That afternoon, the Raizen High School music club room felt livelier than usual. The sound of chatter and light laughter filled the room. Mai, Ai, and Mii had arrived earlier, sitting on the lounge chairs, flipping through some sheets of music notation. A moment later, the door slid open, revealing a cheerful Tohka, a stoic Origami, and a girl with long blue hair who was none other than Shido in his "Shiori" guise.
Kaito, who had already entered the room, glanced over. A mischievous smile appeared on his face, but he refrained from revealing Shido's identity in front of the others. Instead, he stood up casually and approached them with a formal air.
"Oh, I don't think we've met before," Kaito said, extending his hand. "My name is Kaito. Nice to meet you."
Shido, or Shiori, immediately stiffened. Memories of the embarrassing incident in the restroom that morning suddenly surfaced in his head. His face flushed, and he hurriedly answered in a trembling voice, "A-ah… I'm Shiori. N-nice to meet you too…"
Tohka tilted her head, staring at them both innocently. "Eh? Didn't you two meet before?"
Kaito immediately shook his head quickly, putting on an almost convincingly innocent expression. "No, no. This is the first time I've met such a beautiful girl."
Shido nearly choked on that statement, but he could only put on a stiff smile, hoping the conversation would quickly move on to something else.
And luckily, Mai quickly took over. "Okay, now that everyone's gathered, let's start a small meeting to prepare for the Ten-Oh festival!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.
Ai added cheekily, "Of course, our main focus is on this. Shiori-chan will definitely be supporting you, right?"
Shiori (Shido) could only smile stiffly again, but didn't reply.
Mai then looked at Kaito. "By the way, Kaito. When you said you wanted to perform solo yesterday, I was curious. What instrument do you plan to use?"
Kaito leaned against the wall, staring at them casually. "I wasn't actually planning on using an instrument. But… I'm quite good at playing the guitar."
"Ohh!" The trio of girls—Mai, Ai, and Mii—immediately exclaimed in admiration.
Tohka, sitting nearby, leaned over, her eyes sparkling. "Then, Kaito! Sing! I want to hear your voice!"
The request immediately drew all eyes to Kaito. Even the usually stoic Origami seemed slightly interested, though still wary, while Mai, Ai, and Mii stared eagerly. Even Shido, still embarrassed by the previous incident, turned his head with a mixture of curiosity.
Kaito smiled slightly, looking at them each in turn. "Hm, you really want to hear it, huh?"
They all nodded in unison.
Finally, Kaito took a deep breath and picked up the acoustic guitar that was leaning against the corner of the room. He sat on the wooden chair, his hands gently plucking the strings, producing a clear, warm opening note.
The room suddenly fell silent. All eyes were on him.
Then, Kaito began to sing.
His voice was low yet warm, carrying each word with a strangely soothing power.
"Aozora ga aru kagiri, Kaze wa toki wo hakobu yo"
(As long as the sky is blue, the wind will carry the future)
Yuuki ga aru kagiri, Yume wa kanarazaru kanao yo"
(As long as there is courage, dreams will come true)
The tune vibrated softly, making Tohka involuntarily lean forward, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Origami, despite her expressionless expression, widened her eyes slightly. Shido, in Shiori's form, was also amazed by Kaito's singing voice.
Kaito continued, his voice growing more enthusiastic, as if drawing everyone into his world.
"Namida ga afureru mama, Hey! Hey! hashiridase!"
(With tears streaming down his face, Hey! Hey! Start running)
"Akai chiheisen no kanata, Ashita ga aru no sa"
(Tomorrow is already waiting behind the red sky)
Mai, Ai, and Mii glanced at each other, their mouths slightly open. The three of them had heard many talented singers, but Kaito's voice… was truly beyond expectations.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to ignite with passion as Kaito entered his most powerful part.
"Dare yori mo naniyori mo, Kimi dake wo mamoritai"
(More than anyone or anything, I just want to protect you)
"Itsu made mo doko made mo, Kimi dake wo mamoritai"
(No matter how long or how far, I just want to protect you)
The high note came out so clearly, without the slightest wavering. It was as if he were truly singing a promise, not just a song.
And finally, with full power, he concluded with loudly:
"Wow Wow Wow sakebou, Sekai wa owaranai"
(Wow Wow Wow, shout! The world hasn't ended yet)
Song: Kimi dake o mamoritai (Ulraman Dyna)
The guitar strumming stopped. The room fell silent.
For a few seconds, everyone was silent, still caught in the echo of Kaito's voice, which seemed to have yet to completely dissipate. Tohka clasped her hands in front of her chest, her face filled with awe. Origami lowered her head slightly, either to hide her expression or simply to contemplate. Shido clapped, amazed by Kaito's melodious voice.
Then applause broke out.
"AMAZING!" Mai exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Your voice... is truly amazing!" Ai added.
"If you perform at the festival, everyone will be captivated!" Mii continued, her eyes sparkling.
Tohka nodded vigorously, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Kaito! I want to hear you sing again soon!"
Kaito simply smiled slightly, put down his guitar, and said lightly, "Then, just wait for me at the festival. I'll make sure you all enjoy it."
But deep down, he could sense something deeper, and he was already prepared for it.
...
The next day, the cultural festival began with great fanfare. Since morning, the courtyard and hallways of the school building were filled with crowds of students, visitors, and various food stalls, games, and even small stage performances. The fragrant smells of takoyaki, yakisoba, and crepes mingled in the air, adding to the lively atmosphere. Music from the speakers could be heard faintly, blending with the boisterous voices of people enjoying themselves.
Kaito walked quietly through the crowd. His trademark silver hair glistened in the sunlight—but the aura he exuded remained unconcealed. Several female students passing by instinctively turned their heads, whispering among themselves, some even covering their mouths with their hands, blushing.
"Who is he? A student here?"
"I don't know, but he… stands out too much."
"Look at his eyes… they're so blue, like crystal…"
Kaito simply smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned, and continued on his way.
Soon, he stopped in front of a large room adorned with a simple sign for Maid Café. Pink ribbons and white cloth partially covered the door, while the cheerful voices of the waitresses welcoming customers could be heard clearly from within.
"...a maid café, huh?" Kaito muttered softly, the corners of his lips quirking up. "Interesting."
With leisurely steps, he pushed open the door and entered.