The audience murmured in confusion as I stood alone on the stage.
"Huh? Is he going solo?"
Their whispers only made my hands shake more, nerves threatening to overtake me.
But then, from the corner of my eye, a familiar figure emerged from backstage.
"Eh? Nee-chan?" I blurted out, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
She grinned as she approached, carrying her guitar case. "I'm here to perform with you!"
"But how did you even know I was here!?"
She chuckled, brushing off my question. "Weird, right? I guess my little brother's radar went into overdrive."
I blinked, utterly baffled. "I... don't even know what that means. But... what are you going to play?"
She opened her guitar case with a confident smirk, pulling out her electric guitar. She plucked a string, testing the tuning, before glancing at me. "So... is it that song?"
"Reimu's Theme – Maiden's Capriccio."
"Oh boy, this is going to get intense. You'd better handle the drum section."
"I got it," I said with a nod, gripping the guitar tighter.
We both took our positions on stage. I stole a quick glance at the audience and spotted my friends in the crowd, their faces alight with excitement.
This is it.
Everyone...
Watch and listen as a fallen prodigy rises again.
This is my return to the stage!!
With the beat queued in my mind, I struck the strings, unleashing the opening melody.
Key of B Minor, 4/4 time signature, and an electrifying tempo.
My fingers raced across the fretboard, seamlessly covering both guitar and drum parts.The crowd erupted in astonishment.
"Woah! Is it just me, or is Kyo insane on the guitar?!"
Kasumi exclaimed, her voice brimming with awe.
"They're playing almost non-stop,"
Tae added, her gaze fixed intently on my movements before shifting to my sister.As she joined in, her guitar sang a harmony that mimicked the keyboard, the intricate melody weaving through my rhythm.
"Amazing..." Lisa whispered, leaning forward in her seat. "Look at that—Kyo's sister is emulating the keyboard parts with her guitar. It's incredible."
The audience was captivated, and their cheers fuelled our performance as the tempo soared.
Every note, chord, and beat resonated, declaring a story of redemption and passion.
This stage... this moment... was ours.
with the final chord reverberating through the air, I took a steadying breath and launched into an electrifying solo, the crescendo of our performance.
Each note surged forth like a torrent, fierce yet deliberate, carrying the raw emotion I had suppressed for years.
My fingers moved instinctively, dancing across the strings with precision, coaxing out tones that soared and roared, weaving an unspoken story of redemption and determination.
The crowd fell silent, their collective breath held as if afraid to disrupt the moment. My sister took a step back, her smile glowing with pride, ceding the stage to me entirely.
Her silent support ignited a fire within me, urging me to push the limits.
The solo reached its zenith, a crescendo of passion and skill, before resolving into a single hauntingly beautiful note.
The sound lingered in the air, ethereal and bittersweet, like a whispered farewell to my past fears. For a moment, there was only silence—then a thunderous eruption of applause.
The cheers cascaded over me, a tidal wave of appreciation and energy.
"Encore! Encore! Encore!"
The chants rang out, filling the livehouse with a fervor that made my chest tighten.
Lowering my guitar, I glanced at the audience—faces brimming with awe, joy, and admiration.
My heart pounded, not with anxiety, but with exhilaration. I gave a deep bow, a silent thanks to everyone who believed in me. Then, clutching my guitar, I turned and retreated backstage, the roar of applause following me like a victorious anthem.
Three days after the performance, life at the livehouse seemed to settle back into its usual rhythm, but there was a noticeable shift. My name—and the performance—had gone viral, bringing new faces and fresh energy to CiRCLE.
My classmates and even students from other schools started recognizing me, which felt... odd. Standing at the counter, I mumbled to myself, "I think I finally have the money to fix my guitar... So, it's time."
"Hm? Nakasone-kun? What are you mumbling about?"
I turned to see Marina approaching with her ever-bright demeanor.
"Oh, Marina-san."
"Yes?"
"I think I finally have enough to repair my old guitar."
Her face lit up instantly. "Oh!? That's great news! That means you'll be playing your guitar even more here at CiRCLE, right? Right!?"
I chuckled, scratching the back of my head. "Haha... about that..."
The words were harder to say than I thought they'd be.
"Marina-san... I'd like to retire."
Her expression shifted immediately, her usually cheerful eyes now serious. "Oh... I see. May I ask why?"
I took a deep breath. "Well, first, I achieved my goal—to earn enough to fix my old guitar. Second, the performance... made me realize how much my life has grown thanks to everyone here. CiRCLE gave me an opportunity I'll never forget. And third... I'm about to graduate soon and move on to college. It feels like the right time to focus on the next chapter."
...Marina stared at me for a moment.
Will she judge me for it?
She let out a small sigh, her lips curling into a bittersweet smile."Alright, I respect your choice. But... you should make sure to say goodbye to everyone.
They'll want to hear it from you personally."
"Yeah," I said softly. "I'll do that."
"Good," she said, her smile growing brighter again.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to grab something real quick.
"Be right back!"Before I could respond, she dashed off, her footsteps echoing through the space."
She's fast at changing paces..." I muttered with a shake of my head.
Marina was Marina, after all. I stepped out from behind the counter and wandered toward the lobby.
The quiet of the space felt different today—more final.
"My last day here," I said under my breath, glancing around the livehouse.
"Tomorrow, I'll be moving on."
It wasn't just a goodbye to CiRCLE; it was the closing of a chapter.