My Childhood Friend, who became a National Idol, moved next door to my Run-down Apartment [Dropped]

“KAGARI Musical Instrument Manufacturing. I guess it was established a few years ago. They started selling their products in the entertainment industry, and the response was quite good. Lately, they’ve been involved in various places.”

“I-I see…”

For the past few years, I hadn’t even thought about buying a piano, let alone any musical instruments, so I hadn’t paid any attention to it.

No information had come my way, but there’s no way it wouldn’t be related to my kouhai, Kagari Sena.

Nevertheless, I wonder why KAGARI Manufacturing bought this cheap rundown apartment.

…It feels like Sena has something to do with it.

I remember Sena also used to be empty, and her personality was somewhat bleak.

Though now she’s full of motivation and energy, not too long ago, she said she had nothing to do anymore.

My life isn’t much different, and neither is anyone else’s, it seems.

Since I haven’t asked anything to her until now, would it be rude to force myself to inquire…?

“The piano that continues to play at this level to win is impressive…”

Now that I think about it, Sena’s words somehow struck a chord with me.

“A piano that is a gamechanger, huh?”

After giving Mitsuki a refreshing massage, I brought a towel from the kitchen for her.

“In that sense, Mitsuki is also winning with music.”

As embarrassed as I am to ask Mitsuki about this, she was sitting on the bed, with crossed legs, as she casually replied, “Yeah, that’s right.”

“Having fun and realizing you’ve won is part of it. But now—”

Mutsuki looked up at the ceiling and spoke thoughtfully.

“To enjoy and have fun, you also need to win…”

Her words sounded strangely certain.

Indeed, the words of those at the forefront of the Japanese entertainment industry carry huge weight.

“Winning to fulfill your own desires. Winning to stick to the music you love. No matter the world, people will treat those who’ve won with special kindness.”

She swings her legs as she speaks, her previously sore muscles looking completely relaxed now.

“But if winning itself becomes the goal, when you lose, you’ll break completely. I’ve seen many friends who left this glamorous world that way, too.”

“Winning to enjoy, huh?”

Looking back, there was a time when I enjoyed playing the piano.

That turned into playing the piano just to win, and gradually evolved into playing the piano I had to win.

Ultimately, that was all there was to it.

“I must win.”

Oseya Mao made that very clear to me.

And… I couldn’t refute her either.

I wasn’t even in a dimension to compete, let alone win or lose.

—Like a fool.

Oseya Mao wanted to clash with me head-on during the entrance exam and knock me down completely before taking flight into this world.

“You don’t play the piano anymore, do you, Senpai?”

Kagari Sena wanted me to reclaim my performance from the entrance exam.

I had known that all along.

Despite knowing it, I was afraid to take the first step.

I despised my former self, who had no choice but to win and had no rights.

Then, the piano I enjoyed back then—when I think about it, it was that time when Mitsuki was by my side.

And Mitsuki is right beside me now.

So, maybe, now that things have changed…

“Hey, Mitsuki, can I ask you something? Which genre does this music belong to?”

The electronic piano, which had become a convenient storage room, was now used after so long.

As I moved aside the book covers and presents from friends, a dusty piano cover was in front of me.

I wiped the dust resting on it with a cotton cloth carefully, and it took me a while to make it clean.

I bought this used electronic piano for 20,000 Yen when I entered university, but I only played it once.

“Ka-Kazu-kun…?! What’s wrong?”

Mitsuki pulled on the sleeve of my clothes, looking a little flustered.

Perhaps Mitsuki also knows something about my current situation.

“Mitsuki, do you still like ‘Für Elise’?”

[TL/N : Für Elise, I bet everyone might have heard this piece at least once in their life, it is that popular.]

“Y-Yeah, I’ve always liked it. Because that piece…”

She started to say something but instead bit her lower lip.

‘Für Elise’ was the first classical piece I played in front of Mutsuki.

Unknowingly, that casual performance became the true starting point for me.

“…..!”

As I placed my fingers on the keys, I felt nauseous. Memories of various contests I attended in high school, the compulsion to play well, and the narrowness of the keys all rushed through my mind.

For the past three years, it has been like this.

Playing mechanically, while suppressing my emotions — it was the only way to escape from them.

“…It is Exciting.”

Mitsuki, who was lying on the bed, approached me and sat beside me.

When was the last time the two of us sat together in front of the keyboard?

Even though the chair should have shrunk by half, the keyboard seems much wider than before.

Somehow, fear, nausea, and bad memories all disappeared.

“Even now, can you play it without sheet music?”

To Mitsuki’s question, I nodded slightly.

“There was something I wanted to see more than the sheet music. In the past, and even now.”

That day, just over three years since I entered university, I placed my fingers on the electronic piano’s keys for the first time.

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