Track 9

(The whispers of the wind, the hum of the air conditioner, the revving of a truck engine.....)

(A child playing the piano somewhere..... So innocently pressing the keys.)

(I hold no memories of ever playing the piano like that.)

.....That singular note you made. It was just so.....

Beautiful.

A pure and primitive note. Your life will begin anew with just one note, and I'm sure it'll go on long after my funeral.

—

Huh~ Didn't expect to see you.

.....Ten. Why are you here?

Smoke break. Care to join me?

.....Perhaps I'll take you up on that.

Woah. Didn't expect that either.

.....

Oh, looks like you're used to it~ Were you a delinquent or somethin'?

Back in the day, with my partner at the time.

.....

(There are countless sounds pouring out into the world.)

Alright, let's discuss the tour details. Please take a look at the document I've provided.

Hm, hm~ An exhibit showcasing the process of making pianos, an area where you can play piano..... Aaand~

EH? Experience playing like a professional with your own fingers?!

So the guests will be able to move their fingers just like famous pianists do?

Is this even possible? It says here that there'll be special gloves that use electronic signals to reproduce the movements of renowned pianists, but.....

I am aware that there is a company pursuing the research needed for this technology, but obtaining the rights must be complicated. Can you even handle those negotiations?

Oh, I purchased that company yesterday. Since I'm its largest shareholder now, there shouldn't be any problems.

HUH?!

I was already acquainted with the original owner, so the acquisition went smoothly.

HUUUUH?! Stop treating such big companies like they're cheap candy....!

Searching for the stock price of the aforementioned company. Apparently, it has increased by 15% since the previous day.

Ugh.....

Raitin's crazy. He's like, the beast of wall street, huh?

(This guy's somethin' else.....)

In addition to everything thus far, I’d like to incorporate the piano into my live performance with Kuguri. I'm also thinking of playing Widmung again to redeem myself.

Would Kuguri agree to that?

I think Kuguri would at least agree to sing, but.....

Kuguri-san didn't even come to the meeting.....

Even if Raito, as the sub-host, has already worked out the details of the tour, Domeki-san still needs to do his part. Does anyone know of his whereabouts?

Perhaps we should ask Kugutama?

I'll do that then. I've started understanding Kuguri a bit better as of late.

(.....For realsies?)

(There's no way...)

"I'd be in the meeting room. Meetings like that are a bore, so be grateful I even took the time to attend."

(The AI is lying to him.....)

(I did try to talk to him after we came back from Hamamatsu... but he just teased me like always and left it there.)

(When Raito-san finished his performance, and when Hibiki-san talked to him before we left, Kuguri-san looked like he was about to cry.....)

(Isn't there anything I can do for him? His wounds seem so deep that I'm afraid to even touch them..... I have no idea what I should do.)

I'm baaack..... Oh, lots of mail has arrived. Uhm, this one's for Kafka..... And this one's for... Kuguri-san?

Nanamero, lookie lookie! Remember that competition Raitin joined? The winner of the expert category is on TV!

Oh, I listened to a recording of their performance that was posted online. It was really impressive.

Nanamero, that's amazeballs! You checked it out so fast~

(The winner's play style... it's kinda like Kugu-nii's.)

"....has been making headlines playing 88keys' brand new piano. In this interview, they stated that—"

"It was pretty tough, but I pushed through. It's all thanks to my mentor."

The song they chose is the same one Kugu-nii would play when he came over. That takes me back.

(Wow.... So this is the winner of the expert category..... I was so worried about Kuguri-san that I didn't look into them yet.)

Oh, welcome home Chiefy!

EH..... C-Chief....!

W-Welcome home.

.....!

Chiefy, Chii can take that for ya~!

Oh Chihiro-kun, that's for Kuguri-san.

(I haven't checked who sent it yet either.....)

Umm, ya see, Chii kinda wants to give it to Kugurinu himself!

Give me what, exactly?

.....!

Kugu-nii, welcome home. Do you remember this piece? It's the one you used to play for me, right?

.....That it is.

I really loved your playing, Kugu-nii.....

.......

(.....? Kuguri-san's looking at the TV but, the light isn't reaching his eyes.....)

Uhm..... Kuguri-san, a letter came for you.....

Ah, Chii's got the letter! So, Kugurinu, come follow Chiiii~!

.....What are you up to, Nyuszi? Going so far as to yank my arm.

Dun worry, come on!

Nyuszi. Dragging me all the way out here…. What kind of stunt are you pulling?

Uhm..... Sowwy..... Here.

.....A letter?

.......

That name..... You see, um, Taotao and I kinda looked into her at the library before. I'm sorry we did it without your permission.

.....Ah, right, the two of you were up to some mischief.

.....She's Kugurinu's mom, right?

—

Uum...... Kugurinu, if you're trying to keep your distance from her, then I think there's no need to open it. Actually, I think it'd be better if you didn't.

I can hold onto the letter for you.

.....No matter how far apart you've grown, or how small their presence has become in your life... sometimes, a single word is all it takes to make it come flooding back, right?

And when that happens, it can take a while to let go again.....

.......

Oh, I know! If you'd like me to, I can read it for you instead.

Are you saying that you and I are the same? I'd rather not be lumped in with someone like you.

.....Eh.

Just because you cannot give up on seeking out love, a single letter from your mother may leave you in pain. But that does not mean we're even remotely the same.

.....That's not what I meant to..... S-sorry......

.....Uhm, I've given the letter to you so, I'll get going now.

—

(Nyuszi, wait. That was.....)

.....*Sigh.*

(With a single piece of paper.....)

(I hurt Nyuszi. I shouldn't have said that to him.....)

.....Ugh, just how long is that sound going to taunt me for.

With how you are now... I'm sure you can turn any kind of wound into something beautiful.

You just don't understand anything at all.....

(Do you truly think so? Do you honestly believe a day will come when my wounds can be thought of as beautiful? And even if that day does come—)

(What exactly would that signify? That a painless scar would be the only proof that this monochrome despair has been given color?)

(If I make that despair a thing of the past... That would mean abandoning the love that died. The time I had lost. The endless rage I carry..... Leaving all those behind―wouldn't that be a betrayal?)

Do you really think... I would want something like that.....?

(Do you really think I would even allow that.....? You truly don't understand anything at all.....!)

(I already know what's on this scrap of paper. That's precisely why I.....)