"Quitting?" Sato tilted his head. "What do you mean? Like, a temporary leave?"
She stood silent, fists tightening at her sides, gaze downcast, unreadable.
"Shukkun. Can you give us a moment?"
"Uh, sure…" Shun glanced between them, then left the classroom quietly.
"Sakkun… I can't stay here," she said. "In this club. This isn't temporary. I'm done."
Sato forced a laugh—shaky, panicked.
"What...? Why? Did something happen?"
"I realized I never really liked the culture club to begin with." Her voice was soft, but resolute. "I'm joining the Disciplinary Committee. Shiyocchi already gave me the go-ahead."
Sato blinked. "You… didn't like the club?"
"…Sorry, Sakkun. In here, I feel like I'm just filling a space. Over there, they need me."
"But… we're club members, Hikki!" Sato blurted. "We've been together for—"
"Stop." Her voice cut through like a blade.
"I said I hate it here," she repeated, sharper. "I feel wasted here. And I realized that today."
She turned away.
"Goodbye, Sakkun."
Then she paused—just for a breath—at the door.
"Or…" she said without turning around, "do you need me to stay?"
Sato froze.
"I…"
'I love you.'
'I need you.'
But the words stopped. His mind flashed with her face—Hiyori, glowing like sunlight.
Then her hands. Her lips. His sister's.
Sato's throat closed up.
No.
It has to be perfect.
Hiyori deserved a prince. A stage. A song. She was his light—and the light deserves ceremony, not mess.
He looked around as if searching for a piano.
But even if he had one, now would ruin it. Ruin everything.
So he swallowed the words. Swallowed the truth.
"The… the club needs you!" he shouted. "You're a valued member and—"
SLAM.
She was gone.
"Ah..." Sato looked down. "That's fine. That's... that's okay. I just have to get my shit together until the festival. Then I'll confess. Then... then I'll confess... I'll confess it then..." He clenched his fists.
"She's... gone... just until then." He slammed his fist on the desk, keeping a locked smile on his face.
"Everything's fine."
"Everything's completely fine."
"SO WHY DID YOU FUCKING LEAVE...!!!?"
Several more violent slams against the desk followed. He thought about how he'd have to return to his sister tonight. And this time, he wouldn't walk home with Hiyori.
His fist was completely red as he let out a chuckle."It's fine."
"I'll just include this in the song. Maybe as an ironic mention. We'll look back and laugh at how hotheaded you were... while we hold hands." Sato looked down again.
Then he returned. Same routine.
Before long, he was in his sister's arms.
And as he watched her half-naked body bounce atop his...
...All he could think of was Hiyori.
And how she left the club.
'Just until then...' he thought, assuring himself.
Another morning came. He went near her house. He waited... and waited thirty minutes before he left.
That day, he found out that the Disciplinary Committee had a schedule she had to commit to.
'Just until then. It'll be perfect.'
Mechanical. Signing documents. Accepting a new member. Decorating the school in advance.
He watched from the Culture Club's window as she walked with the Disciplinary Committee outside the school—with Gon, who seemed detached, the commanding Shiyon, and the just-as-charismatic Yuuno.
She seemed to laugh when talking to the members.
'The sting you feel now is the payoff you'll feel later. The hurt you feel right now is the joy you know you'll have. That's what you told me, Hikki. When the festival comes, you'll see.'
Night came. Singing lesson.
Once again, in his sister's arms.
'Hold on... Just hold on...'
Morning came. She wasn't there again near the house. He walked away after fifteen minutes of waiting.
He walked through the hallway of the school, seeing her walk with Yuuno, touring the school. She seemed to laugh at a joke he'd said. And she didn't even look his way as he passed her.
His breath hitched.
'I'll tell you, Hikki. People talk to people. I always knew you're popular and talk to people. But I also know you love me. You told me that, right? You told me you'd never leave me.'
'That no matter how long it takes, you'll water me, right? I'm your flower? Then, please. Let me show you that. How I bloomed. At the festival. I'll play my song and show you how much I love you.'
"Oh, what's that, Sato? You wanna sing with us?" Hyakkimaru said, tuning his equipment. "And you wanna be the vocalist!? Holy shit, dude, no problem! That's more publicity for us if you sing at the festival! Bokkori could use a rest."
"Bokkori here. Yeah, 100%. My throat was getting sore these past few days."
"Oh, and... mind if we play this song?" Sato handed him the song suggestion.
"Oh... an American song? Sato-kun, you can sing in English?"
It was then Sato demonstrated.
"Holy shit... you're a natural."
"I practiced, Senpai. Haha." Sato chuckled.
"Why that song in particular though?" Hyakkimaru asked.
"Oh, that... it's a song my friend loved... loves." He emphasized.
'You played it to yourself, Hiyori. The song you let no one hear. I studied its meaning, you know? You sing it for someone who passed away, but since you don't know English you didn't care. You just loved the melody. That's okay. I don't judge. I'll show you that I care. That I notice.'
Sato then replayed Hiyori chuckling and smiling with someone else.
His eye twitched as he walked back to the Culture Club.
Another twitch.
Another day passed.
He looked at himself in the mirror. Once more, bringing up Hiyori in his mind to bring back his smile... though, that smile faded. Suddenly, her face wasn't powerful enough to stretch a smile as wide as it used to be.
But it was still there.
'It's only two days from now.' He thought, reaching the school.
"Man, have you seen Hiyori-senpai? How she's walking with that Yuuno?" someone said as they passed Sato.
"..!!"
"She's eyeing him all the time now. She doesn't even make it subtle..."
"Ah... I wish I was Disciplinary Committee material. To be with that hunk... ugh..."
"I thought she and Sato-kun had a thing, though..."
"Nah, they were just really close friends!"
A crack formed in the mirror. His reflection distorted.
Sato picked up his phone, dialing someone.
Several minutes later, he stood behind the school, waiting.
Hiyori then came around the corner.
"...Hey," she called.
"Hikki."
'I'm weak,' Sato told himself. 'I'm too weak. I should've waited until the festival. I even prepared the song for her. I went to singing lessons. I readied myself... I'm stupid.'
"I love you more than just a friend," he finally let out. "I want to be with you... Back then, when you left the Culture Club... I meant to say... I needed you. Not the club. I needed you to stay."
Silence stretched between them.
'I'm sorry. You didn't deserve this... this... lame excuse of a confession out of the doghouse... but... I... I don't know why I did it. I'll make it up to you.'
"I'm sorry, Sakk... Sato-kun." She stuttered, looking away as a breeze passed by them.
His breath hitched, his eyes widening.
"I'm dating Yuuno now."
"Ah..." Sato let out.
She looked away, holding her arm.
A sledgehammer pounded against his reflection, breaking it into a million pieces.
'Why...?' he wanted to ask.But before long, another question formed in his mind.
Nay. An answer.
'She would have answered differently three days ago.'
He swallowed, swiftly shaking his head, looking at her with a smile.
"You're dating him, huh? You love... love him?" Sato asked, tilting his head, swallowing, blinking—all at once—while keeping a smile, trying to appear indulgent.
"...I do. Very," she said, her voice composed. Soft.
"Ah." He let out, his heart felt as if it slammed against his throat.
"Oh."
"I see."
"That..." Sato blinked, looked away, trying to find someplace to focus on, "That's... huh. Happened quickly, didn't it?"
"..." She didn't reply.
Mirror began falling off—one shard at a time. His perfect reflection, shattering.
"Like," he chuckled, "REALLY quickly, didn't it?!"
He chuckled louder now. She frowned, looking down.
"I wasn't there for a moment and you already found someone. Hahaha... hahahaha.... Like... like some whore from the streets...!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"Sato chuckled maniacally, replaying how he laid his head against her thighs back at the onsen resort, how he will never get to be that close to her again.
She looked at him, frowning—but confused. Worried.
"Sakkun...?"
"No, no, please—IT'S SA-TO, HIYORI-SENPAI..." he said with a smile, his cheeks blushing as he chuckled more.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You're right. You're right. I'm losing my mind here. I'm being irrational... I know, hahahahahahaha, not the flower you raised at all, huh? Right, no. You're just... ah. You fell for someone. It happens."
"SAKKUN!!" she yelled, stopping him.
His breath hitched. His smile stuck as he went silent, looking at her strained expression.
"I'M SORRY."
She looked at him firmly, though frowning.
"I felt it for him. I can't explain it." She let out, shaking her fist, tears in her eyes.
"I... I felt it for you, too," she said. "That's why I know it's real."
Sato's eyes widened.
"And... he needs me."
She then turned around.
"...Before you ever did."
"....No. Ah..." Sato cleared his throat.
"You're right. He needed you first. Naturally, you'd go to him... right..."
"Haha..."
He let out one last weak chuckle.
"...Goodbye, Sato-kun."
She turned around and left.
'Ahh... there's... there's no mirror anymore... Who... who am I?' he asked the ground.
'Oh, right. School ended. I need to go home for sis.'
He got up, tidied himself, and walked away from the spot.
'....'
The singing teacher sighed to herself.
'He's not picking up... Tsk. Where's that kid? He's gonna miss his lesson.'
Little did she know, Sato went straight home.
Sato walked straight into his house, past the thugs guarding the entrance.
They looked at each other.
"Had a crazy expression on him today. I'm used to seeing him dead-eyed..."
"Maybe finally taking after boss?"
"Sis." He opened the door to her room, locking it behind him the way she always liked.
"I'm here to cram you again," he muttered—voice flat, eyes hollow.
She looked up lazily from her seat. "Huh?"
But he didn't wait. He pushed her onto the bed and kissed her—rough, desperate.
"Mmph—" She grabbed his throat and kickced him off.
"What the hell are you doing?" she snapped, like she was disgusted to even ask.
Sato fell flat on the floor, his breath shaking.
"Isn't this what you wanted…? You wanted me. So have me."
His voice cracked. "Take all of me… Take what you made…"
A sob escaped him. A tear slid across his cheek.
"Tch."
She kicked him hard across the face, knocking him backward.
"Don't cry on me," she muttered. "Cry like that, and someone's gonna see you as prey. Thought I taught you that."
Then, a moment of silence where she eyed Sato's body.
Looked down.
Then raised her gaze to him again.
"And don't be mistaken. I'm not into you or some shit like that. I'm not messed up in the head to love my own brother. Just because I'm fucking you doesn't mean I see you as more than a brother."
She sighed, lighting up a cigarette.
Sato was silent, looking to the side.A moment of silence.
She glanced at him—briefly.
Then looked away.
"...What? Got dumped?" she finally asked.
"...You won't do it with me?" Sato replied flatly.
Another click of her tongue.
"Nope. Think you deserve a reward for acting like a lunatic? You're lucky I didn't carve your face up."
"...Fine."
Sato got up, dusting himself off.
"Alright. You... you took her away."
"Ah? Took who? Who the fuck you talking about?"
"You did it," he repeated. "And now she's gone forever."
"You gone crazy or something?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter."
Sato turned to her.
"I'm leaving. Aren't you glad, sis? You won't have to deal with the crazy me—"
"Don't make some dramatic performance. Just fuck off already." She sighed, looking at him with disinterest.
"I looked after you because of Dad's dying wish. If you're enough of a piece of shit to disrespect that—and the effort I put into raising you—and how much I cared for you—all because I didn't spread my legs for you today, then go ahead. I ain't gonna stop you from shitting all over the carpet."
"Dad's not here, is he...?" Sato murmured under his breath.
"...Fuck did you say?"
She widened her eyes, gaze suddenly dangerous.
"...Nothing. You're right, sis. About everything. And I'm the fuck-up. I'll leave, then."
'Without her...' he thought of Hiyori, 'what's the point...? Of blooming. Of being a flower. I did it all for you.'
'I don't know what else I can do...'
He replayed moments—being courteous to other students, being thoughtful, working hard in the
Culture Club, studying, staying patient...
What he said to Yuuto.
Even the faces of the Culture Club members.
'Because of you... with you gone... there's just no point in blooming anymore.'
He sighed as he walked past his sister, grabbing his bag.
"Leave it here. Phone too," she said. "I was the one who bought it for you, remember? I'm letting you keep your clothes, so be grateful."
Sato quietly dropped the bag and gently placed his phone down.
And kept his clothes as he walked out of the house.
A bit after he left, his sister came out, standing next to the thugs.
"Is it okay to let him go, boss?"
"Yeah."
She let out a puff of smoke.
"He needs to learn what's important. Being homeless for a while will do him good."
She puffed again, going back into the house...
...Giving one final glance to where Sato had walked, her eyes half-lidded and uninterested.
Nighttime.
A knock.
The door opened with a creak. A tired head peeked out through the gap.
'...Manipulator?' Yuuto thought, recognizing Sato's face, the redness on his cheek still visible even in the dark.
"Hey... Sakurai-senpai," he said, giving a small smile, "taking... visitors again?"
"...Take the sofa downstairs," Yuuto replied, opening the door with a sigh.