Crunch Crunch

Easy, pleasant times could make people forget the negative things. Once heavy burdens were stirred awake, what remained on one's face might be tears of loss.

"When I was sick, Rinne helped take care of things at home and eased my burden. I'm very grateful to her."

"But lately, something has felt different. Rinne seems tired recently, like she's struggling a little, as though something is missing... I'm worried about her."

Shiori shook her head and sighed softly.

Rinne was a very, very gentle girl, but Shiori knew that gentleness had never been all that she was.

But recently...

Shiori could clearly feel that Rinne seemed as though she had lost her soul. As her childhood friend, Shiori couldn't help worrying.

At first, she had thought it would only be temporary. Everyone had a few days when their mood was off, right?

But even now, Rinne still hadn't gone back to normal.

Even her younger sister Kotori had noticed something was wrong. Last night, she had slipped into Shiori's room and seriously asked whether her big sister had been bullying Rinne.

Shiori couldn't help letting out a dry laugh when she heard that. Bullying Rinne? How could that be? Rinne was as important as family.

"So Shiori thinks so too?" Qian Huanyue bent over the table, looking slightly dazed as she secretly held a Chupa Chups in her mouth.

Tohka nodded instinctively. "Rinne's dinners lately don't taste the same as before!"

"Hm?" Huanyue tilted her head and took the candy stick from her mouth.

"Before, they had that—warm and delicious feeling." Tohka gestured earnestly. "Recently, they've had a—fragrant, warm, and delicious feeling."

"..."

"..."

Shiori and Huanyue both fell silent for a moment.

Shiori let out another dry laugh.

Tohka, that comparison sounded rather abstract.

But—she looked at Huanyue.