Taya's Point of View
"Speaking of book reports and such, how is your essay on classical music coming along, Uta?" I asked, when we got back to the dorm room.
"Oh... that. Well... haha!" Uta laughed sheepishly.
I could immediately tell something was up!
"Uta..." I shook my head a bit. "You're procrastinating, aren't you?"
"Well..." Uta said. "Okay. To tell the truth... yes. But. It's because I've been so busy. With your play, and all! My mind can only focus on so much at once..."
"Well, I understand." I said. "But it isn't good to procrastinate! I should help you."
"But Taya!" Uta immediately said. "You shouldn't have to overwork yourself for others so much! Remember, you also have to do that Qing's book report as well? So please! I am fine on my own."
"Okay." I said.
Uta and I went back to our dorm room and started on work. I began to concentrate on mine. But I could tell Uta was still fooling around. She started tapping around on her phone. Eventually she opened her laptop and I saw anime graphics on the screen instead of documents.
Eventually Uta even went in the kitchen and began to fool around. Just what was she doing? Was this going to be like that Procrastination episode of SpongeBob?
"Um, Uta? What are you doing?" I asked her. She had the stove on and had something unrecognizable in a pan.
"Cooking." She said.
"... But why?" I asked her. "You're usually leave cooking to me. And you're supposed to be doing tour essay."
Uta turned the heat on high and flipped whatever she had in her pan. A bit of charred, smoldering food got onto the sleeve of my coat... and ignited the fabric!
"Gaaaah!" I began to shriek! Not only was this my fifth-favorite coat and my ninth-most expensive one, but... I was on fire!
"Whyyy?" I cried out. "Why did you set me on fire, Uta? Why didn't you just write your essay?"
"What's all the commotion?" Suddenly Momo and Teto were in the room! Don't ask me how they came in here!
"HELP ME I'M ON FIRE!" I said quickly and loudly.
"Aaaah!" Teto didn't know what to do either. She began to panic and run around in circles as if she were a Sims character reacting to a fire.
Momo had a reaction to fight the fire, however. She knew there was a fire extinguisher in the dorm kitchen, and where it was. She opened the pantry, pushed things aside, and pulled open the hatch and...
A rain of thick foam sprayed all over me and everywhere!
It put out the fire, however!
"Ah! Thank you, Momo!" I smiled and bowed out of gratitude. "You're a lifesaver."
"No big deal." Momo said, smiling. "Now Uta, get back to your essay!"
"What... what are you two even doing in here anyway?" Uta asked.
"The door to your dorm was unlocked. We decided to drop in and surprise you!" Teto said.
"Oh, gee..." Uta and I both said.
That night, after a sudden burst of concentration finally hit her, Uta managed to finish her essay at the stroke of midnight.
—
A few days later...
We were finally composing music for the play. But we couldn't all do it ourselves, so we asked the music composition club to help.
Aside from various pieces of background music, this play was to have five songs with vocals.
-A song by the little girl, with additional parts sung by the doll
-A song by the doll and the best friend they meet
-A thank-you song sung by all the people the doll impacted during their journey
-The doll's final solo, shortly before their death and reuniting with their owner
-A big grand finale song everyone sings together, and even the deceased characters are singing from "the world beyond."
I had vocal parts in four out of five of these songs... I shivered at the thought. I would really need to work on my stage fright.
We were conceptualizing the doll's final solo in the play, and thinking of how it would possibly sound. The song would also be the solo I would sing, so my vocal range would be taken into consideration...
"I'm thinking... it should sound a little bit wistful, yet also hopeful? And definitely very pretty..."
"Oh. I see." IA responded. She was in the music composition club. "I think I may know what you have in mind. Do you have any lyrics I could write a tune for?"
"I may have them ready by tomorrow." I said. The rest of the club members helped me with the lyrics for the previous songs, and the musical composition club had composed wonderful melodies out of those. But I wanted to write the lyrics to the doll's final solo myself.
The next day...
"There is something I need to say." Uta said.
"Yes?" We responded to her.
"You know how I have to sing in three out of five of these songs?" Uta asked.
"...Yeah?" We said.
"Well... I'm not a very good singer." Uta said. "If I were to sing, it would ruin the production quality of your performance by a lot. So I suggest my singing voice should be dubbed over by someone in the choir."
"Oh no..." I said. "Uta, I was really looking forward to your singing. And to our duet song!"
"Taya..." Uta said. "You know it just won't work, right?"
"Don't be so negative, Uta..." I said. "I don't think you're all that bad honestly! And shabby or not, I want you to sing, with your real voice."
"Why do you want that so much?" Uta asked me.
"It'll be great for you, I just know." I smiled.
"I agree!" Kyo said.
"I think we all think Uta should just sing." Merli said.
"Really?" Uta asked.
"Yeah." We were basically all in agreement.
The musical composition club entered the room.
"I created a small sample of what you suggested the song sound like." IA said. "But I'm afraid I can't go any further without your lyrics to go by."
"Oh, it's fine. I have my lyrics right here now." I said, presenting them to IA.
"I see..." IA said, reading over them. Yukari looked over her shoulder.
"It's so sad, yet pretty..." Yukari said.
"By the way, would you like to hear the sample of what I composed?" IA asked.
"Sure." We all said.
She pressed play on her phone, and delicate sounds from the piano wafted into the room, melodious and serene... then accompanied by a flute. It started off slow, then at a certain point, picked up a bit in speed. It had a rather serene, yet almost wistful feel to it.
"Oh... it's perfect! You should build on what you already have!" I said.
"Thank you." IA said. "To tell the truth, Yukari composed most of it. She's a rather adaptable learner."
"Huh." I said. "That's really incredible, Yukari."
"Hehe, thanks." Yukari blushed. "Wow, IA and Taya complimented me..."
I could tell she was mostly blushing due to IA's compliment though...
—
A few days later, we were in the dorm. I heard Uta groan and mumble from her bedroom. She came out with a sour-looking face.
"What's up?" I said consolingly.
"I got a call from my dad." Uta said.
Oh? Uta had never told me about her family before. Did she not like her father? What about Uta's mother? Was she nice?
"Oh." I said. "Um... I haven't heard you talk much about your family before." I responded.
"I'm not really close to them." Uta said. "Except for maybe my three siblings. We're similar in age, but they all go to different colleges than me. And we're all too busy to ever meet up. That's why you've never met them."
"Oh." I said. I was feeling so intrigued. I had no idea Uta had siblings either! Three of them! What were they like? Did they look like her? What kind of hobbies did they have? Were they all just as nice as Uta?
"So..." I continued. "Um. About your father... Do you not like him?"
"Not really." Uta said. "He doesn't want me to pursue music."
"...But why?" I asked.
"Well, you see..." Uta sat down on the couch next to me. I could tell I was in for a bit of a long backstory. I was glad Uta was comfortable enough to share something so personal with me, yet I also wish I had known earlier.
"My mother passed away when I was four years old." Uta said.
"Oh." I said. I felt as if something in the room had broke. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize." Uta said. "Though I appreciate it..."
"Okay." I said.
"So, anyway..." Uta continued. "I was four years old when she passed. My oldest brother Kanade was eight. My other older brother Hibiki was six. My little sister Koe was two. Anyway, my mother loved music. That's why she named us all after Japanese musical words. She loved to sing as well. After she passed away, my father became really ill-tempered and forbid us all from ever singing. He told us that it just brought him painful memories of our mother. He wanted none of us to pursue music for the same reason."
"That's so sad..." I muttered, trying to give my best consolation. "I'm really sorry. You must have been so distraught by all of that. Having your father become so anguished and taking it out on you and your siblings probably didn't help at all either. But... now that you're away from him, you can pursue music freely, right?"
"Well... that's what I'm concerned about now." Uta said. "He just called me. He still has no idea I'm going to a music college... but apparently he just found out my major is music. He tried to talk me into switching to majoring in business, like he's been trying to for years. Now I'm scared he's going to find out that Sonare is a music college... as if the name didn't already tip him off, you know?"
"Well... why doesn't your dad try to keep your mother's memory alive with music?" I asked. "I... I know how it feels to lose somebody. Saya loved music too. I use music to keep her memory alive. Why can't your dad do the same?"
"It's just. My dad is a very difficult person." Uta sighed. "Oh well. I'm sorry I had to mix you up in my troubles."
"No, it's fine!" I answered, smiling. "I'm glad I got to learn all this about you. Now I feel we are closer. And you can always talk to me whenever you're troubled again, okay?"
"Okay." Uta smiled. "You're such a great friend and listener, Taya. Thank you. I can tell you've grown and matured a lot as a person since I opened up to you about my depression too."
"I have?" I asked.
"Yeah." Uta said. "Being able to open up to me about your memories with Saya was probably what it took."
"Well... I think it was because I met you." I said. I spoke honestly from the bottom of my heart. I really did feel Uta was helping me grow.
Uta gave me a smile.
"Uta, can we hug?" I asked. I noticed that Uta usually wasn't too big on hugs, unless I needed comfort.
"Sure." She said.
I gave her a tender and sweet hug. I noticed her face was a bit warm...
—
It was now time to work on costumes for the play. We also have gotten pretty good at memorizing the script and effortlessly incorporating movements! Now we just needed the finishing touches so the magic could happen...
Uta's rather eccentric classmates, Miki and Iroha, were helping with designing costumes, along with Gumi, the head of costume design in the club.
Apparently Miki and Iroha loved character design. They also loved cosplay. This was really a perfect task for them!
I gave them descriptions of what I wanted the characters to look like. Honestly, I had this vision in my head that everyone wore clothes that had a fantasy flair to them. Sort of. They were actually more Victorian than anything. But also in varying waves of elegant. Some of the characters were rich, and some were rather poor, but they all looked pretty dashing.
"So... kind of like your tailcoat, Taya?" Ruby laughed.
"Um... I guess?" I answered. "But... more otherworldly."
"I think I know what Taya means!" Miki squeaked. "Let me pull up a good picture of the style."
Miki began tapping away on her phone.
"Oh! This!" Miki showed me her phone. "This is an image from the anime series, Pandora Hearts! Is this what you meant, Taya?"
Ah! That was exactly what I meant! My eyes had gotten so big, probably, and that was most like why Miki was laughing. I was just thinking about how badly I wanted to wear those clothes!
"Yes! That's exactly it!" I answered. "I think the doll should wear something a bit like the man in black is wearing! But with just a bit more frills!"
"Oh, him? His name is Gilbert Nightray..."
Miki then started rambling on and on about Pandora Hearts and Gilbert.
"So, you would like the outfits in your play to have this kind of flair?" Iroha asked me as Miki was rambling to Uta (who was being patient and nodding periodically.)
"Oh, I would love that." I said.
"I think we can do something like that." Iroha said. "We won't directly rip off the character designs, but we'll use them for inspiration. And you said more frills, right?"
"Oh, yes!" I grinned.
My sizes and measurements were taken that day, along with the other members of the club, so that the costumes would fit us just perfectly.
A week and couple days later, my costume was finished! Wow! It was so elegant and wonderful! And fancy and posh and debonair and perfect! It even had a top hat!
"Do you like it, nyaa?" Iroha asked.
"It's incredible!" I said. "Amazing work! Thank you so much!"
"I'm glad we could help out a friend of Uta's." Miki said. "Or... are you two going out?"
"Oh... no!" I shook my head, flustered. "We aren't going out. She's just my close friend and roommate..."
Uta didn't hear Miki's comment. She was too busy chatting across the room with Gumi and Ruby.
"Well, it's weird calling her Uta." Miki said. "Did you know about her nickname? It's Defoko. Short for deforuto onnanoko."
"That's a little... blunt." I said. "Also, she... really isn't just a default girl."
"You know Japanese?" Miki asked me.
"Hai, sou desu ne. I am Japanese and I've stayed there over the summer before. Plus I study it." I said.
"Anyway, when are you gonna try on your costume?" Iroha asked.
"Ah, yes!" I answered. I took the costume and went down to the restroom to change.
When I stepped back into the room, well... everyone's attention was immediately diverted from what they were doing. All eyes were suddenly on me!
Did this costume really enhance my presence so much?
Uta looked the most speechless of all! Her face was turning pink again, just like before... I began to worry again! It wouldn't be good if she kept working through a fever!
But before I could ask if Uta was okay, everyone suddenly praised how good I looked.
"Taya, that outfit looks great on you!" Ruby said.
"You look like a true gentleman!" Said Nigaito.
"So dapper!" Bruno said.
"Taya, um..." Uta began to speak with her red face. She was struggling to make words! Was she really sick?
"Uta, are you alright?" I asked.
"Well..." She said. "You... look stunning."
"I have to wonder though." Kyo said. "Why does Taya always dress so elegantly anyway? I'm not judging, he looks great! But is he trying to get Best Dressed in the yearbook or something?"
I decided to admit it.
"Well... it's because... I'm short, I guess." I admitted.
"...Huh?" Everyone said in unison.
"You see, I'm not that tall. And I kind of felt insecure about it. So I thought dressing elegantly like this would make up for what I lack in height. It's kind of silly... but it does give me a boost!"
"I never noticed you were that short." Kyo said.
"Well, I'm even shorter!" Nigaito said. "What does that make me then?"
"Adorable and huggable, that's what!" Kyo answered.
"How tall are you anyway, Taya?" Ruby asked.
"Five foot and four-and-a-half inches." I answered.
"That's really not that short." Gumi said.
"Well, I've always wished I was at least five foot eight." I admitted.
"Taya." Uta spoke. "It's okay... it wouldn't feel right if you were tall!"
"I agree with Uta." Nigaito said.
"I think you're handsome just the way you are, Taya." Uta spoke again.
I appreciated the compliment. But Uta instantly covered her mouth right after she said that. Her eyes grew big too, as if there was a sour taste in her mouth.
Oh no! Was she feeling nauseated too all of a sudden? I noticed her turning pink again...
"Uta, do you need to go to the nurse's office?" I asked her.
"Ah, no." She said. "I'm fine... really."
Why was Uta acting so strange and flustered around me all of a sudden?
—
I had finished Qing's book report for her. The grade came back and I had gotten a 94 for her.
"Not bad at all, Taya!" She said to me. "Definitely better than if I had done the report. I honestly didn't get that book, like, at all. You are an impressive person Taya. You are good at music, academics, and are very trustworthy."
"Oh, not really." I said. "It was... nothing. Really."
"You are also really modest on top of it all." Qing said. "I also have another favor to ask of you. Could you come to my house and bake some cake for an upcoming party I plan to throw? I also need you to be one of the butlers. You see, a butler I was planning on hiring caught the flu. You can bow very naturally, and have amazing etiquette, Taya. You would make a very great butler."
"Oh, um... I will think about it." I said.
"Thank you so much." Qingxian said. "I will return the favor one day when I am in not such a hard spot."
"You're welcome." I said.
I walked home with Uta from theatre. Turns out she heard everything.
"Taya, you really aren't going to do that absurd request, right?" She said.
"She needs help though. She's in a bit of a rough patch, you see." I said.
"That's a blatant lie for you to feel sympathy!" Uta said. "Taya, she's rich and spoiled and selfish... and she's using you. She knows you never turn down even the most ridiculous favor, which is why she's using you as her victim! So please, learn to say 'no' next time Taya. For your own sake!"
"Uta..." I said. "Okay."
I did end up going to Qingxian's house party and baking her cake however. Her party lasted for hours, but she let me leave after two. I didn't have to be a butler for long.
Her house was very large and fancy, with a huge lawn. I could tell she was rich. It hit me that Uta might have been right. Maybe she was just incredibly spoiled. Maybe she was just very selfish.
Maybe I did have to just say no next time.
NOTE: The song composed by the musical composition club is an actual song. It's "Dolls" by Rozenkruez-P feat. Kagamine Rin. It was also the song that inspired Taya's plot. It will be Taya's solo in the play.
I also made an UTAU cover of Soune Taya singing Dolls at a higher key, since I prefer the higher range of his voice. Google "Soune Taya Dolls Higher Key" and there should be a video of it uploaded by "Ame Sugar" (that would be me.)
I'm sorry there was absolutely no mention of Uta's siblings until now. I only learned her siblings had actual UTAU voices when I was in the middle of writing this story. That was when I wanted to incorporate them. I may edit previous chapters to include mentions of her siblings though.
Yes, Kanade is Defota. Hibiki is Defosuke. They needed actual names. No, they're not meant to be named after Suite Precure, haha.
Also, I actually have not watched or read Pandora Hearts. But it is on my watch/read list!