Stepping out of Circle-LiveHouse,
Shouko glanced at Soyo, who kept shifting the bass on her back as if it weighed twice as much.
She chuckled. "Still sore from that smack I gave you?"
Soyo nodded with a soft huff. "You hit way too hard!!!!"
"Really?" Shouko grinned. "Looked to me like you enjoy the feeling."
"As if…"
Soyo sniffed again and walked on, but a faint smile curved her mouth.
When she sensed Shouko catching up, she quickly flattened the smile.
"Your mom's coming home tonight, right?"
"Mm-hm. Are you still coming over?"
"I'll come. Good chance to get familiar with her—and maybe get a room key so I can let myself in later."
"No way. I'm not letting Mom give you one."
"Wow, no praise? Looks like you want to taste my belt again."
"No-no-no, I give, I give…"
Seeing Shouko actually start unbuckling the strap around her arm, Soyo paled in panic.
Of course, Shouko never meant to pull the belt free.
"Soyo, if I'm meeting your mom, what fruit does she like? I'll pick some up."
"No need. Everything she loves is already at home; I bought it all."
"So, should I ask for that key or not, Soyo-chan?"
"Either's fine. If you had one, you could come in on your own."
"Why do I smell vinegar? Forget it. I'll have you, that's enough."
"Mm…"
Looking at the adorable yet domineering Shouko beside her,
Soyo suddenly felt that days like this might actually be… nice.
CRYCHIC Band didn't seem so vital anymore.
Though deep down, she still longed for the band's revival,
remembering how they'd once connected—except for that last day—nothing had ever felt as real as the sting of Shouko's belt across her back.
Involuntarily, Soyo reached behind her; a sharp ache made her wince.
No doubt it was bruised—Shouko had really laid it on.
"Still savoring the memory?"
"Of course not. Just wondering what to cook once Mom gets back."
"I'll help tonight. Fair warning: I'm hopeless in the kitchen."
"Doesn't matter. I'd love it if you stayed."
"Think your mom will be shocked tonight?"
"Definitely. But don't worry—she's gentle; she won't hold anything against you."
"Good… then I can relax."
As they laughed and talked, the space between them quietly deepened,
far deeper than anything the CRYCHIC Band—disbanded only a week ago—had ever shared.
Time drifted by... the sky slowly faded from daylight into darkness.
Yet, as lamp after lamp lit up, the night was illuminated as bright as day.
In the spacious room, a table of food had been prepared.
Shouko and Soyo sat quietly on the sofa, waiting for the mother who would arrive any moment.
But... as the minutes ticked past, there was still no sign of her.
Soyo picked up her phone, glanced at the time, and couldn't help frowning slightly.
Shouko asked curiously, "Maybe Auntie ran into something on the way? Don't worry."
Soyo shook her head, about to reply, but then she saw the sudden message from her mother.
Her expression crumpled. "She's not coming back. Let's eat, just the two of us."
"Does Auntie often do this?" Shouko asked.
"Mm, yeah. I'm used to it."
With that, Soyo swept the gloom from her face and stood up from the sofa.
She reached out toward Shouko, smiling brightly. "Come on, let's eat. You must be starving this late."
"That's true..."
Shouko took Soyo's hand and rose.
"Still, let's set a portion aside, just in case Auntie comes back."
"Thanks, Shouko. Thanks for staying with me. But will your family be okay?"
"It's fine. My mom's sick of seeing me every day—absence makes the heart grow fonder. When I go back in a couple of days she'll be all over me."
"Really? That's nice..."
"Nice nothing. My dad divorced my mom because of my hearing problems, leaving her to raise me and my little sister alone."
"But Auntie still finds time to come home, unlike mine."
"Not at all. Back then Mom was exhausted, working three jobs to buy me better hearing aids. Only now it's easier, so she finally has the energy to dislike me."
"I see..."
"Yeah. When I was little I looked after my sister. If the kid wouldn't listen, I'd smack her. One slap and she'd behave. Haven't you noticed she's more obedient to me than to Mom?"
Watching Shouko speak of these things so casually,
Soyo felt a small stab in her heart. "No wonder you're so strong now."
Shouko grinned. "You don't have a sister. If you did and smacked her now and then, you'd toughen up too."
Soyo rolled her eyes, then couldn't help covering her mouth to laugh.
"Your sister's had it rough, getting smacked around every day. She's a girl, you know."
"So what? I'm a girl too. A couple of hits won't kill anyone."
"Hearing loss, people's discrimination, trouble communicating, a single-parent family, a little sister to care for—if it were me, I'd break."
"Quit saying you'd break. There's nothing to break over. Eat before it gets cold, stop being mopey."
"Mm..."
"Oh, right—save a portion..."
"Yes, yes, almost forgot. I'll get the bowls."
Soyo jumped up again and hurried to the kitchen for two bowls.
Together they dished out a bit of every plate.
Yet, for no reason, as she watched Shouko scoop food beside her, Soyo's eyes began to glisten.
"What is it? Daydreaming..."
"It's nothing..."
"All right, I'm done here. I'll start—starving."
After filling her own plate, Soyo looked at Shouko, who was already digging in.
The smile on her lips grew warmer and brighter.
"Thank you, Shouko..."
"Enough thanks. Eat while it's hot or it'll cool."
"Mm, okay..."