The Sound of the Violin

From one end of the corridor, a crowd's footsteps and laughter washed over like a tide.

Before a certain emotion could awaken, Hesta slipped into the shadows of the hallway like a ghost. She forcibly cut off every memory that had inexplicably risen with the music, halting every image before it could occupy any more of her thoughts.

A group of familiar faces passed by the staircase not far away—the young people from the Drama Club.

With a single glance, Hesta realized that Ksenia was not among tonight's crowd. She looked away and quietly waited for them to leave, feeling both relieved and regretful.

The corridors of Wenhui Building fell silent again, but the violin did not stop.

Hesta decided to go upstairs and take a look. Though she still remembered that person's face—the one Ksenia called "Duke Meishijin"—it took her a while to recall his name.

As she climbed floor by floor, the violin grew closer and closer... Until at last, Hesta stopped beside a half-open door. In surprise, she pushed open the door she had knocked on countless times and looked at the all-too-familiar back before her.

"...Molly?"

The music stopped abruptly.

Molly turned around with a grave expression, lowering both the hand holding the violin and the hand holding the bow.

"It was you?" Hesta's eyes widened slightly. "It was actually you?"

Molly coughed several times in succession, then walked over to the desk and put the violin and bow back into their case. He did not turn around, keeping his back to Hesta. "...Why are you still at school so late?"

"I was studying." Hesta answered. "Exams are coming up."

Molly pushed the packed violin case against the wall, then gestured for Hesta to sit in the empty chair beside him.

"Ever since early autumn, I've