“Brahm’s ‘Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor’, to be precise,” Takemi continued. The moment he finished speaking, his fingers hit the keys. Watching him closely in anticipation, Satsuki struck the keys at the exact same time.
What the...? That snot-nosed brat can actually play? Satsuki was just as surprised as the thoughts that popped into Kujo’s head.
Takemi struck the keys with true mastery. Their duet was in perfect sync as they beautifully played the song all the way through.
“Bravo! That was fantastic, Mr. Kaido!”
The duet performed by Satsuki and Takemi was superb. Naturally, even Shindo offered silent applause. Yet as he clapped his hands, his locked on Satsuki next to Takemi with unconcealed uncertainty as horrified disbelief welled within.
Satsuki was shocked. Of course she was surprised to learn Takemi possessed the technical skill to play the duet, but also that he could play that song so smoothly with her. It was as if they always played this together. They were in perfect harmony.
It wasn’t as if Satsuki consciously tried to match Takemi. It was an upbeat song. She had every intention to leave him behind if he missed a note or couldn’t keep up. But Takemi didn’t show a speck of hesitation.
“How was it, Mr. Shindo?” Takemi asked. He threw Shindo a triumphant grin. “What did you think of my duet with Satsuki...? Hard to believe that was our first time, wasn’t it?”
Dropping his head, Shindo offered the simple compliment, “It was wonderful.”
Although there was no fun to be had in Shindo’s rather brusque response, Kujo’s surprise and panic proved more amusing. Even if Takemi was younger, he was still an imposing threat after seeing how well the two harmonized during their first piano session together.
Takemi left the piano to slowly approached Shindo. “Aren’t you going to play, Mr. Shindo? Seeing as you’ve been with Miss Satsuki all these years, I’m sure you two would put on a great show,” he jeered.
“No, I don’t play the—”
“Oh, you don’t? Sorry, my bad!” Before Shindo could finish his answer, Takemi cut him off and slapped his forehead as if to say, “It slipped my mind!”
He rested an elbow on Shindo’s shoulder and whispered in the retainer’s ear, “Instead of the piano, you play Satsuki...don’t you?”
This was whispered for Shindo’s ears only. Kujo had no way of overhearing what was said. Able to discern the contents carried in his voice, Satsuki jumped from her seat.
Huh? What’s gotten into Miss Satsuki? Kujo wondered in open bewilderment at the sight of the young lady bursting from her bench to glare angrily in the direction of Shindo and Takemi.
Satsuki wanted to insist that Takemi apologize to Shindo, but he said it in such a hushed voice, most girls wouldn’t have been able to hear it across the room. Kujo would probably find it strange if she got upset. So instead, Satsuki suddenly changed the subject. “Shindo is in charge of tuning both my piano and my violin. He is my personal, expert tuner,” she declared in Shindo’s defense.
So what? Are you implying he tunes your body, too? A voice suddenly echoed in her head. It wasn’t one of Kujo’s thoughts slipping into her mind.
Takemi was speaking to Satsuki directly through her mind. She swiftly brought one hand to her head. No one had ever spoken with her telepathically before.
What’s wrong, Satsuki? Why so surprised? The incoming thoughts berated her mercilessly. Haven’t you done the exact same thing? Back when you were an infant unable to speak. Remember how you spoke with your parents and Shindo this way?
Even though he should have no way of knowing her distant past, Takemi spoke of it with casual familiarity. And it was all true. From the time she was a fetus in her mother’s womb, she telepathically communicated with her parents.
Haven’t you used this ability to confuse the mind and kill a man? Isn’t that how you killed him?
The sudden revelation made Satsuki gulp. What does he mean...? I killed someone that way...? What is he talking about? She had no recollection of the incident, but she knew what it might imply. This was most likely related to the memories that Takemi sealed away.
Did...I kill someone else...? Who...in the world...was it? she asked herself, the blood gradually draining from her face.
Seeing her grow pale, Shindo silently brushed Takemi’s arm off his shoulder and went to Satsuki’s side. “Miss?”
Satsuki’s heart reached out to him for comfort once he stood at her side. “Shin...do...” she whispered.
Putting himself between Takemi and Satsuki, Shindo wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Cold sweat was running down her tormented visage. Shindo turned to face Kujo and lowered his head slightly as he said, “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Kujo. It would appear the Miss isn’t feeling well. Would you be so kind as to take your leave for the day?”
“S-Sure... Is Miss Satsuki okay?” he asked.
“I suspect she’s feeling a bit anemic. I’m sorry for putting you out like this.”
“No, it’s fine... Miss Satsuki, try to take it easy,” Kujo said. If the retainer who served Satsuki said she was feeling anemic, Kujo had no cause to question the man. He rose from his chair to leave.
Takemi broke his gaze from the couple to shoot a quick look over at Kujo.
I didn’t take him seriously before, but that Kaido brat could prove problematic. I get the feeling he won’t go down easy, Kujo thought.
Takemi frowned over the thoughts of how the man plotted to get in his way, but a moment later, he turned that frown upside down.