The filament of the pendant lights flickers constantly.

I stand by the window and look outside. The sun has set completely and not a soul could be seen walking through the city. The gentle light of the Black Cat Pavilion shines through the tinted window glass and melts into the darkness of the night. Although the Light Conservation Act ended long ago, the remains of those days can still be seen. Most people still turn off the lights in their homes as soon as possible. There aren’t many streetlights either so the only reliable light source is the moon.

I dust the furnishings and carefully sweep up the fallen dust. Record players in particular collect dust easily, probably because of the static electricity. Today as well, he has played a part in setting the mood in the restaurant and I must reward him for his efforts.

After finishing the first portion of cleaning I stretch my back. Looking next to me, I see the upright piano with its beautiful shining wood grain. For no particular reason, I opened the cover and let the keys peek out. I gently lowered my finger and a stiff sound that reminded me of a chilly night reverberated. I remember the Madam at my last job used to play it often. I missed the chance to ask what the song was called. I know it was a Lobelian song, and I think she said something about how she was afraid to play it during the war or something like that...

Gekka said in a blunt voice while washing the mop.

"Sorry, I wasn’t slacking off. It's just..."

With no expression on her face as usual, she silently cleans up after herself.

"Hey Gekka, can you play the piano?"

"Yeah, that’s true... I wonder if anyone else can?"

"I was talking with Karasuba-san about it"

Using the piano to bring new customers into the restaurant. How it would be fun to put on a little show with autonomous dolls. I repeated what I had told Karasuba-san.

"That’s true, but having a live performance is totally different"

Gekka stared at me.

It seemed like a naive question, as if she was asking about a mystery that could never be solved.

"Gekka, are you finished with cleaning?"

Coming down from upstairs is the owner, Okumiya-san.

Otome: "Right on time"

"I’m sorry, I haven’t finished yet..."

Otome: "No worries, you're probably not used to it yet. Gekka, go help Karasuba with her work"

At this time, Karasuba-san is supervising the account books and stockings. Gekka stretches her back and with a light squeak from her shoes she leaves the service area, mop and bucket in hand.

"Um, Major Okunomiya..."

Otome: "Can you please stop calling me ‘Major’?"

"Sorry, out of habit... do you know anyone who can play the piano?"

Otome: "I know how to play actually"

"Eeeeh?!"

Otome: "What, is it that surprising?"

"Sorry, that was rude of me. So Okunomiya-san can play..."

Long and slender limbs. Broad shoulders. She must have been quite the eye-catcher as a soldier. The army is a male-dominated field, but even so, if it’s Okumiya-san, she must have been looked up to. It's not hard to imagine the tension among the soldiers when she shouted out orders with her taut voice.

"That’s surprisingly ladylike"

Otome: "Stop grinning like that"

"N- no, I would never..."

Panicked, my face stiffened up.

Okumiya-san looked a little embarrassed as she turned her gaze away.

Otome: "I was once a maiden too, my beauty was nothing to be ashamed of."

She turned away with a pout and followed Gekka.

I'll create an opportunity for her to show me her skill. I had secretly made up my mind to do so.

The doorbell rings and Haizakura returns.

"Were there any stray dogs roaming around?"

"I thought so..."

"Really?"

I wonder if the dog actually understood Haizakura...

Most likely, it could tell by the smell that there were no leftovers.

"No, I was just messing around. Since we have one"

I press down on the keys.

"Is that so?"

"Haizakura likes music, right?"

"Well, then"

I play the last white key.

A soft tone echoes through the service area.

"Wanna try singing something?"

She looked confused as if the word was foreign to her.

Followed by a thoughtful gesture.

She stared at me with her eyes the color of lapis lazuli and told me plainly.

"...because you’re broken?"

"Then you could just sing without accompaniment"

In short, she's incredibly tone deaf, I guess.

"Is that something that can be fixed?"

She shakes her head. Her cherry-blossom-pink hair shakes with it.

"Memory loss?"

She hopped like a rabbit and pointed at me.

It was obvious that Haizakura didn’t want to make me feel sad but that just made my chest tighten up even more.

"Memory loss can be cured, you know"

"So maybe... Haizakura can be fixed too"

"Let’s look for it together... the reason why Haizakura was born"

That’s the offer I made to the little autonomous doll.

"I want to hear it... Haizakura’s singing"

Her eyes got round. A little surprised, but with the same smile as always...

...she nodded happily.