On the overpass.
The lights of countless buildings nearby illuminated the city.
Shoko Toyokawa looked down, her eyes fixed on the road beneath the bridge, where cars came and went without a break.
When standing at a high place, one couldn't help but wonder what would happen if they accidentally fell.
Would they die?
Or perhaps become disabled.
At this moment, these thoughts also arose in Shoko Toyokawa's mind.
However, she had no intention of taking her own life.
At least, that's what she thought.
Seriously, why was she even here?!
Shoko Toyokawa couldn't help but ask herself.
The chances of running into one of the people she least wanted to see, Tomori, were incredibly high here!
After all, Tomori Takamatsu's home was in that apartment building next to the overpass.
But… she'd already run into Tomori at school today.
Shoko had always known she and Tomori Takamatsu went to the same school.
Because on the first day of school, she'd already looked through the list of new students.
She did this to confirm that there was no one she knew, and no one who knew her, at this school.
Wasn't that a bit unnecessary?
Shoko Toyokawa couldn't help but inwardly mock herself.
Because besides Crychic, all her relationships were at Tsukinomori Academy.
Besides her, Shoko Toyokawa, who else from that school would run here like a stray dog!
However, her luck was truly terrible.
She actually saw two familiar names on the list.
One of them was Tomori Takamatsu.
She felt the most apologetic towards her.
Fortunately, Tomori Takamatsu was in Class 3, while she was in Class 8, on a higher floor.
The two hadn't encountered each other from the start of the school year until this afternoon.
However, at the end of the school day today,
Shoko Toyokawa left as usual and ran into Tomori Takamatsu at the corner of the stairs.
She understood that meeting was inevitable.
But she still hoped to delay it as much as possible.
When Tomori met her, she seemed a little delighted, a little surprised.
But more than that, there seemed to be timidity and fear.
Tomori looked like she wanted to say something to herself.
However, under her extremely cold gaze,
she retreated.
Like a little penguin encountering a natural enemy.
However, Shoko Toyokawa breathed a sigh of relief.
Afterward, she finished her part-time job as usual.
About half an hour ago, she returned to that cramped, simple home.
Before she even pushed open the old door, a wave of alcohol fumes hit her.
Inside, the wooden floor was littered with bottles.
It was almost laughable…
Seeing those bottles, Shoko Toyokawa's first thought was actually,
After cleaning them up, she could sell them as scrap for a little bit of money.
Some of the bottles even had a bit of liquid still dripping out.
Shoko Toyokawa suppressed her disgust and cleaned up the mess.
Even now, the memory made Shoko Toyokawa's pretty eyebrows furrow.
Back in her room, she prepared to deposit her day's earnings from her part-time job.
But then she found that the zipper on the wallet she'd hidden in the closet was already open.
The wallet was empty.
This was the meager savings she'd accumulated after working tirelessly, going to and from work early and late.
Shoko Toyokawa didn't need to ask to know what had happened.
It was undoubtedly her good-for-nothing father who'd taken it.
Shoko Toyokawa couldn't even bring herself to consider speaking to him.
She just kept blaming herself, even though she already knew what kind of person he was.
Why did she... why did she keep her savings at home?
She was really... really...
So stupid!
Clutching the few remaining banknotes in her hand.
Shoko Toyokawa ran out.
She didn't know what emotions she was feeling.
Walking... walking, she ended up here.
It was here that I first met Tomori.
What was Tomori doing back then?
Shoko Toyokawa reached out towards the sky.
A scene involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
However, there were no cherry blossoms this time.
Even the surrounding leaves had already turned yellow, presenting a sorrowful color.
Shoko Toyokawa suddenly realized, she didn't know when.
She had actually stood on the lowest railing of the guardrail, just like Tomori had done back then.
That was a dangerous move.
Cars were speeding by under the bridge.
Right, that's it.
So, at that time, I misunderstood that Tomori wanted to end her life.
Then, to save her, I pushed her to the ground.
Shoko Toyokawa's eyes showed no fear as she looked at the cars below.
Yes! I'm not even afraid of death anymore!
The weak me of the past is already dead.
So, what if I'm broke?
"I want..."
"I want..."
Shoko Toyokawa's mouth opened and closed.
She wanted to shout out those words.
She wanted to become human!
But she found she couldn't make a sound.
Shoko Toyokawa smiled, probably because...
She doesn't deserve it anymore!
Just as Shoko Toyokawa was in a daze,
suddenly, a feeling of falling overwhelmed her.
The world seemed to spin.
Thud!
After the sound,
Shoko Toyokawa crashed heavily onto the ground.
The pain instantly spread throughout her body via her nerves.
Pain!
So painful!
My arm, ankle, back…
The pain brought tears to Shoko Toyokawa's eyes.
Shoko Toyokawa looked at the person in front of her who had pushed her down.
So familiar… I feel like I've seen them somewhere before…
Ah…?
Why am I crying?
Since then, she hadn't cried again.
She had already declared that the weak self of the past was dead.
But why, why couldn't she stop the tears from falling?
"No!"
"I'm sorry I pushed you."
"But you can't just throw your life away!"
Eagerness, concern, tenderness, apology...
The delicate face before her was etched with worry.
The voice was laced with a variety of emotions.
Words of concern continuously reached Shoko Toyokawa's ears.
However, Shoko Toyokawa didn't respond.
Instead, she pressed her hand against her chest.
Suddenly, that area also throbbed with a dull ache.
Cunning, cunning, so cunning!
Those words… she knew them so well.
Because, she had once said the same things to Tomori.
Shoko Toyokawa's thoughts drifted back to that day.
It was right here on this overpass, this very spot.
She reached out her hand,
inviting Tomori Takamatsu to form a band together.
This place was where Crychic began.
It was also where her dreams had started.