Saki fell to her knees mid-performance. Almost on instinct, Shiho had been the first to rush over. Ichika and Honami slowly let them have the room, aware Shiho and Saki might need privacy as a couple rather than bandmates.

"Shi... I... Don't be mad," Saki whispered, her voice trembling with fatigue. "I've been pushing myself to go on dates with you... I know you don't approve, but... I need to spend time with you. You're the one thing in my life right now that gives me so much wind in my sails. But it's just hard to keep that wind going so long..."

Shiho grabbed Saki's hand and held her head gently to her chest, feeling the rapid beat of Saki's heart against her palm. She wanted to berate Saki for ignoring her health, for being so reckless with herself, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she felt only the overwhelming urge to protect the fragile girl in her arms.

"I know you're probably upset over this, and I know Tsukasa'll be concerned, but... I just want to be the girlfriend you deserve, Shii," Saki murmured against Shiho's shirt, the faint scent of her floral shampoo mixing with the sterile smell of the medication she'd been hiding.

They hadn't used that word before—girlfriend. They'd said they loved each other as friends, but never with such weight behind it. Shiho felt her breath catch in her throat at the implication.

"Sorry... I... I must have said that too fast. I know you... you didn't want to move fast..."

Saki looked up at her with tearful eyes, and in that moment, Shiho had never wanted anything more than to kiss her, to take her home and spend the night reassuring her of her feelings. But she hesitated, caught between her desire to protect Saki's health and her own fear of vulnerability.