I'm a part of a server that has a bootcamp activity, in which we write/draw something for 60 mins according to a prompt. If I write something for V3 and it doesn't stand alone well on its own, I'll be posting it here. I just don't want 1324 fics to my name for writing something new every week. The summary will be updated with every new chapter (if I don't forget that is XD).

This week's prompt was Melody.

Sighing, Kaede closed the door to her research lab. Another day of practicing Liszt's La Campanella… She shook her head. Smacked her cheeks. No, I got this! Just work on one movement, one measure at a time! You'll be playing it perfectly in no time.

Tossing her backpack aside, Kaede approached the grand piano. The instrument sat in the center atop a circular dias. CD racks covered the one wall, the other had two windows framed with purple curtains. Kaede stepped around the scattered papers and music stands to reach the piano. She glanced up. Noted new marks on the board. "Huh?"

Someone had drawn a string of notes on a staff on the chalkboard. Kaede frowned. "Who did…?" Humming, she held her chin. "I don't recognize that melody." Brow raised, she sat on the bench and played the corresponding keys. Still unrecognizable. Biting her lip, Kaede glanced back at the board. "No chords, sharps or flats, or even measure marks. It doesn't specify treble or bass clef either…"

Realization struck her like lightning. Maybe it's a message for me from Shuichi! Kaede played it again, naming the notes aloud. "C-A-B-B-A-G-E-F-A-C-E."

Kaede blinked.

"Kokichi!"

"Nee-heehee… Ahahaha!"

Kaede marched over to the cabinet by the window. Threw open the door. Kokichi waved. "Wooow, Kayayday. Took you a whole three minutes to figure that one out. Gotta be quicker on the update when you're dating a detective."

"What are you doing here?"

Kokichi sniffed. "Why, I'm here for our weekly karaoke sessions."

Groaning, Kaede brought a hand to her face. Of course. So much for practicing La Campanella now. He won't leave until I play for him. "And just what music genre are you going to make me try today? Something techno? Death metal?"

Kokichi hopped out of the dresser. "I was thinking a love ballad from a musical. You know, since you love me so much. Or screamo, your pick."

"How about neither."

Kokichi blew out his cheeks, bangs billowing. "Fine, fine! We can default to American rock or pop. No one around here knows English songs and I'm getting bored of crashing everyone's karaoke nights and they're only playing Japanese hits." Grinning, Kokichi pressed a high note on the piano twice in time with his words. "Chop, chop, Kaede!"

Kaede bit back a scowl. Now it's going to take even longer to master Liszt… Tossing her hair, Kaede smiled. "Sure! Coming, coming."

Pen acting as a mic, Kokichi sang to an invisible audience. Eyes closed and hand outstretched, Kokichi sang.

"Now the day bleeds into nightfall

And you're not here to get me through it all.

I let my guard down and then you pulled the rug.

I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved."

His deep, silky voice trembled with emotion as he held out the last line. Eyes closed, Kaede pressed the piano pedals into time with nodding her head. Her fingers danced over the last few chords. The notes lingered in the air. Ahh…

Kaede opened her eyes. Met Kokichi's gaze. They smiled.

Kaede laughed. "What happened to the love ballad? That song was sad."

"Yeah, but it was still a love song." Kokichi plopped down on the bench besides her, sitting backwards. He swung his legs. "I was surprised you knew it; it's not like it's some great American classic, you know?"

Looking away, Kaede tucked a strand behind her ear. "Oh, you know. I don't know all the English words, but the song is pretty so…" She cleared her throat. "Anyway! That's enough for today. I gotta practice Liszt now–"

"Oh? Do you?" he purred. Kokichi cocked his head to the side, like a marionette with its strings cut. "I thought your dream was to compose music for video games and movies. So why do you insist on practicing classical music?"

"I… It's just…"

"When are you going to make the jump?"

"Well…" Kaede shrugged. The wind batted a tree branch against the window. "It's not that easy, Kokichi. When you're a concert pianist, you don't have much time for anything else. You got to practice technical pieces for hours every day, memorize it, and play it flawlessly in contests. The judges are very… traditional in both tastes and views. Composing video game and movie music would be a disgrace to them. Shameful. So if I switched over, there'd be no going back. And it's difficult to be recognized in the media world too."

Chuckling, Kaede turned and smiled to Kokichi. "But it's all right. Composing game music would be more of a hobby anyway. Classical music is my passion! I love playing Bach and Mozart and Chop–"

Kokichi's eyes flashed. "Stop lying to yourself."

Kaede balled her fists. "What do you know? You don't know anything about music. What makes you say I'm lying?"

"Then why did you look so sad when you came in here today? Why did you smile so much when we sang that pop song?"

Kaede froze. Deflating like a balloon, Kaede hung her head. "I…"

Eyes narrowed, Kokichi leaned in. "The way I see it, you got two options. Play the music of dead old guys for stuffy, pompous farts, music that's been played by millions of people already. Or you can compose something new, something you, for a larger project like a game or movie that will outlast you. Which is more fun? Which do you want?"

Lips parted, Kaede started. Is… is that why Kokichi has been coming so often, making me play so many music genres? He's getting me to explore my options…

Kaede bit her lip. Wiggled her fingers over the keys, as feeling some pins and needles.

"Hey. Wanna play another song?"

Kokichi grinned. "Thought you'd never ask."