"Hehe~"
"Hehe your head."
Bai Xian gently chopped Anon Chihaya on the forehead with the side of his hand.
The girl let out a wail of pain, holding her head and crying melodramatically.
...I didn't even use any force, seriously.
...Such a drama queen...
"Speaking of which, Miss Toyokawa originally wanted to play the piano, right? Could it be that you really like the piano too?"
Bai Xian looked at Sakiko Toyokawa gently, his tone soft, his voice brushing against Sakiko's heart like a feather.
"Yes."
"I've always played, but compared to Bai Xian-kun, I am far behind."
Sakiko Toyokawa replied shyly, not quite daring to meet Bai Xian's eyes.
In fact, Sakiko had long since heard about Bai Xian transferring to Haneoka Girls' Academy...
As the former keyboardist of the band CRYCHIC, Sakiko Toyokawa had always regarded Bai Xian as her idol and goal.
She had even bought countless albums by Bai Xian's band "PENTAKILL", as well as a host of Bai Xian's solo works, such as *Mastering Rock Arrangement* and *Collected Keyboard Techniques*.
Back then, Sakiko Toyokawa still lived in a grand mansion and led a life of luxury; she even kept an acrylic standee of Bai Xian tucked right under her pillow when she slept.
But good times never last. Ever since her family suffered a misfortune, Sakiko had sold everything she could related to the band to make a living, even parting with those treasured "PENTAKILL" albums.
Yet there was one single thing she kept: a photograph from when Bai Xian had just debuted. It wasn't a group photo of "PENTAKILL", but the only autographed solo photo of Bai Xian.
Using her family's financial influence at the time, Sakiko had pulled strings to buy it from another fan.
Perhaps because it resonated with Bai Xian's own experiences, every time Sakiko Toyokawa looked at this photo, a wellspring of strength would surge up from deep within her heart, encouraging her to stay strong and persevere.
The weak Miss Sakiko Toyokawa of the past was dead!
However, Bai Xian had not possessed such superb skills from the very beginning.
In fact, when he first debuted, although Bai Xian's technique was decent enough, he constantly caused mishaps on stage because he always struggled to coordinate well with his bandmates.
During one particular performance, he was even pelted with rotten eggs and banana peels by the audience below the stage, while radical hecklers shouted abuse telling him to go die.
Bai Xian had known silence and solitude, hiding away in his room for a time, too afraid to even touch a band.
Fortunately, he pulled through. As time went on, his skills grew better and better, eventually leaving the other band members in the dust and making him an indispensable soul of the group.
Following that performance at the Zenith Pinnacle Hall back then, Bai Xian made a name for himself in a single battle, ultimately becoming the youngest keyboard god in the history of global rock bands.
From that moment on, Bai Xian's fame spread across the world, and Sakiko Toyokawa gradually transformed into his loyal fan.
When she first heard that Bai Xian was transferring to her school, Sakiko Toyokawa had even fantasized about bumping into him on campus, or perhaps even ending up in the same class.
It was just a pity she was in Class 1-B, while the class Bai Xian transferred into was Class 1-A.
When Sakiko Toyokawa saw Bai Xian playing with her own eyes in the Wind Instrument Club, her heart was filled with excitement and thrill.
Yet she didn't dare to go in and disturb the boy she worshiped.
And so she could only stand silently at the door and peek inside, quietly listening to the music Bai Xian played.
...Ah!
...He's talking to me...
...What should I do, he's still looking at me...
...No, Sakiko Toyokawa, pull yourself together!
On the other side, seeing Sakiko Toyokawa's shy antics as she seemed lost in her own world, Bai Xian was somewhat puzzled, but he didn't interrupt her.
Taking advantage of the moment, Bai Xian began to admire the appearance of the girl before him.
Amber eyes, a delicate face with skin so smooth it seemed ready to break at a touch, and those blue side-pigtails tied with two small black ribbons.Even her skin was exceptionally well-maintained.
Damn it, this is just too cute.
Noticing Bai Xian looking her over, Sakiko Toyokawa snapped back to reality, her voice trembling slightly:
"U-Um... please don't look at me like that."
"Oh, sorry about that. I guess I just got a bit carried away."
"It's just that Miss Toyokawa is so cute..."
Bai Xian felt a little embarrassed, but being thick-skinned, he had nothing to fear. Not only did he admit to sneaking glances at Sakiko Toyokawa, but he also generously praised her for being adorable.
Hearing this, Sakiko Toyokawa's breathing involuntarily grew heavier!
...Oh?
Anon Chihaya watched this scene with a strange look in her eyes, her gaze darting back and forth between Bai Xian and Sakiko Toyokawa.
...I smell the stench of romance.
...Damn it, I was here first!
"How about it, Miss Toyokawa? Would you like to play a tune?"
Bai Xian stood up and stepped aside to offer her the seat.
At that moment, streams of sunlight filtered through the window and fell upon Bai Xian, making him look radiant.
Sakiko Toyokawa raised her head, finally daring to look straight into Bai Xian's eyes.
In his eyes, she saw an unquenchable fire burning fiercely.
Sakiko smiled.
Her smile was as tender as water, as if she had regained all her strength.
"Alright, I'll accept your guidance."
If this is a dream, please let me stay in it forever...
Sitting on the piano bench, Sakiko could still faintly feel the warmth left behind by Bai Xian, this being the spot where he had just been sitting.
At this moment, Miss Sakiko Toyokawa's fighting spirit was ignited, and filled with determination, she would not back down!
After a brief sound check, the melodious notes of the piano rang out~
Sakiko deftly used both hands, pressing down on the piano keys as smoothly as flowing water.
Tan-tan~ tan~~~
What she was playing was none other than "Fur Elise," the very piece Bai Xian had played earlier.
Sakiko Toyokawa's fingers moved with fluid grace, and with the aid of the damper pedal, she steadily pushed the emotion of the piece toward its climax.
Lost in the music, she vaguely saw the past, when CRYCHIC held its first live performance, playing Haruhikage together with her bandmates.
They had laughed together, grown together, and made a pact to become a united front bound by fate.
However, days like those would never return...
At the thought of this, Sakiko Toyokawa's fingers grew sluggish, and she barely avoided playing a few wrong notes.
Noticing this, Sakiko panicked and tried to regain the rhythm of the piano performance, only to grow flustered and fumble through the keys without being able to play properly.
Just then, Bai Xian sat down beside Sakiko Toyokawa, seamlessly picking up the intermittent melody where she had left off.
Sakiko turned her head and saw Bai Xian looking at her gently, wearing an encouraging expression as he said:
"You can do it, Miss Toyokawa. Let's play this piece well together~"
Sakiko Toyokawa was slightly stunned, her heart pounding. Finally, she took a deep breath and calmed down.
...I can't embarrass myself in front of Bai Xian...
Taking the stage once again was Miss Sakiko Toyokawa, no longer weak!
A four-hand piano duet!
This usually required the performers to have a certain degree of mutual understanding and tested their familiarity with the piece.
Sakiko Toyokawa and Bai Xian closed their eyes at the same time, coordinating with tacit harmony.
When she softened her playing in a certain measure, he would gradually swell his volume in response; the nuances of rhythm and dynamics were vividly brought to life through the coordination between Sakiko and Bai Xian.
To an outsider, the two of them looked just like Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi from ancient times—each truly understanding the other, painting a picture of kindred spirits in tune with one another.
As the song drew to a close,
Sakiko Toyokawa prepared to strike the final key, while Bai Xian placed his hand right over the back of Sakiko's hand with pinpoint precision.
The two of them exchanged a smile and pressed down together on the note that symbolized the end of the piece.
Tan......
……