Chapter 153: A Little Suona Shock, Announcing the Joint Exam Results
Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika, as well as Marin and Kawasaki Saki, who although were members of the Super-Quant Club but didn't know Yoru's true abilities, were all dumbfounded.
No...
Let's not talk about what it means for you to take out a Suona first...
Such a big thing, where did you pull it out from?
Yukino was always outspoken. Since she had doubts in her heart, she asked without any hesitation.
"Such a big instrument, how did you hide it in your clothes?"
"Hmph hmph."
Yoru shook his head and laughed disapprovingly.
"There are even bigger things hidden inside; you just haven't seen them yet."
Hearing this, Rio and Miko both blushed.
To be honest...
It was indeed very big.
Especially Miko, when she saw it, she even felt a bit scared.
She didn't even dare to think about how it could go in when the time came.
As soon as Yoru said this, the girls in the room more or less blushed.
Only Shinomiya Kaguya looked puzzled, thinking is this some secret code?
She completely didn't understand why everyone would look so shy.
"Next, I will bring everyone a festive piece of music, Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix (Bai Niao Chao Feng)."
As Yoru spoke, surrounded by complex, shocked, puzzled, and many other gazes, he held up the Suona with both hands and put it to his mouth.
The hot summer sunshine sprinkled on the beautiful and quiet Private Shuchiin Academy.
The scenery of this aristocratic high school was very good. Students who had just finished the exam gathered together discussing, simply a beautiful picture of youth.
Doot doo doo doo~~~
The high-pitched... no, impassioned sound of the Suona directly shattered this silence.
Doot doo doo~~~
Watching Yoru immerse himself selflessly in playing the Suona, Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika looked at each other, both sharing the same thought.
No...
Are you for real?
But to be fair.
This piece of music was indeed very nice to listen to.
Different from the traditional style of Sakura Prefecture, it had a kind of... a kind of...
Thinking of this, Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly had a very wonderful picture in her mind.
A feeling that after the exam results were announced, Yoru strutted proudly, looking down at the teachers and students of Shuchiin.
And all the teachers and students of Shuchiin bowing down in submission before him.
"No wonder it's called Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix..."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded, murmuring to herself.
"Truly a piece of music with extraordinary momentum."
.....
After finishing the piece, Yoru put down the Suona with satisfaction.
"How was it?"
Fujiwara Chika, with a dazed and cute expression, lowered her head and said sincerely.
"It is my loss."
"Hmph hmph, good that you know to admit defeat. Since that is the case..."
"Eh, no, wait a minute."
Fujiwara Chika finally came back to her senses from the impassioned Suona sound, realizing belatedly.
"Didn't I want to play together with Touma-san? When did it turn into an instrument PK?"
Yoru didn't answer Fujiwara Chika's question directly, but pretended to be profound.
"Don't ask. Anyway, as the student representative of Shuchiin, in the competition of instruments, you just lost."
"Oh..."
Fujiwara Chika nodded with a dazed and innocent expression.
"Okay then, I lost."
Seeing Fujiwara Chika's reaction, Yukino couldn't help frowning slightly.
In her class, there were also girls of this natural airhead (Tennen Boke) type with a bit of silliness, such as Yui, and Yurikawa Hana who was even more natural than her.
But when Yukino looked at Fujiwara Chika, she always had an inexplicable feeling.
The opponent seemed not to be a complete natural airhead as she appeared on the surface.
Instead...
There was a dangerous feeling of needing to be guarded against.
Yukino didn't think this would be her illusion.
How could anyone entering Private Shuchiin Academy be a simple character?
Looking at Fujiwara Chika's appearance, she didn't seem like the kind of student with exceptionally excellent academic performance who could enter Shuchiin as a commoner.
The two representatives, Shinomiya Kaguya and Shirogane Miyuki, were the two students with the best grades in the first year of Shuchiin; the former was also the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group.
Then on what basis could Fujiwara Chika also become a student representative?
This proved the opponent's family background must be extremely prominent, rare even in Shuchiin where noble children were everywhere.
Would a girl growing up in such an environment really be a silly natural airhead?
Yukino completely didn't believe it.
While Yoru was playing, the window of the rest room wasn't closed.
The instrument Suona had one most prominent advantage.
That was, as long as it sounded, it was enough to attract everyone's attention.
Plus, Yoru's professional skills were not to be underestimated.
Although he hadn't played many times.
But he was probably the first in this world to play Suona for evil spirits.
This piece of Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix directly left the Shuchiin and Sobu High students who had just finished the exam within hundreds of meters stunned.
"What instrument... was that just now?"
"Tuba?"
"What tuba? I've heard it before, seems to be called... right, Suona! It's Suona!"
"Who is playing this thing on campus?"
"Don't say, really don't say, it's indeed quite nice to listen to."
....
The Great Demon King of Sobu High, Yoru, brought a little Suona shock to Shuchiin.
Just then, Miko suddenly stood up, leaned close to him, and whispered.
"Shuchiin authorities didn't use any tricks."
Yoru nodded, showing no surprise.
"Mmhmm, just as I thought."
Private Shuchiin Academy, what level of high school was that?
Now many prominent figures in politics and business in Sakura Prefecture graduated from this school.
This was indeed a joint exam concerning face.
But after all...
It was just a competition between first-year high school students of two schools.
If the news that Private Shuchiin students failed to take first place spread, it would indeed shock people and cause an uproar.
But it would just be like that.
Private Shuchiin was still Private Shuchiin.
Sobu High was still that Sobu High.
But if they used such despicable means for a trivial matter like the first place in a joint exam...
Leaving aside the consequences of being discovered.
Just the Shuchiin high-level officials, who had always thought highly of themselves and considered themselves the cradle of future talents in Sakura Prefecture, couldn't tolerate such behavior.
Of course.
Just in case, Yoru still asked Miko to send Hyakume to probe the movements on Shuchiin's side.
If the opponent really did some despicable behavior...
Then what awaited Shuchiin next wouldn't just be the previous sarcasm, but Yoru's full-firepower humiliation.
"Touma-san."
After such a brief Suona interlude, Fujiwara Chika looked at Kazusa, the expression on her face becoming extremely solemn.
"Please have a showdown with me!"
"Hmm?"
Kazusa, still in the state of appreciating Yoru's Suona playing, only came back to her senses hearing this sentence.
She stood up, walked to Fujiwara Chika, and said calmly.
"Showdown? Fight? Sure."
"Eh? Eh!?"
Facing Kazusa whose momentum was astonishing, feeling like she would attack at any time, a chill revealing in her delicate slender eyes, Fujiwara Chika hurriedly stepped back two steps, waving her hands repeatedly to explain.
"No... not fighting, it's piano, piano!"
"Piano? Showdown?"
Kazusa seemed unable to combine these two words with the current situation, examined Fujiwara Chika, slightly puzzled.
"You and me?"
Kazusa never mocked others, only spoke the truth.
In her heart, there was only one person she needed to chase in piano level.
That was her mother, Touma Youko.
Kazusa also forgot exactly when it was.
Anyway, a long time ago, she had already left the stage of comparing with peers.
Because no peer had the qualification to compete with her in piano performance level.
So when Kazusa heard Fujiwara Chika, who was also a first-year high school student, say she wanted to have a showdown with her on the piano, she showed such an astonished expression.
She had no mocking intention in her heart.
But this expression falling into the eyes of Fujiwara Chika and Shinomiya Kaguya...
The mocking flavor was really too heavy.
No choice, the two of them didn't understand Kazusa after all, but they saw all of Yoru's performance.
Subconsciously, they would think Kazusa, like Yoru, was despising Private Shuchiin Academy.
"Correct, it's me and you!"
Seeing Kazusa like this, Fujiwara Chika also felt unconvinced.
As long as one is human, one will have a competitive spirit; she naturally was no exception.
Moreover, Fujiwara Chika's piano performance level wasn't that of a mere ordinary amateur.
She was an expert who could be invited by the school to perform solo at the freshman assembly of Private Shuchiin Academy.
At least, within Shuchiin where noble children gathered, Fujiwara Chika's piano performance level was also undisputedly first.
Kazusa didn't answer Fujiwara Chika's question directly, but looked at Yoru first, saying softly.
"Compete with her?"
Yoru said nonchalantly.
"Compete then. Someone is rushing to lose; can we refuse?"
"Okay then, listen to you."
Seeing Kazusa agree, Fujiwara Chika took a deep breath, restored her mood to the most stable state, and slowly rested her ten fingers on the black and white keys.
Accompanying her extremely beautiful playing posture, the melodious piano sound drifted out from the window of the rest room.
Nearby Shuchiin and Sobu High students all heard this faint, very pleasant piano sound.
"Is this... Fujiwara-san playing?"
"Fujiwara-san's piano sound is still so pleasant."
"As expected of the great-granddaughter of the former Prime Minister, not only cute but also plays piano well."
"This piano sound... is good, but..."
"But what?"
"I kind of want to continue listening to that Suona piece."
"Uh... actually I haven't heard enough either."
.....
Although Fujiwara Chika's piano performance was high-level and the sound was very pleasant.
But compared to the famous piece Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix played by Yoru just now, it was obviously not on the same level.
Not only were their levels not on the same tier.
Even the piece selection was far apart.
Fujiwara Chika chose a piano piece that wasn't too difficult to perform, one she was most confident in.
How could such an ordinary piece compare with Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix?
Couldn't compare at all.
After Fujiwara Chika finished playing, she immediately turned to look at Kazusa, trying to find reactions of approval, surprise, admiration, etc., in the opponent's eyes.
Unfortunately.
Kazusa's eyes had no fluctuation, calm as always.
This made Fujiwara Chika feel very uncomfortable.
Is my performance just like this in the opponent's eyes?
This was Fujiwara Chika's misunderstanding.
Kazusa's growth environment was completely different from hers.
In Kazusa's heart, playing the piano was nothing to be praised for at all.
Just like eating and drinking water, it was a very normal thing.
Would you show an admiring look because you saw someone drink a glass of water in front of you?
Impossible.
Kazusa just walked silently to the piano and sat down, resting her slender white fingers on the black and white keys.
Without any words, as always, she began her performance.
And from the moment the first note was played, Fujiwara Chika realized...
She lost.
The piano level of the two...
The difference between clouds and mud, not on the same level at all.
This had already exceeded the obvious categories of piece difficulty and playing fluency.
To summarize simply.
The piano sound played by Kazusa just sounded better than Fujiwara Chika's.
This was completely and utterly a thorough crush in all aspects.
The Super-Quant Club members saw Kazusa playing the piano for the first time and couldn't help showing surprise.
That cold-tempered Touma-san who always carried a meaning of keeping people a thousand miles away...
Actually had such high attainment in piano!?
For this situation, Yoru was naturally not surprised.
Kazusa couldn't lose to Fujiwara Chika.
If taking studying as an example...
Kazusa was someone who possessed Shinomiya Kaguya's talent and Shirogane Miyuki's focus and perseverance.
Top talent, plus unimaginable day-after-day hard work.
This was Kazusa's formidable point.
"Over."
After playing a piece, Kazusa just faintly said these two words and got up from the piano.
And Fujiwara Chika and Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't speak.
Lost.
Completely and utterly lost.
Fujiwara Chika represented the highest piano level among students in Private Shuchiin Academy.
Shinomiya Kaguya originally thought even if this good friend of hers lost, she wouldn't lose too ugly.
But now she realized her original thought was ridiculously wrong.
Kazusa and Fujiwara Chika were completely not players of the same level.
This was simply a crush!
Fortunately.
Shinomiya Kaguya thought, Even losing in piano is no big deal.
After all, specialty is specialty; a student's duty is ultimately grades.
The final dignity of Private Shuchiin, let her protect it as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group!
.....
Several hours later, inside the Shuchiin auditorium.
Sobu High teachers and students, as well as all Shuchiin students who participated in the exam, were sitting here waiting for the exam results.
Most Shuchiin students were looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka and Yoru sitting there with extremely mocking and gloating gazes, whispering in their mouths.
"Only the last few minutes left until making a fool of themselves."
"No need to be so happy; we are Shuchiin, victory is natural."
"Yeah, mocking them now makes it seem like we really consider them competitors; unnecessary."
"Not schools of the same level originally; the joint exam is probably just the school authorities pleasing our mood."
"Shinomiya Kaguya-sama cannot lose to mere Sobu High students."
....
Listening to the mockery of those Shuchiin students, Hiratsuka Shizuka bit her silver teeth lightly, hating it.
"These guys are truly arrogant. Is our Sobu High worse than their Shuchiin?"
Unexpectedly for Hiratsuka Shizuka, Yoru sitting beside her actually nodded, replying in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Of course, what did you think?"
"Eh?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka froze, puzzled.
"But, you said in the morning..."
Yoru waved his hand, disapproving.
"Sigh, I was acting cool you didn't take it seriously, did you?"
Immediately after, before Hiratsuka Shizuka could speak, Yoru said faintly.
"Our Sobu High has the most excellent student, which is me, and the most excellent teacher, which is you. I wasn't talking nonsense about these two points."
Speaking of this, Yoru changed the subject.
"But Shuchiin's greatest advantage has never been these visible things."
"That is...?"
Yoru smiled and said softly.
"Connections."
"Shuchiin's foundation is the deepest among all high schools in Sakura Prefecture."
"As long as a student enters Shuchiin and finally graduates successfully, then whether he chooses business, politics, or any other path in the future, he can meet alumni seniors who also graduated from Shuchiin."
"Plus, most Shuchiin students are rich or noble. Spending three years of school time with such people, the friendship forged during this period will also become an assistance on the future path."
"This kind of connection relationship cannot be bought with mere money."
Hiratsuka Shizuka could obviously understand the reasoning behind this, nodding deeply in agreement.
Immediately after, she couldn't help asking curiously.
"Since you know the benefits of choosing Shuchiin, why did you come to Sobu High back then?"
"I don't need these."
Yoru replied casually, then looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka beside him, smiling.
"Besides, if I didn't enroll in Sobu High, I wouldn't have met such a beautiful homeroom teacher, let alone flirt with her in the office."
Hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka blushed, biting her silver teeth lightly.
"You kid, making fun of the teacher again, right? Take my..."
Just as Hiratsuka Shizuka was halfway through speaking, she saw the middle-aged Shuchiin female teacher wearing gold-rimmed glasses walk slowly onto the stage.
"Next, announcing the rankings of this joint exam."
The huge conference room instantly became dead silent.
Under the gaze of all students from Shuchiin and Sobu High, the female teacher took a deep breath, her face becoming very complicated, speaking slowly.
"This joint exam, first place..."
"Sobu High, Class 1-A, Yoru-kun."