Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 81

It seemed to be rain, as it slid down from the corner of my eye.

Unable to bear it any longer, Toyokawa Shoko, her expression completely out of control, forcefully blocked Genji's outstretched hand and turned to run into the vast rain.

—Still trying to run away?!

Without the slightest hesitation, finally unable to contain his anger and disappointment, he immediately strode into the rain without any cover.

"Xiangzi!"

Hearing that someone else was also being torrentially rained on, their cries barely audible due to the relentless downpour, Toyokawa Shoko paused, lowered her already bowed head even further, and continued fleeing without looking back.

...can catch up.

Although Toyokawa Shoko's actions initially put Minamoto Koto, who was a step behind, at a disadvantage... he was able to catch up.

Even in the face of a typhoon, I...

His steps suddenly slowed down.

Yuan Xudou stopped his brisk pace in bewilderment, his dark pupils reflecting an unusual sense of helplessness.

Like a boiling flame suddenly doused with icy water, the boy, his heart and body slowly growing cold, looked sadly at Wakaba Mutsumi, who had somehow caught up with him and was now tightly gripping his arm.

...Harmony, why?

You are Xiangzi's best friend, and you knew all this before we did... So, you also think I can't get involved in Xiangzi's affairs?

...Do you also support her leaving the band?

The cold wind, carrying heavy raindrops, lashed against them, instantly soaking the two people standing under the dim sky.

Wakaba Mutsu, who had remained silent throughout, had his face hidden in the shadows, his eyes tightly shut, his back trembling, unable to look into his wide eyes, filled with incredulous questioning.

She could feel the muscles taut on the arms she was tightly holding—she could sense that Genji could tear her away and abandon her at any moment to continue chasing after the fleeing Toyokawa Shoko.

But he didn't do that.

After wasting a few seconds, abandoning all decorum and etiquette, Toyokawa Shoko, in a disheveled state, desperately fled into a side alley and disappeared from the boy's empty vision.

Clench your fist tightly, then slowly, as if you're losing all your strength, loosen it.

Rainwater trickled down his collar and seeped into his gradually cooling body.

Whether Xiangzi asked Mu to do it, or she did it on her own initiative... it's all meaningless now.

He stood alone, his back straight, motionless in the raging rain. His dull, lifeless eyes stared in the direction where Toyokawa Shoko had disappeared, like black ice crystals that had shattered after solidification.

...I will not give up.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“It’s all my fault…!”

I ran in the rain with all my might until my legs gave way and cried out in despair, as if they were filled with lead and I could no longer lift them.

Her breath was torn apart, and her abdomen was cramping with pain, causing her to cough up painful gasps.

But the despair of the soul is a hundred times stronger than physical pain.

[I hope this can become your family too.]

'No……'

[Xu Dou, we'll never be apart, right?]

'don't want……'

[Xu Dou...I like you]

'don't want……!'

Staggering and collapsing against the damp wall, Toyokawa Shoko covered her broken, tear-streaked face.

"I...cannot...drag you all down..."

She sobbed intermittently, pouring out her heart to the empty air, revealing the feelings she ultimately couldn't tell the boy.

Having left the Toyokawa family and lost her source of income... the girl is no longer able to maintain the kind of life she used to have.

The most beautiful memories have now become the most fatal burden.

The possibility of enjoying those times in a glamorous and comfortable way... no longer belonged to her.

Not wanting to drag others into their misfortune, they would resist all kindness with a cold indifference that severs ties.

"I didn't want to either... Waaah—"

"Why...why me..."

No matter how many times the sobs of grief continued, they could not change the cruel reality.

Because it was my own decision, I can't blame anyone else, and I have no face to ask for help.

Even though she thinks this way... does she secretly hope that Yuan Xudou can catch up with her?

Even if she refuses and runs away, she can still see her true self... Even if she gives up on herself, she won't give up on that person...

If you get caught, there's no escape.

If caught, one must tear apart one's vulnerable side.

But... Xu Dou's words...

Why don't you catch up with me...?

You're the only one who's special to me...

Even though I ran away on my own, I still can't help but feel that thought creeping in.

But Yuan Xudou was unable to catch up with her.

Under the cold rain, only Toyokawa Shoko, who had fallen into the abyss, wept silently.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"sorry"

"Toyokawa Shoko" has left the group chat.

As if to draw a line, after sending him only one last text message, she left the 【CryCHIC】 group chat and probably blocked everyone else as well.

"..."

The cold, impersonal text on the phone felt like witnessing a haggard, sorrowful girl whispering "I'm sorry."

With his head bowed, Yuan Xudou took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in his heart, and slightly raised his gloomy eyebrows.

Then, he rang the doorbell of the Toyokawa family mansion.

"Is Toyokawa Shoko here? I'm her friend."

He calmly said this while looking at the access control that was lit up in red, indicating that someone was answering the phone.

Since Xiangzi had escaped, he decided to go directly to his door. So, the day after the rain stopped, he went to the door of the Toyokawa family, which he had visited several times before, and blocked the door looking for Xiangzi.

The red light of the access control flashed, and a slightly familiar female voice rang out, probably that of a maid from the Toyokawa family.

"The young lady is not at home right now, Mr. Yuan Xudou, please return."

The maids were very polite. After all, they had been brought to Toyokawa Shoko's house several times, so they were not unfamiliar with this handsome young man who clearly had a close relationship with the young lady.

As expected, Yuan Xudou, who had anticipated such a response, continued speaking without hesitation:

"Could someone tell me this in person?" (Part 3)

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the access control.

The maid who made the call and the housekeeper standing by looked at each other, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes, unable to understand his purpose.

But after all, this was someone the young lady had instructed her to treat with the same seriousness and care as she would towards her—the maid nodded subconsciously.

Then, she looked at the housekeeper and asked for her opinion.

"The master didn't say anything."

The housekeeper replied in a very soft voice, and the maid nodded in understanding.

"Please wait."

A moment later, a lady dressed in traditional maid's attire hurried over and bowed slightly to him.

The maid, with a gentle and kind face, around twenty years old, who had met him a few times in the manor, straightened up and looked at the boy through the fence.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Yuan Xudou, Miss is indeed not home right now."

"Please go back."

...She wasn't lying.

Despite his excellent control of his expression, Yuan Xudou still managed to detect a subtle hint of pity in the other person's eyes.

So, it's related to the Toyokawa family, isn't it?

Moreover, Xiangzi is indeed not at home now... and it seems he won't be at home for a long time.

Calmly considering his words, Yuan Xudou bowed to the maid in return.

"Excuse me."

After saying that, he turned and left without any hesitation.

—Xiangzi, where did you go?

Chapter 115 Everything Continues to Collapse

After that, Genjiro went to many places, trying to find traces of Toyokawa Shoko.

The overpass where they first met, the coffee shop where they often met alone, the streets around Tsukinomori... He, who never liked to easily approach strangers, even took the initiative to ask the people in the vicinity if they had seen that dazzling and distinctive figure with beautiful sky-blue long hair.

However... the results, unsurprisingly, were all "nothing".

As if deliberately avoiding him, she vanished without a trace.

Until the start of the school year at Tsukimori... Nagasaki Motoyo brought news that Toyokawa Shoko hadn't even gone to school.

During this time, while Yuan Xudou was running around the streets searching, at Yuan Xudou's request, she was also trying to extract information from Ruoye Mutsu, who probably, no, should obviously know some inside information, but she gained very little. Only on this matter, Ruoye Mutsu kept her mouth shut, and no matter what she asked, she always answered with silence.

Takamatsu Akari and Shiina Tatsuki are also trying to find and contact Toyokawa Shoko in their own ways... but they also make no progress.

In the vast metropolis of Tokyo, finding someone deliberately hiding without any clues, with only a few middle school students... is like finding a needle in a haystack.

...Everyone is becoming increasingly anxious.

Under this hopeless search, everyone except Yuan Xudou began to waver to varying degrees.

Realizing this, Gen Xudou knew he had to temporarily slow down his search for Toyokawa Shoko to appease the other members—otherwise, CryCHIC might fall apart even sooner than they found Shoko.

"Let's put the search for Xiangzi on hold for now."

Finally, after a routine RiNG gathering, facing the girls who hadn't practiced in a long time and whose expressions were gloomy, he closed his eyes and made this decision.

The once clear and steady voice now sounded like a bird with its wings bound, its tone becoming sluggish.

"...We can't let this affect everyone's lives. I have plenty of free time, so I can handle the task of finding Xiangzi by myself."

As usual, they listened quietly to Yuan Xudou explain his thoughts.

"【CryCHIC】can't just shut down like this. I'll temporarily fill in for Xiangzi as the keyboardist, and then we'll resume normal practice when she gets back..."

Can a family that has lost one member really continue to exist?

—What if we can never find Toyokawa Shoko again?

Gen Xudou tried hard not to think about these things. The most important thing right now was to at least maintain connections with everyone and temporarily mend the rifts that had been torn in everyone's hearts by Toyokawa Shoko's departure.

—If one person leaves, he can still take over that position.

Hearing Yuan Xudou's proposed solution, the girls' worries and anxieties noticeably lessened. Having someone step forward to take responsibility and offer a feasible method was a tremendous relief from their inner pressure.