Volume 2 Chapter 32

Volume 2 + Chapter 32: [Hatsuka Route] Answers, And Insurance

“Teacher Shimizu, that doesn’t make sense.”

I frowned as I spoke.

“Hm? What doesn’t?”

Teacher Shimizu looked at me in confusion.

“I remember that the afternoon you came to pick me up the next day, you also suddenly appeared like this.”

“So why was it that both when you saw the piano just now, and when you came to pick me up that afternoon…”

“Teacher Shimizu, you didn’t notice anything unusual?”

“But when those blue-white light particles approached you, you reacted immediately.”

I pointed out the unnatural inconsistency.

Precisely because of that, I had subconsciously assumed it was merely a visual change.

Many cases of “I thought…” are born exactly like this, by unconsciously overlooking things that feel unnatural.

“A Spirit User’s power cannot remain constantly active.”

Teacher Shimizu began explaining.

“As for the question you mentioned, the difference is actually between an unconscious state and a conscious state.”

“If you constantly saw scattered light particles drifting around before your eyes during daily life…”

“Not only would it be annoying, it would also be dangerous.”

“So during everyday life, we only maintain the most basic unconscious protective state.”

“At other times, the Spirits are withdrawn into the body.”

I very much agreed with Teacher Shimizu’s explanation. Those drifting blue-white particles, along with the constant thoughts accompanying them, really were annoying.

That was why I often retracted the blue-white lights and prevented them from appearing.

“The reason I didn’t see them was because I wasn’t stimulated by another person’s Spirit.”

“The power of my eyes wasn’t activated.”

“But when I finally saw them, wasn’t it because your Spirit had drifted over to my side and gotten very close to me?”

Listening to Teacher Shimizu’s detailed explanation, I nodded while thinking it over.

“When your Spirit appeared suddenly before, it didn’t come near me, so I couldn’t see it.”

“But today, when you saw the piano, your Spirit probably went directly toward the piano instead of coming near me.”

Teacher Shimizu’s words instantly enlightened me.

“So that’s how it was.”

“That’s why only when I pointed at it with my finger did you activate the power of your eyes.”

Now that I finally understood, I remembered once again the time during Hina’s surgery, when I saw the milky-white light particles around that man in the suit.

Back then, I shouldn’t have been able to see the power of Spirits.

So why could I see them then?

“Teacher Shimizu, during Hina’s surgery…”

“Why was I able to see that male Spirit User’s Spirit at the time?”

The same thing had happened during the piano competition as well.

“That’s because whenever a Spirit’s healing power is used, the Spirits will manifest visibly enough for ordinary people to see them.”

“If healing power isn’t being used, ordinary people won’t notice or perceive the existence of Spirits.”

Teacher Shimizu explained.

“Then during Tomoya-san’s piano competition, was healing power also being used, which allowed everyone to see them?”

I continued asking questions.

“Yes. But a piano was also needed in order to let the Spirits respond to them.”

“And what was healed was only the spiritual or emotional aspect.”

“Furthermore, the healing ability itself is limited. At most, it can only make an unhappy person feel happier.”

Teacher Shimizu answered patiently.

“Then, Teacher, why did it seem like they themselves didn’t know whether Spirits would appear while they were playing?”

I wanted to clear up all the things I didn’t understand at once. My knowledge in this area was severely lacking.

The books sold in bookstores were all superficial and fragmentary. None of them contained explanations this deep.

“That’s because they still haven’t obtained Spirits that truly belong to them.”

“And they still remain within the category of ordinary people.”

“Then what about Horikita-san?”

Remembering the game’s male protagonist, and the extraordinary cherry blossom tree surrounding him, I curiously asked Teacher Shimizu.

“As for Tomoya, he already possesses Spirits that belong to him.”

“And quite a considerable number of them at that. However, possessing them is one thing.”

“His relationship with the Spirits still hasn’t progressed to the point where he can communicate with them.”

“And he can only see his own Spirits, not those belonging to others.”

“Because he still hasn’t reached the stage where he can truly use or converse with the power of Spirits.”

“The Spirits that chose him merely wished for him to see them, that’s why he can.”

Teacher Shimizu answered, then smiled at me.

“So when I learned that not only could you see your own Spirits…”

“But you could also see mine, and even perceive that unconscious protective layer…”

“I was incredibly happy.”

“And when I realized you could even hear them, that’s why I kissed you.”

“I was simply too happy… and Xiao Yuu was too cute.”

Teacher Shimizu called me cute.

Earlier today at school, Yuna had also called me cute.

I still couldn’t get used to it at all. I lightly smacked Teacher Shimizu’s arm.

“Stop talking about irrelevant things already. Is there anything else about Spirits? Tell me more.”

I had even dropped the honorifics, but Teacher Shimizu didn’t mind and continued speaking.

“As for determining whether someone has the talent to become a Spirit User, it depends on how many unconscious Spirits naturally gather around them.”

“The greater the talent, the greater the number.”

“At the same time, if those Spirits not only gather around someone unconsciously, but also display active behavior…”

“Then it can be said with certainty that this person will absolutely become one of the very best Spirit Users.”

Teacher Shimizu told me many things, things impossible to learn from the outside world.

At moments like this, the difference between having a teacher and not having one became obvious.

As expected, when it comes to matters involving mysterious powers, a guide is always necessary.

“Teacher Shimizu, please tell me more.”

Driven by my thirst for knowledge, I held onto her hand.

“And the piano serves as a method of awakening the consciousness of Spirits.”

“Even if Spirits have chosen you, unconscious Spirits still won’t respond to you.”

“They won’t possess the ability to let you see them, nor the ability to let others see them.”

“And this is where the difference in talent and Spirit progression becomes clear.”

Teacher Shimizu clasped my hand back and continued explaining with a smile.

Everything she described belonged to a world I had never known.

The more I listened, the more I wanted to hear.

I wanted to understand even more.

My interest in Spirits and Spirit Users grew stronger and stronger.

Because the way Teacher Shimizu described them made everything sound incredibly fascinating.

And there were still many things that required effort and growth.

“The stages of a Piano Healer are divided like this:

Awakening Spirits.

Seeing Spirits.

Allowing others to see Spirits.

Seeing other people’s Spirits.

Hearing Spirits speak.

Hearing the short songs and melodies sung by Spirits.

Being able to sing the short songs and melodies taught by Spirits.

Hearing the complete songs and melodies of Spirits.

And finally, being able to sing the complete songs and melodies taught by Spirits.”

“And one of the key conditions for entering the realm of a Spirit User is this, being able to form a protective layer of Spirits around your body.”

Each time Teacher Shimizu explained a point, she raised a corresponding finger.

There were nine major stages to being a Piano Healer.

And the knowledge I needed most right now, Teacher Shimizu’s explanations directly resolved the confusion I’d been struggling with.

“As for your earlier question about why I’m so physically strong.”

Teacher Shimizu suddenly brought up something I had asked before.

“As long as someone has contact with Spirits, not only will their body become healthier, but their physical strength will also increase.”

“The exact extent depends on the power of the Spirits.”

At this point, I finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Teacher Shimizu… doesn’t this make Spirit Users sound capable of becoming powerful humanoid weapons?”

If healing power could instead be used to attack people, wouldn’t that become something terrifying?

“Yes. When this kind of power first appeared, many people thought the same thing.”

Teacher Shimizu looked at me approvingly and continued.

“But we cannot use the power of Spirits to harm others.”

“Spirits can only use the power to heal people and to protect Spirit Users.”

“If someone wishes to use their power to hurt others…”

“The Spirits may even abandon that person and refuse to choose them anymore.”

There was still something slightly unnatural about Teacher Shimizu’s explanation, but I couldn’t quite put it into words, so I temporarily let it go.

“And although Xiao Yuu has already accomplished many things ahead of schedule, in terms of the number of Spirits and the flexibility of controlling them…”

“You’re still far from the stage where ordinary people can perceive them.”

“However, your progress will definitely be much faster than Tomoya’s.”

“Yuu should probably reach his current level in around half a year.”

Teacher Shimizu patted my head and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Alright, that’s enough for the basic knowledge.”

“Yuu should go to sleep now, Xiao Yuu.”

Even though I still had some questions, I could only save them for tomorrow.

I obediently nodded and followed Teacher Shimizu out.

We parted ways in the living room and returned to our respective rooms.

So many things had happened today.

But I had gained a lot as well.

It was already past one in the morning.

I had never stayed up this late before.

Lying in bed with my eyes closed, I realized clearly just how many shortcomings I still had, but also that I could continue moving forward properly.

As for Hatsuka’s situation, things could now finally be considered stable and progressing.

Hatsuka’s mother’s body was practically riddled with damage. It had long since surpassed the level that mere emotional adjustment could heal.

I only hoped her body could hold on until the knot in her heart was untied.

And I hoped Teacher Shimizu would act quickly as well.

Friends and classmates of Spirit Users would surely also be Spirit Users themselves.

And Teacher Shimizu, as one of the top-tier Spirit Users, would definitely be capable of mobilizing other Spirit Users.

With so many Spirit Users gathering around Hatsuka’s mother…

Surely they wouldn’t let her die.

This was merely insurance.

A precaution against the most likely outcome.

Once someone no longer wished for death and gained something to worry about…

Even if only barely, they should still be able to hold on until others could act.

It was both to buy time for Hatsuka to keep learning, and to race against death itself.

I only hoped that nothing unexpected would suddenly happen just as things were finally beginning to move forward.

At times like this, all one could do was pray to heaven.

Do all that human effort can accomplish, then leave the rest to fate.

Most things in life are like that.

[Translator’s Note: Please join the Gravity Tales’ Discord Server, if you want to hang out.]

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