78: What Do You Think?

The first class of the afternoon had ended.

Chisato closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He walked out of the classroom and headed to the bathroom, where he turned on the faucet to wash his face.

The cold water seeped into his skin, helping him feel a bit more awake.

As he dried his wet face with a tissue, he walked back down the corridor.

On the windowsill by the corridor, a black-winged bird was deliberately flapping its wings as it landed.

Chisato noticed it, glanced at the busy hallway, and then turned to walk toward the staircase at the end of the corridor.

Like someone who doesn't show off their wealth, Chisato wanted to keep the fact that his pet crow was unusually intelligent and almost human-like a secret from everyone.

The black-winged crow understood Chisato's intention as soon as he turned around. 

It flew a short circle around the school building and then re-entered through a window on the other side.

When Chisato reached the staircase and saw no one around, the crow flew directly onto his shoulder.

Sitting on the steps, Chisato pulled out a small packet of chopped walnuts from his pocket.

He tore open a small corner and poured some into his palm, carefully breaking the larger pieces to make them easier for the little guy to eat.

He had bought the walnuts earlier from a convenience store. 

The packet contained five small portions and cost 860 yen, which was quite expensive for Chisato's current financial situation.

But what could he do? The crow just loved walnuts.

"Eat up, eat a lot and grow up fast. When the time comes, I'll take you to the bird market for a mate. Whoever you pick, I'll buy them for you."

The black-winged crow perched on Chisato's outstretched hand, holding a small pudding cup in its beak. 

It stared at Chisato without moving, showing no interest in the walnuts.

Chisato reached out and took the pudding cup, examining it closely.

"You want to eat this?"

"…"

The crow flew onto his head and pecked at his forehead with its beak.

"Ouch… If you don't want to eat it, then why did you bring it back? Or do you want to use it as your food bowl?"

"…!"

The crow started pulling at Chisato's hair with its claws.

"Wait, why are you getting so worked up? Let's talk this out."

Chisato, feeling helpless, pulled the crow down from his head.

It circled restlessly in his palm, as if annoyed that its owner didn't understand and frustrated that it couldn't speak.

Chisato looked at the pudding cup again, trying to guess.

"You're trying to tell me something about the pudding?"

Finally, he understood!

The crow nodded its head with a very human-like gesture.

"Pudding… something related to pudding…"

Chisato fell into deep thought.

At the same time, the crow made a move.

It spread its wings, closed its eyes, and then lay down flat in Chisato's palm, completely still.

Chisato couldn't help but laugh at its dramatic performance. But with the hint from the pudding cup, its message became clear.

That person who loves sweets and is always napping on the desk.

"… Are you talking about Kazusa?"

"Chirp!"

The crow immediately opened its eyes and stood up.

"What happened to her?"

The crow flew back onto Chisato's head, grabbed a small lock of his hair with its beak, and pulled it in the direction of the right staircase.

"You want me to go downstairs on the right side?"

"Chirp!"

At that moment, the school bell rang, and the crow's hair-pulling became more frantic.

Chisato didn't hesitate. If it wasn't something important, the crow wouldn't be this agitated.

Ignoring the ringing bell, he followed the crow's lead and quickly descended the stairs, heading toward the club building.

When he reached the top floor, the crow left his head and flew straight to a classroom at the end of the corridor.

As Chisato made his way through the cluttered hallway and stopped at the door, the crow snuggled into his chest, grabbed the remaining small packet of walnuts, and flew out through a window.

Chisato watched it fly away before turning his gaze back to the clubroom in front of him.

Above the double doors, large letters spelled out "First Music Room."

The door handles were tightly wrapped with colorful ribbons, tied into a dead knot.

Chisato carefully picked at the knot with his fingernails, and after some effort, managed to untie it.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

As soon as he entered, the wind picked up, lifting the curtains by the window high into the air.

In the spacious music room, the most noticeable sight was a girl lying on the piano in the center, her black hair gently lifted by the wind.

Chisato walked slowly toward her and knelt down beside her.

Up close, the girl's sleeping face lacked the usual cold and aloof expression, replaced by a serene, unguarded calm.

After all, she was still just a girl.

Chisato couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

At that moment, the wind died down.

Kazusa's hair, which had been fluttering, fell onto her nose.

She twitched, her closed mouth letting out a small hum, accompanied by a slight wrinkling of her nose.

The next moment, her hair seemed to obey her command and lifted away from her nose.

Kazusa's expression returned to one of peaceful comfort. In her half-awake state, she thought she heard a distant, amused laugh.

She slowly opened her eyes, her not-yet-focused pupils reflecting the face of a boy with a gentle smile.

"…"

"…"

Kazusa's muddled mind gradually cleared, and her confusion turned to understanding. 

She continued to lie on her side, staring at Chisato without a word.

It wasn't until Chisato, feeling a bit uncomfortable, stood up and moved out of her line of sight, his gaze shifting elsewhere, that Kazusa calmly sat up. 

She glanced down at the piano, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, feeling as if she had somehow won in this situation.

"You really found a great place to slack off. Next time, take me with you. It looks like it'd be really comfortable to nap here."

"Yawn—"

Kazusa let out a yawn.

She didn't respond to his comment, not yet sure what to say at that moment.

But her silence didn't make Chisato, who knew her well, feel awkward. He continued the conversation on his own.

"If this happens again, it'd be better to call for help by the window. Just napping won't solve the problem."

"Mm—"

Kazusa made a vague sound, gently rubbing the corner of her eye where a tear had formed.

Only after he said that did she remember something.

"By the way, how did you know I was here?"

The warm smile on Chisato's face froze. With Kazusa staring at him suspiciously, he instinctively shot back a question of his own.

"How… how do you think?"

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