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Walking through the weekend town, the four of us headed to Hinata-chan's piano recital.
"Big sister, hurry!" Hinata-chan, walking ahead, called back. Despite her nervous expression, her chest swelled with anticipation.
"Coming!"
"Ryuji-oniichan, I'm getting nervous now..." Hinata-chan, a 5th grader, nestled close to me as if seeking comfort.
"It's okay. Hinata-chan, you practiced the piano so hard."
Every Wednesday, when I studied at Ryoko's house, I always heard it.
Chopin's Waltz.
A beautiful performance unimaginable for an elementary school student.
"Hey, hey, I'm happy you all came, even though big sisters are so busy with test prep."
Indeed, it was the first semester of our third year of high school.
Even with mock exams approaching, we decided to go without hesitation.
"Of course," Reiko smiled gently.
"I also do music. Supporting juniors is important."
"Besides, I was looking forward to Hinata-chan's performance," Misaki also nodded.
"She's big sister's precious little sister, after all," Ryoko stroked her sister's head.
"Everyone... thank you."
Ryoko's eyes welled up slightly.
Her feelings for her sister.
And her gratitude to the three who came because they understood that.
"Ah! That's the venue!"
A grand hall came into view.
Hinata-chan's small back straightened with dignity.
We entered the venue and eagerly awaited Hinata-chan's turn.
"Hinata Hayami, Chopin: Waltz No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 64-2."
The host's announcement brought silence to the hall.
Hinata-chan walked towards the grand piano in the center of the stage.
The concert hall.
A solemn atmosphere, different from a usual classroom.
The person who appeared there was no longer the usual Hinata Hayami.
Her stage dress was light blue.
The pearl-like fabric shimmered under the lights.
Her usual straight hair was elegantly tied up.
Light makeup enhanced Hinata-chan's innate graceful beauty.
"Hinata-chan..."
My name escaped my lips involuntarily.
Her gesture as she took a step onto the stage.
Her figure as she approached the grand piano.
Her deep bow.
And.
The first note echoed.
Chopin's Waltz No. 7.
Her posture was straight.
A dignified demeanor inherited from Ryoko.
"Go, Hinata..."
Ryoko's small voice.
The four of us in the front row of the audience held our breath and watched.
The first note broke the silence.
A melody played with delicate touch.
Like pearls spilling.
"Amazing..."
Reiko whispered.
A performance so surprising even to her, a piano player.
Her fingers danced like butterflies.
Strongly.
Gently.
Sometimes intensely.
But never roughly.
The audience held their breath.
I, too, held my breath.
The hem of her dress swayed each time she pressed the pedal.
Sweat gleaming on her neck told of her passion.
Her expression was as if she was in another world.
The softly begun melody gradually transformed into a passionate one.
Her small fingers moved as if dancing on the keyboard.
A tone woven from precise technique and pure sensibility.
"It's completely different from her practice on Wednesdays... it resonates in my heart..."
I, too, murmured involuntarily.
The sound of her practice that I always heard now shone even brighter on the stage.
"Amazing..."
A spectator behind me murmured.
"Like an angel."
No.
A fairy.
A fairy of music.
The elegant waltz rhythm.
Sometimes intense, sometimes gentle.
The entire venue was captivated by her expressiveness, unimaginable for a 12-year-old.
"Amazing... truly..."
Ryoko's voice carried a hint of pride.
The volleyball ace's sister might be a musical genius.
The music accelerated towards the finale.
It was as if music was overflowing from Hinata-chan's entire body.
The entire venue was dominated by Reiko's piano.
The final note resonated through the hall.
The sound faded, leaving a deep lingering impression.
Silence.
And then.
Deafening applause.
A standing ovation.
Some wiped away tears of emotion.
Hinata-chan bowed deeply.
She looked towards the audience, giving Ryoko and us a full smile.
"It was wonderful."
"It was truly moving."
"She might be a genius..."
"My heart was shaken."
The four's voices of emotion overlapped.
In Ryoko's eyes, happy tears shone.
On the way home, Hinata-chan walked in the middle of us, with a satisfied smile.
It was an afternoon where I felt the glow of great talent in her small back.
A few weeks later.
"Ryuji-kun... I need to talk to you about Hinata."
After volleyball practice on a Wednesday afternoon.
Ryoko's voice was filled with deep worry.
"What's wrong?"
"Hinata... she's acting strange."
Ryoko's eyes welled up.
"Even after such a wonderful performance, for the past few days..."
"Her smile has disappeared..."
"She just keeps saying 'I'm fine'..."
Her voice trembled.
As an older sister, it was painful to notice her sister's change but be unable to do anything.
"She tends to stay holed up in her room."
"Her piano practice has also decreased compared to before..."
"Her appetite has also declined..."
Ryoko's hands gripped the skirt of her uniform tightly.
"We used to be such close sisters."
"Did we do something bad to the gods, I wonder...?"
Small tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Ryuji-kun... please."
"With your ability..."
"Yeah. Touch Hinata-chan's belongings... find out what happened..."
Ryoko clung to me as if pleading.
"For my sister... I have nothing else..."
There was no reason to refuse.
Ryoko's precious sister, even more precious than Ryoko herself.
If my ability was needed to bring back her smile.
"Understood."
I gently put my arm around Ryoko's shoulder.
In my embrace, Ryoko trembled even more faintly.
"I will definitely find out the cause."