Yuu led them to the gymnasium. The moment the door opened, a powerful wave of sound rushed in, enthusiastic cheers slamming into their bodies. It felt like entering Nippon Budōkan during a concert. Inside and outside the door were like two different worlds.
"Uh, your school's light music club is this strong..."
As if pushed back two steps by the sound wave, Sora covered her ears uncomfortably and hid under Yuu's arm: "Don't tell me they're a high school band aiming for Budōkan, where every member looks ordinary but is actually super strong..."
"True, and it should be added that all members are beautiful girls."
Adding casually, Yuu pulled his gaze back from the stage. He couldn't help humming the lyric "Smooth pudding~" along with the song. His dangling fingers swayed slightly. He seemed eager to wave his hands with the fanatic fans in the audience seats, cheering for the beautiful girls in the light music club.
Then he coughed twice with a straight face, walking forward amid the others' strange expressions and amused gazes, forcibly acting as if nothing happened.
A few of them passed behind the audience seats and went up to the main control room on the second floor.
Several students wearing committee armbands paced anxiously there. Occasionally, they glanced at the excitement on the stage below. The student holding a phone looked serious, saying something politely but unhappily over the call. Though the scene appeared stable, the anxiety and frustration on everyone's faces were clear.
Only Yukino, as the committee chair, remained calm like a mountain, standing like a stabilizing needle in the center of the control room.
Her black hair was tied into a neat long ponytail. Her expression was serene and peaceful. The schedule in her hand was like a conductor's baton; with a voice cold as winter wind, she deftly commanded the headless flies.
"If they're injured, don't force them. We have half an hour, enough to launch the crisis response plan... But still send someone to harshly scold those over-the-top people and request the student council to cut their club funding."
"Don't rush to make an emergency announcement. Have the Publicity Department draft it first, then follow my orders."
"Who ordered the lunch boxes? You don't need to handle things here. Help order lunch for all staff first. We expect to be here for a while monitoring the situation."
After giving them orderly directions, someone asked her confusedly: "Chair, what about that program gap? Even if it's just about ten minutes, lunchtime usually has the most audience in the gymnasium. We can't leave the stage empty or stall the audience with music... Do we need to ask the light music club members to stay and hold out a bit?"
"No need. If everything goes smoothly..."
Yukino shook her head. Before finishing, she locked eyes with Yuu appearing in the hallway.
She paused, her brows and eyes unconsciously softening. The corners of her mouth slowly curved, showing a faint smile that surprised the committee member in front of her.
"Someone will come to help. Don't worry too much."
As soon as those words were said, Yuu pushed the door open and entered. After greeting the others in the room with a polite smile, he locked eyes with Yukino.
Warmth flowed between their gazes, as if their thoughts became transparent sticky notes.
So without small talk or greetings, he went straight to the point: "Briefly explain the incident."
Yukino said quickly: "The hip-hop club members scheduled to perform in half an hour were sent to the health room for playing too wildly in the club. From the situation, they probably won't make it in time to perform."
"Playing too wildly?" Yuu couldn't help a strange expression. It was hard to understand, "What were they doing knowing they were about to perform?"
Yukino held her forehead, rubbing her temples with her thumb as if dizzy, and said helplessly: "Apparently, they were wrestling among club members to relieve tension. Turns out they accidentally fought for real. Several are already in the health room for treatment. The hip-hop club is also a small club. If key members are hospitalized, no one can perform, so of course the program has to be canceled..."
"Relieve tension with wrestling? They're idiots!"
After cursing from the heart, Yuu realized there were still other committee members in the control room. Cursing in front of them seemed to give a bad impression and unpleasant if spread.
"Ahem, sorry, pretend I didn't say that."
Smiling awkwardly, Yuu firmly changed his tone.
"Did they leave their brains behind because they don't need to study during the Cultural Festival? They cause trouble like this and let the backstage staff clean up their mess. Truly courting death! I should be grateful I'm not in charge here. If I knew their class and names, those idiots should be heading to Chiba Hospital, not the health room!"
After saying that passionately, Yuu spread his arms and sighed: "Of course, everything above is just a joke. After all, I'm a gentle and kind person; how could I be unreasonable?"
"..."
No one responded. The committee members, as if recalling unbearable pasts, quietly pretended to be deaf. They all averted their gazes to do their own work or started pretending to be busy. After he scared them like that, probably no one dared spread the talk there—who told him to know everyone here?
Yukino rolled her eyes slightly. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed softly as if helpless with him: "Alright, now's not the time to assign blame... I called you to help resolve the current situation."
Then she looked at Yuigahama and the others standing quietly behind him. After a slight nod, she said with a bit of apology: "Sorry for suddenly calling him and delaying your time strolling the Cultural Festival."
"It's fine, it's fine. Yukinon's business is more important! I was just about to say you've worked hard!"
Yuigahama hurriedly waved her hands. Then she clenched her small fists in front of her chest. Her eyes full of hope, she said enthusiastically: "Anyway, opportunities like this are rare; let the Cultural Festival step aside for now! I just want to hear Yuu-kun's piano solo right now!"
Yuu glanced at her speechlessly: "What's rare? I can play it anytime you want to hear..."
"It's different! This is a big event. You understand the感動 only at big events, right?!"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes..." Yuu was too lazy to argue.
Yukino touched her chest. She smiled slightly as if relieved: "Good if you don't mind."
As for Sora, she had only seen her brother's performance at the autumn exhibition in a video. Of course, she wouldn't refuse the chance to leave the Cultural Festival and hear the live version.
Finally, Yukino looked at Mama Yuigahama. She appeared more stiff, her attitude quite cautious.
"Um, Mama Yuigahama-san, may I call you Mama Yuigahama?"
"Of course. Just don't call me old~"
Mama Yuigahama smiled gently. Her gaze swept over Yuu and her without a trace. She covered the corner of her mouth with her hand. Her tone was quite familiar: "You're Yukino? Yui talks a lot about you at home. She even says you're her best friend. Her enthusiastic attitude almost made me think she switched to liking girls."
Yukino was surprised and turned: "R-really?"
Not daring to meet her gaze, Yuigahama's face flushed. She shouted as if covering her embarrassment: "Mom! You don't have to say things like that!"
"Eh~" Mama Yuigahama blinked, pouting very innocently, "But I'm not wrong, am I? You talk about Yukino at home more often than about Yuu-kun, making Mom unsure who you're actually dating."
"I! Said!"
Mama Yuigahama casually blocked her daughter's angry attack. The corner of her eye glanced, unintentionally observing Yukino's expression.
Though she said that, the beautiful straight black-haired girl's eyes didn't change at all. Her gaze toward her daughter even became softer and warmer, full of indescribable feelings.
Like a beautiful ice statue under sunlight. Though not melting a bit, she strangely became more approachable, no longer distancing herself.
(...What's this? Was my feeling wrong? Actually nothing?)
Mama Yuigahama, who trusted her intuition greatly, thought confusedly.
"Yui is also my best friend. I'm very grateful to meet her at this school."
Her fair skin also tinted with a slight blush. Yukino held back her embarrassment and, after saying this seriously, quickly avoided Yuigahama who turned and hugged her.
Then, while holding Yuigahama's approaching head with one hand, she slightly bowed to Mama Yuigahama: "Please allow me to postpone the remaining greetings until after work. Next, I'll prepare for the performance with Tenkuji-kun. I can only help arrange front-row seats in the gymnasium for you. I really have no time to think about anything else..."
"That's enough~" Mama Yuigahama winked pretending to be cheerful. Her fingers gently poked her cheek, tilting her head and laughing, "No need to mind us. We'll wait for the performance in the audience seats! You must be tired, busy running around like this during the rare Cultural Festival."
Glancing at Yuu beside her, Yukino didn't feel tired at all from the heart. There was even motivation rising from within, slowly dissolving the accumulated fatigue and stiffness in her body.
She recalled the saying that when men and women work together, the work isn't tiring... Was it the same for women, not just men?
As she thought that, she unconsciously smiled too.
"Not tired. This is what I must... what I want to do."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
When Yukino finished communicating with Mama Yuigahama, Yuu also ended his conversation with his sister.
"Sora, follow Yui; don't run around. Big brother will show off in front of you later!"
Sora stared at him expressionlessly: "If you treat me like a three-year-old again, your bed tonight won't be yours anymore."
"Alright, wait for me obediently below the stage." Yuu quickly surrendered. He stretched his fingers and said with a slight sigh, "By the way, this seems to be the first time I'm playing piano in front of you. How about I buy a Yamaha and put it at home? I can play piano anytime for you and Yukino, adding fun to life."
"It won't fit at home; at best buy an electronic keyboard."
"Then just move? My savings are enough to buy a villa, let alone a luxury apartment room."
Yuu got a sudden idea, proposing in a joking tone—anyway, he wouldn't feel heartbroken spending system money. The internet company was also slowly running smoothly. Money would only increase in the future, so better buy more properties.
He could live there if he wanted, or use it for investment if not. Besides the very troublesome procedures, overall no losses.
"Buy a house and move just to play piano? Don't talk nonsense. Even if you have so much money you don't know where to spend, not like this..." Halfway through nagging, Sora suddenly realized something. Her gaze turned cold, with clear disgust.
"I've heard the first idea men have after getting money is buying a house to hide a mistress..."
Yuu hurriedly signaled her to lower her voice, so the two women wouldn't mishear and misunderstand: "I'm not thinking that! Don't assume your brother like that..."
Sora observed him suspiciously: "Really? You really have no idea to buy a bigger house, live under one roof with both your girlfriends, buy a super big bed, and sleep with them every day?"
"..." Yuu fell silent.
His face twitched slightly. He seemed torn between reputation being important or his stance of not lying to his sister.
Without waiting for an answer, Sora sneered in disgust, turning her small face away.
"Men!"
Even her Yuu, besides his strong integrity and sense of responsibility, was actually no different from the male creatures out there thinking about harems every day!
And the scariest part was, as long as he had the idea, the possibility of realizing it truly existed...
Such a future appeared in her mind. Sora couldn't help frowning her delicate brows, pondering with a serious expression.
"Alright, I entrust Sora to you. Wait for me to return in the audience seats."
After escorting the Yuigahama mother and daughter and his sister out of the control room, Yuu turned to Yukino and said: "If you want me to play piano to buy time, the needed things are ready, right?"
"Of course, we can bring the equipment to the stage immediately." Since others were watching, Yukino set aside other thoughts and quickly entered work mode.
"Publicity Department, change the emergency announcement draft to a program replacement. No need to overhype the promotion. After writing, print and paste next to every program schedule on the wall. Then announce on the forum."
"Due to an emergency with the hip-hop club preventing their usual performance, the 12:15 program is changed to a solo piano by Tenkuji-kun from the Service Club. If there's dissatisfaction, please forgive—write roughly like this."
"Then the others, follow me now to the equipment room to prepare the performance..."
Just after giving the order, a phone call came in.
Waving to the committee members, signaling them to act first, Yukino frowned and answered the call aside. Soon after, her eyes suddenly widened. Her expression changed rapidly. She glanced at Yuu with slightly complicated feelings.
"What's wrong?"
Sensing her expression change, Yuu walked closer and asked silently.
Hesitating a moment, Yukino lightly bit her soft cherry-colored lips. She covered the microphone with her finger and whispered to him:
"Mom and the others are here. They're asking where I am now and will come find me... and my boyfriend, to talk."
"..."
Yuu fell silent for a moment.
If it's a blessing, it won't be a disaster. If it's a disaster, it can't be avoided...
What's bound to come will truly come.