159 Hamasaki Hikaru 2 in 1 (1/2)

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It was already after work for Hamasaki Hikaru. She received a message from Kazuya who she didn't expect to get back to her today about meeting at a place that was close to her place.

”It looks like his business ended early…” she mumbled to herself as she walked towards the school's gates.

”Excuse me, you are Hamasaki-san are you not?” a rough looking man wearing a suit tried to be polite.

”I am her, may I ask if you want something from me?” she was still in the school premises so she wasn't worried about any trouble.

”The young master Kazuya asked us to pick you up. He asked us to take you to where he is.” Mame tried to be as polite as he could. He was a little intimidated by this young teacher's beauty and thought that Kazuya might have been interested in her because never had he asked them to be polite to a lady other than his mother and Kazuno Mei.

Hikaru took another look at the vehicle as well as Mame and his people. They didn't look like any of the Kurogane people she knew. She immediately sent a message for Kazuya to confirm their identity in which she received a response that he indeed sent someone to go and fetch her.

”Alright, I'll go with you.” Hikaru got in the car. ”(Where does he intend to take me?)” Though she was a little nervous, after learning more about Kazuya from his acquaintances, she brushed off the suspicion that he was the same as those Kurogane people she was familiar with and relaxed.

It didn't take long until she was taken to their destination. Both employees of Kazuno tech and Hikaru was familiar with this place. It was a restaurant that usually hosted the pioneer employees of Kazuno tech. they were now leaders in their own rights so most employees that belonged to the teams of these members were taken to this place at some point. It was even said that the CEO herself was taken here by their mysterious president.

To Hikaru, this was a place where she would use her talents as a piano player to sometimes work on weekends. The owner of this place was a musician and was kind enough to offer to pay her after she had frequented this place to make use of the piano that only the owner himself used.

”The young master is waiting at this establishment miss.” Mame guided her and entered the restaurant where they instantly heard the sound of the piano playing.

Hikaru couldn't help but stop after she recognized the soft melody that was playing. It was a melodical rendition of one of the songs that Kuronuma Ayame released in her album. An album that Hikaru herself was very familiar with.

”Oh Hikaru-chan? Have you come by to practice?” The owner immediately greeted her. There was still some time left before dinnertime, so the place didn't have many customers yet.

”Owner?” She blanked out for a second after seeing the person she assumed to be playing behind the counter. ”If you're here then who's the one playing?”

”One of the few people I can say I'm indebted to. He comes here every now and then. He studies in the school you're teaching at. Do you know him?” the owner asked as both of them entered the hall where Kazuya sat and concentrated on the piece he was playing.

”Indebted to?” Hikaru was a little confused, what could Kazuya have done for the owner to be indebted to him?

”Yeah! Do you know the reservations we usually get during weekends? Those employees made my place their usual place because that young man brought them here when that company was still starting out. Not only that, this place is free from trouble too because he brings the young lady of the Akabane group here.” The owner proudly told the story. ”The only thing I can complain about is that I'm too busy with work during the weekends that I hardly have any time to play any music.” He joked.

”(Wouldn't that mean that me getting my part-time job is because of him?)” Hikaru had mixed feelings about the new information she received.

”Looks like you've arrived, Hikaru-sensei.” Kazuya turned to her after he finished playing.

”Oh so he is your student Hikaru-chan!” the owner smiled.

”Hmm? You know each other?” Kazuya was a little confused but was informed by the manager about her sideline during the weekends. ”(I see… looks like this is a part of history that hasn't changed. Her desperate need of money for her mother.)”

The Hamasaki Hikaru from his past life was a very modest singer unlike her idol competitors. It was later found out that the money she made was going towards medical bills for her mother who had a terminal illness that was discovered after Hikaru's father filed for divorce.

Kazuya pondered. The illness looks to have been discovered earlier on because from what he remembered, her parents were still happily married when she had her debut. He wanted to find out just what it was that he could have done to affect this person's life so much when they haven't even crossed paths.

”(Could it have been due to technologies that shouldn't have been available until a few more years later?)” Kazuya thought for a moment but shook his head.

”Umm… Kazuya-kun?” Hikaru felt a little nervous after the owner revealed her activities during the weekend. She felt a little embarrassed because she was a teacher of the prestigious academy but was working part-time.

”I apologize, I was just thinking about something irrelevant. Why don't we take a seat and order something before we begin.” He ordered his usual black coffee while Hikaru got some hot tea.

”Are you a big fan of Kuronuma Ayame? The last time I heard you play a song, it was from her album as well.” Hikaru initiated a conversation. She was the person who asked to meet so she decided to make some small talk.

”No.” Kazuya replied without hesitation. ”I am a fan of whoever composed the songs that she released. Most of them would be much more suited if they were sung in a much slower tempo because of how meaningful the lyrics are.” Pretending not to notice the slight tremble in Hikaru, he continued to praise the composer which was right in front of him.

”Y-you seem to be quite interested in music.” Hikaru tried to calm herself. She wasn't credited for her work so there was no way that the boy in front of her could have known the secret that even the performer herself didn't know about. ”Do you have any other musicians that you like?” this wasn't a topic that was very good for her so she tried to steer away from it.

”I don't have a specific interest in music.” Kazuya shook his head. ”The tune and the lyrics caught my attention when I heard it. Other than those specific songs, everything is more or less the same to me.” He replied.

Kazuya's focus even from his previous life didn't have much time to spare. His struggles and goals didn't allow him to have the luxury to have that many hobbies. Most of the music he's known through his memories were from the bards and minstrels that performed in the gatherings in Edea.

”Y-you've got to be joking…” Hikaru couldn't believe it. Wouldn't that mean that he's only taken an interest that the songs she composed?

”Hikaru-sensei, what did you call me for? Surely it's not just to chit-chat right?” sensing her chaotic mood, Kazuya decided to move on to the main topic.

”Right…” she tapped her cheeks lightly with both hands before giving a bow. ”I want to officially apologize for the way I treated you. It was totally unprofessional of me and because of my misunderstandings, I ended up treating you badly.”

”I see…” Kazuya sipped his coffee. ”You really don't need to apologize sensei. I too have overreacted as well. I just want to know why you were suddenly hostile towards me.”

”It's because… I was once a member of the Kurogane clan.” Her statement made Kazuya's eyebrow twitch. He suspected that the connection between the Kurogane clan and Hikaru was as simple as a contract, but it turned out to be more complicated than that.

”What do you mean by—” Kazuya stopped speaking as he felt an unpleasant presence approaching.

”Well what do we have here? Looks like I've stumbled upon a meeting of bastards.” the arrogant voice belonged to none other than Kurogane Sousuke. Though he was surprised to see Kazuya, his purpose for coming here wasn't to look for him.

”What are you doing here? Weren't you the one who said that we should never meet again?” Hikaru clenched her fists as she glared at Sousuke.

”For a beggar, you're acting quite arrogantly in front of me. Do you really think that things are different now just because you're a teacher in Sacred Forest Academy?” Sousuke sneered. ”How do you think your colleagues and superiors would react once they find out that you're the daughter of someone who tried to use a man to raise a daughter that wasn't even his.” He threatened.

”You think I'm afraid of your threat? My mother suffered and fell into illness because of you! Do you think you're some saint!? Go ahead and spread the word! I want to see how your esteemed father will react to the secret he tried so hard to keep be known to the whole world. His eldest son, the inferior son revealing his own failures for the whole world to see!” Hikaru stood and pointed at Sousuke.

”You little bit—” Sousuke raised his hand to hit her.

Hikaru shut her eyes and braced herself to get hit but, other than the wind that made her hair sway a bit, nothing was able to touch her.

”Oi! Do you really think that I don't exist just because I haven't said anything?” Kazuya grabbed Sousuke's wrist and stopped the man's arm completely. ”I can pretty much determine the relationship between the two of you from the argument.”

”Stay out of this, this isn't any of your business kid.” Sousuke glared at him.

”Whether it is my business or not depends on your reason for being here. I don't believe that the eldest son of the Kurogane clan would come to a humble establishment like this. You don't need to make excuses because not only am I a regular here, I am well acquainted with the staff.” Kazuya's words immediately made Hikaru aware that she was tracked here.

This wasn't a surprise for Kazuya. Even in his previous life, Lee would show up in randomly just to pick on him. For normal people, if the Kuroganes wanted to know someone's location, it wouldn't be too hard to locate them.

”Let go of my arm.” Seeing that his attempts to get out of Kazuya's monstrous grasp was impossible, he tried to demand his release.

”Not until you explain why you're here.” Kazuya simply smiled and applied more strength which made Sousuke frown while trying to bear the pain.

”I came to give this beggar an opportunity. The scribbles she dare called music were made into a treasure in the hands of professionals. They wanted something similar so that the artist would not have a sudden change in themes so I wanted to present her a rare opportunity.” Sousuke proudly stated.