In this crossover anime, I've been bound to two systems.

Goto Ichiri slowly raised his left hand.

"Ichiri-san, how are you feeling? Are you dizzy? Should I take you to the infirmary?"

“Smells so good…”

"Aha?!"

…………

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Owner of the First Music Room

At the Minegashiro University Affiliated School, where Suzumiya Chisato attends, there are three music rooms.

The second music room is located in the main teaching building and is usually used by students during music classes. After school, it is often borrowed by music clubs in need.

The third music room is occupied by students admitted through special admissions to the music department. It is located on the top floor of the main teaching building, right next to the music special admissions class, so students generally don't go near it unless they have a specific reason.

Then there is the first music room.

Located on the top floor of the club building, after the completion of the new second music room, all the music equipment and tables and chairs inside were basically moved to the newer second music room, which is closer to the classroom. As a result, this room became an unused classroom.

The school should have made the best use of the available classroom and allowed other clubs to use it.

However, some issues arose along the way, which led to this classroom becoming the exclusive property of one person in the school a year ago.

Only a small number of people, including teachers, knew the truth behind this.

Sometimes, melodious or stirring piano music would emanate from this classroom.

However, whenever students follow the sound of the piano to the top floor of the club and arrive at this classroom that has been abandoned for a long time...

The piano music that could be heard would suddenly stop, and if you went to push the door open, you would find that the classroom door was locked.

Over time, rumors began to circulate among the curious students that "a vengeful spirit floats in the abandoned music room."

Like the "groundbound spirit with a terrifying laugh residing in the stairwell," it was successfully selected as one of the Seven Mysteries of Minegashiro Academy.

Touma Kazusa was completely unaware of this. She was a loner by nature, and her experience in the music special admissions class in her first year was also quite terrible for her.

Therefore, she had absolutely no interest in what other people at school were talking about, or what kind of music and TV dramas were currently popular.

Except for...that person.

Today marks the first time since the start of the new semester that she has stepped into her own secret base.

I felt inexplicably irritated and kept wanting to turn my head to look at that guy, desperately wanting to do something to distract myself and calm down.

As you ascend the stairs, the voices emanating from the various club classrooms gradually subside.

Only the steady footsteps of one person could be heard in the top-floor corridor.

Perhaps it was because the duty officer assigned here was lazy, but the constant movement of footsteps stirred up clouds of dust, which swirled around in the sunlight streaming in through the window.

Touma Kazusa turned her head to look at the cardboard boxes, school festival props, and a bunch of incomprehensible handicrafts, bottles and jars, and doll costumes wrapped in transparent plastic bags placed on the inner side of the corridor.

I thought this place would be tidied up when the new semester started, but I didn't expect that there would be more and more stuff here instead.

Perhaps because no one uses the top floor of the club building anyway, most clubs simply put these things there—things that are a pity to throw away but have little value and take up a lot of space—there, using the place as a natural storage room.

Touma Kazusa was somewhat dissatisfied, but it was within her tolerance, since as long as the door was closed, she couldn't see this annoying pile of clutter.

She walked to the end of the corridor, took out her key, opened the first music room, and then naturally locked the door behind her.

Not long after she went in, a boy walked out from the stairwell onto the top floor of the club building, a place rarely visited by anyone.

He stared at the door of the first music classroom, his originally calm expression gradually turning sinister.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Even with the windows closed, dust still gets trapped..."

Touma Kazusa muttered to herself.

She carefully removed the cloth covering the piano, then took out a tissue from her pocket and wiped away a thin layer of dust from the piano bench.

The room, which hadn't been ventilated for a while, felt stuffy, so she opened all the windows, letting in a breeze and bringing in fresh air.

After doing all this, she sat down at the piano, her long, beautiful fingers resting on the black and white keys, but she hesitated to press any keys.

She squinted, and thought of that domineering and unreasonable boy again.

Despite repeatedly stating that he didn't need it, he still shamelessly approached and took my thousand-plus yuan, saying that it was borrowed from him and that he would pay it back later.

Honestly, who asked you to pay me back? You're acting all happy just eating a pork chop rice bowl, the guy who got lapped in the long-distance race test...

Instead of worrying about other people's health, you should take care of yourself first. You only eat those cheap breads and rice balls sold at school every day, how can your body not be weak! Eat properly!

"Boom!"

His outstretched hands clenched into fists and slammed heavily onto the piano keys, producing a dull thud.

It was at this moment that an unnatural sound flowing in from outside the window interrupted Touma Kazusa's thoughts, who had inexplicably become angry on her own.

The sound of fluffing cotton... no, that's the sound of playing an electric guitar without an amp, and the player has solid fundamental skills.

Kazusa Touma, who inherited her mother's world-class musical talent, came to a conclusion in an instant.

The guitar melody drifting in on the wind calmed her agitated mood somewhat, so she followed the sound to the window and looked down.

She saw the performer, a girl with pink hair, whose style of dress was somewhat incomprehensible to Touma Kazusa.

What does it mean to deliberately wear long pants under a skirt? Is it a sign of being hot or cold?

The girl playing the guitar had only one audience member sitting in front of her. Due to the angle, Touma Kazusa couldn't see his face, but judging from his uniform, she could tell that he was a boy.

So, are those silly couples, like they're playing house, coming to the back of the club building to be all lovey-dovey again?

Touma Kazusa has witnessed countless similar scenes over the past year.

Her curiosity, initially drawn by the performer's solid playing skills, quickly dissipated.

She leaned against the windowsill, silently closed her eyes, and returned to the piano after the performance ended.

Then, as she placed her hands on the piano keys again, her very sensitive ears caught the conversation between the two people downstairs.

The girl's voice did not move her; what disturbed her peace of mind was that familiar voice.

She jogged back to the window and cautiously peeked out.

That was indeed the guy she knew all too well.

She didn't notice the increasingly cold and aloof expression that appeared on her face when she saw that guy holding the pink-haired girl in his arms.

Behind the club building, a row of Chinese fir trees stood, and black crows perched on the branches, their dark eyes fixed on the girl by the window, motionless.

…………

Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Little Silly Bird

When Suzumiya Chisato stepped into the infirmary again after a short time, she was not only feeling a little complicated, but also breathing heavily.

Although carrying Goto Ichiri, who had fainted for some unknown reason, on her back wasn't particularly heavy, the distance from the club building to the teaching building was quite long.

Moreover, he not only had to carry the girl on his back, but he also had to hang her guitar around his neck.

In addition, there was the humiliating physical exertion of being lapped by others during a long-distance run.

Reaching the infirmary smoothly is already a great success; being out of breath is nothing.

When I arrived, the school nurse was taking a nap at her desk. It took a lot of effort to wake her up so she could help me put Goto Ichiri on the bed and do a preliminary check-up. It was five minutes later by then.

The very beautiful school doctor, Marikawa, removed the stethoscope from Goto Ichiri's chest. Combining this with what Suzumiya Chisato had just said, she deduced the reason for the girl's coma.

"His heartbeat and body temperature are normal, and there are no external injuries. He probably fainted because he was too emotional."

"Excited..."

Suzumiya Chisato turned her head to look at Goto Ichiri, who was sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed. She had a lot of complaints in her heart, but she didn't know where to start.

"Yes, just like when you brought her here before, the reason why Goto is like this is mostly due to psychological reasons."

So even if you leave her alone, she'll wake up on her own after a while. Next time this happens, I suggest gently shaking her shoulders or lightly patting her cheek with your palm.

As Dr. Marikawa spoke, he demonstrated the gesture to Chisato Suzumiya.

After giving her these instructions, she finally extended her index finger and gently tapped his forehead.

"Furthermore, at school... it's best to be more restrained. If you really can't resist, wouldn't it be better to stay home, lock your bedroom door, and concentrate without any distractions?"

Just as Suzumiya Chisato was about to retort, School Doctor Marikawa chuckled and slid her index finger down to press against his lips.

With her other hand, she took something out of her white coat and stuffed it directly into Suzumiya Chisato's pants pocket without even looking at it.

"Although Japan has a serious problem with a declining birth rate, it is not a responsibility that you need to shoulder right now. Please remember to be careful."

"Goto and I didn't..."

"I understand~ I won't say anything to Touma-san. The bell for class has already rung, so go to class. I'll take care of Goto-san here."

"What does this have to do with Touma...?"

"Alright, alright~ I understand, I'll definitely keep it a secret~"

With a helpless expression, Ryoumiya Chisato was pushed from behind by the school doctor, Marikawa, and left the infirmary.

Back in the classroom, class had already started. I reported to the teacher and received permission to return to my seat.

Suzumiya Chisato glanced at the empty seat on her left with some concern; Touma Kazusa was absent.

It wasn't the first time, so he didn't pay much attention to it.

The first class in the afternoon was classical Chinese literature. For Suzumiya Senri, who had acquired the talent of "Kasumi's tireless writing", this was his strong subject, one that wouldn't affect his grades even if he didn't listen.

He hadn't slept well all night. He rested his chin on his left hand, lowered his head, and was about to take a nap when...

"Suzumiya-kun, you can continue reading the next paragraph."

When the teacher called on her, Suzumiya Chisato stood up and responded to the teacher's smile, smiling on the surface but cursing inwardly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"...!" 849; 414, 96?5

After unlocking the door, Touma Kazusa pulled the doorknob with all her might for the third time, but still couldn't open the door.