A/N: Yes… A new multi-chapter story, but I hope this one would be completed since each chapter is not long (hopefully). I'm trying a new writing style and genre I suppose, drabble-length, to capture the images I got from the ED Singing!
A tribute to the great K-ON! movie.
Disclaimer: I don't own K-ON!
Thanks to ghikiJ for beta!
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IV. Tessera
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Intangible silhouettes danced in front of her stormy grey eyes, frenzied by the intensity of the tune. Her fingers expertly plucked at the bass strings as she sang ardently into the microphone, wishing to chase that gratifying high unique only to a performance like this.
Her desire was fulfilled when another shadow leaned close against her cheek and giggled imperceptibly. Now, singing as one, they brought a tantalizing sway to the phantoms that cheered for their charming play. Her hazy gaze then caught a glimmer of the iconic green earring her fellow vocalist wore, and the rumbles in her heart increased to a dull but penetrating roar.
The lead singer smiled with unrestricted passion.
She's found her answer.
Legend said a terrifying beast resided in the desolate Cliff.
This simple statement ignited a spark of rumors circulating throughout the land, where local folks and adventurous travelers exaggerated tales of valor from which a group of heroes were born. Generations after generations, the elusive fiend grew more savage and delighted in torturing its preys, while the protagonists varied in forms of clever mages, noble knights, and even humble farmers who were granted supernatural powers. Nevertheless, one aspect of the myth remained the same, and that was how the insurmountable escarpment earned its nickname the Edge of Oath.
In any version of the story, it was an unwavering strength of faith that ultimately defeated the shapeless monster. The unbreakable bond of camaraderie urged the audience to cherish the trust a person shared with another. Friends, lovers, and family may vanish at any moment, and so these heroes swore that for as long as they lived, they will hold onto that link and always look out for each other.
Legend said a terrifying beast resided in the desolate Cliff, but Mio believed that this creature had long left its dwelling or rather, it never existed at all.
It was not a monster with ghoulish appearance and bloody fangs, but an intangible one born from nightmares, insecurities and despair. It preyed upon lonely souls in utter silence, ever pervasive and relentless. Instead of glorified death matches, the heroes must struggle past every day life and fight back with the only tools at their disposal - their will and perseverance to live.
To do so, one must have a reason to live, and that was what Mio wished to discover.
A powerful gust roared through the narrow tunnels between the rocky precipices, as if the imaginary beast of the legend was welcoming her into its forgotten abode. The raven-haired girl brushed a lock behind her ear as she leisurely walked along the Cliff, deep in thoughts yet devoid of musings at the same time. She tilted her head, however, when the wind became gentler in nature and whispered a pleasant tune in her ears. The seemingly endless sea of green grass rustled harmlessly at the breeze's passing, while the waves caressed the harsh escarpment and soothed it with its tides.
Blue grey eyes twinkled gratefully for the simple melody as they gazed upon a weathered chapel at the peak of the precipice overlooking the sea. Step by step, Mio walked further away from the urbanized city of lively people into the untamed terrain of lost history.
She had always enjoyed crossing the boundary between the wild and the civilization, for it bequeathed her a wonderful illusion that she had left her woes behind and entered a fresh new world.
Humming quietly, the raven-haired girl twirled a single stem of white rose in her graceful fingers, heedless of the cool gale brushing against her thin pink gown. The fur-lined olive green coat hung loosely on her shoulders, yet she did not fix her attire to shield her body from the cold.
There was no need, for this wonderful reception from nature had already warmed her.
Carefully and respectfully, she ascended the creaky staircases to enter the dilapidated chapel, its entrance door long submerged under the torrents of time. Holding the flower high like an offering, she walked past the empty rows of benches towards the cracked wooden podium at the very back. She gazed upon the faded hues of the wall in reverence, trailing each and every tear like a keen treasure hunter. The slightly dusty atmosphere did not deter her as she caressed the yellowed wallpapers in nostalgic fondness. She rather relished the ancient wisdom this fragrance seemed to carry, for it seemed to contain myriad of tales untold to mankind. Instead of the spacious, vacant house she grew up in, this place felt like home for it did not alienate her presence.
Once she located a small bump concealed behind the wallpaper, she gently peeled off the cover in alignment with a previous rip so it was not damaged further. She gripped the mahogany handle and pulled with moderate strength, knowing the unused door would slide open just fine.
After all, this was not the first time she had been here.
A tingle of joy blossomed in her chest at the picturesque sight that greeted her appreciative gaze. It was a quaint little garden with a lonesome couch in the center of the square that was lined with flowerbeds. Dried petals slept on the untouched soil like colored snowflakes, resting as the perpetual residents of this timeless space. There in the corner, hanging onto a withered branch of the sole tree, was a simple swing exuding the same solitary air as the royal sofa. In spite of the distinctions between the various objects within this sanctuary, everything felt like it belonged here.
Indisputably connected.
Mio approached the couch and softly placed the white rose next to a pair of broken reading frames, a tattered beret, some painted marbles and a small glass star. Now resting together on the indigo cushion, these small objected seemed to have found an eternal haven. But why didn't she feel at peace as she had expected?
She idly stroked the velvety edge of the rose petal, despondent that an answer did not miraculously unfold. Her recurring dreams were ambiguous, but hints for bringing the flower here had always been vivid. She had done so, yet no resolution appeared and she felt detached to the world still.
Will there ever be an end to these visions?
"Hehe, I knew you would come here," a giggly voice spoke from the shades of the gnarled wooden door. "That's what I like about you, Mio-chan."
The raven-haired girl turned around calmly, unsurprised to see the speaker here. After all, this was where Yui had first found her.
The brunette tilted her head and flicked her iconic harlequin earring, filling the silence with a quiet ring. Smiling affectionately, she skipped towards the unmoving girl and, just like that, she invaded her personal space with a mischievous peck to her cheek.
Unlike the euphoria rushing through her veins whenever they sang into the same mike, Mio only felt peaceful warmth from the friendly gesture.
"You brought the rose here," Yui nuzzled her ear before taking a step back, "Just like your dream, ne? So cute~"
Unaffected by the innocent flirt, the raven-haired girl instinctively tugged at her friend's black hoodie jacket so it covered the loose pink top more modestly. However, she knew that no amount of fretting would change the brunette's sloppy way of wearing her clothes, so this was more out of habit than anything.
"Dreaming is your forte," Mio's lips quirked, forming a ghost of a smile, "not mine. Surely you believe what you've seen in yours?"
Instead of answering, Yui shrugged the mouse-like hood off her head to reveal her messy tresses as she bounded out of the secret garden. Shaking her head in mild exasperation, Mio followed after her with more poise, silently appreciating the different clatters of footsteps they made as they left the chapel. The brunette smiled happily at her and casually flopped down on the rickety steps, patting the spot beside her invitingly.
After the taller girl cautiously sat down, Yui shook her head like a puppy. "I put the glasses on the couch, Mio-chan, but that doesn't mean I believe in the dream."
Though surprised, Mio patiently waited for her friend to elaborate as they watched the world in front of them. Foaming waves lapping at the edges of the cliff and swaying grasses in the center blurred into one immense stretch of green and cerulean, like an ocean of solitude and oddly comforting serenity. The brunette looked like a confused child too young to grasp the reason behind the blueness of the sky, yet her deep brown eyes reflected the weariness of a wise observer. She stretched her hand directly under the sun, coating her calloused fingers in a thin film of cleansing light.
"In the dream, they linked their hands together with bandages," she murmured as she stared at the narrow white lines stretched across her wrist, "what were they hiding? I felt everything, Mio-chan, so they don't need those bandages to show their bond. They don't need some oath to stay friends."
The raven-haired girl glanced back into the chapel and squinted at the indigo couch, for she had not close the sliding door when she left the garden moments ago. Expectedly, nothing had changed. The items were still there on the cushion. "What are you trying to say then?"
"We're not them, Mio-chan. We are not the same people."
Somewhere in the recesses of her cognizance, she had always thought of the same thing that Yui just said. No matter what an uncanny resemblance she had with one of the girls in the dream, she knew they were different individuals.
"Even so, we still got together," Yui rested her head on Mio's shoulder with a light giggle. "We are who we are, and we are friends, ne?"
Mio's lips curved into a beautiful smile as she lightly poked the brunette's cheek. "Yes, all of us."
In the distance, she could make out the faint silhouettes of her friends traversing the sea of green towards them. The first to come to full view was the head of the trio, a tall blonde with her wavy tresses tied in a high ponytail. As usual, her thick jacket was unzipped to her navel to reveal her smooth stomach and colorful bra. Her azure eyes twinkled with mirth and confidence, not at all bashful at her revealing outfit. After all, Yui picked up her dressing habit from the assertive girl. Dangerous one moment yet capable of utmost kindness the next, Mugi was truly a force to be reckoned with.
Following behind closely were the two inseparable girls, Azusa and Ritsu. The shorter of the two wore her long black hair the same style as the blonde, yet the color scheme of her jacket and sundress resembled Yui's. She walked with haste, not wanting to trail behind because of her shorter strides, while her carnelian eyes focused straight ahead. Ritsu, the tawny-haired of the pair, slightly led ahead by tugging their entwined hands in a protective manner. Her amber eyes were dull but observant as they glanced over the perimeter, relaxing after confirming that there were only the five of them here at this chapel.
Even though Mio hadn't known them for long, she was filled with inexplicable fondness for the three. If it weren't for Yui, she would have never met them and gained so many friends, would she?
The said brunette hopped up exuberantly when Mugi waved at them from the distance, ready to rush to great her group of fellow street orphans.
"Ne, Mio-chan."
"Hmm?"
"Do you still feel like you're not connected to us?"
Blinking in bemusement, the raven-haired girl turned to regard her friend.
"Just think about this then," Yui winked cutely. "What makes your heart beat?"
The question struck Mio as odd but not surprising, not from Yui. The ever-practical side of her already answered that the heart thumped because of the human body's necessity to pump blood in order to distribute oxygen. The dreamer side of her replied that only fairytale-like romance would make her heart skip a beat.
What was the brunette trying to tell her?
"Mio-chan, Yui-chan," Mugi called out in her soft yet strong voice, "we have to go."
Azusa waved at them excitedly and began to run, though she was still holding onto Ritsu's hand. The taller of the pair sighed exasperatedly but kept up with her companion's pace. Mio nodded at them in acknowledgement and opened her arms to catch Azusa's tackling hug, which was followed by Mugi's embrace. After pulling away, the blonde then greeted Yui with a flick to her forehead, and the latter retaliated with a playful poke to her belly button. Satisfied with the resulting squeal, the brunette turned to face her next target.
"Azunyan~"
She dodged Azusa's punch with practiced ease and draped over her shoulder. Now her captive, Yui then impishly nibbled her ear, earning a hitched yelp. Ritsu only rolled her eyes instead of pulling them apart.
"Let's go, Mio."
Instead of answering her, the raven-haired girl whispered to the empty building. "I'll be back."She smiled when a gentle breeze blew against her hair and carried her voice across the garden, over the sea and into the sky. Her grey blue eyes lingered on the striped sleeves Ritsu wore and, suddenly, everything became clear.
"Mio-chan?" She turned to face Yui, who wore an understanding smile that looked encouraging in spite of the underlying sadness.
"I know who I am now."
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(IV) – Choral
Mio & Yui
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A/N: I know it's confusing, especially when the chapters are not chronologically ordered. I consider this entry a practice on imagery and characterizations for Singing!, which combined personas I perceived from No, Thank You! and Listen!
Any feedback is welcome!