Side story 30: What Misaki wants to do.

Tararan, tararan.

On a certain day’s morning, the sound of piano echoes throughout the Tosaki household.

“This piano’s sound is so soft!”

Yui’s eyes glitter as she taps on Misaki’s electric piano, since she usually only plays big piano. And Misaki who’s sitting next to Yui is looking at her fingertips with serious expression.

Misaki turned six yesterday.

And she received her first ever birthday presents.

A randoseru from Yui-chan’s mama. 1

A drawing set from Mayumi-san.

And an electric piano from Ryo-kun.

As for the electric piano Misaki received, if we specifically classified it it’d more of a keyboard type. It’s light enough that even with Misaki’s strength she can lift it up for a moment, and for adults they can play it on their lap without breaking a sweat. Whether they’ll do that or not is a different matter though. In any case, this item is suitable enough to buy for a young child. Which is hardly surprising considering the fact that Ryuusei obtained a lot of advices and whatnot from the clerk before deciding to buy this one.

Misaki wants to play the piano right away.

But she didn’t know how to.

Which is why she asks her senpai―― Yui-chan for help.

Leave it to me! After Yui said that, she carries the piano to the table with Misaki’s help and connected it to the power outlet. After that she sits on the sofa and reach her hands out, tararan tararan.

And this is where we are, with Yui trying out the key’s lightness.

“Then, first let’s remember where the Do key is!”

“……Un.”

Yui teaches Misaki the things she has been taught in her piano class while also trying to recall all of them at the same time. And then Misaki would try the things she had been taught by her self before proceeding to the next one, with Yui proudly saying “My way of teaching is sure great isn’t it!” each and everytime Misaki did so.

Eventually she teaches her a simple song, saying “Here look, it’s like this!” as she shows Misaki how to play it. Misaki did her best to imitate her, but both of her hands ended up moving simultaneously no matter what.

“You have to practice it over and over again! So from now on let’s commit ourselves to this cause together!”

“……Un.”

There’s a big gap between her words and her high-pitched lispy voice that a girl her age all has. So it’s very doubtful whether or not the person herself actually understands what she’s trying to say, but that aside, Misaki perfectly understood the meaning and so she nodded.

“You see! Just not long ago, I performed in a recital event you know!”

“……Recital event?”

“Un! The place same place as the puppet show!”

What’s a recital event? She asks that but the answer is not what she expected, instead Yui starts happily talking about her story.

“Well you see! I charararan in front of everyone! And when it’s all over you see! They all applause! My teacher told me I did a good job, and mama praised me even more than her!”

Here look! She said, before starting to play the song she played at that time.

“Maybe I’ll become a pianist in the future!”

Misaki doesn’t quite understand what Yui’s trying to say, but she at least understood that Yui’s having fun.

After Yui finished her short performance, she looked at Misaki in satisfaction before speaking.

“Misaki, do you have anything that you wants to do?”

Misaki starts thinking.

I wonder what I want to do.

Although that question is something for a child to answer, they’ll just say something like “I’m going to be a florist!”, but for Misaki it was difficult. That might be because she’s in a very special environment.

However, that’s also why there’s only one thing that came into her mind.

“……Ryo-kun.”

“Mumumu? That’s what you want to do?”

Yui tilted her head at Misaki’s reply.

“……Gratitude?”

Misaki was very happy to receive her birthday presents.

She wants Ryo-kun to be as happy as she did.

“I see!”

Yui said with her eyes shining.

“Leave it to big sis!”

Having said that, she puffed her chest out with a triumphant look.

Because Misaki has become Tosaki Yui‘s daughter now, so she’s registered as the little sister in the family register. However, she doesn’t have enough knowledge about complicated family tree stuff to question them, Misaki doesn’t even quite understand why she has to lives in Yui-chan’s house in the first place. The only thing she understands is that Yui-chan has become her big sister now.

“……Leave it to big sis!”

Since Misaki doesn’t respond, Yui said it again.

“……Un.”

Misaki who had known her for over a year already and knew her personality well, nodded and replied so.

Well all of that aside, what exactly do I have to leave it to her?

Misaki wonders.

On the other hand, Yui can’t stop herself from getting excited by the ideas she can come up with one after another.

――Outside, it’s snowing.

In a small room only about the size of six tatami mats, with its wall made up of wood but if you sniff at it closely it gives off unpleasant smell. And although on the opposite side of the door there’s a big window there, there’s a big apartment outside the window so the scenery is terrible. And instead of having electricity, gas, or water services, there are no leaks in the room that snow or air can comes through. It’s a horrendously terrible place that only has the bare minimum requirements of being able to shelters its residence from rain and wind only.

In the corner of the room are several cardboard boxes lining up side by side. And in those boxes are clothes that has been ironed out of wrinkles and also books of various genres. And next to the cardboard boxes is a still-new randoseru and a handbag.

And in the center of the room are two futons.

And on top of that futon is a little girl and a big man sitting on it.

And between to of them is the electric piano that has been connected to a portable power supply, with a small stand lamp near the pillow illuminating the room.

The girl gently place her fingers on the keys, taking a deep breath.

And then she softly opened her small mouth.

That girl was simply led by the fate.

However, at last she had the opportunity to do the thing she wants to do with her own will.

And that is the girl’s―― Misaki’s first ever challenge.

And this is a story about a little girl doing her hardest for a big man.