"Hey Midoriya, what'cha looking for today?" the owner of the music store asked.
"Hey Gaku, I'm looking for a five string bass," I explained.
"We got a bunch towards the back. Finally going to learn an actual instrument?" he teased.
"Haha," I said in monotone, walking to the back where he pointed.
I looked at all of the basses and noticed only some of them had five strings.
"Hey, it was Midoriya right?" a familiar voice asked. I turned to see the girl from the cafe.
"Y-yeah, y-your n-name w-was J-Jirou, r-right?" I asked.
"Yeah, looking at basses?" she asked, walking up next to me.
"Y-yeah, I-I r-really l-like the J-Jackson JS S-Series S-Spectra Bass JS3V. T-the g-green one w-with p-purple f-frets?" I asked, trying to remember what they were called.
"Good eye, wanna try it out? The owner let's people over there," she said, pointing to a corner with amps and speakers. "You want to make sure it has a good feel when you play it," she explained.
"I-if you're s-sure," I said, grabbing the bass. I followed her and sat in a chair next to an amp.
"Alright, so plug it in and play a couple of scales," she explained.
"U-um, w-what's a scale?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, you're used to just using notes, um, I'm not sure with five string basses, wait here for a moment," she said, quickly getting up and racing to another part of the store.
"So, this is the rapscallion who's been talking to my daughter," a low voice said. I turned to see a man with long blonde hair. "Now, why should-ow!" he yelped, his voice changing at the end. "What was that for?" he asked, his voice not as low.
"Because you were being an idiot with your quirk," Jirou said. "Midoriya, this is my father, and ignoring his inability to act normal he knows more about instruments than anyone," she explained, walking out from behind him.
"Yeah, I guess I should thank you for getting her out of the lyricist block," the man said, walking up. "You can call me Kyotoku. So, you're going to learn bass and want to start with a five string, pretty good idea," he said, sitting down as his mood almost did an one-eighty.
"Y-yeah," I stuttered, slightly intimidated.
"Alright, so you'll want a book to help with most of this stuff or get a teacher. I'll show you enough to decide if you want this one or another one," he explained. "Now, for a C scale, put your finger here," he said, pointing to the third fret on the third string up. "Then open second," he said. "Then second fret on the second string, then the third, then open first, then second first, then fourth first, and lastly fifth first," he explained, pointing to each fret going to the bottom string.
"S-so the b-bottom is the f-first and the t-top is the f-fifth," I said, double checking what he was saying with what I was going to do.
"That's correct, this really is the first instrument you're learning huh? Instruments get weird at times," he sighed. "Now, let's hear this."
I played each note once before going back and playing it a little faster and to a rhythm.
"Nice, needs a little tuning but how did it feel?" Jirou asked.
"G-good, a-almost right?" I said, trying to describe it.
"Well, glad to help. If you need help figuring out what else you need I'm just going to be up front discussing practice times with Gaku," Kyotoku said, walking up to where he was.
"So, you will need an amp for playing and I would recommend a portable one if you want to practice somewhere else. A case and stand will also be needed," Jirou explained.
"C-can y-you h-help me? S-sorry, i-it'll p-probably b-be an i-inconvenience," I said, shaking my head.
"Not at all, my dad and the owner are in a band together so I normally get sent by my mom to make sure they don't take all day so I'm free to help," she said. "Not to pry but what type of budget do you have?"
"T-thousand d-dollars," I stuttered.
"That's good, so the bass is $400 and a good amp will be $300 so you have $300 to spend on a portable one and case along with any extras you want," she said. "Let's go see what we can find."
We found a portable amp for $100 and a soft case for $100. After some looking and talking Jirou said I should get a cord set with splitters and odd cords that might be useful. We found a good pack for $50.
"A-alright, so sh-should I g-get a b-book or do y-you k-know a g-good t-teacher that's ch-cheap?" I asked.
"I know of one of the greatest, and you'll even get a friends and family discount," Kyotoku said, walking over to us.
"So, the same thing as everyone else?" Jirou asked, smirking.
"Hey, your mom decided to make them free," her father shot back. "But yeah, she gives free lessons during the week. If you want, Kyoka can give you her business information."
"A-alright," I said, pulling my phone out.
"Here's her number," Jirou said, pulling a number up on her phone. I quickly added the contact.
"Th-thanks," I said.
"Well, we're heading out, see ya later kid," Kyotoku said.
"See you," Jirou said, waving.
"Y-yeah," I said, offering a smaller wave.
I bought all of the stuff and called aunt Mitsuki to pick me up and bring the stuff to my apartment. She got there after a bit and helped me move the small amp and cords while I carried the bass on my back and carried the big amp into my room.
"So, are you going to transform this place into a studio?" she asked, smirking.
"No, I don't really have enough room for that," I said, having previously considered it.
"Really? Couldn't you use the other bedroom?" she asked.
"No, that's not mine to mess with," I said.
"Alright, if you say so," she said, looking at the instruments in my room. "Well, if you need anything else let me know," she said, leaving.
I took out my phone and sent this to Mrs. Jirou-
Hello, my name is Izuku Midoriya and I was told that you offer music lessons. I was wondering if you could teach me to play a five string electric bass. I have a bass and amp if I need to provide my own.
Hello Midoriya,
My husband and daughter told me about you. I can teach you Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at four to six.
Alright, that should work for me. Where would you like to meet?
I do most lessons at my house. I'll send you the address later. Would you like to start this Monday?
If it wouldn't be an inconvenience.
Of course not, I look forward to helping you learn to play.
I looked at my phone and felt something I hadn't felt in a long time; excited, but there was still the underlying fear I always held.
She's going to hate you. Her husband already hates you and her daughter had to help you find what you needed. Why are you making this family have to deal with you?
Shut up. They offered assistance.
But you didn't need to accept it. You could've just done it yourself, but you had to burden this family with your curse.
It's not a curse that others deal with, just me. I thought.
But if they deal with you they have to deal with the curse.
No, no one else will deal with this. I thought, summoning a blade and slashing my thigh.
SHLINK!
"Shit, it's deeper than normal," I said, looking at the deep cut. I went to the bathroom and patched it up before going to practice the only scale I knew and I noticed my fingers starting to hurt. Maybe a string instrument was the best idea.
AN-
So, I know I said I was going to update this on Wednesdays but I couldn't sit on this one. Updates for this might end up being Wednesdays and once in between. This is going to get into some music territory and the reason I decided to have him start with bass is because that's what I play. We will have a chapter or two of mostly fluff and Izuku getting to know Kyoka and vice versa. Izuku might get to spend some time with an actual friend, unlike Bakugou who I decided will be on the darker side after a couple of things that will be happening in the near future. Make sure to follow, favorite, comment, and kudos! Also, join this discord where we are a cult. Link Out!
Discord: /wB5Sg26gkx
