Chapter 51: Setting a New Record (Happy New Year’s Eve)

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“Ultramarine” ended with a grand chorus.

Inspired by Ryuichi Sugawara, the three girls joined in for the final choral section.

“The true voice of your heart, hidden away before you even knew it—let me hear it resound at the top of its voice.”

“Even if you turn a blind eye, it is truly there.”

Although they had no microphones, the sound of several voices singing together added several rich layers to the song.

As they sang, everyone began to laugh, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

“Yuki, did you and Sugawara plan this in advance?”

As soon as the song ended and the scoring system began calculating the results, Aine Ishiguro could no longer contain her curiosity.

“No... I had no idea he was going to help me with the chorus.”

Holding the microphone, Yuki Takanashi was slightly out of breath, her chest rising and falling gently as she shook her head.

She really had been startled in that instant, but more than anything, she had been delighted.

“You scared me half to death just now. Sugawara, you’re incredible.”

Sitting relatively close by, Kyoko Utada could not resist nudging Ryuichi Sugawara with her elbow, her excitement impossible to conceal.

“Sugawara, how did you produce that voice just now? You’re seriously amazing!”

Aine wholeheartedly agreed. She had been just as stunned and could not stop marveling.

The difference between a professional and an amateur could be heard at once.

When Ryuichi had opened his mouth, the sheer force of his voice had been terrifying. It was on an entirely different level from that of an ordinary person.

She had been utterly dumbfounded and could not begin to understand how he had produced such a sound.

“Amazing.”

Since the others had already said everything there was to say, Kano Sakai merely gave him an admiring thumbs-up.

Ultimately, the reason they had been so shocked was that they had never expected all that much from Ryuichi.

They had first encountered him by chance at karaoke, and they had seen him playing the guitar in Ochanomizu, where his skill had been exceptional. But they had already known even earlier that the man was a super-achiever.

Since a person’s time and energy were limited, they had instinctively assumed that even if Ryuichi could sing, he would probably be merely adequate. Who could have imagined that he would turn out to be outstanding in every respect?

“That sound just now came from nasal resonance, one of the techniques used to shape vocal tone... But I think Yuki is even more impressive. Her natural vocal quality is incredible. The moment she opened her mouth, I got goosebumps.”

Surrounded by their praise, Ryuichi grew a little embarrassed. After giving them a brief answer, he decisively redirected their attention.

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Singing was something that depended greatly on talent. A good voice alone could surpass years of effort from someone else.

“Eh... It wasn’t quite that exaggerated.”

Yuki Takanashi had never expected him to address her by name at a moment like this, much less praise her. Her heart blossomed with joy, yet she suddenly found herself flustered.

[Yuki Takanashi felt her heart race. Affection +1]

“Hahaha, of course it is. Yuki sings incredibly well. That’s one of the reasons we come to karaoke so often.”

Although she was not the one being praised, Kyoko Utada looked immensely proud as she watched him say it.

“Yuki, listen to this. Sugawara’s expression just now was hilarious. He looked like he’d been struck by lightning—completely dazed. And without even realizing it, he straightened his back like he was standing at attention.”

Kano Sakai had something to say about that as well.

“Wait... Yuki, look! You got a new record!”

At that moment, Aine Ishiguro suddenly cried out and pointed toward the only large screen in the room.

“A new record?”

Still embarrassed from all the praise, Yuki Takanashi instinctively turned to look.

Two enormous golden digits were displayed on the screen.

“Ninety-seven?”

After reading the number aloud, Yuki Takanashi stood there in a daze.

The highest score she had ever achieved at karaoke was ninety-six, which she had earned with “Lemon,” the song she was best at.

Although “Ultramarine” was also one of her specialties, her previous highest score on it had been only ninety-four.

That score had held her back for a long time. No matter how hard she tried, she had never managed to break through the ninety-five-point barrier.

But now, not only had she overcome that obstacle, she had directly set a new personal karaoke record.

“It’s true! I got a new record!”

After a brief silence, Yuki Takanashi finally reacted. Overwhelmed with excitement, she could not help turning back toward Ryuichi Sugawara.

She knew very well that she had only broken her personal best because Ryuichi had sung with her.

Ultimately, “Ultramarine” was not a song particularly suited to a solo performance.

[Yuki Takanashi felt her heart leap. Affection +2]

Ryuichi Sugawara met her delighted gaze—and suddenly froze.

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The scene was simply too beautiful.

Yuki Takanashi stood with the light behind her beside the screen displaying her score of ninety-seven, turning back to him with a radiant smile of genuine delight.

The beauty of that moment came from within. It was healing, the kind of joy capable of stirring empathy in everyone who witnessed it.

Perhaps it was a man’s instinct, or perhaps it was the instinct of a professional portrait photographer. Whatever the reason, Ryuichi Sugawara stared at her in a daze, barely daring to blink, wanting to engrave that breathtaking moment forever in his heart.

At the same time, because no one had operated the song-selection machine to pause it, the accompaniment to “Lemon” began playing through the room.

At such a moment, the accompaniment to “Lemon” filled the air with its intoxicating melody, running straight through the heart.

“...”

After their brief exchange of gazes, Yuki Takanashi was the first to recover from her delight. Realizing that he was staring at her as though entranced, she felt a rush of shyness and looked away.

[Yuki Takanashi felt her heart flutter wildly. Affection +3]

As she turned her face aside, embarrassment coloring her features, the system’s notification appeared in the corner of her eye. Ryuichi Sugawara came back to himself when he saw the words and realized that, without noticing, his heartbeat had accelerated to an entirely new level.

“Ah...”

At that moment, a sigh came from nearby.

“Why didn’t I take a picture just now? That exchange of glances was incredible.”

Kyoko Utada was deeply regretful, pounding her chest in frustration.

That moment had been so perfect, yet she had simply stared in a daze and never thought to capture it on her phone.

“Aine, did you see the sparks just now?”

Kano Sakai asked without the slightest concern for appearances.

“Sparks? That was practically fireworks.”

Aine Ishiguro nodded decisively, answering with even greater conviction.

Although they said that, the knowing smiles on their faces completely gave away what they were thinking.

The exchange of glances between Yuki and Sugawara had been so emotionally charged that they had been utterly won over by it.

“What fireworks? Honestly!”

Already terribly shy, Yuki Takanashi could not endure their teasing. Burning with embarrassment and indignation, she rushed over and began thumping them.

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