Chapter 53: Lost Cries

                                    

                                          
Tomoe's hair was a mess and she looked really tired, quite worse for wear. I fight every urge in my body to be angered at myself for causing this and instead direct my emotions towards my desire to make things right. Tomoe's eyes light up as she yanks me into the house then tosses me onto the couch.
                          
"Where have you been?! Why did you quit CiRCLE?! What have you been doing?! Why's Ako acting like this?!" Tomoe bombards me with questions as I look down. This is my fault no matter how you slice it.
                          
"You can beat me to high hell after I tell you, just please promise that you'll listen until I'm done." I say and Tomoe stands there for a bit before she nods. I take a deep breath and continue.
                          
"I've been trying to make amends with Pastel Palettes and Roselia while also looking for Sayo... she's been missing for several days now... I quit CiRCLE because I messed up... and I still don't have the courage to face Yukina... Ako... it's my fault... I didn't give her an answer... then I disappeared into a slump of self-hatred... and Ako broke up with me..." I say.
                          
"Hey, wait a moment, it's not entirely your fault, Roselia... broke up..." Lisa urgently chimes in.
                          
"What?! When?! Wait... Ako in a slump, you're only helping me and Sayo is on the run... okay... I can see that..." I say.
                          
"It's not completely your guys fault either... I... I really messed up..." Tomoe grimly says... Wait... I remember Ako's words from when I bumped into her yesterday.
                          
"I... don't need... to be like... Onee-chan... Anymore..."
                          
"What did you tell her Tomoe?" I ask.
                          
"I kept congratulating her for everything she's been getting so good at... she's already better than me as a drummer, and is more self-sufficient with her work... so... I said... she didn't need me to look after her anymore... and... and..." Tomoe's eyes start tearing up until she starts weeping into her hands like how a mother had lost her child. In the desperation of the situation I quickly wrap my arms around Tomoe, startling her.
                          
"Shhhh... Just let it all out..." Tomoe keeps crying as I keep an eye on her and do everything in my power to not look at Hina, Lisa or Alisa as to not distract myself.
                          
"Th-Thank you... for coming back... Everyone has been so worried about you..." Tomoe tells me. I guess EVERYONE has been worried about me, just great. I have to keep my will strong though, for everyone.
                          
"I'll make this right, and I won't give up until I do. I... I have an idea... of how to save Ako." I state.
                          
"H-how?! Please tell me?! Can I help?!" Tomoe exclaims and I place my hand on her head to calm her down.
                          
"Anyone we can borrow a keyboard from?" I ask. Suddenly I hear the door to the house open, I quickly look over to see that Mr. and Ms. Udagawa have returned home. 
                          
"I didn't know we had guests." Ms. Udagawa says with a voice void of energy as she sees us.
                          
"Mr. and Ms. Udagawa, we want to help Ako." I say.
                          
"You're here to help Ako?" Mr. Udagawa asks.
                          
"Yes. It's partly my fault why this happened and I want to-" I say but am suddenly cut of by Ms. Udagawa suddenly hugging me.
                          
"Please, please help our little girl. We can't bear to see her like this." Ms. Udagawa says as tears fall down her face.
                          
"I will, I promise." I say with determination. It can only make sense that the family would be affected by this as well. We need to help Ako and we need to do it now.
                          
Ms. Udagawa eventually let's go of me and dries her tears.
                          
"Maybe we can ask Tsugumi if we can borrow her keyboard?" I suggest.