Blues and Heavy Metal

<Largo>

I guided Lala to the rear, and Tenuto and I stepped to the front.

If we only defend, we’ll be putting Lala at even greater risk. I don’t want to hurt Sharp, but we have no choice but to go on the offensive.

“Time for the Blues of Rebirth.”

“Let’s see the results of your training.”

I raised my saxophone and lowered my stance. I bit the reed and let my lips quiver.

Then I unleashed the music I had found in New Orleans — a performance from the very depths of my soul.

A gritty chord progression that flirted with dissonance. Scales that defied classical conventions, born from stepping outside the lines of propriety.

It felt like a story about me and Sharp, living on the fringes of society, yet somehow in harmony. The seventh chords rang with a satisfying tension.

Let the magic emerge! And let it reach Sharp’s heart!

The completed Blues of Rebirth summoned vines from the ground like the thorns of a fairy tale princess. They crept toward Sharp.

I’m sorry, Sharp. I’ll have to restrain you.

But Sharp’s rage surged, and he destroyed the approaching vines one after another.

We poured our fate, our passion, and the winds of New Orleans into the music, adding crescendos and releasing our emotions through this demanding piece.

Sharp nodded his head up and down, masterfully playing a heavy metal challenge piece while shouting out. Forte backed him on the drums.

A seesaw battle. Whoever lost focus and soul would lose.

There were occasional hesitations in Sharp’s sound. I struck there, entangling his feet with vines.

“D-damn it! I’ll land at least one hit!” Sharp shouted.

Turning to offense meant our defense was weakened.

Sharp played a trill-laden riff, and lightning struck from his side.

“Gah!” I cried, collapsing.

As my body trembled, I looked around — Tenuto was down on one knee, and Forte had dropped his sticks.

The fierce music battle was suddenly swallowed in silence, as if it had all been a lie.

I wanted to resume playing, but my fingers were numb and trembling. I couldn’t control them like this. Is this the end?

But none of the others were playing either. Each of the remaining three had their own reasons for being unable to immediately resume.

“Heh heh heh…”

The one who laughed fearlessly was Groove.

“Magnificent. A showdown between the Super Garnet Prince and the Cobalt Princess. I’ve observed it thoroughly. The Garnet Prince is fully qualified as a war weapon. I’ll send the footage to headquarters and initiate full-scale mass production.”

In the silence, Groove’s applause echoed emptily. I wondered what was happening outside.

“Most likely, if this continues, Sharp will win. That’s certain. The saxophone depends not only on fingering but also breath control. You were almost out of breath in the last performance. String instruments and drums have the advantage.”

He saw through even that…? It’s true. The longer the battle goes, the more the enemy gains the upper hand.

“As for me, I want Sharp to win decisively. And to ensure that, I’ve prepared a secret weapon.”

“A secret weapon?”

He gave a vile grin — not at me, but at Tenuto.

“The Cobalt Princess’s source of power is her feelings of love for the young noble. The more she falls in love like a maiden, the stronger she becomes. But what if we held information that could break even a century-long love?”

I glanced toward Tenuto — he looked uneasy.

“W-what are you talking about?”

“You’ve recently been confiding in a generative AI about your troubles. We had the hacking team look into it and accessed the logs.”

Tenuto’s face turned pale. His eyes darted nervously. Wh-what? What did you tell it? Something that would break my heart? No… I want to know, but I’m scared to hear it.

“Tenuto-kun! Let’s fight. The numbness in my fingers is starting to fade.”

I blew into the mouthpiece — no sound. The ligature had slipped. I hurried to fix it.

“I’ll read it aloud right here.”

What—?! Just what kind of message is he going to read!?