A Certain Scientific Bee-eater

But as long as they are here right now, that's enough.

This is the stage that Shokuhou Misaki 'creates'.

"Shokuhou-san, if you're ready, please start?"

The slightly older music teacher beside her who was invited by her to act as both a host and a judge spoke in a calm tone that was completely different from the students in the audience.

"Ok☆~"

Shokuhou Caoqi nodded, then gently placed the bow on the strings, as if the player had pressed the pause button, the audience that was still a little noisy instantly quieted down, and everyone's eyes fell on it. on her.

(This kind of high-profile feeling is really long gone.)

"Listen, Carmen Fantasia."

With a confident smile on his face, Shokuhou Kauki was completely immersed in the world of music.

-

After she came to the backstage, she could still vaguely hear the applause from outside—after all, she had a solid foundation, and she chose songs that she was more familiar with, plus a whole week of hard training, Shokuhou exercise prayed. I feel that my violin level is several grades higher than before.

Of course, only for playing this piece.

She raised her eyebrows proudly at Misaka Mikoto, then turned to Sakuren Yuri, who was beside her.

"Sakuren-san, it's your turn to play."

However, the other party seemed to have not heard at all and did not respond at all.

(Should the chain suddenly drop at such a time?)

No matter how good her performance was, if Sakuren Yuri's performance failed, it would not be worth the loss, because the protagonist of today's 'drama' is the other party.

Although Shokuhou Misaki had anticipated Sakiren Yuri's 'inconfidence', but she also knew that the other party was an emotional person (easy to get on), so she mentioned the most 'stimulating' to the other party's mouth at the beginning. Early bird.

But after all, it has been a week, and the emotions may have cooled down.

At such a time, when Sakiren Yuri goes outside and faces the atmosphere of the 'eldest ladies' that she can't fit in, she may feel inferiority complex.

"Hey, could it be that Sakuren-san wants to run away?"

Shokuhou Misaki said deliberately.

"How, how come, I'm just doing preparatory activities!"

Sakuren Yuri, who had regained her senses, opened her mouth hard and pretended to move her body, like a diver who was about to enter the water.

(Ah, that doesn't work at all...)

Even if he came to power in this state, he would probably go wrong somewhere, making a fool of himself in front of everyone's eyes, Shokuhou Cao Qi really didn't think the other party could bear such a blow now.

"Sakuren-san, you should know that Kouhiko Hayato is also sitting in the auditorium outside, right?"

Shokuhou Misaki sighed and opened his mouth.

"Of course I know, Senior Sister Kou 囃子 came over to cheer me up just now."

Sakuren Yuuri snorted softly.

"Really? Then did you tell her why we're competing?"

Shokuhou Misaki had a playful smile on his face.

"This, this... It doesn't matter if you don't tell me?"

Sakuren Yuuri's eyes a little dodge.

"I knew it, so I told her."

"Eh...? What did you say?!"

"I told Koujiko the reason for our competition and she said,"

Shokuhou Caoqi smiled slightly,

"'Sakiren will definitely win because I know how hard she works'."

"Ms. Kouyuzi-senpai..."

Sakilian Yuri was slightly surprised, and a blush appeared on her cheeks.

"But I don't believe it, so I also made a bet with her that if you win, I will apologize to you and admit that I despised you, but if you lose,"

Shokuhou Misaki deliberately paused, then spoke,

"Koudouzi Early Bird will be my maid for a month just like you."

"How can you--"

"So, you have to show your true skills later, Sakuren-san,"

Shokuhou Caoqi stepped forward and stretched out his index finger to block the other's lips, blinked his eyes and said with a smile,

"Otherwise, your beloved Koujiroko-senpai will become my person☆~"

——'Sakuren Yuri-san, are you ready?It's your turn to play. '

The music teacher's questioning voice came from a distance, and she suppressed Sakuren Yuri who was about to have a seizure. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, and glared at Shokuhou Caoqi with anger in her eyes.

"Put up your ears and listen carefully, I will convince you of losing."

After speaking in such a cold voice, Sakiren Yuri turned around and walked onto the stage.

ps: 囃子 Early Bird: Huh?When did I say yes? ?

ps2: Bee Eater: Oh, it really breaks my heart (mistake)...

ps3:

Picture of the bee harp seen by old Ford.jpg

17. Excuse my refusal

"The song I'm going to play is, "Aria on the G String."

The spotlights converge on the center stage.

Sakiren Yuri spread her legs wrapped in black knee socks slightly apart and took a slight step to the left of the center.

I don't know if the 'provocation' just now played a role, or if the opponent could switch between the 'normal state' and the 'playing state' freely.

Facing countless pairs of faces, familiar or unfamiliar, Sakilian Yuri completely lost the nervousness and panic she had when she was backstage.

She took a deep breath and lowered her eyes, which were decorated with beautiful eyelashes, completely immersed in her own little world.

The bow was raised, the slender fingers touched the four strings, and after a short pause, the first rhythm sounded.

——!

Strong.

The burst of music might even be called violent.

The syllables were twisted into bizarre gestures, but they brought a shudder that was forbidden as if gently touching the scab on a quick wound.

It was a fascinating seduction that strayed from the edge of the cliff between pleasure and unhappiness.

Even the slightest mistake by the player, the scab will be torn open, and the throbbing pains of the screeching noise will swarm everyone's ears.

Honestly, playing syllable by syllable according to the score in front of you cannot bring about such a feeling.

This is completely Sakuren Yuri's unique playing style. The combination of tones is not so much playing for people to listen to, but more like the player himself enjoying the vibration from the inside of the instrument.

This performance is time-limited, so Shokuhou Misaki chose the climax of the song just now, but Sakiren Yuri chose to play from the very beginning of the song.

But it didn't affect her.

It's just the beginning of the song before it heats up, and every twisted note from under that bow is enough to tug at the listener's soul.

(It's a complete failure...)

Shokuhou Misaki couldn't help but sighed.

"Sakuren-san's performance is really unique."

A familiar exclamation sounded in his ears.

Shokuhou Misaka glanced at Misaka Mikoto, who had come to his side at an unknown time, and snorted softly,

"Please don't judge others with this 'I'm better' high-level tone?"

"Wh... how can I be so high, obviously I'm just expressing my heartfelt emotion!"

When Misaka Mikoto heard the words, she blushed and retorted.

"Really, I was worried about whether you would be hit. It seems that I am completely self-indulgent."

In fact, Shokuhou Caoqi didn't feel that much of a blow in his heart.

After all, she is very self-aware of her own playing level. If only a week of 'hardening the gun' can catch up with the opponent's hard work every day for several years, then this success is too cheap.

but,

"I've been practicing so hard for a whole week, but I found out that the gap with the opponent is so big. Of course I'll be hit? So why should Misaka-san, as a teacher, take half the responsibility?"

Shokuhou Misaki opened his mouth with an unwilling expression on his face.

Originally, it was just a casual joke. If you can make the other party feel guilty, you can take the opportunity to ask for some 'compensation', but I didn't expect Misaka Mikoto to nod her head seriously and said in agreement,

"You're right, I'm also teaching others for the first time, so I may not be able to grasp the scale."

"what?"

"I have compromised too many times. Many times I can't bear to continue to practice when I see you working so hard. I think it is right, but considering the final result, this kind of compromise should be prohibited."

"Wait, wait, so you were planning to let me practice at that time? You devil—"

"So I will train you more strictly next time, Shokuhou, let's work hard together~"

Misaka Mikoto showed a warm smile on her face and extended her hand to Shokuhou Misaki.

That gesture was like 'the baseball coach told the junior high school club to go to Koshien together' or 'the music teacher told the school idol that he would hold a concert at the Budokan in the future'.

However, Shokuhou Misaki, who had already recognized the reality, shook his head decisively and resolutely.

"Absolutely not! I refuse! I don't want to see a violin for a year!"