Piano

"Satoru, is it you who was chosen?" Professor Li asked for confirmation.

"Yes, it's me, teacher," Satoru replied, holding up his slip of paper to show Professor Li.

"Alright, then it's decided. Satoru will go."

The rest of the class, seeing the spectacle unfold, broke into a chorus of chuckles, clearly enjoying the unexpected turn of events.

But amidst the laughter, one person's smile was genuinely warm and heartfelt.

"Satoru... I never expected it to actually be you. Was it my prayer that worked, or was it just destiny?" Rosa thought to herself, her eyes filled with gentle affection as she watched Satoru.

This turn of events meant she would have more chances to interact with him, and that her diary could once again be filled with new stories about their encounters.

The rehearsals for the welcome party were long and exhaustive.

Not only did the performers need to practice, but the staff had to rehearse too.

Everything from lighting to microphone checks, stage positions, and sound effects had to be meticulously practiced several times.

Considering this, the school administration generously granted the students a half-day off in the afternoon.

After his nap, Satoru headed over to the rehearsal venue, where he was assigned to the microphone team.

His main task was to stay backstage and manage the microphones—handing them out to performers, collecting them afterward, and getting familiar with which performance required headset mics or standing mics.

Although standing around all afternoon was tiring, getting to see the performers up close was a pretty decent perk.

"Satoru?"

During a brief lull in his duties, Satoru found himself gazing absentmindedly at the stage when a familiar voice called out to him.

"Class rep? What are you doing here?" Satoru asked, surprised.

"I'm a performer, remember? I'm here to rehearse for the program," Rosa explained.

Satoru suddenly recalled what Lewis had mentioned earlier that morning. Having someone familiar around was a pleasant surprise; most of the backstage crew were strangers to him. Without anything to do, Satoru would either stare at his phone or zone out in boredom.

"Impressive! What kind of performance are you doing?" Satoru asked with genuine curiosity.

"You'll find out during the rehearsal," Rosa replied, her tone playful as she kept the details under wraps.

"But... what's your role here, Satoru?"

"Me? I'm just in charge of the mics, making sure everything runs smoothly during rehearsals and performances," Satoru said.

"I see..." Rosa nodded thoughtfully. "Rosa, come over! We're about to start the rehearsal," called one of her classmates.

Rosa had wanted to spend a little more time with Satoru, even if it was just standing silently by his side. But the call from her classmate interrupted that thought, pulling her back to her responsibilities.

She gave Satoru a small, regretful smile and hurried off, leaving him to his duties once again.

"Well then, Satoru, I'll be heading off now," Rosa said, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Alright, thank you for your hard work," Satoru responded with a polite smile, appreciating her dedication.

With the performers now in position, the rehearsal began. The stage lights bathed Rosa in a warm glow as she prepared for her performance.

Satoru watched from backstage, his gaze fixed on her as she took the stage.

Rosa truly lived up to her reputation for versatility.

During the rehearsal, she performed a classical dance with elegance and poise, her movements fluid and captivating. Later, she delivered a stunning solo piano performance.

Although she wasn't dressed in her formal attire yet, even in her rehearsal clothes, she exuded an air of refined grace and confidence that was palpable.

Satoru marveled at her talent and felt a pang of admiration mixed with a tinge of envy.

He had always dreamed of becoming a pianist as a child, but the limitations of his family's circumstances had relegated that dream to mere fantasy.

Seeing Rosa so effortlessly embody the role he had longed for stirred both admiration and wistfulness within him.

As Rosa finished her piece, she looked particularly content.

Her radiant smile and the relaxed confidence in her demeanor suggested that she was performing for someone special, perhaps a reflection of her inner satisfaction.

"Rosa, that was fantastic! If you maintain this level of performance for the evening, it will be amazing!" one of her fellow performers praised as they gathered around her.

"Thank you. I'll keep up the good work," Rosa replied with a polite smile, clearly pleased with the feedback.

"By the way, Rosa, aren't you going to participate in the fashion show? You'd be perfect for it," another teammate asked, their tone laced with a hint of regret.

"No, I have two performances already, and it's quite exhausting," Rosa waved her hand dismissively, declining with a gentle firmness.

"Alright then..." The teammate's voice trailed off, accepting her decision with a resigned sigh.

Rosa glanced over at Satoru, who was quietly adjusting the microphones nearby.

The fashion show was indeed a great opportunity to showcase one's charisma, but Rosa's reluctance was due to the requirement for male and female pairings, which was the real reason she had opted out.

With a final, friendly nod to her fellow performers, she made her way back to Satoru's side.

As she approached, Satoru looked up from his task, noticing her. The backstage area, with its array of equipment and the hum of activity, seemed to momentarily quiet down as Rosa joined him.

She stood beside him, her presence adding a subtle yet comforting familiarity to the busy environment.

"How did you think the rehearsal went?" Rosa asked, her voice tinged with a hint of nervous anticipation.

She stood beside the grand piano, her fingers lightly tracing the smooth surface of the instrument, a slight frown of concentration on her face.

Satoru glanced up from the mic stand he was adjusting, his gaze briefly lingering on Rosa.

"Well... the sound quality was quite good." He responded, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible, though a hint of a smile played at the corner of his mouth.

Rosa's eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, playful smirk.

"I wasn't asking about the sound. I meant how I played." She pressed a few keys, producing a light, melodious sequence that filled the air with a gentle, soothing tone. The music seemed to dance around them, and Satoru found himself momentarily lost in the beauty of it.

Satoru's fingers hovered above the piano, itching to touch the keys, but he refrained, respecting the boundary between performer and observer.

"Oh, I see. Well, you played wonderfully. I've heard that learning piano is quite challenging." He admitted, his voice carrying a genuine note of admiration.

Rosa's face softened at his words, her posture relaxing slightly as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"It requires a lot of practice and dedication. It's not just about pressing keys; it's about feeling the music." She smiled wistfully, recalling the countless hours she had spent perfecting her technique.

As the piano was moved away, Satoru's eyes remained fixed on the instrument, his curiosity evident.

He hesitated for a moment before extending his hand toward the keys, but he quickly pulled back, a thoughtful frown on his face.

"Do you play the piano too?" Rosa asked, noticing his hesitant gesture. Her fingers lightly danced across the keys, producing a few more cheerful notes, her tone inviting yet casual.

Satoru shook his head, a rueful smile on his lips.

"Not really. I've always thought it would be cool to play, but unfortunately, I've never had the time or resources." He shrugged, trying to downplay his disappointment.

Rosa's eyes sparkled with a mix of encouragement and mischief.

"If you're interested, I could teach you. The music room has several pianos, and we have free time during lunch." She offered, her voice hopeful and sincere.

Satoru raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Is that so? Well, maybe one day. I'm not sure how motivated I'd be to start now." He chuckled, though he genuinely appreciated the offer.

Rosa's smile widened, a sense of determination flickering in her gaze.

"I'm not joking. It could be a good opportunity for us to spend more time together. Though, it might take some effort to get the room reserved." She said thoughtfully, her tone almost contemplative as she glanced toward the hallway.

At that moment, the loudspeaker crackled to life, announcing the end of the break.

"Alright, everyone, you're free to go for now. Be back by six-thirty for the evening event!" The voice of the event coordinator resonated through the auditorium.

Satoru let out a sigh of relief, stretching his arms overhead. "Finally, we're free. I'm starving." He remarked, his stomach growling audibly.

Rosa's hesitation was palpable as she glanced at Satoru, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her rehearsal script. "Satoru, would you like to grab a bite to eat? You treated me to coffee last time; let me return the favor."

Satoru's face brightened, a touch of awkwardness in his demeanor as he considered her offer. "Oh, that's very kind of you, but I don't want to impose. I just thought it'd be nice to spend some time with you." He said, trying to keep his tone light and casual.

Rosa's expression turned thoughtful, a mix of regret and resolve crossing her face.

"I'm afraid I need to get ready for my performance. There's makeup and my dress to consider, and I'm running short on time." She explained, her voice carrying a note of apologetic regret.

Satoru nodded understandingly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"No worries. I'll just grab something on my own. But how about this—I'll bring back some cakes for you?" He suggested, his tone earnest and friendly.

Rosa's eyes softened with appreciation, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"That sounds lovely. Thank you, Satoru. I'll be looking forward to it." She replied, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Satoru waved off her thanks, his demeanor relaxed as he gave a casual nod.

"It's no trouble at all. I'm just glad to be of help." He said, turning to leave the backstage area, his mind already planning where to find the best pastries for Rosa.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Despite the bustling preparations and the chaotic nature of the evening, moments like these made it all worthwhile.