Wow, I finally wrote my first Spiral fic! It's been a long time since I fell into the fandom... I'm a little nervous though, because I'm not sure how well I'm keeping them in character... and I'm a bit afraid I might be contrasting some things in the plot... Well! If you see anything, please let me know in a review! I'll try to change it.
Spoiler Warning: None really unless you count the lines at the top taken from the manga and implications of the reason Ayumu doesn't play the piano anymore... but those are all really early in the series...
Disclaimer: If I did own Spiral Suiri no Kizuna, I would've called it Detective Narumi instead.
Cavatina
KatYoukai (Chocolate Confection)
"Don't you want to play a song on the piano?"
"…If I play, it'll only bring back unhappy memories for me."
---
"Narumi-san!"
Ayumu didn't look up at his name. He recognized the voice. Sighing in a put upon manner – although he never really meant it anymore – he asked,
"What is it, Hiyono?"
Hiyono pouted – although she also knew it was more out of habit than anything else, "You should sound happier to see me."
"Sorry, sorry."
It was all routine, and a welcome familiarity.
She came up beside him as Ayumu started walking again.
After a moment, he repeated, "So, what is it?"
Hiyono didn't answer immediately. Instead, she sped up her pace a bit to bring her before Ayumu and turned around to face him as she walked backwards. She smiled the way she usually did before revealing some information she'd dug up or some other interesting announcement, but did not say anything.
And then suddenly, she stopped.
Ayumu raised a brow and looked at the door they'd stopped in front of: the music room.
"Won't you play the piano for me, Narumi-san?"
He looked back at her, his expression unreadable, "Haven't we already gone through this?"
Hiyono just smiled in her usual carefree way and spoke.
---
It was a simple melody; the song Hiyono was always singing, but it was somehow different when Ayumu played it. She found that it could sound sad one moment, then happy the next. It made her feel completely different than what she had heard Ayumu play those other few times.
The other time he'd played, it had been beautiful, and played so very well for such a difficult song. But it had left her feeling melancholic and empty, for a reason that she hadn't known back then. He was definitely skilled but, how would you put it… it was lacking. There was no feeling to it. Even though he was hitting different notes, for some reason it was monotone. It was empty and meaningless, and if it hurt to listen then it must've hurt to play it. She hadn't completely realized that at first, and had only thought how talented he was. But now, comparing it to this, she thought she understood a little better.
The song he was playing now was simple, and probably any amateur who'd just started playing the piano could play it. However, the sound of it was by far more pleasant than the one she'd once heard him play. It was simple and plain, yet somehow unique. It made her feel happy, and for a moment she wondered if that was what he thought of her, if those were his feelings.
The song ended, the last note wavering, and then there was silence. It was quiet between them for a time as he turned to her, and as always, she could never really tell what he was thinking or how he was feeling, but it wasn't as upsetting as it usually was. Finally, she broke the silence.
"And how was that?"
He didn't answer at first, as if seriously considering the question.
"…Better."
---
"When you play for a person, you often put the feelings you have for that person and the memories you've shared into what you play. So instead of playing for your brother… won't you play for me instead?"