Doll Festival at the Tenma's - 7: More Ragged Than This Doll...

Tenma Household - Living Room

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

Saki

Listen

Doll Festival♪ Doll Festival♪

Ichika

Listen

Saki, is there a bowl or plate I can put the rice puffs in?

Saki

Listen

Yup!
Let's see, they can go in... This one!

Ichika

Listen

Thanks. Oh, this one looks cute.

Saki

Listen

Hehe. I really like that one♪
Tsukasa bought it for me way back...

Saki

Listen

...

Ichika

Listen

Saki...

Saki

Listen

Hey, Shiho!
How are things over there?

Shiho

Listen

Hm? Oh, the food's all ready now.

Saki

Listen

Wow, that looks amazing!
Thank you so much!

Shiho

Listen

All I did was put what your mom made onto some plates. Is there anything else we need to do?

Saki

Listen

That should be it! Thanks so much, you two! All that's left to do is wait for Hona!

Ichika

Listen

Okay. I hope her committee meeting gets to end early...

Shiho

Listen

Yeah. But now that I can see it all, there's a ton of food and snacks...

Shiho

Listen

It felt like we did a lot, but this still isn't everything, right?

Saki

Listen

Haha, yeah... Tsukasa bought a lot of stuff for us yesterday and...

Saki

Listen

He said he wanted to make sure we had as much fun as...

Ichika

Listen

Saki...

Ichika

Listen

Shiho, something definitely happened between Saki and Tsukasa...

Shiho

Listen

I can see that. Did they get into an argument or something? I can't really imagine what they would fight about...

Saki

Listen

Oh, right! Take a look at this too! The Tenma family's special dolls! Including a seven-tiered stand and all the fixings!

Ichika

Listen

This really is something else. Even the clothes they're wearing are fancier than normal...

Shiho

Listen

Yeah. Oh, except for the ones at the top. Why are they so dirty?

Shiho

Listen

Their kimonos are torn in some spots too. Did you do that while playing with them, Saki...?

Saki

Listen

I would never do something like that!

Saki

Listen

They're dirty because Tsukasa did something very thoughtful for me...

Ichika

Listen

Tsukasa...?

Saki

Listen

Yeah. This happened when we were still little...

Sound Effect: Play

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

Little Saki

Listen

(I didn't get to celebrate the Doll Festival at home this year either...)

Little Saki

Listen

(I really liked the cake mom and dad got me but...)

Little Saki

Listen

I really wanted to see our huge doll stand too...

Little Saki

Listen

(No, I'm starting to feel sad...)

Little Saki

Listen

(I can't let everyone see me this way or ask for too much. Otherwise, they'll start worrying about me...)

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Saki...

Little Saki

Listen

Huh...? T-Tsukasa?!
Did you forget something?

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Oh, uh... Yes!
I forgot my handkerchief...

Little Saki

Listen

Your handkerchief...?
Oh, here you go!

Little Tsukasa

Listen

Thanks, Saki...!
I'll be back later too!

Little Saki

Listen

Okay, bye...
Wait, later...?

Sound Effect: Play

Little Saki

Listen

(What did he mean by that? Is he talking about visiting me tomorrow too...?)

Little Saki

Listen

(And it's already dark...)

Little Saki

Listen

(I'm happy that we celebrated the Doll Festival together, but I do feel lonely here...)

Sound Effect: Play

Little Tsukasa

Listen

*Huff*... *Huff*... Saki!!

Little Saki

Listen

Huh? Tsukasa?
Did you forget something else?

Little Tsukasa

Listen

No, it's not that!
I came here to bring you these!

Little Saki

Listen

Th-Those are our dolls...!

Little Saki

Listen

But why...?

Little Tsukasa

Listen

I... I really wanted you to see them...

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

Little Tsukasa

Listen

I couldn't bring them all, so I thought I could bring at least the ones at the very top to show you!

Little Saki

Listen

Tsukasa...

Little Saki

Listen

(Did he do this because he realized I was feeling sad...?)

Little Tsukasa

Listen

But... I'm so sorry... I fell on the way here and got them all dirty...

Little Tsukasa

Listen

They mean so much to you but I...

Little Saki

Listen

*Gasp*...

Little Saki

Listen

(Tsukasa's really hurt.
Worse than the dolls...)

Little Saki

Listen

(He's covered in scrapes and bruises too. He must be in so much pain, but he came anyway...)

Little Saki

Listen

(I'm happy that he brought me these dolls but...)

Little Saki

Listen

(I'm even happier that he came all this way for me...!)

Little Saki

Listen

(Oh no... I'm so happy, I might start crying...)

Little Saki

Listen

(But...)

Little Saki

Listen

No, it's okay! I'm really happy that you did this...!

Little Saki

Listen

Thank you, Tsukasa! Doing all of this for me...!

Saki

Listen

Is what happened...

Saki

Listen

And I wanted everyone to see those dolls, so I decided to have a party to celebrate.

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

Ichika

Listen

I never knew...

Shiho

Listen

That's so adorable.

Saki

Listen

Hehe, thanks!

Saki

Listen

Mom and dad even asked a few times to see if they should buy some new ones, but I kept telling them that I like them just the way they are.

Saki

Listen

These dolls are the most important thing in the world to me. Tsukasa and I are tied together by them...

Saki

Listen

Which is why I don't want any new ones...

Shiho

Listen

But Saki. Did something happen between you and...?

Sound Effect: Play

Saki

Listen

Oh, that must be Hona!
I'll go take a look.

Sound Effect: Play

Saki

Listen

Coming♪ Welcome!
Wait, huh...?!

Toya

Listen

Uh, please excuse the sudden intrusion...

Saki

Listen

Toya?!

Saki

Listen

Oh, did you come here to party with us? Come right in!

Saki

Listen

Um, Tsukasa hasn't come home yet but...

Toya

Listen

No... There's something I need to tell you, Saki.

Saki

Listen

Huh? Me?

Toya

Listen

Yes... I apologize in advance for butting into your business but...

Toya

Listen

Tsukasa told me about the fight you had with him about your dolls.

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

Saki

Listen

*Gasp*...

Toya

Listen

I fully understand that you didn't want him to do such a thing...

Toya

Listen

But Tsukasa put quite a lot of thought into your gift.

Toya

Listen

He's been saving up for years in order to see you smile and be happy.

Saki

Listen

What? Tsukasa never mentioned anything like that...

Toya

Listen

What he got may've ended up being not to your liking but...

Toya

Listen

I just wanted you to understand why he did what he did and how much thought he put into it.

Saki

Listen

Toya...

Sound Effect: Play

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes. Let's make the most of it since we're going to have so many people join us!

Saki

Listen

Tsukasa... He does so much for me...

Saki

Listen

But I just...

Sound Effect: Play

Tsukasa

Listen

Aaahhhhh!!!
Saki!! Sakiii!!

Saki

Listen

Ts-Tsukasa...?!

Next Chapter: The Truth Behind That Smile