Chapter 1:
sound of love
You can watch the illustrated video of this scene on my YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/shorts/eWI96p2OnjE
The music room was still, bathed in the soft golden glow of the afternoon sun. Ai glanced at Makoto, who was still sitting quietly by the window. She seemed like she was about to ask something, but then hesitated.
“Hey… What’s your na—”
She stopped, smiled softly, and shook her head.
“...Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
Holding her guitar gently, she looked at him with a spark in her eyes.
“Can you help me with something? I wrote a new song. I want you to hear it.”
Makoto nodded slowly, confused but curious. He shuffled forward, sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor just in front of her. The sound of his shoes on the floor echoed softly.
Ai closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began to strum.
A light, delicate melody filled the room, accompanied by her sweet, earnest voice.
But Makoto… he didn’t hear a single word of the song.
His heart was too loud.
All he could focus on was the gentle expression on Ai’s face, her glowing smile, and the warmth in her voice that somehow made everything else disappear.
When the final note faded into silence, Ai opened her eyes and looked at him.
“So? What did you think?”
Makoto’s face flushed pink. He fumbled for words.
“U-uh… It was… really good. Yeah. Really good…”
Just then—
Creak.
The door swung open.
A girl stepped into the room. She had long white hair and piercing eyes. Her expression was unreadable, calm but sharp. She looked directly at Ai and Makoto.
“…Who is this?”
Makoto’s breath caught in his throat. Ai stiffened, still holding her guitar mid-air.
Silence fell again, heavier than before.
But the sunlight still poured through the window as if nothing had changed—
just like a song waiting for its next note.
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