EP

(A lot of things happened, but somehow the tour went off without any problems! So far everything is going smoothly, which is great~!)

So THAT’s how pianos are made~ Seeing the actual manufacturing process on display got me hyped FR!!

Speaking of getting hyped, that part where we got to play like professionals was peak, too! I never would've been able to play a crazy hard piece like that, it was sooooo amazing!

*Sob!* I get it, I really do! Hassaku, surely that experience was quite moving for you too!

*Pant, pant*..... I chose such a difficult piece that now my arms are sore..... but, I was amazed. To think that world-class pianists move their fingers so freely like that.....

I was thrilled to play a medley of Ev3ns' songs. Now I have a sudden urge to learn the piano!

Aight, Hassaku! Let's head over to the piano duet space NOW! I want us to play the piano together and deepen the bond we share as friends!!

(.....Why do I always end up attending the Evening Team's tours with this man? .....But resistance against him is futile. I've already given up on getting away from him.....)

Hehe, Kodaman and Hasacchi are going around together yet again ♪ I'm stoked to see they're having fun~

(Raitin's injury was a total shocker, but he's as happy as can be. And... I'm really glad that Kugurinu came back, too.)

Nyuszi.

Kugurinu....!

Are your arms okay? Do they hurt?

.....I've had them looked over by my technician,¹ so they're fine.

I see, I'm so glad.....

......

......

Perhaps I treated you too harshly the other day. I know I denied it, but...

I do understand that loneliness of yours.

.....!

Besides, it hardly pleases me to see a nyuszi's ears drooping oh-so sadly.²

Kugurinu.....

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all that.....

It's alright. ....I'll make an exception and forgive you.

Does that mean we've like, made up?!

Why, we weren't even fighting in the first place.

......

Well, the live performance is soon, so I'll be on my way.

Yup! Do your bestest! I'll be watching with Tao and Kinyari!

(Hehe..... Kugurinu was so nice to me. My heart feels all warm and fuzzy inside.....)

Heeey, Chihiro. We gotta get going to our..... Oh, someone's happy.

Ehehe~ Just a lil bit. It's a secret!

I see.

(He must've talked to Kuguri-san..... Well, if Chihiro's happy, then all's good.)

Chihiro's smile currently exhibits 120% pure joy. I, too, feel like the Bomb Dot Com.

Kinyari was also worried about Raitin and Kugurinu after all. Okie dokie, let's do our absolute bestest to cheer 'em on and raise the vibes to the MAX~!

Let us do just that.

The Ev3ns Friendship Initiative is progressing further than before.

So you were taking that initiative thing seriously....?

"Thank you all for coming! It's time for Kuguri and I's duo live, but... First off, what did you think of my piano playing alongside Kuguri's singing?"

IT WAS GREAAAT!!!

FOR REALSIES, it was the best performance ever! Raitin looked just like a prince playing that piano, it was so awesomesauce!!

"*Sigh*..... It's bad enough that I'm getting dragged along by this man's self-satisfaction, but to think you all have to suffer through it too…..

(Aaah~ That pensive look on your face is just the best....! Today too, this okapi only has eyes for you, Kuguri-sama!)

"That reminds me, I'd like to take a moment to share something with you all...."

"Kuguri and I have formed a bond that'll never fade! Behold, the scar on my back!"

T-THAT IDIOT! Why on earth is he lifting up his shirt and showing his naked torso to the fans.....?!

KYA- KYAAAAA!!! My oshi... my oshi is showing so much skin....!!!

H-Hey, management, aren't you guys going to stop him?! Err, well, if they'll allow me to worship him then I gladly will.....

AAH.....! There's ACTUALLY a scar on Raito-san's back?! Eh, but what about Kuguri-sama... W-what did he mean by that?

"What do you think you're doing? Put that unseemly back of yours away before the manager comes barging up here."

"Haha, isn't it great? I just wanted to brag."

Eh..... I feel a weird sense of defeat. What are we witnessing right now?

Are they like, a duo now? I’m a total sucker for their chemistry, so this is hype overload.....

But like, what happened with that scar.....? Eh? Wait, could it be that Kugunyan was kidnapped due to his overwhelmingly captivating beauty, and Raito gained that scar as he rescued him?

"Good grief..... It seems you naughty ones having such absurd fantasies will need to be punished.....♪"

KYAAAAAAA — (HYPESPLOSION) —!!!!!!

This live performance.... is nothing but chaotic.....

Haha... but the fans seem pretty happy.

OEMGEE, Raitin and Kugurinu are trending at No. 1 on Spinet!!

For real? ....."The overwhelming aura coming from two complete opposites is just irresistable".....I see.

I have confirmed a surge in fans supporting the dynamic between Kuguri and Raito. A video recorded from just now is already going viral.

(Hehe..... If both Raitin and Kugurinu could make each other shine the brightest..... It'd make me kinda happy!)

(After all, being in Ev3ns with them... might be the happiest thing in the world!)

Day 1 was a great success! Nayuki-kun, great work today.

Yes..... I'm absolutely exhausted. Having to deal with those two together, not to mention the aftermath of Raito hastily acquiring those companies..... To be quite honest, I'm beat.

A-Ahaha. Once the tour is over, please take a long break.

I would love to take a month off and go for a drive in Monaco.....

Wah—..... That's beyond my wildest dreams....

..... To be honest, this entire tour... was a half-way gamble.

Eh.....?

Since the proposal revolved around pianos, I was initially going to decline. However... there was something I wanted to confirm.

Something you wanted to confirm?

.....Chief, you may be appalled by this, but...

......

Their compatability may be terrible, but I believe that person who can help Raito mature... might be Domeki-san. I've thought so for a while.

And now I know that I was right.

(To be honest.. it's frustrating that I can't do so on my own..... But I suppose that's my limit as his younger brother.)

The more shackles he has, the better.

......

Using someone to test a hypothesis like that, well... It might be unpleasant to you.....

(Nayuki-kun is still worried that Raito-san might suddenly leave everyone behind. .....And that he might go back to living like he's on death's doorstep.)

.....Maybe it's because their personalities are polar opposites that Kuguri-san inspires Raito-san. I'm sure that them meeting was a good thing.

......

......If that was God's doing, then it's rather ironic, isn't.....

(.....But...)

(Raito-san can touch the parts of Kuguri-san that I can't reach. That's why...)

(I'm sure that Raito-san is someone Kuguri-san needs in his life, too.)

Alright then, please get plenty of rest and recover from your fatigue as well, Chief.

Yeah, you too, Nayuki-kun!

(I've gotta get plenty of sleep for the second day and— Hm? There's a paper bag at my door?)

What's inside..... Ah!

(It's Kuguri-san's weekly report.... I can't believe he actually did it..... I'm kinda touched.....!)

.....I've gotta listen to it right now.

"Cica. Aren't you happy to receive this secret message from me? I wonder what kind of expression you're making right now. Can you feel it? My voice whispering oh-so softly into your ears..."

(T-The way he's talking.... It's a bit, uhm, sexy.....)

"Fufu. Well, I suppose I'll spare you the teasing for now."

"Cica."

".....The warmth we shared allowed me to indulge in some nostalgia. Thank you."

.....!

(He means... when we hugged at the hospital, right? Uwa, thinking about it now makes me embarrassed.....!)

"If I feel like it, perhaps I'll let you hold me once more. How about it? Would you like to hug me?"

(H-He's teasing me....)

"......"

"That love of yours, I don't hate it."

.....Kuguri-san.....

(I can't step into his inner world like Raito-san can, but... Maybe that hug gave him a bit of comfort.)

.....From now on, when you're in pain, if you're alright with me... Please let me give you a hug, alright.....? Kuguri-san.

.....

(That sound that I keep hearing..... it's fading away.)

(But still, it lingers. Along with the sensation of pressing the key all the way down and letting it bounce back. And the hard, clear sound that rings out with it.)

......

Kuguri, there you are. Shall we make a toast?

.....As if I would agree to that.

I was able to get my hands on some Petris. I have some white caviar and Shipwrecked Heidsieck too. Along with some other things I've picked out.

......

Then hurry up and pour it. You're my servant, after all.

Yeah! I'm very unhappy that you're bossing me around.

Yet you say that with a smile.

Is that so? I'll have you know I'm pouring this wine in absolute agony. You’re honestly the only one who can treat me like this.

Pft..... Oh, really.

Let's celebrate the success of Day 1.

Can't you do that on your own?

.....

(What a great flavor..... Gentle, and deep.....)

Kuguri, about this rosé.....

.....Is that champagne from a top maison?

I'm going to store it at the wine cellar in Hamamatsu under both our names. Someday…³

If you would play the piano with me again, I'd like for us to open it.

......

—Not in a hundred years.

Got it. I'll leave it there for a hundred years, then.

What a hopelessly foolish man.....

.....You'll stay by my side until I die, right?

Only to break you.

Haha. So either you find hope, or I fall into despair, huh?

.....Kuguri. We may changed a lot since we first met—

But I'm truly glad that I met you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

.....Could you stop spouting nonsense already? You're spoiling the wine.

If I am blessing you... then you are nothing but a curse to me.

Is that so?

Well, If I manage to leave a mark on you, I suppose I can live with that.

You my soul, you my heart. You my rapture, O you my pain.....

And why are you quoting Widmung's lyrics?

It's a song celebrating love. Doesn’t it say it right there? "You my rapture, O you my pain".....

Love is both a blessing and a curse. So let's stay together just like this, even a hundred years from now.

......

I'm looking forward to seeing you die in despair.

Haha. Then we should raise a glass to that in advance!

.....—Fine. Here's to your despair, arrogance, and death.

To your hope, love, and life.

Cheers.