Chapter 158 The Little Bell - Part 1 [Hasegawa Mio]
Franz Liszt's Third Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141—in the key of G-sharp Minor.
It was one of my favourite pieces to play, not because of the sound, but because of the way the piano felt on my fingers. With my outstretched fingers, I could gently embrace the keys as I played the melody.
The door slid open behind me.
I stopped playing.
"Ara, you can't even let me play the piano in peace, Sayaka~?"
She made her way over to me.
I smiled a little.
I could see the resemblance to Ayato. They were definitely similar, but the effects of the Ideal Human Project meant that his personality was completely different.
"You seem quite confident in yourself."
"I suppose so, Sa-ya-ka~."
She took out her phone.
I could already see where this was going. After all, she was part of the student council.
I looked up at her.
"Are you sure you don't want to be friends with me?"
"Even if I leave you alone, you're not going to leave me alone."
I laughed a little.
"Isn't that a bit presumptuous? What makes you think that?"
"I know your mission, Mio."
Ah.
That was a bit of a surprise.
I guess one of the higher-ups may have told her. Or even someone who I don't know.
Oh well, it changes nothing.
"So, what's your plan then, Sayaka~."
"It's pretty simple."
She opened her palm to me.
...
"I'll offer you a deal."
I looked up at her.
"I didn't expect that you'd try to bargain with me."
She sighed before taking a few steps closer to me.
"Mio, I want to live a normal high school life with Ayato."
Haa, they even sounded similar. What's all this desire for 'normality'? It doesn't just come like that, you know? We are irregular. We'll never be normal.
That's a given.
To pointlessly strive for a normal life—it won't exist.
At this point, you might as well just live out your life the way the higher-ups planned it.
It was engraved into our brains anyway.
We're all just dancing in the palm of those above us.
"So, what are you suggesting then."
She looked into my eyes.
"I want you to drop out—of your own accord."
That was more blunt than I expected.
I suppose she wasn't finished—she knows that I'd never accept a one-sided offer like that.
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"Mio... Hime-san is at this school."
...
My heart dropped.
...
For the first time, I felt something.
—Akachi Hime
Why was she at this school?
That doesn't make any sense.
She... she should've... but... all those years ago... that's impossible.
"How do you know?"
Sayaka-chan laughed and stretched her arms.
"Looks like even the unshakable Hasegawa Mio can be scared~."
Her tone changed.
She was looking down on me.
Ah.
"That's impossible, she can't be here."
Sayaka walked over and closed the door to the classroom.
"You're desperate now, aren't you?"
I didn't know what to think.
"You know, Sayaka, you seem awfully calm about all of this. But you know, your hope of having a normal life is going to fall apart with her here."
She smiled a little.
"Well, I guess it's too bad for me~."
...
I had two choices.
I could run away.
Or I could fight.
Still, against Akachi Hime... it would be almost hopeless.
Sayaka-chan looked out the window.
"I wonder what she's going to do once she finds out about you~."
That wasn't a question.
She definitely already knew that I was here.
...
Ah, I guess my mission is going to be at stake. I won't be able to just sit back like this anymore. Still, I wondered what Sayaka's strategy was.
Telling me about Hime would definitely throw me off, but it wasn't enough to convince me to leave.
Akechi Hime was unpredictable. There was no guarantee that she'd even go after me.
"I'm sure I can deal with that when it happens."
Sayaka sighed.
"It'd be safest if you dropped out now."
"I'm not defenceless against Hime, you know. You can't control her, so the fact that you're telling me about this doesn't change anything."
...
Sayaka looked at the piano.
"You're still playing boring old pieces as usual?"
"Interesting of you to call them boring."
I guess she's still mad about what happened back then.
"Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens."
"Is that really all?"
"You're going to leave the school, Mio, one way or another."
"Are you really going to be able to make me?"
At this point, for long as I didn't want to leave of my own accord. I wasn't just going to be forced out easily. Akachi Hime was dangerous, but she was nothing like what she used to be.
People change, even her.
And me.
And Mizuhara Ayato.
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It was a cold morning.
I got up early and made my way to my bathroom. I had to brush my teeth and prepare myself for the day. My routine hadn't changed since all the way back during the Ideal Human Project. It was a good routine, so there was no reason to make adjustments.
I was planning on heading to the gym, but I decided to make a slight detour.
...
There was a slight ring as I entered the convenience store. The shopkeeper seem tired, having only awoken a little while ago. The sky was dark, and the air was cold—but I wanted to have something that I hadn't had in a long time.
It was a small packet of candy. We weren't ever given candy or confectionary during my time in the Ideal Human Project, but that didn't mean I had no desire to have them. I did quite enjoy them early in my childhood... well, as far as I could remember.
It was something that made me feel distinctly—human. As I paid for the small treat, I looked out at the school courtyard. There were a few students sitting around and talking, but aside from that, it was practically dead silent.
"Have a nice day."
The slight rattling of the packaging was nostalgic.
I tore it open and placed a chewy block into my mouth. It had a strong strawberry flavour, almost jarring. Regardless, I enjoyed it as much as I could enjoy anything.
It was slightly better than everything else I ate.
Chewing on the candy, I made my way toward the gym.
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