Chapter 137: Monochrome City

…

sneak

"Sha… Sha… Sha…"

sneak

"Sha… Sha… Sha…"

"Is it really necessary to make that noise, Ryo-chan?" Nijika asked, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.

"What? It makes it more exciting!" Ryo defended her case.

"Ai-chan understands me, right?" she said, pointing to Ai, who was leading the way.

Ai gave her a thumbs-up in confirmation.

Ryo smiled proudly, while Nijika could only sigh in resignation.

Kita found it all very amusing.

…

whistle

Along the way, Ai would whistle every now and then, which her friends found curious. Ryo, the most outspoken of the four, decided to ask.

"Ai-chan, why do you whistle from time to time?" Ryo asked curiously.

"Uh? Oh, that! Well, my singing skill isn't as good as Tadano-nii's, so I can't maintain our camouflage for long…" Ai said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Camouflage?" the four girls asked.

"Hehe, you remember how Tadano-nii tends to disappear every now and then?" Ai asked.

The girls nodded.

"Well, that's because his singing ability is so advanced that it can interfere with people's senses. I can do it too, though I don't have as much stamina and can't keep it up for long," Ai explained.

Then, in front of all her friends, she whistled a certain note and vanished before their eyes.

The four girls were amazed.

Ryo was the most energetic, touching all around where Ai had been, trying to find a wire or some kind of trick, but she found nothing.

"Hehe, see… though it's a bit tiring if I overdo it…" Ai said, suddenly appearing behind the group.

"Kya!" x 4

Poor Pochi was so startled that her art style shifted, with glitch-like tendencies appearing.

"…"

Ai was left speechless upon seeing her friend's unfortunate state.

…

After reviving poor Pochi from her near-comatose state, the group of girls continued following Ai.

Sniff

Sniff

Like a hunting dog, the little star guided herself by scent and quickly located who she was looking for among the crowd.

However, neither Ai nor the young Kessoku group expected what they witnessed next.

"In 3… 2… 1…"

Snap

Following the countdown of a voice familiar to the girls, a snap of fingers echoed.

After letting out a sigh, the young man at the center of the room began to sing.

[BGM: Monochrome City – Koikimo OP]

"I don't want to pretend I don't notice the romance… I want to go outside and forget you for a bit…"

Although his voice was not as high as Ai was used to hearing from her Big Brother, it carried a deeper emotional weight than other times, leaving her captivated as she continued to listen.

Deep in her chest, her small, fragile heart timidly stirred.

This was a love song… it was very obvious, but…

"I probably noticed this love from the beginning… I still don't want to admit it… the dilemma of 'having you only for myself'"

The young man's voice was mesmerizing; both the girls watching from the doorway and Tadano's classmates were rooted in place as they listened to his song.

One person, in particular, was deeply moved.

Tadano continued his song, making small dance steps as he went.

"Just ignore the hum in your chest… as I travel between my two selves… to the moment when I was calmest… I want to return… but I can't…" he sang with a faint, helpless tone, his eyes lingering slightly on a certain brown-haired girl.

Her eyes started to well up.

The young man continued as if he hadn't noticed.

"Pointless reasoning comes from my mind… worrying if my shirt was wrinkle-free… my heart trembles, filled with jealousy… stronger than the wind."

He kept singing, adding small gestures that enchanted the audience.

At one point, as if controlled by something, little Pochi entered the classroom and handed the young man the guitar she always carried.

The group in the room wasn't alarmed because Ai reacted quickly, using her ability; in theory, no one could see the shy pink-haired girl, but Tadano was no ordinary person.

He accepted the guitar with a gentle smile and began.

At that moment, a dazzling guitar solo filled the room, enchanting the hearts of the listeners.

Everyone was lost in an indescribable feeling of fascination as Tadano decided not to hold back much during the solo.

On the side, little Pochi watched him with absolute fascination and devotion.

Such skill with the strings, such mastery captivated her.

She watched and listened attentively, her eyes shining like shooting stars.

"I decided to call it love from the very first day it began… tracing the red thread of legend… trying to make sense of it all… I still have the key…" he sang the last phrase with a still somewhat doubtful voice as he lowered his gaze.

"Just ignore the hum in your chest… as I travel between my two selves… to the moment when I was calmest… I want to return… but I can't…" the young man sang in a low, hesitant voice, but upon reaching the chorus, something seemed to change.

"I want to return… but I can't…"

Raising his gaze and voice without hesitation, he continued.

"I just want to be loved… I want the opposite sex to disappear… this delusion chases me… I have this angst in my heart…" he sang in a tone of reproach and self-mockery.

"I'm a complete fool and my mind is broken… I would calm down and then lose it again… what I know is I'm opening the door… yearning for that two-person world… painted in blue…"

Finishing with a high note, the young man finally ended his song.

It was, without a doubt, a love song.

Narrated from a doubtful, unwilling perspective, but finally surrendering to the love for the other person.

Tadano chose this song especially for Yamai, as a way of expressing his feelings and perhaps his guilt towards her.

Initially, it was meant for her alone, but Shouko overheard that he was going to sing and wanted to join.

Yamai couldn't resist Shouko's cute eyes and agreed.

However, Najimi overheard the conversation between them and called the others to join the fun.

Tadano felt a bit helpless.

Originally, he wanted to do this as a kind of private compensation for Yamai, but now it had grown so big.

And he could feel the fierce gaze of a certain green-haired turtle.

Another surprise was the appearance of the Kessoku group, but seeing that mischievous little star beside them, Tadano understood everything.

"So, you came to play?" Tadano asked.

"Yes…" Ai replied without a hint of fear.

"You can't do that, Ai-chan. You and the Kessoku girls are supposed to practice; remember you have a performance in two days, and you have a small concert scheduled tomorrow afternoon in Akihabara," Yamai scolded with the severity of a mother chastising her mischievous child.

"Eh?! But you said it was just practice…" Ai responded incredulously.

"I told you in the afternoon after your Big Brother gave you permission, and you agreed to the performance—or has my little one already forgotten such important details?" Yamai asked with a somewhat dangerous tone.

Ai struggled to remember.

Finally, she recalled accepting that proposal, but right afterward, she had a fierce water gun battle with the Kessoku group. After that, they decided to test their courage, and finally, they slept together at the club house Yamai rented.

A bit embarrassed for forgetting something so important, Ai scratched her head in shame.

However, Yamai's fierce gaze made her shiver.

"Uuu… sorry, Yamai-nee," Ai said apologetically.

"Maa∼ let's leave it for now; no need to be so hard on little Ai, right?" Tadano said in a conciliatory tone.

Only then did Yamai's gaze soften.

Ai let out a sigh of relief and gave Tadano a big thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, the Kessoku group was overwhelmed by Tadano's classmates and Tadano's partners.

Kaede watched Ryo with interest.

Move

Every time she moved a bill, the girl would chase it with her gaze, like a cat chasing a laser.

Kaede was very intrigued by this girl.

Shouko successfully rescued little Pochi, who was on the verge of turning into a small, glitchy pink slug.

Nijika didn't feel as overwhelmed given her personality and started answering questions.

However, poor Kita Ikuyo was the most miserable; being the singer and second guitarist, the group of students was more interested in her.

By this time, the Kessoku band had performed a few more times at Starry, building a decent fan base.

Poor Kita was overwhelmed and nearly collapsed.

However, a charming older sister came to the rescue.

"Come on, everyone, no need to overwhelm her. That said, I have a few questions too, so if you'll excuse me, I'll borrow her for a moment…" Nene said with a playful smile, taking Kita with her, much to Kita's relief.

"Hehe, no problem… just leave this kind of thing to your big sister," she said with a bright smile.

…

Sometime later, at the entrance of Itan High School…

After saying goodbye to her group of friends and giving Hito-kun a big kiss right in front of the jealous Yamai, Kaede walked over to the car waiting for her.

Open

"Otsukaresama, Kaede-sama…" the butler Dante greeted respectfully, bowing perfectly.

Kaede nodded and got into the car.

Once inside and before Dante could even speak, Kaede spoke first.

"In one week, at most, I want all information on Yamai Ren for this year. It doesn't matter if it's minor details or trivial things; I want everything, including her underwear color or fetishes… and I want it as quickly as possible," she said in a dark voice.

Dante was momentarily stunned, but as a professional and head butler of the Otori House, he quickly agreed.

"As you wish, young lady…" he said obediently.

Kaede ignored him, biting her nail somewhat anxiously.

Something didn't sit right with her…

Since yesterday, she had a terrible premonition and felt threatened for the first time in a long while.

This couldn't go on, especially not by someone like the psychopath Yamai.

Out of pride as well as self-interest, she would get to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible.

"I hope you're not coveting what you can't have, Yamai… for both our sakes," she said, a dangerous glint in her emerald-green eyes.

[100%...]

Author's note: "Well here I am back, so I have not died but almost twice as long as usual, hehe things of life, well here is a chapter. remember to drink lots of water and I love you very much. Sincerely your favorite depressive author".

---------------------- nwnr