"Alone."
"What about Kaoru and the others?"
"They won't be going either~ Kasumi-senpai and the others included."
"Can you come back on weekends?"
"Only during winter and summer breaks."
"What about the band and Lives?"
"You'll have to put them on hold for now."
"What about going to the shopping district to hold events with everyone, eating lunch at school with Asahi, and performing?"
"Not for a while."
"..."
"..."
The more he asked, the tighter Tsurumaki Kokoro's brows knitted, and the farther the corners of her mouth drooped.
After a silence that was neither long nor short, Tsurumaki Kokoro stood there blankly for a while. Then, to his surprise, tears the size of beans slowly gathered in the corners of her eyes.
The tears accumulated until they finally rolled down without hesitation, striking the raised fabric over her chest and soaking into it.
He stared at the sight in astonishment, utterly shaken. Who wouldn't be dumbfounded by this scene?
Tsurumaki Kokoro, the embodiment of sunshine, was actually crying!
Had she ever cried even once in her entire life?
Wait!
He swiftly scanned the surroundings with vigilance, searching for any possible danger—if the Tsurumaki Family found out she had cried while talking to him, then he...
Could the worst-case scenario Aunt and the others had worried about last night really have happened already!?
But he hadn't done anything! He was innocent!!!
"Kokoro-senpai~ What's wrong?" he cautiously asked. He had to calm her down as soon as possible.
"...It hurts..." Tsurumaki Kokoro said with reddened eyes and pursed lips. "What is this feeling, Asahi?"
"Probably, maybe, perhaps... this is loneliness. And the sadness of not being able to be with your friends."
"This is loneliness... Is this how Shari felt?"
"You'll have to ask her yourself... Also, I was only making