Vanstein Copyright

Chapter 8 – Mrs. Care

“Yes, so this is Mrs. Care.”

Adonis introduced the lady sitting with him at the table to Angela. After closing the piano stage with “Requiem,” Angela had only returned after changing into a rougher outfit. She locked her gaze on Mrs. Care, who smiled softly, before casting an accusing half-look at Adonis, wondering whether he had hit on a MILF.

“I apologize for making such an unreasonable request earlier. My name is Care. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Angela. No, I am sorry for not living up to your expectations, madam.”

Using polite language and behavior, Angela addressed Mrs. Care. These manners seemed to have been thoroughly ingrained in her by her patron, Ms. Jacquelyn.

“Afterwards, as I was leaving the store, Adonis here approached me. I was smitten despite my age.”

When the lady smiled graciously at Angela, the latter returned the smile with a fake one. Adonis’ preference for MILFs was becoming a reality in Angela’s mind, inducing her to worry.

“Actually, Angela. I have a special favor to request of you.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Could you come to my house and play ‘Piano Solo for Right Hand’ for me?”

When Mrs. Care began to talk naturally, Angela was taken aback. Adonis maintained his beaming smile and listened in silence.

“Oh… well, like I said before, I can’t play that song…”

“Mr. Adonis has told me about it. But still, I would like to ask you to do this for me.”

“That… if you want to hear it at your home, this one–eek!”

With the mask of a smile still in place, Adonis stomped on Angela’s foot vigorously.

“Mrs. Care. First of all, could you please enlighten her as to the reason for this?”

While Angela was lying on the table in pain, Adonis prompted her to share her story.

“I understand. The truth is… I have a twenty-five-year-old son named Hardy.”

Mrs. Care proceeded to narrate her story at a slower pace.

Hardy, who had been serving the country as a soldier since his youth, had been wounded in his left arm in the line of duty. The doctor’s diagnosis was that his left arm had a severed nerve that would never be healed. That anguish forced him to retire from the military, and by chance, Hardy came to learn about a pianist named Merch Greenfield, who had lost her left hand.

The story of her comeback to the music world by playing a piano piece called “Piano Solo for Right Hand,” which would be solely performed by her right hand, greatly emboldened Hardy, who faced the same predicament.

Although he was eager to hear the piece, he discovered that Merch had already disappeared mysteriously and that there were few other pianists who could perform the piece.

Compelled to give up, Hardy’s health deteriorated and he became a shut-in at home. However, his mother, Mrs. Care, felt that this was not the result of any specific illness, but rather that the loss of his left arm had left him in a state of emotional shock from which he had not recovered.

She would like to have her son listen to “Piano Solo for the Right Hand” for his sake. If that was done, something might shift in Hardy, and that might be a chance of recovery to him.

Mrs. Care immediately started searching for a pianist who could play it for her son.

However, there was neither information available regarding a pianist who could perform “Piano Solo for Right Hand” in the repertoire, nor did she have any acquaintances who were well-known pianists that would take on her personal request. At a loss, she learned about a piano bar downtown called “Crazy Louis”. Hearing that the piano bar would accept requests from customers, she came to make a request, despite being aware of the difficulties involved.

“Ah, if that’s the case, then A…–it hurts!”

As soon as the conversation was over, Adonis stomped on Angela’s foot again with all his might. He rose up and bowed to Mrs. Care with the momentum of his step.

“I’m going to go talk to her for a little while. Please wait a moment, ma’am.”

Taking Angela, whose left leg was wobbling in pain, he moved from the table to the counter bar. Without even sitting on a stool, Angela screamed in protest as she stood.

“Hey… what’s with you since earlier, every single time!”

“Angela. If you’re up for it, I’ll teach you ‘Piano Solo for the Right Hand’.”

Adonis whispered to Angela in an abruptly serious tone.

“W-Why…? I told you it was impossible with my fingers in the first place.”

“It is true that I can perform in front of her son at an inferior level. But Angela, you are Merch’s daughter. Now knowing this fact, I think Angela should be the one to accept the offer. Besides, I’ve heard you play the piano many times in this bar and I’m convinced of it. You will be able to play ‘Piano Solo for the Right Hand’.”

It has been a week since they met. Adonis appeared to have secured the position of a friend with whom Angela would exchange casual remarks. But here, Adonis took a step beyond the friend status.

Specifically, he looked at her with a keen and passionate gaze. Adonis’ emerald eyes caught the sky blue ones and did not let go. With that heated gaze and the sweet and sour[i] atmosphere that dominated the place, Angela showed a puzzled look and a downcast expression on her face with her cheeks blushing.

“No, probably not. I’ve tried many times before…”

Adonis gently placed his hands on both shoulders of the girl who muttered helpless reasoning. When Angela’s body jerked as if an electric current was coursing through it, she reflexively looked up at Adonis.

“If I teach you, you will definitely be able to play. This could be a great chance for you to break out of the slump you claim you’re in… Don’t worry, if you don’t make it, I’ll play in your place. But anyway, I need you to give it one more shot.”

Angela, who was red up to her ears as she was gripped by Adonis’ shoulder, swept her eyes, unable to grasp Adonis’ true intentions. Even Adonis became embarrassed and his face started to heat up, but there was no way he could release the pressure from himself here. He waited for a response without detaching his eyes off the blue eyes that do not meet his gaze.

Angela’s eyes swam in all directions at once, but eventually, she lowered her head again.

And then.

“Do you really think I can play…?”

After saying that much with a downcast look, she looked up and sought Adonis’ answer.

Adonis had noticed something. When did the two men at the counter bar attract the attention of the bar?

The old men were watching them with bated breath. The master, who was polishing a glass, lowered himself by now and listened behind the counter. Some of the old men gathered in the shadows behind Angela with bottles of champagne and raised their index fingers to their mouths to signal, “Don’t say it.”

“Of course, Angela. I told you before… your piano skills are better than mine and the sound is beautiful. I bet if you can play that song, it will be better than mine. I’d like to hear it too.”

Adonis was not lying. When it comes to influencing people, nothing beats the power of true words.

“… Then… then, I’ll try–“

“Thanks for waiting, ma’am!”

Upon receiving affirmative confirmation from Angela, which she had managed to twist out of her, Adonis swooped back into Mrs. Care’s presence like the wind. Angela, who had been left behind, was like, eh? Ah, yeah, I’ll do it, but… me, doing it? The abrupt end of the two-shoulder guwashi[ii] development was not being followed.

The old men who had been watching the scene returned to their own conversations, saying, “What a bore,” “You’re talking about the piano after all,” and “I thought it was going to be a confession,” respectively.

All three champagne bottles were thrust back at the master.

“Leave it to Angela, ma’am. I’m sure your son will jump for joy when he hears her play!”

“Well, is it true!? I appreciate it, Angela. Thank you.”

When Angela returned to the table, Mrs. Care, looking about five years younger than before, extended her hand to her again.

“I knew you could play! I’m so glad I requested you!”

“That’s a given. The truth is, this is just between us――”

Angela, who had been holding Mrs. Care’s hand as she was swept away in a daze by the sudden turn of events, awoke with a start when she heard Adonis’ voice. Adonis joyfully stated before Angela’s voice could even flow out as she urgently attempted to stop him.

“She is Angela Greenfield, the daughter of Merch Greenfield, the composer of ‘Piano Solo for the Right Hand’.”

“Oh my goodness!”

Before Angela’s eyes were the sparkling eyes of Mrs. Care, who was about ten years younger further on.

The one-armed pianist, daughter of Merch, swiftly snatched Adonis’ rocks glass from him, her strained smile still in place. She poured it down the back of her throat all at once. When she turned to the stunned pair, Angela remarked half-heartedly, ”Please leave it to me! I’ll get your son’s vitality back, and I’ll definitely restore his energy.”