November 12th, 1 hour after school.
"They're the same!" Ritsu shot out of her chair like a cannonball, jostling teacups and plates alike while pointing dramatically at her adversary.
Mio was unfazed, rising slowly and methodically from her own seat, placing her hands on the table to steady her resolve. "No, baka, I'm telling you they're different." The grey typhoons within the bassist's eyes threatened to tear apart Ritsu's argument right along with the rest of the room, but the drummer weathered the storm firmly.
Staring longingly at her abandoned guitar, Azusa sighed. "It'd be nice if we could do either at this point."
"You're the one who kidnapped Giita, Nakano!" Ritsu shouted with a glare at the kouhai, whose response was to let out an eep of shock and hide her face behind her trademark tea mug. "We can't play or practice without Yui's instrument."
"Ah-ha!" Mio exclaimed, grinning triumphantly at the startle she got from her friends. "You implied that practice and play are two different things with that sentence. That means I'm right." Sitting down in her chair, Mio folded her arms in victory.
Ritsu gaped for at least half a second, stunned in equal parts by Mio's logic and the fact that she didn't have a proper argument to combat it. "Huh? No! I misspoke! Don't get all uppity on me just because of a grammar mistake! That's not fair!" For all the hot air Ritsu spouted in her own defense, she failed to so much as ruffle Mio's hair.
While Azusa took shelter in the world of cat-themed novelty dishware, Yui took a long sip of her tea, blissfully ignorant of the brewing chaos around her. "I think they're both fun!" she chirped, smiling at nobody.
Not even Mio's virulent stare could cajole the guitarist into taking the conversation seriously. "Yui-chan, that's not the question here," she fruitlessly attempted to explain to the brick wall with a yellow hairpin. "And in any case, I believe we're all in agreement, based on what I've heard from Ritsu."
Tsumugi looked on fondly from her seat as her friends continued to bicker amongst themselves. It was heartwarming to witness Ritsu and Mio going at each other's throats with a fresh vigor while Azusa muttered to herself about how their band desperately needed to practice more, with Yui singing a senseless song about how wonderful playing while drinking tea is the entire time. It was a complicated piano melody Tsumugi had been unable to play for weeks now, one she had feared she'd never be able to so much as hear again. As much as she loved her chosen instrument, since forming HTT, she had found making music by herself to be a rather cheerless hobby in comparison to the alternative. When she chose to play alone, she was usually working on something for the band or showing herself off to some odd guest at the estate with an interest in music. The thought of those being her only avenues to express her feelings in sound made her skin crawl.
But that won't happen. Slowly, surely, they're coming back. Days like today are what we've been missing since the festival. Days like today are why I can't let the last several weeks repeat themselves again.
The heiress crossed and uncrossed her legs under the table, a pervasive feeling of restlessness overcoming her. Merely the thought of the dark fog that still jeopardized her life provoked her desire to leap into battle. She took a few breaths to quell her rising adrenaline. Relax, Mugi. You've set things up perfectly. Everything will be resolved tomorrow. They won't have to hide anything anymore. Soon, I'll be free, and I'll be able to bring my family with me. Enjoy the moment you've been granted now.
Adjusting her attention back to her friends, Tsumugi found that Ritsu had given up on yelling to revive her argument and resorted to democracy. "Private, I need help! Explain to the enemy that playing and practicing are the same thing!" She pointed a drumstick that had materialized in her hand at some point like a sword at Mio's chest, directing her partner in crime's actions. She's such a leader when it comes to things that don't matter. It's truly incredible.
Eager to please, Yui also rose from her seat, taking things one step further by standing on her chair. Worry flashed in Mio's eyes for an instant as she watched Yui struggle to maintain her precarious balance, unsteady legs wobbling like a newborn deer before finding confidence in their purchase. Tsumugi smiled privately. Yui-chan is still doing her best for us. Of everyone, she deserves someone returning the favor the most. Ritsu smirked knowingly at her friend's show of authority while Azusa did a poor job of pretending to be aloof towards her senpai's self-destructive actions. "They're the same, Mio-chan!" Yui exclaimed, her footing finding a firmness to match the confidence in her tone. The older guitarist inhaled deeply, preparing some sort of irrefutable argument that even Mio, with all her wisdom, couldn't hope to counter. "Azu-nyan will vouch for me! She's smarter than I am!"
A giggle escaped Tsumugi as the rest of the room's tension collectively deflated in response to Yui's declaration. "Weren't you the one telling me practicing and playing weren't the same thing last week? Seriously, don't just agree with Ritsu-senpai because she told you to," Azusa reprimanded impassively, clearly trying to look like she wished she was somewhere else. But you enjoy this just as much as we do, don't you?
Yui shook her head empathetically. "No, Azu-nyan, this is different." Four girls leaned forward a little towards the guitarist, as if they had missed the justification for her claim that Yui had opted not to provide. When a cheerful grin was the only thing they were met with, another sigh ran around the table.
Blatantly annoyed, Mio held up two fingers. "One, Yui-chan, get down before you hurt yourself again, the club can't afford to pay for another chair or your hospital bill. Two, unlike you two, Azusa-chan actually understands what it means to practice her instrument." The air of superiority Mio gave off nearly knocked Yui from her perch, the brunette having to get Ritsu's help reaching the ground safely again.
Confirming that Yui wasn't about to get a matching bruise on her other arm, Ritsu refocused on the matter at hand. "Hold on there, barnacle girl. Just because Yui's taste in friends is as poor as my word choice doesn't mean you're right!" Azusa's indignant outcry at this insult was ignored. "If these two things are different, as you say, what, pray tell, could this distinction be? You have five seconds to answer go!"
Her mind distracted from barnacles by Ritsu's challenge, Mio spoke hastily. "I play when I want to relax. I practice in order to learn and get better at my instrument. Two different things. Not the same. Happy?" Ritsu wasn't happy, but no immediate retort came to mind, earning Mio another point in her favor. Mio-chan can be the most stubborn out of everyone, which is really saying something. It's nice to have someone so reliable around, though. Without her or Azusa-chan, we'd probably be the after-school tea time club.
"But are you saying you can't learn by playing while relaxing?" Yui innocently retaliated for her comrade. "That's how I learn new things with… with Giita." Lonely chills ran down the guitarist's spine, a once bright expression darkened considerably as Yui's eyes drifted over to the empty space where her guitar case usually rested.
Setting her mug down, Azusa snapped her fingers near Yui's face impatiently to pull the senpai out of her trance. "Mou, Yui-senpai there's no other way you could learn how to practice but to play, since you won't read sheet music," Azusa rebutted. "Some of us actually have to make schedules and plans and devote ourselves to practice sessions every day just to sound decent." You say that like you don't know that you're every bit as good as Yui-chan, perhaps better.
The jab at Yui's lax nature completely whiffed as Yui smiled fondly at her kouhai. "It's more fun when you or Mio-chan or Ui show me how to do it! Playing together is the best!" Yui gushed, swooning back and forth in her chair.
"If that's why you won't learn to read sheet music, I'm going to stop helping you," Azusa cruelly decreed, huffing at her senpai.
"Eh? Azu-nyan, no! If you do that, I… I'll never come to your house again!" Yui threatened in a panic.
Azusa opened her mouth to deliver a scathing remark, but the fire died in her throat. Though nobody believed Yui's claim, least of all Azusa, something was preventing her from calling her senpai out on it. "You better at least remember your chords the next time I test you," the younger guitarist demanded instead, changing the subject. "I can only teach you the same thing so many times." The way Azusa looked away hid from everyone but Tsumugi the lie behind that claim.
"Forte means loud!" Yui cheered loudly, earning a reluctant snicker from Azusa that she would vehemently deny happened if anyone asked.
"That's enough from the peanut gallery. It's two vs two," Ritsu announced to interrupt the pair's back and forth, switching her gaze to Tsumugi. "Mugi! You're on our side! Explain why Mio and Nakano are wrong!"
"What?" Tsumugi asked, yanked out of her private daydream. "Well, I-"
Mio cast an understanding look towards the blonde. "It's alright, Mugi-chan, you don't have to listen to that baka. Playing and practicing are obviously two different things. Please explain that to our resident airheads."
"Hey, I resemble that!" Yui declared resentfully, eliciting an exasperated sigh from Azusa.
Oh my. It's really up to me? Tsumugi took in the expectant looks from her closest friends. They both make such strong points. It's hard to argue against either side. Hmmm. This is tough. Do I go with practice or play? Which one is better?
"Play!" Tsumugi declared proudly, making her decision.
All four girls tilted their heads in unison. "Sure?" Ritsu offered, unclear on what she was agreeing to.
Tsumugi realized that she was being stared at and blushed, her mistake becoming clear. "Oh, sorry. I mean playing and practicing are two different things."
"Mugi-chan, how could you?!" Yui cried out, tears of betrayal forming in her wide eyes.
Without missing a beat, Ritsu whipped out an invisible journal and pencil. "Captain's log, day 45: We've lost Mugi. I don't know what those bastards did, but she's too far gone to save. It's just me and the private now. Not sure how long we can hold out. More later." Shoving the nonexistent diary back into her pocket, Ritsu's eyes sparked a playful challenge towards Tsumugi. "Care to explain yourself, traitor?"
"Sure!" Tsumugi agreed readily. "Practicing and playing can both help you get better, but there's a clear difference, at least to me. When I practice, I'm focusing on trying to get better so that when I play, I don't have to think about what I'm doing, so it feels natural. That's the distinction I've made, anyways. Playing is when you put on a performance for others, and practice is when you play by yourself or with your band, even if you're just messing around. Does that make sense?"
Everyone was silent for a moment. Tsumugi folded her hands over each other in her lap, calmly awaiting the reception for her opinion. She liked to think patience was one of her strong suits. Besides, it's easy to wait when every second is precious. Glancing at the others to make sure they weren't about to say something, Azusa fearlessly broke the taboo by nodding her head. "That makes a lot of sense, actually. I can agree with that, Mugi-senpai."
"Hooray, Azu-nyan and I are best friends again!" Yui cheered, going for a hug that was stopped dead by Azuza's hand on her senpai's forehead.
"It loses impact the second time you say it," the younger girl denied, though she didn't bother trying to hide the fondness in her expression over Yui's antics.
Mio and Ritsu exchanged a look and then shrugged simultaneously. "We agree too," Ritsu spoke for the two of them. "That was some sharp thinking, Mugi."
Tsumugi grinned giddily, feeling her face flush at the praise. "Thank you, Ricchan. I've been playing and practicing for a long time, you know."
"You started when you were 4, right?" Mio confirmed. "Your talent with the keyboard really is impressive. I wish I could play the bass that well."
"Yeah, I want to start when I'm four too!" Yui declared, still attempting and failing to hug her kouhai.
"That's not how time works, private," Ritsu muttered dismissively, returning to her tea.
"Are you five done yelling?" Sawako grumpily interrupted. "I get enough of this dealing with you rowdy students during the day. The least you could do is let me enjoy my tea time."
Mio and Yui both jumped in their seats, having forgotten that Sawako was there. Tsumugi only nodded in concession to her teacher's question. After the first few incidents years ago, she had learned to notice when Sawako was visiting their clubroom, especially after experiencing first-hand how badly disturbing an irritated Sawako could become when there was no tea to satiate her. "Our apologies, sensei," Azusa apologized for the group. "We'll quiet down."
"But what if we want to play?" Yui pointed out. "That's pretty loud- excuse me, forte."
"Good luck playing without an instrument," Ritsu reminded her friend, injecting the guitarist with another round of self-pity.
Conversation flowed at a more natural pace as everyone finished their snacks and tea. Tsumugi chimed in when she felt it was appropriate, but her mind was elsewhere. The number of words she spoke in the club never had any large impact on how much she enjoyed herself anyways. Merely being around her family was enough to invigorate her body and spirit better than any cup of tea could. Tomorrow's the day. Oh, I hope I've set everything up properly. Of course, there's a few things I still need to take care of, but if I did it right, everything should flow naturally tomorrow, and my family won't go their separate ways again. The family I can trust, who trust me. Seeing the air of normalcy enveloping her only hardened the blonde's resolve. I have to follow through, finish what we've started. To protect us, and this feeling of love, I can't let it go, not ever again.
Ritsu made a terrible joke at Sawako's expense, causing Mio to smack her childhood friend on the head. Tsumugi's eyes shone at the exchange, unaffected by familiarity. They're always right on the edge of saying something. But Ricchan will never abandon Mio-chan. I won't need to reveal Ricchan's secret admirations anytime soon. Azusa-chan and Yui-chan, however, are another story, one that needs to move forward sooner rather than later. They're only going to have so many chances. I have to help them while I still can.
The guitarist duo was currently holding their own conversation, with Yui trying to explain to Azusa why it was absolutely necessary that she tuck Giita in before she went to bed so he didn't get cold at night. While their exchange wasn't anything special, every interaction between just the two of them had been required reading for Tsumugi in the past week or so since their meeting that morning. She had spent most of her recent time attempting to slowly, painstakingly entice Yui into understanding her own emotions, culminating in her helping Yui purchase a present for Azusa's birthday that would make her feelings as clear as possible to the kouhai. That was in addition to coaxing a certain cat-like kouhai into being prepared for such a confession. Morning visits to Azusa's classroom to provide said encouragement under the guise of learning guitar may have produced the unintended side effect of perpetuating some rumors, but they could be dealt with once Tsumugi's primary objective was achieved. Azusa-chan is fragile when it comes to how Yui-chan feels. If things don't go well, everything will be ruined. This would have been much easier if Mio-chan and Ricchan hadn't acted on their own… Oh well. I have to make sure everything is set up perfectly for them tomorrow. Not just for Azusa-chan and Yui-chan.
Influencing Mio for the most important stage of her plan had been simple. Mio was already looking for a solution, so all Tsumugi had to do was plant a seed and ensure that Mio thought she was growing it herself. She couldn't be the one to suggest everyone attempt to get into the college she wanted to go to, after all. All that was left to do now was to make things look natural during the party, and for that, she'd need to make sure the characters not in her band were on board, knowingly or otherwise. By the time Tsumugi had finished mulling over her week's work to herself, the rest of the group had polished off their tea and snacks. Without a lead guitarist, everyone had decided to call things without practicing for the day, the fact that it was Saturday being a decent influence on their decision. It took Tsumugi a moment too long to register this information, her mind only catching up to the present as the closing of the clubroom door announced Sawako's exit, leaving Ritsu staring at Tsumugi curiously.
"You alright, Mugi?" Ritsu asked in concern. "You've been a bit quiet today."
Blinking, Tsumugi shook herself, still preoccupied with her target's escape. "Ah, yes, I'm alright, thank you Ricchan. I just remembered I needed to ask Sawako-sensei about one of our homework assignments. I'll be right back." Quickly, Tsumugi made her way out the door, hoping to catch her homeroom teacher before she got too far away.
Fortunately for the keyboardist, Sawako wasn't in a hurry to get back to work, and she was able to reach her teacher at the bottom of the stairs. "Sawako-sensei, hold on a second!" Tsumugi called out.
Turning, Sawako frowned curiously at the heiress from where she stood a few steps below her. "What, did I forget something?" the teacher asked, having yet to slip back into her friendly teacher persona.
Tsumugi denied the teacher's guess with her expression. "No, I just wanted to ask a favor, if you don't mind." Out of respect for Sawako's authority, Tsumugi moved to stand at the same elevation as the teacher.
"I can't curve Yui-chan's grade any more than I already have," Sawako firmly insisted, ignoring the show of courtesy. "I'll get in trouble with the school if I let on that I'm playing favorites with my clubs."
It occurred to Tsumugi that she had another issue that would need solving after the party. Yui-chan will need to shape up considerably in order to attend college with us. Well, if I was really worried about that, I wouldn't have chosen this path in the first place. However, it won't do for her to start failing again. "Actually… no, let's talk about that later. I wanted to ask if you'd be willing to come to the party a bit early tomorrow," Tsumugi explained, hopping from one foot to the other as each word ran from her mouth.
Though the situation probably called for more tact than Tsumugi's body language exuded, she knew better than to slip into business mode on someone with as much dormant fire in her as Sawako. "I guess so? Why though?" The teacher questioned, pushing her glasses up on her face suspiciously. "I wasn't exactly planning on making a day out of this, you know. God knows there's plenty of homework for me to grade over the next two days."
Fastening herself to the ground, Tsumugi put on her most diplomatic voice. "Ui-chan and I will be busy with food preparations right before the party, and based on my conversations with her, it will be difficult for Ui-chan to focus if Yui-chan doesn't have a friend around to distract her."
Sawako rolled her eyes, spinning away on one heel. "Then ask one of her friends. I'm your teacher. I'm in this for the free cake. No cake, no Sawako." She started to waltz off, waving to the heiress without looking back.
Not one to quit so easily, Tsumugi darted out in front of the teacher's path. Sawako regarded her student with a thin smile that darkly suggested Tsumugi stop bothering her. Averting her eyes from looking directly at Sawako's, Tsumugi continued while adrenaline controlled her nerves. "I am asking you because I can't ask the others, Sawako-sensei. It is Azusa-chan's party, so I can't force her to show up early, and since Mio-chan and Ricchan are coming together, the purpose of having food ready before everyone arrives would be practically defeated if I had them come early. That leaves you, Sawako-sensei. Please, would you mind?" The keyboardist gasped with as much dignity as possible, having spoken in a single breath.
Sunlight hid Sawako's eyes behind her glasses as she absorbed the pitch. Alarm bells began to ring in Tsumugi's head as she detected the warnings Sawako's own mind was giving her about Tsumugi's behavior. Calm down, Mugi. Don't make it look like a big deal. Because it's not. For normal people, this isn't a big deal. It's not a big deal! Normalizing her breathing was suddenly a difficult task when under pressure, but Tsumugi managed to steady herself all the same.
"How early are we talking?" the former guitarist asked, indicating that she still hadn't been convinced with the placement of her hands on her hips.
Tsumugi put a delicate finger to her chin, pretending to pull a number out of thin air. "Oh, only about twenty or thirty minutes. Please? It would mean a lot to me, and I'll be sure to have my best tea ready for you."
The mention of tea caused Sawako's ears to perk up, tilting the hand her blank expression was attempting to hide. Noticing the hope that lit up in Tsumugi's eyes, the teacher uttered a curse to herself, shrugging in concession of defeat. "So much for bargaining. You know how to get my attention, Kotobuki. That's not a quality I'd like to foster in my students, but I suppose you and the others are a bit of a special case."
An innocent open-mouthed smile that lit up the hall was Tsumugi's response. Sawako stared with what could vaguely be described as warmth at the heiress, absentmindedly playing with the sleeve of her yellow dress. "Alright, fine, you win. I'll be there twenty minutes early or so. But it's not my fault if Yui doesn't find death metal interesting."
Overjoyed beyond the point of listening to Sawako's warning, Tsumugi bowed deeply to her teacher. "Thank you, Sawa-chan, thank you! I'll see you tomorrow!" The blonde retreated upstairs while Sawako waved her off nonchalantly, turning away before Tsumugi could see the small frown that was forming on the advisor's face.
Skipping up the stairs two at a time, Tsumugi gave herself an enthusiastic pat on the back for her success. One down, one to go. It's really happening. I'm really doing this. Oh, this is so exciting! Everything was falling into place without so much as a hitch. The fear that had paralyzed Tsumugi to the point that she had nearly allowed her family to come to blows a week ago during that meeting in the park felt like a distant memory, a fatalistic dream she had finally woken up from.
With gusto to spare, Tsumugi reopened the clubroom door to find her four friends putting away the last of the dishes from their snack time. The heiress blushed, embarrassed upon realizing that she had abandoned her task. "No, you four didn't need to do that, I was going to take care of it!" Tsumugi insisted, rushing over to help.
"Please, it's the least we could do to pitch in," Mio explained, smiling at Tsumugi while handing her the last remaining teacup. "This is everyone's job, not yours. You don't have to do everything yourself."
"We're a band," Yui seconded, with Azusa nodding thoughtfully behind her as she scrubbed a plate. "We play, practice, and clean together."
Tsumugi felt every heartbeat thump insistently against her chest, the warm sensation of everyone's kindness enveloping her in a trance-like bliss as she helped everyone finish their chores. With a clean room behind them, the five girls retrieved their bags, and those that had instruments to take home picked those up as well. Coming down to reality once more, Tsumugi checked the time on her phone. Hmm. I should hurry to the train station soon. I've kept Ui-chan waiting for a while now. She should find a club to join. Then again, taking care of Yui-chan is probably enough work in and of itself. Yui proved the point Tsumugi had made to herself by forgetting to take her bag with her, distracted by staring at Mio and Azusa's guitars. Azusa let out a sigh of resignation and picked up Yui's bag for her, thrusting it callously into the older guitarist's hands. "Take better care of your things," Azusa ordered with finality.
Yui saluted seriously. "Yes, senpai!" Azusa didn't qualify the salute with a response, instead joining Mio and Ritsu where they waited at the door.
Tsumugi followed her friends out the door and out of the school. The five of them conversed excitedly, their enthusiasm for the party keeping them warm against the chilly November wind. Wisps of grey clouds formed and evaporated in an arbitrary pattern in the sky, the sun devoting all its energy to burning away the sky instead of warming the ground. Reaching the train station, Tsumugi waved farewell to her band, stepping onto the decently populated platform to search for her target. Commuters blotted out the space of most of the station, making their way home from late shifts at work or returning home from the day's activities. Tsumugi's easy smile faded as she searched around brown coats and obstructive briefcases for her fellow student. She had assumed Ui would have the sense not to make her presence known to Yui and the others, lest their private conversation gain a few too many pairs of ears, but finding Ui herself was proving to be more difficult than Tsumugi had anticipated. Though she wasn't in danger of missing her train yet, Tsumugi would have preferred to get home sooner rather than later. Proper rest would be imperative for her success tomorrow. Hm. I've been over the platform a few times now. Ui-chan doesn't seem like the type of person to flake on her word. I might have to resort to a more direct method if she doesn't answer her phone.
"If you're looking for Ui, she's not coming," came a voice from behind Tsumugi, causing her to nearly drop her phone with a jolt. "But I'll take a message for you. I'm nice like that."
Whipping around, Tsumugi took in the abomination to all things natural hair styles with a bass slung over her shoulder. Though she had been startled for an instant, Tsumugi's professional façade returned to her almost instantly. "Suzuki Jun-chan, was it? Is Ui-chan unwell?" A train arrived at the station, the hissing of braking wheels and the whirring of metal doors opening the only sounds that jumped to answer the keyboardist's question.
Jun shoved her hands in her blazer pockets and turned away, motioning with her head for Tsumugi to follow. It was clear that the younger girl's disrespectful actions were born from somewhere equally unpleasant as the distaste they their results left in Tsumugi's mouth, but she didn't have time to deeply indulge Jun's concerns, not if she wanted to get to Ui before the last trains ran. Senses trained on the first out she could locate, Tsumugi allowed herself to be led over to a bench on the edge of the platform. Jun flopped down lazily, glancing around to make sure the passing of commuters wouldn't interrupt their conversation. When the environment had been cultivated to her satisfaction, she spoke again. "Ui's doing swell because she didn't have to wait out in the cold for you," Jun spat with barely tempered disgust. "Can't say the same for myself. Seriously, what's with you all? Why can't you just leave my friends alone?"
Choosing to remain on her feet, Tsumugi looked beyond the moody bassist, her mind already racing elsewhere over the turn of events. "I suppose I'll have to visit Ui-chan and Yui-chan's house then…" Tsumugi mused, ignoring Jun's question and instead giving the younger girl an impersonal smile. "Well, I should be off, then. Thank you for letting me know that Ui-chan isn't coming, Jun-chan. I'll be sure to let her know that sending proxies is inconsiderate in the modern age." Tsumugi made it all of two steps before a hand took hold of her arm, anchoring her where she stood.
A few passerby shot curious looks towards the strange position Tsumugi and Jun found themselves in, but the glare adorning the bassist encouraged everyone to mind their own business. "Hey, hold on there! Ui didn't ask me to be here, I'm here because someone needs to tell you to wake the hell up. Where do you get off, making me wait for this long and then walking away like that? I want answers, Mugi-senpai." Jun's eyes burned with a frustration that intrigued Tsumugi, having seen the same look in the mirror plenty of times.
Glancing over her shoulder, Tsumugi blinked once, doing nothing to dislodge herself from Jun's grip. "Answers about what?" she asked, genuinely curious as to what business Azusa's friend had with her. You're not part of my plan, Suzuki-chan, and I can't afford any distractions at the moment. Distractions lead to disasters.
"About my friends, and why you're going out of your way to mess with them," Jun charged. "You and the rest of them, but especially you. I don't care if you're throwing the biggest birthday party ever, there's no reason for you to hang out around our classroom before school every day. It's clearly making Ui uncomfortable. Don't even get me started on what you've been saying to Azusa."
Committing herself to fully turn to face the younger girl, Tsumugi took in the frustration Jun's face and grip expressed to her. "I'm sorry if my actions frustrate you, truly," Tsumugi apologized candidly. "This is a… trying time for our band, but there's no need for you to be concerned. I'm taking care of everything."
Though she let go of Tsumugi's arm, the tense posture Jun held indicated that she wasn't going to let the heiress just walk away. "That's why I'm concerned," Jun snapped back. "Ui-chan refused to meet with you today. That girl is one of the most terrifying people I know when she wants to be, and I'm her best friend. If that doesn't set off alarm bells, nothing will. What are you planning to do?"
"Is that right?" Tsumugi echoed thoughtfully, once more ignoring Jun's question. "Then my only plan right now is to assuage her fears. Now, I must be off. Please refrain from interfering with the affairs of the light music club any further." Half-expecting to be seized again, Tsumugi was pleasantly surprised when she was able to walk away without any physical impedances.
"Next year, we're going to be the light music club, you know."
Tsumugi stopped dead in her tracks, irritating the people walking around her. "I'm not a complete moron," Jun continued, her eyes boring into the back of Tsumugi's head. "You're trying to hook up Yui-senpai and Azusa in order to keep the band together, right? You can't change Azusa's age, so you're trying to force her to remain connected to your little clique. Do you have any idea how selfish that is? Ui won't say it out loud, but I can tell, and unlike her, I don't have a problem calling you out on your crap. If they're going to get together, it has to be because they decide to get together, not because of whatever the hell you're trying to force them into." Jun was probably feeling very satisfied with her ultimatum, right up until Tsumugi turned around again and froze her to the spot with a look.
With a faux smile and a glint in her eye that suggested something far more sinister than she could ever be capable of, Tsumugi marched right up to Jun, shoving aside innocent passerby who got in the way until the two were face to face, noses almost touching. Unprepared for such and aggressive response, Jun cowered under Tsumugi's piercing stare, which contrasted the neutral coolness in her tone when she spoke once more. "Don't you dare accuse me of forcing them into anything," Tsumugi icily commanded. "I have a way I'd like things to turn out, yes, but the decision is absolutely up to them. I don't have to force anyone into anything because I trust my friends to make the right decision with the information they have. Azusa-chan belongs with HTT. As long as she feels that way, it's my responsibility to make sure she's happy with us. The same goes for the others."
The two girl's faces nearly made contact as Jun's poufy bunches of hair bumped against the metal backing rising up behind the bench. It hadn't even occurred to Tsumugi that she had driven Jun back to the bench she had originally been seated at, and she quickly backed off to allow Azusa's friend to breathe. I'm doing it again. Come on, Mugi, control yourself! You can't just shove other people around like this! It's only going to make things worse!
No response had come to the bassist while Tsumugi berated herself, but when the two made eye contact again, Jun managed to muster the wherewithal to say something. "I… you… no, you're wrong, senpai. Pushing them to see if they hook up isn't the same as making them happy. Can't you see messing with things like this is wrong?"
"Why?" Tsumugi responded, genuinely curious. "What makes it wrong? I'm only giving them a nudge. They have to initiate things themselves. If it increases the odds that the people I love don't have to go their separates ways, then all the better." That Jun didn't understand Tsumugi's logic based on the lost look she was receiving confounded her, driving the heiress's thoughts into a raging tornado. If I'm wrong, then say something. If there's a way to do this without having to risk hurting my friends, then please, inform me! I just want everyone to be happy. If we break up, we won't be happy. I… won't be happy.
Jun didn't have a direct answer to the barrage of words Tsumugi threw at her, a defiant frown the single flag of rebellion she could raise. Allowing the tension that had unwittingly built up in her arms and legs to escape her, Tsumugi sighed, the rush of uncharacteristic anger having drained her energy. She provided Jun with an apologetic bow. "My apologies, Suzuki-chan. I came to meet Ui-chan because I needed to apologize to her for worrying her, but it seems I've worried you too. I promise you that I have Azusa-chan's best interests at heart. Think about it. I'm more than willing to listen if you have something to say." A pat on the shoulder from the heiress was shaken off stubbornly by Jun, who continued to glare at Tsumugi even as she turned away one final time.
Accepting silence to be Jun's acquiescence to the end of the conversation, Tsumugi abandoned the train platform and her way home, the trek to Yui's house her only concern for the moment. When she had gotten sufficiently far enough away from the platform to collect her thoughts, it occurred to the heiress that Yui and the others might not have reached their respective homes yet. Hm. I wonder if I can still catch up to Yui-chan and the others. Ah, I better not. I wouldn't want to interrupt Yui-chan and Azusa-chan's private time together after all. Tsumugi's raunchy blush contrasted her pale complexion sharply, and she called on years of noble training to calm herself. Focus, Mugi. If there's one thing to be learned from what just happened, it's that you definitely need to talk to Ui-chan if this is going to work. She deserves to know what you're trying to do. Perhaps I'll speak to Suzuki-chan again after everything settles down later. Yes, that's the polite thing to do.
Though the foundation of Tsumugi's resolve had been a commitment to avoiding regrets later on down the line, she couldn't help but feel just a bit remorseful for how she had treated Ui and her friend over the past week. It's unjustifiable, no matter how important my cause is. For that, now that Yui-chan and the others are far enough along, I have to placate Ui-chan. Though she had initially adopted a harsh stance to ensure Ui didn't interfere with her plan, it quickly became evident that the effect she was having was the opposite of the one intended. Reigning in the stronger impulses that overcame Tsumugi when she felt her efforts might be threatened had proven to be more difficult than she originally thought. Jun's response and Ui's choice to flake on her were evidence enough of this oversight.
Without time to spare, Tsumugi had to switch tactics quickly. The result was one invigorating jog through the biting cold that lead the heiress to the block adjacent to the Hirasawa household, not a Yui in sight. As she had suspected, her friends had more than enough of a head start to make it home before she could catch up, even in her haste to beat the last trains of the day. As she rounded the final corner, she was unsurprised to see Ui standing at the end of the driveway to her house in her school uniform, a pensive frown on her face. When she noticed Tsumugi, the frown vanished, a polite mask Tsumugi recognized as well as she knew her own face taking its place. The younger sister marched up to the heiress, meeting her halfway between them. "Tsumugi-senpai," Ui coldly addressed, bowing ever so slightly. "I'm sorry, but Onee-chan is busy right now. Can I ask you to come back another time?"
Had she been dealing with another member of HTT, Tsumugi might have found a way to play around with the situation, but tact overrode her childish impulses. She put on the first genuine smile she had used on the younger girl since they had started talking about the party. "It's fine if Yui-chan's busy, because I came over to see you, Ui-chan. I met with Jun-chan at the station. She seemed… upset. Why didn't you come to meet with me? If something's wrong, I'd prefer you discuss it with me directly." A bit of hurt crept into Tsumugi's voice unwillingly. Given her mission, trepidation on Ui's part was understandable, but Tsumugi never had the heart for hurting people's feelings intentionally, even when there was no other choice, a unique trait among her family.
Ui patted the phone in her pocket, glancing out at the gradually darkening sky so she didn't have to meet Tsumugi's inquisitive stare. "Jun-chan contacted me. I told her not to get involved, but she was never a good listener. I was going to call you to let you know I wasn't coming before she beat me to the punch." The younger girl's shoulders sagged, like a puppet losing its strings. "Look. I'm going to be honest, Tsumugi-senpai. Your behavior has been worrying me for a while. Onee-chan is changing, and I can't help but feel like you have something to do with it. Pulling Azusa-chan away in the mornings to talk about guitar techniques was the second warning flag, and now Jun-chan's calling and telling me you're, um, sorry. I can't just ignore this anymore. I have to know what you think you're doing." Facing the heiress fully, a sort of burning desperation reflected in Ui's eyes.
"What I'm doing?" Tsumugi echoed curiously, having expected a more aggressive reaction. "That's all you want to know?" That's what I came to tell you, she almost burst out saying, holding herself back until she heard Ui's response.
Nodding, Ui crossed her arms, attempting to conserve her lowering body heat. "Don't get me wrong, I don't approve of the way you've been treating me and my friend, but you're Onee-chan's friend. I owe it to her to hear you out first."
Being Yui-chan's friend is all it takes to prevent her from getting angry at someone? She really does live for Yui-chan. It's commendable, in its own way, even though it makes what I'm trying to do much more difficult for her.
"It's as I'm sure Suzuki-chan has told you," Tsumugi straightforwardly disclosed. "I want Yui-chan and Azusa-chan to come to terms with how they feel about each other. It's the best way to keep HTT from breaking apart."
Expecting Tsumugi's answer didn't properly prepare Ui for the emotions that sentence assaulted her with. "I-I… no, I don't understand! This makes no sense! What does that have to do with you wanting to keep your band together?! Why do you have to make Onee-chan change?" She stamped a foot on the ground in uncharacteristic frustration.
"What's going to happen if Yui-chan and Azusa-chan don't ever discuss how they really feel about each other?" Tsumugi answered Ui's questions with one of her own.
Startled by the idea, Ui paused to compose herself before she responded. Her eyes flickered between the heiress and several points of interest on the ground. "Think about it," Tsumugi encouraged. "You know them just as well as I do."
"I don't think it matters," Ui finally decided, though uncertainty tainted her voice. "They both care about each other. If they don't want to broach that topic, then they won't. They get along just fine the way things are."
Tsumugi wanted to stamp her own foot in frustration, but she implored herself to remain calm. "You don't understand," she chided instead. "The idea is in both of their heads. If they keep ignoring it, it's going to blow up in everyone's faces. It's been like that for years, but the thought of graduation brought it to the front of both of their minds. They need to say something now, while they're both at least willing to discuss the topic, or it's definitely going to cause our downfall, I'm certain of it. If our relationships are going to survive, they have to get together, or at least discuss how they really feel. Yui-chan needed a place to think and sort out her own feelings, and Azusa-chan needed encouragement to consider what Yui-chan means to her, so I've done what I can to provide those things for them. Although, Ricchan and Mio-chan rushed things along a little more quickly than I would have liked…"
Ui held up a hand to stop Tsumugi's tangent, her eyebrows furrowed in contemplation. "Let me get something perfectly clear. You're alright with them not getting together as long as they at least establish where the other stands on the idea of a… relationship?"
Blushing slightly, Tsumugi intertwined her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Well, I can't say I don't have a preferred outcome, but ultimately, I can't force people together, I can only help them make decisions that make them happy."
For a painful second, Ui was mute. She placed a hand on her chin. "You know, you sound like Onee-chan when you talk like that," the younger sister idly noted. "Weird schemes aside, I can understand why she likes you."
The unexpected praise threw Tsumugi off harder than anything else she had dealt with over the past 24 hours. "You're not angry?" was all she could think to ask, Ui's behavior only becoming more and more enigmatic to her.
Locking eyes with the heiress, Ui nodded, her expression politely blank. "Perhaps I am a little angry, but you've made it clear that you won't force Onee-chan into something she herself doesn't want. I want HTT to stay together too, you know. Since she formed a band with you all, she's never been happier, and that's more than enough for me to suspend my trepidation, even for something like this."
Tsumugi opened her mouth to thank Ui, but the brunette continued on, cutting off the blonde before she could start to speak. "But, more importantly, I need you to promise me you'll stop antagonizing my friends. No more pulling Azusa-chan or Onee-chan away for private meetings about this, either. It was fine when you were helping her with her birthday present for Azusa-chan, but now that I know what's going on, I want it to stop, because I want to trust you, as my friend as well as Onee-chan's. Whatever happens next between them, it's up to them, not us. That's how it should be, okay?" Ui held out a hand invitingly.
Ui Hirasawa was an enigma to Tsumugi. She had written off the younger sister very early on as a simple girl whose life revolved around Yui Hirasawa. While this was certainly true, the fact that she couldn't tell what was going through Ui's mind as her hand started to tire in front of her bothered her in a way few thigs could. None of her responses to this situation matched the prototype Tsumugi had created from her own experiences, and it threw her for a loop. As Ui's hand started to droop, Tsumugi's own hand snapped back in front of her to catch it, shaking more enthusiastically than she initially meant to. There's no harm in agreeing to this. I've already done what I can for them. It's up to Yui-chan and Azusa-chan now. "I understand. And I'm sorry, Ui-chan, honestly. I want you to know that I understand how you feel. Feeling like you're going to lose someone you love, for reasons beyond your control, is difficult, to say the least."
Breaking the handshake, Ui tilted her head, a slightly guarded look showing itself. "You're referring to your graduation in March?" she guessed.
"Yes," Tsumugi half-lied, wishing she could tell the truth. A wild part of her wanted to spill the regret that had taunted her for years, even to an acquaintance like Ui, but years of ingrained restraint stopped her. "But I'm going to do something about that too. I won't give up anytime soon."
With a thoughtful nod, Ui smiled. "I see. As long as you listen to my request, I wish you luck." Suddenly perking her ears towards something Tsumugi couldn't hear, Ui eyed her house. "I think Onee-chan's done with her snack. I need to make sure she starts on her homework so she has time to enjoy herself tomorrow. Did you want to see her? I feel bad, making you come all the way out here because of my own silly concerns."
Shoving aside her questions on what Ui's sixth sense for what her sister was doing was, Tsumugi shook her head simply. "I'd love to, but I must get home before it gets dark. I'm sure Yui-chan can wait until tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Already retreating, Ui responded with a friendly wave. "Yep! It's a date!"
As Ui Hirasawa walked out of Tsumugi's garden of concerns, the heiress noticed her heart was beating a bit faster than normal. Strange. She was so… nonchalant about everything. After her lack of desire to meet with me, and everything I've done to appear suspicious over the past week, it makes no sense for her to let me off the hook so easily. Am I overthinking things? I suppose I'll just have to pay careful attention to her during the party tomorrow. After that, I'll keep my promise, Ui-chan.
Breaking out of her stationary position, Tsumugi began to chase the bleeding sky to the train platform, thoughts of her potential tardiness and its consequences driving her forward with speed that would make Ritsu jealous. In her haste to avoid having to contact her limo driver for a ride, however, Tsumugi failed to notice a certain brunette watching her flee from her front door.
November 13th, 11:18 PM
This isn't going to help.
Without sunlight to illuminate her estate's music room, Tsumugi was left in nearly absolute darkness. Only the moonlight, a brilliant claw carving a defiant white streak into the darkness surrounding it, allowed Tsumugi to pick her way over from the door to the lone keyboard resting in the far corner of the room. She had half hoped the trek from her private quarters to the music room to tire her out, but she hadn't been so lucky. Rather, the stimulation only seemed to encourage her body to catch up to her racing mind. Fumbling around with the cords that brought her instrument to life, Tsumugi managed to activate the keyboard, turning the volume down as low as she could. She'd only feel worse if she managed to wake up a butler or maid on their sleeping shift. Her hands paused in the blackness as they hovered over the ivory keys. What am I doing? I should be asleep. This isn't going to help me fall asleep. But… I can't stop thinking about them. It's too worrying.
Ever since she had arrived home, an itch had been nagging at Tsumugi's fingers, demanding that she play something, anything to express the stress that had built within her over the past week. Worse still was the distressing sense that Jun's accusation had left with her. Am I wrong? No, it can't be that. I'm just nervous because I can't afford to fail. Fine. I'll play, not practice for a few minutes, then get to bed. I need to be rested for tomorrow. Obeying the whims of her fingers, Tsumugi began to paint on the black and white sound canvas.
Blinking, Tsumugi took in the sight of an impossibly green field. Blue skies, having never known a cloud, encouraged a radiant sun to deliver warmth and comfort to both the grass blanketing the field and its sole occupant, who was glancing around with a passive expression. Tsumugi took in a few deep breaths, trying to let the peaceful nature of the song calm her nerves. "I need to relax. I've done everything I can. Things are going to be fine. I am Tsumugi. I am strong. I can do anything I set my mind to."
Despite her words, Tsumugi couldn't ignore the fact that she couldn't feel the mellow breeze rustling the grass around her, that she could see the edge of the field where it faded back into the darkness that stole her vision in reality. Defeat washed over the blonde as she allowed the darkness to temporarily encapsulate her entire vision once more. For an instant, there was nothing, then Tsumugi switched tunes on the fly. Taking off in a wild sprint, Tsumugi darted in and out of different realities, searching for one that could ameliorate her weary mind. She passed crashing waterfalls so tall the water evaporated before it hit the ground, crowded streets filled with the ambiance of foot traffic, and even her own room flew by for an instant, reminding Tsumugi that she had an objective beyond seeing how fast she could change tunes on the fly. Taking a deep breath, the keyboardist stopped. Classical pieces weren't working, which meant she'd have to try her other most familiar genre. Though she couldn't really see her hands very well, let alone the keys to her keyboard, Tsumugi could tell she was trembling. Steeling herself, Tsumugi began to play once more.
With her new choice, Tsumugi found herself in the light music clubroom. As the band's keyboardist, she was used to focusing on filling the gaps in songs where necessary, leaving the sweeping statements to be made by the guitarists, but in her spare time, she had modified a version of Fuwa Fuwa Time to be played by the keyboard alone. It wasn't as full as the original, but the memories it evoked in the keyboardist made every minute it took to prepare valid. Glancing around the empty clubroom, Tsumugi willed herself once more to relax. "This is where I belong," she whispered to the air.
As the memories of the room enveloped her, ghosts of Tsumugi's from days spent laughing and playing with her friends to run rampant through her conscious. Mio and Ritsu fought over who deserved the last slice of cake while Azusa fed Ton-chan with a hidden smile gracing her lips. Yui was doodling small animals on the board, the word Listen! written in English above her. Tsumugi broke out into a smile. It's nice in here. But it's not the same as the real thing. With that thought, the four wisps of girls vanished, Yui's doodles the only proof they were there in the first place. This isn't how I want to let things end. I have too many memories left to make to be reminiscing now.
As if could somehow prove her point, Tsumugi waltzed over to the tank of the club's turtle. Ton-chan swam in a sort of easy pace that vaguely matched the beat of the song, his actions a dance in 3-D that couldn't be replicated within the limits of gravity. "You wouldn't want us to leave, would you, Ton-chan?" Tsumugi asked gently.
Ton-chan completely agreed with everything Tsumugi said, as far as she could tell. She beamed warmly at the turtle. Though nobody else was really coming, Tsumugi took it upon herself to set out teacups and plates that couldn't be filled anyways. Light and fluffy time… that's what HTT is all about. Tsumugi's tranquility was shattered as a biting chill blew through an open window in the clubroom. Instantly, memories of the meeting between the band's seniors a week ago invaded, Tsumugi's conscious. No, stop it! It already happened. It's over. I'm fixing everything. They're going to come with me.
Forcing unwarranted confidence over herself, Tsumugi shut the window firmly. Almost as soon as she did, another one opened. Subconsciously, Tsumugi's tempo sped up. Fingers flew across the keyboard as fast as the heiress rushed between the clubroom's windows, shutting out the chilling wind before it could drag her out of safety. The teacups began to shudder and chatter insistently, demanding that Tsumugi defend them from the outside world. Ton-chan did several concerned turns in his tank. Tsumugi could feel her own breath come out in heavier intervals as she pursued her impossible task.
"Tsumugi."
Tsumugi payed no heed to the voice from nowhere, all of her attention devoted to shutting out the fear she had suffered over the past two weeks. The sound of her playing became louder, bouncing around the rapidly destabilizing room, shaking its foundation as its occupant desperately attempted to hold it together. Ritsu's teacup fell from the table, its shattering personified by ten keys being struck at the same time. This can't happen! We're going to change, I promise! We won't have to split up! I won't let it happen again!
"Tsumugi, stop."
Tsumugi's fingers began to ache, being exerted well beyond their traditional limits, but she pressed on, throwing in haphazard chords to accompany her playing, filling her song with a hole in the bottom as much as possible. Right as she approached the climax, every window opened at once, freezing the heiress in place, rendering her immobile as the clubroom was torn away from her, replaced instantly by the park that had taunted her memory since the last time she was there in person. She saw Mio, a fist raised in cold rage towards Ritsu, Yui defiantly standing between them. Tsumugi screamed, throwing her entire voice at the girls in front of her, telling them that this was wrong, that everyone had made up, that they were supposed to be a family. She could feel her throat grow hoarse, her fingers beginning to cramp as she fought desperately against her own imagination. Mio's fist descended, on an unstoppable course towards the band's lead guitarist. No! No! This isn't how it happened! We made up! They gave me a chance to fix things! You can't do this, Mio, stop!
"KOTOBUKI!"
Light temporarily blinded the heiress, shattering the spell she had cast upon herself. Forced to attend to the burning sensation in her eyes, Tsumugi rubbed her aching hands on her face, grounding herself in reality again. When she found sight once more, she was standing in an oppressively extravagant music room in one of the buildings that made up the family estate. Though she could see, Tsumugi didn't have to look to the door to know who was standing there. Her mind had registered the source of the voice, even if she had chosen to ignore it. "My apologies, father," Tsumugi spoke, bowing with trained politeness.
Shoes clacked ominously throughout the room, a flawless beat that only ceased when they reached the blonde girl standing by her instrument. "You know what I'm going to say, I presume?" he asked rhetorically.
Still bowing, Tsumugi nodded, her mind blank. Her father's shoes absorbed her entire vision, brown holes that swallowed up everything they came into contact with on the reflective surface of the floor. "Raise your head, child," he ordered simply.
Tsumugi obeyed wordlessly. Her father's stern expression, supposedly reserved for the people he cared about, burned away her soul. He had more lines on his face than Tsumugi remembered. His authoritative voice, the one that held the fate of economies at its whim, rumbled with the sort of strength only decades of experience could provide. "If there is one thing a Kotobuki is not, it's wasteful. If you're going to insist on breaking your curfew, then find a more productive use for your time than sleeping."
From somewhere beyond Tsumugi's awareness, the blonde's indignation took over. "Then I suppose I am not a Kotobuki."
A single eyebrow was raised. Watching the features on her father's face change, even for a second, was surreal and terrifying in equal parts. It was like the David statue had decided to wink at her. "Perhaps not now, but soon, you will be. Everyone in our family has their role to play. I expect you to remember yours." As soon as the words left his mouth, Tsumugi knew their one-sided conversation was over, her defiance no more than an interesting fact one might find on the inside of a juice lid to her father.
Watching the man exit the room, Tsumugi noted with some frustration that she was tearing up. How long has it been since we last spoke? Four, five days? And that's all he has to say. Resisting the urge to scream, Tsumugi instead sank to the ground on her knees, the exhaustion she had been searching for coming at a price she hadn't meant to pay. But it's been like that for years. Every time something gets in his way, he makes it disappear. I was a fool to not realize it sooner. But not this. He still won't take music from me. It's the only thing that kept me going, until I could meet the others, and he knows that, and yet he still didn't do anything about it. Why, father? Why did we have to turn out like this?
Much as her sorrows demanded further indulgence, Tsumugi knew she didn't have long before a butler would be sent after her. Rising unsteadily, Tsumugi retreated to her room, making sure that the door was locked with the special padlock nobody else in the entire estate besides herself would be able to open. Well, that's not true. I told them what the combination is, they just couldn't remember. They never even tried.
Tsumugi's room, the only true sanctuary in her world of extravagance and expectation, was relatively simple in its décor and atmosphere, though that feat alone had taken considerable effort on Tsumugi's part. She changed into a nightgown idly, having lost the will to even take a shower. Collapsing onto the bed, images of her friends eased their way into Tsumugi's mind, as they often did when stress threatened to overwhelm her. Yui-chan, Mio-chan, Ricchan, Azusa-chan. Please, just hold on a little longer. I'm not going to make the same mistakes my family made.
The roller coaster that was the last week for Tsumugi had stalled at the precipice of a bottomless drop, miles above the world as she knew it. Behind her, the corkscrews and loops of the track stood as evidence of all the places and people she had been running around to sort and organize for the past week. Twisting, swerving, talking to this person, apologizing to that person, dipping, diving, picking out this present, helping to make that present, and only now, on the edge of her known world, in the unique sanctuary granted by the isolation of the thinning air did she pause to breathe. The adrenaline rush pulling her along her chosen course had finally begun to ebb away, but neither the fatigue catching up to Tsumugi's addled mind nor the uncertainty of the plunge in front of her shook her resolve. She, of everyone in the band, understood more than the rest of them that they had to change. If it was her responsibility to pull HTT into the future with her, then so be it. With a mysterious smile not even Tsumugi was even certain of the reason for, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall.
