I really don't want to be reborn.

Another one is the Light Music Club, which has strong abilities and was invited to participate in the Tokyo A cappella group.

How can we do it without some real stuff?

"But we've already told them it's a piano piece, so changing the program might not be an option."

"And this third-year senior?"

A quiet, reserved girl smiled awkwardly: "This is the only song I know..."

I understand, I understand.

The light music club is really going all out to show off, but unfortunately, the pianist who's leading the show seems unlikely to arrive on time: "So it has to be a piano piece?"

"Yes, and it would be best if we could overpower those people from Fengcheng University Affiliated High School."

Kosaka exhaled: "You guys really know how to pick things. But besides four-hand piano duets, can't we also do orchestral symphonies? I can reluctantly take on the role of conductor."

The head of the light music club shrugged helplessly: "We don't have enough staff."

Violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, French horn... and each instrument is not just one; the light music club simply cannot muster that many talented people.

The planned approach was either to endure the dissatisfaction of the leadership and change the piece at the last minute, or to find someone outside the club who could actually play the piano—and someone with a very high level of skill.

There was simply no other way because the designated lead pianist fell ill due to the weather.

The vice president said to him, "The president told me to come find you. Kosaka, can you play the piano? Or do you have a way to communicate with the leaders?"

"I can not only play the piano, but also play shuffleboard (used to keep rhythm in karaoke)."

(Pinching Ayane Sakura)

The head of the light music club stared at him suspiciously, somewhat disbelieving.

After all, the vice minister of the Literature Department had almost never demonstrated his musical abilities.

Kyosuke Kosaka glanced at the lonely piano in the clubroom and smiled. "I only know a little bit. Let's give it a try."

Then a series of cheerful and rapid notes flowed out.

"This is... Spanish Capriccio, this level is acceptable."

"You're the one, Boss Gao!"

The air in the light music club became cheerful.

…………

"Hmm, the vice president of the Literature Club is now temporarily acting as a member of the Light Music Club. President, I'll go undercover."

At noon, he spoke with Kasumigaoka Utaha on the phone and joked, "Come back soon, then we can have a four-handed piano duet."

The girl's voice was cold: "And now, who's playing with you?"

"A cute senior in third grade."

"Hmph, I can't play the piano."

Yes, all she knows is how to talk about love.

She was telling the truth, and the piano really wasn't right for her.

Once the music is played, the performer loses control of it, and the sound always gradually fades.

The piano cannot achieve true legato.

Kyosuke Kosaka is not only good at playing the piano, but also at expressing his feelings. He smiled gently and said, "It's okay, I can teach you when you come back, step by step."

He paused for a moment: "I was just joking earlier. This time, I'm playing by myself."

The acetic acid that had almost completely blocked the signal finally dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of doubt: "How come you can even play the piano? I've never heard you mention it before."

"I can play more than just the piano."

"Yeah……"

She admired the boy she liked a little.

It felt like that guy knew everything; I'd never heard of him being unable to do anything. While admiring him, I racked my brains trying to find similar topics.

This is true for men and women in love.

For other couples, they often talk for hours about trivial matters, and anything can be added to their phone conversations.

Unfortunately, these two people are different. If the conversation becomes too boring or someone doesn't understand the topic, the long phone call will likely turn sour and must be moved on as soon as possible.

The girl tried hard to find clues about the piano in her mind, and finally found one: "Have you seen 'The Alliance of the First Five Years'?"

He hasn't seen it.

That was an old movie.

The male protagonist is a 15-year-old junior high school student who loves playing the piano, and the female protagonist is a girl with terminal cancer. The male protagonist once played Ravel's "Pavane de la Prémise" for the female protagonist.

The ending is that the female lead was very fond of him, and then she passed away from illness...

"So basically everything related to the piano is a tragedy, you know, I personally don't really like tragedies."

"Um, Ms. Kasumigaoka, your published novel doesn't seem to be a comedy."

"Getting back to the main topic! What about the Literature Department?"

"The student council's errand runners sold out our club's publication in just one hour, and they earned every penny."

The long phone call turned into a mushy mess, which Kyosuke happily ate with his lunch.

The main event will take place in the afternoon.

After the performance by Fengcheng University Affiliated High School, it was the turn of Benzhan High School to have a piano solo. This was a subtle competition between the two schools in a certain aspect, and the leaders attached great importance to it.

I squatted down with Akagi backstage at the stadium, watching the enemy school's grand performance that was about to begin.

"I heard it's a chorus."

"Oh."

"I heard the lead singer is this year's 'Miss Fengcheng University Affiliated High School,' and she's very beautiful..."

"Oh."

Kyosuke's expression remained completely unchanged.

When the female lead singer appeared, his previously indifferent expression finally underwent a remarkable change.

The guy with brown pigtails stared at the spotlight on stage, his expression somewhat strange.

While others sing like penguins giving birth to seal pups, she sings as if she's walking on clouds.

A few minutes later, Kyosuke stood up: "I need to get ready."

Akagi was unaware that he was going to perform a piano solo: "Wait... what are you going to prepare, Kousaka? I'm a little confused."

"That's surprising. When have you ever stopped being confused, you siscon?"

He turned and strode away, his mind a bit of a mess.

------

I remember that penguins are one of the animals most frequently raped by other species.

I heard sleeping with dolphins is great... I misspoke!

I heard that Ravel's "Bolero" is quite good, so I watched a symphony video, and it really is excellent.

He's incredibly cool when he's in command.

Thank you so much for the generous donation! Wow, it's food!

Chapter Thirteen: Faster and faster! Bang!

The interlaced black and white keys give birth to all kinds of beautiful music; a gentle touch produces incredible sounds.

The piano is a magical instrument.

Inside the gymnasium of Benzhan High School.

The boy in the white shirt sat behind the piano, his head slightly bowed, his gaze as clear as autumn water.

That's a memory from a long time ago.

In the golden autumn, on the rose-covered path of Fengcheng University, he wore a solemn black uniform and looked at the girl who still loved him, taking off the white headband from her head.

Ding dong.

Long, slender hands gently caressed the strings, creating layers of ripple-like music.

The piano has a simple yet rich tone, and its white keys are as soft as the winter sun, warm and peaceful.

Ding dong ding dong.

Then, steel balls were thrown onto the ice.

Each grain is distinct, and each one penetrates deeply.

Like a bomb falling from the sky, it blasted all the beauty into ashes amidst the lingering flames of war.

The setting sun was reflected in tears and blood.

The melody is melancholic, but the rhythm is brisk.

To people, it's as if they can see a small white flower blooming amidst the ruins ravaged by war.

Overwhelming passion and sorrow instantly drowned out all other sounds; in the vast space, only one soul was hysterically screaming within the music.

Kousaka Kyosuke closed his eyes, his body swaying slightly as his fingers moved rapidly.

Solemn, cruel, sorrowful, angry.

On the stage is a roaring deep sea, a cold world, where white flowers bloom on twisted souls.

"This is..."

Standing next to the student council vice president was the head of the light music club, whose expression was somewhat strange: "...This is 'Croatian Rhapsody'? But—"

"Hmm? Is the piece that Kousaka is playing now very difficult?"

"It's not that difficult, it's the kind of thing that's easy to learn but hard to master. But the version I heard before seems a little different from the one I'm hearing now."