“Why are you asking such an elementary thing?” he replied. He really did think that was a question too obvious to even answer! I knew I wasn’t capable of such a thing, at least. I might be able to hum something I’d heard a couple of times, but I definitely couldn’t play it note for note.

“Itsuki, you remember when you said I might have the Nullify Sickness ability?” I asked him.

“Of course. What of it?” he replied.

“Do you think maybe you also have some talent relating to music?” I suggested.

“I’ve never been told such a thing . . . but I did used to play as a hobby,” he said.

“Maybe you have some supernatural power that makes you good at playing music,” I continued, pressing the point. He was using magic much like Filo but without any special training. This could really boost his support abilities if he got some practice in.

“I don’t think so,” Itsuki said, tilting his head and muttering almost to himself. “A talent for something isn’t a supernatural power. Those with supernatural powers controlling sound can do far more than me, even at lower ranks. For example, those who can control sound waves can use them to paralyze the semicircular canal of an opponent, and they can play music without the assistance of an instrument.” As always, he talked about supernatural powers as though he was discussing making coffee—likely, this was partly because it was something he understood well and partly because of the curse.

Still, the phrase “without the assistance of an instrument” stuck with me. He made playing a violin sound like it was as easy as taking training wheels off a bicycle.

“Those with supernatural powers are evaluated based on their applicable uses. Even if I have a talent for music, it would not be evaluated highly under such criteria,” Itsuki continued with a gentle smile on his face. Sometimes his attitude just made me want to hit him. I’d never realized before how someone being humble could really make you want to punch their lights out. Maybe I acted in a similar way sometimes. I’d need to be more careful when people were talking about my cooking or not getting drunk.

I was also struggling to accept this degree of humbleness coming from Itsuki, who had always been so vain before. I almost told him to brag a bit, having found something he could actually be proud of. Sure, that would be annoying too, but probably better than this.

“I’m not sure, but something about all this rings a bit false,” Glass said, coming out with exactly what I had been thinking. Itsuki looked surprised and tilted his head.

“Yeah, for me too,” I agreed. “There must be all sorts of ways to use that ability, but I just feel like slapping him on the head.”

“Fehhh!” Rishia exclaimed.