Track 3

.....

Nagi, what's wrong? You're kind of standing in the doorway.

Ah, Renga. Over there.....

! Looks like Raito-san's taking care of Kuguri. He's pouring him wine and bringing him snacks..... He looks so happy about it, too.

Ooh, yeah. But the real question is... whether we should be watching this or not.

Eh, what do you mean?

You're supposed to be my servant, but you can't even give a proper pedicure? Look, you missed a spot.

Ah, my apologies! I'll redo it.

....Tch, hey! I told you not to touch that spot!

Sorry, you're ticklish there, right?

Hah? Don't act like you know even the simplest thing about me.

R-Raito-san? Kuguri keeps kicking him. Is he ok?

This really is a forbidden secret garden. If you carelessly wander in, you might ascend to the heavens from the sheer sweetness of it all..... Renga, let's go. We mustn't watch this any longer.

HUH?

Fix it. Right now.

As you wish, master.

I-Is this really okay?

Wah, I can hear the highschoolers coming! We CAN'T let them see this, it's too spicy!!

I'm gonna buy some time. Taotao, move them somewhere else as soon as that pedicure is over!!

Eh, eeehhh..... You want me to get between them? When they're like this.....? Are you serious.....?

Phew, what about now? I think I did well.

.....Next, you must take care of everything I mentioned earlier. By the end of the day.

Finish six months worth of paperwork, create a list of the gifts from your lambs, stock up on white caviar, and give you a massage using massage oil! Got it!

.....

~♪

Oi. What's going on here? Did Domeki get some dirt on ya.....?

Hm? Of course not! I'm really happy that Kuguri is paying me any mind at all.

Have you lost your damn mind.....?

Ah right. You should have one as well, Ryui. I've already given one to everyone in the evening group but, if you'd like, please take care of him alongside Toi.

The hell is this..... This thing on the screen... kinda looks like Domeki.

This is a game based on the AI of Kuguri that Nayuki developed, "Kugutama".¹ He's pretty cute. We decided to have these made by a toy company.

(And why the hell would you do that.....)

Raito, you're my servant, remember? How much longer are you going to waste your time?

You're right! I'll finish that paperwork first!

.....

What is it, Plüss? You're staring.

Kuguri, I cannot understand your intentions. I also cannot surmise if this arrangement would advance the progress of the Ev3ns Friendship Initiative, or destroy it completely.

Who knows. I've no interest in such a meaningless plan anyway.

It's better to stay in control, right? I get it.

.....Ten. You were listening.

I actually saw the whole thing. Y'know, I'd be happy if someone took over my paperwork too~

If I feel so inclined, I'll let my servant know.

(....It's been three days since Kuguri-san took on Raito-san as his apprentice. The number of witnesses to this master-servant arrangement they have... has erm, been increasing.....)

(Like when I spoke to Akuta-kun this morning.....)

Teach, I kinda just overheard sumthin' Ushio was yapping about, but Kuguri-san and Raito-san.....

Are they really 'doing some inappropriate things that healthy young boys shouldn't be looking at'.....?

*Sigh*..... We've been trying to keep it out of sight, but it looks like the high school boys are starting to get some weird ideas.

Eh, did they ask you something too, Tao-kun?

Akuta and Nanaki did, yeah..... Ushio complained to me too, saying "it's unsanitary" and to please not let them dirty the place up.

All he's doing is painting Kugurinu's nails and giving massages. But like, it's Kugurinu of all people so, it just ends up looking kinda lewd.....

Tounya hasn't seen it yet, but I think Ryunya's gonna lose his mind if he does~

In order to preserve the peace within the dormitory, I shall try to persuade them to only conduct such activities in our room.

Uu..... Kinari-kun, please do.

(The thing is, Raito-san himself is really happy with this arrangement. Kuguri-san's attendance has been better than ever too.....)

Nayuki, you said you had something to discuss with us? Is it about the study trip?

We still have some matters to settle before that. You're planning to enter the competition, correct?

Indeed! Now that you mention it, registration will be open soon. I need to start practicing as well.

.....Regarding that, you'll obviously be entering the amateur category.

The amateur category is open to anyone with a total of five years or less of piano experience, regardless of age. The contestants are to choose from a selection of pieces. As there are no preliminaries, they will only participate in the final round. That is why they have set a limit for the number of contestants.

Normally, they would prioritize participants who are already experienced with playing piano. However, we are partnering with them for a collaboration. Therefore even Raito, who has rather limited experience, will be allowed to compete. As long as he's "Domeki Kuguri's apprentice".

Ooh, you've already made the negotiations? Nayuki, you're as quick as ever!

No matter how much practice he puts in, this idiot winning the competition is simply impossible. It seems that they'll lend us their brand-new piano if you at least win the audience award, though.

With how difficult it is to win an award in the first place... this is probably the most realistic goal.

Then tell the company that's exactly what I'll do. Of course, I'll still aim to win the entire competition. I promised Kuguri I'd do so.

.....

So he says. Domeki-san, do you have any thoughts on the matter?

Plüss, go sit at the piano.

.....? Alright.

(Hm? He put some earphones on Kinari..... What's he doing?)

Raito, I've already selected a piece for you. Seeing that you're as arrogant as ever.

Plüss, you have some piano playing software installed, don't you? Try playing exactly what you hear.

.....! Understood.

.....

(UWA, what's with this song?! It’s like, giving S+ tier levels of difficulty!!)

(Kinari's moving his fingers like crazy??)

(This definitely isn't the kind of song an amateur could learn in such a short period of time, is it?)

So you've chosen "Widmung"..... This is a piano arrangement by Liszt, and the original song is by Schumann.

This piece is quite a difficult one for beginners. I doubt that Raito could play this at all.

Is that so? I for one think it's a perfect fit for this king. Schumann wrote the song to express his love for his fiancée.² I thought I'd be so kind and let him experience love just this once, at least through the piano.

I see. Haha, if Kuguri wants me to play this, then I'd be happy to.

.....

You're not imagining it clearly enough! That's why you can't play it perfectly yet. You need to imagine it perfectly..... You need to play it perfectly!

Imagine it.....!

.....I do have piano-playing software installed, but I was unable to recreate the recording perfectly. It seems that such a performance cannot be achieved through information alone.

No, you did play it to 100% perfection. You played it with incredible accuracy, truly flawless.

Raito, I'll give you the recording, too. But you'll need to find the sheet music yourself.

.....! Thank you! Is there a trick to playing it?

Just read the sheet music, and move your fingers accordingly.

Got it, I'll try it out.

Well then, do give it your best efforts.

(Eh, huh, Kuguri-san just left him like that! Is he planning to let Raito figure it out by himself, without teaching him anything.....? There's no way.....)

Found the sheet music..... I'll listen to the recording Kuguri sent me.....

.....

(This sound.....)

Kuguri.

What is it? You're trailing after me like a baby chick.

.....What are you plotting? That song is not something even someone like Raito could easily learn. Statistically, there is a 99.8% chance he will fail.

Fufu, is that so? That impudent man might just fall under that remaining 0.2%.

.....

.....I'm simply warning him about his hubris.

His majesty has gotten too arrogant, to the point where he believes he can get his hands on whatever he desires. That hubris of his has doomed him to fall into the sea, just like Icarus. Don't you think it's rather kind of me to speed that process along?

.....Are you trying to make Raito experience failure?

All I'm doing is peacefully shattering his overtly strong sense of confidence.

That would be a hindrance to the Ev3ns Friendship Initiative. I suggest that you change the piece to one with a lower difficulty.

Oh my, is that an order? You're neither my master nor a god, so I have no reason to listen to you.

.....Then whose words would you listen to, Kuguri?

.....

.....No one's.

Whatever God of mine remains... I'll kill soon enough.

In short, I'm free.

......?

Why don't you go on and help Icarus strap his wings on? Be sure to support him with as many people as you can.

Perhaps wasting so many people's precious time will make that dull body of his gain a scar or two.

.....Kuguri.

See you later, puppet.

(I am not a puppet anymore..... But you still refuse to acknowledge that.)