Track 4

(It's finally time for the study trip in Hamamatsu! We'll get there in no time riding the Shinkansen. I'm really looking forward to seeing the "City of Musical Instruments", but...)

(I'm still worried that Kuguri-san hasn't helped Raito-san with practicing at all.)

Ah! Almost forgot, I've gotta give Kugutama some food. Hmm... I wonder what he'd like to eat today?

Sigh..... Cica, you're playing that absurd game, too?

Oh, Kuguri-san. Well, it's actually pretty fun since it's harder than it looks..... Plus, Kugutama is really cute, don't you think?

Cuter than the real thing?

Eh?!

Fufu, just kidding. You look so cute blushing like that. Just know that if you pay too much attention to that thing, I might get jealous.

(Uu.....! Kuguri-san's teasing me again. Don't mind him, don't mind him...)

Lookie lookie~♪ Chii's Kugurinu is 4 years old now ♪ Soooo cutieful like, TSKR for existing FRFR~

Chihiro is quite skilled at raising Kugutama. I suppose it is only natural for a gyaru with a Everyday-Every1-Happy mindset. I am sure that Kugutama also feels Big Love for Chihiro's max cutiefulness.

Kinyariii, you're flattering me! But I'm SOOO happy to hear that! Chii'll give you a Big Hug for his Kinyari Big Love!

I feel Big Love for you as well.

Aahh..... Kugutama wouldn't eat again today, and now he's run away from home..... Perhaps he doesn't like grilled vegetables?

Eh, my Kugutama eats grilled veggies, though.

You're right. I suppose you've got good skills with this kind of game, too, Tao.

Uh, I think this is more of an instruction manual for Kuguri-san than an actual game..... And to be honest, Chihiro's gotten further than all of us. My Kugutama runs away like, 70% of the time.

(And my Kugutama's run-away rate is at 90%.... A manual for Kuguri, huh..... I suppose this means I still have a lot to learn about him.)

.....To think you bought out an entire company just to make this game..... You must be out of your mind. Thanks to you, I'm swamped with handling the negotiations and everything else you didn't finish.

A-Ah. I'm sorry, Nayuki. I'll give you whatever salary I'm supposed to receive from it.....

Shut up. Zip it.

(.....What really pisses me off is that the second he acquired the company, they got the green light for a joint project with a major IP. It always ends up like this, it's infuriating.)

(It's just as I thought. We really do need to hit him on the head every once in a while. Otherwise, he just starts going crazy.....)

(—He's running out of time as well.....)

Putting Kugutama aside, how's your piano practice going? The competition's right around the corner.

.....Right. The chief, Nayuki, and Nanaki all helped me out, so I can play the piece all the way through now. I'm still 10 bpm under the noted tempo, though.

Whenever I try to play at the same tempo as the recording, my fingers get all tangled up, and I make a lot of mistakes.

......

U-Uuhmm... Kuguri-san. There's a piano where we'll be staying, so... could you maybe help Raito-san with the piece? You're supposed to be his teacher, after all.

I already provided him with an audio recording. That should be enough. I have nothing else to teach him.

B-But.....

(Hm? He gave him a recording.....?)

Did you give him a recording of you playing it yourself?

.....Who knows. Why don't you ask your little Kugutama?

Woahoh~ THIS is where the competition's happening?! It's huuuge, and totes glamorous.....

Oooh. How should I put this..... Even the lobby is really pretty.

Just a 'sec ago, Chii could only think about that yummers unadon¹ he had for lunch... but now, I kinda wanna see a performance here!

Members of Ev3ns, thank you kindly for coming.....! My name is Ada,² one of the team members behind this collaboration. Ah, you must be.....

......

Aahh..... The former child prodigy has grown up beautifully..... Oh, apologies for the delayed introduction. I'm also from the team behind this collab, my name is Bida!

(The staff members keep looking at Kuguri-san sitting at the edge of the lobby. They must know who Kuguri-san is, calling him a "former child prodigy".....)

U-Uhm, you're Domeki-san, right? My name is Cida. Y-Your previous performances.....

What an adorable little thing. Hush now. I'm letting the sounds of the air in this lobby resound in my chest. Would you like your gasps to resound in me, too?

Hwah..... W-what breathtaking beauty.....!! As beautiful as Jeux d'eau..... by Maurice Ravel..... or maybe Debussy's... Claire de Lune..... I'm getting dizzy.....

(Uh oh, Kuguri-san's seducing someone again.....)

Domeki-san.

.....

It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hibiki. I'm the creator of the Hibiki piano, the grand piano that will be unveiled soon.

(Wow, what a classy woman..... I think she's in her 60's. So this lovely lady is a world-renowned piano maker?!)

.....I do not know if you remember, but around 10 years ago I worked as a piano tuner. Thanks to your input, Domeki-san, I was able to correct a piano's tuning issue in an international competition.

......

.....Hmm, is that so?

Indeed. Domeki-san was still very young at the time, but he alone was able to point out the subtlest pitch irregularity—even though it was something only well-seasoned piano tuners would hear.

When I heard Domeki-san perform... I knew instantly that he was gifted. I was sure that he was loved by the god of music..... I still haven't forgotten the admiration I felt back then.

......

(.....Is it okay for her to talk about this? Won't this hurt Kuguri-san again....?)

The last time I saw him was at a party in Vienna. Snow was falling, and Domeki-san was playing Liszt. His performance was overflowing with emotion.....³

(That performance, huh. .....Snow.)

(That was the last time.)

.....

.....I'm so glad, you're still ali—

Aah, so you're the lovely lady from that party. It is an honor to see you again.

.....Oh my. This takes me back to Europe.

HYAH, DIDJA SEE THAT?! TAO!! Kugurinu just kissed her hand, like a prince!!

Uuu~ Oh no, I'm falling for it, too..... Kugurinu's soooo cool~

So even Kuguri-san can use polite language.⁴ That's crazy.....

It's about time we look around the venue. Hibiki-san, please do join us.

Thank you very much.

Allow me to escort you.

.....You've really grown since then.

.....

This venue's CRAZY! IT'S HUGE! SO POSH!!

It appears that preliminary rounds for international competitions are often held here.

(.....International competitions.)

.....I believe that you're already aware of this, but I heard that one of your mother's students will be competing in the expert category.

.....

(So I'll be entering the stage from here, and then go on to perform. That aside―)

(Looks like we weren't the only visitors today. There are several other competitors here, most likely to scope out the venue beforehand.....)

.....'s what I heard. Is that true?

(.....I can hear someone talking from backstage. Maybe it's one of my fellow participants?)

I just saw him, so I'm sure it is. Domeki Kuguri really DOES have an apprentice entering the amateur category.

(.....! They're talking about me and Kuguri.)

So that "apprentice" they were talking about is the eldest son of those Kitakata plutocrats?

I'm sure you know that former prodigy lost his arms. He probably has no way of making ends meet now. Guess all he can do is suck up to those rich folks and go along with their whims.

.....?!

Ha, I really don't want people with zero character like that to get involved with music.

.....

(I can't believe people who think like this actually exist. Has Kuguri been subjected to this kind of slander the whole time.....?)

.....What if I make them say things that are even worse.....?

Raito-saaan! I found you! We're about to get going and.....

(! Raito-san's face has gone pale..... And he looks kinda angry?)

.....Ah, it's just you, Chief.

.....Did something happen?

.....

No. Sorry about that, you came to get me, didn't you? Let's get going then.

(.....? I wonder what's wrong. He's not smiling like he usually does. If anything, it looks like he's forcing it.....)

Woooowww, it's totes gorg! The sunsets in Beppu and Shirahama were amazeballs too. But, like, this one's ultra mega super dope~!

To be honest, we couldn't do much sightseeing in Shirahama since we were so busy with the wedding photos. ⁵

However, the photo of us five having a friendship wedding garnered a lot of attention online. It contributed greatly to Ev3ns' rising popularity.

Fufu, that takes me back! By the way, the most famous sunset view of Lake Hamana is when the sun sets right by the red torii gate on Benten Island!

Lake Hamana is a brackish lagoon where seawater flows in and out. It's the 10th largest lagoon in all of Japan. The eel from here are also pretty famous.

The unadons we had for lunch were delicious. It's neat how we can eat both Kanto-style and Kansai-style eel here.

It was Chii's first time trying eel~! I had a bit of the Kanto-style eel Tao ate, but I think I liked the crunchy Kansai-style eel more!

Yeah. I liked both of them. What about you, Kinari?

.....I had tried both variations, but I am still figuring out what it means to have a preference.

.....

(? Raito-san's been thinking real hard since earlier..... Why?)

(Both Kuguri-san and Nayuki-san are pretty far away..... Maybe I should ask him.)

Raito-san.

.....Oh, it's just you, Tao. Is something wrong?

Aah, s'not that. You good there? You've been looking gloomy for a while now. I can hear you out, if wanna you talk about it.

.....Haha. You're always so kind.

Did somethin' happen?

.....I'm starting to wonder if I should still participate as Kuguri's apprentice.

HUH?!

(You're wondering that NOW?!)

.....My performance might tarnish Kuguri's reputation as a pianist. I've only realized that now.

......

I was hasty and dove in head-first, spurred on by how badly I wished to understand Kuguri. But I would never want to sully his name.

If my participation would do wrong by Kuguri, then.....

But ever since you registered, you've been practicing for over ten hours everyday. So, y'know, I kinda feel like that'd be a waste.....

My goal from the very beginning was to talk to Kuguri more. Of course, I've been putting in the work to practice... but if I neglect my original goal, then it'd be a waste either way. If I end up tarnishing Kuguri's reputation, then I'd be better off just backing out—

Fine. I'll teach you.

(.....! Kuguri-san, just where were you listening from?)

.....Eh.

What are you making such a stupid face for? I just said that I'd teach you personally.

(Eh, did Kuguri-san just say he'd teach Raito-san?! W-Why the change of heart all of the sudden.....?! Well, this is a good thing, but.....)

(.....A good thing..... Is it really, though?)

A-Are you sure, Kuguri?

But you should know that compared to Nanaki, I'm quite the spartan. Because that's... the only way I can teach.

So, I'm going to work you down to the bone, until you give up and break. How about that?

.....Y-Yes! I'm so happy, Kuguri! Please, teach me all that you can!

(Did Nayuki-kun say to "wait and see" because he thought this might happen?)

......

Ah..... I guess Nayuki-kun didn't see this coming either?

Eh?

N-No! All according to plan, of course.

(Uuhm, so when Raito-san decided to enter he just left him alone. And now that he's trying to withdraw, he's going to teach him..... They're kinda...)

Raitin and Kugurinu are kinda like a seesaw, huh?

Yeah.

......

(He's going to face the piano again..... Will Kuguri-san really be okay.....?)