First Music Room.
Lunch break time was the same as before.
After lunch, Kazusa, Chisato, and Hitori were all doing their own things to pass the time.
Ever since she established her relationship with Chisato, the focus of Kazusa's life has changed.
In the past, she followed the rules of society and acted like a good student with nothing to do.
Her grades didn't matter, and she never thought about her future plans. She lived an ignorant life according to her own whims.
But now, under the influence of Chisato, she has new goals and motivation.
She has been working hard to study recently, and whenever she encounters questions she doesn't understand, she asks him for help privately.
Even during lunch break, she was holding an English textbook, practicing her speaking and pronunciation.
As a child, she had participated in competitions abroad and had some foundational skills, so mastering English was much easier for her than other subjects.
However, during today's study session, she felt a little strange because she was multitasking. This strange feeling was not about herself but about someone else in the room.
If it were studying or something similar, she wouldn't have been so perceptive. But when it came to music, the situation was entirely different.
She had inherited her mother's excellent musical talent and had focused on this field since she was a child.
With her genius-like talent and skill on the piano, there was no reason she shouldn't notice this unnatural situation in front of her.
Chisato was practicing the piano. He seemed to be in good spirits today.
As soon as he entered the classroom during lunch break, he immediately sat down at the piano.
Should she call it momentum or charisma?
In any case, Kazusa half-jokingly remarked that while his piano skills were not very good, the feeling he was displaying made him seem like an expert who had studied the piano for many years.
At that time, Hitori agreed and echoed her sentiment. Chisato just laughed without saying anything more and started playing the piano.
It still felt familiar at first.
His touch on the keys was not strong enough, resulting in a soft sound coming from the piano.
His fingers and foot on the sustain pedal did not cooperate very well; the melody was either dragged out too long or stopped abruptly after a while.
In short, it was no different from before. After all, he was a novice who had only been playing the piano for a little over a month, so it was understandable.
The change came after lunch when Kazusa began to look at Chisato more frequently.
It was still the simple etude she had taught him before, but as he played it repeatedly, the speed of his progress became astonishing.
From Chisato's serious expression, she could see his concentration and a hint of joy.
With each repetition, one aspect of the piece improved, and he gradually approached perfection.
Kazusa didn't realize when she had put down the English textbooks in her hands. After Chisato finished playing, she walked over to the piano.
"It seems I am not as talentless in music as you suggested before, Kazusa."
Chisato smiled rather boastfully.
Kazusa first glanced at his hands, which were casually placed on the keys, then raised her gaze to meet his eyes.
She couldn't hold his gaze for more than two seconds before looking away, feeling embarrassed.
She asked, "Have you been studying the textbooks I gave you at home?"
Chisato nodded. "Yes, it's not just that. I've also watched some video tutorials from piano bloggers online, including techniques and practice methods. I find them very useful."
Based on his explanation, Chisato provided convincing reasons for his unnatural progress.
He was not foolish enough to flaunt his newly acquired music theory skills as if they were a treasure, which would have seemed a bit too unnatural.
However, his answer seemed to make Kazusa a little unhappy.
Strange... there shouldn't be any flaws...
Chisato felt nervous.
"Are you really watching other people's piano tutorials online?"
"..."
Chisato was taken aback for a moment but quickly regained his composure.
It was a false alarm.
He explained, "It's just a foundation. For advanced piano skills, I will definitely have to consult you, Ms. Touma. That's without question."
But Teacher Touma still seemed a bit dissatisfied.
"Even if it's just the basics, encountering the wrong guidance and developing bad habits can be very troublesome to correct later."
"It's not that serious... I only use the online tutorials as a reference. The real practice methods are mainly based on the books you gave me."
"Besides, the bloggers I follow are all certified professionals."
"That's not very comprehensive. No matter how detailed the video is, it's not as important as having a qualified teacher."
"If there's no teacher around to provide guidance and correct mistakes as they arise, there will still be potential risks."
Chisato was silent for a moment, reflecting on the meaning of Kazusa's words.
"Why did you suddenly stop talking?"
"No... I just suddenly felt that your hard work lately seemed to be paying off, and you were actually able to make insinuations and irrefutable remarks."
"Don't think of me as an idiot."
"I understand; don't be angry. During this period, you are also preparing for the monthly exams, and your time is very limited."
"Don't worry, I'll seek your advice after it's over. Just don't bother me then."
"As long as you're not so clueless that I lose my patience."
Kazusa crossed her arms, having received the answer she wanted. She smiled brightly.
"Oh, right."
She secretly glanced at Hitori, who was practicing guitar with headphones on, feeling relieved.
But even so, she lowered her voice.
"Mom said she wanted to invite you to dinner before. She wanted me to confirm your availability so she could arrange the restaurant later."
Chisato thought for a moment and realized there was indeed such a thing.
"Are you coming with me, Kazusa?"
Kazusa tilted her head, a subtle smile appearing.
"Do you want to have dinner alone with my mother?"
"...I just asked casually. Don't look at me with such a scary expression. As long as it's the weekend, I can do it anytime."
"Understood."
"It seems like you're getting along well with your mother lately."
"I just think she's annoying. This time, she came back to stay unusually long. She has no activities planned and just stays at home all day. It's not like her at all."
"Obviously, she misses you."
"Forget it."
A hint of disgust crossed Kazusa's face. She was unwilling to continue discussing her mother.
"I'm going back to reading. You can keep practicing the piano."
"This is for you."
Chisato took out two chocolates from his pocket and placed them in Kazusa's palm.
She took one and ate it, then looked at Hitori, who was sitting facing the window. She walked over, gently patted her shoulder, and handed her the remaining chocolate.
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