"Hmm... I see..."
After hearing Kazusa's account, Ye Xing had a rough idea.
This was most likely a genuine supernatural incident.
On one hand, Kazusa wasn't like those idle students who'd make a fuss over nothing.
On the other hand.
Ghosts playing pianos—isn't that a classic trope?
Though in those stories, it's usually an empty club room.
This one went to someone's house to play their piano, and now even competes to play.
Quite the musically devoted spectre, isn't it?
Rio Futaba also gave her assessment.
"From Kazusa's description, the issue doesn't seem too severe."
If it were an evil spirit, even a weaker one, Kazusa would likely feel physically heavy, mentally drained, or have poor sleep.
Rather than playing the piano every day.
This indicated it wasn't an evil spirit, but an ordinary spectre - or simply the lingering obsession of some deceased human.
"Touma-san."
Considering this, Rio Futaba specifically asked:
"Is the piano in your home newly purchased?"
"Hmm..."
Kazusa Touma seemed somewhat despondent upon hearing this question.
Her head lowered, obscuring her facial expression, though her voice carried inexplicable sorrow.
"It was brought in when my mother left two months ago."
Rio Futaba thought this explanation made sense.
Generally speaking, evil spirits, spectres, and lingering souls of deceased humans cannot affect physical objects in the real world.
But there is one exception.
Objects they frequently interacted with during their lifetime, or items directly responsible for their unrest.
In such cases, they can exert minor influences.
However, only trivial actions, such as pressing piano keys, are involved in this instance.
For supernatural phenomena of this level, the Supernatural Society's intervention isn't necessary.
The talismans and similar items from Oda Noto's shop would be entirely sufficient.
Of course, since Kazusa Touma had come seeking help and was a classmate with Ye Xing, Miko Yotsuya and Yui Yuigahama, they would naturally assist.
Just as Rio Futaba was about to speak, Ye Xing preempted her.
"Don't say anything - I'll handle this personally. I happen to have some knowledge of music theory."
"Really?"
Kazusa Touma couldn't help showing curiosity at this.
"You play instruments too? Guitar? Bass? Or perhaps orchestral instruments?"
Ye Xing shook his head.
"Neither."
Kazusa Touma was even more puzzled. High school students usually practised musical instruments as hobbies—what else could it be besides those?
"Then what instrument is it?"
Ye Xing slowly spoke up.
"The suona."
"Er..."
Kazusa froze.
Her face, usually devoid of emotion like a robot's, perpetually cold and expressionless, showed a clear emotional reaction for the first time.
After hesitating for a long moment, Kazusa finally nodded noncommittally.
"Well... that's fine too."
She truly hadn't expected a high school boy to practise the suona, of all instruments.
The suona—that was the rogue of musical instruments!
"In that case."
Ye Xing stood up and smiled.
"No time like the present. Since I'm free now, I'll go to your place for the exorcism."
"No problem."
Kazusa showed no trace of shyness, as this had been her intention all along.
"Farewell then. The blue mountains remain unchanged, the green waters flow eternal—we shall meet again."
Ye Xing clasped his hands in a salute to Mai Sakurajima and Rio Futaba, then swiftly left with Kazusa in the blink of an eye.
Mai and Futaba exchanged glances.
The air grew silent once more.
Enjoying the competition?
Well, now Ye Xing had gone to Kazusa's house—nothing left to fight over.
"Futaba."
Mai turned to Rio with a smile.
"Ye Xing has already left. Why don't you head home too?"
Rio glanced at Mai, readjusted her glasses, and countered.
"And you?"
"I have something to ask him, so I'll wait here."
"Is that so? Then I'll wait with you."
"Fine by me."
The two girls sat facing each other, both resolute.
Normally, if Ye Xing went out, they'd return the next day—it wasn't as if they'd never see him again.
But today.
Neither Mai nor Rio would leave this place.
Otherwise, wouldn't they be giving their rival an opening?
...
Half an hour later.
"This is my place. No one else is here, so make yourself at home."
Kazusa spoke casually.
Her home was a luxurious, spacious apartment. In the centre of the living room stood a gleaming, undoubtedly expensive piano.
Ye Xing didn't offer the customary remark about how large her home was.
Right now, he had retracted the intimidating aura he emitted towards evil spirits—his so-called energy field.
Otherwise, ordinary spectres wouldn't dare come within a kilometre of him.
Ye Xing usually avoided this for two reasons.
First, he didn't want those things cluttering his vision.
Second, it was a matter of strict standards for a gourmet.
Devouring ordinary evil spirits and spectres was, for him now, like quenching thirst with a drop of water—barely worth the effort.
Only powerful evil spirits confident enough to approach despite his oppressive aura met his current standards.
"Seems it hasn't started yet."
Noticing the piano showed no signs of activity, Kazusa remarked indifferently before sitting on the sofa.
Given her personality, she would never waste a single moment that could be spent playing the piano.
But this time, it was the first in Kazusa Touma's life that she didn't want to play.
She wanted to focus all her attention on Ye Xing.
And yet...
Kazusa's expression appeared calm.
In reality, her hands were trembling with nervousness.
This was a first.
Kazusa Touma, with her exceptional piano talent that rivalled even her mother, Youko Touma's, was experiencing trembling hands for the first time.
Why was this?
She didn't understand herself, only feeling an intense tightness in her chest.
More nervous than during her first public performance, or when playing before her mother.
"Oh, we can wait then."
Ye Xing said casually, sitting down on the sofa as well.
Seeing him choose the adjacent sofa rather than sitting beside her, Kazusa felt both relieved and inexplicably disappointed.
Truth be told.
Kazusa didn't know what she was thinking.
Spring break would end in just a few days.
If she wanted to make a request, she could easily wait until school resumed.
Then she wouldn't need to call teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka.
Normally, Kazusa would avoid speaking to others whenever possible.
Why hadn't she chosen to wait instead of making this decision that went against her usual nature?
Kazusa didn't understand. She couldn't comprehend this version of herself.
Silence fell over the living room.
Time passed minute by minute.
Ye Xing looked completely at ease, showing no urgency to leave.
He enjoyed spending time with both Rio Futaba and Mai Sakurajima.
But with one condition.
It had to be Mai Sakurajima or Rio Futaba.
Not Mai Sakurajima and Rio Futaba.
The battlefield of love.
What a terrifying concept.
The best way to resolve conflict is to eliminate its root cause.
So Ye Xing removed himself.
Of course, there was another reason.
He genuinely wanted to see what kind of spectre would play piano daily in the Touma household.
Such artistic refinement?
After an indeterminate time.
Just as Kazusa was lost in thought, a faint piano note sounded.
Ye Xing looked up to see one key on the living room piano pressing itself.
"It's starting."
As Kazusa spoke, the piano keys began moving like ocean waves, rising and falling in sequence.
Each press and release gave birth to a beautiful yet heartbreakingly melancholic melody.
To Kazusa, the piano seemed to be playing itself.
She even had the presence of mind to listen attentively, occasionally nodding as if approving of the composition.
Seeing Kazusa like this, Ye Xing finally understood.
He'd assumed she lacked fear of ghosts.
Turns out, Kazusa's love for piano completely overshadowed any fear of the supernatural, hence her reaction.
Ye Xing even suspected.
Had this not begun to affect Kazusa's own playing, she might never have sought his help, choosing instead to continue enjoying the performances.
Ye Xing turned to Kazusa and whispered:
"What do you think?"
Kazusa Touma pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"I think this piece has extremely high demands on both speed and fluency. The difficulty is tremendous, proving the performer's skill is also exceptional - almost comparable to my mother's."
Ye Xing wore an expression of speechlessness.
'I didn't even ask you about that.'
Whatever.
This was Kazusa Touma after all.
Being slightly abnormal was perfectly normal for her.
What Ye Xing saw was completely different from Kazusa's perception.
A gaunt woman in what appeared to be a red evening gown, with long dishevelled hair, sat playing the piano.
Her gown wasn't originally red.
Two trails of bloody tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the fabric.
The evening gown had been dyed red with blood.
"Bloody hell, it's a vengeful spirit."
Who would have thought an ordinary paranormal incident would yield such an unexpected bonus?
The food came pre-seasoned with ketchup.
How amusing.
At the words "vengeful spirit", the piano music stopped abruptly.
The female ghost seated at the piano slowly raised her head.
Beneath the curtain of her long hair lay a pair of eerie, entirely white eyeballs from which crimson tears of blood continuously seeped.
"You... can see me?"
"Hah, how preposterous."
Ye Xing chuckled lightly. With a movement so swift that Kazusa Touma, seated on the sofa, couldn't even perceive it clearly, he instantly dashed to the front of the piano.
Thud!
Ye Xing single-handedly seized the female spectre by the throat, pinning her against the living room wall.
At this moment, the oppressive aura he had been concealing—an aura that struck primal fear into the bones of evil spirits and spectres as if they'd encountered their natural predator—burst forth unrestrained once more.
The previously ferocious red-clad female spectre instantly became far more docile.
Kazusa Touma couldn't comprehend what was happening.
All she knew was that Ye Xing had suddenly flashed to the piano, then assumed a posture as if gripping something invisible, pressing it against the wall.
"Behave."
Feeling the increasing pressure around her neck, the red-clad spectre immediately ceased struggling.
She had realised.
Compared to this human before her, she was utterly insignificant.
"That's more like it."
Ye Xing revealed a benign smile, speaking gently.
"You can speak, can't you?"
Not daring to hesitate, the spectre nodded vigorously like a pecking chick.
"Y-yes, I can."
"Good."
Ye Xing smiled approvingly.
"I ask, you answer. Understood?"
"Understood, understood, understood. Ask away."
"Why were you playing the piano in someone else's home?"
At this question, the spectre adopted a pitiful expression.
"This was originally my piano."
"Oi, talking back now?"
Frowning slightly, Ye Xing first released the spectre, then patiently explained.
"You're a ghost now. You have no property rights, understand?"
The spectre froze.
What he said... made sense.
"But... it really was my piano."
"Listen to yourself."
Ye Xing waved his hand, then patted the spectre's shoulder with profound sincerity.
"You know the law of conservation of mass, yes?"
"I've heard of it."
"Well then, if we're being technical, all matter in this world once belonged to someone else. Just because this piano was yours before doesn't mean it's yours now. If everyone followed that rule, what would the living use? Makes sense, doesn't it?"
"Uh..."
The spectre was rendered speechless.
She never anticipated.
That as a vengeful spirit, she would one day be outwitted by a human's rhetoric.
And worse, she couldn't even refute it.
Ye Xing's sudden lecture wasn't mere madness.
As he spoke, he carefully observed the spectre's reactions.
From her expression...
Well, the spectre only had white eyes, so no expressions there.
But from her body language and the thoughtful frown—these subtle details suggested this spectre wasn't the type of evil spirit harbouring intense hostility towards humans.
Despite her terrifying attire, she likely fell into the general spectre category.
She just wanted to play piano—what's wrong with that!
Of course, Ye Xing didn't dwell on this, instead shifting topics abruptly.
"Next question then. Why did you ask if I could see you? Were you planning to harm me?"
The red-clad spectre wore an expression of utter despair.
"No, big brother, the reason I asked if you could see her is because I have something to say to that girl."
"Oh, I see."
Just as the female ghost in red thought Ye Xing would apologise next, she heard him speak with an utterly unrepentant tone, launching a preemptive accusation.
"Then why didn't you say so earlier? This is entirely your fault."
The female ghost in red was nearly in tears.
'What kind of person is this?'
'I only had time to say one sentence before you pinned me against the wall.'
'And now it's my fault?'
Though she thought this, under the oppressive aura emanating from Ye Xing, the female ghost in red could only lower her head and say with sincere remorse:
"I'm sorry, I was wrong."
To know when to yield and when to stand firm - that's the mark of a true ghostly hero.
"Your attitude is commendable."
After this praise, Ye Xing immediately followed up with a question:
"So, what did you want to say to her? She can't see or hear you, but I can relay your message."
At this topic, the female ghost's previously timid and fearful demeanour instantly vanished.
She stood up and pointed at the piano before them.
"It's hard to explain with words alone. Here's what - have her play the piece I just played again, and I'll speak as she plays."
"Alright then."
Ye Xing beckoned to Kazusa Touma, who was still sitting on the sofa.
"Come over here and play us a tune."
Kazusa Touma narrowed her eyes slightly, a faint glimmer of murderous intent flashing in their beautiful depths.
"You're treating me like some street performer?"
Despite her words, Kazusa Touma obediently stood up and walked to the piano, sitting down and lightly placing her slender, pale fingers on the black-and-white keys.
This was Kazusa Touma.
Beyond being tsundere, she had another undeniable trait.
Commonly known as being utterly devoted.
For whatever reason - or even no reason at all - if Ye Xing wanted to hear her play, she would always comply.
As Kazusa Touma's fingers flexed slightly, melodious music filled the entire living room.
Ye Xing simply thought it sounded nice.
After all, he couldn't play piano - his main instrument was the suona.
But as the saying goes:
Amateurs enjoy the show, while professionals understand the craft.
The female ghost in red, being a fellow pianist, kept her gaze fixed on Kazusa Touma's hands.
Watching the other's fingering technique, she unconsciously frowned and instinctively reached out to correct Kazusa Touma's movements.
Only for her hand to pass straight through Kazusa Touma's pale fingers.
Seeing the female ghost's pleading look, Ye Xing immediately understood her intention.
He reached towards Kazusa Touma's slender right hand resting on the keys, hovering there as he softly asked:
"May I?"
Kazusa Touma froze, her playing coming to an abrupt halt.
After a long hesitation, she nervously pursed her lips, gave a slight nod, and answered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:
"Mmm, you may."
Only after placing his hand over Kazusa Touma's, feeling the slight trembling of her delicate fingers and that cool yet soft, smooth texture that one couldn't help but adore, did Ye Xing remember one crucial fact:
Kazusa Touma couldn't hear the female ghost in red.
In the other's eyes, it seemed as though she was performing when Ye Xing suddenly reached out, wanting to touch her hand, and even specifically asked for permission.
In such a situation, Kazusa Touma actually replied, "You may."
Profound—truly profound.