A/N: This is an excerpt from our future collaboration, "The Pianist and the Toy Robot." We hope you enjoy this.
-Theo.
Disclaimed, as always.
AoGA House Cup. (Words: 589)
"Hey, Natsume."
His reply is curt, as he sips on his cup of tea.
"Hm?"
"How many pianos do you have in this studio?"
"Two."
"Two?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You should stop asking me pointless questions."
"But I really want to know!"
"Aside from the fact that it's always good to have a spare, I have two because I occasionally have friends who come over to play duets with me. "
Her face scrunches up, cutely. She is obviously intrigued by this.
"So, you mean instead of playing and hanging out, your idea of 'fun' is to play the piano with your friends all day?"
He looks up, a mildly bemused look on his face.
"I'm a concert pianist. That's what I do."
"Well then," she replies, a cheerful grin gracing her features.
"Can I play one of your pianos?"
"No."
"Why not?" She pouts at this point, a little disappointed at how he rebuffs her.
"You'll damage my Steinways if you were to just randomly hammer keys, kid."
"Well, I'll have you know I can play the piano, all right!"
He rises, finishing his tea.
He raises an eyebrow.
"Sure you can."
"Well, I learnt how to play a few pieces because Daddy forced me to when I was a kid, okay!"
"Well then, what can you play?"
He gestures for her to rise as well, and they walk to the pianos.
The two pianos are facing each other, back to back. Mikan sits herself at the head of one of them.
"I can still remember Chopin's Minute Waltz."
He continues staring at her, skeptical.
"I think."
A smirk forms on his face, as he sits at the head of the other piano and looks over his shoulder.
"Well then, play it."
She raises her arms, poised and ready to break into song. Just then, though-
"Your technique sucks."
He rises, turns, and places his hands firmly on her shoulders.
"Straighten your back. Stiffen your posture."
She complies quietly, trying her hardest to hide the blush on her face.
"Ready now?"
She nods shyly, as he returns to his seat at the head of the other piano.
Posture settled, she begins the piece, a graceful and lively staccato of notes as her fingers fly across the keys, ebony and ivory alike.
What she doesn't expect, though, is for Natsume to come in with her, harmonizing with her every note.
She is amazed at her memory. The last time she had played the piece had been in her early teenage years.
What she is even more amazed by, though, is the fluidity of her partner's playing.
He matches her every note with ease, creating a beautiful companion to her already charming melody. The aura of joy and enjoyment she feels radiating off him as he plays is unexplainably calming to her.
Although she cannot see him over her shoulder, she is sure he is playing with the skill and technique that would only come after years and years of training, along with talent.
Natsume was a virtuoso, and his skill showed, even in this simple piece.
She relaxes into the piece, her movements becoming more and more graceful as her muscle memory returns to her.
They continue to sit there, playing for about a minute, whereupon they reach an interlude in the song.
Natsume rises from his stool, and places his hands over her shoulders, playing his part on her piano while leaning into her back.
They play notes in harmony in that state for the rest of the song.
Fin.