Um... What the heck are you guys showing me?
“And then,” Nanase said shyly, “if I play perfectly, I want you to praise me.”
I feel like a new door is opening within me. Stop! That is the one door I must keep closed!
“Hee hee, Yuino-chan, you’re so cute.” Hikari cupped Nanase’s cheek and turned her head so it faced her. “All right. From now on, I’m going to praise you lots, okay?”
“I, I haven’t played yet!”
“Then once you kill it at the music festival, let’s go home together—just the two of us.”
Hey, um, could you maybe not forget that your boyfriend is right here?
✦ ✦ ✦
Our class’s turn was right after lunch. By the way, yes, we got caught skipping part of the festival, and the three of us had received a good tongue-lashing. Because we were pulled aside for that, we’d missed our chance to eat lunch. Then again, I was so nervous that I likely wouldn’t have been able to stomach anything.
“All right. Everybody ready?” I asked my classmates, who were gathered behind the stage.
They nodded in reply. The relaxed atmosphere they’d been giving off before was replaced with preperformance jitters. While we waited for our turn, I spoke to Nanase in a low whisper.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. This time, I really am fine.”
We hadn’t performed our hand-holding ritual today. All that ran through my mind was the memory of Nanase collapsing in music class. Playing for a school event was a lot of pressure, and it had to be anxiety inducing.
“If I can’t overcome this, then there was no point in receiving everyone’s help.” The way she carried herself right now made me feel like I could believe her. “Besides, even if I can’t do it, you’ll help me like before, right?” she whispered into my ear. Her hair tickled the base of my neck.
Hikari leered at us with a small frown. “Yuino-chan...”
“Wh-Wh-What is it, Hikari? I didn’t do anything!”
“Can I rank you as the number one girl I don’t want my boyfriend to be friends with?” she said harshly.
Nanase covered her face with her hands.
“Natsuki-kun, you’re no better. I can’t believe you’re smiling bashfully at a girl who isn’t me.”
“I’m not smiling bashfully! Hikari, you’re the one who urged Nanase to come to me for help.”
“That... That may be true! But now I feel like my danger alarm is going off!”
I’m not one to talk, but your danger alarm is way too slow. “Hikari, you were also the one flirting with Nanase a ton earlier.”
“That’s fine! We’re both girls, after all!”
I’m not sure about that. The vibes you two had going on there felt like you’d overcome the gender barrier.
“Hey! Class 1-2, you’re up,” our music teacher said, interrupting our conversation.
I scanned Nanase’s face. She gave me a reassuring nod.
Fujiwara tapped my shoulder with her conductor’s baton. “Why don’t you say a few words?”
I turned around. The entire class was watching me. “Um... All right, guys, let’s give them the best choir performance ever!” I couldn’t think of anything clever, so I just delivered a very basic one-liner.
Nevertheless, everyone responded with an enthusiastic “Yeah!”
We walked onto the stage and filed into our respective rows. Fujiwara stood in front of us with baton in hand while Nanase took her seat at the piano. The gymnasium was crammed full of students seated in chairs. It was an overwhelming sight. I hadn’t had this much attention on me since the school festival concert.
Back then, I was feeling reckless, so I didn’t register how many spectators there were. But I’m pretty calm now, so I can make out each kid’s face fairly well. The trade-off is that there are more butterflies in my stomach.
Fujiwara raised her baton, and the faint chattering died completely. The gym was filled with several hundred people, but it had fallen completely silent. They were all focused on our choir—or not. It was only because they’d be scolded by a teacher if they talked too much.
From here, I could see the students’ faces clearly. The kids who were giving us their full attention were actually in the minority. Most looked bored, and there were a decent number who were stealth sleeping.
We just have to make them understand with our music. Isn’t that right? I glanced at Nanase. All her focus was on the piano keys. Looks like I’ve got nothing to worry about.
Fujiwara waved her baton. At the same time, the grand piano sounded with powerful yet delicate notes. It was an accompaniment that conjured up vivid images in my mind. The postlunch drowsiness that had filled the gymnasium was painted over. Heads shot up.
I began to sing—in a way that wouldn’t ruin our accompanist’s quality. Everyone projected their voices loudly, and it felt like we were all in the zone. Nanase’s piano guided our chorus. The beautiful yet heartbreaking melody supported a host of voices.
The first part ended, and I took a breath. When I looked at Nanase, her fingers continuing to move across the keys, I saw that she was smiling. That gentle smile was more charming than any other expression I had ever seen on her before.