After the move staff installed the front yard swing at the new house, Alice spent her morning outside on the swing seat, tuning her violin. It wasn't until she heard a car pull up to the front of her house that she looked up. Not him again...

Shun turned off the engine and stepped outside to greet her from the front steps. "Hi."

"Do I know you?"

"Your aunt said I'd be tutoring you in preparation for when school starts in August."

"Thanks, but homeschooling isn't as bad or outdating as you think. I'm sure that the teachers will dedicate the first few weeks for review and catch up."

I knew she'd say that. Everyone needs to stop wasting my time. "In that case...I should be practicing for the next school year's STEM-FX competitions, since it will be the last time I participate before college starts." Shun stepped back slowly before turning around. She's going to do something. I can feel it.

"Shun, wait!" The raven-haired student glanced after Alice called his name. She set her violin and bow and the swing and ran over to the front steps. "What's STEM-FX?"

That's it? Shun clicked his tongue and continued walking down before facing the redhead again from the bottom of the steps. "Does it matter if I tell you or not? You're clearly going to pursue a career in performing arts, so what does science have to do with you?"

Alice shook her head and screamed. "There's nothing wrong with fine or performing arts! There are many famous artists and musicians in the world. People build museums and theaters to showcase their work and skill. Just because you don't like doesn't mean other people can't like it."

The two of them stood in silence. Alice fanned herself to as she tried to recover her breath, and Shun simply stared after the redhead voiced her point. Suddenly, the front door opened as a blond woman greeted her guest cheerfully. "Shun! It's nice to see you! Would you like to come in for snacks? Coffee or tea?"

"Uh...sure? Iced water, please." He ascended the stairs again and watched Alice picked up her instruments from the swing before going to the back of the house. Inside the house, Shun took his shoes off as Clara returned with a plate of cookies and a glass of water. "Thank you, Miss Gehabich. Where did Alice go?"

"You're welcome! And just call me Clara. Alice might be rehearsing in the backyard. Now, to the main topic." Clara took out a folder with various pieces of paper. "As you may know, Alice often had many performances, so we homeschooled her throughout all of it. I always made sure that she was caught up in every subject that is expected of in typical students of her age. I'm hoping you can tutor her over the summer so that she's ready to enter the last year of high school."

"I know. My mom told me the same thing." Unfortunately, that's clearly not what Alice wants based on our conversation earlier. "I can handle tutoring. I'm sure you and Mom thought that I was the best choice based on my grades. As for scheduling, I still need to talk with Mom about this because I have personal activities to tend to as well."

"I understand that you're busy too. We'll make this flexible based on your schedule. I don't expect Alice to go on a large, multi-city tour anytime soon, especially since Shiori is still sorting through paperwork. Here's one of our old promotional flyers. You can keep it for reference. Speaking of Shiori, I should call her right now."

Shun sighed and stepped outside to the backyard, where he saw Alice playing a piece on her violin. The redhead frowned after a note didn't sound right and adjusted the pegs with one hand without lifting the violin off her shoulder and collarbone. It was that moment that she pushed too hard and hit her neck. "Ah!"

"Alice!" As the redhead began coughing, Shun handed his glass of water to her. "Here. I didn't drink it."

The violinist drank the water and held her breath for a few seconds. "Thanks. Why are you still here?"

Shun grabbed the glass back pointed to the back door. "You heard everything that your aunt told me. There's no way out of this, whether we like it or not."

At least it's only for the summer when I don't have to worry about touring. "I know reading, writing, grammar, mathematics, basic history, basic science..."

"Why do you like music so much?"

Taken aback by the question, Alice reciprocated, "Why do you like science so much?"

"Because it's my passion a major overlooked concern in today's society."

"Music is my passion too, and it's not just about being famous or entertaining others."

"All you do is perform onstage for maybe an hour of the audience's time. What else are you contributing?"

"If you think fine and performing arts is so pointless, then you can leave. We have nothing to talk—" Alice lost her breath and coughed continuously again. She was about to fall over when Shun tried to help her, but rejected his help. "I'm fine."

"I was just concerned about your health. You didn't have to shove me like that."

Alice placed a hand over her neck and chest as a tight feeling resonated in the area. It's happening again. I can't hold anything properly with this dull diffuse pain. "I'll be okay, with or without you." With that said, she picked up her instruments and began practicing again.

Shun watched Alice play her violin, but understood nothing. I don't get it. Even pop music songs have lyrics, most of which carry questionable meanings. Alice's violin pieces are purely instrumentals with no words to follow along. It's like a presentation without a speaker. An alarm on his phone sounded, prompting Shun to return inside. Thinking about this gives me headaches. "Clara, I have to go. See you another time."

The blond woman covered the handset transmitter and greeted, "Bye Shun! Come back soon!" After finishing the call with Shiori, Clara hung up and saw Alice return inside with a sad face. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Why do I need a tutor in the first place?"

Clara sighed and put her arms around her niece. "It's not so as much about catching up on academics. Since you're not on tour for the summer, I want you to get used to Wardington as much as possible. Public school will be different from homeschooling, which is why Shun's going to tutor you, so that you know what to expect."

"Everything would be better if I stayed with homeschooling in the first place."

"Alice, I know, but I need to work since it's just the two of us now. Everyone needs to know the basics, but the best in each field will always go above and beyond."

Best in each field...above and beyond? The redhead poured herself another glass of water to drink. "I'm going to shower."

"Be careful when you turn the faucets!"

Alice went to her room to drop of her violin and bow, but couldn't help but stare at them for a long time. Playing the violin is my passion, but why do I feel so uneasy about playing ever since moving here?

-x-x-x-x-x-

"You're tutoring someone? That's awesome!"

Shun ignored Dan's questions, but the brunette continued asking.

"How many hours do you work a week? Do you get paid? Do we know the person you're—"

"Dan, will you please shut up?!"

Since they were at the Misakis' diner, many eyes glanced over at the two friends after that loud scream. Runo came outside from the kitchen with food and drinks for her friends. "Considering that Shun rarely comes to my parents' diner for any reason, I think you should leave him alone, Dan. Now eat."

"But Runo, I need your help in getting answers out of him!"

"And I have customers to greet! Now leave me alone!"

After the bluenette returned to the kitchen to deliver more orders, Dan continued pestering Shun. "Shun, think of this way. Tutoring is something worth putting onto your resumé! And I can help you word it nicely enough that—"

"It wasn't my choice." The raven-haired student sipped his iced tea and shook his head. "I could be doing other things."

"Well...maybe you were chosen because you were the best? You have awesome grades and extracurricular activities!"

"Not even close." And to think Grandpa was being annoying...what was Mom even thinking?! "Dan, can I ask you something?"

"What's up?"

"Would you ever pursue art programs?"

"Art? Uh...no. Personally speaking, it's not my style."

"Exactly! That's what I don't get. How far can you go with a career in art?"

"You're tutoring a fine performing arts student from high school?" asked Runo suddenly, surprisingly the two guests after she returned from greeting customers. "Now that is interesting."

"Clarification—not exactly a fine or performing arts student, and not exactly from high school."

Dan took a bite of his sandwich and asked, "Isn't Runo in choir, drama, or band? Or all three?"

Shun gasped before looking over at the temporary waitress. "You never told me that."

"I did—you just keep ignoring and forgetting. I've been in drama team for three years now. Performing on stage is a great way to practice my public speaking skills."

"Okay..." The raven-haired student rubbed his forehead before asking, "What else are you two hiding from me?"

"I'm on the basketball team!" Dan cheered. "Shun, don't tell me you didn't know that either."

"I knew you're on some sports team at school, but just not which one specifically. Although, that's—"

Runo rested her elbow forcefully on Shun's shoulder just as he was about to drink his iced tea again. "Listen up, Shun. I know you're the king of STEM at school, but people eventually find new things to like over time. We're all still in high school with limited opportunities, but maybe you'll discover way more once college starts."

"Thanks, Runo, but fine and performing arts are out of the question for me." Shun gently removed the bluenette's elbow as he felt another headache coming. Here we go again...

Dan cleared his throat and held his smoothie into the air. "As my parents say—doing what you like best is the most important. They say that money doesn't matter, but in the end, only a stable job means a stable life."

"I think you need calm down," Runo scoffed, rolling her eyes.

As his friends argued, Shun stared at his reflection in his glass of iced tea. Am I doing this because I like it? Or because Grandpa expects me to? Mom does her best to let me decide on what to do, but Grandpa always gives his unnecessary opinion.

As a customer entered the diner, a cold gust of wind blew inside, prompting the raven-haired student to put his coat on. Then he felt something in a pocket that poked him. It's one of Alice's previous promotional tour flyers. Shun looked around and saw Runo and Dan still arguing, so he opened the flyer to read. She gets to play her violin and occasionally tour, all while homeschooled by her family. If only I could do what I want instead of showing off for those college applications...