After listening to Hitori Gotō's performance, Yuki offered some comments.
"Gotō-san, after hearing you play these songs, it's clear that you have a high level of proficiency with many pieces," Yuki said slowly.
"Th-Thank you... for the praise!"
Hearing Yuki's compliment, Hitori Gotō's heart instantly bloomed with joy.
It felt like, after living this long, her life's value had finally been affirmed by someone.
But before she could rejoice for long, Yuki's next words made the girl wilt again.
"However, there are still some issues."
"For example, in the first song, at the beginning, your string entry was a bit slow, which..."
Yuki pointed out each problem one by one.
Beside him, Hitori Gotō felt more and more discouraged as she listened, until her whole person turned ashen gray.
I'm finished! There are still so many problems! I actually had no idea!!!Disappear! My life! Goodbye, my family...
When Yuki finished speaking and saw that Hitori Gotō had become completely numb, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Could it be that Gotō-san is the type who can't handle criticism?"
This sentence instantly pulled Hitori Gotō's soul back from wherever it had wandered off to.
"Huh?"
The girl let out a surprised sound.
But soon, under Yuki's gaze, she slowly lowered her head.
Am I really that discouraged?
From learning guitar until now, I've mostly been studying alone.This is actually the first time I've played in front of someone else.So even if some problems are pointed out, what does it matter?!
Thinking of this, Hitori Gotō quickly raised her head and shook it vigorously.
"If... anything, it's the first time I've been criticized so thoroughly," Hitori Gotō spoke timidly.
"This feeling... it makes me a bit unsure of what to do."
"And hearing you say that, Yuki-san, it seems like you're also quite skilled at guitar?"
"Not bad. I don't mind telling you, I can actually do quite a lot of things," Yuki smiled slightly.
She shouldn't underestimate his efforts during the time before obtaining the Heart of the Universe, with his ability as a "Know-It-All"!
He basically went and learned a lot of things; instruments like piano and guitar were minor matters.
He even specifically went to learn auto repair and civil engineering.
"Could I borrow your guitar?"
"Yes!Of course!"
Upon hearing this, Hitori Gotō quickly handed her guitar to Yuki.
Yuki took it, positioned it properly, made a slight adjustment, and slowly began to play the song Hitori had just performed.
The moment Hitori Gotō heard Yuki's first notes, her pupils instantly contracted.
After all, she had been playing guitar for so long; she could tell immediately whether someone played well or not when they performed in front of her.
And when Yuki plucked the first string, Hitori's entire nervous system tightened.
She focused all her attention, listening carefully to Yuki's performance, not wanting to miss a single note.
As the playing reached its climax, Hitori Gotō was in a state of extreme excitement.
It wasn't until the very end of the music that she finally settled her spirit along with the fading notes.
When the piece ended, Yuki returned the guitar to Hitori Gotō.
"Did you understand? Do you see where the issues are now?" Yuki asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Hitori Gotō first froze, then nodded, but quickly shook her head again.
Oh no! I was so absorbed in listening just now, my whole soul felt sucked into the melody, I didn't pay attention to things like technique at all!!!
A look of shame and distress immediately appeared on Hitori Gotō's face.
Seeing this, Yuki helplessly spread his hands.
"Alright then, you play first. When I tell you to stop, you stop, and then I'll correct you."
With no other choice, Yuki had Hitori Gotō play again.
But just then, the familiar bell rang.
It signaled the end of lunch break; students needed to return to their classrooms.
"Looks like we're out of time!"
"How about this, Gotō-san, I'll add you on social media. We can arrange to meet up when we're free, or I can guide you again next lunch break."
Yuki took out his phone.
When Hitori Gotō heard Yuki's words, she was utterly shocked.
Huh? Huh huh huh....M...Meet up?! Could this be the legendary date?!Yada! That's too embarrassing! We've only just met, and he already wants to ask me out... Yuki-san, really~~~Hehehe—!!!
"Gotō-san?"
Yuki looked at Hitori, who seemed about to drool all over the place, and asked calmly.
"Ah!Yes!Please, you must add me as a friend!"
Snapping back to reality, Hitori Gotō hurriedly took out her phone, respectfully bowing deeply as she presented it with both hands.
After adding Hitori Gotō as a friend, Yuki quickly said goodbye and left.
Hitori Gotō watched Yuki's retreating figure.
She stood dazed for a few seconds, then felt a surge of wild joy inside.
She was overjoyed that she had finally made a friend.
And not just any friend, but such a handsome and good-looking boy, which made her, a social recluse, so excited she felt like she could take off on the spot.
After a quick glance in the direction Yuki had left, she slung her guitar over her shoulder, tightly gripped her phone, and hurriedly ran back to the classroom.
When Yuki returned to his classroom, he saw Tobiichi Origami acting like a chīnǚ—an obsessed fangirl—sniffing around his desk.
Yuki walked over helplessly and patted her back.
Seeing it was him, Tobiichi Origami instantly hugged Yuki.
"I missed you, Yuki."
"Uh... it's only been about three hours."
Yuki helplessly pressed Tobiichi Origami back into her own seat beside him.
"In these three hours, I've missed you approximately 80,007,801 times!" Tobiichi Origami said seriously, looking at Yuki.
"Alright, alright! I know Origami misses me the most!"
Yuki couldn't help but laugh softly and gently rubbed Tobiichi Origami's head.
He really didn't know if she actually counted that precisely or just made up a number.
Receiving Yuki's head pat, a blush and a satisfied smile appeared on Tobiichi Origami's face.
But just then, she seemed to catch a whiff of something.
She threw herself onto Yuki, sniffing him all over.
Sniff sniff!
"Yuki, there's the scent of other women on you."
Immediately after, a stern look flashed across Tobiichi Origami's face.
Ah, this...
Yuki wasn't sure what to say. He could only silently roast her in his mind about how sharp Tobiichi Origami's "cheating detection" skills were.
Did she come with a built-in dog nose function?!
"Two... no, the scents of four women."
Ah! You can even tell that apart?!
Good grief, even police dogs aren't as good as you!
Yuki then made up a random excuse to brush it off.
However, Tobiichi Origami didn't seem to press further.
"Actually, you can tell me some things, Yuki."
"Because I actually already know. About both Mio! and Ellen, and their situations."
Tobiichi Origami thought for a moment, then looked seriously at Yuki.
Her words were essentially telling Yuki that she knew these women all liked him.
And that she didn't mind.
"Origami..."
"Alright, actually, it's nothing much..."
Yuki thought about it and then told her some things about other worlds.
However, he didn't mention the system or the chat group.
Hearing these things, Tobiichi Origami wasn't very surprised.
After all, she had already become a Spirit herself; why would she be shocked by these other things!
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