Vol 1 Chapter 23 – The Sunlit Moon【Vol 1 – Turning Point】

After the live show ended, I was completely drained. An unbelievable amount of money had come in, and my head was still reeling. Just then, Michiru-san walked in.

“Good work, Rin-kun. You were amazing! You earned half a month’s worth for Michi Mama in just one day!”

I was shocked once again. Michiru-san earns two million yen a month. No wonder she spends a decent amount on clothes—and it’s only natural that she can just buy a guitar on a whim. I’ve really been taken in by an amazing person…

But I couldn’t just be dazed. There was something I had to tell her.

“Thank you… Did you listen to ‘Full Moon’?”

“Yeah, I did! It was an incredibly great song! It was amazing for a first time! And Ryu-kun praised it too!”

Michiru-san said that excitedly, yet I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Even though “Full Moon” was meant as a hint. To me, the name Akizuki Michiru evoked the Mid-Autumn Moon. That’s why I named it “Full Moon.”

“Actually, I made that song because I wanted you to hear it, Michiru-san.”

You—the one who changed my life and discovered my potential—are my benefactor. Love… I’m not entirely sure about that, but there’s no doubt that I truly like you. So, I made it. And I sang it.

That song carries a part of my gratitude toward you, Michiru-san. It’s only a part because everything couldn’t possibly be contained.

“Huh? No way!”

“It’s not a lie… but does that make you feel grossed out?”

Sending someone a song I composed felt incredibly self-absorbed. But there was no other way; I was too embarrassed to say it face-to-face.

In the next moment, Michiru-san embraced me.

“I don’t feel grossed out at all! I just… love you!”

Those words saved me more than you can imagine. Her voice was choked with tears, yet its joyful tone made me feel at ease.

I was also worried about the quality of the song. But Ryu-kun’s praise had already reassured me. Michiru-san was right.

“I, too… um… love you.”

This was the first time I had expressed my feelings to anyone like this.

I had someone I liked before. But romantic feelings were something I didn’t understand. So, my affection had always been an extension of friendship. Yet, this time, it feels like something much deeper.

It was as if I had discovered the sun.

Since Michiru-san changed everything in my world, it all made perfect sense. The days before now seemed black and white—lifeless and without warmth.

“Hey, when did you work on it?”

I kind of expected that. It felt like a perfectly predictable move, and it made me laugh.

“I’d work on it whenever I found a spare moment… something like that. I managed to hide it pretty well, didn’t I?”

After all, it would have been too embarrassing to be seen working on a song for you, Michiru-san.

While you were out shopping, I snuck into this soundproof room and worked on it with a guitar in hand. Hiding the sheet music so that it wouldn’t be found was a real challenge.

Besides, the sheet music I wrote was just a string of numbers, so even if someone saw it, it probably wouldn’t give it away.

Come to think of it, during today’s live show, I had my guitar tuned to “Full Moon” all along. C minor produces the most beautiful sound. According to Ryu-kun, not many people change their tuning to match a song by every 1 Hz like I do…

“I had no idea at all…”

I was just happy that Michiru-san was pleased.

After a while, the conversation shifted.

“Oh, by the way, from today onward, you’re banned from using your voice while you’re out!”

“Huh!? Why is that!?”

When I asked, Michiru-san turned her smartphone screen toward me.

My channel was displayed on the screen.

My channel had reached 8,000 subscribers.

“A live show that instantly gained 3,000 subscribers is legendary. Moreover, since the live broadcast archive is also public, my fans will only keep multiplying. I wonder what might happen if people find out who I really am?”

The countdown to my joining the ranks of the famous had already begun. So, I had to start behaving like a celebrity.

“Y-yes, I understand…”

How should I express my thoughts when I’m out? Even body language, I think, has its limits.

“How about we go buy a sketchbook tomorrow? We’ll communicate in writing when we’re out!”

It was Michiru-san who offered that solution.

“Yes!”

That’s why, feeling happy, I responded enthusiastically.

While I was talking with Michiru-san, I later learned that clips of “Full Moon” had been extracted and spread all over the internet.