Can Lixi look at me alone?

It was as if the sound she had just heard was merely an illusion.

So bright and glaring...

The star-shaped candies refracted the light, awakening fond memories of the past in her mind.

I opened the bottle cap and carefully took out a candy. With trembling fingers, I pushed it into my mouth and chewed it.

Its sweet taste, however, could not bring the young girl even a moment of peace.

The stardust in the glass jar gradually diminished, and the girl's mouth slowly went numb. She mechanically swallowed the last bite of candy, trying to ease her mind a little... only then did she belatedly realize that what she held in her hand wasn't the cheap candy from the store.

It was the last gift that person gave her.

A few golden sugar granules lay quietly at the bottom of the glass bottle, watching how the lamp, having lost its friend, would act.

The girl lay in bed, glanced at the starry sky outside the window, and then drew the curtains.

I need to go to sleep quickly; continuing to think about Yuzuki won't do any good. Yuzuki won't suddenly appear because of my longing, nor will she choose to return to my side because of my longing.

Why? Why won't Yuzuki come back? Little Lantern doesn't quite understand, Yuzuki is such a gentle, kind girl, isn't she?

Yuzuki... is indeed very gentle.

Whether it was taking me to a karaoke bar to practice singing because I was afraid to sing, or making complicated and tedious konpeito for me because of a casual remark I made.

Or perhaps, it's about protecting me when I'm being criticized... when I'm constantly worried that I'll mess everything up...

She felt that cool yet soft little hand again, gently parting her fingers. After placing a candy inside, it performed a childish wishing ritual in front of her.

"Like this, hold the star in your hand, then tell it your wish, and then eat it! The stars will hear your wish!"

The end of the month...?

You lied to me... You've been lying to me all along. I've been making wishes, always... But why haven't you come back to my side to listen to even a single word I say?

Or is it that... you've come to loathe me, to the point that even the stars that grant wishes can't make up for it?

I apologize to you, I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry! If I hadn't been so cowardly, if I had... been a little braver, would things have turned out differently?

I shouldn't have sung like that on stage.

If I hadn't sung it, Lixi wouldn't have been affected by me... Xiaojieyue wouldn't have gotten hurt. Xiaoxiang might not have left... Crychic might not have disbanded.

"But, but I just sang it anyway..."

"But I mustered up the courage to sing at the worst possible time...!"

I was wrong, I shouldn't have done that... Why, why wasn't I a little cowardly then?!

I don't want to grow up, I don't want to! I just want you back by my side...

The pink-haired girl's gentle smile seemed so close, but when she reached out to grasp it, she could only touch thin air.

What is Yuzuki thinking? Come to think of it, I don't even know... what Yuzuki thinks of me.

"This is incredibly troublesome..."

"I really hate lights, but for you..."

"I don't know why, why at all, you've come to like lamps..."

"Light... I'm so jealous of you..."

"She's clearly bad at everything, and I have to do everything... yet she still manages to win Lixi's favor..."

She sat up in bed.

Yes... I've been constantly causing trouble for Yuzuki.

When it's time to sing, they can't bring themselves to sing; when it's not time to sing, they insist on singing with all their might.

Yuzuki repeatedly tried to help me, spending several days making candy for me, trying to put my favorite dishes in my lunchbox, and taking me out to practice privately.

But how did I repay Jieyue?

I said... Yuzuki is my best friend.

I haven't made any progress at all. I can't understand the situation at all, and I talk nonsense when I shouldn't... Even though Yuzuki had already invited Riki, I still invited Riki on that same day.

I knew perfectly well that Riki already had a date, but I still didn't apologize to Yuzuki... I never did.

Crychic was broken up because of me.

Just like Su Shi said... everyone, everyone got joy from this band. Li Xi, Xiao Mu, Xiao Xiang... Xiao Jie Yue, Xiao Su Shi... and me, we all had a lot of fun.

But because of my behavior, my lack of progress, and my cowardice, I was torn apart.

She remembered that Lixi cried openly in front of her without any hesitation.

她记

Well, Su Shi smiled and comforted her after seeing that trembling figure.

She remembered Xiao Xiang's sudden change in attitude.

She remembered that it was the first time the quiet Xiao Mu shouted at them.

She remembered... every accusation that Yuzuki made to her from her hospital bed.

The pink eyes were lifeless as the gray-haired girl opened the window.

If I disappear, will Yuzuki forgive me? Everyone, will you let Crychic be reborn?

I... there's nothing more I can do. I'm sorry... everyone.

I'm sorry, Yuzuki

I will definitely go to Yuzuki's dream to apologize to you.

A chilly night wind blew against her petite frame, but she felt no fear whatsoever.

I am sorry.

Thank you.

She jumped out of the window.

……

Am I...am I not dead?

The lamp got out of bed and realized it was just a dream caused by missing someone too much.

"what…"

After catching her breath softly for a while, she drew back the curtains.

It was still dark, and it was hard to tell whether it was evening or dawn.

The room was dark, and she groped her way to the light switch.

She likes the night because she can see the stars. But she also hates the night... because she doesn't like the pitch-black darkness.

pat.

The light illuminated the room, dispelling the darkness.

Because of the presence of a light, she didn't need to worry about the dark.

The girl sat back down on the edge of the bed and carefully fumbled for her phone for a while.

Starting today, I'm going to high school.

Will Yuzuki come to my school? If I could see Yuzuki again, what should I do...?

How annoying...

I knew nothing about it.

She lay back down on the bed, turned off the lights, and waited for dawn.

But when the darkness swallowed the light again and came into view, her calm heart was suddenly touched.

Darkness is devouring light... no, what's being devoured are the lamps that emit light!

She reached out her hand, lying on the bed, and touched the light above her head through the air.

It seems to be similar to Yuzuki...

Yuzuki brought me light... Yuzuki has always been trying to find ways to illuminate me...

I am a person who chases the light, chasing the light brought by Yuzuki, wanting to continue, hiding in her light... a person who feels safe and secure when she shines upon me...

But I... did this...

It was as if Yuzuki, with tears streaming down her face, appeared before her once again.

I overwhelmed the light of the moon.

All of Yuzuki's hard work has been easily... destroyed by me.

I'm the one who deserves to die.

She closed her eyes.

She told herself that Yuzuki was very gentle and wouldn't want to see her do anything to hurt herself.

She kept telling herself... maybe she'd see Yuzuki in the same class as her when she went to school tomorrow.

Well, it definitely will.

……

The school bell rings.

The lamp lay quietly on the table, only getting up after being prompted by a classmate. It walked towards the school gate, preparing to go home…

Why would Yuzuki come? Yuzuki… she must have been annoyed with me for ages. How could she possibly come looking for me?

The girl, her last glimmer of hope extinguished, slowly walked out until a hand grasped her wrist and led her into a coffee shop.

It was Nagasaki Suyo.

Since Mutsumi hadn't done anything wrong—after all, it was Yuzuki who had been ruining Crychic all along—Moso didn't continue to look for a breakthrough by targeting Mutsumi.

What's more... Xiao Mu always seems unhappy whenever she asks questions related to Yuzuki.

She naturally couldn't bear to continue questioning Xiao Mu, after all, Xiao Mu was an obedient child. Deng was a child who needed help, Li Xi was a somewhat rebellious child... Xiao Xiang was the head of this family.

All I need to do is figure out a way to bring Xiao Xiang back to the band. Xiao Xiang definitely has the ability to solve all of this!

Everything will be alright as long as Xiao Xiang comes back.

Su Shi smiled and wiped the sweat from Deng's cheeks.

Why did Xiaoxiang leave? It must be because Jieyue had an accident... So, as long as we can find a way to solve Jieyue's problem, everything will be fine, right?

Unfortunately…

I don't know what problem Jieyue encountered, I don't know what the relationship between Jieyue and Lixi is like, and I don't know why Xiaomu keeps lying about this issue.

Xiao Xiang didn't leave me any clues, and it took her a long time to find out where this little lamp was.

For her, her world was utterly dark. There was no information whatsoever; Lixi said nothing except to forbid her from going to see Jieyue. The only thing Xiaomu said was a lie—a lie she couldn't discern as true—that Jieyue liked Lixi.

Xiao Deng has disappeared and cannot be contacted no matter what. She hasn't replied to any Line messages. Xiao Xiang is doing the same thing, behaving exactly like Xiao Deng.

End of Month...

She never tried to contact Jieyue even once. Because she didn't know how to approach this person.

To her, Yuzuki was a very gentle companion. Like a role model, she played the same role as her, yet surpassed her in every way.

My gentleness is feigned, but Yuzuki's gentleness... doesn't seem feigned. Yuzuki is willing to stay up all night every day to prepare lunchboxes for everyone for the sake of unity... I can't do that.

Yuzuki is always the first to step in and smooth things over when conflicts arise. But I need to observe the situation a little longer…

I've always regarded Yuzuki as a role model and admired her...

But why would someone as gentle as Yuzuki suddenly break up Crychic? Didn't Yuzuki enjoy playing in a band?

Or is there something we can't even talk about that's why we have to leave?

What exactly happened...? Why hasn't anyone told me?

It's okay, I'll try my best.