(I really enjoyed the last event.
And what happened with my dad...)

...

(It's been a while since I felt this good.
I'd like to get some practice in...)

(But we all agreed to take a break today.
Maybe I'll just relax listening to some music.)

(Come to think of it,
Akito lent me that CD and... Hm?)

What's this...?

Hello.

Oh! Hi, Toya!

Yay, good to see you!
Come sit with us!

Sure.

Welcome. Is it just you today?

Yes. We don't have practice today, so I thought I'd come here and just listen to some music.

And if it's alright with you...
Would you mind putting this CD on?

Oh, is it classical music?

Yes. It's a recording of my dad's solo concert.

I couldn't stand the sight of it, so I put it away and forgot about it until coming across it by chance today.

I see. And you felt like giving it another listen?

Yes... I thought that if I listened to it here after telling my dad how I felt about music, then I could finally appreciate it for what it is.

Okay, sounds good.
We can all listen to it together.

I'm curious to hear what your dad sounds like too!

Wait, Len. It's classical music.
Won't you just fall asleep halfway through?

No, it won't! And if you fall asleep listening, Rin, I'll doodle all over your face!

Challenge accepted!
I'll do the same to you if you doze off!

(I made the right call coming here.
I'd just overthink things again if I were alone...)

Okay, shall I go and put the CD on?

Yes, thank you.

That was really awesome...!

Yeah, it really was!

I loved the third piece the best. It felt so sad that my heart sort of began to sink, but at the same time, that was what I really liked about it!

I liked the one towards the end. It felt like a piece where a lot of people would be singing and dancing!

Oh, I totally get that!
I had the same image in my head too!

Right? Toya, your dad's amazing.
How does he play like that?

Thanks. I feel proud of being his son after hearing that.

It changed my impression of your dad too, you know.

Based on what I heard about him from you earlier, I thought he was a cold and strict person, but his performance was very rich and colorful.

Well, he is very strict.
Especially when it comes to classical music...

That may be due to his playing style as well...

What about his style?

It's all about his steadfast conviction when it comes to performing.

His goal is to flawlessly portray the composer's thoughts or intentions.

He not only learns the actual music, but also researches the composer and their surrounding musical composition until he knows all there is to know about them.

By doing this, he recreates the composer's vision for a piece in his head and plays accordingly.

Wow...
That's incredibly thorough...

It's also why he despises anything that deviates from the composer's original vision, such as different arrangements, additions and such...

I see...

I used to look up to Dad since I was little.

But he also put me under pressure.
He wanted me to play the same way as him...

Yet you're putting him in such a good light now...

Yes... I'm finally glad that I can listen to my dad's music and feel respect for him instead of stress...

That's great, Toya.

Toya, if it's alright with you,
would you mind if I borrowed this CD for a bit?
I'd like to listen to it some more.

Of course.

Hehe. Thank you.

Oh, let me treat you to some coffee jelly.
You know, as a small token of my appreciation.

Here you go. And for Rin and Len, I have fruit jelly! I only made enough for three, so you get to be the lucky ones today!

Yay, treats!

Thanks, MEIKO!

You're welcome! Enjoy!

Thank you very much. I'm sure we will.