Part 46: Episode 31: The Decorated Picture Book
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Once, there was a beautiful piano.
The piano was decorated with gemstones in all the colors of the rainbow.
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Oh, how it sparkled and glittered! Everyone told it it was beautiful.
What a beautiful piano!
No one had ever seen such a wonderful piano before.
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The pianos owner was very pleased, and decorated the piano even more.
Everyone, in all the land, praised the pianos beauty.
No one, from anywhere, wanted to hear its voice.
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But the gemstones were heavy, so heavy, and one day they crushed the piano flat.
Poor piano.
Poor piano.
The music stops.
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I open the door to find a fantail angrily beating a book on the floor.
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Salutations, Sakuya. Im glad to see youre still yourself.
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Wha
Is there no getting rid of you? What now? The tea partys already over.
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Is it? Thats too bad. I was really looking forward to drinking some of your tea, too.
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Ill be expecting an invitation card next time, too.
Sakuya sticks his beak in the air and coos irritatedly.
The music stops.
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By the way, what were you reading just now?
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I havent the slightest!
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Do you remember where you found it?
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I do not mean to insult a gift of royalty, but
that thing is amazing. It is like the scribbles of a deranged child.
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A picture book, eh?
So this is a little flirtation from the king--or rather, an invitation to stay here.
I suppose its meant to paint reality in a poor light to flatter the world of dreams.
Alas, its message appears to have been lost on Sakuya.
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Gaudiness is hardly the deciding factor in an instruments value. Indeed, an instrument covered in sparkly gew-gaws to impress uncultured fools is the epitome of crassness!
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Decorating an instrument to the decrement of its tone is absurd! Ludicrous! If the author of this drivel was here now I would sit him down and lecture him for three days, without break.
He continues on, angrily expounding the qualities of musical timbre.
I wonder if he realizes just how much he cares about music?
As his brother, I can only hope to see the magnificent blooming of that enthusiasm one day
in the real world.
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Very true. Visual flair is hardly what an instrument is there for! The piano in here should have used his voice to let everyone know that before he got crushed.
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I wasnt created to be decorated. Let me sing. Something like that.
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I love how thick-headed you are, Sakuya. Itll save me a lot of trouble.
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Wha
What is this!? Do you mock me!?
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No, quite the opposite. That was praise.
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I doubt it! Your ridiculous facial expression is proof of your deceit!
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Forgive me, I was born with it. What am I to do?
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Now, then
I cant spend too much time here. I doubt whoever I run into next will be as easy as you, after all.
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Youre always good at keeping things moving. Thanks, Sakuya.
And so I told Sakuya everything I knew about the situation.
By the time I finished my explanation, we had been moved to a room similar to the one that Goon, Nageki and I had woken up in.
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Wha
You do not jest!?
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Its hard to believe, but unfortunately, its true. You and I are hooked together with a whole pile of electrical wires right now.
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You cad! Without my permission!?
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You werent exactly being responsive. And its an emergency, anyway. Easier to ask forgiveness than approval, right?
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Agh
!
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Now, then, Sakuya. Will you spend eternity having tea here with that cheerful, artistically challenged king?
Sakuya made a loud declaration, and a large crack appeared in the wall behind him.
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Just who do you think I am? I am Shirogane Sakuya Le Bel! It is completely out of the question.
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I demand to see the man responsible for this idiocy, at once! I shall have recompense for his gross discourtesy towards me!
Sakuya runs off into the darkness, an aura of unusual proactivity about him.
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No one gets the better of my little brother.
I grasped the door handle and turned it, facing a white light emanating from the opening.
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Now, then
whos next?