Chapter 246

She turned her gaze towards the direction the sound came from, her innocent eyes showing a hint of hesitation. The Wind Ensemble Club's area of activity wasn't this way, so who was this?

Before she could ponder further, a more solitary and ethereal female voice began to sing, even more so than the light and lonely melody. Her voice was hoarse and ethereal, like a dark crow taking flight alone in the night sky...

"Lanterns make the red gate even redder, more fantastically so."

"Wooden Clogs Play The Sound In The Deep Tonight"

"Silver Moon Shines And Laughs Proudly"

"Pale Stars Just Keep Silence In The Robe Of Night"

"..."

[Note: The song is "Red" from the anime "Tokyo Ravens," and it's my favorite song from the series. It's really good, highly recommended!]

Not Japanese?

Slightly surprised, she couldn't help but start walking deeper into the grove.

Pushing aside the bushes and shrubs blocking the view, the real scenery came into her view on the somewhat open grassy area—

The snow-white, standing out starkly against the surrounding brown and green hues, leans against the tree trunk, holding a pale yellow wooden guitar, softly singing.

The delicate and free string sounds, interspersed with the occasional tapping of the backboard, are even more outstanding than the other's deep and resonant vocal range.

This scenery, no matter how you look at it, is like a child lost in the forest who has stumbled upon a singing and dancing Elf living alone here...

Wakaba Mū's pupils relaxed, and she stood there dumbfounded, quietly listening to the performance where she was the only audience member.

It's the same person from a few days ago.

After seeing his face clearly, Wakaba Mū discovered this.

Ogura Asahi spotted Wakaba Mū, but wasn't surprised. He continued his performance, which wasn't over yet—or rather, he only came in after seeing her from afar and seized the opportunity to start.

He only wanted to attract the silly Mutou; if he attracted anyone else, he would be in an awkward situation.

"I think we'll meet again someday~"

He ended the last beat with a profound gesture, then looked at Wakaba Mū with a slight smile, "How was it?"

Ah! Wakaba Mū was startled, her immersed emotions interrupted, her eyes flickered and she focused on him.

A few seconds of silence.

"... It sounds beautiful, I can't play with that kind of emotion."

"Really? Thank you."

Ogura Asahi leaned against a tree trunk, stretched, and yawned, "Mmm--ah! The scent of nature is so wonderful~"

"... Don't you think so?"

"Um?"

Wakaba Mū tilted her head, but still nodded, "Mm."

Ogura Asahi sighed and pursed her lips, "The reason you can't play it is probably because you don't have a piece you truly like."

"Do you really like it?"

"Well, is it more about enjoying playing your favorite music on the guitar, or the feeling of playing alone? There's a big difference between the two. Which one are you?"

"Ah..."

Wakaba Mū's eyes trembled slightly, as if she had realized something.

"But none of that matters now. The most important thing now is—"

He picked up his guitar again and smiled, the corners of his mouth curving upwards.

"With such a perfect setting, it would be a shame not to play a few more pieces, don't you think?"

Wakaba Mū paused for a moment, then nodded slowly, "Yes, it should be."

"Then I'll begin~ Please enjoy the performance of the fake white-haired Elf, Ogura Asahi's impromptu performance!"

He patted the acoustic guitar, looking a little disappointed. This piece would have been more suitable for Electric Guitar, but carrying two guitars would have been too tiring, and besides, it didn't quite fit the forest vibe...

Without thinking too much, he began to play the strings; the song title was: <Glow>

"Falling raindrops (cold rain)"

"いwoundをsolubleかしてった(dissolve the green scars)"

"The corner of the dusk sky that I unconsciously stared at"

"Someone with a smile"

"..."

However, there is a solution. If Hatsune Miku's original version is not suitable, then we can use Hoshino Ichika's ballad version.

A clear, melodious voice, a stark contrast to the previous desolation, gently rose on the grass, initiating a miniature grassland music festival.

Although both Gotou Hitori and Yamada Ryo experience a quiet loneliness, their loneliness is incomparable.

The light and airy "la ah~" sound contains an optimistic power that inspires listeners to keep moving forward!

Five minutes later, the singing stopped.

"How about it?"

It's the same question as before.

"I don't know, but it feels... very warm."

"Yeah?"

He took off his guitar, walked up to her, and handed it to her. "Your turn."

"Why?"

Wakaba Mū looked slightly taken aback, pointing to herself, "Me?"

"Yes,"

Ogura Asahi nodded, looking at him with a puzzled expression, "Are you just going to listen and not perform? Leaving me all to do it all by myself?"

"..."

Wakaba Mū blankly accepted the acoustic guitar, which was lighter than Electric Guitar, and subconsciously put it on. Only after she realized what was happening did she feel a little regretful.

But the current atmosphere doesn't seem to allow her to refuse...

But which piece should she choose to play? She doesn't really have a favorite...

"..."

Subconsciously, an answer came to her mind.

But that's... I'm not worthy to...

"Don't worry about it, it's just the two of us here anyway, you can play whatever you want."

Hearing his words of comfort, Wakaba Mū looked up at him and her resolve strengthened.

"I can't sing..."

"It's alright, it's alright! You can just pluck the strings!"

Unable to refuse being put on the shelf, Wakaba Mū pursed her cherry-colored lips, not daring to express her dissatisfaction.

After a moment of melancholy, she began to pluck the strings. Several notes, repeated four times, slowly rose, and a background music that was very familiar to Ogura Asahi echoed in the woods.

Ogura Asahi stared blankly at her, wondering why she had to play "Haruhi"... Oh well, she was the one who let her choose randomly.

He adjusted his breathing, not having time to think too much, took a deep breath, and caught up with the rhythm, singing the overly familiar lyrics.

If you chose another song, he might not have heard it before, but this one, he could hear it even with his eyes closed.

"んだふるえるeyesense" (A haggard heart, wandering eyes)"

"The whole world leaves me alone"

"..."

Wakaba Mū looked at him with utter astonishment—so intensely that her emotions were palpable; she hadn't expected him to sing this song.

However, her Hands did not stop, continuing the somewhat thin accompaniment.

"を knot んではほどきほどかれ (Life is alive, fate is born, fate is bound to be separated)"

"Who is happy and sad (all living beings are bound by fate, and their moods are sometimes happy and sometimes sad)"

"..."

"Different from the lamp, but equally beautiful singing voice"—Wakaba Mū thought to herself.

The song ended after 4 minutes and 16 seconds.

"Fantastic! I never knew Mu Zimi was such a good guitarist!"

Ogura Asahi gave her a thumbs up and winked with a smile.

Wakaba Mū pursed her red lips and replied softly, "You're not bad either."

What she probably meant was, "Your singing voice is also very beautiful, isn't it?"

Although I don't know why, what she says is always far removed from what she truly means...

"Why?"

Why can you sing this song?

He sighed inwardly, feeling as if his reading comprehension skills had improved.

"I just happened to hear it online, only the audio version was available. Let me think, the song title should be... KASUMIKAGE, right?"

He feigned an inquiry.

Wakaba Mū nodded in agreement and said no more.

"Well, let's call it a day for today's outdoor concert. Do you have anything else to do afterward?"

He cleared his throat and asked her.

"There's still water... isn't it enough?"

It took Ogura Asahi three seconds to understand what she meant.

Does the fact that there's still water to water the plants mean they're not continuing the performance?

His red eyes narrowed slightly, as if his efforts today had paid off. "Did Mutsuko-chan enjoy today's performance?"

Wakaba Mū lowered her cute head. "... I don't know."

"Then you should at least feel relaxed, right?"

"... Um."

"I see. You prefer solo live performances to those with a large audience?"

It took a little longer than before, and she continued nodding, "... probably."

"That's good too. Music should be something you enjoy."

Ogura Asahi reached out and patted her head, saying softly, "Remember, doing what you like is the right thing to do."

Looking into her slightly bewildered golden eyes, he didn't try to entice her too much at once.

"That's enough for today. We can do it again next time. Did you forget? I have another gift for you. Let's go over after we finish watering the plants."

"Gift..."

Wakaba Mū recalled this, she felt a little expectant. "Hmm."

"Let's go then!"

After helping her quickly water and fertilize the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes in the botanical garden, Ogura Asahi, carrying her guitar, took her hand and walked briskly out of the Tsukinomori.

But where the two couldn't see--

"That's... Little Mū?"

Nagasaki Sōse, who was walking along the road chatting and laughing with her clubmates, paused when she saw Wakaba Mū leaving with someone. Her feigned well-behaved smile faltered, and she looked over seriously.