Hearing Little Sakiko's reply, Sakiko's lips curved slightly, revealing a relieved smile.
Seeing Sakiko's calm demeanor, Little Sakiko frowned in confusion:
"Why are you so unconcerned?"
"Yes, when I first heard Rikuo say that, I was as incredulous as you. But then I understood—does it really matter?"
"How can it not matter?"
Little Sakiko retorted excitedly,
"Your father, whom you deeply trusted, your father who promised to try his best to take care of you, ended up becoming a complete good-for-nothing! He deceived you so many times! If only you had returned to your grandfather, you could have had everything you wanted!"
Sakiko gently shook her head.
"But I never wanted those things. Just like when I chose to leave the Togawa Family, just like when I quit Crychic."
"Then what exactly do you want?"
Little Sakiko took a step closer.
"Following a man like that, you'll get nothing!"
"What I want has always been very simple—"
Sakiko's voice was gentle and firm,
"Just for the people I care about to be happy."
She sat at the piano, lifting the lid that Little Sakiko had closed. Her slender fingers rested on the black and white keys, and a familiar melody flowed through the dark room.
"I don't exist here, there's no home for me here..."
The melody of "Song of Becoming Human" accompanied Sakiko's singing, bringing back memories to that afternoon when she first met Tomori.
"Because I cared about Tomori, and because of the promise I made to my mother, I created Crychic."
As Sakiko stood up, the surrounding scenery changed like a kaleidoscope.
Her grandfather stood with his back to her in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his voice undeniable:
"Forget your father, become my daughter."
The young Sakiko did not answer, but silently hugged the doll her mother left behind, leaving the mansion where she had lived for over a decade without looking back.
"Because I cared about my father, I chose to leave the Togawa Family."
The scene changed again, coming to that unforgettable moment.
"I'm going to quit Crychic."
Her voice was still firm, without the slightest hesitation.
"Since I created the band, I cannot let it become a burden to everyone. Because I care about everyone, I chose to quit, choosing to let everyone blame me for the mistake."
"But Tomori always thought the band's disbandment was her fault!"
Little Sakiko seized this loophole,
"Your 'sacrifice' was completely meaningless!"
Sakiko nodded slightly:
"Yes, I was indeed wrong. I am not a god; I only saw what was 'right' from my own perspective, but ignored their feelings. Even though my original intention was not to drag everyone down."
"Since you know it's wrong, why can you be so self-righteous?"
Little Sakiko questioned,
"Your self-righteous approach only hurts others!"
Sakiko gazed gently at the eager Little Sakiko, a calm smile still on her lips.
"If I'm wrong, I'll correct it. I admit I'm very self-righteous, but fortunately, I still have friends. I don't want to be some high-and-mighty young lady of the Togawa Family; I just want to be an ordinary girl who can be cared for by friends, accompany her father, and love the person she loves—even if I lose the surname "Togawa."
Her voice gradually became firm:
"My father did give up on himself, feeling he could never make a comeback, only wanting to push me back to the Togawa Family. But what I cared about was never the glory of the Togawa Family, but the father in my memories who made me proud. So, I chose to stay by his side."
"I used to care too much about worldly opinions, deliberately avoiding old friends. But Rikuo told me that I only needed to care about the opinions of those who truly matter. Because I like him, I am willing to change for him."
A determined light shone in Sakiko's eyes:
"I am never a perfect god; how could I make the right choice every time? But as long as it's the path I truly chose, even if it's wrong, I can correct it with my friends and the person I love. At least now, I am no longer alone."
Although openly admitting her mistakes, Sakiko exuded a reassuring confidence. Little Sakiko, who had firmly believed she was right, was now plunged into deep confusion.
"Since your life is full of mistakes, why not choose an easier way of living?"
Sakiko walked to the entrance, opened the door, and confidently walked out.
"Because I want to be Sakiko, not some Togawa Sakiko."
The moment Sakiko pushed open the door, the world reassembled.
She stood in the center of a giant scale.
On the left, the golden splendor of the Togawa Family, her grandfather stood at the top of the stairs, reaching out to her.
On the right, a small apartment, Rikuo was clumsily frying a half-cooked fried egg, humming an off-key "Ave Mujica."
"Since your conscience is clear, choose. This is the final trial."
The voice of the Ace of Hearts came from the void. Sakiko looked down and found a blank card in her hand.
"Saki, move."
A familiar voice came from the right. Mutsumi appeared at the apartment door at some point, holding hot tea, her eyes showing a rare warmth.
"Your mother's biggest concern before she died was the family's reputation."
At the same time, her grandfather on the left sneered.
The scale began to tip.
Sakiko suddenly laughed.
"How... boring this trial is."
She raised the blank card high and tore it to shreds.
"I already made my choice; both of these are wrong, aren't they?"
Sakiko walked backwards.
"Mutsumi represents being stuck in the past. Grandfather represents regretting one's choices."
Sakiko stood straight, like a tall green pine, holding her head high and chest out, exuding an unyielding spirit. Her figure stood out in this white void, as if the entire space was illuminated by her presence.
"I'm going to walk my own path."
The space changed again.
When Sakiko opened her eyes, she was lying on the sofa in the apartment.
Rikuo squatted beside her, poking her cheek with a fountain pen.
"Sakiko-sensei, wake up quickly, the half-price bento is getting cold."
She suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Rikuo, I like you."
Rikuo's expression instantly froze.
"Sakiko doesn't play fair! She's trying to trick me! To ambush me!"
Sakiko beamed with joy.
"Then I'll say it slowly again, okay?"
Sakiko cupped Rikuo's face, just as Rikuo had done to her last time, and said word by word,
"Rikuo, I like you."
The space shattered, Sakiko had not entered the villa, and the sky was still clear, as if everything was just Sakiko's imagination.
However, the Ace of Hearts with the praying mantis card face in Sakiko's hand proved her true feelings.
"It seems that this so-called asking your inner heart is to admit your mistakes and then move forward? Just like Rikuo said."
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