I, Who Acquired the Ability to Read Memories, Am Being Swallowed by Darkness - While I Should Be Protecting Beautiful Girls, I Am Being Drawn into Darkness Each Time I Use My Power, Yet for Some Reason, My Harem of Beautiful Girls Keeps Growing - Chapter 50: Talking with Misae at Melodia.

Chapter 50: Talking with Misae at Melodia.

A residential neighborhood at twilight.

A graceful sign reading “Melodia” caught my eye.

The piano school, converted from a stately Western-style mansion, stood out prominently in this quiet neighborhood.

The nameplate read “Misae Shirota.”

I took a deep breath and pressed the intercom.

“Yes, who is it?”

The voice through the intercom sounded youthful, hardly like that of a 30-year-old.

“It’s Satou…”

“Oh, Ryuuji-sama.”

Her voice brightened.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

The heavy door opened, revealing a beautiful woman with porcelain-like skin.

Misae Shirota.

Her glossy black hair and elegant demeanor were like that of an actress.

“Please, come in.”

Stepping inside, I was greeted by a refined atmosphere.

Signed photos of famous pianists adorned the walls, and a luxurious carpet lined the hallway.

From a soundproofed room, the faint strains of Chopin’s “Fantaisie-Impromptu” could be heard.

Guided to the reception room, I sat on an antique chair.

Misae gracefully poured coffee from a serving cart.

“Have you noticed anything unusual with your students lately?”

At my question, Misae briefly lowered her eyes.

Her hand, holding the coffee cup, trembled slightly.

“Well… there’s one student I’m concerned about.”

Misae continued, gazing out the window.

Outside, streetlights were starting to flicker on, one by one.

“A middle school student who suddenly quit lessons. Her name is Karina Jounouchi.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes. It was very unnatural.”

A hint of worry colored Misae’s voice.

“Karina-chan loved the piano so much. She’d even practice during breaks. She used to talk with shining eyes about becoming a pianist someday.”

I listened silently to Misae’s words.

A girl who loved the piano, suddenly throwing it all away.

In that unnaturalness, I sensed Yamashita’s shadow.

“Her parents were baffled too. They said, ‘Our daughter changed so suddenly…’”

Misae let out a deep sigh.

“But I couldn’t push too hard. In the end, I had no choice but to accept her withdrawal.”

The pillar clock in the reception room quietly ticked away.

In my mind, I was turning over countless possibilities.

Before I could ask my next question, Misae brought up an unexpected topic.

“Actually… I have something to discuss about my husband.”

“Your husband… Mr. Shirota?”

Misae’s expression stiffened for a moment.

Yes.

Junichi Shirota.

A music teacher and advisor to the brass band.

Recently absent from school.

“I’ve decided to divorce him.”

Her words made me catch my breath.

Despite her perfect ladylike appearance, her voice carried a strong resolve.

“I just can’t forgive what he’s done.”

Misae stood and retrieved a USB drive from a cabinet.

“This.”

I opened my laptop and inserted the USB she handed me.

It contained… multiple videos.

The victims’ faces were blurred, and their voices altered, but Junichi Shirota’s actions were clearly recorded.

Training female students.

Consensual acts.

Rape.

Girls transforming.

“The edited footage you gave me before. It’s already been submitted to the Board of Education.”

Misae’s voice grew cold.

“Soon, he’ll face disciplinary dismissal. His teaching license will be revoked too.”

“What about the police?”

“As a criminal case… it’s difficult, apparently. They can’t identify the victims in this state.”

She gave a wry smile.

“But it’s fine now. He’s practically neurotic… almost mentally broken.”

A complex mix of emotions crossed Misae’s face.

“He brought it on himself. And I… I turned a blind eye for far too long.”

I nodded quietly.

For a moment, Reiko’s face flashed in my mind, but I shook it off.

Shirota and Reiko have nothing to do with each other anymore.

“Getting back to Jounouchi-san.”

I steered the conversation back.

“Would it be possible to meet her?”

“Yes, I can give you her address. She should be attending a nearby middle school.”

Misae began writing a note.

A faint tremble was visible in her hand movements.

She might be frightened by this situation herself.

Outside, the sun had completely set.

Only the streetlights illuminated the quiet residential neighborhood.

I was firming my resolve.

Karina Jounouchi.

Meeting her would surely be the key to unraveling this abnormal situation.

And… perhaps it might reveal Yamashita’s motives.

“I want to know more about Karina-chan.”

At my words, Misae stood and began rummaging through a cabinet.

“Perfect timing. I have footage from a recital three months ago.”

The recital footage appeared on the large TV screen.

A girl walked toward the grand piano on stage.

Her gaze was direct, her demeanor dignified.

Dressed in a black gown, Karina Jounouchi quietly sat at the chair.

“Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2. This is the sheet music she used.”

Handing me the sheet music, Misae explained in a soft voice.

“She chose this piece.”

The audience, entranced by Karina Jounouchi’s performance, was enveloped in breathless silence.

Seated at the grand piano under the spotlight, she was like a fairy descended to the human world.

What first caught the eye was her refined features.

At just 14, her well-proportioned face and translucent white skin already suggested the elegance of an adult woman.

Her long brown hair swayed naturally around her shoulder blades, moving quietly as if in sync with her breathing during the performance.

Her lovely brownish eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, reflecting her intense focus on each key.

Her high, refined nose and faintly pink lips accentuated her grace.

Her expression while playing was utterly serious, but the occasional faint smile revealed her inner passion and pure love for music.

Then, her performance began.

It was more than just playing the piano—it was an expression of her soul.

Her delicate fingertips danced across the keys, striking them lightly and precisely, like a butterfly flitting from flower to flower.

Each note carried her subtle emotions, captivating the audience with the timbre she produced.

Even complex pieces were expressed beautifully and powerfully through her fingers.

Her performance showcased not only technical mastery but also a deep understanding of music and a richly expressive sensitivity, truly reaching the realm of art.

Her performance was not merely a sequence of notes—it was a story.

Joy, sadness, anger, and hope. Various emotions poured from her fingertips, resonating deeply in the audience’s hearts.

It was as if her soul, transformed into the sound of the piano, spread throughout the entire venue.

When the performance ended, thunderous applause erupted, and the audience was intoxicated by the overwhelming talent of this genius girl pianist.

Karina Jounouchi.

Her name surely heralded the birth of a great pianist, destined to be etched in music history.

Her performance stirred the listeners’ hearts profoundly, delivering an unforgettable, miraculous moment.

Using my ability, I read the memories embedded in the sheet music.

…Karina practicing the score diligently.

…Moving her fingers late into the night.

…Taking deep breaths with a nervous expression before the performance.

“This girl… it’s not just talent.”

I murmured.

“She’s a genius of effort too.”

Misae nodded quietly.

“Yes. Of all the students I’ve taught, she was the most dedicated.”

In the footage, Karina played as if completely immersed in another world.

Her expression overflowed with pure love for music.

“That’s why.”

Misae’s voice trembled.

“I can’t understand… that sudden change.”

The final note faded away.

As thunderous applause enveloped the venue, Karina bowed deeply with a radiant smile.

That smile, and her sudden withdrawal three weeks ago.

Such an unnatural change.

This was undoubtedly Yamashita’s doing.

Staring at Karina in the footage, I strengthened my resolve to meet her.