Chapter 1396. School Festival Day 2 / Piano Duet

「 Huh, she’s… 」

「 Wasn’t she a teacher in our school until this summer? 」

The choir students noticed Minaho-neesan.

「 Err, if I recall, she’s not in charge of any class 」

「 Oh, so that’s why. Err. 」

「 If I recall, she’s Yuzuki Sensei 」

Minaho-neesan’s a mystery teacher calling herself her mother’s family name, “Yuzuki,” she didn’t have her own homeroom class and she doesn’t teach at all.

Well, Minaho-neesan doesn’t have a teaching license so you can’t blame her.

「 Oh? Is it that strange for a retired teacher to visit the school festival? 」

Minaho-neesan’s staring at the choir club students with her cold smile.

No, that aside.

I don’t get it.

Why is Minaho-neesan here?

After Minaho-neesan brought Misato and the other prostitute candidates for the new brothel from the basement of the hotel to our high school by car…

They went off in a car about to do something, that’s why she hired Kudou-papa, and one of the strongest freelance guards, Agrippina-san.

Then, to prove that we’re unrelated to whatever she’s doing…

She called on the national TV just to put us on the noon news.

It’s to establish the fact that we’re in the bakery at that time.

I look at the clock.

The current time is 2:35 in the afternoon.

Minaho-neesan finished her plans in two hours and thirty minutes and returned to the school?

「 That aside, don’t you all think that performance was amazing? 」

Minaho-neesan returns the topic to the Matsumoto siblings who are at the piano.

「 I think that they’re a little too nervous, but, they’re still young so I’ll give that a pass. Next time, you need to be a little more aware of the people listening to you 」

She gave the sisters some advice.

「 You’ve been so focused on your inner selves, that if you play with such a tensed mind, your audience won’t be able to relax and enjoy your performance. I know that your music performance is important to you, but don’t forget that to those who listen, they remember it as literal entertainment for enjoying the sound 」

「 Y-Yes 」

「 I understand 」

The Matsumoto siblings get swallowed up by the heavy atmosphere Minaho-neesan’s bringing.

It’s the same for the choir.

They know that Yuzuki Minaho’s a former teacher, but this is the first time they had a chance to talk to her so closely and straight to their face.

「 Well, Osaki-san of the choir club. Earlier, I heard you only agreed to let them use the piano only for one song, but… 」

Minaho-neesan’s cold gaze looked at Osaki-san.

「 It’s such a beautiful performance. I don’t mind hearing another piece, do you? 」

Osaki-san.

「 O-Okay, just one more piece 」

She’s pushed down by Minaho-neesan’s pressure.

「 W-What should we play? 」

Maki-san, the elder of the siblings asked Minaho-neesan nervously.

「 Oh, next time, you two won’t be playing. Matsumoto Maki-san, you’ll remain, but her sister, Miki-san can leave. I’ve seen enough of your talent from your performance 」

Minaho-neesan’s gaze turned to us.

「 Takahata Marika-san 」

「 Y-Yes? 」

MInaho-neesan called her name and Marika trembled.

「 Play the piano together with Matsumoto Maki-san 」

Marika and Matsumoto Maki-san together?

「 Four-handed? 」

Matsumoto Maki-san asks Minaho-neesan.

「 Correct. As for the piece, let’s see, why not Mozart’s duet sonatas? Matsumoto Maki-san will be the first player and Marika-san will be the second

「 I-I’ll only be a hindrance to Maki-san 」

Marika said, but…

「 Matsumoto-san’s life depends on it, so don’t drag her down 」

Minaho-neesan adamantly wants the two to play together.

「 Takahata-san 」

Matsumoto Maki-san looks at Marika.

「 Please perform with me. I’ll accept the result no matter what 」

「 Matsumoto-san 」

Maki-san and Marika stare at each other, but Igarashi Izumi’s making a hateful look.

Does she hate the two of them playing piano together?

「 Are you okay with K.381? 」

「 Yes 」

Maki-san suggested. Marika nodded.

The two sat in front of the piano together.

「 Then, let’s begin 」

Minaho-neesan said. The two were about to start their performance, but…

「 Wait 」

I stopped Marika.

「 Both of you, take a deep breath, synchronize yourselves 」

Matsumoto Maki-san looks confused, but Marika figured out what I meant as she had sex with Erica and me all the time.

「 Matsumoto-san, look at me. Then, let our breaths match 」

Marika takes a deep breath.

「 First, take a deep inhale Suuu, haaaa 」

「 … 」

Matsumoto-san followed as Marika told her.

「 Then, let’s speed up a bit. Suuu, haaa. Suuu, haa 」

「 Suuu, haaa. Suuu, haaa 」

Yeah, they’re matching now.

If their breathing matches, thein their heartbeats also synchronize.

「 Once again, suuu, haaa. Suuu, haaa 」

「 Suuu, haaa. Suu, haaa 」

Matsumoto-san’s pale nervous look calms a bit.

Her muscles are less stiff compared to when she played the piece with her sister.

It should be good now.

「 Then, let’s begin, Matsumoto-san 」

「 Yes, Takahata-san 」

Then, the two played piano.

◇ ◇ ◇

It didn’t have the same sad and painful feeling as the Kreutzer Sonata performed by the sisters earlier.

Matsumoto Maki-san and Marika’s play was bright, light, and flashy.

It’s like a puppy on a leash had been released to the spring meadows.

Maki-san’s piano blended with her sister’s violin earlier, as if the sound comes from one machine, but…

Her play with Marika is the sound of two players on one piano.

Their three-minute performance finished in no time.

「 Lovely! 」

The choir girls clapped their hands as soon as the performance ends.

「 Yes, I like this 」

「 The violin sonata earlier was overwhelming, but this Mozart piece is pleasant. 」

The girls speak out their impressions with bright faces.

Igarashi Izumi’s face is turning even more gloomy.

Then.

Matsumoto Maki-san, slowly waking up from the afterglow of the performance…

She looked at Marika sitting next to her and shouted.

「 Takahata-san, I need you in my life! 」

That’s…

「 I want to play piano with you forever! 」

She tells Matsumoto Maki-san with tears in her eyes.

「 Me too, Matsumoto-san 」

Marika’s eyes are also teary

「 I want to be with you too! 」

At that moment…

「 Wait!!! 」

Igarashi Izumi shouts.

She’s got tears in her eyes, but it’s out of frustration.

「 You can’t do that! What about me? What will happen to me?! 」

Marika, Matsumoto Maki-san, and Igarashi Izumi.

The three of them are in the same music school.

Marika and Maki-san are in the piano department.

Igarashi Izumi’s in the vocal music.

Marika introduced Maki-san and her little sister to me.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just an introduction, she wanted me to hear the performance of the siblings.

On the other hand, Igarashi Izumi just came along as she pleased.

Only one of them is wearing a leather jacket on top of the school uniform, and bad makeup.

What’s the relationship between these three?

「 Okay, that’s enough 」

Minaho-neesan’s voice takes control of the music room.

「 It seems that the thoughts you’ve been hiding inside have come out 」

Marika, Matsumoto Maki-san, and Igarashi Izumi’s thoughts.

「 Your concerns are now private so let’s move to a separate location 」

Minaho-neesan said.

「 Thank you for lending us the room and the piano, choir club 」

Rei-chan, dressed up as a gorgeous man, thanked the choir club.

「 Fujimiya-san, there are still a lot of students outside the music room 」

Minaho-neesan mentions the spectators who saw Rei-chan and chased after her

「 I know. I’ll continue my way to the schoolyard alone 」

Rei-chan replies.

She’ll lead the spectators back to Edie and her school swimsuit judo tournament.

「 That’ll help, thank you 」

Minaho-neesan said, then…

「 Let’s go 」

She tells us

「 Thank you, choir club 」

I bow my head to Osaki-san.

Then, I noticed…

Nei’s going to be the host of Edie’s tournament.

Speaking of which. Nei’s…

If I recall, she was in the choir club when she enrolled, right?

「 Uhm, has the choir club finished their presentation at the school festival yet? 」

I asked.

「 Yes, we’re done. We no longer have a turn 」

Osaki-san replied.

If so…

「 If so, I have a request 」

「 Request? 」

Osaki-san looks at me cautiously

「 Uhm, You know about Edie, the member of our bakery, the international student, right? 」

「 Yes, I know. She’s quite energetic 」

「 She’s doing martial arts, isn’t she? A guy in our class said that she won some kind of competition the other day 」

「 And she’s doing something today too, something huge in the schoolyard 」

「 You don’t know? That was a ring! 」

「 I don’t know much, but some professional fighters that Edie-san knows are also coming, and I heard that they’ll televise it 」

The other club members reacted.

Edie stands out a lot so everyone knows her.

If they know about the school swimsuit judo tournament, then that makes it easier.

「 Yes, it will be on TV this 3, and so… 」

I tell the choir club the idea I just came up with

「 Can you make that decision on your own? 」

Osaki-san glares at me.

「 No, Edie asked me earlier if I could ask the choir club a favor if I’m going here anyway. I just forgot about it 」

「 Oh right, now I remember 」

Rei-chan also followed up on my sloppy lie.

「 Edie-san and I work out in the same gym so we get along. So, I also will ask the same of everyone in the choir club, please 」

The choir club is weak to a famous person, Rei-chan in this case, bowing to them.

「 Osaki-san, why don’t we? We don’t have any plans today anyway 」

「 Yes, we even get to hear two great performances, so we should give something in return 」

「 I mean, that also means that we’re showing up on TV, right? 」

「 Let’s go! Prez! 」

Osaki-san;

「 Geez, I get it. I’ll do it, we’ll show up okay! 」

The choir club agreed to my suggestion.

◇ ◇ ◇

Rei-chan took the spectators with her.

Thanks to that, we moved out of the music room without problems.

We’re going to the usual principal’s office.

「 This is the only place that’s always empty 」

The corridor to the principal’s office location is designed and built to have a flow where no students nor teacher would pass through it

「 Enter 」

Minaho-neesan unlocks the principal’s office and we entered.

「 Kou, get some chairs, we’ll sit down and talk 」

To me, the principal’s office is a familiar place.

I took some folding chairs for everyone. Kurose Anju and Erica helped out.

Minaho-neesan went to the principal’s desk.

Neither the principal’s office nor the desk is allowed for use to that strange old man whose ‘principal’ is in the title.

This is the room for the board chairman of the school, and the shadow ruler, Kuromori Minaho’s room.

「 Sit down 」

「 Thank you’ 」

Yeah, Minaho-neesan’s sitting on the principal’s seat

Right in front of her are Marika, Matsumoto Maki-san, and Igarashi Izumi.

To the right are Mariko, Tsukiko, and Kurose Anju.

The left side has Erica and Matsumoto Miki-san.

Where do I sit?

「 Sit next to me, Kou 」

Minaho-neesan calls me and I carry the folding chair next to the principal’s chair.

「 Well, let’s do greetings first. I’m Kuormori Minaho. The head of the Kuomori house 」

Minaho-neesan introduces herself to Matsumoto-san

「 I do various businesses, some on the surface, others behind the scenes. This school belongs to me 」

This is an unusual situation, but the fact that Minaho-neesan just used the room as she pleased right in front of their eyes made Matsumoto-san accept the situation.

「 I’m also the one supporting Takahata Marika’s tuition. I think that Matsumoto-san knows that, as it’s been a month now 」

Due to Erica’s house problems, Marika almost had her tuition stopped, which was coming from Erica’s grandfather’s state.

Currently, Minaho-neesan’s paying for Marika’s tuition from the proceeds of taking over the blue-chip shares of the large company that Erica’s grandfather owned.

「 And he’s Kuromori Kou, my brother, and he’s succeeding the Kuromori house soon 」

Minaho-neesan introduces me once again.

「 He has a lot of people with power around him. You’ve seen some of them already. And, all of us, have a firm heart to do anything for him

Minaho-neesan smiles.

Seeing Margo-san’s interaction with the TV crews, and Rei-chan’s friendly attitude toward me, Matsumoto-san and the group noticed that we were out of the norm.

Furthermore, Minaho-neesan’s overwhelmingly dark atmosphere and attitude just support the existence of our power.

「 From here on, you’ll talk to him. What you want, what you seek, and what’s the price you can pay as compensation to him. I’m saying this beforehand, Kuromori house isn’t a charity. We’re a business, and so we don’t accept deals unless it’s equal 」

Right, we’re…

Kuromori house’s true nature is a criminal syndicate, but, we don’t take or give one-sidedly.

We seek equivalent value.

「 If you can convince him, then you’ll receive all the help I can give. Whether it’s money, backing from the other side, or even something more dangerous, you can get what you see. That’s all I can promise you 」

Minaho-neesan said and looked at me.

「 Then, you can take care of the rest, I’ll be watching 」

Yeah.

「 Anyway, I got to hear Matsumoto-san’s performance. I don’t know much about music, but I can tell that Maki-san’s piano and Miki-san’s violin are much better than those of the same age 」

I said. The Matsumoto siblings and Marika listen with a serious look.

「 So, I don’t see it as “you’re Marika’s friends so I’ll help you out,” but rather, I feel that you have a “Talent that’s waiting to bloom in music,” so I’ll make the decision based on that 」

That’s how Marika thinks.

She thinks that I would perceive it differently if she says “I want to help a friend in need,” and “I want to help a friend who’s talented in music”

These girls are the top in their music high school, and I’m sure they have a lot of pride in their music.

「 But, based on that recognition, what I want you to tell us is what kind of problem Matsumoto-san is in and what you want us to do about it 」

I can tell that they have great talent in music

So, what does she seek from us?

「 Matsumoto-san 」

Marika stares Matsumoto Maki-san.

「 It’s okay, be honest about it 」

「 Yes, Marika-oneesama and I had our problems fixed after talking to Kou-san 」

Erica supports her sister from the side.

「 You can trust Kou-san 」

Erica smiled gently and Matsumoto Maki-san;

「 I’ll talk 」

She prepared herself and began to talk.

「 It’s an embarrassing problem, currently, Miki and I might not be able to continue playing music 」

I knew that it was about that.

I figured it out from the grave mood of their ensembles.

「 Our Grandfather, was the owner of Matsush*ta Industry, building the drugstore chain called Matsush*ta Pharmacy 」

「 Oh, I know that one. Or rather, I own about 2k of their stock. Drugstore chains are quite promising companies 」

Mariko speaks from the side.

The Matsumoto siblings are elegant in their behavior and polite in their language so I know that they came from a rich family.

Besides, it’s hard to enter a boarding school specializing in music unless you’re a daughter from a family with money.

「 Matsush*ta pharmacy is a company that Grandfather grew in his lifetime. However, their father didn’t agree with Grandfather and started his own separate company when he was a student. It’s an IT company with the name of Under Palm 」

「 I know about that company too, but I believe Under Palm was recently absorbed and merged into another large IT company 」

Mariko said.

「 Yes, that’s because Father died 」

Their father died?

「 Father collapsed suddenly this spring, it was colon disease. Then, he became too ill to continue running the company so he sold the company he’s nurtured for 20 years to protect the livelihood of the employees 」

「 Half a month after selling the company, Father died 」

Miki-san speaks sadly.

「 Father loved music. He had fun teaching us music, and even allowed us to go with the path of music 」

「 Father bought this violin for me 」

Miki-san pats her violin case with love.

「 I see, that must’ve been painful 」

Mariko speaks to the Matsumoto siblings with care.

「 Mother had it worse, she’s completely fallen bedridden due to nursing fatigue and the loss of Father 」

「 Currently, Mother’s living at her family’s home 」

Maki-san lives in the dorm in that school, but…

Miki-san’s staying at her mother’s home.

「 But, Father’s company is no longer there, and our reserves are dwindling 」

Their father sold the IT company, so there will be no more income for them

「 Then, Grandfather; 」

Matsumoto Maki pauses for a moment.

「 Grandfather doesn’t like music 」

「 He says that studying music is useless 」

The drugstore chain owner has no interest in music?

「 Grandfather said that he’ll take custody of Mother and us sisters 」

「 Uhm, we didn’t ask for it, it’s Grandfather who wants to take us into his home no matter what 」

「 Then, he’s telling us to stop studying music 」

「 Grandfather’s telling Nee-san to stop on her current high school and go to a regular high school, a business-focused one that Grandfather wants 」

「 He’s telling Miki to stop playing violin too 」

「 He says that I don’t need Father’s violin and he’s selling it 」

I see. So that’s it.

「 And so, you turned down your Grandfather’s offer and want to continue with your music as before, right? 」

I asked.

「 No, Grandfather is not offering his assistance 」

「 Grandfather’s giving us orders 」

The sisters speak with a hopeless expression.

「 Oh, I see. His son didn’t follow what he wanted so, this time, he wants to take control of his son’s daughters 」

Mariko said.

「 The music topic is irrelevant to him. He just wants his granddaughters to do what he wants 」

「 I think so too 」

My mother was like that.

She doesn’t find value in my existence, and yet…

She takes control of me, saying that I can’t leave the room, or have only a single cardboard box of belongings

「 I don’t mind not continuing to play the piano. My talent isn’t that much, but my sister, Miki’s different 」

Maki-san, who’s at the top rank when it comes to piano, has said.

「 Making Miki stops playing her violin would be too much. So, putting me aside, please help Miki so she can continue playing her violin! 」

The elder of the siblings bows her head.

「 No, I’m okay, Onee-san should… 」

「 What are you talking about? Don’t mind me. But I’m sure that even Father would feel sad if Miki’s talent is wasted 」

Then.

「 Indeed, Miki-san’s talent is splendid. You won’t find someone in your age who can play as well as her…In Japan that is 」

Minaho-neesan said.

Right, compared to the ranked first in her piano in high school, the younger sister is much more amazing.

「 If we leave Miki’s violin at home, Grandfather might take it away and dispose of it without permission, so I keep it with me in my private room at the dorm 」

「 Today, Nee-san brought Father’s violin 」

「 Even Grandfather can’t enter the girl’s dorm in our high school. However, if I were to leave my current school, I would have to leave my dorm too 」

「 And if we’re taken by Grandfather, father’s violin will get sold. I don’t want that1 」

I can feel the sorrow of these sisters.

「 Everyone in the dorm already know that Father passed away, and I told some of my friends that I might have to quit school, that’s when Takahata-san approached me 」

Matsumoto Maki-san looked at Marika.

Seeing Matsumoto-san’s struggle, Marika called out to her.

「 And so, Takahata-san told us that she received support from Kuromori-sama, which enabled her to continue going to school. And, uhm, I’m aware that it’s a very generous offer, but she told me that we could receive help too 」

「 I didn’t believe it at first, but, I told Takahata-san my story 」

「 Anyway, since we had no other contacts to help, I decided to put my faith in Takahata-san’s story and came here today 」

Marika knows that she can’t explain the details of the Kuromori house to Matsumoto-san.

You can’t say that we’re running a high-class brothel for political and business VIPs.

She can’t talk about the connection with the Kouzuki house either.

She must’ve used “they’re connected to wealthy people, and “they’re involved in various business” when talking.

That kind of explanation would make it hard to believe.

Still, the Matsumoto siblings believed in Marika and they came here today.

「 That’s all I have to say 」

Matsumoto Maki-san said.

But…

「 Really? Is that all? 」

Minaho-neesan?

「 Matsumoto Maki-san, did you believe Marika-san’s story because you had no other contacts that could help you? And? 」

Minaho-neesan looked at Marika.

「 Marika-san, did you introduce Matsumoto-san to Kou just because your classmate was in trouble? 」

That’s…

「 I believe you still haven’t told us the most important one? 」

The most important?

「 Oh, I see. I got it now! 」

Mariko claps her hands.

「 What is it, Mariko? 」

I asked her right away.

「 There’s something that’s been bothering me. Jasmine-chan wanted Kou to hear Matsumoto-san’s performance before talking 」

「 That’s because she wanted me to see Matsumoto-san’s talents before I get any weird preconceptions, right? 」

I said.

「 Really? Because we already had an idea when we talked to Matsumoto-san in the cafeteria that they have some kind of problem, and that perhaps it was a financial problem 」

Now that you mention it.

I mean, Marika brought these sisters who looked gloomy.

I figured out that they wanted me to help them with something.

「 That’s not what Jasmine has in mind 」

Mariko looks at Kurose Anju.

「 Hey, Kurose-san, for example, you have this professional football player that you’re a big fan of… 」

In case Kurose Anju is a fan of a football athlete?

「 What do you tell your close friends about that athlete? 」

Kurose Anju;

「 Well, I’ve never been a fan of anyone so I don’t know if this would help 」

「 Give us an answer 」

「 O-Okay, I’d tell my friend about my favorite athlete, and let them watch the game he’s playing, or even record it so they can see him in action 」

Kurose Anju said.

「 As expected, you want them to know how cool they are, right? 」

「 Yes, that’s right 」

Mariko looked at Marika.

「 Meaning, Jasmine-chan wanted Kou to hear Matsumoto-san’s piano performance… 」

Err.

Hmm.

Wait?

「 Jasmine-chan is into Matsumoto Maki-san! 」

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