"Your hand should be placed like this..."
The red-clothed female ghost couldn't physically touch Kazusa Touma, so she could only demonstrate the posture, letting Ye Xing correct Kazusa Touma's piano-playing stance.
At this moment, Kazusa Touma appeared calm on the surface.
In reality, she felt her entire body had stiffened.
Forget physical contact with a man—since the start of the term, Kazusa Touma had basically only spoken to Ye Xing.
In Class A, she could only remember three people.
Aside from Ye Xing, there were Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya.
And that was only because those two girls had formed a club with Ye Xing—otherwise, she wouldn't have remembered them either.
Kazusa Touma's mind was blank; her hands were unsure of where to go...
Oh, her hand was now in Ye Xing's.
Well, that settled that.
"Yes, just like that. Your middle and ring fingers should be slightly apart, about three millimetres..."
The red-clothed female ghost, no longer timid as before, spoke with great seriousness.
Under Ye Xing's adjustments, Kazusa Touma suddenly snapped back to reality.
"This is... You correcting my playing posture?"
"Not me, actually."
Ye Xing didn't take credit, smiling.
"It's that female ghost who watches you play piano every day and even tries playing herself."
"Fe... female ghost?"
Kazusa Touma froze for a moment.
Right.
Pianos don't play themselves.
If there was music coming from it, didn't that mean something she couldn't see was playing it?
Her pupils contracted in shock.
"So ghosts really exist in this world?"
Ye Xing looked at her with exasperation.
"No, your reaction time is ridiculously slow."
Kazusa Touma was, in the truest sense, a piano prodigy.
It was almost as if she were born to be a pianist.
Not only did she possess extraordinary talent,
But also that sheer perseverance and purity of focus - once she started playing, she'd immerse herself completely, not even stopping to consider supernatural occurrences around her.
That being said...
Looking at Kazusa Touma's stunned expression, Ye Xing couldn't help feeling this long-haired beauty might have a slightly airheaded side to her.
"So that's how it is."
After Ye Xing withdrew his hand, Kazusa Touma felt an inexplicable sense of loss, but her attention was now focused on her adjusted playing posture.
She pressed a few keys experimentally, lips parting slightly in surprise.
"This... this..."
"Hmph."
The female ghost in red crossed her arms proudly.
"Her original fingering technique wasn't actually problematic."
Ye Xing knew exactly what reaction the ghost wanted at this moment.
Since she'd helped Kazusa Touma, he didn't mind playing along to make her happy.
After all, the dead should be respected.
He deliberately adopted a puzzled, curious expression.
"If there wasn't a problem, why adjust it then?"
This was precisely the reaction the ghost wanted to see.
Looking thoroughly satisfied, she stopped teasing and explained directly.
"While her original playing method wasn't wrong, this child practices for excessively long hours - at least ten hours daily."
"For normal performances, she only needed to ensure her fingering didn't affect key pressing."
"But using this technique for prolonged periods would cause significant damage to her hands."
"She wouldn't just fail to become a world-class pianist - at this rate, her hands would be ruined within two years."
"My corrections can effectively reduce the strain on her hands from extended practice sessions."
"But you must tell her - her practice frequency and intensity far exceed what her hands can endure. She needs proper rest."
Ye Xing relayed the ghost's words verbatim to Kazusa Touma.
At first, Kazusa nodded along thoughtfully.
But when it came to the advice about resting, she bit her lower lip lightly, eyes clouding with complex emotions as she sighed softly - as if explaining to them, or perhaps just murmuring to herself.
"I... I must catch up to her. If I can catch up... then surely... perhaps... I could..."
Her whisper trailed off. Sneaking a glance at Ye Xing, she composed herself, reverting to her usual cool demeanour.
"Please thank that senior for me."
Ye Xing waved dismissively.
"No need for 'please' - she can hear you directly."
The red-clad ghost nodded with a gentle smile.
"You're welcome. My reason for helping her is simple."
The red-clad spectre walked over to the piano and rested her left hand on the black-and-white keys, caressing them as if touching a lover's skin, her movements gentle and unhurried.
"Once, I too wanted to become a world-class pianist."
"Sadly, no matter how desperately I tried, my talent simply wasn't at that level."
Her tone carried melancholy, but more than that, a lingering reluctance.
"But this girl possesses extraordinary talent I never had - enough to become a top-tier performer."
"And I've witnessed her dedication firsthand."
Here, the spectre paused.
Her form gradually grew transparent.
Before vanishing completely, she left two final sentences:
"Tell her... I hope this piano will one day share the stage with her at a world-class performance."
"Let her accomplish what I never could."
With these words, her form dissipated completely.
Ye Xing understood - like Miko Yotsuya's father before her, this spectre had fulfilled her earthly attachment and moved on.
Ye Xing faithfully relayed the spectre's final words to Kazusa Touma.
Upon hearing them, complex emotions flashed through Kazusa's eyes as she mirrored the spectre's gesture, lightly tracing the piano keys while murmuring:
"Can I... really do this?"
Hearing her self-doubt, Ye Xing laughed carelessly.
"If a ghost says you can, then you definitely can."
For once, Kazusa allowed herself a small smile.
"True... who'd have thought my first supporter would be a spectre."
"Not the first - clearly the second."
Kazusa blinked in confusion.
"Second? Then who was first...?"
Ye Xing grinned.
"Me, of course. I've always supported you."
Kazusa's cheeks flushed pink as she lowered her head to hide her expression, muttering irritably:
"Idiot. Don't spout nonsense - you didn't even know I played piano before."
"Oh, I knew very well."
Kazusa didn't pursue the topic, instead standing to close the piano lid. Hesitating briefly, she finally asked:
"That drink in your entryway... is it..."
"Yep."
Ye Xing answered frankly before she could finish.
"The one you gave me."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?"
Kazusa pressed her lips together, complex emotions flickering in her eyes.
"You... seemed to despise my gift. You even gave a whole speech about it."
Ye Xing chuckled.
"True. Pepsi, at room temperature - practically my most hated drink."
Hearing such disdain for her gift, Kazusa's expression darkened with displeasure as she snorted.
"If you dislike it so much, why not just throw it away?"
"Couldn't do that."
Ye Xing shook his head, meeting Kazusa's gaze directly as he smiled.
"I didn't like the gift itself... but I rather like the person who gave it."
Kazusa froze.
After a few seconds, a faint blush of embarrassment gradually appeared on her pale, delicate face.
Her slender, elegant eyes revealed a mix of bewilderment from being caught off guard by such a direct approach, along with a hint of unexpected surprise.
Had she... misheard him?
Let's sort out the logic.
That can of Pepsi—it was indeed the one she had given him on the first day of school, right?
Which meant...
When Ye Xing mentioned the person who gave him the gift, he was definitely referring to her, wasn't he?
So what he meant was...
He liked her, which was why he had kept that can of Pepsi?
Being hit with such a direct confession left Kazusa Touma, who had never interacted much with boys her age—no, with anyone at all—completely unprepared.
At the same time, an indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart.
It wasn't jealousy towards Rio Futaba, Mai Sakurajima, Yui Yuigahama, or Miko Yotsuya—the girls around Ye Xing.
Kazusa simply wondered... did she really deserve him?
She wasn't entirely sure about Ye Xing's reputation at school.
Due to her family circumstances, Kazusa harboured a strange sense of inferiority, and her personality had grown so complex it could almost be called twisted.
Ye Xing's simple words had an unimaginable impact on Kazusa Touma.
She didn't know how to respond.
Perhaps she did know.
But Kazusa lacked the courage to voice her thoughts directly.
She defaulted to instinct.
"You... you should go back first. I need to play the piano."
Kazusa practically shoved Ye Xing out of her home before slamming the door shut behind him.
"What a stubbornly awkward person," Ye Xing couldn't help but think as he stared at the tightly shut security door before him.
Still, he had expected this.
Cold, violent, insecure, yet easily flustered—incapable of expressing her true feelings.
Wasn't that just Kazusa Touma in a nutshell?
Ye Xing had just left the apartment building and stepped onto the street, about to head home, when his phone suddenly rang.
Checking the screen, he saw it was a call from Light Yagami—the very person with whom he'd exchanged numbers that very morning.
He answered the call.
"Hey, Ito-kun."
Light Yagami's voice still carried that familiar amused tone.
Ye Xing responded flatly.
"What is it, Yagami-kun?"
"Nothing major. Just wanted to let you know I might not be able to meet for the next couple of days. My father took leave, so we're touring Kyoto as a family."
As he spoke these words, Light's heart tightened.
Only silence came from the other end of the line.
Several seconds passed before Ye Xing finally replied.
"Mm, no problem. We can meet whenever you're free."
To any potential eavesdropper, their conversation would sound like two new friends planning future outings.
In reality, Ye Xing had perfectly decoded Light's message.
The other's father, Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau Director Soichiro Yagami, was taking leave.
This meant the MPD either wasn't investigating Onimaru Kunitsuna's theft or had temporarily shelved the case.
Upon reflection, it made sense.
Among the MPD personnel present that day, only Soichiro knew the genuine Onimaru Kunitsuna had been taken.
Judging by news reports, after reporting to superiors, the decision had been to suppress this information.
Thus, only a select few were aware of the authentic blade's disappearance.
Any investigation would require informing lower-ranking officers about the theft, either through full disclosure or no investigation at all.
Clearly, the higher-ups had chosen to avoid responsibility by treating the replica as if it were real.
Hearing Ye Xing's response, Light understood his meaning had been received.
He exhaled in relief.
Thankfully, the other's intellect matched his own.
This too had been a test.
Had Ye Xing responded with claims about no prior arrangements or failed to grasp the suggestion, Light would've taken the first Shinkansen out of Kyoto tomorrow morning.
Light had one particular flaw.
He suffered from misanthropy - specifically towards fools.
While his classmates' stupidity merely irritated him without real consequences, such matters demanded absolute precision.
"Oh, one more thing."
Just as Ye Xing prepared to hang up, Light's amused voice added:
"Next time we meet, there's somewhere interesting I'd like to show you. I promise it won't disappoint."
"Is that so?"
Ye Xing chuckled noncommittally.
"My expectations are rather high, Yagami-kun."
"Don't worry."
Light's voice remained light yet meaningful.
"It absolutely won't disappoint."
...
When Ye Xing returned home, it was nearly midnight.
Unlocking the door, he found Rio Futaba absent - only Mai Sakurajima remained, drowsy yet bored, propping her chin on one hand as she waited on the sofa.
"Did Futaba go back?"
Hearing Ye Xing's voice, Mai immediately rose and approached the entryway. Despite her tired eyes, she smiled sweetly.
"Finished your business? Welcome home."
After finishing her sentence, Mai Sakurajima sighed helplessly and pointed towards the second floor.
"Futaba doesn't usually stay up late. Seeing how exhausted she was, I let her sleep in my room first."
"Your room?"
Noticing how Ye Xing had caught the loophole in her words and was looking at her with an amused smile, Mai couldn't help but blush slightly. Immediately, however, she put on an air of righteous indignation, turning the tables on him.
"After sleeping there for so long, of course it's my room now. To supervise you, my junior, and prevent you from doing anything strange with the bed I've slept in, that room will be my exclusive space from now on."
Ye Xing's response remained as straightforward as ever.
"Fine by me, as long as you promise to wear the bunny girl outfit at home from now on."
"You!"
Mai gritted her teeth lightly, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suppressing her shyness as she murmured in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum.
"Hmph... if... if it's your request as my junior, then... next time when it's just the two of us, if I'm in a good mood... I'll wear it for you."
Watching Mai's attempt to appear mature and composed despite her obvious innocence and bashfulness, Ye Xing chose to smile without saying a word.
Those who know, know.
You don't even recognise a spirit-blocker, yet you're trying to act all grown-up with me?
"By the way, there's something I want to ask you."
Mai pulled Ye Xing down onto the sofa, choosing to sit right next to him rather than opposite.
If Rio Futaba, currently asleep upstairs, were to see this scene, her feelings would undoubtedly be complicated.
Unfortunately for her, she was asleep.
A victory for the night owls.
Once seated, Ye Xing maintained his usual playful demeanour, grinning as he said,
"What do you want to ask? If it's about sleeping together tonight, as long as you ask nicely, I might consider it."
Mai's face flushed slightly at his words.
"Ugh, in your dreams."
"Come on, it's not like we haven't slept together before."
Mai was left speechless.
Well... he wasn't wrong.
They'd already shared a bed in a hotel, so why not at home?
It wasn't that she was afraid things would get out of hand.
Mainly, she just wasn't mentally prepared yet.
But if Ye Xing insisted...
Well, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
Shaking her head to dispel these wandering thoughts, Mai looked directly into Ye Xing's eyes and asked softly with a serious expression,
"I still don't understand why, when the entire world—even my own mother—forgot about me, you could still remember... no, as Futaba would say, still perceive me?"
This had always been Mai's lingering doubt.
If their relationship had been as intimate from the very beginning as it was now, then it might have made some sense.
But the problem was, when they first met on the school rooftop, she was already suffering from Adolescence Syndrome.
At that time, Miko Yotsuya could still perceive her existence, but as time went on, even that became impossible.
This ruled out the factor of psychics.
So why, then?
Faced with Mai's question, Ye Xing spread his hands.
"Tell me, you do know why you suddenly developed this condition, right?"
Mai frowned slightly and retorted.
"What kind of words are these? But as for the cause of Adolescence Syndrome... I think I can understand."
"Then that settles it."
Mai Sakurajima wore a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean? I don't follow."
"It's simple."
Ye Xing suddenly stopped smiling and stared at Mai Sakurajima's delicate face as he softly explained.
"Because to me, Mai Sakurajima is just Mai Sakurajima. That former nationally famous idol actress is far less important in my heart than you as a person. That's all there is to it."