Kurume
The past few days felt like a blur.
The class started treating Miyako differently.
And I could feel it — she was reclaiming herself.
Step by step.
Word by word.
But I also knew — Sayo wouldn't just disappear.
And I was right.
After Class
Sayo approached me in the schoolyard.
No fake smile. No mask.
— "Kurume," she said quietly. "Let's talk. Without her. Like before."
— "I'm listening."
She clenched her fists. Then... pulled out her phone.
— "There's a video."
I tensed.
— "A video of Miyako saying... you're too naïve. That you're easy to manipulate."
— "What?.."
— "It's real. She said it to her friend. I just… recorded it."
Kurume (internal)
A moment. My heart tightened.
Doubt crept in like poison.
But then — I took a breath.
— "Show me."
She handed me the screen. The video played — Miyako spoke sharply, emotionally.
Yeah, it sounded bad. Almost... like betrayal.
But I noticed — the start was clipped. Edited.
The background noise — didn't match. A splice.
I looked up.
— "You're not even trying."
— "What?"
— "The editing's sloppy."
— "But…"
— "Enough, Sayo."
I stepped closer.
— "You tried to exploit weakness. First Miyako. Now me."
— "Because I love you, Kurume!"
— "You don't love. You're obsessed."
She froze. Then — for the first time — cried.
No mask.
Real tears.
— "I just... wanted someone to choose me."
— "You chose the path of lies. And now you're alone."
Later
Miyako and I sat on the rooftop.
I told her everything.
She listened quietly, then said:
— "That was her final move."
— "And she lost."
I took her hand.
— "But we didn't."