Chapter 73: A Small Lecture From an Expert
The following morning, a burst of energy shattered the silence, marking Kokoro's lively wake-up call. Our cozy snow bed was abruptly disrupted as she woke me up.
"Huh? Kanon and Kyo-kun? Did you two get uncomfortable in the snow bed?" Kokoro's concern resonated in her voice, her eyes darting between Kanon and me.
"N-No... we're fine," I mumbled, attempting to shake off the lingering drowsiness that clung to us.
My mind was still foggy with sleep. Dang... I still feel sleepy...
As we clumsily gathered ourselves, a distant sound echoed through the serene landscape—a helicopter approaching.
Excitement rippled through the air, prompting all of us to rush outside to witness the unfolding spectacle.
"Ohh!~ It's them!~" Kokoro's arms stretched wide, and she waved enthusiastically.
Them?
My gaze fixed on the descending helicopter, revealing a group of individuals clad in black suits and shades.
Huh? Those two who were driving the helicopter look very familiar...
A woman, impeccably dressed in a black suit, took confident strides toward us. "Now, Lady Kokoro and Hello, Happy World, please board the helicopter. It must be freezing cold out here."
Lady Kokoro?! Is it just me, or is Kokoro super rich?!
"Thank you so much!"
The five members of Hello, Happy World! eagerly boarded the helicopter. However, just as I was about to follow suit, the woman halted me with a stern look.
"Hm? Are you Nakasone Kyo?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Her piercing gaze bore into me, scrutinizing my appearance with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "So, you're the guy who the headmaster was interested in."
"Huh?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"No worries, please board in, young master."
Young master? Eh?
I sighed, perplexed.
Whatever.
As I stepped inside the helicopter, the hum of the rotors slowly drowned out the winter stillness. The landscape beneath us transformed into a white canvas as we soared up into the sky, leaving the snowy haven behind.
The helicopter's descent brought us back to the cottage.
"We're back," I and Misaki announced as we entered the cottage.
"I'm heading to my room," I added, making my way to my private space.
Once inside, my eyes locked onto my phone, peacefully charging on the desk. I hurriedly unplugged it, embracing it as if it were a long-lost friend. "I miss you, my technology~ I promise I won't leave you again!!"
I know I'm being a freak right now and I don't care! It's a big mistake leaving my phone!
In the midst of my tech-loving moment, a voice interrupted me. "Uwah."
Hm?
I slowly turned my head to the door, only to find Misaki standing there with a look of mild disgust.
"U-Uhm... I can explain," I stammered.
"Right... I understand you're a boy," Misaki deadpanned.
She began to walk out, slowly closing the door.
Panic set in, and I rushed to stop her. "It's a misunderstanding!!!"
After a few minutes of explaining my overly dramatic reunion with my phone, Misaki eventually seemed to understand my situation. She sighed, her expression softening.
"Look, I get it. You missed your phone. Just... try not to be so dramatic about it next time," she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and understanding.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Sorry about that," I replied sheepishly.
Misaki gave a small smile. "It's fine. We all have our moments. Just don't make a habit out of it, okay?"
"I won't, I promise."
As a brief silence settled, I looked at Misaki, wondering about her intentions.
"So? What do you want?" I asked.
"Ahh... Right..." Misaki reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, showing me a video.
The video featured an OST from a game—the very one I composed. My eyes widened as she pointed to the username on YouTube.
"It's you, isn't it?" she asked, staring at me intently.
I sighed, acknowledging the truth, and nodded. "Are you happy?"
"Yeah! I am! I'm actually a fan of yours!"
"A fan? I'm just a game composer, though, nothing else."
Misaki grinned. "Well, I think it's cool. You're talented, you know. I've been following your work for a while now."
I couldn't help but feel a warm sense of appreciation. "Thanks, Misaki. I didn't know you were into game music."
She shrugged. "I like a bit of everything. And I have a good ear for quality, you know."
"Hmmm, but is that really all? You just want to expose me?"
Misaki chuckled. "No, no... Actually, I want to..." She pointed her finger at me with a determined gaze, "I want you to teach me more."
"Eh? Teach you? Aren't you a good DJ already?"
She stayed silent and cleared her throat, "That's true, but... I want to learn from an expert."
My eyes widened, and I couldn't help but smile. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Since when did you find out that it was me who made that OST?"
"Your voice on tutorial videos."
My face went pale as I knelt down and dropped to the ground.
Damn it, I'm such an idiot! I should've used text, but it'll take a while to edit them!!
Misaki burst into laughter at my dramatic reaction. "Come on, get up. I won't tell anyone. Besides, it's a good thing. Now, will you teach me or not?"
Grumbling, I got back on my feet. "Fine, fine. I'll teach you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else in the band."
"Deal," she said, still chuckling.
As I began teaching Misaki everything about DJing, I quickly realized that she was exceptionally smart. She grasped the concepts swiftly, understanding every detail I explained.
It became evident that her interest in learning from me wasn't just a passing whim.
Her questions were insightful, and her enthusiasm was contagious. We spent hours experimenting with beats, mixing tracks, and exploring different styles of music.
As I continued imparting lessons to Misaki, the passage of time escaped my attention until hunger reminded us of the ongoing lunch break.
"Let's take a small break," I suggested, feeling the need to pause our study session.
"Good idea," she agreed, giving a slight nod.
"I'll grab us some snacks downstairs. Kitazawa-san is probably cooking croquettes again."
As I prepared to leave, Misaki's eyes widened, and she hastily reached out, seizing my hand. "Wait!"
Caught off guard, I turned to her with raised eyebrows. "W-what?"
"Can you... take off your clothes?"
My mind raced with confusion. "What?"
"Take your clothes off!"
"What the hell do you mean by that!?"
"TAKE IT OFF!"
"I DON'T WANT TO!?"
In a frustrated huff, she clarified, "Arrgghh, I meant this!" Misaki pointed insistently at my sweater.
"O-oh..."
"Take it off."
"Why?"
"Because there's a cut on this area." She indicated the damaged section around the waist.
"Y-You're right... I didn't notice that..."
"I'll fix it... Wait here." Without giving me a chance to respond, Misaki rushed out of my room. A few minutes later, she returned with a small sewing kit.
"Now then, take it off. I'll fix it for you."
I nodded, slowly peeling off my sweater, revealing only a tank top. I noticed Misaki blushing as she watched me undress.
"What?" My face warmed in tandem as I handed her the sweater.
Misaki's gaze lingered, and she mumbled, "Boys really do have muscles, huh..."
"Huh? W-What do you mean... J-just sew it."
"A-Ah, right!" She opened her sewing box, placed it on the desk, and then began to sew.
As Misaki focused on repairing the clothes, the atmosphere in the room became a blend of awkwardness and subtle curiosity.
Maybe it was best not to interrupt her, I thought. I decided to take the opportunity to slip out and grab the snacks.
After a brief intermission to fetch snacks, I returned to my room. However, as soon as I entered, I caught Misaki in a peculiar act—she was noticeably sniffing my sweater.
Eh?
[Misaki's POV]
A few minutes earlier, Kyo had left the room, leaving Misaki alone to mend his sweater. With practiced hands, she swiftly completed the task, her mind occupied with the process.
As she finished sewing, Misaki found herself staring at the now-repaired sweater, a peculiar thought crossing her mind. What do boys smell like, she wondered idly. A tiny, curious spark ignited within her.
Glancing between the door and the sweater, Misaki contemplated the consequences of a harmless sniff. "A slight sniff," she mumbled to herself as if trying to justify the action.
With a hint of mischief, she slowly lifted the sweater to her face, eyes darting around the room as if expecting someone to barge in at any moment. The fabric neared her nose, and she took in a tentative whiff.
The scent was subtle, a mix of laundry detergent and a faint trace of Kyo's cologne. Her eyes widened in realization, and she quickly lowered the sweater, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Why did I even do that?" she scolded herself in a hushed whisper.
"Yeah, I wonder why did you even do that." Kyo entered the room, deftly balancing a tray laden with snacks that he carefully placed on the desk.
"Eek! Did you see it?!" Misaki's eyes widened, her embarrassment palpable.
"I did." Kyo chuckled, his amusement evident as he observed Misaki's startled reaction.
[Kyo's POV]
Kyo took in the room, a playful glint in his eyes. "Now then... Let's forget about the scenario and go back to teaching, yeah?"
Misaki's face, still tinged with embarrassment, nodded hesitantly. "Y-Yeah...."
With snacks set aside, Kyo reclaimed his seat, trying to stifle a grin that threatened to escape. He couldn't resist finding the situation amusing.
"Why are you smiling then...?" Misaki queried, her curiosity piqued.
"Nothing~" Kyo responded, the mischievous glint in his eyes growing.
"Forget it!"
"You can't make me if you keep reminding me," Kyo smirked, teasingly.
"Arrghh! I shouldn't have done that." Misaki blushed, covering her face with the very sweater she had sniffed moments ago.
"Right, Right~ Just taking another opportunity to sniff my sweater again," Kyo teased, lifting an eyebrow playfully.
Fed up with the banter, Misaki threw the sweater onto Kyo's face. "Idiot!" She exclaimed, and with that, she stormed out of the room.
"Ah... She retreated." Kyo chuckled to himself, amused by Misaki's lively reaction. The room resonated with the echoes of their banter, creating an atmosphere that somehow felt even more comfortable than before.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone