Chapter 270: Tightly
"Do you know how to play the guitar, Shido-san?" Rumia asked, watching him as he fiddled with the instrument, checking its tuning and condition.
"A little." As he said that, Shido adjusted the the last string and gave it a strum, producing a clear, resonant tone. The vibration of the steel string blended with the others, creating a warm, balanced harmony that slowly faded into silence.
"That’s better." He nodded in satisfaction before glancing at the three girls, who were watching him with slightly flushed, shy expressions.
Shido had no idea what they were thinking, but he was certain it was something strange. Meanwhile, Rumia, Frieren, and Mahiru watched him sit on the sofa with the guitar in hand, and they had to admit, he really look good when holding a guitar.
Had they not known Shido personally, they might have mistaken him for an idol or professional singer.
If he ever stepped into the entertainment industry, he would undoubtedly shake the very foundations of Japan’s showbiz. Countless girls would become his diehard fans, and even those with boyfriends might find themselves dissatisfied with them the moment they laid eyes on Shido.
That was only what they were thinking to themselves, yet somehow, the three of them couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t entirely impossible considering it was Shido, after all.
Frieren who was the calmest took a deep breath to calm herself. Still, she couldn’t hide her eagerness to hear him play, so she asked, "What song are you going to play, Shido?"
Her question pulled the two blonde girls out of their daydreams as well, and they too leaned in with curiosity, interested to know what Shido would perform.
Although the three of them were beginners when it came to music, especially Frieren and Rumia, who had come from another world, they still enjoyed listening to it. They didn’t know many songs or the names of most singers, but there was one idol who had completely captured their hearts. It wasn’t just her beautiful, thrilling voice and singing that drew them in, but also because of her beautiful, unique eyes that made her different from the rest.
She was so famous nationwide and her image adorned billboards, lit up giant building screens, and appeared across magazines and advertisements, wherever one went in the city, her face was there.
"Well, I’m going to play my original song."
"Original... song?!" The three of them blinked in unison, a bit dumfounded when they heard that. After all, they never seen Shido touch a musical instrument before nor does he sing, so it was quite surprising for them to hear him say he will play an original song.
"Ho?" Frieren’s lips curved into a faint smile, her interest piqued. "Then... can you sing it for us, Shido?"
She felt her heart almost leaping from excitement. Since Shido prevented her to use Magic most of the time and could only use it in Aincrad, Frieren had discovered the wonders of the internet and online shopping, quickly becoming hooked. But what truly captivated her was music. She immersed herself in playing instruments, believing that, given enough time, she could one day master the Dao of Music.
And now, with Shido about to perform an original song, it was only natural that she was the most excited among the three.
Noticing their eager gazes, Shido drew in a quiet breath and readied the guitar in his hands.
"The title of this song is ’Gyutto (Tightly)’. Please listen carefully and just enjoy.
"Gyutto..." The three girls murmured the title as if savoring the name of the song.
Shido didn’t pay much attention to their murmurs. Instead, his fingers moved, and a gentle melody flowed from the guitar, warm and tender, wrapping around them like a soft embrace. In that moment, the air itself seemed to lighten, carrying a calm that made their hearts feel at ease.
<BGM: Mosawo - Gyutto (Tightly)>
As Shido’s performance began, Rumia, Frieren, and Mahiru gazed at him intently, letting the song seep into their hearts. In that moment, there was only Shido, the warmth of his voice and the gentle strumming of the guitar seemed to draw their entire world toward him. His already handsome appearance felt even more radiant, as if the melody itself magnified his charm.
Their eyes grew hazy, almost entranced, until his deep, beautiful voice rang out once more, clear, resonant, and brimming with emotion. Shido’s voice jolted their hearts, making them squeal inwardly at the result it had done to them.
"When we hold hands, I blush
I can’t help but smile along with you
I copy your quirks for no reason
At times, I gaze upon your sleeping face
Only for the sun to rise again
Not everyday needs to be special"
As the song played, Rumia, Frieren, and Mahiru drifted into their own thoughts, each recalling the moments they had shared with Shido. Meanwhile, Shido continued to sing and strum the guitar, completely unaware of the emotions stirring in their hearts.
Rumia swayed gently to the rhythm of Shido’s song, her body moving almost unconsciously with the melody. Closing her eyes, she recalled the moment they first met, back then he was just a stranger, and yet somehow, he had become the most important person in her life. Even if her feelings had been artificially planted by the system, she knew, deep down, that they were steadily becoming real, growing warmer and stronger with each passing day.
He was the one who had made her stronger, the one who gave her hope, and the one who gifted her the happiness she now cherished, just like the warmth she once felt back at the Fibel House with her sister.
Meanwhile, Frieren felt a faint pink flush rise to her cheeks as the lyrics sank into her heart. She couldn’t help but wonder if Shido was singing this song for her. After all, so many of the words seemed to mirror the moments they had shared together, as if the melody itself carried the echoes of their time together.
She then smiled, feeling glad that she was beginning to understand human emotions more deeply. At first, she had only sought them out because of regret, because her friend had died before she could ever grasp his true feelings. But now, it was different. It was because of Shido. He made her experience emotions she would never have known otherwise, feelings she could not usually touch on her own.
She wasn’t sure how many emotions were welling up inside her, but there was one thing she understood clearly, she loved Shido and wanted to stay by his side forever. As that thought crossed her mind, Frieren’s eyes softened, and she gazed at him with a warmth rarely seen on her face, a gentle smile blossoming without her realizing it.
Among the three, Mahiru’s reaction was the most ordinary. Aside from her cheeks turning slightly pink as she pictured herself as the girl in the song beside Shido, she was simply enjoying his performance, her body swaying lightly to the rhythm as his fingers strummed the guitar.
On the other hand, Shido had no idea what the three of them were thinking and simply continued strumming the guitar. With his [Music Mastery] and [Photographic Memory], he effortlessly pulled off the song, each note and pitch flowing perfectly.
His eyes were half-closed as he immersed himself in the beat and melody, quietly enjoying the moment. He had to admit, playing music once in a while was actually quite fun. The thought even crossed his mind, maybe he should start a YouTube channel and see if he could become some kind of internet celebrity or something.
However, Shido pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, focusing entirely on the music. His fingers danced across the strings, each chord resonating with clarity as his voice carried the melody.
The song moved into the third chorus, its rhythm lifting with newfound energy. The warmth of his singing and the vibrant strums of the guitar filled the room, wrapping everyone in its embrace.
"Hold me tightly with your embrace
Draw me close and don’t let me go
Always keep your warm, gentle eyes
Ever looking only at me
That’s all it takes to make me happy
But today, let me hold you tightly
There’s one thing I want to tell you
"I’ll always love you"
Shido’s singing came to an end, though his fingers lingered on the guitar strings, gently strumming the outro. The final notes faded into silence, and he slowly opened his eyes. A refreshing sense of satisfaction welled up inside him, it really did feel good to sing once in a while.
When he glanced at the girls, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly. All three of them were sitting in a daze, as if still captivated by the lingering echoes of his song. Tilting his head, Shido decided to bring them back to reality.
"Can you guys... say something?" he asked with an amused smile.
The moment Shido spoke, the three of them snapped out of their daze and quickly clapped their hands in unison.
"It’s amazing, Shido-san! Your singing is so beautiful," Rumia said honestly, her face glowing with a bright smile.
Mahiru nodded, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "Un, it’s a great song."
As for Frieren, she took a deep breath to calm herself and remained silent. However, her eyes was telling a different meaning, but Rumia and Mahiru didn’t seem to notice it as they were too amazed by Shido’s performance.