Chapter 48 - 48: She’s on Fire

Utaha was changing the subject. And it was very obvious. Haru noticed something off about her mood, so he played along, pretending to think deeply. "If you really want to improve, you should focus on the path that suits you best." "Oh? Care to elaborate?" "There's not much to elaborate on. It's just a suggestion. If you take the wrong path, then—" "Then it's pointless effort," Utaha finished his sentence with a smirk. Haru shook his head. "Actually, according to physics textbooks, when achieving a goal, any unnecessary effort beyond the required work is called 'extra work.' If you round it up, extra work is approximately pointless effort. So, technically, you were wrong." "'Approximately'?" Utaha looked at him like he was an idiot, her expression clearly saying: How do I even know someone like you? "Yes, approximately." Haru remained unfazed. Utaha rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. Now that the atmosphere had lightened, Haru got back to the real topic. "Doctors have their own skills, and so do you. Filmmaking is just a club activity—don't forget where your true talents lie." Utaha froze for a moment, then grinned. "I didn't expect this from you. Are you actually the gentle type?" She playfully clasped her hands behind her back. "The way you were talking just now—it'd really suit a guy with a guitar, singing while strumming. That'd be quite the scene." "I do know a bit of guitar," Haru admitted. "But I'm actually better at another instrument." "Oh? What instrument?" "Erhu." "Er…hu?" Utaha blinked in confusion. Seeing her puzzled expression, Haru pulled up a video on his phone. It was an old recording from his mother's birthday a few years ago. She had been so overjoyed by his performance that she made sure everyone in the family got a copy—even Yukino had one. Utaha's eyes widened. The video showed a younger Haru sitting confidently in the middle of a crowd. He crossed his legs, raised his Erhu, and played. Despite his youthful appearance, the sound that flowed from the instrument painted vivid imagery—like an ancient moonlit bridge, a quiet pavilion by the water… It was the kind of melancholy often found in TV dramas. The video ended. Utaha turned to him, still in a daze. "Impressive, huh?" Haru smirked. "Very impressive." She nodded repeatedly, her usual sharp demeanor replaced with something softer. Maybe she was still lost in the music. The ever-sultry, ever-witty Utaha… was now just smiling absentmindedly. So cute. I kind of want to— Wait, no! Haru caught himself slipping for a second. This was a side of Utaha he had never seen before. "I think Yukino's patience is running out," Utaha suddenly said, bringing the moment to an end. Without giving Haru a chance to respond, she stepped forward with a light bounce in her step. "Thanks for showing me that video. Now I feel even more motivated." "Take care on your way home." Haru waved. She turned back and flashed him a dazzling smile. — When Haru finally caught up to Yukino, he casually remarked, "Looks like Senpai was pretty shaken up by you." Yukino kept a serious expression, as if deep in thought. After a couple of seconds, she finally said, "She has her own pride. I just see her as someone equally excellent as myself. I was curious to see how she'd react if she got serious." Then, she suddenly stared at Haru's face without saying a word. He raised an eyebrow. "What?" Yukino shook her head. She's actually feeling insecure because of you. That was what she had wanted to say. She had sensed it earlier when they spoke privately in the afternoon. That was also why she had slightly changed her opinion of Utaha. A girl who knew her limits, had a sense of dignity, and carried her own pride—yet still felt self-conscious because the boy she liked was just too exceptional. If she ever gets to know Haru even better… she's in for an even bigger shock. The composed grace of a rightful queen—at that moment, it was fully embodied in Yukino. — Meanwhile, Utaha arrived home. Her parents were in the living room watching TV. She glanced at the screen—it was a music competition show. After greeting them, she idly watched the band performing on screen. Her mother, seeing her interest, teased, "Oh? Did they catch your eye? This is the band I'm rooting for!" Her father, sitting beside her, looked less enthusiastic—clearly, he had been forced to watch. Utaha chuckled. "Not really. It's just… compared to guitar, I think I'd rather watch another instrument being played." "Oh? What instrument?" "I'll tell you later." Utaha left them hanging. Her parents exchanged puzzled glances. She headed to her room, shut the door, and opened her laptop. Her outline and character designs were already complete. Just like what she had said to Haru before, the character of the male protagonist is that guy. "The way he plays the erhu is way cooler than any band on TV." A rare, girlish smile appeared on her face. Then, she dazedly sat in front of her computer. "Yukinoshita-san, so you and I are the same kind of person." She murmured to herself. The inferiority she felt because of the boy she liked—she couldn't deny it. But at the same time, she had uncovered Yukino's secret. Growing up beside that boy, pushing herself to become even better, working so hard it was almost terrifying to imagine… Was it really just Yukinos's pride at play? Probably not. The only difference was—she had been found out. But Yukino was doing everything she could to bury it deep inside. Utaha chuckled. She still had a chance to win. She recalled what Haru had said about talent. She understood what he meant. He was telling her not to overdo it. That she didn't have to juggle both the film club and her novel at full throttle, because it might take a toll on her body. But she wanted to show him. "I'm not inferior to Yukino." Right now—Utaha was on fire. — In the following days, everyone in the photography club noticed something different about her. Normally, she would chat with people or go to Haru for advice. But now, it was like she had locked in, grinding her way to improvement. She was even willing to ask Yukino for guidance. Her sheer determination was undeniable. But compared to her usual dazzling presence, her complexion seemed noticeably tired. Yukino eventually spoke up, her tone as cold as ever. "I don't know how late you've been staying up, but if you show up to the shoot looking like this, I will reject you." "I think I'll be fine." Utaha smiled. Composed and unwavering. For once, it was Yukino who frowned. Then, on Thursday, Haru overheard something from his classmates— Utaha had called in sick. A top student, a near-perfect-attendance record, a high-profile beauty suddenly missing school—of course, the gossip spread fast. As Haru walked through the halls, passing by students whispering about it, his gaze darkened. "How stupid." He sighed.