"I don't know about this..." Tsuna quickly collected his scattered thoughts, asked again, and shook his head.
He really didn't understand it. He had mentioned the matter to his father during dinner, but he hadn't asked why he did it. After his father agreed, he never brought it up again.
"Shouko!"
Just as Shouko was about to say something, she was suddenly hugged from behind by a soft body, cutting her off.
"Miu, why are you here?" Tsuna looked at Miu, who was silently rubbing her face against Shouko's.
Miu's attention was diverted by his question, and Shouko took the opportunity to slip away, not forgetting to add, "Yeah, why did you suddenly come to our class?"
Miu waved her hands helplessly. "I just heard that the bespectacled old woman said there's a singing competition at the beginning of next month, so I came to ask what song your class is singing."
"'Monster's Narrative'" Tsuna replied without hesitation. After all, it wasn't a secret—just asking any normal student would reveal it.
Before she could say anything more, another voice interrupted, "It's almost time for class. Miu, you should go back to your classroom. We still have music practice."
"Okay, see you at noon." Miu waved goodbye to the two of them and the newly arrived Sawara, then ran out of the classroom.
---
"Okay, everyone line up. I'll tune it." Teacher Takeuchi stood by the piano, looking at the students with a sudden sense of unease.
It took about ten minutes to divide the class into four rows. The first and third rows were girls, and the second and fourth were boys. Except for the front row, which had no steps, the three rows behind it each had an additional step.
Shouko was standing at the center of the front row, and Tsuna was in the center of the second row, just behind Shouko.
"Shimada." After seeing that the positions were set, Mr. Takeuchi suddenly called out to Shimada in the last row.
"What is it, Mr. Takeuchi?" Shimada replied indifferently.
Mr. Takeuchi stood in front of a broadcasting device, adjusting the song for the chorus without looking up. "I heard from your mother that you practiced piano, right?"
Shimada remembered something and asked in disbelief, "Are you going to let me accompany the chorus this time?" His voice was noticeably louder.
Takeuchi didn't want to waste his breath. Since Shimada had guessed it—and judging from his tone, he was going to refuse—he played his trump card:
"Well, I've already talked to your mother, and she happily agreed."
"Four-eyed bastard!" Shimada cursed in a low voice and could only accept his fate and step out of the lineup.
He knew that once his mother had agreed, it was useless to resist. Still, he didn't expect this four-eyed bastard wouldn't even discuss it with him.
"Hehe... Don't worry, you're not alone." Takeuchi saw the dissatisfaction on his face, chuckled a few times, and continued, "Ishida, come out too. You'll be the conductor for the choir."
"What?"
"Takeuchi-sensei, are you joking?"
"Yeah, him?"
"Takeuchi-sensei, don't you want to win first place?"
"You might as well let Miyamura do it."
"Yeah, let the class monitor do it!"
As soon as Takeuchi finished speaking, several boys who were no less capable than Shōya began complaining. This time, they really couldn't stand this four-eyed bastard's decision.
Shōya, who already held a grudge against Tsunayoshi, was especially triggered by those last two jabs. He had already been annoyed.
What he hated most since the start of the school year was being compared to that bastard Miyamura, and being rejected even before trying.
When Takeuchi first called him, he had wanted to refuse. But now that you've said it, just wait and see.
Shōya stood in the second row and raised his left hand, as if obediently saying, "Okay, Mr. Takeuchi, I'm willing to be the conductor." He ran out of the group, walked over to Shimada, and hugged him.
Seeing this, Mr. Takeuchi quickly raised his hands and motioned for the crowd to calm down.
"This isn't some massive choir of hundreds or thousands. Ishida will just sing the beginning and the middle of the song. Don't take the position too seriously, okay?"
Sensing the crowd wasn't satisfied, he added blandly, "Besides, he'll only sing the beginning and middle, not the entire song with you. Isn't that better for everyone? It's good for him—and good for you, right?"
Takeuchi's words completely disregarded Shōya's dignity.
Shōya, who had been joking with Shimada, suddenly darkened and stared at the teacher's back, grinding his teeth.
Shimada noticed and quietly chuckled. Then an idea struck him. He leaned over to Shōya's ear and whispered,
"Okay, Shōya, don't be mad. I've got a good plan. We'll get back at them later."
"Okay." After listening, Shōya agreed, making a face at Takeuchi's back before glancing at the boys who had complained earlier.
Meanwhile, Tsuna, standing quietly in the center of the second row, had already noticed the two whispering behind Takeuchi. It was mostly Shimada speaking, with Shōya nodding along.
He had also seen Shōya's previously gloomy expression suddenly brighten. Clearly, Shimada had just planted a tempting new idea.
"Tsuna, stop rubbing your hand! Takeuchi-sensei is watching!" At that moment, Shouko blushed and gently slapped his hand away, then turned and gave him a stern glare with her beautiful eyes.
"Haha... Sorry, sorry. I was just lost in thought and didn't notice." Tsuna rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly.
The students who had been complaining earlier quieted down, realizing his explanation was reasonable. They no longer had any complaints about Takeuchi-sensei's decision.
*Clap, clap, clap!* Takeuchi-sensei clapped his hands, drawing the scattered attention of the group back to him.
"Alright, get ready. Shimada, you should get familiar with the song before practice. The rest of you, listen to 'Monster's Narrative' first. I'll print out the lyrics for you."
Takeuchi-sensei clicked on the track and played it. After confirming the beginning was fine, he left the music room.
The others listened in silence.
---