prompt #1 - music

summary: Music plays throughout the halls, almost as if it were calling out to him. And he decides to answer it.
a/n: I imagined this more as a high school setting than middle school? but I dont think it matters much lmao

Each step taken echoes throughout the hall of Seishou Gakuen. The sun was setting, casting it's warm, orange hues upon the school and making the world feel peaceful. It was, admittedly, a little strange for a relaxing feeling in a school setting, but in one devoid of other students, it almost felt right.

Practice hadn't gone over time, but Mizukamiya had opted to stay behind a little longer to speak with the coach about their new members. He wanted his team to be strong, to win matches and go further than last year. The conversation had costed him time, made him stay even later than other clubs, but he believed it was all worth it.

The captain's mind replayed the last conversation he had, still trying to mentally work things out about the team. His thoughts are interrupted when the sun's glare steals his attention. A hand is brought up to shield his vision. As he comes to a temporary stop, he couldn't recall the last time he walked the halls at this hour.

"Hm?"

His head turns when he hears…something. Another person- no. That sound wasn't human. It wasn't a chirping or cooing either. The sound was muffled but it sounded like…a song? Music.

Eyes dart to the signs on the doors. It takes a moment of deduction before realizing where he was about to pass by- the music room. Ah. That would explain the sound. A student must be practicing right now.

With that answer reached, he resumes walking. The steps he takes are slower, his brows furrow and his eyes focus on the ground before him. The music is growing louder and louder. It wasn't blaring, but in a quiet environment, it was loud enough for him to hear every other note. And with each one passing, it seems more and more familiar.

'Have I heard this song before…?'

The thought bothers him. Along with the feeling of knowing yet not, having it just on the tip of his tongue. It gave him a warm feeling once he could push away the parts that nagged at him to try and put a memory to the music. This was a special song, it just sounded different.

Curiosity drives him towards the room emitting the song. At the door, he pauses, wondering if he should knock, interrupt, or simply continue to listen until it's over. He finds himself leaning towards the last option. He'd listen, but peek inside as well. Hands gently rest upon the sliding door. Without making a sound, he slowly pulls it open.

In the room holds a familiar face, or the profile of one. Haizaki was sitting in the middle of the room, guitar in his lap, fingers dancing over the strings to form the song. Eyes were shut as he tried to form this song without a single pause.

When he does, he lets out a breath that he'd been holding in. As he sits back into his seat, he wears a proud smile. And he swears that if he had an audience, they would have applauded him by now. So, it's startling when he ends up hearing just that.

Haizaki flinches, proud look lost and replaced with a defensive one as he glares towards the door. He lets out a sigh when he sees his captain, but still can't help but try to hide his instrument from the other. Not that it really mattered, he'd seen it before…just not while he was playing it.

"So, this is where you've been, Haizaki?" Mizukamiya asks while he steps into the room.

"Yeah. If you're going to ask practice, I'll got tomorrow," he responds.

"I wasn't going to ask about that. But, I'm sorry for startling you."

"You didn't."

He holds back a chuckle to his defensive response. "You play well, Haizaki. This was just an elective, right?"

Haizaki responds with a huff, a nod of his head that turns away when the other gets closer, taking the seat beside him. He didn't want Mizukamiya to see the slightest of red on his cheeks from that compliment.

"You seem to be taking it very seriously. I'm glad you're enjoying it." Mizukamiya gives the other a warm smile. There's a pause as he thinks of how to speak his mind. Seeing him play the song earlier had let him put everything together. All the pieces had fallen right into place. "That song you played, that's the one you like, right? You've let me listen to it before."

"Yeah, it is." As he gives his answer he absentmindedly strums some softer notes, wanting to fill the room with something other than their voices. "Hmph. Didn't know you were into eavesdropping."

"I'm not! I just heard you play while I was passing by."

"Hmm…" Haizaki's eyes dart to the clock in the room. He hadn't realized how late it was and just how odd it was for him to be here this late. Good students usually disappeared along with the others.

"Anyway, Haizaki." Mizukamiya clears his throat, facing him. "Do you think…you can play it again?"

It's a request, not a demand. A patient one at that. Haizaki has to find something else to look at. His radiating smile was something he couldn't say no to, especially when they were left alone. It was a little embarrassing to have to play this song he was just beginning to have a grasp on. A song that he had initially wanted to learn to play for him.

He'd push back his dumb worries. Just do it as he had done before, he'd tell himself. Haizaki settles back into his seat, getting ready to play for Mizukamiya.

"I'll only play this for you once, so don't get used to this."

"I wouldn't plan on it."

Just when the room falls quiet, it jumps to life with the sound of a rather soothing song. The thought to try and learn the lyrics to surprise him sparks. For now, he'll listen to the song played for him.