CHAPTER 328: CHAPTER 251: THE FIRST PERFORMANCE_2

"I didn’t expect Sakisa to play so well." Uesugi Sakura took the guitar case handed over by Tsusei’s driver, thanked him, and slung it over her back.

"Sakisa has been practicing violin since she was a child. Compared to her, Hanabi’s singing seems weaker."

"Hanabi just needs more practice, her voice is very pleasant." Uesugi Sakura helped her open the door.

"Isn’t it too quiet?"

"A soft voice in a girl represents tenderness." Uesugi Sakura said warmly with a smile.

*

"How about we try playing together?"

After Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi arrived, Kyujuu Rika lowered her slender arms from the piano keys and faced everyone holding various instruments.

"So soon?" Kitagawa Sakisa said, today she was still in a black dress, though the style was slightly different.

"It’s only two days until Saturday!"

There was no choice, at Kyujuu Rika’s suggestion, Uesugi Sakura took her seat,

he was the guitarist, playing an accompaniment role in the song along with the piano, making the music fuller and more lively.

"Everyone, get prepared."

Sitting at the Steinway grand piano, Kyujuu Rika’s gaze fell on Uesugi Sakura.

The room fell silent, the air grew tense, and everyone present subconsciously tensed up.

This was everyone’s first time attempting to perform a song together.

Previously, they all practiced alone, so no one knew how the combined result would turn out.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at Kyujuu Rika, the song’s beginning was led by the two of them, the first note was their duet.

She turned around, and her delicate fingers began to press down on the keys, playing the first note filled with hope and joy.

Almost simultaneously, Uesugi Sakura looked down at the guitar, his fingers began to play, contrasting the brisk and joyful piano with expressive harmonics full of presence.

Very well done!

This was the evaluation that everyone subconsciously shared.

The guitar harmonics filled the gaps between the piano notes, merging together, making the prelude flow lightly like a morning stream, pleasing to the ear.

The delightful prelude instantly brought a sense of calmness to Kyujuu Rika, her slender fingers continuously interwoven and played on the keys.

This was almost subconscious, moved by beauty.

Then, the drums full of beats joined in, the bass drum added more coloration to the song.

The main melody started, and next was the lead singer’s lyrics part.

Hanamaru Hanabi was still quite nervous, but as she followed their performance, she slowly opened her mouth, and the delicate and beautiful voice slowly flowed: "If there is a heart deep inside the body, in the throat just below, you must be in there, surely..."

You could still hear a hint of nervousness, but fortunately, the voice was melodious, and the effect was not bad.

Next...

After playing for a while, everyone couldn’t help looking at Kitagawa Sakisa.

"Huh? Why didn’t we continue?" She realized everyone was looking at her.

Kyujuu Rika was slightly speechless, "It’s your turn, Hanabi sang the first two verses, now it’s your time to come out with the violin."

"Ah... sorry, I was just engrossed in listening to you playing."

She could only sigh and said, "Let’s go again, Sakisa, don’t get distracted anymore."

"Okay! I understand!"

*

They barely finished the piece, but everyone was still savoring the lingering sound of the ensemble.

"How do you feel?" Kitagawa Sakisa said excitedly.

Kyujuu Rika: "...It’s fine...just feels like something is off in some places..."

"No, no, it’s not bad, I think we’re completely ready to go on stage for the May Festival."

Hanamaru Hanabi: "I think...the prelude was great...seemed a bit chaotic after."

"Chaotic?" Ayaka Rie looked at the drums in front of her, which belonged to the Kyujuu family and were more expensive than the ones she’d used before, "If it feels chaotic, then it must be a rhythm problem."

Kitagawa Sakisa: "What should we do then?"

Uesugi Sakura: "We just need to practice a few more times."

"But, I find playing in an ensemble much more tiring than solo."

"That’s inevitable, ensemble requires grasping the rhythm coordination with other members." Kyujuu Rika said while caressing the icy keys of the piano, "But the only solution is to practice more, there are only two days until Saturday."

Next, another round of intense practice began.

————————————

In the evening, Kyujuu Rika invited everyone to stay for dinner.

They were all good friends and confidants, so staying for a meal was nothing unusual.

Walking down the spiral marble staircase, under intricate lighting fixtures, through an imposing and cold hall, the large glass appeared to connect with the sky, blending its color.

When Uesugi Sakura walked here, she always vaguely felt an uncontrollable sense of oppression.

At night, standing here, one could overlook Tokyo’s neon lights burning the night sky red.

If you looked down a bit more, the Nijubashi Bridge over the Imperial Palace moat was clearly visible—a car was driving out from the castle, and guards opened the gate on the bridge.

This inevitably made Uesugi think of one phrase: relatives of the emperor.

The kind of people likely sitting inside the vehicle driving out from the Imperial Palace.

Dinner seemed to have been specially prepared by Kyujuu Rika, especially sumptuous and exquisite on the large table.

Uesugi Sakura tasted a bit of flavor, somewhat reminiscent of the kaiseki he had eaten in Ginza.

Kaiseki is a general term, referring to high-end dishes.

Originating from the tea ceremony, it refers to using extreme delicacy to entertain guests.

Served in the order of appetizer, main dish, side dish, staple food, and lastly seasonal fruits and desserts to end a delicate meal.

Uesugi Sakura looked at the two pieces of Tempura in the bowl, and guessed that Kyujuu Rika had specially hired a chef to prepare the dinner.

It was probably from the restaurant he had been to before.

————————————

Sitting in the car on the way home, it was already 8 PM.

The bright moon illuminated the vast sky, but unfortunately, Tokyo’s night only revealed an endless blue, along with occasional planes streaking above the airport.

"How do you feel today?"

"Interesting."

"What makes it interesting?"

"Having the chance to perform a song together." Hanamaru Hanabi’s voice was filled with gentleness.

Upon hearing her words, Uesugi Sakura realized the value of agreeing to play guitar and go on stage for the May Festival.

At the very least, it made her feel interested.

He suddenly sensed that as long as she was happy, his own mood would follow suit.

He wondered if this was what they called love.

The black Toyota climbed a slope and stopped at the entrance of a detached house.

"Young Master Uesugi, Miss Hanabi, I shall take my leave." Driver Ide Tsusei politely said goodbye.

Soon, the vehicle drove off into the distance, disappearing under the lights.

Uesugi Sakura, supporting Hanabi, led her to the door.

"Do you want to take a bath together today?"

"Sakura-kun, why do you always think of these things..."

"I want to devour you."

Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head slightly at the door, the incandescent light illuminating her serene profile, "Today...it’s not possible, my parents are home."

"Actually, whether your mother is here or not doesn’t really matter, haven’t you noticed she really wants a grandchild?"

"Sakura-kun, you’re lying. Mom still has Hanami to take care of, she doesn’t have time for a grandchild."

Uesugi Sakura hugged her, leaning close to her ear, "Your mother clearly wants to take care of a grandson and Hanami together. She urged us to have one quickly before."

"So... tonight..." standing at the door, Uesugi Sakura deliberately didn’t knock.

"No... "

"Why not?"

"Sakura-kun is about to marry Hanabi... Things like this... things like this should be saved for later..."

"Whether it’s later or now, aren’t you still you?"

"Sakura-kun..."

"Yes, I’m here."

"To Sakura-kun...Hanabi has nothing more she can give, some things...Hanabi hopes can be more formal..."

"People all say that when you spend a long time together, you stop appreciating each other, and the promises made to each other are the least treasured... Hanabi’s only wish is that after marrying, Sakura-kun can still pay attention to her like now..."

"A long time ago, Hanabi had already given herself entirely to Sakura-kun."

"Hanabi...will always care about Sakura-kun..."