Uta's Point of View

Monday again. Egh. On top of that, the gloomy September rain had come back.

At least the theatre club was going to have a meeting after school today. Taya was really looking forward to it, and so was I. We would finally start putting actual work and development towards bringing Taya's script to life as a play production.

I went through my school day as usual. It almost felt like a sense of normalcy to be back after such a heavy weekend.

I almost felt welcoming to the fact that my day would start with oddball Miki bothering me.

—

"So, I honestly think Defoko goes better with Tetra." I overheard Miki said.

"No way! Defo-chan is defo cuter with Momoka!" Iroha said.

Hoo boy.

"So... what kind of situations are you putting 'Defoko' into this time?" I asked.

"Romance!" Miki declared.

I wasn't even sitting in my seat, yet I fell.

"I think Defoko should end up with Tetra." Miki said.

"No, she should be with Momoka!" Iroha said.

"Who are Tetra and Momoka?" I asked.

"Characters I made based on Teto and Momo!" Miki said.

This time, I fell off the face off the Earth. But only figuratively.

"Why... why would you do that!?" I asked. "I'm not even romantically involved with either Teto or Momo!"

"But you can be, in our story! Nyaa!" Iroha squealed.

"Also, Defoko, Tetra, and Momoka aren't REALLY you." Miki said. "They're just you-inspired!"

"Still..." I muttered. "That's still awkward. You just... you just don't do that."

—

In second period, I was once again expecting Anon and Kanon to do something crazy. But it seemed like today they were just sitting there normally, just like every other student!

I wondered what was wrong. It certainly wasn't right.

"Okay, now it's time to present the rough drafts for the essays you have written." The professor said. "Who will go first?"

"Oh! Me!" Kanon suddenly flailed her hand in the air. "ME ME ME ME! Let me go first!"

The professor sighed.

"Okay... if you insist."

"Yippee!" Kanon sped up to the front of the room and put in her flash drive. All of a sudden, the computer started buffering and making strange noises.

Oh boy.

When everything was finally finished loading, Kanon's essay was 9,101,392 pages long.

"Kanon... what is the meaning of this?" The professor yelled. "What is this madness?"

"It's the entire Bee Movie script, but every time they say 'bee' it's the entire Shrek script but every time they say 'and' it's the lyrics to Snow Halation but every time the syllable 'sa' is written there is the script to all of the Hotel Mario cutscenes!" Kanon said.

All of a sudden, every single computer in the room began to malfunction and crash due to the overload of information.

"You... your insane shenanigans crashed the computer system!" The professor yelled at Kanon. "Get out! Right now!"

Kanon made an exaggerated shrug and dashed out of the room like a cartoon character.

"And you." The professor said to Anon. "You are also warned."

By the time the computers were started back up, the professor made Anon present her essay draft next as a punishment. As if it would be any better. As if he didn't learn from Kanon's. I honestly have no idea what his thought process was.

It turns out that Anon's essay was just a single picture of Kid Cuisine chicken nuggets and the words "dashing chungus" in bold pink comic sans.

"I was too lazy to do anything more." Anon shrugged.

"Do you want an F for the entire class?" The professor asked her.

"Depends on if it's edible or not." Anon said nonchalantly.

The professor shook his head and grumpily registered Anon and Kanon's grades for their essay drafts, as well as their completed essays, as Fs.

—

In third period, Dex and Daina were discussing the possibilities of Taya's play with me.

"Oh, about the play." Dex said. "Can my character possibly have wolf ears? And can my character's partner, who Bruno is playing, have on some super rad lynx ears?"

"Um..." I said. "You're... going to have to consult Taya about that. He's the one who created the story. Like, maybe he incorporated animal people in his world? But then again... maybe he didn't."

"Oh, I have an idea too!" Daina spoke with stars in her eyes. "Can the old lady I play be a sweet old fox-eared lady who lives in a cottage in the woods? And I want to modify the world so that she's the grandmother of the girl who built the doll. And the reason the girl died was because of a bear attack. And Dex's character tried to defend the girl from the bears, but to no avail."

"Um..." I began to think. "Those are innovative ideas, I guess... But you're going to have to consult Taya if you want to change around his story..."

"Oh!" Dex suddenly came up with another idea. "And the wolf-eared man I play... when there's a new moon, he loses his wolf ears and tail. But when there's a full moon, he becomes a monster wolf-man! And everyone mistakenly thinks he's the one who killed the girl who built the doll, and that he's the Big Bad Wolf. And the girl is Little Red Riding Hood! And the bears who killed her are actually the three bears from Goldilocks! And they mistook Little Red Riding Hood for Goldilocks and mauled her out of revenge!"

"Ooh, that's a great idea, Dex!" Diana cheered.

"Hey, um... could you please stop now?" I asked them. "Now it isn't even the same play anymore! It's turning kinda dark. And weird. I'm pretty sure you're getting these ideas from Dark Wolf Fang II: Crestfallen Despair Saga, aren't you?"

—

"Hey De Facto!" Teto cried out to me. "How are things with Taya Papaya?"

"I'd appreciate if you dropped the nicknames." I said. But I was smiling.

"Ooh, I see a smile!" Teto said. "Did things go well?"

"Yes, they did!" I said. "Well... It turns out that I learned a lot about Taya too."

"Like what?" Teto asked.

I smiled sentimentally thinking back. The memory of Taya crying then hit me and I felt a bit melancholy. He couldn't have totally gotten over it one-hundred percent last night, even if we did come to closure.

"Well... It turns out Taya cried because my depression reminded him of someone he lost..."

"Oh." Teto said. "I'm so sorry. That's really sad."

"It's... yeah." I said. "He's taking it the best he can now. He's trying to keep happy about it. I'm trying to help him the best I can too. And he's trying to help me."

"That's good." Teto said. "That's what friends should do."

"Yeah." I said.

—

Lunch break came, and Teto and I sat with Akurin. We ended up telling her about Taya and what happened between us.

"I'm sorry." Akurin said. "But... Saya, she is happy now. She hasn't forgotten about Taya, but she's now in a peaceful place. She has wings now. She's flying freely above us."

"Akurin..." I said. "But didn't you say before that you said the sky was lonely because humans can't grow wings and can't visit the sky?"

Akurin nodded slowly.

"Yes, but... I feel I have a changed perspective now. I now feel that the sky is no longer lonely. And Saya is not lonely as well. The sky... it's actually filled with the souls and memories of people who have passed. That's what makes it shine so beautifully..."

"That's a nice way of looking at it." I said.

"Indeed."

—

"Uta, hey." In fifth period, Ruko approached me with a serious expression. "Um... I have something I need to ask you. About Taya."

"Sure." I said.

"Um, yesterday he came to me crying and told me certain things. I take it that he told you as well afterwards. You know what I'm talking about, right?"

"Was it about Saya?" I asked.

"Yes." Ruko said. "And about what happened between you two, and about patching things up. So, did things become right between you two again?"

"They did, don't worry." I said.

"Oh, thank goodness." Ruko said. "I was so worried about the two of you. Ritsu felt really worried as well. He usually doesn't show his emotions outwardly, but I could really tell. Anyway, I'm so glad you two resolved your problems. Give me a hug."

I smiled and hugged Ruko. She gave a a very firm and tight, comforting hug. She was six feet and two inches of compassion. I could tell she really cared.

Clara came into the class a little bit late. Ruko greeted her. The moment Clara saw me smiling with my arm around Ruko's shoulder, a smile burst on her face as well.

"Hello, Utah! I am so glad to see you and Ruko so happy!" She cheered.

I smiled back.

"Hey, um, Clara?" I asked her. "Do you have anymore pans for group karaoke anytime soon? The first one was really fun. I'd like to go again sometime!"

"Oh! Maybe sometime this weekend!" Clara smiled.

—

The rain had let up some by the time classes were over. I walked out with an umbrella still. I met Taya up on the hilltop. He stood there with an umbrella of his own.

"Uta, um..." He started telling me. "I decided I want to be more open about my memories with Saya... After all, I shouldn't keep her a secret from everyone. I think I'll start with telling the theatre club today when the time is right."

"Oh." I said. "Well, you don't have to, if it will just make you feel sad or uncomfortable."

"But I want to." Taya said. "I want people to know about Saya. I don't want her to be forgotten and kept a secret."

"Alright then." I said. "Good luck."

We began rehearsing the story's script in the theatre club. We did a vague run through it, without any movement, intermissions, songs, or anything. We simply sat there, acting our lines with some feeling, in a first attempt to start memorizing them.

The play was set in a fantasy world, roughly inspired by a Victorian-era setting, yet without all the rampant social issues people had to face during that time.

The girl who built the doll was a very creative person who made all her toys and wrote all her stories. Yet nobody saw her creative genius and she was all alone in the world. The beloved doll was her best friend.

The girl would eventually die of scarlet fever. Then the doll's emotions—happiness from the memories, gratitude from the friendship, and sadness from their parting, all came together to create a reaction in the doll that brought it to life.

It was a story of love and loss...

It almost reminded me of...

"Um... This story here, is uh..." Taya spoke up once the practice was at a break. "It's actually dedicated to someone."

He ended up getting everyone's attention.

"It's dedicated to a friend. A dear friend I lost a while ago. Her name was Saya... and... well... I wrote this play as a tribute to her. So that's why it's so important to me. I wanted to perform it with all of you so we could all celebrate Saya's memory together. So... let's all give it our best, okay?"

"Yeah!" Everyone responded with a smile. A few people came up to Taya to pat and hug him and tell him they were sorry for his loss.

I smiled too. Taya did it. He told them about Saya, and did it without breaking down. I could tell he was slowly growing as a person. Also the play being a tribute to Saya... it all made sense. It was a perfect decision for Taya to play the role of the doll after all. He was the protagonist of his own story, and the play he wrote was a metaphor for that fact.

I felt that, even though he was a newcomer, he was the one who could connect the most with his character and could put the most feeling in his acting.

—

After we returned to the dorms, I suddenly remembered something.

The violin... There was still the violin. Taya had gone to his room to take a quick break, so I decided to take it out of its case and examine it.

It really was an exquisite violin. A beautiful shade of purple, beautifully polished, and no errors whatsoever in the kanji. Taya really knew what he was doing when he commissioned it.

I held it under my neck and placed my bow in position.

It had been too long since I had played the violin. I hope I wouldn't be rusty when I was to play for Taya.

I slowly opened the door to Taya's room and greeted him softly.

"Taya?" I said. "You wanted to hear me play the violin, right?"

"Ah, I did say that, didn't I?" Taya answered.

I immediately sensed his anticipation. I smiled at him.

"Well..." I said. "Honestly, ever since I met you, I've felt more of a drive and reason to keep perusing music. To keep loving music. I realized through you that I haven't lost all my passion. So, thank you..."

"Uta... that's wonderful." Taya said.

"So, this is a song I know by heart." I said. "I hope you like it."

I began to play a song I knew so well, I didn't even have to think about it. It was a beautiful and melancholy piece, but it would feel kind of silly if you knew what it was. It was a piece called "Friends," from the anime Ojamajo Doremi Dokkaan. It was an anime about cute witches who help people.

It was like my bow effortlessly drifted over the strings as I played the nostalgic tune. Ah, I forgot this feeling... It felt so freeing. It felt so fulfilling and meaningful. Playing for others... Knowing they'll be moved. Even playing for oneself... Knowing you'll be lost in a world of music. I felt a sharp pang of that forgotten feeling as soon as I closed my eyes. And my bow was magically sailing over the strings...

When I finished playing the song, I instinctively took a bow. Maybe I was hanging around Taya too much?

I was smiling. Taya was smiling sentimentally and clapping.

"Uta... that was so beautiful..." He said. "And... that song... it sends me back. Did you know... that it was Saya's favorite piece?"

"Ah..." I said. "It was?"

"Yes..." Taya said. "She loved the anime it was from... it was why she wanted to be a witch. That song... was a symbol of our friendship. Hearing it played so wonderfully just made me all sentimental..."

"I'm... not that great at violin." I said modestly.

"Yes you are!" Taya said. "You have true talent. You became a different person when you played. So poised... and beautiful. You were in such a trance. Please, don't let your talent go to waste."

I smiled at Taya and pat his head.

"I'll try not to." I said. "When I played for you, I got this wonderful feeling. I think I'm starting to love music again."

"Ah, sou?" Taya said. "That's great... I'm so glad."

Afterwards, I practiced singing for a while with Taya. It was a bit embarrassing since his voice was so much better than mine, but he offered to be my coach and to give me pointers when it came to better singing. At one point we even sang something of a duet to a backing track. It was a really nice feeling.

I found myself losing myself in music that evening. I had returned to a home I hadn't visited in years.

NOTE: Since my idea of Taya having a friend who died didn't come until after the idea of his play, the fact that the play fits so well with his backstory is actually a coincidence. A crazy coincidence. A great coincidence. A useful and amazing coincidence. I feel like it works perfectly for the context of this story.

Also, yes! I got to sneak in my favorite anime, Ojamajo Doremi! Everyone watch it! Or at least listen to "Friends." But some of the videos of that song may contain mild spoilers... But Ojamajo Doremi is such a long series that spoilers might be impossible to avoid before finishing it... Lol.

Yes, Taya says "Ah sou?" It's basically shortened "Sou desu ka?" Basically, "Is that so?" "Sou" itself can also be shorthand for "Sou, ne" or "Sou desu ne" which means "That is so" and is often used to say "Oh well."

It's funny how English and Japanese both seem to have the same so/sou in it!