7:56 p.m.
Even though the dinner rush had already passed, the restaurant was still filled with plenty of diners. Compared to an hour ago, however, the hall was noticeably quieter now.The messy chatter had faded away, replaced by the soft clinking of cutlery.In such an atmosphere, it felt like the perfect moment for a piece of music.There couldn't be a better opportunity.
Asakura Kaito took a deep breath and sat down in front of the piano.
"You're insane, Kaito!"Standing beside him, Kuse Haruto—who had realized that Kaito was actually serious—panicked instantly.He rushed over, lowered his voice, and hissed anxiously:
"Do you even know what kind of people are eating here today?! Have all those short videos brainwashed you?! Those clips teaching you how to play a whole song by tapping a few keys are fake, man! They scam outsiders!"
"If you really try to show off using that nonsense, you'll embarrass yourself so badly you'll want to crawl into a hole and die. I've fallen for it once already!"
Haruto was already cursing inside.After spending two and a half years with Kaito since high school, he knew exactly what kind of guy he was.
This guy—other than being handsome, getting good grades, and being a little taller than average—had no other outstanding traits!
Play the piano?What a joke!
He'd sooner believe Haruto was the Emperor of Japan!
And the restaurant was packed and quiet. Once the first note sounded…
Haruto didn't even need to imagine it—he was already curling his toes from secondhand embarrassment!
That cursed, uncontrollable habit of feeling embarrassed for other people was kicking in hard.
"…Actually, I can play a little,"Kaito said.
"A little?! You'd have better luck spinning in place and firing off 360-degree shots of… whatever! You'd get more views AND maybe even trick a few girls into tipping you!"
"And aren't you afraid Manager Watanabe is gonna kill you? Playing with his precious piano during work hours? Aren't you scared he'll use this as an excuse to dock your pay?!"
Haruto kept trying to talk sense into him.He couldn't understand how the normally quiet, low-key Kaito suddenly wanted to do something so attention-grabbing today.
Meanwhile…
Many of the restaurant's customers had already noticed the situation.Seeing a waiter sit down at the piano in the center of the hall, they all turned their heads with curiosity.
Was he… going to play?Didn't look like someone they hired. Why else hadn't they ever seen it before?
The waiter was going to play voluntarily?How rare.
Especially when they realized he looked like a young high schooler.They nudged their friends, craned their necks, and stared.
Very curious what kind of performance this would be.
Feeling more and more scorching gazes on them,Haruto couldn't stand it anymore.He was already dying of embarrassment.
"You're on your own!"Seeing he couldn't stop Kaito, he threw down the line and fled to the side as fast as he could.
If he didn't run now, people might think he was close friends with this piano-playing lunatic!
Don't get him wrong—he wasn't!Didn't know him at all!Never met him in his life!
Seeing no one interfering anymore, Kaito shifted his gaze toward the system interface.
The reason he'd said "I can play a little" earlier was because he genuinely didn't know what proficiency level the system would give him.
He opened the [Instrument Skill Selection Card].
[Please choose one of the following instruments: violin, jazz drums, guitar, piano, suona]
Kaito slid his finger gently:
[Acquired: Piano Skill (Silver)]
In an instant, countless memories of piano techniques—music theory included—flooded into his mind.
It felt surreal, like someone had smacked his skull and suddenly everything just… clicked.
He placed his fingers on the piano keys.It felt like touching an old partner.
Just like S1mple getting his AWP, Liu Qi receiving his chessboard, or a certain T.M. actress picking up her golden… prop.
All he needed was a gentle tap, and he knew exactly how to use it.
"Dong—"
Kaito pressed a single key.
The deep piano tone reverberated throughout the restaurant.Every diner, every busy waiter, involuntarily turned toward the sound.
Kaito inhaled slowly, placing both hands on the keys.
He began to play.
"~"
Gentle, soothing notes cascaded down like a flowing stream.
The piece Kaito chose was "Mariage d'Amour" — Wedding in the Dream.
After eighteen years in his previous life, he had forgotten most music he once listened to.But this piece—this one—He remembered vividly.
Because it had been his high school's class-ending bell.
He'd always loved it, often replaying it on music apps.Though admittedly that love might be influenced by the fact that it wasn't the class-starting bell.
With his [Piano Skill (Silver)], as long as he remembered the melody,He could play any part with ease.
As Kaito's fingers danced across the keys,the entire restaurant fell into a calm, harmonious atmosphere.
"…It's actually pretty nice?""Yeah, this piano sounds great.""Wow… is he really a high schooler?"
Many diners froze with their utensils mid-air, stopping their meals without realizing it,listening quietly.
Dining while bathing in such music was pure bliss.
This waiter boy… had real talent.
Were high schoolers nowadays this amazing?
Even Haruto was staring blankly at this point.Stunned.
Bro.You… actually CAN play?!
"Wedding in the Dream"What kind of beautiful piece was it?
Composed by French composer Paul de Sénneville, it embodied an idealized, romantic, dreamlike wedding.Few people knew it was written in 1978—not a classical-era work at all.It blended classical and pop elements, the melody soft and elegant, the rhythm deeply emotional.
Every human is born with some musical instinct.
Though no one in this world had ever heard this piece before,the romance, elegance, and emotion within the notesmade every listener resonate instantly.
As Kaito reached the climax, the tempo quickened.The restaurant filled with gasps of astonished admiration.
"Holy… this guy is good!""For real! I've never enjoyed instrumental music this much—this is incredible!""Even my grandpa would call this classy!""He looks good AND plays like this?! What's this waiter's name?""Is he some trainee from an agency?"
Soon people began standing up.This was too interesting to miss.
This would easily go viral on TikTok.
Phones came out, cameras turned on, and they began recording Kaito.Those who had been served by him earlier were practically swooning.Some even left their seats and walked up to the piano.
Student.Handsome.Piano.Music.
Combined together, they formed the most beautiful scene in this entire café.
As the final note of "Wedding in the Dream" faded,Kaito lifted his hands from the keys.
A flawless performance had come to an end.
"Beautiful!"A woman recording him led the applause, and soon the entire restaurant erupted in cheers.
Japan has no shortage of people who love lively scenes and enjoy hyping things up.
"So handsome! You're amazing!" someone screamed."That was gorgeous! Can you play one more?!"
And in the crowd, one particular waiter was more emotional than anyone else.
"We've known each other for years!""He's my bro—my best bro!"