"Anon-chan, and this person here..."
Bai Xian shifted his gaze to the side, his tone carrying a hint of confusion and curiosity.
The girl before him had amber eyes, a petite figure, and a delicate face.
Sakiko Toyokawa stepped forward, her hands gently folded in front of her as she bowed slightly.
"Good day, nice to meet you. My name is Sakiko Toyokawa."
Hearing the self-introduction, Bai Xian quickly replied:
"Oh, hello, Miss Toyokawa!"
He added immediately: "Nice to meet you, I'm Bai Xian."
Bai Xian looked Sakiko Toyokawa over carefully, noticing how strikingly pretty she was. Her manners were elegant and proper, much like a young lady from a well-bred family.
Yet her expression was as calm as still water, completely devoid of ripples, making it difficult to guess what she was truly thinking.
However, only Sakiko knew that she was simply too exhausted lately, making it hard to control her facial expressions.
Commonly known as a deadpan face.
No—
Looking closer, the girl's eyes were actually quite expressive, seeming to conceal a trace of excitement and admiration?
Looking at the two of them, Bai Xian's eyes revealed a hint of confusion as he asked softly:
"Is there something you need?"
Judging by the commotion of them tugging at each other outside the door just moments ago, they must have been standing out there for quite a while.
After all, at this time of day, members of the Wind Instrument Club wouldn't normally be here, and there was still some time before club activities began.
As for the idea that they came looking for him...
...How could that possibly be? Ahahaha...
"Actually, it's Sakiko-chan's fault~"
"She's been standing by the door peeking at Shiro-chan playing the piano this whole time, you see~"
"Could she be one of Shiro-chan's admirers, ahahahaha~"
"Eh, wait, no..."
Anon Chihaya loved stirring up trouble and eagerly threw fuel on the fire. Sakiko Toyokawa could no longer maintain her calm facade and frantically waved her hands in denial.
Yet Anon mercilessly continued to interrogate poor Sakiko-chan:
Anon: You were peeking, weren't you?
Sakiko: Yes...
Anon: So you like Shiro-chan?
Sakiko: I'm a fan, just a fan!
...
"Alright, Anon, stop bullying Miss Toyokawa."
Bai Xian had a massive headache. This girl really had no filter; couldn't she see that Miss Toyokawa's face was completely red?
At this, Sakiko Toyokawa shot Bai Xian a grateful look.
"By the way, why is Shiro-chan here?"
...His hands were just itching for it, that's all...
Actually, ever since leaving school yesterday, Bai Xian had wanted to come here and play the piano, but since he hadn't applied for permission from the principal, he hadn't done so.
Although Bai Xian lived in a luxury apartment on the 45th floor, because he rarely stayed there permanently, it had never been equipped with a proper piano.
Everyone knew Bai Xian was a superbly skilled keyboardist, but few knew that he had originally debuted as a piano student.
It stood to reason that an exceptional pianist would certainly be skilled at the keyboard as well, since the two instruments were fundamentally interchangeable, and Bai Xian naturally fit this description perfectly.
As for how Bai Xian transitioned from a pianist to a keyboardist, it all started years ago thanks to a certain opportunity.
That opportunity was when he was discovered and joined the newly established rock band "PENTAKILL".
So, as it turned out, Bai Xian had specifically asked Hina Inoue for permission via Line to use the Wind Instrument Club's activity room. As long as it wasn't during club hours, Bai Xian was free to use it whenever he wanted.
In short, once he got the green light, Bai Xian could hold back no longer, rushing straight to the Wind Instrument Club at his first opportunity.
The fourth-floor club room was naturally completely empty.
And so, Bai Xian happily started playing away.
It was worth mentioning that the piece Anon had just heard was "Prosperous Silence" by Wen Wubei, played by Bai Xian.
He had made a few adaptations to the original song's somewhat melancholic and depressed tone, making the performance sound like an eruption of long-suppressed emotions that moved anyone who heard it.
...
"So that's why I have permission to use the Wind Instrument Club room."
"I see."
After Bai Xian's thorough explanation, Anon Chihaya finally understood, and immediately turned her questioning gaze toward Sakiko:
"What about Sakiko-chan, then?"
"Actually..."
...
Meanwhile.
After finishing her lunch, Sakiko Toyokawa had walked up the stairs.
She had originally planned to go to the Wind Instrument Club to play the piano as usual, but just as she reached the third floor, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Because she had unexpectedly heard the sound of piano playing coming from above!
Thanks to her many years of piano-playing experience, Sakiko Toyokawa quickly deduced that it was an independent piano piece composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1810, titled "Bagatelle in A minor", better known as "Für Elise".
Sakiko found it rather strange, as the place was usually deserted, yet today music was drifting from within.
...She didn't recall ever encountering a situation like this before.
Due to her family's sudden decline, Sakiko Toyokawa rarely had the opportunity to play the piano anymore.
In order to keep her fingers from stiffening up while maintaining a certain level of skill,
Sakiko Toyokawa had no choice but to set her sights on the piano inside the Wind Instrument Club room, sneaking in every day to do her rehabilitation practice.
...Had it been occupied?!
At this thought, Sakiko wanted to see just who was playing, so she quickened her pace and hurried up to the fourth floor.
The club room door was half-open, not fully closed, and the music from behind the door seemed almost tangible as it rushed out into the hallway.
Sakiko Toyokawa silently approached the entrance and cautiously peeked inside:
In front of the huge piano stand, a silver-haired boy sat on the piano bench, immersed in playing the piece she had just heard.
This piece was written in rondo form, with an ABACA structure.
A served as the refrain for the entire piece, while sections B and C were two contrasting episodes. Part A had three short phrases totaling 22 measures, part B was divided into two short phrases totaling 15 measures, and part C could also be divided into two short phrases totaling 22 measures.
Rumor had it that Beethoven was inspired to create this piece by a girl named Elise.
She had sought help everywhere to help a blind old man fulfill his wish of seeing the forest and the sea.
Deeply moved, Beethoven specially played a beautiful piece of music for the old man on Christmas Eve. As he listened, the music allowed the old man to see: "the snowy peaks of the Alps, the waters surrounding Tahiti, as well as seagulls, forests, and dazzling sunlight." And so the old man closed his eyes in contentment, free from loneliness and pity.
At that moment, Sakiko Toyokawa, just like that old man, saw those heart-stirring sights within Bai Xian's performance.
It made her momentarily forget her own loneliness and pity.
What a beautiful landscape it was. Sakiko remained immersed, listening as Bai Xian played several more pieces in a row.
...Until Anon Chihaya arrived...
"Sorry to have disturbed you."
Sakiko smoothed her skirt and apologized to Bai Xian once again.
"Not at all, it was entirely Anon's fault."
"Anon Chihaya!"
"Yes!"
The usually cheerful Anon Chihaya heard Bai Xian call out her full name in such an unyielding tone, and she knew—it was over!
It was all over!
...