Chapter 37: Lemon (Revised)

The original arrangement of the song "Lemon" primarily features the ukulele, complemented by guitar, bass, and drums; the electric guitar is not among its core instruments.

That said, a truly excellent song is often rearranged into various versions, performed with a wide array of instruments. Recalling his minor regret from a recent trip to karaoke, where he hadn’t been able to sing "Lemon," Ryuichi Sugawara suddenly felt a spark of interest.

Without a second thought, he adjusted his posture and began to play. Although this was his first time handling an electric guitar, playing "Lemon" felt as natural as moving his own limbs—he was incredibly proficient.

"!"

As the electric guitar, connected to an amplifier, emitted a clear and enchanting melody, the male clerk standing nearby froze on the spot, his eyes wide with astonishment. You can tell a master the moment they strike a chord. The elegant technique and the captivating sound were like a refreshing breeze, leaving everyone feeling invigorated.

At the corner of the second-floor staircase, four heads peeked out one after another, spying on the scene. Because of the shelving units blocking the view, they could only watch through the gaps.

"It’s 'Lemon'!!"

Hearing that familiar melody, Yuki Takanashi’s eyes widened. The gentle, beautiful tune struck a chord in her heart in an instant, drawing her soul in deeply. She had never heard an electric guitar version of "Lemon," but a song that is genuinely loved remains enchanting even when its form is altered. If anything, because it was a version she had never heard before, the allure was even stronger, piquing her curiosity further.

Aino Ishiguro and Yoshino Sakai, who were also peeking, couldn't help but exchange glances; they could see the shock mirrored in each other's eyes. Music is a language understood by all, highbrow and lowbrow alike. As long as one isn't deaf, one can distinguish between what sounds good and what doesn't—just as one can immediately tell if a person's voice is pleasant or not. Although they didn't understand electric guitars, they could tell from the sound alone that Ryuichi was playing exceptionally well, as it remained so faithful to the original. Perhaps a solo performance lacked the layered texture of the original, but the electric guitar solo added a strange, wonderful flavor—a hint of electronic charm.

"Wow..."

Kyoko Utagawa was a natural romantic; seeing him play the guitar, she was completely mesmerized.

"Who is playing 'Lemon'?"

Because he had plugged into the amplifier before testing the instrument, customers in other parts of the second floor noticed the situation as well. They all looked up, following the sound.

"So good..."

The male clerk standing right in front, watching Ryuichi’s performance, was genuinely stunned. Unlike the others who only heard the music, he could feel everything clearly and comprehensively from his vantage point, and he was completely won over. What shocked him most was Ryuichi’s exquisite and graceful technique, the dazzlingly complex details, and the sheer comfort of the performance.

As time passed, several more customers followed the sound. They were tacitly in agreement, remaining silent and simply watching. Ryuichi didn't pay any mind to the new audience; he had long since immersed himself in the world of music.

Singing and playing are two vastly different experiences. Without lyrics, he could fully submerge himself in the melody, feeling every single note. In his past life, he knew nothing about music, had no sense of rhythm, and lacked musical understanding; he had simply enjoyed that crisp, mellow melody. Even when he couldn't grasp the meaning, he could feel the sorrow in the vocals and the elegant, faithful translation of the lyrics. Now, bolstered by two music-related talents, he could fully and utterly feel the charm of this song.

It was no wonder this song had stunned the world upon its release. Whether it was the arrangement, the lyrics, or even the rhythm, everything was perfect, possessing a magic that made it impossible to grow tired of listening. The song had no distinct "climax" because it was high-energy throughout, weaving a tale of sorrow and nostalgia.

Hidden at the stairs, Yuki Takanashi listened to the beautiful melody. Her pink lips parted, and she couldn't help but softly sing along:

"Searching for your silhouette in the darkness, that outline is still vividly etched in my heart."

"You were once by my side, yet now you have vanished like smoke."

"The only thing I am certain of is that I will never forget you."

A great song brings countless feelings to its listeners; just as there are a thousand Hamlets for a thousand readers. Singing and contemplating the lyrics, listening to and feeling the distinctive timbre of the electric guitar, she grew to love this version.

"Even today, you are still my light..."

As Yuki Takanashi quietly hummed the final lyrics, the electric guitar accompaniment reached its end.

"Phew... that felt pretty good."

Having finished playing "Lemon" in its entirety, Ryuichi wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, letting out a satisfied breath. Although it was his first time playing an electric guitar, it felt amazing to have such beautiful, enchanting notes leap out from his fingertips. The only slight drawback was that the guitar had been set up by the store, so it couldn't fully showcase the brilliance of the score.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Just then, a flurry of applause pulled him back from the lingering resonance of the music. Ryuichi looked up and realized that, without noticing, he had been surrounded.

"Your performance just now was incredible! To get a sound like that without any effects pedals is nothing short of miraculous."

"The electric guitar version of 'Lemon' handled so cleanly—is this your own arrangement? Do you have the sheet music?"

"Master, you are absolutely a master!"

Customers and staff at a music store are usually true music lovers. Witnessing such a fantastic performance in person, both the guests and the clerks were incredibly excited.

Singing well and playing well are two completely different concepts. The former only requires a good voice and a certain level of practice to perform well. The latter, to sound good, requires superior technical skill as a foundation.

"Thank you for the compliments."

Facing the enthusiastic praise, Ryuichi smiled and responded, unable to help but reach up to rub the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"You should debut! If you ever hold a concert, I will definitely be there to support you!"

The male clerk who had been assisting Ryuichi was the most excited of all. He hadn't expected to serve such a talented customer today. In his eyes, Ryuichi’s skill was enough to qualify him as the lead guitarist of a popular band—the kind of master who could make a crowd of tourists and passersby stop in their tracks during a street performance.

"Count me in."

"Me too."

As he spoke, others began to chime in.

"I am very grateful for everyone's support, but I have no plans to debut; I’m just playing for fun by myself."

Because they were so enthusiastic, Ryuichi felt a bit overwhelmed. As he spoke, his gaze drifted away from the crowd, looking for a way to extricate himself from being surrounded.

Just then, a familiar face suddenly entered his line of sight. Golden hair, blue eyes, a pretty face, and the uniform of Musashino High School.

As their eyes met, Ryuichi could see her sparkling large eyes and the unconcealable look of admiration on her face.

"Yuki Takanashi? Why is she here?"

Ryuichi was taken aback; he hadn't expected her to appear here at all.

"Wait, is she following me?"

After a brief moment of shock, he realized the truth. There aren't that many coincidences in this world. Aside from the school they shared, the probability of bumping into a schoolmate elsewhere was actually quite low. In a massive city like Tokyo, unless two people were intentionally trying to meet, they might never see each other again.

"Oh no!"

Yuki Takanashi, who had been peeking from the second-floor stairwell, was startled the moment their eyes met and quickly retracted her head.