Chapter 19: Infusing the Soul

After the customary opening round of singing favorite songs, the second round began, and everyone felt free to sing whatever they pleased.

Following the established order, Wakaba Miyagi took the lead once again. Taking advantage of the lull while the others were singing, Yue Yamabuki leaned in to whisper to Ryuichi Sugawara:

"Ryuichi, do you have any ideas for what we should pick?"

Although they had laid the groundwork earlier, they had never practiced a duet before; whenever they went to karaoke in the past, they had always just sung their own parts. She had played down her abilities earlier precisely because of what Ryuichi had said on the way over—that he had only been to karaoke once as a child with his family. Anyone hearing that would instinctively assume the person couldn't sing.

To her surprise, however, Ryuichi’s singing ability was top-tier; it was clear he had studied music seriously. Having witnessed his talent, she naturally wanted to perform well herself. Men are sensitive about their pride, especially in front of their close friends, and women are no different.

"Hmm... just pick a song you're familiar with," Ryuichi replied, leaving the decision to her despite having plenty of options in mind.

"I’m asking you because I don't know what to pick!" Yue said, feeling a sudden surge of anxiety now that he was deferring to her. "I understand what you mean, but I don't know what songs you know. What if I pick something you can't sing? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?"

"I don't know what you can sing either."

"Even though I rarely come to karaoke, I actually like listening to and singing music quite a bit. As long as it isn't something incredibly obscure, I should be able to handle it."

"How about 'Fireworks'? Do you know that one?"

Seeing him put it that way, Yue thought for a moment and chose a widely known, super-popular song from the limited options available.

"That works. Don't worry about me—as long as you can sing it, we'll be fine." Ryuichi nodded upon hearing the title.

"I've sung along to the female parts while listening to it before, so I suppose that counts?" Yue asked, feeling a bit insecure as she explained her situation.

"Of course it counts."

Although "Fireworks," written by Hachi, had a wide vocal range that tested a singer's pitch control—especially the high notes, which could easily lead to cracking or going off-key—and its fast tempo demanded good rhythm and breath control, every popular song that became a massive hit was generally not too difficult to learn.

"Really?" Yue was nervous, terrified of dragging him down and ruining the performance.

She wasn't new to duets, having been to karaoke with her best friends many times. But after seeing Ryuichi’s skill, she didn't want to look bad. If possible, she wanted to show her friends something truly impressive.

"We're just singing at a karaoke party, not performing on stage. There's no need to overthink it. If you can keep the pitch and rhythm, you've already succeeded," Ryuichi said softly, sensing her tension. Technique aside, Yue had a lovely voice, and she sang quite beautifully.

"You're right." Hearing him say that, Yue suddenly realized he was right.

Once the decision was made, she looked toward the table and spotted the remote in Mai Asai’s hand. Noticing her gaze, Mai didn't say a word, simply handing it over. Since the couple's duet in the second round was the highlight of the night, everyone was choosing songs casually—some sang tracks they were masters of, while others took the chance to challenge themselves with new ones.

Before long, the three girls had each taken a turn.

"It's your turn now," Mai said. Before returning to her seat, she grabbed another microphone from the rack by the screen and handed one to each of them.

"Just sing. I've got you covered, so it won't go wrong," Ryuichi whispered into Yue’s ear as he took the mic, then stood up.

[Yue Yamabuki feels her heart racing. Heartthrob value +1]

"Mhm." Hearing his incredibly supportive, boyfriend-like encouragement, Yue nodded and stood up with her microphone.

"Good luck!" Even in the dimly lit room, Wakaba was sensitive to the moods of others; noticing Yue’s nervousness, she offered immediate encouragement.

They stepped away from their seats and moved to the floor, standing opposite each other without blocking the screen. Once they were in position, Risa Minamida didn't ask if they were ready and started the track immediately. While they might have checked in on each other for songs without an intro, this one started right away.

Suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of a clean, beautiful piano melody. Accompanied by classical strings and electronic accents, it felt like ripples spreading across a calm lake. Listening to the familiar, graceful melody, Yue heard the echoes of a song she had listened to countless times and knew by heart.

As the countdown on the screen ticked down, Yue gripped her microphone tightly and parted her lips:

"That day, gazing at the shore, I can still remember it today."
"The words carved into the sand, and your retreating figure."

The singing had begun, but Yue’s heart sank. She had messed up—she hadn't caught the pitch or rhythm during the opening solo. She should have listened to the original track first.

"Light bursts forth, the fireworks come into view."

Just then, Ryuichi began to sing, joining her in harmony.

"!"

The three girls on the couch, and even Yue herself, felt a jolt of energy, as if an electric current had shot through them. The feeling was just like the first time they had heard "Fireworks"—it was as if they had suddenly discovered a treasure, full of surprise and joy.

Even though the beginning had been a bit shaky, the audio experience was instantly elevated to another level the moment Ryuichi joined in. His male vocals seemed to breathe soul into the song.

"It must be that summer hasn't ended yet; untying the ambiguous knots of the heart and binding them tight once more."
"May this night never end."

As they reached this part, the song entered its first instrumental break.

"Phew..."

Having finally finished the first section, Yue couldn't help but exhale. Despite the mistake at the start, the climax had gone smoothly. Listening to the interlude, she found her gaze drifting toward Ryuichi. Only then did she notice he had been looking at her the entire time. His posture was casual, natural, and relaxed, making him look incredibly handsome in the dim light.

[Yue Yamabuki feels her heart flutter. Heartthrob value +2]

"Is this what he meant by 'having me covered'?"

Looking at him, Yue felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The feeling of having Ryuichi there to take charge and smooth things over whenever a problem arose was simply wonderful.