A light drizzle fell within the auditorium.
The lively, joyful sound of the piano seemed to descend from the heavens, enveloping everyone's ears in an instant, without any preparation.
Yukino closed her eyes, feeling as if she stood amidst a continuous rain, the fresh, damp air brushing her face, her body and soul cleansed and expansive.
But when she opened her eyes, the sight before her was still a crowd of hundreds. She spread her palm—no raindrops fell into it.
She looked up.
The figure bathed in light moved gently, as if fully immersed in his performance. His fingers glided swiftly and smoothly over the black and white keys, as if unconcerned with clear or cloudy skies, Yuu played a melody of wind and rain that captivated hearts.
The world grew silent, all noise fading, leaving only a clear, pure melody.
The rain continued to fall.
From the stage, it spread to every corner of the auditorium, slowly seeping into the listeners' clothes and skin, until even their hearts were wrapped in warm rain, their minds gradually emptying in a trance.
Many closed their eyes, their heads swaying to the rhythm, unconscious smiles forming on their lips. They felt like drifting off yet reluctant to sleep, savoring the beautiful melody, like the first spring drizzle nurturing countless lives.
Soon, the rain grew heavier.
As the tempo rose, it pounded the ground, urging newly sprouted buds to grow quickly. Each raindrop struck roots, stems, and leaves, tugging at the heartstrings of every listener.
Its arrogance and power were like a storm pouring its entirety onto a city.
Asuna clenched her fists, her entire body tensing unconsciously, trembling slightly as if cold. The piano's sound left her no room to breathe, pressing forward, growing stronger. The dense curtain of rain weighed on her heart, stirring a familiar feeling.
Yet she didn't choose to escape.
Though drenched by the rain, Asuna stubbornly raised her head, gazing at the performer whose hands danced across the keys on stage.
In an instant, their eyes met.
They locked gazes, and Yuu smiled.
As if conveying an emotion, his fingers continued their rapid dance in the black-and-white world, the swift strokes forming a cascade of piano notes just as the rain's intensity peaked.
His left hand suddenly rose high.
*CLANG!*
A forte note, signaling a shift, abruptly dispelled the tension in the air.
Just as the audience was overwhelmed by the storm, their heartbeats nearly swallowed by the sound waves, a ray of sunlight pierced the clouds.
This sunlight split the thick curtain of rain, as if severing everyone's nerves, the lingering notes buzzing in their eardrums.
As if time stopped, the audience, judges, backstage staff, those who knew him and those who didn't, stared in a daze at the stage, momentarily unable to think.
Until the raised left hand descended, touching the pure white keys again.
The rain's intensity gradually slowed.
He eased his movements, no longer swaying emotionally with the melody, instead lowering his head, earnestly tapping each raindrop.
The downpour instantly turned into a breezy drizzle, the scenery behind the rain's curtain blurring.
Like watching a misty autumn rain through a window, the sound of droplets from the roof was crystal clear, lulling listeners into drowsiness.
Asuna gradually relaxed, lowering her shining eyes, smiling calmly as she listened to the light yet gentle piano, just like herself.
The rain curtain soaked the flowers and trees battered by the storm, birds shook off heavy mist from their feathers and soared high.
Spiders spun transparent threads, weaving new webs among branches and leaves.
A fallen cocoon slowly cracked, fragile wings emerging, flapping twice experimentally.
After the wind and rain passed, a gentle world emerged, each raindrop radiating the sun's warmth, welcoming transformation and new life.
Unknowingly, the sound of rain vanished.
Yet on the muddy ground, traces of its presence remained everywhere.
Watching the performer rest his hands and rise casually, Asuna heard it.
The sound of her own heart, completely melted by that man.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Clubs whose names are called, please come to the stage to receive your awards."
Before they could fully react, the Overall Club Evaluation had ended, and it was time for the awards.
The beautiful sound of rain lingered in everyone's eardrums, as if closing their eyes would summon the rainy scene again.
"Fifth place, total score 89—Romeo and the Seven Dwarfs from the Drama Club!"
Amid suddenly rising cheers, the drama club president emerged from backstage, joyfully accepting the certificate from the principal and giving a thank-you speech using the host's microphone.
Yuu crossed his arms, leaning against the backstage wall with his eyes closed, exuding a cold "don't talk to me" aura for the moment.
Beside him were representatives from other clubs, but none dared approach within a meter, their conversations instinctively hushed.
Shock, admiration, adoration, awe—under these gazes, Yuu's expression remained unchanged, though inwardly he praised himself.
As it turned out, the Piano skill, combined with the Emotional Transmission and Spotlight statuses, produced an extraordinary effect, nearly reaching the level of that Perfect Lullaby.
The Proficient Piano skill still had a gap compared to Perfect. If scrutinized, flaws could be found.
But for emotional coloring and mood-setting, with Emotional Transmission and the Spotlight's attention-drawing effect, even a Proficient level could rival Perfect, perhaps even more heart-stirring.
The downside was it had to be heard live. If recorded, it would revert to its original form, and if uploaded online, it might not garner much attention.
No need to think that far—judging by the live audience's reaction, the performance was clearly a massive success. From the moment he finished until now, if Yuu hadn't put on a "don't approach me" face, he'd be busy fielding greetings and praise from teachers and students, with no time to rest or enjoy others' performances.
It could be imagined that similar issues would keep coming until his actions were forgotten and the excitement died down.
—Well, it wasn't that bad.
Though he was handsome, talented, and kind, no matter how popular, he probably couldn't outshine a beauty like Yukino.
After all, there were plenty of handsome guys who could play the piano, but a long-haired, flat-chested girl skilled in literature and martial arts was rare.
So Yuu wasn't panicked. No matter how big the event, he could handle it with ease.
"First place, total score 98! Only two judges gave a score of 19—an incredibly high and unbelievable score—"
After some time, the host's excited tone made him open his eyes.
Under everyone's knowing gazes, Yuu looked toward the stage, leaving the wall with a neutral expression.
Without a hint of hesitation, he stepped forward, heading to the front of the stage.
"Let's welcome the Piano Prince, who captivated every listener with his stunning performance—and congratulations to the Service Club for winning the gold trophy in this year's Overall Club Evaluation!"
Piano Prince?
Yuu's calm expression couldn't help but crack.
What kind of cringeworthy, embarrassing nickname was this? So tacky…
Damn it, I don't want to go on stage.