Music

"Kaname-senpai, why do you play music?" six-year-old Ango asks as he stares at the instrument in the older boy's hands. Kaname looks at him with a smile on his face, one that tells Ango that he's about to teach him something new.

"Does playing this look easy to you, Ango?" Kaname asked, holding up the trumpet. The boy considered it for a moment, answering: "I don't know; it's nothing like anything I've tried before."

"Maybe you should; being able to learn new things is a skill one must have" Kaname said "But of course, that's not the only reason. I originally started to learn in order to learn patience and how to concentrate."

"Hmm… but I already have both of those skills" Ango hummed thoughtfully.

"I don't question your ability to concentrate, but your patience still needs some work." Kaname said with a chuckle. Ango pouted, but didn't argue; if Kaname said so, then it must be true.

"Why did you choose a trumpet?" he asked instead.

"My uncle plays one as well, so I had a teacher" Kaname told "Would you also like to learn to play a trumpet, Ango?"

The boy thought for a moment before answering: "No."

"No? Why so?" Kaname was genuinely curious.

"I want to use my time to learn something more useful" Ango told "I need to get as good as I can in these 11 years that are left."

"That's a good way of looking at things" Kaname admitted "But sometimes it's okay to take a break and do something enjoyable."

Ango just stared at him blankly, confused.

"Isn't there something you like to do more than other things, Ango?"

The boy thought about it, eventually answering: "I like outdoor training more than studying in the library."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because in the future, we'll have to build everything ourselves and learn to live outside, right? I look forward to that!"

"I see" Kaname said "But then that's not purely for fun."

"Huh?"

"Never mind" the older boy said "You needed help with math, right?"

"Yeah!" Ango nodded.

XXXXX

Thinking back on this years later, at the age of 18, Ango understood the conversation they had a little better, though he still struggled to understand the point behind doing something "fun."

"Maybe I should have at least tried to learn to play the trumpet after all."