Who stopped Makoto?

Who else but Sayaka?

Makoto turned around to see the blue-haired idol sensation running toward him, uncharacteristically, without a crowd around her. "What's up, Maizono-san?"

"Naegi-kun, I keep telling you to call me Sayaka!"

"Right, sorry." He knew he had her permission, but he couldn't bring himself to call a renowned idol by her first name.

"So, were are you heading off to?"

"Mom said we have some sort of family thing." He gestured to Kyoko, who had of course walked with him. He had missed Kyoko's brief jealous expression when he turned to greet the pop star.

"Oh..." Her expression visibly darkened. "I had really hoped to talk to you, but I understand if you can't make it work."

Makoto's face changed to one of panic, as the thought of letting down one of his to-be classmates caused his mind to look for a solution.

"Well, we can talk now."

"No, it's really complicated, that's why I waited until I ditched the crowd."

"Well, I'm sure we can make it work some other way... where do you live?"

"Huh?"

"If your place is on the way to ours, we could talk about it on the way."

"That's perfect, Naegi-kun! Your house is actually pretty close to mine. We just go home at different times."

"How'd you know that?" Kyoko's detective instincts combined with her protective ones to pose that question.

"I'm psychic." Makoto paused at this; every time Sayaka knew something she wasn't exactly supposed to know, she used this answer. "Just kidding, I just have really good intuition." Followed by her usual deflection.

"So, is that a yes?"

"Yeah, but try to be quiet on the street. It's sensitive and I don't want anyone else finding out but you and Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko tensed at being called her first name, but quickly let it go. "Alright, let's go."

It took half the trip home before Sayaka even said a word. "So, Makoto..."

"Yes?"

"This thing I'm going to talk to you about...it'll stay between us, right?"

"I won't tell anyone. Kyoko?"

"I won't."

"Good!" She took a breath to steady herself before speaking in a low voice that only the trio could here. "Naegi-kun, I know you're with Kyoko-chan, but I would--"

Suddenly, Makoto, who was leading the trio, collided with someone, having neglected to look away from the conversation.

"Ugh! You imbecile!"