pretty awkward position right now. This would be the perfect time to completely crush their band!”

“…Wait, what?!?!”

Hold on.

Did she just hear something insane?

“What’s wrong? Isn’t this exactly what you’ve been asking me to do?” Chihiro grinned at Soyo, her expression unreadable—but she already knew exactly what was going through the girl’s mind.

Right now, the power was entirely in her hands.

Teasing this little widow? Piece of cake.

But for Soyo—who had no idea what Chihiro’s real intentions were—her words sounded utterly terrifying.

Crap.

She was serious.

She actually intended to carry out first-timeline Soyo’s evil, underhanded scheme.

“Think about it. If this band keeps coming together so perfectly, Anon and Raana will become an inseparable part of it."

“And then what happens to your dream?"

“When Sakiko and Mutsumi come back, where do they fit in?”

“I… but… I mean…”

…Okay, fine. Technically, she had a point.

No.

She was completely wrong.

But Soyo couldn’t argue.

At least, not when she was staring into Chihiro’s unwavering gaze—so focused, so determined, all for her.

She couldn’t bring herself to go back on her word now.

Just a moment ago, she had felt so secure, so at peace.

But with just a few words, Tsuzuki Chihiro had thrown everything into chaos again.

Soyo hadn’t even considered that not only had Chihiro not betrayed her—she was the one betraying Chihiro.

From start to finish, she had been the hesitant one.

She had dumped all the dirty work onto Chihiro while hiding in the background like a coward.

And now, when she was beginning to waver, when she was regretting everything, now she wanted to say she’d rather be a “good person”?

Would that really be okay?

If she backed out now, all she’d be doing was throwing the consequences onto Chihiro, making her shoulder everything alone.

Wouldn’t that be the same as dismissing all the effort Chihiro had put in?

Wouldn’t that mean she was someone whose attachment to CRYCHIC was so weak that at the first sign of difficulty, she wanted to retreat?

And if she told the truth—that all she really wanted was to keep Chihiro by her side?

No, that wouldn’t work either.

Because wouldn’t that basically be a confession?

Wouldn’t saying something like that just scare Chihiro off?

Chihiro was a normal person.

She wouldn’t understand why Soyo had suddenly developed this strange dependence on her.

“…But what about Anon and Raana?”

Desperate for a way out, Soyo clung to the only thing she could—Chihiro’s personal ties to Anon and Raana.

But to her shock, Chihiro simply shook her head.

“For the sake of our agreement, Anon and Raana don’t matter.”

“…Huh?”

“And you’re the one who said it first, aren’t you? That Anon and Raana don’t belong in that band. That they should be in a real band instead."

"That was you, wasn’t it?”

“…I guess I said that.”

“Think about it.

“Right now, Taki and Tomori are completely lost."

“One is blaming herself for not being good enough at leading, the other is blaming herself for not singing well enough."

“They’re stuck."

“So if we want the real CRYCHIC members to find their motivation again…"

“We have to sacrifice Anon and Raana.”

“…You mean… pin the failure of the live on them?”

“Exactly.”

Chihiro took a sip of water, her tone light and casual as she continued toying with her little widow.

“Anon’s guitar skills are questionable at best. That night, she was the one who made the most mistakes."

“And Raana, well—she’s good, sure."

“But in a band?"

“A guitarist who disappears all the time?"

“That’s exactly the kind of person who deserves to be thrown under the bus.”

“……”

Suddenly, Nagasaki Soyo felt a deep sense of regret.

Had she really invited help?

Or had she summoned a devil even worse than herself?

She’s willing to use her own little sister for my sake?!

Cough, cough.

Although… in a twisted way, that kind of commitment was a little touching.

“…Do we really have to do this?”

“What’s wrong?"

"You’re not betraying our goal, are you?”

“I would never!”

The moment Chihiro’s expression shifted—just slightly, just enough to look almost hurt—Soyo immediately shot to her feet, voice shaking with emotion.

“I’ve always been on your side.”

“Good.”

Chihiro smiled.

And Soyo…

Had no idea what to say next.

“But you’ve got it backwards, Soyo.”

Chihiro stood, stepping behind Soyo.

Then—

She gently wrapped her arms around her.

Soyo shivered slightly, startled by the warmth pressing against her back.

“It’s not you who’s been standing by me, Soyo.”

Chihiro’s voice was quiet, almost tender.

“I’m the one who’s been standing by you."

“It was your wish that made me realize—deep down, I wanted to bring my old bandmates back too."

“I just never had the courage to admit it."

“But you’re different."

“You’ve done something most people wouldn’t do."

"CRYCHIC even has the possibility of coming back because of you."

"So I will help you."

"Because… I’m helping myself, too.”

“…I—I see.”

“You don’t look happy. C’mon, smile~”

“…Ha. Hahaha… I’m so happy. So touched.”

Good thing Chihiro was behind her.

Otherwise, she definitely would have seen the way Soyo’s face twisted, looking one second away from tears.

“Well then—tomorrow, I’ll go deal with the pink-haired one."

“But you, Soyo—”

Chihiro’s smirk returned.

“You have something very important to do.”

“…What?”

Soyo’s stomach dropped.

A very bad feeling crept up her spine.

“Tomorrow, you’re going to find Mutsumi."

"And you’re going to tell her that you want to start a new band with her."

"And that when the time is right, you’ll bring Sakiko in, too.”

“…I…”

“What’s the matter?

“Surely my little sister Soyo can handle something this simple?”

“…I understand.”

It’s over.

It’s completely over.

Nagasaki Soyo screamed internally.

Was she really being forced to choose between CRYCHIC and Chihiro?

If she went to Mutsumi now, wouldn’t that just be repeating everything all over again?

She really, really didn’t want to kneel again…

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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!