Chapter 389: Tradition

"Ah, finally done."

"Yeah."

"Three straight hours… This might be the most exhausting concert I've ever done."

Back in the dressing room, Fujiwara gulped down a drink. Rinji was already there waiting.

Though she was famous, Fujiwara usually played one piece and left. Playing multiple songs with short breaks for three hours was rare.

The concert was a massive success. Her return and Rinji's stunning debut left a deep impression.

Rinji's reputation spread quickly.

Unlike the sports festival, this time everyone acknowledged his skill.

From the elegance of his performance to his presence on stage, he gained a large following.

"All that prep since last semester paid off."

"Totally~"

"By the way, why did you stay on stage after the concert?" Rinji asked.

After the bow, Rinji had returned to the dressing room, but Fujiwara stayed on stage a while longer.

"Obviously, for my lovely fans~" Fujiwara giggled. "Some have followed me since middle school. They must've been thrilled to see me perform again."

"Fair point..."

Rinji remembered people rushing on stage to present flowers, like she was an international star.

Those flowers were probably already collected by Festival committee members.

"At the very least, I can't look indifferent. Public relations still matter."

"Spoken like a true politician."

"Oh, and Rinji-kun, you have fans too." Fujiwara grinned. "Someone asked me to give you this letter."

She pulled an envelope from her cleavage and handed it to him.

Rinji wanted to comment on her choice of storage, but he opened it anyway.

---

The contents read:

Kid, I watched your performance just now. Very good. It seems you're slowly adjusting to a peaceful life. That makes me truly happy.

Ps: I plan to wander around Japan for a while. No need to worry about me. Just live your life well. Don't miss me~

—Your beloved old man

"..."

"What did it say?" Fujiwara asked curiously.

"Let me ask—what did the person who gave you this look like?"

"Hmm… I remember clearly," Fujiwara replied. "Black trench coat and a round hat. Very retro. But like you, he had a really handsome face~ We even chatted for a bit. He seemed very refined and well-mannered..."

"...Fujiwara."

"Yes?"

"The guy you met... was my dad."

"...Eh?"

Fujiwara , who had been excited just moments ago, suddenly stared blankly at Rinji. Her expression was practically screaming: "Are you messing with me?"

"Your father?"

"Yeah."

"Biological father?"

"What else?"

"…He looks really young though."

"Yeah, he's looked pretty much the same since I was born," Rinji replied. "Also, don't be fooled by his outward appearance. He's a total goof."

"Is dissing your dad something you've gotten used to?"

Fujiwara walked out of the lounge and pulled back the curtain to glance at the auditorium. The crowd had started to disperse, and the venue would soon be handed over to another class or club.

"Your father seems to have already left. Are you sure it's okay not to see him?"

"It's fine. That guy is always popping in and out. He's probably off playing around somewhere again."

Rinji took off his tailcoat and walked out.

As planned, his next stop was the activity area of Class 2-A, where Hayasaka was.

The legendary maid café.

---

"Welcome! Table for one?"

"Yes."

"Please wait a moment... Huh? You're Takamine Rinji, right?"

"Yeah, that's me."

The girl in a maid outfit standing at the entrance recognized Rinji the moment she saw him.

She had returned to help out her class after watching Rinji and Fujiwara's morning performance. Even so, the performance had left a deep impression on her.

"Your violin playing was really amazing. I was totally drawn in."

"Thanks."

"Please come in. There's an empty seat right now." The second-year girl smiled as she led Rinji inside the café.

The place was packed. Maid cafés were already popular, and Rinji had to queue earlier just to get in.

All the staff here were genuine female high school students, unlike those other places outside that hired women in their late twenties or thirties to act cute and call customers "onii-chan." Naturally, the café attracted mostly male customers.

Rinji waited at his seat for a bit. Soon, a figure approached.

"Rinji-kun, you came."

"Shinomiya... What are you even wearing?"

Kaguya wasn't in a typical maid outfit. She was wearing a Taisho-era Japanese waitress-style kimono.

"I was outside as the poster girl, but they pulled me in to help because it got busy."

She placed a teapot on Rinji's table.

"You're here to see Hayasaka, right?"

"Yeah, we agreed to meet."

"I figured. I'll go get her for you."

"Thanks."

Rinji glanced at the teapot.

"What's this?"

"A lightly brewed black tea I made for some picky customers earlier. I take pride in it..."

"Oh, tea."

Before she could finish, Rinji nodded, picked up the teapot with one hand, then took a chopstick from the table with the other, placing it over his cup to guide the flow, and poured the hot tea down the chopstick into the cup.

Just as Kaguya thought he was about to drink it, Rinji swirled the tea around in the cup… and poured it straight into the trash bin beside him.

"You used the tea I made… to rinse your cup!?"