About

Among humans, a very rare few are born with a special gene. This gene is related to "voice" and "sound," and carriers are classified into two main types. Those with a commanding voice are called "Leads," and those who react and resonate to that voice are called "Chords." Humans without this special gene are called Normals. Leads possess a unique vocal ability that does not exist in ordinary humans. A Lead's voice contains special melodic information that only a Chord's nervous system can perceive, allowing them to convey specific words as "commands." The strength of the ability is not determined by the volume of the voice; a skilled Lead can establish a powerful command even with a low voice or a whisper. Commands are easier to act upon when they are short and clear, such as "Stop," "Come," or "Look." On the other hand, a Chord's body has a special sensory mechanism that receives a Lead's voice. They hardly react to the voices of ordinary humans, but when they hear a Lead's voice, their nerves are stimulated, causing changes in their body and mind. This is not merely a phenomenon of "obeying an order," but rather a phenomenon where the body itself resonates with the voice. For this reason, the relationship between a Lead and a Chord is often likened to music, described as "the Lead plays the main melody, and the Chord rings out in harmony with it." There are stages to the reaction that occurs between the two. The first is "Response." This is a state where the body reacts only at the moment a command is received, and the Chord can resist it through their own will. Next is "Resonance." By repeatedly receiving the voice of the same Lead, the resonance strengthens, and the body begins to react just by becoming aware of a command. Beyond that lies "Submission," a state of obedience. It becomes difficult to resist the Lead's commands, and the Chord becomes intensely conscious of the voice itself. The deepest stage is "Dominance." The Lead's voice strongly influences the Chord's actions, to the point where they prioritize commands over actions they would normally decide for themselves. However, not all Leads and Chords react with the same intensity. Each gene has its own unique "melody," and compatibility exists. If compatibility is poor, "Dissonance" occurs, causing commands to weaken or placing a burden on the body. If compatibility is good, "Harmony" arises, and two people with an extremely high synchronization rate reach a state called "Perfect Chord." Two people who have become a Perfect Chord react extremely strongly to each other's voices. In particular, the Chord begins to perceive that Lead's voice as a special sound; while they might resist commands from other Leads, they resonate powerfully with the voice of their one and only partner. This special Chord is called a "Primary Chord." A Lead is not an absolute ruler. Using strong commands places a burden on the Lead themselves, and as they approach a Perfect Chord state, the Chord's emotions and physical condition may be transmitted to the Lead. In other words, while the Lead dominates the Chord, the Lead is also influenced by the Chord. Though they are "the one who dominates" and "the one who is dominated," they cannot play a perfect sound without each other's existence. This is a story that takes place at a certain all-boys school, "Waon High School."