"Kaguya." Yusei took a deep breath.
Kaguya looked up, still wearing the coat he had draped over her. She watched him nervously.
Just as Yusei was about to say 'I understand your feelings', Chika, who was beside them, suddenly threw herself into Kaguya's arms, tears streaming down her face.
"Kaguya, I never thought... I never thought you actually remembered..."
Just when Yusei was about to speak, her close friend interrupted. This frustrated her immensely.
However, since it was her dear friend, Kaguya could only be patient and ask gently, "Remembered what?"
Chika lifted her head from Kaguya's embrace, her tear-filled eyes looking at Kaguya, her cute face full of emotion.
"Of course, it's the anniversary of us meeting two years ago! You actually remembered that today, two years ago, was the first day we met."
Chika cried, her voice choked with sobs, "I never thought Kaguya cared about me so much, knowing I love music, and even specially prepared this concert for me."
"Wahhh, I'm so touched."
The smile on Kaguya's face instantly stiffened. She truly didn't remember that today was the anniversary of her meeting Chika. Nor was this concert prepared for her.
But... looking at the weeping, deeply moved Chika in her arms, what could she say? Should she say 'You've misunderstood, I prepared this for Yusei-kun... I also don't remember today is our two-year friendiversary'?
The question was, could she actually say that?
Involuntarily, Kaguya glanced subconsciously at Yusei, only to see he now showed an 'I see' expression.
Kaguya felt so frustrated she could practically cough up blood.
"Sigh…"
Since things had already reached this point, as frustrated as Kaguya was, she naturally couldn't clarify things now.
She sighed inwardly, patted Chika's back, and said with a smile, "I'm glad you like it."
"Mhmm! I like Kaguya's thoughtfulness very, very much!"
Yusei, standing to the side, finally understood the whole truth, 'So, I had been full of myself just now.'
'But thinking about it, it made sense. It seemed like all I ever did with Kaguya was argue and oppose her. Where was the sweetness I shared with Asuna?'
'Kaguya wasn't a masochist. She was more like an Ice Queen. She should be the dominant one. How could she possibly like someone who constantly challenged and opposed her?'
But this was actually pretty good. He never thought he'd get the chance to attend a private concert.
Yusei was quite satisfied. Anyway, he had nothing urgent today. Going home just meant drawing manga. Finding an excuse to listen to some music was fine.
Led by Hayasaka, he was the first to go and take a seat in the front row.
Seeing this, Kaguya felt helpless and frustrated, but she could only endure it. The rice was already cooked.
Hayasaka followed behind them, silently sighing. She knew her assist had failed today.
Then, she also followed. There were four seats in the front, so naturally one was for her too.
Kaori was in the back seats. Perhaps because their attention was entirely on each other, they completely failed to notice the golden-haired girl.
But the golden-haired girl saw them clearly, especially the black-haired boy. She was stunned.
'Wasn't this the person who gave me his umbrella half a month ago?'
Kaori looked at her watch. There were still fifteen minutes until her teacher's performance started. Her home wasn't too far from here.
'If I rushed back now, I could make it!'
Without another thought, Kaori immediately headed for the door, planning to go home and retrieve that umbrella to return to Yusei.
If she never had the chance to return it, then so be it. But now that she had met him, if she had the ability to return it, she absolutely must.
It was basic courtesy.
The performance ended. Yusei had listened with great relish. Among the five skills he currently had stored, he hadn't made many changes.
He had only replaced [Alcohol Tolerance] and [Illness-Prone] with Kanna's [Electricity Storage] and Shiro's [Genius].
He hadn't replaced the violin skill mainly because there was nothing better to replace it with, and the driving skill was very useful in the modern world, allowing him to operate any vehicle, including fighter jets.
As for the ALS skill, it was simply too practical. Even in some mystical worlds, as long as the target was still human, as long as the possibility of sickness and death existed, then ALS was a major weapon.
Enhanced to directly cause fatal illnesses in whoever he chose, its efficiency was terrifying.
Low consumption, small cost, but highly lethal and discreet effects… it was practically the perfect tool for assassination.
Within the range of his sight, even the healthiest person could be made to succumb to a fatal illness.
With the violin skill, Yusei understood music quite well, at least when it came to the violin.
The person on stage performed quite well and could indeed be considered a master.
But compared to Yusei's top-tier violin skill, they were still lacking, and by more than a little.
But this was from a critical, fault-finding perspective. From a purely appreciative standpoint, today's concert was still a pleasant and enjoyable musical experience.
As the performance ended, the middle-aged woman on stage gracefully bowed to the audience.
The black-suited bodyguards in the audience, along with Yusei and the others, did not hold back their applause.
Yusei and Chika had both thoroughly enjoyed today. Only Kaguya was full of worry and frustration.
Earlier today, it seemed she was about to get the response she wanted. Who would have thought Chika would interrupt so abruptly, rendering all her efforts futile.
However, as she looked at the smiles on Yusei and Chika's faces, she felt her own mood improve somewhat.
'At the very least... I got to spend a little more time with him today, didn't I?'
Yusei, Kaguya, and Chika prepared to leave the concert hall. Just then, a golden-haired girl came running up from behind, out of breath.
The three of them looked at the panting girl in surprise.
Kaori quickly ran up to the three of them. Seeing Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika's appearances, she was initially startled, but then collected her thoughts and, without another word, placed the umbrella in her hand into Yusei's grasp.
She gave him a bright smile.
"Thank you. This is your umbrella. Returning it to you."
Yusei looked at the umbrella in his hand in surprise. He also remembered this girl from last time, as two of his current skills came from her.
Moreover, her appearance had indeed left a deep impression on him.
"I didn't think you'd remember. But how did you get in? This place was booked privately, right?" Yusei said, later looking at Kaguya in confusion. Kaguya also narrowed her eyes. Her gaze towards Kaori was not friendly.