Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622174366118696
The stage. On the wide platform with the curtain raised, a sleek black grand piano stood tall, quietly waiting for the performer.
In the midst of pure silence and tense anticipation, two women emerged from the wings.
One was a woman in a black dress, carrying nothing. And then…
“Beautiful…”
Someone must have uttered those words unconsciously. Some sighed, while others held their breath.
The cause of all this was the other woman, a violinist with long hair tied at the nape of her neck, dressed in a red dress.
As the two bowed together, a storm of applause erupted in the hall.
The piece being performed was Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 40, “Danse Macabre.”
The piece began with a quiet, slow piano accompaniment and the faint sound of strings, quickly taking over the hall.
What stood out was the piano, producing a cheerful, step-like sound.
However, that was not the purpose of the hundreds of audience members who had gathered there.
It happened about twenty seconds after the piece began.
It was the moment when the violinist took a sharp, sharp breath.
The acceleration—it was like a piece of music danced by the Grim Reaper.
The cluster of sounds, which even expressed a sense of eeriness, was like a black incarnation that swallowed up the light in the hall.
The alternating melodies of the piano and violin, combining intensity and elegance, resonated slowly and terrifyingly.
And so, the piece reached its climax.
The clash between the pounding accompaniment and the main melody, reminiscent of a stormy sea, gradually subsided.
When the performance ended, the hall was filled with the lingering echoes of the shocking sounds.
The two performers exchanged glances, slightly out of breath, then bowed deeply.
At the same time, the applause that erupted was probably several times louder than before the performance.
“…Amazing.”
The girl sitting next to me also murmured as she gazed at the stage.
“Right? You wouldn’t know it just by looking at her. If that were my home, she will be a lazy older sister.”
Camille Saint-Saëns, Op. 40, Symphonic Poem “Danse Macabre.”
Performer: Hayami Ajisai.
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“Gwaaah, water. I’m exhausted… Ren, rub my shoulders.”
In the dressing room, such voices echoed.
The dignified figure from earlier was no longer there.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks. Ah, I’m so tired. Hmm, I’m sleepy.”
“…”
Even Shiramine, who was usually unflappable, looked shocked at the difference between my sister on stage and my sister now.
“Oh, right. How was it? Hisui-chan. My performance.”
“Um. I’m not really knowledgeable about music, but it was amazing…”
Shiramine’s expression was one of respect, or rather admiration… I was a little surprised to see her look like that.
“Hahaha, I knew it, I knew it. Well, the accompanist was incredibly skilled today, but… it was different from our usual practice.”
Saying that, my sister stared at me intently. What’s with that tone? I’m not going to practice with you anymore, sister.
“…Um, can you play the piano too, senpai?”
“Um, no… I can play, but…”
“Actually, he can play. He’s pretty good at it. He used to be so cute, following me to my lessons and calling me ’nee chan nee chan””
Why did she have to say that? Well, I wasn’t hiding it, so it’s fine.
“Oh, it’s almost time. Can you wait outside? Both of you.”
Apparently, there’s an interview with some classical music magazine later today. I guess it’ll be here.
“Sure. I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“Excuse me, Ajisai-san.”
“Sure. Oh, Ren. If it’s the person you’re looking for, they’ll come to the cafe terrace, so wait there for them.”
“Okay, thanks.”
After thanking her, Shiramine and I left the waiting room.
In a corner of the small cafe terrace next to the hall. The person we were waiting for hadn’t arrived yet.
It was around noon.
“I didn’t know that. I didn’t know you could play the piano.”
“Well, it’s no big deal. I just used to accompany my sister when she practiced.”
My sister is a rather forceful person who has a habit of wanting to share what she likes with others.
She had proudly boasted about the violin she started playing at the age of five many times.
And since I was also very close to my sister, I took up the piano a little bit at my parents’ suggestion.
“Ajisai san, she is at a music university, right? Have you decided on your future plans yet?”
Shiramine looked puzzled for a moment when she received her coffee, but after adding three sugar sticks, she looked satisfied.
“I’ve decided.”
I’ve known since junior high school. No, to be precise, it was when I quit soccer.
“Oh, which university are you going to?”
“…No, that’s not it. I’m talking about employment. I don’t have anything I want to do even if I go to university.”
“Oh, I see. That’s surprising. I thought you’d go to the same place as Hasegawa-senpai.”
Ugh, she hit the nail on the head. But… that’s not the premise.
“Aota probably won’t go to college.”
“Huh?”
“He’s going to Spain to play soccer right after high school graduation.”
That’s also Aota’s dream since middle school. In fact, with his current skills, he’ll probably be fine.
“…Is that so?”
“Shiramine-san?”
For some reason, her expression seemed monotonous to me for a moment.
“Nothing. Oh, isn’t that her?”
“Huh?”
Shiramine’s gaze shifted behind me. I turned around to look.
“Oh! You’reAjisai’s younger brother! …You don’t really look alike.”
“Hello. Thank you for coming all this way, Hirasawa-senpai.”
A short-haired woman with unusually high energy ran over to our table.
It was Tsuzurisato san’s benefactor, Hirasawa Miyako herself.
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