The Cry of Skill and Soul

<Largo>

A deep scratch was left on the pillar by Sharp’s guitar work. No one was hurt, but the thought of what might have happened if it had hit a person makes me shudder.

“Watch out! Everyone, run!”

One of the male students shouted, and people scattered like spiders. Even the girl who had been provoking Sharp earlier—Stridente, from the same girls’ dorm—was swept away by the fleeing crowd.

Part of me wants to complain about their irresponsibility, but honestly, them being gone might be better; if they stayed, things would just get more complicated.

“Sharp! Come to your senses!”

I never really believed he would snap out of it just from me calling out like this. But as long as there’s a nonzero chance, I have to do what I can. You can’t give up based on assumptions and make the situation worse.

“I’m not on the girls’ side,” he snarls.

It looks like what was said to him earlier wounded him deeply.

“That’s not true. We’re all in this together, right? We changed clothes together, didn’t we?”

I keep trying to reason with him, even as I pull a tenor sax out of thin air. I have to be prepared for the worst, ready to fight if necessary.

“You’re on the girls’ side. Me, I’m the one left out.”

His whole body starts glowing red. It’s no use. He’s not listening. He’s completely ruled by anger now.

I respond by making my body glow blue. By letting Tenuto reside in my heart, I can now transform into the Cobalt Princess on my own.

Sharp deftly begins to play a guitar solo. The wind swirls, and blades of light come flying at me. I create blades with my sax to counter them.

Light and wind fill the area, but Sharp, overwhelmed by rage, is too strong—I’m steadily pushed back.

Damn it. I’m starting to feel ashamed of my own powerlessness. At that moment, a piano chord rings out.

“Tenuto!”

“Sorry I’m late! Let’s do a jazz session! Ready?”

“Yeah!”

The tune is, of course, “Rebirth Blues.” We’ve been practicing hard ever since that day. We’ll pull this off!

But we’re still at a disadvantage. Why? My fingering is perfect.

“Largo! Your performance is perfect. But that alone won’t reach Sharp! You need to pour your feelings into it! Let the sound carry how much you want to save him!”

“Got it.”

I answer, but how exactly do I put my emotions into music? I can’t do it. Trying too hard is preventing me from expressing myself through the music.

What’s the essence of this piece? What emotions am I supposed to convey? Should I run? No, if I run away now, Sharp—

Just when I’m cornered and out of options—

“Anyway, experiment success! Way to go, Sharp! YAAAAAAAH!”

A male student wearing baggy DJ-style clothes, bearing the crest of Liozia on his chest, appears. A beat starts pounding behind him.

“My name’s Groove! I’m running in the next election! Backed by Edge Guard Corporation! Gonna be one slick election! Sharp! Transformation complete! Now I’ll take you to the research lab for weapons development! Great results! You’re all cornered now! But you—your value just went way up! I won’t expel you yet! I’ll let you keep rampaging! Later! Check it out!”

After spewing out everything he wanted to say, he chanted something like a teleportation spell and vanished from the scene.

“W-we’re saved,” I breathe, relieved.

“This time, I really thought we were done for,” Tenuto sighs too.

Most likely, the wall I’m hitting isn’t just a matter of technique. My soul’s cry is weaker than his.

“Rebirth Blues.” Maybe it’s time I go on a journey to find the final puzzle piece that will bring it to completion.