I started and finished 連弾 today; I was expecting something set with Kazuya, given we had a story about him and Kaito playing piano together, but surprisingly it was with Nigel during the tuberculosis arc! Nigel apparently at some point promised Kaito a virginal (it’s been too long since I read the book, I can’t remember if/when this came up ), and was finally able to acquire one via Lily. Kaito plays a bit of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for him, then gets Nigel to play along with him as well, teaching him which keys to press.
再生 done; another darn Nigel tearjerker. This once actually takes place during volume 19, surprisingly. The first part takes place the night Kaito comes back; Nigel’s at Sir Francis’ mansion to let him know Kaito’s recovered and has thought of a plan to save Geoffrey, and gets Drake’s blessing for Nigel and Kaito to go to London to attempt to carry it out. Nigel heads back home and talks with Lily a bit before heading to bed, but not before Kaito wakes up and they chat a bit. This whole section is so heartbreaking; Nigel wants to hug and love on Kaito so badly, but he can’t. I think this is the first time he calls Kaito his 想い人, too.
The second part starts with Nigel and Kaito in the Clink, walking to see Geoffrey. Nigel remembers his last conversation with him and thinks about how much he loves him and how he’s looking forward to reuniting Kaito and Geoffrey, how he’s hoping it’ll reignite that spark of life in his friend.
This second section was very sweet; Nigel’s still hurting from his unrequited love, but he does recognize how badly Geoffrey needs Kaito there so he can recover mentally. There was a very nice juxtaposition of doors in this story as well; in the first part Nigel laments the door separating him from Kaito (Kaito’s bedroom door), while in the second he’s on the other side of the prison door, listening to the two reunite and feeling joy for Geoffrey. So good.
内緒: So this was a Kazuya POV story, set sometime between v.15 ch.8 (I think) and v.16 ch.3 when Kaito’s in the hospital back in the present-day, but perhaps before he finds out that Geoffrey dies in the modern-day timeline. Kazuya’s trying to figure out how he can reconnect with Kaito, as it seems his friend is holding some things back from him. The doctor thinks that Kaito just takes Kazuya for granted, which Kazuya ponders on. Nothing huge happens here, mostly Kazuya musing on his relationship with Kaito, past and present, and what Kaito’s relationship with the mysterious Geoffrey Rockford could be. He’s quite happy to see Kaito’s room under surveillance at the end. Your yandere is showing, Kazuya.
舟遊び: And now the healing story after the previous one. This one was quite interesting; Kaito POV, set during an outing he went on with Kit, Nigel, and Geoffrey sometime during the English court arc, v.4 between ch.11-12. It’s also technically set during Kaito’s story to the king in 王と夜啼鳥, as that’s the first time we hear about this outing.
Anyway, Kaito has a day off from his job as a fool at Elizabeth’s court, and Kit plans a day of sailing on the Thames and a picnic! We get some sweet moments between Geoffrey and Kaito; Geoffrey’s being extra clingy in this one. Kaito, with input from Kit, also reflects on the importance of doing what you want to do while you still have the chance. This whole story was basically just a fun day off; I really enjoyed reading it.
I have been unexpectedly blessed today. I started reading Turn Around, it takes place right after the end of 曙光 in 王と夜啼! We might be getting to see the dance competition after all!!!
Chapter 1 starts us off later in the day after the end of 曙光; it’s right before the dance competition for Leo’s sword-training school. Alonso meets up with Kaito and Vicente, and the group decides to go wish Leo luck before it starts. Kaito is apparently incapable of winking; he ends up closing both eyes whenever he tries, and Alonso manages to sneak in a kiss in the forehead while he’s demonstrating.
Ch. 2: Lmao, the difference in Kaito’s Spanish when he’s talking to anyone other than Leo and Alonso is continually hilarious. I noticed he said しけん when taking to Alonso in chapter 1 and 選考 taking to Leo here; Kaito’s far craftier than you might assume him to be sometimes. We also learn the fun fact that apparently Kaito’s family has been Buddhist for generations, which makes sense.
Anyway, the competition is on. Leo almost gets disqualified early after he has to sidestep another student slipping and falling, but King Philip intervenes, pointing out how slippery the floor is with everyone’s sweat since it’s such a hot day, and they take a break to clean the floor. Alonso has managed to procure ice for the occasion, impressing even Vicente, and everyone has a cool drink.
Turn Around, ch. 3: The dance competition resumes, and Leo has no more trouble, ending as one of the last boys standing and earning himself a place at the ball. Alonso proposes they really snub the French ambassador by showing off their best and brightest beating them at their own game: namely Vicente, dancing the Volta. Vicente is suitably horrified, but the King’s all for it so he had no choice. And then: he practices! With Kaito!! All of my 王と夜啼鳥 have now come true; I really wanted Kaito and Vicente to dance together at least once. :3
Kaito gets sent off to bed once they’re done; throughout the practice he’s been having Geoffrey flashbacks, and he’s still despairing over not seeing him even after he goes to sleep. Eventually he wakes up, though, realizing that he’ll just have to do the best he can, and trust the rest to Geoffrey. It was a nice ending, I have to say.
This story overall was A+. I definitely recommend it for all who enjoyed 王と夜啼鳥, and while you don’t need to have read that first, this story is improved by being read after imo.
), and was finally able to acquire one via Lily. Kaito plays a bit of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for him, then gets Nigel to play along with him as well, teaching him which keys to press.
This once actually takes place during volume 19, surprisingly. The first part takes place the night Kaito comes back; Nigel’s at Sir Francis’ mansion to let him know Kaito’s recovered and has thought of a plan to save Geoffrey, and gets Drake’s blessing for Nigel and Kaito to go to London to attempt to carry it out. Nigel heads back home and talks with Lily a bit before heading to bed, but not before Kaito wakes up and they chat a bit. This whole section is so heartbreaking; Nigel wants to hug and love on Kaito so badly, but he can’t. 
This one was quite interesting; 
I started reading Turn Around, it takes place right after the end of 
Vicente is suitably horrified, but the King’s all for it so he had no choice. And then: he practices! With Kaito!! All of my 王と夜啼鳥 have now come true; I really wanted Kaito and Vicente to dance together at least once. :3