Tsukiko read my thoughts and taught me.
Oh, I see, Marika’s singing in the music department means that she’s singing classical music. It’s that kind of school after all.
However.
Why is someone majoring in classical music dressed like a gnarly rock singer who just got it wrong from the entrance?
So, are you good at the vocal music department?
Mariko asks Igarashi-san, but.
Matsumoto, the elder, replied for her.
Yes, Igarashi-san’s always in the top three of the school year in her vocal music department
She’s good at singing.
Top three, but I don’t always get the top. It’s usually top 2 or 3
Igarashi-san gets standoffish again.
Hmm, does it mean that the ranking in the classes is put up?
Margo-san asks.
Yes, the top five are placed on the wall of the school every month. Uhm, it’s because the students with good grades can be recommended for admission to music colleges
I see. It must be hard inside music schools.
And so, Jasmine-chan and Matsumoto-san, the elder, are always in the top five in the piano class? Uhm, yes. Matsumoto-san’s been the top one since enrollment. I’m always in the top five at least That’s not true, Takahata-san’s growing further recently. You just climbed to third during this month’s recital, right?
Margo-san asks, and Marika and Matsumoto Maki-san replied.
Marika’s mother had been sick, confined in a hospital, and had a hard time mentally until the other day.
Now, her mother’s getting better, and she met her little sister separated from birth.
She started coming to the mansion every week and cheered up considerably.
That also shows up in her piano performance that her teachers are praising her for it.
Takahata-san will surely become better than me I can’t play like Matsumoto-san That’s not true. I like how Takahata-san plays piano I like Matsumoto-san’s piano more
These classmates tell each other.
Then, Igarashi Izumi-san is staring at the two girls from the same school but different classes, with a displeased look.
Hmm, I see, I get it now.
Mariko laughs and drinks her lemon tea.
As usual, I don’t get it.
Well, you’re all in high school so you could eat a couple more pastries in a single sitting. Eat it, then we’re moving to the next place
Margo-san smiled and stuffed the bread into her cheeks.
Yoshinobu-kun’s pastry has gotten better once more Thanks
I thanked her.
Girls, don’t pocket it and eat it, you should eat at times like this so you’re ready to move at any moment, right?
Mariko looks at Kurose Anju-san who’s watching us with a confused look.
Ah, yes, you’re right
Kurose Anju puts the bread in her mouth in a hurry.
Geez, you’re devouring them now. Eat with elegance. You’re embarrassing us O-Okay
Yeah.
Mariko had Haiji as her bodyguard before, but.
Haiji’s still thirteen yet she’s strangely mature, so she lets Mariko’s light talk slide and doesn’t engage in the conversation.
Meanwhile, Kurose Anju’s got a good personality, but she’s timid and she’s easy to get dragged by the mood, I think she’s suited to Mariko who moves at her own pace.
Kou-sama, you should eat yours too
Tsukiko whispers to me.
Yeah, If I don’t eat it, it’ll be hard for our guests to do the same.
Miki-san, try them, I always eat them and they’re delicious
Erica who had been quiet all this time urges the younger of the Matsumoto siblings to eat bread.
Okay, I’ll take it
Miki-san, the violin girl finally ate the bread
How is it? It’s delicious
The middle school girls smiled at each other.
However.
Students are still watching around us in the school cafeteria.
Their faces say Who are these people?
Margo-san’s the focus since she’s a graduate that they fear, so they’re leaving us alone, but.
Don’t mind them, it’s nothing much
Tsukiko whispered to me.
It’s nothing much, wait, Tsukiko?
Did you use your Miko power to everyone around?
No, I’m not using my power
Tsukiko smiled.
They’re all accustomed to seeing Kou-sama surrounded by strange people
Huh?
Everyone thinks that Look, the Baker is involved with something strange again
is that so?
Tsukiko smiles.
They all seem to have realized that Kou-sama’s the center of most things
Oh, I’m not the perpetrator of the incidents, but.
They see that I’m always involved with someone that’s involved with an event?
Kou-sama too
Tsukiko.
Kou-sama, you need to be aware of it, you’re always the center. We’ll do anything that Kou-sama wishes, and we’ll follow you always. Please don’t forget that
Yeah.
I’ve been a little passive since Margo-san came over.
Normally, I’m the one talking to Marika and Matsumoto-san and the girls.
No, that’s not it. As of now, you can leave it to Margo-oneesama. What I would like to say is that I wish for Kou-sama to be aware that you can entrust things too. You’ll feel more leeway if you do
Tsukiko whispers to me.
Right.
Margo-san’s leading the conversation asking along with the flow.
Thinking that Margo-san’s just doing her role, and I start asking around myself, then the end result is different.
I have to become self-aware.
That I’m the center of the family.
I have to stand strong and take the situation as it comes.
Thanks, Tsukiko
I thanked her and reconsidered.
Marika, who’s usually so quiet, brings three girls from her school, what is the reason for that?
No, Marika did say that they want to meet me.
The reason why the three want to meet me.
Marika, what does she want with the three?
I look at Marika again.
Yes, I went to the Bayreuth festival last year and it was the first time I was taken there, my grandfather is a music lover.
Mariko pitched music to Marika and the Matsumoto sisters.
The Matsumoto sisters who were talking to Erica focused on Mariko.
Is that true? Good job on getting the ticket
Oh, Igarashi Izumi-san’s also hooked.
I hear that getting tickets for the Bayreuth Festival is getting harder every year. Even if you apply for a ticket, it takes years before you could get one Oh? My family gets an invitation every year
Mariko smiles.
Huh? Why? Is your family famous for music?
Igarashi-san’s surprised.
No, didn’t I name myself earlier? I’m Torii Mariko
Mariko;
My family’s the owner of Torii electronics. My grandfather was the founder, and my father’s the current chairman, and I mentioned earlier that my grandfather was a music lover, right? Oh, if I recall, Torii-san’s grandfather was the first to build and market record players and speakers
Margo-san joined the conversation.
That’s right. Today, Torii electronics makes all kinds of electrical products, but it started out as a company making music equipment. That’s why we continue to make audio and recording equipment, and Torii electronics audio equipment has a good reputation in Europe. Many of the famous large theaters have been using the equipment we made for about thirty years now Torii electronics is one of the worldwide electronic enterprises after all. We don’t ask them to use it but Torii electronics donates also equipment to music theaters and schools around the world. We don’t just donate money, which as usual, but we also give away various electronics from our company. We donated a state-of-the-art washer and dryer to the opera theatre in New York just recently. We’ve been doing that for so long that Grandfather receives invitations from music festivals all over the world every year Then, Mariko brings out her ace. Oh, we also offer scholarships for young musicians as part of the Torii electronics cultural contribution program. Like, your expenses when studying abroad !