Hearing this, Eriri opened her mouth but couldn't find words, remaining silent for a long while before finally changing the subject.
"Well... the art exhibition where my work was selected had many famous painters and artists... just winning an award was quite difficult..."
Seeing Eriri's flustered appearance, a teacher from Toyogasaki High School quickly stepped in with an awkward smile to smooth things over.
"Well... winning any award is quite commendable. After all, those public art exhibitions don't consider the artist's age, unlike piano competitions that have age categories, so..."
"Age categories?"
Hearing this, Kazusa Touma frowned slightly, as if the term sounded somewhat familiar. After a moment, she suddenly understood.
"Oh, you mean those youth division competitions? I've never participated in those. If you're going to compete, why limit by age? Are you afraid of losing? In that case, you might as well not compete at all and just stay home hiding."
Kazusa Touma's genuine intent held no trace of mockery, for she was never one to boast.
Yet her matter-of-fact attitude only amplified the impact of her words, leaving Eriri utterly stunned once more.
This Touma-san participated only in competitions with no age restrictions – and won first place every single time?
Didn't this mean her piano skills had surpassed even adult contestants during her very first public competition?
Was she even human?
Faced with Kazusa Touma's once-in-a-century piano talent, Eriri felt completely crushed.
Though both were nominally special talents, they existed on entirely different levels.
In Kazusa Touma's eyes, she had only ever had one goal: to surpass her mother, Youko Touma, a world-class pianist who could arguably be called the greatest living piano virtuoso.
Given this ambition, participating in youth-limited competitions would be as meaningless to her as children playing house.
Unsurprisingly, Youko Touma had never entered her daughter in such contests.
From the very beginning, Kazusa Touma had never confined herself to competing solely with peers – in every competition she entered, her victory remained undisputed.
Now consider Eriri...
Her painting talent was indeed remarkable; for a first-year high school student to win awards at art exhibitions was exceptionally rare.
But compared to Kazusa Touma – whose ambition was to become the world's greatest, backed by both extraordinary talent and relentless dedication – Eriri fell hopelessly short.
Utterly insignificant, completely outclassed.
Unbeknownst to the teachers at Toyogasaki High School, another crushing defeat was occurring at their own doorstep – where academic prodigy Utaha Kasumigaoka was being thoroughly bested by Ye Xing.
Absolutely demolished.
Had the matchups been reversed, the outcome might have been different.
Though Ye Xing possessed numerous talents, he had never participated in competitions nor won any awards. In a direct comparison, Eriri, with her certified achievements, would likely prevail.
Meanwhile, at Sobu High School, while Yukino Yukinoshita maintained excellent grades, she remained only the second-ranked student in her year. Against the perpetually top-ranked Utaha Kasumigaoka, she'd likely struggle to gain any advantage.
This round had become Toyogasaki High School's own version of reversed horse racing strategy – pitting their best against weaker opponents while their weaker contenders faced superior rivals.
The key point was that their school administration didn't know - besides Ye Xing who ranked first in the joint exams, Sobu High School also had a once-in-a-century piano prodigy like Kazusa Touma!
Comparing some art exhibition award to this kind of piano genius was simply ridiculous, wasn't it?
"Hmm? Weren't you supposed to be first?"
Just then, Kazusa Touma glanced at the silent Eriri and spoke in an extremely flat tone, delivering words that carried devastating impact for both the teachers and students of Toyogasaki High School, including Eriri herself.
"Oh, so your special talent is only at this level. I thought you were like me. It seems I was mistaken."
Silence.
A long silence.
Mafuyu Kirisu maintained an expressionless face, but inwardly, she couldn't help feeling quite pleased.
She finally understood why her good friend Shizuka Hiratsuka - who had been on the verge of giving up hope for her teaching career and sinking into apathy - had suddenly become so cheerful every day.
Having experienced being the homeroom teacher of Class A for less than half an hour, Mafuyu Kirisu already understood how the other felt.
All the students in the class were genuine geniuses who had already found their correct paths without needing guidance.
This was too satisfying.
The teacher from Toyogasaki High School looked at Mafuyu Kirisu and said with an awkward smile, "Kirisu-sensei, I never expected Sobu High to be hiding such a trump card. No wonder you said this place is the most important location at Sobu High."
Before Mafuyu Kirisu could respond, Kazusa Touma slightly frowned.
"You've misunderstood. This being Sobu High's most important place has little to do with me. The truly important person won't be here today."
After saying this, Kazusa Touma waved her hand slightly impatiently.
"Finished with the tour? If you're done, please leave. Don't disturb my sleep."
Mai Sakurajima shook her head helplessly and smiled at the teachers and students from Toyogasaki High School.
"Everyone, that's basically the situation. Since the most important person isn't here today, there's not much worth seeing. Please come out."
After closing the club room door, Eriri seemed to finally snap out of her shock. She looked at Mai Sakurajima with a complicated expression.
"Sakurajima-senpai, may I ask - besides you, Yukinoshita-san, and that Touma-san, are there any other members in the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society?"
"Yes, about a dozen or so."
Clearly, Mai Sakurajima was counting Hachishaku-sama, the recently joined Kuchisake-onna, Menma, and Shoko Makinohara as members of the Supernatural Society.
"A dozen!?"
The teachers and students from Toyogasaki High School were shocked by this number.
The Supernatural Society members they had seen so far were: former nationally famous idol actress Mai Sakurajima, Yukino Yukinoshita, who ranked second in overall academic performance, and Kazusa Touma with her once-in-a-century piano talent.
Could it be that the remaining members also possessed talents far beyond ordinary high school students, just like these three?
What kind of club was this exactly?
"By the way, that Touma-san just now mentioned..."
Recalling Kazusa Touma's words, Eriri noticed a particular detail and couldn't resist her curiosity.
"Who is this most important person in your club that you mentioned? Are they not at school today?"
"It's Ye Xing, you should have heard of him. He's the founder of this club."
"So that's how it is..."
Eriri's mind was racing rapidly.
Before attending this exchange event, she had indeed heard about Ye Xing's achievements. After all, he had entered school with the top score in the joint entrance exams and had even defeated the genius from Shuchi'in Academy, the star student of Sobu High School, during the joint examinations.
Eriri's parents actually held quite high opinions of this Ye Xing classmate they had never met.
This was mainly because both Eriri's parents and Eriri herself disliked the overly distinct class hierarchy at Shuchi'in Academy, which didn't feel like a normal school at all. Otherwise, given Eriri's family background and her own talents, she could have chosen to enrol in Shuchi'in Academy back then.
Eriri was somewhat curious about what kind of person could not only defeat the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya financial group from Shuchi'in Academy, but even make the piano genius Kazusa Touma, who seemed to have significant personality issues, willingly join his club?
Of course, she was only somewhat curious.
Eriri hadn't forgotten that her main objective in coming to Sobu High School this time was still to find that boy.
"Miss Kirisu."
Eriri once again put on that harmless, likeable, sweet smile, which once more earned her a look of disgust from Yukino Yukinoshita.
"Could you take us to visit the classrooms of each grade? I know classes are in session, and we'll all stay quiet. We'll just take a quick look from outside and won't disturb your students."
Mafuyu Kirisu nodded lightly and said calmly.
"Yes, no problem. After the tour, you can also choose a class you like to experience a lesson. After all, this is an exchange between two schools, so firsthand experience would be better."
Although Mai Sakurajima and Yukino Yukinoshita hadn't had much contact with this teacher, Mafuyu Kirisu, they could already tell from their brief interaction that this equally beautiful female teacher seemed much more proper in character compared to the sometimes scatterbrained and eccentric Shizuka Hiratsuka.
This was just as well.
If Ye Xing had been here today, the mental attacks suffered by the representative team from Toyogasaki High School would likely have been more than just at this level.
Then, if their homeroom teacher, Shizuka Hiratsuka, added some sarcastic remarks from the side...
Who could withstand that?
In the following time, Eriri blended in with the Toyogasaki High School group and, under the pretext of touring, carefully examined every classroom they passed during lessons, searching for that boy wearing the Sobu High School uniform from that day.
Her behaviour naturally caught the attention of Yukino Yukinoshita and Mai Sakurajima, but neither of them paid it much mind, thinking she might have some friends at Sobu High School and, since she had come all this way, it was normal to want to say hello.
...
Meanwhile, at Toyogasaki High School.
"By the way, let me ask you something."
Ye Xing looked towards the principal of Toyogasaki High School and asked with a smile.
"Is there a boy named Tomoya Aki in your school? He should be in first year."
"Tomoya Aki?"
The principal was momentarily stunned and looked towards the first-year level coordinator.
"Have you heard this name?"
"Not really... Wait, let me check the student roster..."
The year head took out her phone and checked it, then shook her head after confirming the answer.
"I'm certain there's no student named Tomoya Aki."
After receiving the teacher's answer, Ye Xing looked towards Utaha Kasumigaoka, who was leading the way ahead.
"Kasumigaoka-san, have you heard this name before?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka shook her head without any hesitation.
"Tomoya Aki? What an unpleasant name. Never heard of it."
"That's a relief then."
Ye Xing thought to himself that if that bastard Tomoya Aki were here, he'd have some fun today.
He'd thoroughly humiliate him.
There was no particular reason - he simply disliked this overly incompetent, talentless yet self-centred male protagonist.
But it seemed now that Tomoya Aki didn't exist here.
Excellent. Everyone's happy, very good indeed.
"Ye Xing-san, regarding today's one-day exchange experience... perhaps you could choose a first-year class and experience being a student for a day?"
Since this was an exchange experience event, they couldn't just wander around aimlessly like this.
"Unnecessary."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively with an indifferent expression.
"Where is your school's music club activity room?"
"Um... that direction, there's a sign by the entrance. But it's class time now, so there's definitely no one in the activity room..."
"Fine."
Before the principal of Toyogasaki High School could finish, Ye Xing interrupted.
"I'm commandeering that activity room. If you have any instructions, you can find me there. As for the boring matter of exchanging teaching methods, I'll leave that to you, Shizuka-chan."
Having said this, Ye Xing walked off on his own.
Watching his retreating back, Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed helplessly, then turned to the teachers and students of Toyogasaki High School with a smile.
"That's just Ye Xing's personality. Let's continue our tour and leave him to his own devices."
"Oh... oh, alright..."
Just as the principal of Toyogasaki High School was awkwardly responding, Utaha Kasumigaoka snorted lightly and, without saying a word, chased after Ye Xing in the direction he had left.
...
Five minutes later.
Utaha Kasumigaoka pulled open the activity room door to find Ye Xing sitting on a chair by the window, looking completely relaxed and comfortable, seemingly not at all surprised by her arrival.
"How did you get in?"
The music club activity room stored instruments belonging to club members, and of course, one's personal instruments couldn't be handled freely by others. Therefore, the music club activity room door was always locked outside of club activity hours.
Without a key, how had he gotten in?
"Isn't it obvious?"
Ye Xing continued staring out the window without turning his head, speaking calmly.
"Picked the lock, of course."
"Um..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka was beginning to realise something.
From the moment they met, she seemed completely unable to keep up with Ye Xing's peculiar thought processes.
Wait...
You're a high school student who not only plays the suona but also has advanced skills like lockpicking?
Utaha Kasumigaoka shook her head, reached out to close the activity room door properly, then sat opposite Ye Xing. She crossed her long, shapely black-stockinged legs, rested her chin on one hand, and studied him thoughtfully.
"Your attitude, is it always this arrogant? Or are you deliberately putting on this condescending act to provoke us from Toyogasaki High School? Though you appear mature, your personality is rather childish, Ye Xing."
"You're the childish one, Kasumigaoka."
Ye Xing turned his head, looked directly into Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyes, and chuckled lightly.
"If you truly believe I would deliberately provoke your Toyogasaki High School out of some competitive spirit, you're overestimating yourselves. If it were Shuchi'in Academy, perhaps I might find some amusement."
"As for being called condescending?"
"I simply think this exchange meeting is completely meaningless beyond mutual showing off."
"Though you're far inferior to me, Kasumigaoka, as the so-called genius who has maintained the top grade ranking since entering school, you should at least understand that when the ability gap is too large, even if you share teaching experiences, the other party simply won't comprehend? I can't be bothered to downgrade."
Hearing these words, Utaha Kasumigaoka remained silent for a few seconds before suddenly revealing a faint smile.
"You're more interesting than I imagined, Ye Xing."
Utaha Kasumigaoka herself possessed an unfiltered, sharp-tongued personality.
She had originally thought the outstanding student representative from Sobu High School would be like other high-achieving students - dull and boring in personality.
But now that she had encountered him, Utaha Kasumigaoka realised.
Perhaps this exchange meeting would be more interesting than she had imagined.
...
Soon, it was after school.
Eriri, who had been busy all day, had truly been busy all day.
It was really absurd.
She had searched the entire Sobu High School during lunch break, yet couldn't find any trace of that boy.
Could it be that he was absent today?
Did that mean her entire day had been wasted?
"Eriri"
Hearing the school bell ring, Hana Yurikawa ran up to Eriri with a cheerful smile.
"Want to grab something to eat later? There's this place with really delicious hip-shaped daifuku."
As a representative from Toyogasaki High School, Eriri had been experiencing a full day of classes.
The class she had chosen was Class 1-A.
After all, Eriri had heard from Mai Sakurajima that aside from her, all members of the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society were in this class. She wanted to see for herself what kind of people could share a club with a monster-level genius like Kazusa Touma.
She hadn't expected to be so shocked by what she saw.
This girl called Hana Yurikawa...
Eriri glanced at the other girl's chest, then looked down at her own, feeling a sense of defeat.
An overwhelming pressure, like Mount Tai pressing down on her, surrounded her heart.
While Eriri's size was considered slightly small among her peers, it was still considerably better than Yukino Yukinoshita's.
She had originally thought such astonishing proportions only existed in doujinshi - who would have thought there really existed someone in real life with assets larger than their head?
Eriri had truly broadened her horizons today. One could even say without exaggeration that Hana Yurikawa had shocked her more than Kazusa Touma had. After all, how could intangible talent compare to enormous breasts right before your eyes, still swaying slightly?
Looking at the naturally friendly Hana Yurikawa with her silly, cute smile, Eriri gritted her teeth and finally made up her mind.
She couldn't leave Sobu High School empty-handed after coming all this way.
Eriri leaned close to Hana Yurikawa and lowered her voice.
"Yurikawa-san, have you seen a boy in school with black hair, black eyes, about 180cm tall, and quite handsome?"
"Huh?"
Hana Yurikawa wore an expression of deep thought as she murmured.
"Hmm... is there someone like that in our school? Besides Mai-senpai, I don't know any other upperclassmen... I can't think of anyone."
Eriri sighed, thinking, 'as expected.'
With thousands of students at Sobu High School, finding that particular boy through inquiries was quite difficult.
Just then, Eriri suddenly remembered something else and immediately added.
"Oh, right, his way of speaking... how should I put it... is a bit improper?"
Before Hana Yurikawa could respond, Rio Futaba's calm voice came from behind Eriri.
"Abstract?"
Eriri was momentarily stunned, then turned to face Rio Futaba, her eyes shining with excitement as she nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, abstract! That word fits perfectly! Futaba-san, do you know that boy?"
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses and exchanged a glance with Miko Yotsuya beside her. Both girls sighed simultaneously.
Hana Yurikawa finally caught on belatedly.
"Abstract speaking style... outstanding appearance... very tall... black hair and black eyes..."
Hana Yurikawa input these tags into her mind like a search engine.
Of course, the others weren't important.
When she input the 'abstract' tag, only one option remained.
"Eriri... could it be that the person you're looking for is Ye Xing?"