The Crone estate, once a place of hope and refuge for MoMo and Lilia, had become a somber and desolate home. MoMo's expulsion from Miyagi Music School had left him broken and defeated, a mere shadow of his former self.
As MoMo and Lilia returned to the grand estate, the atmosphere was heavy with despair. MoMo's once-vibrant eyes now appeared lifeless, their spark extinguished by the weight of his unjust expulsion. He moved through the mansion like a ghost, his footsteps silent and his presence almost ethereal.
The joy he had once found in playing the piano had all but disappeared. The melodies that used to flow effortlessly from his fingers now remained locked within him, as if the music had abandoned him in his time of need.
Lilia, heartbroken and tormented by her inability to help her dear friend, watched helplessly as MoMo retreated further and further into his own world. She had become a constant presence outside his door, sitting vigil night after night, tears streaming down her face as she listened to the silence within.
MoMo's room, once a place filled with the sounds of beautiful music and laughter, had transformed into a cold and empty chamber. He rarely emerged, and when he did, it was only to eat the bare minimum to sustain his frail body.
His piano, which had once been the vessel through which he expressed his deepest emotions, now stood silent and untouched. Its keys, once caressed by his skilled fingers, gathered dust in the dimly lit room.
Lilia, who had always been MoMo's source of light and laughter, was now filled with a deep sense of guilt and helplessness. She had tried to coax him out of his room, to encourage him to play the piano again, but her efforts were in vain.
Night after night, Lilia sat outside MoMo's door, her sobs echoing in the quiet hallway. Her eyes were swollen from countless tears shed in silent desperation. She missed her friend, the MoMo who had filled her life with music and joy, and she longed to see him return to his former self.
The other residents of the Crone estate watched with concern as MoMo's condition deteriorated. Mr. Crone, who had welcomed MoMo into his home, felt a deep sense of responsibility for the boy's suffering. He, too, had been affected by MoMo's expulsion, as he had grown to care for the young pianist as if he were his own son.
Lilia, feeling helpless and overwhelmed, knew that she couldn't bear to see her friend suffer any longer. She sought guidance from Mr. Crone, the man who had welcomed them into his home and had become a father figure to both of them.
Mr. Crone, his heart heavy with concern for MoMo, entered his room one evening. The sight that greeted him was heart-wrenching. MoMo sat in the dimly lit room, his gaze fixed on the floor, his hands resting limply in his lap.
"MoMo," Mr. Crone said gently, "you cannot allow the darkness to consume you like this. You are a talented and remarkable young man, and your passion for music has touched the hearts of many."
MoMo remained silent, his eyes unfocused, lost in his inner turmoil.
"MoMo," Mr. Crone continued, "you have faced adversity before and emerged stronger. You have a gift, a divine talent that cannot be extinguished so easily. We will find a way to prove your innocence and restore your name."
But MoMo's response was a hollow silence, and Mr. Crone's words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
The chapter ended with Lilia, her heart heavy with despair, still weeping outside MoMo's door. The once vibrant and passionate pianist had become a mere shell of his former self, and the road to recovery seemed long and uncertain.