"Let's call it a day.
"Honestly, I think… staying trapped in the past isn't a good thing. At some point, you have to move forward."
"…"
Taki didn't say anything, but her expression wavered.
Seeing this, Tsuzuki Chihiro simply smiled.
She pulled out her phone, opened LINE, and turned the screen toward Taki, who raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I don't really use my old LINE account anymore. I made a new one—let's add each other again."
"A new one?" Taki looked skeptical. "Why make a new account?"
"Starting fresh, that's all."
Chihiro smiled lightly, keeping her explanation vague.
Taki felt a strange mix of emotions at that answer.
She shot "Soyo" a curious look.
If she really didn't care about the past, there would be no reason to go through the trouble of making a new account.
She didn't want to delete Sakiko's contact.
But at the same time, seeing her profile picture still got to her.
So, she settled for this half-hearted solution.
It was just like the old Soyo.
Which meant that, in her own way, Soyo was struggling too—fighting against her past self.
No one could change overnight.
But taking that first step forward was what mattered.
Taki's thoughts drifted to that girl named Chihaya Anon.
To be honest… after the way she'd gone off on her, Anon still wanted to be in a band with them?
Taki really couldn't figure out what was going on in that girl's head.
If she was persistent, her reasons didn't seem entirely pure.
If she had ulterior motives, she should've given up the moment things got tough.
But instead, she quickly pulled herself together and sat down at the same table with them again—something not just anyone could do.
Should I really let Tomori take this risk?
"When we see Tomori again—"
Chihiro's words suddenly cut off.
She went completely still.
Following her gaze, Taki turned toward the entrance—where she saw Raana walking in, carrying her guitar case and an amp.
"What's wrong?"
"…Nothing."
Chihiro quickly masked her reaction, but she didn't seem in any hurry to leave anymore.
Instead, she propped her chin up on her hands and kept watching her little sister.
Raana didn't look much different from the little girl she remembered, but there was a distinct air of confidence about her now.
"She comes by often to use the space," Taki commented. "Plays for a bit, then leaves. Probably looking for a band, too."
Thinking "Soyo" might be scouting for potential members, she added the explanation.
"Oh?" Chihiro perked up, intrigued. "Did she find one yet?"
"Not that I know of."
Taki shook her head.
She was briefly interrupted by the sudden burst of guitar from Raana's amp but continued.
"She's talented, but kind of odd. Doesn't talk much."
"Honestly, I'm not sure if she's just playing for fun or actually looking to form a band."
"She rarely brings it up with anyone."
"Eh~"
Chihiro's eyes narrowed in amusement as she watched Raana.
Nice. She's got the perfect 'too cool to care' attitude. I like it.
Though, to be fair, Raana had always been like this.
Growing up, she barely paid attention to anyone except for her big sister.
And now, after disappearing for so long…
She must've been really hurt when I left.
The thought made Chihiro nervous.
Would Raana see through her disguise?
…Apparently not.
"She's good, right?"
"Huh? You mean her?"
Chihiro paused for a second before giving a more neutral opinion.
"She's decent. A bit rusty, though."
"…Are you kidding me?"
Taki shot "Soyo" an unimpressed look.
Any shred of respect she had just gained for her vanished on the spot.
Of course.
A bassist, naturally programmed to hate guitars.
Not surprising.
But seriously, was a high schooler really going to hold a grudge against a kid?
"Why would I joke about that? She's solid, but she's got room to improve."
"Just shut up already."
As their quiet bickering went on, Raana finally finished her session.
Before leaving, she slowed her steps slightly as she passed Chihiro's table.
For a brief moment, she locked eyes with Chihiro.
The stare made Taki uncomfortable.
For a second, she wondered—had Raana overheard them talking?
But the gaze didn't linger for long.
With one last, somewhat puzzled glance, Raana turned and left.
"Can you behave yourself for once?"
Taki let out an exasperated sigh.
"How did you suddenly pick up this annoying habit?"
If she didn't know this was Soyo, she'd start thinking someone had swapped her out.
"Thanks for the coffee, Taki. I'll be heading home now."
"Yeah, yeah."
---
Ten minutes later, at Raana's house.
Raana rarely showed interest in anything outside of her guitar.
But today, she was different.
She lived with her grandmother—technically, her maternal grandmother.
Her mother was Tsuzuki Shisen's daughter.
But since she had always been close to both her grandmother and her cousin, Raana never called her "Grandma" or Chihiro "Cousin."
To her, they were simply Grandma and Big Sis.
No one in the family had ever bothered correcting her.
Back in elementary school, her parents had still been in Japan.
But for various reasons, both her parents and Chihiro's had moved to the UK.
At the time, Chihiro had already been thinking about dropping out.
After fighting with the rest of the family for what felt like forever, she finally left with them.
And then…
She never came back.
"Raana, dinner's ready."
Standing at the doorway, Tsuzuki Shisen watched her granddaughter with a warm, loving gaze.
But seeing her staring blankly at an old family photo, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
"Grandma…"
Raana stood up.
Her striking heterochromatic eyes met the elderly woman's.
"I think… I saw Sis today."
"Don't be silly…"
Shisen's voice wavered, but she steeled herself to crush any false hope.
"Your sister… she's been gone for a long time."
"She's never coming back."