Chapter 14

Chapter 14: You’re My Only Best Friend

After the embrace, Natsukawa Amane’s departing footsteps were light, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.  

The reason Shimizu Sakuya hugged her was simple—not only did she see a bit of herself in Amane, but she was also deeply moved by the girl’s unwavering determination.  

A comforting hug like this might give Amane a sliver of courage on a journey no ordinary person could understand, even if the person she was trying to save wasn’t Sakuya herself.  

Maybe the one who really wanted to be hugged was me all along.  

Watching Amane’s retreating figure, Sakuya thought it was finally time to go home, collapse into bed, and put an end to this exhausting day.  

Before her stood the gate of a detached villa, adorned with an intricate silver nameplate in elegant gilt lettering: Shimizu Residence.  

The outdoor swimming pool shimmered under the moonlight, and the flower beds burst with blossoms of every shape and hue, their petals arranged in meticulously segmented blocks. The lush green foliage was pruned with care, each layer distinct in height, form, and color, achieving a startling symmetry that exuded rigid, geometric beauty.  

Following the winding cobblestone path through the spring-scented garden led to the entrance of the two-story villa.  

This was the home of the character Shimizu Sakuya—and it matched the memories from the game’s CGs perfectly.  

Her father, Shimizu Seiya, ran a mid-sized manufacturing company, while her mother, Nakamori Kana, was a moderately famous pianist in Japan.  

By all appearances, Sakuya was a privileged young lady born with a silver spoon in her mouth, living a life of luxury most could only envy.  

But the reality was far lonelier.  

This exquisitely designed, elegantly structured two-story villa had gone largely uninhabited for long stretches of time.  

Her mother was constantly away on concert tours, and her father practically lived at his office, both too engrossed in their careers to return home often. The only company Sakuya had were the housekeepers who maintained the villa and her childhood friend next door, Amami Saori.  

To bring a child into the world but never raise them—for a young girl, few things were crueler.  

But Sakuya didn’t care. After all, this wasn’t her upbringing.  

Unlocking the door with her fingerprint, Sakuya stepped inside, swapped her shoes for slippers, and flicked on the lights. The first thing that greeted her was the faint gleam of a sleek black Yamaha piano under the fluorescent glow.  

It was stately and dignified, exuding a quiet opulence. Pressing a key, she could feel the weight of time in its crisp, resonant tone.  

It suddenly occurred to her that she probably should know how to play the piano—but with the system shut down, would that skill still work?  

No helping it. She’d never had any real interest in music, so she’d always left it to the system.  

Pulling two tissues from the coffee table, she wiped her hands clean, then reverently placed them on the expensive instrument.  

Her slender fingers danced across the keys, and with practiced ease, she played a bright, simple melody—Für Elise.  

Her eyes lit up with delight.  

Thank goodness!  

This meant the skills ingrained in her muscle memory hadn’t disappeared. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to worry about failing exams or fumbling through performances.  

But as she reached the climax, a single misplaced note rang out jarringly—and the music came to an abrupt halt.  

That awful mistake dragged up a particular memory tied to this piano.  

On this very instrument… the discordant, chaotic notes, the cold touch of the keys, the uncomfortable pressure of a slender back pressing down on them.  

Sakuya sighed, rubbing her forehead before gently closing the piano lid.  

Glancing out the window, she noticed the neighboring villa was dark.  

The instigator of that memory—her childhood friend, Amami Saori—hadn’t returned home yet.  

Not that she missed Saori. She just suddenly remembered something important they needed to discuss—about Fujiwara Yuki.  

Fujiwara Yuki was the founder and key figure behind the Light Music Club.  

Right now, Ayase Aoi’s attitude toward her was completely different from before.  

If Fujiwara Yuki’s behavior deviated from the original story and the Light Music Club couldn’t be established, progressing the plot would become incredibly difficult—and achieving the perfect ending, nearly impossible.  

But Saori wasn’t home yet, likely busy practicing for the national competition half a year away.  

She’d just have to talk to her on the way to school tomorrow.  

……  

“Today’s Tuesday. Your housekeeper’s off, right?”  

Saori pulled a bento box from her bag, lifting the lid to show Sakuya. “I brought breakfast.”  

“Mm.” Sakuya nodded drowsily.  

The car ride was smooth, the plush backseat cushions lulling her back toward sleep. She had woken up reluctantly, and now, with her eyes half-lidded, she looked ready to doze off again.  

Just as she was about to drift away, two mischievous hands suddenly pinched her cheeks, pulling them outward with just enough force to sting.  

The unexpected pain jolted her awake.  

Blinking at Saori’s grinning face, she whined, “Saori, let go. That hurts.”  

“You’re the one who emailed me to go to school together, and then you sneak in a nap? I woke up extra early to make this, you know.”  

“Why isn’t your mom cooking today?” Sakuya rubbed her cheeks as she spoke.  

“She’s at the theater again, so no time.” Saori handed her a neatly made sandwich from the bento.  

“I see… Actually, the reason I asked you to come with me today was to ask you something.”  

“What is it?”  

“Well, since I was sick for a week… Did you make any new friends during that time?”  

Of course, the new friend she was referring to was Fujiwara Yuki.  

Saori and Yuki were classmates, and the true beginning of the galge storyline was—Fujiwara Yuki asking Amami Saori to find fellow music enthusiasts and form the Light Music Club.  

Saori’s eyes suddenly sparkled with amusement. She set down her half-eaten sandwich and teased, “Huh? Why the sudden question? Sakuya, are you… jealous?”  

“No.”  

“Ah, when Sakuya says ‘no,’ it means ‘yes.’ Girls always lie.”  

Sakuya met her gaze firmly. “Really, I’m not!”  

“Really?” Saori leaned in like an inquisitive little hamster, scrutinizing Sakuya’s face up and down as if searching for traces of a lie.  

“Really.”  

Finding nothing, Saori flopped back against the seat, crossing her arms with a pout.  

“Fine, I’ll tell you. I did make one new friend.”  

!!!

Perfect. This might actually work.  

Unconsciously, Sakuya’s eyebrows lifted slightly.  

“Wow, your eyes just lit up! Still saying you don’t care?”  

Saori, sharp as a detective, immediately caught the shift in Sakuya’s expression. She shook Sakuya’s arm playfully, coaxing her word by word:  

“Sakuya, don’t be mad~ You’re my one and only best friend.”  

“I’m not mad. I was just thinking—if you have a new friend, maybe we could all have lunch together? I’d like to meet them too. Is that okay?”  

“Sure! But there might be a few of us, so my bento won’t be enough. We’ll have to go to the cafeteria.”  

“That’s fine. By the way… what’s your new friend like?”  

Saori tapped her chin, thinking hard, before finally smiling.  

“Someone really… really kind.”