After that, Nanase continued to play, increasing the difficulty level with each song, but she showed no sign of changing. When her fatigue became visible, we stopped.
“I’d listen to her play anytime.”
“Right? I feel like I should be paying to watch this.”
“I mean, doesn’t it seem like she can play without any problem?”
“Yeah. Better no problems than having issues, I say.”
Shimizu-san and Mamiya-san chatted jubilantly as they left.
“Thank you both,” Nanase said, waving to them.
“I’ll get going too, then.” Onozawa-san gave us a small bow.
“Yeah. Thanks for coming two days in a row,” I told her.
“I’m glad that she could play today,” Onozawa-san said haltingly. After she’d witnessed yesterday’s failed attempt, today’s success had allayed her worries.
Nanase hurried over to the rest of us. “Thank you as well, Onozawa-san.”
“N-No, don’t say... I simply wanted to listen.”
“And I’m truly grateful for that.”
“Ha ha, I’m glad I got to listen to you play, Nanase-san.”
Their exchange was heartwarming to watch. I feel like the nerves have left Onozawa-san and her attitude has loosened up. They both play the piano, so they’ll be good friends before we know it.
“By the way, when the three of you went out to the hallway, did you do something?” Onozawa-san asked.
“O-Oh... Um...” Nanase became noticeably flustered.
I didn’t know what to say either. Even though Hikari had given her stamp of approval, I was hesitant to tell the truth. Doing so might cause weird misunderstandings, and explaining everything from the beginning would take a while.
“I-It’s a secret,” Nanase said.
She had arrived at the same conclusion and placed her pointer finger over her lips. She glanced at me. Stop! Making eye contact like that is way too suggestive.
“Huh? Don’t tell me...” Onozawa-san covered her mouth with her hands when she saw how suspicious Nanase was acting. Her face reddened, and she cast alternating glances at me and Nanase. “Don’t tell me you...the three of you did it?!” Her eyes were sparkling with joy for some reason.
“Did what?!” Nanase exclaimed.
“I-I’m sorry. That was a strange question! It’s a secret! Yes, a secret after all!”
“W-Wait, hold on a moment! I think you’re operating under some sort of misunderstanding,” Nanase said, pressing her palm against her forehead like she was fighting an oncoming headache.
“Huh? But... With the way you sent each other those knowing looks, you definitely did it...”
“Again, did what?!” I quipped.
“S-Something lewd?” Onozawa-san whispered.
That’s a crazy misunderstanding! There are too many retorts I could make here. “The three of us?!” I questioned. “In the span of a few minutes?!” Sure, Nanase was acting weird, but your imagination made some huge leaps and bounds!
“Extrovert-sans are truly incredible,” she murmured.
Onozawa-san, don’t you think you’re putting extroverts on a pedestal there? And why did you add “san” to that?
Her eyes twinkled. She was making subdued squealing noises for reasons I could not fathom.
I did not expect you to be the prime example of a teen girl with off-the-wall fantasies!
“Y-Your secret is safe with me! Well then, I hope the three of you enjoy yourselves. Take your time!” Onozawa-san, radiating excitement, ran out of the room like she was fleeing.
“H-Has she got some kind of wild misunderstanding?” I asked.
“Indeed, she does.”
Onozawa-san didn’t seem like the sort of girl to spread rumors, but we couldn’t leave her with that misconception. We were about to chase after her when someone called out to us from behind.
“What did you guys talk about while I was in the bathroom?” Hikari asked, inquisitive eyes on Onozawa-san scampering off.
“Who knows...” I said.
“I’m really not sure myself,” Nanase added.
We laughed dryly, trying to deflect the topic.
A question mark floated over Hikari’s head. Let’s fix this misunderstanding later.