Love Live and Kamen Rider 27

At this moment, she was looking at Senba Gari with a gaze full of disdain.

(Looks like a die-hard fan of a school idol, and a very knowledgeable one at that. Well, whatever, I don't want to think about it.)

The girl's words seemed to remind Senba Gari of the past, but he shook his head and spoke to the black-haired, twin-tailed girl in front of him with a touch of annoyance.

"Well, I don't really know that much about it, I was just evaluating it based on my gut feeling. So, young lady, please stop looking at me like that, it's putting a lot of pressure on me, you know."

"What is that supposed to mean? What kind of reason is that? And besides, isn't that just you pretending to know something you don't in front of me?"

The black-haired, twin-tailed girl seemed very dissatisfied with Senba Gari's answer, so her words came out a bit harsh.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's my fault. I shouldn't have pretended to know what I didn't, alright? Little girl."

"Wait! Who are you calling a little girl? Ah, aren't you about the same age as me?"

It seemed he had touched a sore spot, as the girl reacted like a cat whose fur had been ruffled.

"That may be, but I am still older than, you."

Senba Gari deliberately enunciated the last three words one by one, as if he were afraid the girl wouldn't hear him clearly.

"Ugh, d-damn it, you just wait! Don't let me find out who you are."

In the end, not knowing what else to say, the girl could only throw a harsh threat at Senba Gari before storming off in a huff.

"Ah, that was truly inexplicable."

Senba Gari muttered gloomily as he watched the girl's retreating figure.

"Forget it, let me just go in and see if this school is short on teachers. I need to find a job quickly, otherwise I'm going to starve to death."

With that, Senba Gari entered the gates of the school known as UTX.

The First Encounter Between the Boy and the Girls (Part 2)

After being let in by the guard, he walked into the UTX campus, looking around with great curiosity at the interior of the school, which resembled a skyscraper.

"It seems the students are on break right now. But, should I say it? This is truly obscenely wealthy. The equipment is so high-end, it's a waste to use it as a school. Does a school like this really lack teachers?!"

After seeing the facilities inside UTX, Senba Gari's mouth twitched in speechlessness.

"And, if I remember correctly, Mom once told me that there's a girls' school nearby called Otonokizaka. Mom apparently studied there back in the day, and Aunt Minami seems to be the principal there now. I'll go check that place out later, yeah."

While muttering to himself, Senba Gari walked outside a music room, where the beautiful sound of a piano accompanied by a crisp female voice drifted out from within.

Love Live! Banzai!

〖Love Live! Banzai!〗

Koko de yokatta watashitachi no ima ga koko ni aru

〖It's good to be here, our present is right here〗

Love Live! Banzai!

〖Love Live! Banzai!〗

Hajimatta bakari ashita mo yoroshiku ne mada gooru janai

〖It's only just begun, please take care of me tomorrow too, we haven't reached the goal yet〗

Waratte yo kanashii nara fukitobasou yo

〖Smile, if you're sad, let's blow it away〗

Waraetara kawaru keshiki harema ga nozoku

〖If you can smile, the scenery will change and the clear sky will peek through〗

Fuan demo shiawase e to tsunagaru michi ga

〖Even if you're anxious, the path leading to happiness〗

Miete kita yo na aozora

〖Is coming into view, like a blue sky〗

Tokidoki ame ga furu kedo mizu ga nakucha taihen

〖Sometimes it rains, but it would be terrible without water〗

Kawaita dame da yo minna no yume no ki yo sodate

〖You can't let it dry out, grow, everyone's dream tree〗

Saa!

〖Come on!〗

Daisuki da banzai!

〖I love you, banzai!〗

Makena yuuki watashitachi wa ima o tanoshimou

〖With the courage not to lose, let's enjoy the present〗

Daisuki da banzai!

〖I love you, banzai!〗

We will do our best to wave goodbye to yesterday, so look ahead.

Let's move forward together; even if it's painful, I will be by your side.

As we advance, the burning sun illuminates the east.

The path ahead, where we were lost and had no answers, is something no one knows and cannot be spoken of.

Suddenly, silver light falls into the midst of the storm.

Don't be afraid; the tree of everyone's dreams is strong.

Come on!

Love Live! Banzai!

It's good to be here; our present exists right here.

Love Live! Banzai!

It has only just begun; please take care of me tomorrow too, for we haven't reached the goal yet.

Sometimes the rain falls, and the wind shakes the trunk.

Let's go together; let the tree of everyone's dreams grow.

Come on!

I love you, Banzai!

With the courage not to lose, let us enjoy the present!

I love you, Banzai!

We will do our best to wave goodbye to yesterday, so look ahead.

(LaLaLa)

(LaLaLa)

(LaLaLa)

(LaLaLa)

"Clap, clap, clap."

"Who is it?!"

Maki Nishikino was originally visiting UTX; she intended to hide from her parents that she was going to attend UTX instead of Otonokizaka.

She happened to walk in front of this music room, so she decided to test out a song she had just composed, but the moment she finished playing, she was startled by the sound of applause, and then a boy with black hair and black eyes burst in.

"Ah~ sorry, sorry. I heard your piano playing and singing from outside, so I couldn't help but clap. By the way, is this a song you just composed recently?"

Senba Gari opened the Gate of Opening, and what met his eyes was a young girl with shoulder-length red hair and violet eyes, the corners of which were slightly upturned, giving her a charming allure.

At this moment, the girl spoke proudly, "Of course. What, do you have a problem with that?"

"As for a problem, it's not exactly a big one, but when you were playing, you didn't put your true feelings into it, and you didn't quite grasp the rhythm either," Senba Gari said lazily as he walked up to the girl.

"Ha, if you're so good at talking, then why don't you try playing it? Try and make me eat my words."

The girl seemed quite unconvinced as she stood up and gave her seat to Senba Gari.

"Sigh~ fine." Sitting down helplessly in the spot the girl had just vacated, where her lingering warmth still remained, Senba Gari closed his eyes and cleared his mind, gently placing his hands upon the piano keys.

Slowly, the sound of Senba Gari's piano playing began to echo throughout the music room. As he played, he found himself recalling the past.

--Flashback--

A melody drifted from a room where a beautiful woman sat before a piano, playing a piece of music. She had snow-white hair that reached her waist, deep blue eyes, and was wearing a white dress.

Sitting beside her was a young boy of five or six years old with black hair and black eyes, his face bearing a slight resemblance to hers. The music stopped, and the boy's youthful voice rang out.

"Mommy~ Mommy~ you play so beautifully, Little Gari wants to learn too~"

The white-haired woman turned her head, dotingly stroked her child's hair, and spoke softly.

"Alright, as long as Little Gari wants to learn, Mommy will teach you anything. Come, let Mommy show you how to play."

The white-haired woman then picked up her son, placed him on her lap, and set his small, tender hands upon the piano keys before the music began to play once more.

However, "Screech~!" "Bang!" "Mommy!!!"

--End of Flashback--

"Clang!"

Maki Nishikino had been lost in the beauty of Senba Gari's playing, but the music suddenly cut off. Opening her eyes, she saw Senba Gari clutching his forehead with one hand, gasping for air. If one looked closely, they would notice the glint of tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Um, are you okay?"

The girl's worried voice reached Senba Gari's ears. He secretly wiped away his tears, turned to face her, and said, "No, I'm fine. Sorry, I'm going to head out now. Goodbye." He then turned and hurried away.

"Hey, w-wait, you." Before she could finish her sentence, Senba Gari's figure had already vanished from her sight. She muttered to herself in frustration, "You haven't even told me your name yet."

"Ha, ha, ha, I thought I had already forgotten, but it turns out I remembered it all again today." Leaning against a wall, Senba Gari looked up at the sky with a heavy heart.

After a while, he looked around and realized he had arrived at a place that was unfamiliar yet somewhat nostalgic.

"Hmm, this is... Otonokizaka. Heh, I actually ended up here. Whatever, it doesn't matter if I take a look. It's a good chance to see this Otonokizaka that my mom was always talking about."