pressed, though, I have no idea how I was spending all my time... and I thought my dad was kidding when he
said my twenties would fly by before I knew it. Anyway, this chapter introduces Shinobu. After writing
this chapter I finally realized why Shinobu is one of my least favorite characters in the whole series:
pretty much her entire character is focused around her crush on Keitaro. There's very little depth to her
outside of that. Remove Keitaro from the picture, as I had to do for this fic, and Shinobu's got almost
nothing to build a personality on. This is especially true if you're a manga-purist: only the anime goes
into her history at any length, and even then it's only a single episode's worth.
Er... I'm babbling, aren't I? Anyway, I profusely thank everyone who's reviewed so far. Reviews really
brighten my day, so... thanks!
Cultural Note: In Japan, all schooling above middle school (10th grade and beyond) is optional and is not
usually paid for by the state. Naru does not have to go to high school, although it would still be a very
good idea for her to do so for obvious reasons.
Disclaimer: The characters in this story, save for a few minor characters, are property of Ken Akamatsu
and are used without permission. Please do not sue me, I have no money.
HINATA GIRLS
Road to Stardom!
by TheArchimage
Naru, Mitsune, and Motoko were sitting at one of the small round tables in Haruka's tea shop. Naru blew on
her tea to cool it down a little while Motoko gulped down her glass of water. Mitsune had already finished
her tea, so she decided to start things off. She said, "Now that we have three members, things will get
tricky. We have to find members that are similar enough to who we already have so that we don't create
friction within the group, but they also need to be different enough so that we don't have two people with
the same image."
Motoko looked at Mitsune out of the corner of her eye as she put her glass down. "Image?"
"Right. For instance, you, Naru, are the pretty one..."
"I am not JUST pretty, Mitsune-san," Naru said, anger creeping into her voice.
"I didn't say that!" Mitsune said defensively. "Yikes, kinda sensitive about that aren't you?"
Naru sighed. "A lot of people have been getting rich exploiting this 'pretty face'. I'm kind of sick of
it being the only thing people pay attention to when they see me."
"All right, all right. I'll be more careful if it bugs you that much. Moving back on track... I would be
the mature big sister, and Motoko here would be the tough, butch girl."
Motoko nodded, either not catching the subtle insult or not caring. "I follow you so far. So for our
remaining members, we can't have anyone that's the same 'type'?"
"Exactly right!" Mitsune said, holding up a finger. "We need to find someone that doesn't clash with our
own images! I think that we need a smaller, younger girl for our next member."
Naru threw up her hands, exasperated. "We're making a band, Mitsune-san, not a magical girl squad!
Diversity is no match for talent! What we NEED are musicians!"
Mitsune smirked. "I haven't forgotten that, Naru. We need a younger musician... a quiet, embarrassed
little-sister type that everyone can cheer for. And I think I know just the place to find one... Seiren
Middle School."
Naru beamed at this name. "Really? Yay! That's my old middle school!"
Motoko winced. "That's one of those fancy places... right?"
-Third Show-
Heartache of a Pianist
The group walked down the halls slowly to avoid attracting undue attention. They needn't have bothered; it
was already past time for class to be let out for the day, so most of the students and faculty had left
already. Besides, the three of them did not look like middle-schoolers in the slightest. This was only
made more surreal by the fact that Motoko actually was in middle school.
Speaking of Motoko, it was her turn to look out-of-place: she was still wearing her Mintai gakuran, it
being the only clothing she currently owned. The Mintai emblem on the left side of her chest would have
sent the kids in a "nice" place like this running, so Naru lent her the green cloak she had worn a few days
ago. She was noticeably uncomfortable, clutching the cloak closed tightly with one hand.
"Now this school's a little more like the atmosphere I'm comfortable with!" Naru smiled. "It's so nice...
it's just like how I remember it. I swear, my reputation is going to be shot if I go nowhere but bars and
seedy schools."
Mitsune sighed in slight irritation. "Maybe your reputation wouldn't be so badly damaged if you didn't
insist on dropping your name so much..."
"Hey!" Naru interrupted. "You're the one who shouted out my name in a bar, so I don't want to hear that
from you. I'm just glad I get to be back in a real school again. Um, no offense to your school, Motoko."
Motoko shook her head, distracted. "None taken. I don't like my school much anyway. Even so, I do not
fit in at a place like this..."
Mitsune suddenly asked, "Hey, Naru... speaking of school, shouldn't you be looking into going back? It's
been a few days since you ran away, and I haven't seen you studying at all..."
"Whatever!" Naru blew her off. "I've got more important things to do than schoolwork right now!"
Mitsune scratched her head. "If you say so... I know high school is voluntary, but it seems to me you have
to actually know stuff if you don't want people to think of you as stupid."
"Now wait just a-!"
Naru wasn't able to finish before she heard a shriek. A small form plowed into Motoko's back, tumbling
backwards as the taller girl stumbled forward. Motoko turned her head slightly, glowering angrily. "Who
the hell just ran into me?" she snarled before whirling around.
Lying on the ground was a girl in the Seiren uniform. She was head and shoulders shorter than Motoko. She
had bluish-green hair that went down to the nape of her neck, and was currently wincing from the sudden
impact. She opened her eyes and looked up to see who she just ran into.
Motoko crouched down to get a better look at the girl. Her sneer had vanished the moment she turned around,
her expression now being one of complete calm and serenity. She held out a hand to the girl and asked,
concerned, "Are you hurt? Here, let me help you up."
The girl seemed a little unsure, but took hold of the offered hand anyway. Motoko pulled the girl to her
feet quickly, releasing her hand as soon as she was up. The girl bowed quickly and apologized, "Sorry! I
was in a rush... thank you for helping me."
Motoko shook her head and smiled as she replied, "No, it's fine. But please watch where you are going in
the future."
"R-right! Um, excuse me!" And with that the girl ran off.
Motoko waved after her, still smiling. She blinked suddenly as she turned to face her two companions.
Both Naru and Mitsune had screwed-up smiles on their faces, their mouths twisted to let only the tiniest of
snickers through. Motoko's eyes narrowed, smile dying. "... What?"
That was the signal for both of them to break into uncontrollable gales of laughter. Mitsune crumpled
over, holding her stomach while shouting, "Waaaahahaha! Motoko looks too funny when she's being polite!"
Motoko's jaw dropped. "Hey! Shut up! Even if I'm a delinquent I can be nice if I want!"
Naru wiped the tiny tears out of her eyes as she struggled to stop laughing. "Ha ha... maybe... heh...
she's just nice to younger kids?"
Motoko hastily turned to hide her face from them. "I-It's nothing like that! I just don't see any point
in bullying the weak, that's all."
Mitsune playfully tapped Motoko's stomach with the back of her hand. "There's a difference between not
bullying them and turning into a total sap."
"What did you say?!"
"Shhhh!" Naru shushed the two of them suddenly, holding up a singe finger. "Listen... do you hear that?"
The gentle sound of a piano wafted through the hallways as sleek as a spring breeze. The melody was slow
and melancholic, stopping the brewing argument instantly.
Mitsune looked at Naru. "Naru, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Naru clapped her hands excitedly. "Jackpot!"
The music room was much like any other room in the school, with the obvious addition of a grand piano at
the front of the room. The girl at said piano had navy blue bobbed hair, unadorned with any accessories
and seemingly quite plain. Her face was thin and short, her expression calmly joyful as she played. Her
fingers danced majestically across the keyboard, lightly brushing against the keys with eloquent grace.
Another girl stood just behind her, quietly listening. She had dark brown hair in pigtails, and freckles
dotted her cheeks. Also in the room, standing just by the door, was the girl with greenish-blue hair that
Motoko had run into earlier. She had just slipped in, and was still struggling to catch her breath.
The final notes lingered in the air as the song was completed. The player took a deep breath to steady
herself while clapping filled the air. Another pair of clapping hands joined the first one, startling her.
"Ah!" she gasped in surprise, then put a hand to her chest while smiling. "Kaiho-chan, I didn't hear you
come in..."
Kaiho, the girl with greenish-blue hair, pouted, "Geez, I almost missed the show. You couldn't have waited
one more minute for me, you know."
The piano girl put her hands together apologetically. "Well, Taichi-chan was in a rush because she needs
to get back home really soon, so..."
The door opened at that moment, and three taller girls busted into the room. Naru ran in at full speed
then skidded to a stop, waving her arms to keep from falling over. Mitsune and Motoko walked in behind
her at a much more leisurely pace. They glanced around the room, then turned to stare at the three
younger girls.
Taichi stepped behind the girl at the piano, asking meekly, "Um... may we help you?"
Kaiho pointed at the three girls suddenly, gasping. "Ah! You're the cool person! And those are the two
weirdoes!"
Motoko blinked, her cheeks becoming an adorable shade of pink. "C-Cool?"
Naru and Mitsune both crossed their arms over their chests as they yelled back, "Hey! Who are you calling
weirdoes?"
Kaiho huffed, "Well, you just stood there with funny looks on your faces! What am I supposed to think
about you two?"
Mitsune continued, "We have names, you know! Ahem... mine's Mitsune Konno. That one's Motoko Aoyama."
Naru followed suit, bowing with, "And I'm Naru Narusegawa."
Kaiho raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, tell me another one."
Naru frowned as she retorted, "I'm serious! I really am!"
Taichi pointed out, "Well, she really looks like the pictures in magazines, and they have been saying she's
gone missing... maybe..."
The piano girl calmed them down, "Now now Kaiho-chan... it doesn't matter whether she's that Naru or not.
She seems like a good person, so let's just hear her out." She turned toward the three older girls and
bowed. "My name is Shinobu Maehara, and these are my friends Kaiho-chan and Taichi-chan. It's very nice
to meet you."
Naru blinked on seeing the girl's face. Something about that smile seemed off. She tried not to think
about it too much, but it looked somehow... familiar, and not in a good way.
Mitsune stepped forward. "We were just visiting and we heard something interesting from this room. Are
you the one who was just playing?"
Shinobu gasped a little. "Eh? You heard that? Well... yes, that was me playing. I'm sorry, I thought
everyone else had gone home already..."
Naru beamed, "You shouldn't be embarrassed, you're really good! Incredibly good! Hey, listen... I'm going
around trying to find members for a band, and-"
Mitsune stepped in, finishing, "And if you impress us, we'll let you join up with us. But we need to hear
you first."
Naru shot her friend a look, saying, "What are you talking about? We just heard her! She's-"
Mitsune pulled her aside and whispered in her ear, "Something isn't right. Nothing I can put my finger
on... but I just want to make sure."
Naru blinked. "Oh...?"
Mitsune concluded, "I want to hear what she's capable of for myself." Mitsune raised her voice to say to
Shinobu, "Is that okay with you?"
The piano girl nodded. "Oh yes, that's perfectly fine! Let's see, ummm... how about... this piece!"
Shinobu cheerfully replaced the sheet music, humming a little to herself. "I'm going to be playing this
one at the recital tomorrow."
Taichi spoke up suddenly, "Um... Shinobu-chan, are you going to be okay? I have to go..."
"Seriously?" Kaiho responded taking a look at the clock. "Aw, man, me too. Well, the cool girl will be
with her, so I guess it's all right. Hear that... um, Motoko? We're leaving our friend in your care."
Motoko stood up straight and nodded, getting a slight blush across her cheeks. "Do not worry. I will make
sure nothing happens to her, even if it costs my life."
Taichi laughed nervously. "You don't have to go that far... well, see you tomorrow Shinobu-chan!"
"Right! See you tomorrow."
Motoko relaxed as the two girls passed her by, smiling as she waved after them. Mitsune looked at her out
of the corner of her eye and said under her breath, "Like I said, total sap..."
Shinobu set the sheet music on the piano, then stretched her fingers. "Tell me when I can start," she
said.
Naru replied, "Anytime you're ready, Shinobu-chan."
That was all the prodding she needed; after a single deep breath Shinobu began to play. This time it was a
boisterous, bouncy melody focusing on higher pitched keys. It was a joyfully vapid song, and it was
masterfully executed... but the second Naru heard it her face fell. She had figured out what was so
dreadfully wrong about her. "It was definitely her we heard in the hallway," Naru said with a touch of
pity in her voice. "She plays very well for someone her age... she must be very talented."
"There may be a little talent, but it's backed up by a ton of hard work," Mitsune agreed. "She must have
been practicing since she was really little, because she doesn't have that much natural talent. For
instance, look at her hands... they're very small and cute, right? But when it's about the piano, big
hands are better. They can reach keys easier, and there are some key combinations that are practically
impossible to do with small hands. That's why I thought she wasn't the one we heard. But even if she
is..."
Shinobu finished playing, taking a deep breath. She then turned to them with a smile on her face. "So?
What do you think?"
Naru sucked in air, waffling, "Well... it's kinda... um... how can I put this...?"
Motoko interrupted with the subtlety of a bowling ball: "It's fake."
Shinobu blinked, her jaw dropping. "'Fake'?!"
Mitsune explained, "For once I agree with her. There's nothing wrong with your playing on a technical
level... I didn't notice any mistakes, and your timing was spot on. But..."
Naru nodded. "You too, then? You didn't feel anything?"
Shinobu looked from one of them to another. "What? I don't understand... what are you talking about?"
Naru explained, "To put it simply... your heart isn't in this music. We heard what you were playing
before... it was a lot better than this. I sort of thought this when we first came in, but after listening
to that song I'm sure of it. Even though you smile like that... you're not happy at all, are you?"
Shinobu gasped, her eyes quivering. She stared at Naru in shock, unable to answer. Finally her face fell,
and she lowered her head.
That was all the response Naru needed. She continued, "It's not hard to fake a smile. I know that. But
no matter how good you are, you can't fool music. It's clear from the moment you start playing where your
heart really is. If you try to play a song that your heart isn't in, it will come out sounding robotic
and fake no matter how good you are." Naru leaned in closer to Shinobu. "Are you being forced to play?
Do you... hate music?"
"NO!" Shinobu cried, raising her head again. Her shout was so sudden that Naru recoiled. "I love music!
Music can do anything! If I play at the recital, my parents will come! They'll hear my song, and it will
make them proud! They'll remember how close we all used to be! They'll stop fighting and get back
together again, and then everyone will be happy!"
Naru blinked, her features softening. "Shinobu-chan... your parents are...?"
Shinobu shook her head, wiping her eyes with her hand. "Not yet, but maybe soon... please don't tell
anyone. I don't want other people to know. If my friends find out, they'll get concerned."
Naru nodded. "If you think that's best... but why this song? If you don't want to play it, then..."
Shinobu stopped her with, "The recital is tomorrow. Even if I wanted to change the song, I couldn't. My
teacher is expecting to hear this song, expecting me to make everyone feel good. I only want to make
people happy with my music... no matter how well I play it, a sad song can't make anyone happy."
Shinobu smiled broadly, pumping her fists. "Don't worry, I can do it! If I can pretend to be happy, just
for a little while, then everything will turn out okay!"
"That's not right!" Naru shouted back. "You shouldn't have to pretend anything! Just play what you want
to play... don't worry about whether anyone else wants to hear it!"
Shinobu swallowed, stepping backward. "But..."
Mitsune put a hand on Naru's shoulder. "That's enough," she said to her. "There's nothing more you can
say."
Naru tried to argue, "But-!"
Mitsune shook her head. "Sorry, Naru. I know this band is important to you, and I know you want to build
it the way you want. But it's important to us, too... we should have some say in who we let in. She's
just not the right person. Deep down, you know that too. Let's go."
Naru's face fell, making a small affirmative sound. Motoko sighed as she walked out of the room with Naru
and Mitsune following close behind.
Mitsune stopped at the door and turned to Shinobu. "Wanting people to be happy... that's a noble goal.
But there's something important I learned a long time ago. You can't make people happy by just pretending
everything is okay. To make people happy, you have to be truly happy yourself. No amount of lies will ever
be able to make that up."
"What?" Shinobu blinked. "What do you mean?" But before Mitsune could explain, she was gone.
Shinobu stared at the door, then sighed to herself. "I guess... I won't meet them again."
"It can't be helped," Mitsune said. "She's too young... even if she has talent, she doesn't understand
what music's really about. She's no good."
Motoko kicked a small rock forcefully as she walked. "Damn it, and we came all this way..."
Naru took a look behind her, back at the school building. "I know how she feels," she said. "And... I
want to help her..."
Mitsune shook her head. "We don't have that kind of time. We all want to get this band off the ground
quickly, so we can't be wasting our time with some kid that doesn't even understand how to use the talent
she's got."
Naru turned to face Mitsune. Her face was resolute and determined, eyes burning with passion. "But...
that's not right! I can't just sit back and do nothing! Because... I've seen her smile before, on my own
face!"
Mitsune stopped, turning to look at her. "Come again?"
Naru recovered her composure as she explained, "I used to think the same way she did... and not very long
ago, either. When I started having doubts about being an idol, I pushed them down. I thought I'd be happy
if I could make other people happy, as an idol. As long as I was making people happy, I thought that it
didn't matter whether the image I put on was real or fake. But I was wrong... that path doesn't produce
anything worthwhile. Just a lot of regret and music that has my voice but doesn't feel like mine. I
don't want her to end up like I was. If that's all that comes out of the practice she put in... I'd feel
sorry for her!"
Mitsune sighed. "You're a real pain when you get pumped up like this... so? What do you plan to do?"
Naru took a deep breath. "I'm going to that recital tomorrow. I don't know what I'll do, but I'll think
of something. Maybe I'll get a lucky break. I'll bring that girl in as a member of our band... one that
we can all be proud of!"
Motoko whistled. "Wow, what groundless confidence. I'm a little worried..."
Mitsune shook her head. "Just leave her alone. She's always like this." She looked at Naru and
said, "Alright... but that's as long as I'm willing to wait for your selfishness. And while you're doing
that, I'll be looking for other girls. It shouldn't take me too long to get a lead on a new member.
Understand me, Naru?"
Naru nodded. "Don't worry. You won't regret it."
It was the day of the recital. Finally.
Shinobu was sitting in a small chair backstage, staring at the sheet music. Ever since the day before, she
had not been able to forget those older girls that had come to visit her. She had played the conversation
she had with them over and over in her mind, and every time she did so her resolve softened a little before
she reaffirmed herself.
'You can't make people happy by just pretending everything is okay. To make people happy, you have to be
truly happy yourself.'
"That's not true," Shinobu said to herself. "If I act like nothing is wrong, my friends are happier
because they don't have to worry about me. Even if I'm not happy, I can ease other people's mind by
appearing to be."
'Just play what you want... don't worry whether anyone else wants to hear it!'
"This is what I want to play. I can make people happy with this song by pretending to be happy. Making
them happy makes me happy, so the lie will become the truth. That's fine, isn't it?"
'It's fake.'
Shinobu gasped as she remembered those words. She'd played this song hundreds of times, and no one ever
said anything bad about it. But those people yesterday saw straight into her heart through that music.
That bothered her. She didn't want to reveal what she really felt to anyone.
She composed herself and shook her head. "Yes... they're musicians. It's no surprise they could see
through my disguise. But those people in the hall... they're just parents. They won't be able to tell.
I will be strong... and they won't see past my mask. I won't let them."
"Shinobu!" came the teacher's whisper. "It's almost your turn!"
"Right!" Shinobu half-gasped, startled out of her monologue. She took a deep breath, letting her smile
settle into place. She took one last look at herself in the mirror, making sure her mask didn't have any
cracks. Satisfied, she grabbed her sheet music and stood up. Time to make this work.
"Please welcome our final performer of the evening, Shinobu Maehara, who will be playing 'Touban Nisshii'
in C minor."
Shinobu slowly walked out from the curtains as the audience politely clapped for her. It was a standard
auditorium, a grand piano set up in the middle of the raised stage. Ordinarily, playing in front of so many
people would unnerve her. But right now there was something she needed to do. Her mind was focused only
on that, and so unease never entered her mind.
Just a little bit more, she told herself. Just a little longer and everything would all work out. Smile
just like that, and there won't be any need to fake it any longer. She sat at the bench and took a deep
breath as the applause calmed down.
Shinobu stared at the sheet music, hands trembling. She was so close... all she had to do now was play the
music that was written on the sheet, and everyone would be happy. Everything would go back to the way it
used to be. Her eyes darted to the right, looking out at the audience discreetly. They were all waiting
for her, waiting for her to make them happy. She couldn't let them down now, not after coming so far.
Shinobu suddenly froze, the smile vanishing from her face. As she glanced around the hall her eyes settled
on two empty seats in the front row, the "reserved" signs still hanging on them.
'They... they're not here... they aren't coming.'
Why? She worked so hard for this night... she spent all her evenings getting ready, she gave up hanging
out with her friends to practice, she even swallowed her pain for it. But they... her parents couldn't
even be here? Not even one of them? That... that wasn't fair. A lump formed in her throat, and her
shoulders started to shake.
Was that it? Was it all for nothing, then? All the pretending and the practice couldn't even make her
happy? Then... just what was she hiding for, anyway? Was other people's happiness really so important?
'... To heck with it,' she thought bitterly, the sheet music crumpling in her hands. 'I'm sick of being
cheerful when I feel like I want to cry, I'm sick of being tough, I'm sick of being dishonest all the time
when it doesn't get me anything. I'm sick and tired of all of it. If I can't be happy...'
Shinobu tossed the sheet music to the side, letting the papers scatter across the stage. '... Then I won't
let anyone else be happy, either!'
As the crowd gasped, Shinobu raised her hands high. She didn't need sheet music to play this piece. Her
hands came crashing down, hitting the keys with dramatic gusto though the notes themselves were as soft as
ever. She let it all out. The anger she felt toward her parents, the loneliness of keeping everything to
herself, the sadness that came with a complete lack of control. She poured all of these feelings into the
keys, letting her hands play a soulful requiem. She could not have stopped even if she wanted to; her hands
had taken on a life of their own, playing as if possessed.
The music instructor, waiting in the wings, fumed, "What is that girl doing...?" He was about to step onto
the stage to stop her, but an arm shot out in front of him. He turned to see a beautiful girl with brown
hair staring out onto the stage. "Who are you? How did you get back here?"
Naru turned toward him, smiling sadly. "Can you hear it? This is what she's wanted to tell people, but
was too afraid to say. These are... Shinobu-chan's true feelings." The instructor shot a pitied look at
his student, who continued to play the dirge-like melody without stopping.
She hit the last keys, and Shinobu's head lowered as she gasped for air. There was no other sound in the
hall, and in the stunned silence Shinobu returned to her senses.
She had really done it now. She had disappointed all these people, not to mention her music instructor.
Worse, she had let out a piece of herself. She had let them see how she really was: not a strong and tough
middle school girl that could keep her spirits up and bring cheer to everyone around her, but the saddened,
hurt person that she really was. A lonely girl that lashed out at people with her music... how pitiful.
What? Why... why were they clapping? She hadn't played to make them feel better... she was trying to hurt
them. She wanted to make them feel the pain and sadness she felt. So why...?
"They liked it, Shinobu-chan."
She stood up and whirled around quickly, seeing Naru step out onto the stage from the wings. Shinobu
stood stock still, saying, "You... from the other day..."
Naru wiped her eyes dry as she said, "That was much better than what you played yesterday. It was very...
real."
Shinobu turned away from her, eyes watering. "But... why? Why would people like a song that makes them
sad? I don't understand."
Naru explained as she walked up to her, "A musician has to put her true self forward in order to make
something magnificent. When she does that, the audience recognizes her efforts and loves her for it.
Sharing what you feel with others, trusting people enough to let them know what's really in your heart...
that's what makes people truly happy. That's what music's really about."
Shinobu lowered her head, her shoulders heaving as her hair obscured her eyes from view. "So..." she said
with her back still to Naru, beginning to choke up. "It was all for nothing. The hurting and the hiding...
I was just being stupid. I'm so ashamed... I feel like I'm going to start crying any second."
"Then go ahead and cry. You can't worry about whether something like that bothers people. You shouldn't
bottle those things up. Sometimes... it's okay to be a little selfish."
Shinobu shuddered, her face twisting from the exertion of trying to hold it in. Her teeth clenched as
twin rivulets flowed down her cheeks. She whirled around, planting her face in between Naru's breasts as
she started to bawl. Naru stumbled backwards slightly, surprised by the sudden movement. She stared at
Shinobu for a moment, smiling sympathetically as she felt her shirt become wet. She then closed her eyes
as she put her arms around Shinobu, gently hugging her.
Shinbou continued to cry into Naru's chest, scarcely hearing the crowd rise to give her a standing ovation.
Women raised their handkerchiefs to their eyes while the men put on steely grimaces as they fought their own
tears back. The thunderous applause continued, even though the person they were paying tribute to was no
longer listening.
"WHAT?! You're quitting the music club?" Kaiho shouted.
Shinobu nodded, not losing her smile for a second. "Uh-huh! I talked it over with my mom and dad last
night. The instructor is mad at me for not playing the right song at the recital anyway, so she won't
care." The three had been walking to school when Shinobu decided to drop this little bomb on them, and
they continued to argue as they strolled along the sidewalk.
Taichi argued, "But... but I thought you loved music!"
"I do!" Shinobu responded. "But... the teacher was always telling me what to play and when. I felt like I
couldn't really play what was in my heart. She said that talent should be used to make people happy... I
thought that meant that only playing happy music was worth playing. But, not anymore. I think it's better
to play music that reflects your true feelings. If it's played well, even a sad song can make people happy."
"But still!" Taishi cried.
Kaiho continued, "That doesn't mean you have to give up music!"
"I never said I gave up music!" Shinobu responded happily. "You remember those people from yesterday?
They may seem kinda weird, but they're really nice people who helped me out. I've decided that I'm going
to help them. We're going to be in a band together!" She finished with an open-mouthed laugh as she turned
and ran ahead of her friends, who could only stare in utter confusion.
As she continued with her laugh that was a little more genuine than it was the day before, Shinobu thought
to herself, 'If I'm with people like them... will I be able to play a happy song for real?'
Shinobu Maehara - Keyboard
time: The Terror of Expectation, Part 1