The first class of the day was music.
Kurapika's private school was an elite, well-furnished place. The halls were pristine and the facilities more than abundant. As he made his way past the marbled halls into a slightly more old-fashioned wing of the school, busts of famous musicians began to appear. Music trickled through the air and Kurapika perked up as he caught wind of the piano.
That way, he thought, following the tinkling of familiar cords.
He had practiced the piano since the age of five.
It was a tradition in the Kurta clan, to admire all that is beautiful be it nature, music, or gemstones, and Kurapika took pride in his advanced piano skills.
The school for future leaders made an effort to invest in the finest instructors and the music department was no exception. While Kurapika's skills were advanced, he was far from a professional and he sought to improve himself further from concert pianists renowned in the music industry.
As he reached the end of the hall, he found the room listed on his timetable.
He knocked on the door.
"Come in," a melodic voice called.
Kurapika stepped into the room.
It was a spacious practice room with a single grand piano in the center. A small desk sat in the corner, presumably for the instructor, and several music stands and folded chairs lined the corner of the room. He took in his instructor.
She was a short woman who barely came up to his waist. She had buck teeth, brown hair, and small eyes, but a very kind expression. Kurapika had been on the receiving end of presumptions based on his appearance far too often to judge others by it. He'll see what she has to offer in terms of skill before he forms any kind of opinion.
"Good morning," he greeted.
"Good morning!" she replied. "I'm Senritsu, your piano instructor. You are Kurapika, correct?"
Kurapika nodded.
Senritsu pulled out the seat to the grand piano.
"Have a seat! It's the first day, so we won't be doing anything strenuous. I would like to get to know you! How were you introduced to the piano, and how long have you been playing?"
"My family introduced me," Kurapika said curtly, taking a seat before the grand piano. "And I've been playing since I was five."
"Do you have any composer you are especially interested in?"
"I am interested in improving myself technically. The composer does not matter, so long as the piece challenges me."
Senritsu looked a touch saddened.
"What about modern music? Is there any genre you enjoy? Jazz? Rock? Pop?"
"Classical music has been touted for its mental and physical benefits. It is my first choice, for it is a scientific choice, and listening to the music I am attempting to master is only logical."
Senritsu wore a small frown.
"…Very well," she said after a brief pause. "Your profile stated you are advanced. Show me your scales, and whatever warmup you typically perform."
Kurapika demonstrated a complex sequence of scales and arpeggios. His posture was immaculate. His movement was speedy and precise. His expression, not unlike that of a marble statue.
Talented, precise, and beautiful, but oh-so-cold.
Senritsu's heart twinged.
She applauded politely.
"Wonderful! Your movements are extremely precise, and it's the mark of dedicated, meticulous practice."
Kurapika nodded minutely. Indeed, he practiced for countless hours and they were not messy hours—they were concentrated, fastidious hours which left room for no mistake.
Senritsu reached for a case at lying at her feet. Kurapika gave a small start of surprise as she unpacked a flute.
Senritsu smiled.
"I have a task for you," she said, assembling her instrument and holding it in position. "I will play a tune, and I would like you to improvise an accompaniment on the piano. Is that alright with you?"
Kurapika nodded.
Sight-reading and improvisation were significant skills for any serious musician.
"You may join me anytime you wish," Senritsu said.
She began to play.
It was a light, romantic melody. The first few notes were alien to Kurapika but as the song went on, his eyes widened. Almost reflexively, his fingers danced across the piano. It was not a difficult tune, but it was a very beautiful one. Several minutes later the song came to an end and Senritsu lowered the flute from her lips. She looked at Kurapika mischievously.
"Wonderful," she said, a twinkle in her eye. "Perhaps you've heard this tune before?"
Kurapika nodded, a bit awestruck.
"My mother plays the flute," he confessed. "I've accompanied her before, when I was a just a beginner…"
He looked at her questioningly.
"How did you know?"
"I taught your mother how to play the flute!" Senritsu smiled.
Kurapika gave a start of surprise.
"My mother?" he echoed.
"Yes!" Senritsu replied. "I had my suspicions when I saw your name, but this confirms it: Your mother is called Cassandria, isn't she? Blond hair, blue eyes, likes to wear her hair in a bob?"
Kurapika nodded mutely.
Senritsu laughed in delight.
"We only met for a brief time, when Cassy was in her 20s, but at that time she was absolutely in love with this tune. It is actually based on a love song on the radio. There was no flute part, so I wrote one for her and taught it to her in the short time we encountered each other!"
"Is…Is that so…" Kurapika said, rather stunned by this information. To think he would meet someone affiliated with the Kurta—his mother, no less—in the Phantom metropolis...
Senritsu grinned.
"You were frowning when you walked in," she remarked lightly. "I was under the impression that you saw something that irritated you. You can certainly play technical pieces regardless of your mood but…I wanted to make you smile."
Senritsu looked Kurapika in the eyes.
"There is more to music than a constant grind of practices and performances. Music is something that can bring you great happiness, if only you take the time to realize it…"
Her eyes twinkled as she went on.
"…and from a scientific standpoint, it's been equally proven that your ability to make sound decisions decreases when you are under stress. If anything, think of it as a way to let go of unpleasant feelings so you can be more logical and efficient," Senritsu chuckled.
Kurapika flushed a little.
"The technical aspects of music are no doubt of great importance and I will endeavor to challenge you to your very core. Your scales and arpeggios gave me a good read of your technique, and I have a song in mind to improve your technical abilities. For your first homework assignment, however, I want you to find a piece of music that appeals to you for reasons other than technical value."
There was a faint tinkling noise. It came from a phone on the desk in the corner of the room. Senritsu put her flute away and looked at the clock, prompting Kurapika to do the same. Almost an hour had passed.
"It was good to meet you, Kurapika. See you tomorrow!"
Kurapika nodded, retreating from the piano.
"Thank you," he said. "I look forward to working with you."
It was a rare occasion in which he actually meant those words.
The remainder of Kurapika's day was as typical as any school day.
He cycled through his classes, taking note that Chrollo Lucifer was in his English class, but he did not patronize his nemesis for there was little to do on the first day of class.
The teachers lectured away. The students took notes quietly. If he wanted to throw a punch, he'd at least have the wisdom to do it after school hours. Starting a scene during class would hurt no one but himself and Kurapika had far more effective ways to deal damage to his opponent.
After school, Kurapika explored the city.
He wanted to get familiar with his environment and, most importantly, find a quiet place to study.
His requirements for a hangout included speedy wifi, coffee, and snacks to stave off hunger if he became bogged down in his studies. A café around the corner of the city's public library met his criteria and Kurapika made his way over.
The interior was modest but elegant. The patrons seemed reserved and of quiet temperament. Most of them had settled at various tables with laptops and books, minding their own business. Kurapika approached the counter and ordered an espresso as well as a sandwich. He found an unoccupied corner and sampled the food.
Both items were more than satisfactory.
The furniture was comfortable. The wifi was as speedy as promised. The patrons were respectful of each other and Kurapika was very pleased. He anticipated coming here often.
Next, Kurapika visited the public library.
The school library was expansive, but unfortunately did not possess a certain series that he enjoyed. He didn't quite blame them; the author was rather obscure, and the school library concentrated on big name literature, science, and education rather than smaller fictional reads.
Kurapika had only discovered this author over the summer, and had finished the third book of their eight-book series. The book was an old work that was out of print in book shops so his only hope was that libraries carried the piece.
Making his way through the shelves, he broke into a grin as he found what he was looking for.
He checked out the fourth book of the mystery series and returned home to in anticipation of another school day.
The first week of school came to a close.
It was late Friday afternoon and Chrollo wandered the halls of the music department.
He held his violin case as he meandered purposelessly through the halls. It was the first week of class, so he had no homework. His friends intended to go to some kind of start-of-school party but he had no desire to join them. He had already stayed behind to practice violin for an hour, and there was little point in lingering when the orchestra had yet to decide on their repertoire for the winter concert.
He sighed.
Perhaps he'll curl up in a practice room and take a nap. Maybe inspiration will strike him and he'll start writing a new piece of his own…
A tune touched his ears.
His eyes widened.
It was faint, but he could make out the sound of the piano. He was the first chair first violinist so he stayed behind to practice even during the first week of class, but he did not expect anyone else to linger. Curious, Chrollo followed the faint sound of piano cords. When he peered into the practice room, he gave a start of surprise.
It was the blond boy who looked at him so hatefully on the first day of class.
He was working on the beginning of a highly technical tune. Chrollo would venture to guess that pianists already had their tunes of the year assigned to them. The blond boy probably only had a week of practice, but already, the song was coming together. He was definitely talented.
Chrollo sat by the door, out of sight but capable of hearing the blond boy clearly.
Eventually, the meticulous repetition of a classical piece came to an end.
A new tune floated through the air and Chrollo was astonished to hear something light, airy, and delightful.
It was an intermediate piece, a far cry from the technical tune he had previously worked on, but pleasant on the ears. It made Chrollo think of birds and butterflies dancing amid a field of flowers. There was a name to this piece, Chrollo struggled to recall. What was it again…?
Several moments later, the name came to him.
Road of Roses.
It was a modern piece, crafted by gardeners who realized that plants reacted to music. It could often be heard playing in fields of flowers. It was the last thing in the world Chrollo expected from a boy who struck him as angry and hateful.
Chrollo lingered by the door until he heard a shuffling that implied the blond boy was packing up.
He departed quietly.
The next Monday, he approached the orchestra director.
"There's a piece I've taken an interest in," he said, and he rattled off the name of a complex technical piece.
The orchestra director blinked.
"That is a difficult piece," they mused. "And it requires a competent pianist to accompany us. Are you sure? It'll be a lot of work and there's an exhausting first violin solo."
"I think I can handle it," Chrollo said. "As for the pianist…"
His gray eyes glimmered.
"I have someone in mind."
notes
road of roses is entirely fictional
it's a reference to kurapika missing the roses in his garden before he moved to the city
thank you for reading!