"Haah... haah..."
Yukina had no idea how long she had been running before she finally stopped. She reached out, braced herself against a nearby utility pole, and gasped loudly for air.
Just then, Sekai's voice came from behind her.
"Yukina...! Yukina...!"
"Don't come any closer!!"
Just as Sekai was about to reach Yukina, she was stopped in her tracks by Yukina's shout.
"Yukina, I..."
"You don't need to say anything. I understand."
Yukina clenched her fists and did not even glance at Sekai behind her.
"Why did you chase after me? Why are you still trying to talk to me? Is there any point in talking about this now?"
"..."
Sekai lowered her head without saying a word.
"You like Kasugano-kun. Why didn't you just say so? Why didn't you tell me? Meanwhile, I told you everything like some idiot..."
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"It was from the very beginning, wasn't it?!"
Sekai tried to explain, but Yukina clearly had no intention of listening.
"You were the one who heard Kasugano-kun singing in the music room, yet you told me to invite him into the Light Music Club. And after that too... it was always like this..."
At that point, Yukina sniffled softly. Then she straightened up, her back still turned toward Sekai.
"Saionji, all I wanted was a good friend. So when you came over to greet me right after school started, I was really happy. When you asked me to join the Light Music Club, I didn't refuse, because I thought we really could become good friends."
"Yukina..."
"But it turns out that wasn't true. I was the only one who thought of you as a friend. I told you everything, but what about you? You kept saying you supported me. Is this how you supported