The morning sun crept through the curtains as I stirred awake, blinking away the remnants of a dreamless sleep. No visions of music, no phantom violins. Just silence.
I sighed in relief.
It was the start of a new school day—my first since the incident.
After a quick shower, I stood in front of the mirror. My silver hair, still damp, shimmered faintly in the light. My reflection stared back, familiar yet subtly changed. Stronger. Sharper.
"Still me," I muttered. "Just… upgraded."
I dried off and got dressed, slipping into the neat Kuoh Academy uniform. As I adjusted my bow tie, my gaze fell on the violin case resting in the corner of my room.
I hesitated.
I still couldn't bring myself to tell Mom the truth—that I couldn't play the violin like I used to. Not yet, at least. Maybe… just maybe, I could play again. I just needed time. Or courage. Or both.
With a deep breath, I picked up the case and slung it over my shoulder.
Downstairs, Mom was already packing my lunch in a small bento box, humming to herself.
"Morning, Mom," I said, forcing a smile.
She turned with a grin. "Good morning, Eishi! Have a great first day back, alright? Oh—and take your time. If it gets too hard, call me. I'll come pick you up."
"Got it." I waved, stepping into my shoes by the door. "See you later."
"And don't forget to eat all your veggies!"
I groaned. "Yes, Mom."
Outside, the sky was crisp and clear. The walk to school felt strangely surreal—like a dream I had walked through once before but now saw in higher resolution.
Kuoh Academy.
Previously a prestigious all-girls school, now co-ed as of this year. Rumors had it the decision came from the upper management trying to "modernize" the school image. Or maybe just balance out the gender ratio. Either way, it worked—I got in well, as scholarship student.
As I approached the school gate, a sharp voice cut through the morning air.
"You there! Hurry up! You don't want to be late while I'm watching, do you?!"
Startled, I snapped my head toward the source.
Shinra Tsubaki.
Second-year. Vice President of the Student Council. Known for her icy stare and military-grade punctuality.
She adjusted her glasses, giving me a once-over before turning on her heel and continuing her patrol like a general on the battlefield.
"…She's intense," I muttered under my breath.
I slipped past the gates and into the campus grounds, careful not to draw any more attention. The uniform-clad crowd of students moved like a current—some chatting, some yawning, a few dragging their feet like zombies.
The air buzzed with energy. It was hard to believe this used to be an all-girls school. The student council's president was also a second-year like Tsubaki, which was weird. Usually, third-years held those positions.
What kind of second-year could pull that off?
Scary thought.
I was halfway to class when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Lucivar"
I turned.
Takahiro-sensei.
My mentor and music instructor. He was the one who'd helped me get the scholarship in the first place.
He looked the same—sharp eyes, a clean black suit, and that always-serious expression. It
"Sensei."
"Come to the music room after class," he said, hands in his pockets. "There's something we need to discuss."
I nodded slowly. "Understood."
He gave me a faint nod before walking off.
The air around him always felt a little heavy. Not in a bad way—just… weighty, like everything he said mattered more than you realized.
I entered the classroom 1D, just as the bell rang, still carrying my violin case.
My classroom had twenty-three students. Only five of us were guys.
And right in front of me sat one of the most popular—Kiba Yuuto. The so-called prince of Kuoh Academy. Polite, graceful, and disgustingly good-looking. The type of guy who could smile and make someone question their entire romantic orientation.
We didn't talk much, but we were on good terms. Casual acquaintances, maybe borderline friends.
"Morning, Kiba," I said, sliding into my seat.
He turned slightly and gave me that perfect smile. "Good morning, Eishi. You alright? I heard about the accident."
"Yeah… I'm okay. Thanks for asking."
He nodded. "If you ever want to talk, I'm around."
"Sure. I appreciate it."
I leaned back, trying to act casual. Then I heard it—low whispers from behind me.
Girls.
They probably thought I couldn't hear them.
"Did you see how he smiled at Eishi-kun?"
"I know, right?! They look so good next to each other…"
"Do you think they hang out after school?"
"They give off such vibes."
…Wait.
No.
No way.
My eyes twitched.
I stayed quiet, pretending to flip through my textbook, but internally, my soul was already spiraling.
Seriously? I barely talked to the guy, and now we're some kind of school-canon pairing?
Apparently, even though I wasn't as popular as Kiba, I was still noticeable. Probably because I didn't talk to many people, always looked serious, and kept to myself.
And now…
BL rumors?! With Kiba?!
My face darkened as I slowly sank into my chair.
How did this even happen?!.
There was another guy in our class—Saji. Bit awkward, kind of loud sometimes, but not a bad guy.
I leaned toward him. "Hey, Saji. Heard you got scouted by the student council?"
He scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Yeah, I guess? Not sure why though. My grades aren't exactly amazing or anything. They said something about me 'not being ready yet' or whatever. Maybe next year."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kiba stiffen ever so slightly. Huh?
"You okay, Kiba?"
He blinked, then gave a small smile. "Yes, sorry. Just thinking."
Then Kiba turned toward Saji. "By the way… our club is looking for new members too. If you're interested."
Saji raised an eyebrow. "Your club?"
"The Occult Research Club. Our president is Rias Gremory."
Saji's jaw dropped slightly. "Wait—that Rias Gremory?"
I tilted my head. "Who?"
Both of them stared at me like I just said I didn't know what pizza was.
"You seriously don't know her?" Saji asked, stunned.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I guess? I spend most of my time training or in the music room."
Then something clicked. "Wait… my scholarship. It's under Gremory Foundation, isn't it?"
Kiba nodded. "Yes. The Gremory Group is quite influential. They support a lot of traditional music programs around here. That might be how you got noticed."
"Huh… that explains a lot." I leaned back in my seat. "But… Occult Club, though?"
Saji made a face. "Kinda sounds shady."
Kiba smiled politely, as if he'd heard that a thousand times. "We're not as strange as the name makes us sound."
Saji raised an eyebrow. "I'll think about it."
____________________________________________________________
After class, I made my way straight to Takahiro-sensei's office.
The music wing of the school was quieter than the rest, filled with the faint scent of old wood and polished brass. His office was tucked in a corner—room 2-C, a place I'd visited countless times before. But today, it felt heavier.
I knocked.
"Come in," came the familiar voice.
The door creaked open. The room was modest but lined with shelves stacked with music scores and neatly labeled folders. A single upright piano rested by the far wall. Medals and framed certificates gleamed under the warm light—regional awards, national titles. Takahiro-sensei wasn't just a teacher. He was a legend in the school's music department.
He looked up from behind his desk, face unreadable as always.
"You okay?" he asked bluntly.
I nodded. "Physically, yeah. I feel good, actually."
"Good."
That was it. No unnecessary words. That was Takahiro-sensei.
He stood and turned toward the window, hands clasped behind his back. "Now… about your scholarship."
I tensed.
"I have bad news and good news."
I swallowed. "Let's get the bad one out first."
"You failed the performance evaluation. You collapsed before you finished. It's an automatic fail."
I lowered my head. "I figured as much…"
"But," he continued, "I've spoken with the board—specifically the Gremory Foundation. Based on your previous performances and potential, they've agreed to give you another chance."
I blinked. "Really?"
"But it won't be a simple redo." He turned, eyes sharp. "Instead of a solo performance, they want you to compete in the End-of-Year School Festival Talent Competition."
My heart skipped.
"That's… in three months, right?"
He nodded. "Exactly three months. Your objective is simple—win. Not second. Not third. First."
I hesitated. "Against the whole school?"
"All grades. First to third years."
"That's insane."
"Maybe. But the Gremory Foundation is strict. If you want that scholarship to continue, this is your only path. I won't sugarcoat it."
I looked down at my violin case, gritting my teeth. My palms were sweaty.
"…Sensei."
"Hm?"
"Their condition… is to win first place, right? It doesn't matter what I perform?"
He raised an eyebrow, considering my words, then gave a short nod. "They want to see talent— talent so good that it can win first place against all years"
"…Alright." I gave a small bow. "Thank you, Sensei."
"Eishi."
I looked up.
He met my gaze, his expression softer than usual."I don't know what you're planning… but I believe in you. You can come to me anytime you need."
Then he smiled.
That… hit harder than I expected.
For a second, I didn't know what to say. So I just nodded, holding the weight of his words in silence.
I stepped out of his office and wandered the halls. The weight of expectation settled over my shoulders. My fingers curled unconsciously. My eyes burned.
Can I really do this?
I carried the violin, but I couldn't even bring myself to touch it.