Laterano, inside an ordinary nursing home.
As the duet of strings and keys—capable of stirring the very soul—came to its final notes, Arturia withdrew her bow and opened her gently closed eyes.
Feeling the emotions brought by instinctive empathy, she wore a faint smile.
Then, like a dancer at the end of a piece, she bowed while holding her bow.
Ecaros likewise withdrew the piano she had constructed before the others’ eyes through Originium Arts.
Rising to her feet, she too politely lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied toward the elderly.
Clap, clap— At that moment, some elderly person was the first to applaud.
Then, as if waking from a dream, the other elders in the nursing home all began to clap one after another.
For a time, the small hall was filled with endless applause, drawing a perfect close to this charity performance.
The elders, too, after the applause ended, offered the young girls before them heartfelt praise and gratitude.
“Hahaha, what a wonderful performance!
It reminds me of my days at the Golden Theatre in Leithanien.
You young ladies have a truly bright future ahead!” “Yes, yes!
You don’t know this, but just now I felt as if I’d picked up my gun again to go target shooting.
But you know, my old companion can’t be used anymore.
Still, after hearing you girls play, I feel so much better.” “Same here!
You all know my legs can’t move anymore, but just now, I felt like I could run again—it even seemed like I took part in the Pope’s athletic meet!
Ha, isn’t that miraculous?
If these two young ladies ever hold a concert one day, I’ll definitely be there to cheer!” “That’s right, I think so too…” …
Words like these came in an endless stream.
The elders sincerely thanked both Ecaros and Arturia.
Yet amidst the words of thanks were also mixed their own ruminations and the wishes hidden deep in their hearts.
Among them were past regrets, whimsical flights of fancy, and even faint undertones of old disputes and lingering hatred.
But as the elders spoke of these things now, smiling and enthusiastic, it was as if all of them had been released, or fulfilled—transformed into resolution and contentment.
Every person, in this performance, had faced their own heart.
They had been given a silent nudge forward, yet also been carefully anchored within the ‘dream.’ And within that unbounded ‘dream,’ they had released and fulfilled the aspirations and thoughts they had once carefully sealed away in the depths of their hearts…
Though the lingering impressions were vague, within the beautiful music, they had all, without doubt, found satisfaction.
…
“Ecaros, thank you again for today.” Bathed in applause and gratitude, Arturia returned a polite smile to the elders.
At the same time, she expressed her thanks by Ecaros’ ear.
She understood clearly that without Ecaros’ restraints, her own Originium Arts would have brought a different kind of impact upon both herself and her listeners.
Though, of course, she herself would never regret the choice to ‘perform.’ “Don’t mention it.
This is something we promised each other long ago, isn’t it?” “‘We’re going to become the greatest musicians in Terra, writing the chapters of people’s hearts with piano and cello.’ I’ve never forgotten those words, Arturia.” Facing Arturia’s thanks, Ecaros shook her head, the corners of her eyes carrying a hint of weariness.
She directed a tired smile at Arturia’s obsidian-like eyes.
Those golden eyes seemed to shimmer and shine, making Arturia feel as though, for a moment, she was seeing Ecaros exactly as she had been back when the two of them secretly climbed onto the roof and made that promise.
A gentle, amused smile also surfaced at the corner of her own lips.
“…Yes.
We promised, didn’t we?” Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
Arturia suddenly felt, inexplicably, that the small chapel was a little too stuffy.
So she bade farewell to the head priest, who had just recovered from the duet’s music.
Under the other’s continuous thanks and grateful gaze, she hugged her cello, pulled Ecaros along, and left the nursing home.
And the moment they stepped out the nursing home’s doors, the sky was already dyed by the red sun about to set.
The gentle rays cast by the twilight’s afterglow held a magic of their own, making one intoxicated in their enchanting glow, as if within a dream.
The lingering tail of the afterglow swayed gently, as if bidding a soft farewell to the world, leaving behind a beautiful memory.
The wind, too, blew softly, rendering the halo of the afterglow even gentler, even more dreamlike, dyeing the maidens as though composing an artist’s painting.
And watching Arturia—who had pulled her out of the nursing home, her face stained with the hues of the setting sun’s afterglow—Ecaros gazed at Laterano beneath the sunset and the girl before her.
For a time, she found herself lost in the sight.
“How beautiful…” Looking at the scene before her, like an illustrated scroll, Ecaros herself didn’t quite know what exactly she was marveling at.
But she quickly shook her head and called back her attention.
Arturia also noticed they had already left the nursing home.
She released Ecaros’ hand, breathing in the fresh air, and unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
Then, as if remembering something, she turned back toward Ecaros behind her and asked, “Right, I’ve been very curious—what was with your piano today, Ecaros?
Wasn’t your piano unable to perform in the past?” Curiously watching Ecaros, Arturia took the opportunity to pack her cello and bow into their case.
They still needed to go to the hospital to visit her mother later.
Though carrying the cello the whole time wasn’t tiring, it was inconvenient.
“Ah, that…” Hearing Arturia’s question, Ecaros opened the cello case on her back and naturally coordinated with Arturia’s packing motions.
After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, “Just think of it as a new ability I developed because I wanted to perform a true duet with you.” “After all, I also want everyone to hear our ‘voice,’ Arturia.” The twilight’s afterglow reflected upon Ecaros’ long silver hair, casting a faint shimmer.
Her golden eyes, carrying undisguised sincerity, looked at Arturia.
This was not a lie Ecaros had made up to hide the system and the simulation—it was something she had always wished to do.
Now that Ecaros had accomplished it, she naturally wanted to share this joy and that small wish from the past with her closest friend.
But these words, in Arturia’s ears, carried a somewhat subtle undertone.
‘Wanted to perform a true duet with you.’ ‘Want everyone to hear our voice.’ Seeing Ecaros’ smile beneath the setting sun, Arturia’s mind took those words out of context.
The uniquely agile mind of a young artist let her imagination run wild in that instant.
And then, looking at those sincere, golden eyes, Arturia’s heartbeat, disappointingly, quickened once more.
Thankfully, Arturia was already accustomed to such occurrences, so she didn’t blush because of it.
She simply, after settling the cello safely into Ecaros’ hands, smiled faintly.
Gazing at Ecaros—shorter than her by a head—and at the sincerity in those eyes and that adorable smile, she suddenly, gently embraced Ecaros’ soft, small body.
By the other’s ear, she softly exhaled a breath of warmth.
“Then…
my duet partner, in the future, please walk with me to the pinnacle of Terra’s music.
Before that—if you ever go back on your word, even to the ends of the earth, I won’t let you off.” Having spoken, Arturia released Ecaros, whom she had held in her embrace.
Then, she turned around and walked, smiling contentedly, in the direction of the hospital.
Her long black hair danced in the breeze, much like the girl’s rippling heart.
And the breeze also carried the faint floral fragrance from the girl, mingled with the scent of shampoo, drifting into Ecaros’ delicate nose.
The delicate fragrance at her nose brought the stunned Ecaros back to her senses.
After briefly savoring Arturia’s words, the girl—who hadn’t overthought it—once again smiled and caught up with Arturia’s pace.
“…Don’t worry, Arturia.
There’s absolutely no way I would ever break our promise.” Walking to Arturia’s side, Ecaros blinked her golden eyes and made her vow with absolute confidence.
Other things aside—on this one matter alone, Ecaros could never possibly go back on her word.
She could even stay by Arturia’s side forever, so long as Arturia didn’t grow tired of her.
“Then it’s settled.
No take-backs, Ecaros.” Walking forward, Arturia turned her head to look at the silver-haired dumpling beside her.
Having received a satisfying answer and spent another beautiful day, her face now held a sweet, contented smile.
A smile that even made Ecaros sigh inwardly: She’s so beautiful.
Then Ecaros seriously replied, “Alright, I promise.
But don’t forget, we’re going to see Mama Luciana today.
Don’t take the wrong road.” “Don’t worry.
But when we’re there, don’t let Mother misunderstand that I was the one who told you the news.
Otherwise, she’ll probably throw a tantrum at me again.” “Okay.
My lips are sealed tight.
You can rest easy too, Arturia.” Jokes and banter aside, the girls, even in their interactions, had not forgotten the final thing they needed to do tonight.
So, before the stars replaced the setting sun as the masters of this sky, Ecaros and Arturia—who had been sticking close to each other the whole way, chatting—arrived at the last stop of the day, carrying a fruit basket they’d bought along the road.
But before they entered the hospital to visit Luciana, Arturia and Ecaros, outside the hospital, encountered an acquaintance…
Who made them temporarily halt their steps toward entering the hospital.