This was difficult because the scenario between Hijirikawa and Nanami was just so naturally romantic when I don't want it to be. So, it was not Nanami who inspired Masami to go to school, but she did inspire the song for the recording contest.

Chapter 11: Piano and Prestige

Masami walked into class the day the recording test scores had been announced to a disturbing sight. The classroom chalkboard had been covered in slurs against Nanami-san, things about her getting into the school through connections. Ittoki-san and Shibuya-san were desperately trying to erase the board while Nanami-san simply stood staring in horror, she looked as frightened as she had the other day when they had attacked her for not being able to read sheet music. It was true that when Masami had met the pink-haired girl she had intended on avoiding her and her friends. But, after seeing how hard she worked to learn how to read music and prove everyone wrong, Masami respected and even liked her Nanami-san. She liked people who did their best with what they could. The fact that these useless people could sit and criticize her when they were only mediocre themselves made Masami uncharacteristically frustrated. She was relieved when Ringo-sensei came in and called everyone to their seats. However, it surprised Masami when their teacher called on Nanami once again to play the piano. Hopefully, after all her hard work, she would be able to show these mosquitoes her talent.

Nanami sat at the piano, not looking as confident as she should have. The loud whispers of the class didn't help.

"It's that girl again, I thought she couldn't read music."

"Did she play the piano?"

"I haven't seen it."

"How suspicious."

"Hey, Haruka hasn't done anything..." The first of Nanami-san's redhead rescuers, Shibuya-san, began, before the second, Ittoki-san, stood up suddenly.

"Quiet down, everyone!" Ittoki was loud, but her heart was always in the right place. The way she stood up for Nanami without a second made Masami admire her. Because Masami had never been the kind of person who could simply act on her feelings, it was something she envied about her smaller, more cheerful roommate. She was a pretty good roommate, well...except for the fact that she was so loud.

"Otoya-kun." Ringo-sensei said, "Save your private conversations for later." With this, Ittoki sat down and Nanami looked more determined to play. That's good, Masami thought.

"Maybe she won't play again."

"That's possible"

The continued whispers immediately shook Nanami, Masami could see it. She wondered why Ringo-sensei didn't say anything to the people saying the unkind things.

"I knew she couldn't play."

Masami only saw the real terror on Nanami's face for a second, before she bolted out the door. Shibuya was on her heels to the door, and shouted after her to wait. After that the classroom got quiet, or at least Masami thought it did. She might just have shut out any noise as she thought about what had happened. She knew that Nanami knew how to play the song, she had worked really hard the past couple of weeks to learn not only how to read music but also write her own song. Ringo continued the lesson as if nothing had happened, but no one was focused. When class got out, Masami overheard her roommate pleading with her teacher.

"The classroom is full of nonsensical rumors about Nanami, If you would tell them to stop..."

"I can't do that, " Ringo-sensei interrupted Ittoki-san. "This isn't an ordinary school. You know that. In order to make it in this industry, you won't make it if you can't come back from anything. Got it?" Masami knew that her teacher meant well, but she still felt like she needed to do something for Nanami. After all, she hadn't done anything in the classroom today like Ittoki or Shibuya. Even if it meant Nanami-san hadn't learned Sensei's lesson, Masami wanted to help her. Unsure of what to do, Masami decided to head to the school store to pick up some things she needed.

It was serendipity that, at the store, she ran into the person who'd been on her mind.

"Hijirikawa-san." Nanami-san said, surprised. Masami took this opportunity to ask her if she would like to go for a walk. Nanami-san seemed surprised, but agreed. Masami thought about what to say all the way to the lakeside.

"Are you alright?" Was all she managed. Being caring wasn't the usual for her, after all.

"Yes." Came the quiet reply.

"It must be difficult." Masami said, she was facing the water and keeping her back towards Nanami-san to keep her from seeing what must have been an awkward expression.

"What?" Nanami asked.

"Even if I told you not to let it bother you, I'm sure it would be impossible." Masami said, and she meant it. Nanami obviously was greatly affected by what her classmates thought about her, she had strengths, but independence was not one of them.

"I was naive." Masami couldn't help but turn around at this, wishing she could easily encourage the composer like their other friends. Nanami continued, "The people around me have studied so much until now...but I came here simply because I love music. But..." Masami waited for the end of the thought, but Nanami said instead, "I need to go, excuse me." And like earlier, she quickly fled.

Masami knew she wasn't meant for this. She was not a caretaker, she was a loner. Her serious personality had only caused Nanami more disress, not any comfort. Not for the first time, Masami wished for a different demeanor that more easily communicated with others. But it was impossible, be it genetics or socialization, to be anything but herself. And that was what had made Nanami run away from her. She wouldn't get involved anymore.

Heading back to the practice rooms, Masami was in a daze thinking of what had happened. Her practice to, was filled with uncharacteristic distractedness. She wasn't getting anywhere, so she decided to head out. She came again early the next morning, hoping to get a better practice. Heading out to class, she heard a familiar voice.

"I can't play anything." Looking in the small window, Masami saw Nanami-san sitting at the piano staring at her hands in horror. The expression on her face caused a stinging shot of empathy to shake Masami. She knew why, that feeling of not being able to do anything. The feeling of being criticized for any move that you might make, she had experienced it before. She had decided not to do anything but...surely, she could help with piano. Maybe this time she wouldn't make things worse. Her hands decided before her mind did, opening the door and causing Nanami to stand up in surprise.

"Are you skipping class to practice on your own?" Masami asked. Before Nanami answered, Masami continued, "I used to be just like you. When I was a child, I couldn't eat in front of my father. He was extremely stern, and our relationship was only that of the head of the family and his successor. But there were times I felt at ease." As Masami spoke, memories flooded through her mind of her father and childhood.

"Being with my butler made me forget all my pain. He even taught me to play the piano." Masami thought fondly of the kindest person she had known, and she was sure that Nanami-san felt the same about her grandmother.

Nanami took the opportunity to share as well, "When I was little my body was frail. I grew up in the countryside at my grandmother's house. It was so much fun."

Yes, Masami felt the same way. The times when she had just started learning how to play the piano were the most fun memories she had. That fun...was there a way she could capture it? Moving over to the piano, Masami leaned over and began playing a simple tune - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It was the first song she had learned to play.

Then, Nanami's hand moved to the octave below Masami's and began matching the notes. Together, they played through the children's song.

"I played the piano." Nanami said, staring at her hand again, this time just in surprise and not horror.

"It's okay." Masami said, trying to sound more confident in her comforting than she was. "Remember what it was like when you first learned to play the piano."

"Back then, I just had so much fun." Nanami said. Masami watched as the pinkette took a moment to think, but she knew that her classmate was no longer terrified by playing anymore. Which she proved by playing the song she had written in the recording test. When she finished, she immediately turned back to Masami.

"Hijirikawa-san, thank you." She stood up and bowed, Masami turned away, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Before, I had no dreams. But...there's something I want you to hear." Masami had been more inspired by Nanami than she had even thought, the lyrics she had written for her song in the recording contest had been inspired by her. So, Masami played it for her, despite her own embarrassment.

"That's amazing, Hijirikawa-san!" Nanami said, when Masami was finished. "You've really helped me."

"No...I just think, well, I'd like it if we could be friends." Masami's face burned, never having said anything like this before. She couldn't even look at her classmate, and hearing a lilting laugh. She looked up in surprise.

"I'm sorry, Hijirikawa-san. Of course we're friends!"