Alright let's see if I can powerhouse this chapter of Maiden of Music… no promises but let's see. Thanks all for reading and I have a secret up my sleeve… well none the less, enjoy!
Rikka was sitting in the bakery eating her cake. It was almost one of the most delicious things she's ever eaten. "Your family really made this? It's so good!" She had a slight blush on her face the whole time.
"Yes, we actually made it." He laughed a bit, "But I'm glad you like it. Though mom where is Dad?" He looked at his mother who was sitting at the table with them almost waiting for something to happen.
"Oh he's upstairs in the bath. I can pull him down here right not if you want." She said with a smile.
"I'll uh… pass but thank you, I don't want to scar Rikka. Not today at least." He said trying to not make the conversation weirder yet he did.
"Ah... " Rikka put her fork on her plate. She started to blush and moved away a bit.
"Oh look what you did dear! You are scaring her even more, you may not be able to say that today. Wait until she is ready." She smiled a bit as she covered Rikka's ears.
:Oh come on Mom don't say stuff like that. She's just a friend and fellow musician." He tapped her on the shoulder.
"Yes yes, whatever you say. Oh isn't it getting late though? You should walk here home in case something bad happens okay?" She looked at him while getting up.
"I uhm… don't think that'll be an issue with me walking her home." He rubbed the back of his neck.
His mother was behind the counter filling a box with a few pastries. "Oh well that's good! Though why are you not telling me something?" Her glare seemed to penetrate his soul.
"Uhm, huh what!? Oh it's just that…" He went silent putting on his coat quickly.
"Do you not know I live only a floor above him? I mean give or take a few doors down but you get it…." Rikka was a bit confused.
"Oh isn't that nice! Why didn't you tell me Yamato!" His mother went back to normal and was smiling.
"Haha ah well it just never seemed relevant. That's all…" He tried shaking off the topic.
"Hmmm…. I don't know though, make sure my son doesn't do anything perverted ok? He's a very… interesting boy I'll say that." She smiled almost smashing the box of pastries into his arms.
"Oh we don't see each other that often in the complex but… I will try my best." Rikka bowed and put on her coat.
"Oh I was only joking, well you two have fun and Yamato don't mess up!" She said as they left down the street from the bakery.
"Your mother is a very-" Rikka was cut off by Yamato opening the umbrella for them to stand under.
"Interesting person? Yes I know… sorry about that." He smiled but it didn't really work.
"Uhm no no no, don't worry about it. My parents are pretty weird, their manga artists. And their friends don't stop the crazy train there. So I am used to it, she's actually a very nice woman." She looked forward through the light snow.
"Really? Well I guess that's a good thing then." He didn't talk till they got back to the apartment complex.
On the elevator when they reached his floor he looked a Rikka, "You don't need me to walk you to your door do you?" He said with sincerity.
"Thank you, but no thank you. I will see myself to my own apartment." She bowed as the doors closed and he nodded to her.
Once the doors were closed Rikka rested on one of the walls and her umbrella he finally gave back to her.
She took deep breaths, "Why was his mother talking so much about us! Aaah this makes sense and no sense at the same time… alright I just have to deal with it I guess… no other way around it. Ok ok ok just live till the concert RIkka, yes it's only a few days away. Good good, ok practice and live that's all you need to do." She got off the elevator opened her apartment and crashed in her bed after taking her shoes and jacket off.
Rolling on her back and putting a hand over her chest she took another deep breath, "Why is my heart beating so fast when it shouldn't mean that much!" She said pretty loudly closing her mouth quickly hoping not to wake someone or have someone hear her.
The Christmas lights gave her relief and caused her to drift off to sleep.
A few days later (Alright alright yes I know that the 'few days later' thing is cheesy…)
Rikka stood in front of the restaurant. It was a really big restaurant in the middle of town, very famous for it's music and food. She took a step inside and saw Sensei Okarin.
"Ah Sensei good to see you." She bowed holding her music in her arms.
"Good to see you to, almost everyone is here now." He smiled pointing to the stage at the back of the restaurant.
It was very big but it was a nice size and enough to fit the band. A few people were up there setting up the amps and woodwinds setting up chairs. She spotted Yamato standing up there fiddling with his valva buttons. Her heart jumped a bit.
'Calm down Sakura, you can perform without this happening. It's just a human male, who plays the trumpet, and is a nice person, and has a nice family, and a nice face, and a nice body, and a nice AAAAH NO NO NO!' She lightly slapped her cheeks like she was fluffing a pillow.
She took a deep breath and went up on the stage, they prepared a full drum set for her. She looked all around it, she has played on one before but she still marvels the overall size and fantastic sound of them.
She walked over to the piano after setting up her drum set. "So you like the hardware?" She knocked on the back of the piano.
"Oh please don't break it. But very much Senpai, I didn't expect to use a grand!" She was glowing.
"Well that's nice to hear… man I'm sad I won't be performing with you guys next year. You know you may be lowerclassmen but you're still like family to me." He smiled a bit. He was a very big guy but always was kind.
"Oh yeah, did you find out where you'll be attending yet?" Rikka put her notes on the stand on top of the piano.
Samaji twirled one of his sticks, "Yeah I think so, there is this awesome university in Osaka I want to attend. I sent in my test scores but really it's Sensei's recommendation letter that will get me through. I just have to sit and wait, it's not the best for me to only apply to one college but I'm really hoping to go there." He laughed a bit and sat down at his set.
Rikka nodded, "Well that's good to hear. Let's have a good performance okay?" She said as she was waiting for a response.
Samaji nodded his head, "MMM!" He said with a quite loud grunt which made Rikka laugh a bit.
'Ah she's such a nice girl. Yamato why haven't you made your move yet?' He thought.
Across stage Yamato squirmed a bit and felt a chill go down his back as he felt something said about him. He stopped fiddling with his trumpet to look across stage at a big Samaji hunched over his set and Rikka taking deep breaths.
He saw her and when he noticed her breathing in large takes he looked at her mouth. After he looked at her mouth he saw her lips and they were slightly moist. He tensed up a bit and felt his heart skip a beat or two.
Usa grabbed on his shoulder, "I can see your looking at Rikka, why don't you just make your move?" He whispered into his ear.
Yamato jumped a bit but turned to face Usa, "I just… don't know. I've been around her since middle school but never been this close. To jeopardize it now… well I need to make sure she doesn't want to stay friends. It's so hard to read her let alone look at her without possible giving it away." He sighed a bit.
"Hey, if you love her this much there is no way she doesn't love you back. But yeah, take your time and make sure it is meant to be. I think it will be well worth it." He smiled assuring him.
Yamato nodded as he picked up his trumpet again, Usa went back to his bass to started to tune the large strings. Even though he could have used an electric bass he insisted to use the orchestra bass.
Sensei Okarin came to the front of the stage, "Alright everyone, the time is 7:25 PM. In just a few minutes we are going to start playing. I just want you guys to play your best. Remember we're playing White Christmas with a vibraphone solo. Then we play A Child Is Born next, after that we have Four, anything more we will call as we play and as we feel. So remember, do your best and let's have some fun!" He put a fist in the air and stage had cheers all over.
A few people eating looked up and smiled getting ready for the music to start.
Tonight is the most special night of year not only because it is Christmas Eve but because a call will be answered.
Yay, alright thank you all for reading my next chapter! PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW, Not yelling at you but I would like to know what you think of the story so far. I love snow at night if you can't tell… but soon something will happen that gives a beautiful glow not only to Rikka's Christmas lights hanging from her ceiling but also to the night sky as we come back next week in The Maiden of Music. Thanks for reading and as always, enjoy!