At that moment, she was looking at Senba Gari with contempt.
Looks like she's a rabid fan of school idols. And she really knows her stuff, huh? Never mind. I don't want to think about it.
The girl's words seemed to remind Senba Gari of something from the past. He shook his head, then spoke irritably to the black-haired girl with twin tails in front of him.
"Well, I don't really know that much. I was just judging by feel. So, girl, could you stop looking at me like that? You're making me feel really pressured, you know?"
"What do you mean, 'by feel'? That's no excuse. You were the one pretending to know what you were talking about in front of me."
The black-haired girl with twin tails seemed very unhappy with Senba Gari's answer, and her words came out rather harshly.
"Fine, fine, I was wrong. I shouldn't have pretended I knew what I was talking about. Happy now, little girl?"
"Wait! Who are you calling a little girl? You're not much older than me!"
It seemed he'd hit a sore spot, because the girl bristled like an angry kitten.
"True, but I'm still older than you."
Senba Gari deliberately pronounced the last three words one by one, as if he were afraid she wouldn't hear him.
"Ugh, you... You just wait! Don't let me find out who you are!"
In the end, the girl couldn't think of anything else to say, so she left in a huff after threatening Senba Gari.
"Man, what a bizarre encounter."
Senba Gari muttered gloomily as he watched her walk away.
"Never mind. I'll go in and see if this school needs any teachers. I'd better find a job soon, or I'll starve."
With that, Senba Gari entered the gates of the school called UTX.
The First Meeting Between a Boy and a Girl (Part Two)
After the guard let him in, Senba Gari stepped into UTX and gazed around the school's interior with great curiosity. It looked like the inside of a skyscraper.
"Looks like the students are on break. But, wow, this place is ridiculously extravagant. These facilities are so advanced, it's a waste to use them as a school. Does a school like this really need teachers?!"
After looking over UTX's facilities, Senba Gari said in disbelief, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Also, if I remember right, Mom told me there's a girls' school nearby called Otonokizaka. I think she studied there when she was younger, and Aunt Minami's the principal now, right? I'll go take a look later. Yeah."
Muttering to himself, Senba Gari walked up to a music room. A beautiful piano melody, accompanied by a clear female voice, drifted out from inside.
Love Live! Banzai!
I'm glad we're here, where our present can bloom
Love Live! Banzai!
It's only just begun; let's make tomorrow wonderful, too. We're still far from the goal
Smile, and blow your sadness away
A smile changes the scenery, and the sun peeks through the clouds
Even if you're anxious, there's a road leading to happiness
A blue sky seems to be just ahead
Sometimes it rains, but we'd be in trouble without water
Our dream tree mustn't dry out. Let it grow
Come on!
I love you so much, banzai!
With courage that won't give up, let's enjoy the present
I love you so much, banzai!
We can keep going, so wave goodbye to yesterday. Look ahead
Let's move forward. Even when it's hard, stay by my side
As we move ahead, the blazing sun lights up the East
The road ahead has no answers, and we're lost
No one knows. No one can say
Amid the storm, silver light suddenly falls
Don't be afraid. Our dream tree is strong
Come on!
Love Live! Banzai!
I'm glad we're here, where our present can bloom
Love Live! Banzai!
It's only just begun; let's make tomorrow wonderful, too. We're still far from the goal
Sometimes the rain falls, and the wind makes the branches sway
Let's go together. Our dream tree, keep growing
Come on!
I love you so much, banzai!
With courage that won't give up, let's enjoy the present
I love you so much, banzai!
We can keep going, so wave goodbye to yesterday. Look ahead
(LaLaLa)
(LaLaLa)
(LaLaLa)
(LaLaLa)
"Clap, clap, clap."
"Who's there?!"
Maki Nishikino had originally been touring UTX. She planned to defy her parents' wishes and attend UTX instead of Otonokizaka.
When she happened to reach the music room, she'd decided to try out a song she'd recently composed. But as soon as she finished playing, a burst of applause caught her attention. Then a black-haired, black-eyed boy barged in.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I heard your piano and singing from outside, and couldn't help applauding. By the way, did you write that song recently?"
Senba Gari opened the door. Inside, he saw a girl with shoulder-length red hair and violet eyes. The corners of her eyes turned up slightly, lending her a seductive air.
The girl spoke proudly. "Of course I did. Why, is there a problem?"
"Well, it's not a big problem, but you didn't put all your true feelings into playing. And you didn't quite get the rhythm right, either." Senba Gari strolled over to her and spoke lazily.
"Oh, you're such an expert? Then why don't you play it yourself? Try to convince me."
The girl seemed unconvinced. She stood up and gave Senba Gari her seat.
"Fine..." Senba Gari sat down reluctantly in the spot where the girl had been sitting. It was still warm. He closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and gently placed his hands on the piano keys.
Soon, the music room filled with Senba Gari's piano melody. As he played, memories of the past came back to him.
--Flashback--
A piano melody drifted through a house. A beautiful woman sat at a piano, playing a tune. She had waist-length snow-white hair and azure eyes, and wore a white dress.
Beside her sat a little boy of five or six, with black hair and black eyes and a face that resembled hers. After listening to the music, the boy spoke in his childish voice.
"Mommy, Mommy, you play so beautifully! Little Gari wants to learn, too!"
The white-haired woman turned to him and affectionately stroked his head. Then she spoke softly.
"Of course. If Little Gari wants to learn, Mommy will teach him anything. Come on, I'll show you how to play."
The white-haired woman picked up her son and sat him on her lap. Then she placed his tiny hands on the piano keys, and the music began again.
Then—"Screeech!" "Crash!" "Mommy!!!"
--End of flashback--
"Ding!"
Maki Nishikino had been listening to Senba Gari's piano playing in a daze. But when the music suddenly stopped, she opened her eyes and saw him covering his forehead with one hand, breathing heavily. If she looked closely, she could see tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.
"Um, are you all right?"
The girl's worried voice reached Senba Gari's ears. He secretly wiped away his tears, then turned to her and said,
"I-I'm fine. Sorry, I have to go. Goodbye." Then he hurried out.
"Hey, wait, you..." Before she could finish, Senba Gari had vanished from sight. She muttered in frustration, "You didn't even tell me your name."
"Ha, ha, ha... I thought I'd already forgotten, but today it all came back to me."
Leaning against the wall, Senba Gari gazed gloomily at the sky.
After a while, he looked around and realized he'd arrived somewhere unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar.
"Hmm, this is Otonokizaka. Heh, I actually ended up here. Whatever. I might as well look around the Otonokizaka Mom always talked about."
Before you continue