When Hoshino Miru got his phone back, Sumita Mana was still sending him messages.
「Sumita Mana: Saki-chan's piano playing is really amazing, her technique is truly professional!」
「Sumita Mana: She looks quite serious!」
「Sumita Mana: Did you watch the video? That was me playing - isn't it different from my previous level!」
「Sumita Mana: Don't pretend you didn't see it. Since you've read it, please respond to Mana quickly!」
Hoshino Miru watched the video for a while. The camera captured the girl's profile as she sat at the familiar grand piano, hands pressing the black and white keys, playing a Chopin étude.
The video was only about a minute long. Hoshino Miru didn't see Toyokawa Sakiko's figure, but he could faintly hear her voice in the background.
Speaking of which, he hadn't seen Toyokawa Sakiko for several days now.
「Hoshino Miru: Weren't you supposed to practice your new song? Why are you playing Chopin?」
「Sumita Mana: This is my first practice session! Saki-chan wanted to teach some fundamentals. Once Mana gets familiar with the fingering, I'll be able to dominate completely!」
「Hoshino Miru: You played very well, but why start with fingering practice?」
「Sumita Mana: Hey hey hey, anyone who's been out of practice this long needs to get familiar again!」
Next, Sumita Mana sent another video, this time of Toyokawa Sakiko playing piano.
Before Hoshino Miru could appreciate Toyokawa Sakiko's profile, as the girl pressed the black and white keys, piano sounds completely different from Sumita Mana's immediately captured his attention.
If Sumita Mana was like a child babbling while reading sheet music, Toyokawa Sakiko was definitely an adult who could hang that child up and beat them. Her handling of melody was very skilled, with her own rhythm and understanding.
In the past, Hoshino Miru would have had difficulty distinguishing their skill levels - at most he would have felt the latter played more comfortably and pleasantly.
Now, under the influence of [Music Theory], watching Toyokawa Sakiko's pretty face, Hoshino Miru was deeply moved.
This girl was completely at a professional expert level. Could the band she had previously joined have been some first-rate band?
No wonder the band would disband after suddenly losing such a capable teammate.
「Sumita Mana: Does it sound good?」
「Hoshino Miru: It sounds good.」
「Sumita Mana: Compared to Mana?」
「Hoshino Miru: With such a good teacher, I'm now very much looking forward to what amazing performance effects Mana will have in the future.」
「Sumita Mana: Wu... you're always like this!」
「Sumita Mana: Damn it, Mana will show you right away!」
Hoshino Miru could almost see the girl throwing down her phone and angrily mauling the giant panda cushion.
However, it seemed she was getting along well with Toyokawa Sakiko, so that shouldn't be a concern anymore.
Hoshino Miru thought for a moment, then opened Toyokawa Sakiko's chat page.
「Hoshino Miru: How did it feel being a tutor for the first time today?」
...
At the same time, Toyokawa Sakiko happened to be holding her phone. Hoshino Miru's message made her slightly stunned.
Toyokawa Sakiko looked up. Across from her, Sumita Mana was practicing piano. She seemed to have chatted with Hoshino Miru about something earlier, then angrily abused the giant panda cushion before running off to practice piano.
After hesitating for a moment, Toyokawa Sakiko began typing a reply on her phone.
「Toyokawa Sakiko: Thank you for your concern. I had a very happy time with Miss Mana today.」
「Hoshino Miru: That puts my mind at ease. Your skill level is impressive - don't be too nervous. Just treat Mana like a stupid student.」
「Toyokawa Sakiko: You flatter me. I think Miss Mana isn't a stupid student - her level is also quite high.」
「Hoshino Miru: Right now her mind is full of thoughts about performing. Once that enthusiasm fades, she'll immediately become the king of lazy fish.」
「Toyokawa Sakiko: That won't happen. As long as I'm still her teacher, I'll encourage her to continue studying.」
「Hoshino Miru: I'm very much looking forward to Teacher Toyokawa's instruction of Mana. Could you send me videos then?」
「Toyokawa Sakiko: I... wouldn't do such a thing.」
Toyokawa Sakiko waited for a while but didn't receive a reply from Hoshino Miru, leaving her with an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
However, she collected herself - work was what mattered now.
After Sumita Mana finished playing the étude, Toyokawa Sakiko went up to correct some of her incorrect playing techniques. This was her first time teaching someone, so she was particularly serious.
The two practiced until 2 PM, when today's basic lesson finally ended.
"Today was quite fun! Mana learned a lot of good things from Saki-chan and is now full of confidence!" Sumita Mana couldn't help playing a few more notes, fantasizing about dazzling everyone on stage while her good partner showed a shocked expression.
"If Miss Mana has time, please practice the fingering I taught you regularly." Toyokawa Sakiko reminded the little idol.
"Mana also wants to practice more, but my daily schedule is completely packed - I can't squeeze out much time." Sumita Mana looked troubled. "I have to go to the practice room to rehearse dance later, and I have shows to record tomorrow and the day after."
Toyokawa Sakiko had heard about how hard idols worked, but she hadn't expected it wasn't exaggerated at all.
"But Mana will work hard!" Sumita Mana immediately recovered, raising her small fist to cheer herself on. Her smile-filled appearance somewhat infected Toyokawa Sakiko.
Just as Toyokawa Sakiko was about to say something, her phone suddenly rang.
Seeing the familiar number, Toyokawa Sakiko immediately became rigid. Sumita Mana looked over curiously.
"I'm sorry, Miss Mana. I have something to handle. Let's end here for today."
Toyokawa Sakiko showed a forced smile while gripping her phone. She knew her reaction was strange, but she couldn't worry about that now.
Sumita Mana was somewhat surprised but didn't say anything, just maintained her sweet smile.
"Mm, see you next time!"
...
Toyokawa Sakiko arrived at the familiar police station and soon saw the middle-aged man reeking of alcohol.
"I clearly... told you that today was my first time working at someone else's house. Why did you get drunk on the street again?"
The man looked at Toyokawa Sakiko and seemed to know he was shameless. He turned his head away, not daring to meet her gaze.
"I'm sorry..."
"What good is sorry!" Toyokawa Sakiko loudly interrupted him. "You're my father! Seeing your daughter working hard, can't you pull yourself together!"
The man showed a very pained expression: "You should go back. Don't worry about me anymore..."
"I won't. If Dad doesn't go back, I won't go back either." Toyokawa Sakiko bit her lip. "As long as we work together, there will definitely be a way to solve this. I believe in Dad's ability."
"Enough, please stop talking." The man began to sound somewhat pleading. "Go back quickly and let me just disappear like this. Don't worry about me anymore."
"I won't give up on Dad. I'm your daughter!" Toyokawa Sakiko tried to reach out and grab the man's hand, forcibly taking him away.
"How many times must I say it - you don't need a father like me anymore!" The man slapped away Toyokawa Sakiko's hand. Toyokawa Sakiko looked at the man in disbelief.
The man was also stunned, realizing he had spoken too harshly.
Toyokawa Sakiko felt her nose sting and her eyes redden. Before the man could react, she had already run out of the police station.
---
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