I would’ve never put on such a disappointing and subpar performance if I was in Riko or Yukiko’s shoes. I would’ve only taken on today’s concert after putting in hours and hours of dedicated practice, set on doing whatever necessary to perfect it. If I was Tobi, I would’ve never picked the concert performer’s based on the amount of money their parents’ donated. I would’ve picked students who were seriously learning music and given them the commendation befitting their efforts.
I couldn’t contain my frustration and disappointment.
“To be honest with you, aside from Kon and a select few, this concert failed to meet my expectations. I have always looked up to what Seio Academy stands for, so this concert was a real disappointment for me.”
“Strong opinions for a little girl.” Prince Tobi’s blue eyes sharply gleamed. “You must have a lot of confidence in your piano to make those claims. Haha! You amuse me. Why don’t you prove you’re more than talk then?”
“…In what way?” I gasped under the scrutiny of his penetratingly cold gaze that seemed to be assessing me like a predator with a possible new prey.
Tobi seized my arm and yanked me toward him. “In exactly the way my words imply. A large-scale music competition will be held next year. Win the competition and prove your skills are more than a child’s baseless boasting.”
That’s what this is about? Meeting Tobi here wasn’t a coincidence. Interacting with him now was very likely a required event for reality to follow the game’s scenario. The large-scale music competition he brought up had to be the Sadia Francesca Junior Music Competition.
It was the first piano competition held in Japan with a judging committee headed up by a famous female pianist from Vienna. This was the important storyline competition for the heroine from Hear My Heart’s remake.
I looked Tobi square in the eyes and answered, “All right. I accept your challenge.”
I don’t know how far I can go. But I do know I don’t want to lose to him. I don’t want to back down. I held Prince Tobi’s ice-cold gaze.
Less than a minute’s time passed around us. The light’s clicked on in the hall while we glared at each other. The audience stood from their seats and noisily clamored for the exits.
I have to go outside and phone home. With that in mind, I silently bowed to Tobi and left our row for the aisle. I’d thought that was the end of it, but Tobi followed me out.
“Do you have any plans after this, Mashiro?” he asked me, a smile in his voice. “If you don’t, how about you join me for dinner?”
Surprise hit me like a tidal wave. What kinda person invites out the cheeky brat they were just having a staring contest with? This guy has some seriously thick skin. Everything he does is out of the norm.
“U-Uh, um…” I faltered.
What’s the right way to act here? Should I be honest and tell him about my plans with the twins and invite him along? Or should I just flat-out reject him? If this were a game, I would quick save and try out both choices, but this world is my reality, not a game. Then again, considering how every person I meet looks like an otome game character and how my life seems scripted at times, it makes me wonder sometimes if this really isn’t a game…
The choice timed out on me while I was mulling over how to proceed.
“Mashiro!” a tense, deep voice called out to me from behind. Surprised, I turned around to find Kou dressed in casual clothes skipping steps to get down the stairs faster.
Wow, Kou can run, I mused.
I wasn’t sure if his arrival was going to save me or make things worse. But it took until I saw Kou’s back in front of me to realize I was so nervous my legs were shaking.
“…Director Yamabuki, why were you seated in this row? You didn’t have the ticket for it, did you?”
“I didn’t. I was curious why the five seats you bought for row five were the only empty ones in the hall. And then who did I chance upon when I came to check it out? Mashiro, sitting in the middle of the empty seats. I couldn’t resist speaking to her.”
Is he telling the truth? Did Kou go out of his way to make sure no one would sit next to me? My mouth fell open from the series of surprises.
Kou kept his eyes fixed on Tobi and quietly clicked his tongue. “I bought the tickets for my own entertainment, no other reason.”
There’s no other reason? Ah, he scared me for a second! I nearly misunderstood his actions again!
“Heh. I was completely under the impression you did it to guard her from your rabid fans. Or maybe you did it because you wanted to locate exactly where she was from the stage?”
“I told you it was for my own entertainment,” Kou dodged Tobi’s goading. Then his eyes shifted to me. The moment our eyes met, Kou’s tensed expression softened, his eyebrows knitting with worry. “Are you okay, Mashiro? You look pale.”
“Yeah. I feel really dizzy. Maybe I should go outside for some fresh air.”
I don’t want to be dragged any further into this, I implored with my eyes when I looked up at Kou.
“Okay. Let’s go.” Kou put his arm around my shoulder and gently guided me toward the exit. “Sorry, Director. We shall be excusing ourselves here.”
“I see. What a shame! I was hoping to dine with Mashiro. Well, there’s always next time. See you again soon, Mashiro.” Tobi winked at me. “Ñ'oubliez pas de me rencontrer dans le concours du piano.”
His final words of parting were in French. Between this remark and the one earlier, it was almost as if he knew I was studying French.
How am I supposed to take this? Has he realized I’ve been studying different things in preparation for the music competition? My head became crowded with confusing thoughts.
Kou looked baffled too as he watched Tobi gallantly saunter away from us. “What did he say at the end there?” he muttered more to himself than to me.
“He said, ‘don’t forget to meet me at the piano competition,’” I translated for him.
“…He was speaking French, right? You could understand that?”
I nodded. Kou regarded me with astonishment. He suddenly leaned over until he was peering into my eyes. “What in the world is going on?”
A girl with a tense face was reflected in his purple eyes. His face was colored with suspicion and sadness.
Kou, that’s the question I want to ask more than anyone else.