Sakiko Togawa.

That's the name of a girl I met a few years ago, and I continued being at her side for as long as I remember.

Things changed though, as they always do, when she would enroll into Tsukinomori Girls Academy's middle school branch, and I couldn't of course enroll at it myself due to being a boy.

"Don't worry, we aren't going to lose contact with each other just because of us going to different schools. Let's stay in touch every day!"

"Mhm!"

I was excited, very excited to still be able to be in touch my dear friend, my dear Sakiko.

Already the first day, she eagerly had rushed to my home to show of her new uniform she would use.

I remember how cute she looked in it, and I didn't know what to respond with except that I most likely blushed a ton seeing her in this uniform.

Of course, the school hours ended up feeling like a drag due to me not being able to be there with Sakiko, but I got used to it after making new friends along the way, both boys and girls.

Saturday afternoons was a highlight because then weekend finally started and I could hang out more properly with Sakiko, and Uika tagged along as well, as she was another friend of Sakiko, even longer back than us two.

Mutsumi also occasionally tagged along, but not always, as she had grown fond of taking care of watering plants over at Tsukinomori, alongside having other activities like ballet etc.

But the moments just me and Sakiko were together, it still felt extra special, maybe even more special than ever considering we were ever closer to start high school, and after that work like our parents does. Or in other words, we were teenagers now.

Nonetheless, one of the things I liked doing when at Sakiko's place was to listen to her play the piano. She is really talented at it, and I could listen hours upon hours on her playing the piano.

"Why not try playing it yourself a bit?" She suddenly asked one day as I looked at her, which made her start giggling. "Was it too sudden? Come on, I'll show you!"

As I sat next to her, I don't know what came over me, but I felt my heart beating faster than it usually does. It didn't help much either when Sakiko laid her soft hands upon mine to guide them to the correct keys on the piano in order to produce the sound she made.

"...I'm happy to be with you, (Y/N)." She told me as she smiled at me with her cheeks a bit more red than usual. We were both blushing at this point while looking at each other.

"And so am I to be with you, Sakiko."

The first middle school year passed by like nothing, and our second year had already begun. That's when something started to get brought up a lot.

Girl bands.

A girl band named Poppin'Party had, alongside a few other bands, been doing great success in bringing forward the interest for girl bands more than ever, inspiring more girls in high school, and even in middle school, to pick up an instrument and start playing.

Roselia there, Poppin'Party here, Afterglow all over, you couldn't escape all these bands no matter what. Heck, even I became interested, even as a boy.

"I am not too interested in starting a band myself, admittedly." Sakiko told me as I were daydreaming a bit while over at her place.

"To each their own really."

"Well, mostly because I wouldn't have time being with you! Uika has told me she is interested in all these bands though..."

"So you mean there is still a bit of you that wouldn't mind starting a band~?"

"(Y/N), I-I didn't mean that..! Or perhaps, a bit..."

"Well, as long as you are happy the day you start a band, that makes me happy!"

She hugged me very tightly, most likely happy over hearing me say that, and truly, I only wanted to see her happy. A happy Sakiko.

Things took a turn though once we came to our third year, or at least towards the end of it.

Because Sakiko actually started a band called CRYCHIC, which took me by surprise because I don't know why she didn't include Uika in there and instead had scouted Mutsumi and another girl from her school, named Soyo, plus two girls from two completely different schools, named Tomori and Taki.

When I had the time to ask her why Uika had been omitted, she drooped her head.

"She has told me that... She might go pro. But I want to show her how it is like being in a band like this!"

"So she can join it instead?"

"That's the plan, but..."

"That would mean you would leave one member behind."

"I... Yeah..."

That's the day I realized Sakiko had started to change. The Sakiko I remembered wouldn't do something so selfish, but here I am, having her tell me she would dump one member in favor of having Uika in there instead.

"Then why not have Uika provide vocals alongside Tomori?"

"But then we would be six..."

"And I am pretty sure there is no law or rule that forbids that."

"...That is true."

But then after CRYCHIC had performed for the first time, I were at place to congratulate them all, but as I were with them, I saw that Sakiko looked with distraught expression at her phone.

"Sakiko, is something-"

But before Soyo could ask much more, Sakiko stormed out of the exit, leaving in a great hurry.

"Sakiko!" I yelled out, starting to run after her. I unfortunately quickly lost sight of her and instead resorted to messaging her.

"What happened? Please answer..." I wrote to her before I started to head home, hoping to get a reply along the way.

But nothing, which eventually lead me to visiting her place. I was let in by her, though she very clearly showed that she wasn't in high spirits.

"Why, Sakiko? Why quit and run from your band members?"

"Uika... Uika has gone pro and can't join the band..."

"But you guys seemed to have fun-"

"YOU WOULDN'T GET IT!"

That was the first time Sakiko had yelled at me before she started to back up.

"N-no, I didn't mean to..." She weakly told me before her tears started to build up in her eyes. "I just need space for now, please..."

"...Well, sure. But I just don't get it Sakiko, why being so selfish like this all out of sudden? Why just not be happy that Uika has her own gig now and you yours?"

"Again, you wouldn't get it... I'm sorry, (Y/N), but... Maybe we shouldn't meet so much more these coming days."

"Wait what..? But, this seems like those times you do need someone by your side-"

"Just go." Sakiko tells me as she shoves me out of her room. "Don't show yourself here. We appear to be at a disagreement after all."

"Sakiko-"

"No, (Y/N), no more."

She continues shoving me until I am at the entrance. I look at her in the eyes one more time, which she responds with quickly looking away, albeit starting to cry a bit.

"...Then I don't need to tell you anymore what I have wanted to tell you for awhile now... My dear Sakiko..."

I left her house as I didn't look back, even if I could hear her start sobbing as she closes the door, at which point I finally look back at her home as a few tears of my own trickles down my cheek.

"...I love you, Sakiko. But with how you are now, I am not really sure about it anymore."

...My third year of middle school soon ended, but even so, I felt at loss because I didn't have Sakiko to be able to celebrate the end of this school year with.

I don't even know which high school she intends on attending afterwards, though after all that she said, I really don't think I care anymore...

But even so... I hoped she was doing well. I hoped my dear Sakiko would be doing well, in the now and future.

Our past together however didn't seem to matter anymore to her, so maybe, I shouldn't care in the very end...

Elsewhere...

Sakiko tries on her new high school uniform, and it's no longer Tsukinomori, but instead Haneoka, in hopes of getting away from everyone that was in CRYCHIC.

"It will be better this way."

Telling herself that, she walked up to the window in her room and looked out of it, having a certain someone on her mind.

"(Y/N), I am sorry I became like this. But it's better if I just forget all about CRYCHIC and move on... Unless..."

She still wanted to have a band together with Uika, but she didn't know if she was ready yet to devote time on it.

"Well, no matter what, I hope (Y/N) someday understands why I rather have Uika in a band..."

...

The alarm clock on my phone starts ringing as I sluggishly turn around to the bedside table I have it on to turn off the alarm, but I accidentally drop it on the carpet and it keeps on ringing.

"Alright, fine!"

I get up and finally turn it off before stretching myself a bit after sleeping for a bit longer than usually. I wanted to head to bed early after all in order to feel a bit more rested for my first day of high school.

After an hour or so of preparing myself and eating breakfast, I finally head out and make my way to the nearby tram station to get to my school.

My school is kinda close to the girls only ones, so I still end up greeting some of the girls, mostly just out of politeness and the fact that they do such first.

Still haven't seen Sakiko though...

"Dang it, I hope she hasn't become someone that skips school..!" I tell myself before I realize that that is a possibility, considering all her actions a few months ago.

Why did she go such a selfish route just because Uika couldn't be in CRYCHIC in the end? She should've been happy that Uika had gone pro, but I guess attachment to childhood friends never really goes away.

And besides, I didn't really enter her life until pre-school, when Sakiko and Uika had been friends essentially back when they were just babies almost.

Then, perhaps I don't matter as a friend to her anymore... But I don't want to let go of her either even if that's the case. I still love her, and whatever she is doing now, I still want to support her.

I just don't want her to go a path of hatred or something like that. Because then she might truly be lost in her own importance...

"(Y/N)?"

I look up to the girl that had suddenly said my name, because I am pretty sure that voice is very familiar. And yeah, familiar it is, because in front me...

...Is Sakiko Togawa. My dear Sakiko.

"Haneoka?"

"Heh, yeah, I figured I could for this in order to, well..."

"I still don't agree with the hows and whys you decided CRYCHIC should've just ended because Uika couldn't join-"

"(Y/N), we can talk about that in private." Sakiko tells me as her expression changes to an annoyed look.

"...I just don't want you to go on a bad path."

"...I appreciate that, (Y/N), but I will be fine. Want to go to a cafeteria after school, just to catch up?"

"Well, then actually reply to my messages-"

"Oh, I... deleted most of my contacts on my phone after that day, and pretty much refused to look at any messages sent to me..."

"Some friend you are..."

"(Y/N), I'm sorry... You are still one of my greatest friends, and I would never let you go-"

"And I don't either want to let go of you, but that doesn't mean I can't just ignore it all and let you do whatever! Worst case scenario can happen in the end if you just drag yourself through the mud like this."

Sakiko had no words to say before she looked at me again with a more serious expression. "Alright then. Well, shall we talk it over with tea later then, as I had suggested."

"Yeah, let's do it."

After that, we go our separate ways, our reunion after a few months having a rough start to it.

However, I still wish to help Sakiko to get out of this mindset she has going on which she is denying about. But I just know she will be able to get out, even if it takes decades.

I am not leaving Sakiko's side ever.

...My dear Sakiko...

To Be Continued.