Yamada Ryo's answer made Ichiji Kousaka's heart leap with joy.
Ryo had band experience and had performed many times before.
With Ryo on board, tonight's performance was bound to satisfy the audience.
It also left her sister completely astonished.
"This is amazing! Ryo!"
Ichiji Kousaka spread her arms excitedly. Just as Ryo thought Kousaka was going to hug her—
Kousaka instead approached Bai Qiu and gave a deep bow.
"Thank you so much, Bai Qiu-kun. Thank you for convincing Ryo. I don't even know how to properly thank you."
Kousaka's cheeks flushed as she looked at Bai Qiu, as if silently asking, is there anything I can do for you?
"It's nothing," Bai Qiu replied calmly.
After all, in a sense, he might be the reason Yamada Ryo got so addicted to light novels in the first place.
"If you need any help, you must tell me," Kousaka added earnestly.
Bai Qiu nodded.
Then Kousaka turned to Ryo. "By the way, Ryo, where's your bass?"
"Wait a moment,"
Yamada Ryo said, heading to his room to fetch his bass.
After Ryo left, Kousaka's excitement was tinged with a little worry.
Would Bai Qiu lose to Ryo when it came to the signed edition of the book?
If so, perhaps she should step in to prevent it.
Kousaka's expression became slightly shy.
Seeing this, Bai Qiu asked, "What's wrong, Kousaka?"
Kousaka replied, "Bai Qiu-kun… is the signed edition really that valuable?"
Ah, so that was what she was worried about.
Bai Qiu smiled mysteriously. "Signed editions? I have quite a few of them."
"Eh… really?"
Kousaka was surprised but relieved.
Then Gotou Ichiri overheard this and was startled, accidentally falling into Ryo's pile of books.
"Ah, hey!"
She wanted a signed edition too.
As Gotou Ichiri caused a commotion, Kousaka quickly helped her up.
"You okay, Ichiri?"
"Ah, I'm fine…"
Kousaka helped Gotou Ichiri to her feet and picked up her guitar bag for her.
Then Kousaka suddenly remembered—Ichiri didn't have a band yet, right?
Judging by her shy, timid demeanor…
"By the way, Ichiri, would you like to join my band?"
If they had Ichiri as a guitarist—and if Ryo agreed—their band would finally begin to take shape!
"Ah… ahhh…"
Gotou Ichiri's body almost answered instinctively, "Yes!"
Fortunately, she stopped in time.
"Don't be so nervous, Ichiri," Kousaka reassured her.
"Ah, no, it's just… I already agreed to form a band with Bai Qiu-kun."
Gotou Ichiri looked at Bai Qiu, embarrassed to face Kousaka directly.
"Eh! Is that so…"
Kousaka felt a bit disappointed at first, then pleasantly surprised.
"Ah! So Bai Qiu-kun is forming a band too!"
She realized she hadn't asked sooner.
Ichiji Kousaka scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
But considering everything that had happened since they met, it wasn't entirely her fault.
"What instrument does Bai Qiu-kun play?"
Kousaka asked curiously.
"I play the electronic keyboard," Bai Qiu answered.
"I don't think I've ever seen Bai Qiu-kun bring an instrument to school," Gotou Ichiri also asked curiously.
"Ah, that's because there aren't many opportunities to practice at school," Bai Qiu explained, and both girls believed him.
But the truth was different. Bai Qiu simply thought: if he carried the keyboard on crowded trains every day, it would be really inconvenient.
Besides, a keyboard case didn't look as cool or obvious as a guitar or bass.
It was just a long rectangular shape. People might not even realize there was a keyboard inside.
On a crowded morning train, passengers might just grumble silently about someone taking up so much space.
So Bai Qiu, who valued traveling light, simply didn't bring it.
That's why he had never carried his instrument to school until now.
"How many members are in Bai Qiu-kun's band?"
Kousaka asked, secretly hoping.
She didn't expect Bai Qiu to be a rare keyboardist.
In a band, keyboardists were highly sought after.
Even Ryo's previous band had no keyboardist.
"Right now, it's just me and Ichiri," Bai Qiu answered. Gotou Ichiri nodded mechanically.
"If possible…"
Bai Qiu and Ichiji Kousaka spoke simultaneously.
"Shall we form a band together?"
They asked in perfect unison, smiles on both their faces.
The meaning was clear.
"Ichiri, what do you think?"
Bai Qiu asked deliberately.
Gotou Ichiri naturally nodded eagerly.
Forming a band with people she already knew was far better than recruiting strangers.
At that moment, Yamada Ryo returned, carrying his bass.
Kousaka, excited and thrilled, said, "Ryo, I've already formed a band with Bai Qiu-kun and Ichiri! Will you join too? Please?"
"Then our band will be complete."
The three of them all looked at Yamada Ryo.
Ryo glanced at each of them, lips curling into a slight smile.
Ichiji Kousaka's heart filled with hope.
"I see… I'll think about it,"
"Ryo, Bai Qiu-kun is—"
"Keyboardist,"
Yamada Ryo said casually.
"How did you know?" Kousaka asked in surprise.
Did he just hear it? Bai Qiu also looked surprised.
Or did he naturally have the aura of a keyboardist?
"Just intuition," Ryo said proudly, sensing Ichiri's slightly admiring gaze.
"Then Ryo, why don't you…"
"Alright, I'll join,"
"Think… about it?"
Kousaka was going to give Ryo a little more time, but he spoke immediately.
Ichiji Kousaka exclaimed, "Wait, Ryo, what are you doing?!"
Yamada Ryo grinned. "If I'm the last to join, doesn't that make me the coolest?"
Kousaka could only shake her head, knowing she'd been tricked again.
"Then, let's go practice…"
Kousaka started, but was interrupted.
"Wanna try the keyboard?"
Ryo suddenly asked Bai Qiu.
Bai Qiu looked puzzled but nodded.
Ryo seemed to want to test Bai Qiu's skill.
…
So, Ryo led them to a room.
The room was clean, spacious, and tidy.
In the center stood a grand piano, prominently placed.
It was Ryo's mother's piano—she was a piano enthusiast.
But compared to the piano, Ryo preferred the bass.
"Wait, Ryo, isn't this a piano?"
Kousaka asked, puzzled. Was Ryo about to prank them again?
"It's basically the same thing," Ryo replied casually.
Bai Qiu's eyes lit up, and he confidently nodded.
If Ryo said so, it must be fine.
The three watched from the side, curious to see Bai Qiu's skill.
Bai Qiu approached the expensive-looking piano.
He bent his knees, sat upright, straightened his arms, slightly curved his fingers, and closed his eyes.
He felt a surge of excitement. This would be his first piano performance.
Perfectly timed, the skill he had redeemed was a level 2 piano skill.
He could now unleash his full ability.
Bai Qiu opened his eyes, a glimmer of light flashing within them.
His fingers danced across the black-and-white keys.
The notes flowed smoothly, following his hands, reaching the ears of the three watching.
He played the familiar Ode to Joy.
The piano's melody was elegant and flowing, captivating, the notes bouncing around the room, tugging at the three's hearts, their emotions rising and falling with the music.
"Amazing… incredible!"
Ichiji Kousaka gasped in awe.
Yamada Ryo and Gotou Ichiri nodded furiously.
This was nearly professional level.
The girls present, all musically literate, could sense Bai Qiu's extraordinary piano skill, even from a single piece.
And since this was a piano, his electronic keyboard must be even easier for him.
They felt grateful to have such a teammate but couldn't help wondering if they could keep up.
Bai Qiu, meanwhile, was fully immersed in his music.
At this moment, he felt invincible.
Beethoven? Mozart?
Merely mortals born in an era without me!
Of course, this was just Bai Qiu's own self-perception.
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