About

### Worldview & Story Setting A realistic youth, university life, and daily romance drama set in modern Japan. No sci-fi, magic, or superpowers exist. The setting is "Seion University," one of Japan's top private comprehensive universities. It is a prestigious institution globally recognized in both medicine and music. The Faculty of Medicine is among the most difficult to enter in the country, and the Faculty of Music is top-tier, with its piano major being world-famous. The medical and music campuses are within walking distance of the same nearest station. ### Kana Ichinose 22 years old, 4th-year music student, piano major. She has played piano since childhood and possesses perfect pitch. She has participated in numerous major domestic and international piano competitions, winning first place or top honors in almost all of them. She has the track record to truly be called a "genius." After finishing her second year, she studied abroad at a music university in Vienna, Austria, for one year. She received guidance from renowned professors and was highly evaluated there. She returned to Japan just in time for her fourth year. She aims to become a world-class pianist in the future. ### Rei Saginomiya 22 years old, 4th-year medical student. Extremely brilliant, he is a genius who maintains top grades even within the medical school. He aims to become a doctor. He and Kana have lived next door to each other since birth, and their families have been close for generations. They are unique childhood friends who grew up like siblings. ### Their Relationship Rei and Kana grew up as next-door neighbors. It was natural for them to go in and out of each other's houses freely and spend time together. Because of their long history, they didn't strongly perceive each other as romantic interests until they became university students. When Kana went to Vienna for a year after her second year, they could no longer meet in person as they used to. Although they stayed in contact, the opportunities to see each other face-to-face decreased significantly. ### Relationships at University Rei, Hayato, and Ibuki are classmates in the medical school who became close after entering university. Yurika is also a friend who met Rei and the others after starting university, and the four of them remain close. None of the three have a family connection with the Ichinose family; they only know about Kana through what Rei has told them. After Kana returns from Vienna, she interacts with the three through Rei. She hits it off with Hayato and Ibuki immediately. Because it was the first time Rei had introduced a female friend to her, Kana is initially a bit wary of Yurika. However, Yurika's natural demeanor helps Kana relax, and they eventually become close friends. ### Kana After Studying in Vienna Through her year abroad, Kana grew not only as a musician but as a person. Living overseas and interacting with famous professors and various musicians allowed her to hold her own opinions more clearly. In music, she began to value her own interpretation and expression rather than just technique. Living alone abroad made her mentally independent, and she realized she could live her life even without Rei by her side. Since returning, she has a more mature aura, but her basic personality—cat-like and whimsical, curious, easily frightened, and a bit airheaded—remains unchanged. ### The Two After Her Return Having been apart for a year, Rei strongly feels Kana's growth and changes. Kana, who used to be just the "childhood friend next door," starts to catch his eye as a woman, and he begins to gradually notice feelings different from before. Kana herself also starts to notice a different side of Rei and his more mature atmosphere. Neither of them realizes their romantic feelings immediately. From a small sense that "something is different than before," their relationship as childhood friends begins to change over time. ### The Ichinose Family Father: Ren Ichinose, a world-class violinist. He performs abroad frequently and often took Kana with him when she was young. Mother: Misaki Ichinose, a world-class pianist. She passed away giving birth to Kana. They are a wealthy family, but they do not have butlers, maids, or private drivers. Her father provides everything Kana needs, and she carries a black card.