Kanon shifted a little, slowly opening her eyes. Fluorescent lights on the ceiling, the curtain surrounding her, and the smell of disinfectant in the air were the first things she noticed. Then, she suddenly remembered passing out during the wind ensemble club meeting. She sat upward, brushing her unruly hair and cupping her face. Her stubbornness had cost her. She suddenly heard faint metallic clinking and noticed the curtain shift to one side.
The view from outside the window... it was already sunset.
"How are you feeling?"
Kanon turned to the school physician, who was standing by the foot of the clinic bed she was in. "I'm a little fine now," she answered. "My nose still feels a little stuffy, but my head doesn't hurt as much."
"Some students brought you here," the school physician explained. "They said you passed out in the middle of a club meeting."
"Oh that…" Kanon uttered, looking away. She was ashamed of the incident. "Honma ni gomen nasai…"
"Aotsuki-san," the school physician said sternly. "I understand that you have obligations to fulfill. But as this school's doctor, as all students and staff here, your health and safety must come first."
"Hai."
"If you feel unwell, the door of this clinic is open," the school physician reminded. "I could have written a recommendation for you to be let off early. You didn't have to go through all subjects in your condition… especially PE."
"Hai, Toriyama-sensei," Kanon nodded.
"Your friend worried about you, you know." The school physician pointed to the left side of the clinic bed.
"Eh?" Kanon looked to her side, astonished at what she had seen. Reina was sound asleep, slumped over the side of the bed with her head resting over her arms. Kanon felt even more ashamed of her actions.
"Eto… I need to go to the other building for a meeting with the all the coaches," the school physician said. "The school nurse left already. If you're leaving ahead of me, lock the door. Your health report copy is on the nurse's desk."
"Hai, arigatou gozaimashita."
"Careful on the way home, okay? Get some rest over the weekend." The school physician waved as she walked towards the door.
With her blurry vision, Kanon watched the physician leave. Then, again, she turned to Reina. She felt terrible for making her worry. Reluctantly, she reached over to touch her head.
Reina suddenly stirred upon Kanon's touch. "Mojacchi…" she uttered as her eyes slowly opened. Then, she sat up and stretched. She turned to Kanon, who had been watching her.
"Daijobu desu ka?"
"I'm supposed to ask you that," Reina said.
"I just need to go home, I guess," Kanon said. "Toriyama-sensei told me to rest over the weekend."
Reina stood and sat on the side of the clinic bed. She slightly inclined, her palm reaching over to touch Kanon's forehead.
"Eh?" Kanon suddenly shifted her vision to the side, feeling her heart stop and her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Reina was too close.
"You're still feverish," Reina commented. "Ah. Eto…" She reached for her right pocket and took out Kanon's glasses. Wiping both lenses and opening them, she reached in again and wore them on Kanon.
"Arigatou," Kanon said, slightly adjusting her frames along her nose bridge.
"You were so drenched last night," Reina said. "I wanted you to come in so you could dry yourself, but you were in such a hurry."
"Gomen ne," Kanon apologized. "I was in a hurry to go home because we had school the following day. I didn't want to miss the tests."
Reina shook her head. "You didn't have to come, you know," she said. "You can have your tests scheduled in case you miss out because of an illness."
"Gomen ne…" Kanon apologized again, tilting her head and glancing to the side. She suddenly fell quiet.
"Anou… You didn't tell me you were attending Kitauji. When I saw you with Nobo-niisan, I was surprised."
"That…" Kanon trailed, again, turning to Reina. She was surprised too when she learned from Taki-sensei minutes before her orientation. "I was surprised too, you know," she said. "I was told Rikka offered you a slot. Rikka is a good school, isn't it?"
Reina shook her head. "I didn't take it," she said.
"Because… Nobo-niisan is here?" Kanon guessed. She overheard Reina's father and her mother talk about it while she was still in London. Her father said he knew even if his daughter has not said anything. But he was firmly against her pursuing Taki-sensei because besides the age gap, his father, Taki Tohru, was a womanizer during his younger days. He feared the younger Taki might have inherited that trait from his father. Kanon knew of the womanizing stories. She wanted to tell Reina, but as she promised, the story was to remain a secret until Reina's father finally opens up about it.
Reina nodded. "I actually thought he'd notice," she said, sighing. "But from how I see things, it's obvious I've no chance at it."
Kanon knew by accident exactly why Taki-sensei was uninterested. But Taki-sensei himself requested never to mention it to anyone. She suddenly felt guilty for keeping one secret after another from Reina. "Eto… Maybe I'm not in my right age to say it, but you're still young," she reasoned, shrugging. "We are still young."
"Kaa-san did say that," Reina said. "But it's not like I mind now. It doesn't really bother me, to be honest." She fell quiet for a moment, then she spoke again. "Eto… Besides that, I was also surprised about Kitauji's offer, more so that you actually took it."
"My alternative learning program in Mishkin was only supposed to last for two years," Kanon explained. "In the last year of the program, I was offered by a few Kansai district schools to play for them, including Rikka and Kitauji. But when Naito-sensei died in an accident, some of the Tokyo campus students were offered free schooling in London while taking his place until the MLJ's schedule of concerts were finished. Playing with the MLJ was an opportunity. It was hard to refuse." The MLJ, the Mishkin London Junior Division Philharmonic Orchestra, was one of Mishkin's established ensembles overseas. Naito Tsubasa was a soloist who had played alongside three generations of the MLJ, including the current. He was also said to be the best. "When the run finished, I decided to finish freshman year and my other commitments. I wanted to go back to Japan. Rikka and Kitauji both had open offers for me. All I needed to do was choose. I chose Kitauji."
"Demo… Why here? Why not Rikka? Rikka was a better opportunity."
Kanon knew Reina was going to ask that. She had a number of reasons. But the question seemed to be an opportunity for her to come clean. "Because I thought you were going to be there," she answered. "I thought it would feel awkward." She paused, looking away. "You just stopped talking to me. If I saw you there, I wouldn't know what to say."
"But I am here, ne?"
"Hai."
"And we're talking now? Ne?"
"Hai…"
"Mojacchi."
"Hai..." Kanon lifted her head.
Reina reached out and firmly pinched and stretched Kanon's cheeks.
"Rei-kuuuuuu!" Kanon whined in a garbled tone, feeling pain from both sides of her face.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Kawaii…" Hazuki uttered softly as she peeped through the glass window of the clinic door.
"What are they doing? Let me see!" Sapphire whispered at Hazuki. She was listening through the door as she could not reach the window. Vertically-lacking, she was often at a disadvantage.
"Just talking," Hazuki answered. "They're laughing now. Wow… I've never seen Kousaka-san laugh like that before."
"Wow, that's something," Sapphire remarked, then looking back at Hazuki.
"Hear something yet?" Hazuki asked.
"No luck," Sapphire answered. "I can't hear them at all." She suddenly spots a foot stool from a distance and hurriedly retrieves it. She placed it next to Hazuki and stood on top. Bending her knees a little, she leaned and discreetly peeped through the glass. "Look at them. They're like children."
"Guess we won't have anything to hold onto after all," Hazuki said, glancing at Sapphire. "But you know, they look cute together."
"Kumiko-chan should see this," Sapphire said.
"I still ship Kumiko-chan with Tsukamoto-kun, though," Hazuki expressed. "But anything can happen. Like this one."
"Sou desu ne," Sapphire agreed. She hated admitting the apparent, but… "I do admit they look good together. I see chemistry, Kanon the Gentle and Reina the Fierce. Kumiko-chan should be threatened."
"It's obvious Kousaka-san and Kumiko-chan have something special," Hazuki observed, sighing. "But… Kumiko-chan can be so dense. She can't take a hint."
"Who can't take a hint?"
The two gasped to their surprise. Then, they carefully looked over their shoulders.
Kumiko was behind them, arms folded, face flat as B.
"K-Kumiko-chan! P-Pleasant surprise!" Hazuki stuttered.
Sapphire stepped down the stool, smiling awkwardly.
"You two…" Kumiko said, palm on face. "I was waiting for you at the club room. Everyone's gone home already!"
"Ssssshhhh!" the two hushed Kumiko, gesturing in chorus.
"G-Gomen ne, Kumiko-chan," Sapphire faltered as she apologized. She admitted being so caught up in the moment that she forgot Kumiko was waiting for her and Hazuki from the storage area.
"What were you two doing, anyway?" Kumiko asked in a lowered tone.
"Mitte!" Hazuki gestured, pulling Kumiko closer to the clinic door. Again, she reached upward to peep through the glass pane.
Kumiko positioned between Hazuki and Sapphire, who, again, took her place on the stool. "They're still inside," she observed, chuckling. "They're like little kids."
"Hai," Sapphire agreed. "I've never seen Kousaka-san so comfortable."
"Reina and Kanon-chan grew up together," Kumiko informed, glancing at the other two. "Reina said they hadn't seen each other in a while."
"That explains a lot," Hazuki said. "But I'm a bit worried. You know, stories…"
"It's not good to make up stories," Kumiko said. "I hope nothing bad happens again this year."
"Hai," Sapphire remembered. It was an unpleasant experience for everyone. She imagined what Kaori and Reina must have felt. She stepped further to her right to get a better angle, but her movement made one of the foot stool's legs disjoint. "Yaiii!" she exclaimed, losing her balance and toppling over Kumiko and Hazuki.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"What was that?" Reina uttered.
Kanon heard the blunt sound and felt the impact on the floor. "You stay here," she said. "I'll go and check. She swung her legs to the other side of the bed and slipped into her shoes. Then, she approached the door. She peeped through the glass first but saw nothing. Carefully turning the knob, she pushed the door and exited. Her peripheral vision caught three girls dusting themselves by the wall. She turned to the side. Kumiko, Hazuki, and Sapphire... For some reason, she was not surprised. "You three…" she said flatly with eyes narrowed. "What were you doing?"
"Gomen ne, Kanon-chan," Hazuki apologized. "We couldn't help it."
Kanon sighed. 'So this is the "color" Nobo-niisan was talking about,' she thought. "I'm not mad. Just don't get the wrong idea," she assured. "I don't know about her, though. She might not be so pleased if she caught you."
"We know," the three chorused.
Kanon chuckled. "We've all had quite a day, haven't we?" she said. "I'll be going home in a while. Will you be staying late?"
Sapphire shook her head. "We'll be heading home once we close the classroom," she told Kanon.
"Ah. Careful on the way home, okay?"
"Hai. Kiotsukette, Kanon-chan," Kumiko said. "Get some rest during the weekend. See you on Monday."
"Enjoy the weekend. See you on Monday." Kanon saw the three off first then headed back inside.
"What happened?" Reina asked, one hand holding Kanon's sick report. She was standing next to the nurse's desk.
"Just some students playing in the hall," Kanon answered, closing the door behind her and approaching Reina.
"Ah."
"It's already dark outside. We should be heading home," Kanon said. "Anou… Going home with someone?"
Reina shook her head. "Kumiko told me she'll be going home with Katou-san and Kawashima-san," she said.
"Ah…" Kanon hesitated a little on what to say next. "Eto… we can go home together…" She suddenly paused.
Reina stared back at Kanon but said nothing.
"…if it's fine with you."
Reina exhaled as a smile escapes from face. "You don't have to be so awkward, you know," she said, approaching and handing over Kanon's sick report. She turned around and headed to the lounge chair where their bags were placed. "Kumiko brought your bag in earlier, just in case."
Kanon smiled, sighing to her relief.
Reina placed her bag over her shoulder. "Shall we go?"
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Doushitano, Haruka?"
"Nanimou," Haruka answered, pocketing her phone. "Just checking something."
"Umhmm…" Asuka nodded. "And what might that something be?"
"You've been restless the whole afternoon," Kaori remarked.
"I was waiting for a message, that's all," Haruka said, shrugging. It was difficult to bluff under her breath and in front of close friends. But she needed to do just that.
"Message?" the other two chorused. "From?"
"An old friend," Haruka answered briefly. She felt uncomfortable being asked private questions, despite being with her closest friends. She has yet to reveal anything to them yet. She was not ready.
"Old friend?" Kaori asked as a follow-up.
"We're here!" Asuka suddenly said, stopping by the bookstore window.
Haruka and Kaori stopped walking. Kaori looked upon the sign. "Uso," she said, sighing. "We know this place. We used to stop by here after practice."
"Oh," Asuka uttered, scratching her head. "My poor memory is failing me."
"You just wanted to come here for your GL novels," Kaori said flatly.
Haruka suddenly noticed two girls in Kitauji uniform exit the bookstore. The ribbon color is maroon, indicating that the girls are sophomores. The two girls stepped to the side and stood a few steps away from Haruka and her friends.
"I saw an upperclassman and Kousaka-san take Aotsuki-san to the clinic today," the girl on the left said.
"Eto…" the other one said. "Aotsuki-san has been sick since this morning but still attended class."
'Nani?' Haruka thought, side-glancing at the girls.
"Oh… I hope she'll be okay."
"She just needs to rest. Anyway, it's the weekend."
Haruka discreetly watched the girls as they walk past her and her friends.
"Yuuko told me about Aotsuki Kanon already," Kaori said. "She was formally introduced to the club today."
"Honma ni?" Haruka said. "Taki-sensei must've been optimistic."
"He's always optimistic," Asuka said, chuckling. "Even when he drives the members mad, he's smiling."
"Just like you?" Kaori implied.
"Great minds think alike," Asuka quoted. "So they say."
"Eh? Nani?!" Kaori exclaimed with eyes narrowed.
Haruka blankly watched Kaori and Asuka's banter. Her mind seemed to be elsewhere. Her phone buzzes through her pocket. She blindly picks it up and unlocks it.
[Hello. Sorry it's late. Boarding the train in a while. I'm on my way home. I'll message you once I'm home.]
Haruka sighed to her relief and typed her reply.
[Okay. Kiotsukette. I'll wait for your message. We just made a quick stop. I'll be home in a while too.]
"Haruka?" Kaori suddenly called out.
"Eh?" Haruka looked back at Kaori as she pocketed her phone. Her friends were already at the entrance.
"Ikimashoo!" Kaori gestured.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Kumiko read the time on her watch, then glanced outside the moving view from the train window. 'I wonder if they're okay,' she thought. She thought about waiting for them instead of heading home with Sapphire and Hazuki. But she had already told Reina she would be going home with them. That, and probably because she felt Reina and Kanon needed time together. She was glad knowing they were in speaking terms now. But while she felt that she did the right thing, something in her chest made her feel uncomfortable about it.
"Kumiko-chan can be so dense. She can't take a hint."
'Hint…' Kumiko thought, then heaving a sigh.
"Not going home with Kousaka-san tonight?"
Kumiko was suddenly cut from her thoughts. She turned to her right and saw Shuichi right next to her. She was so lost in thought that she did not notice him at all. "I thought you went home early," she said.
"I bumped into an old friend," Shuichi explained. "We talked for a while. Anou… how is Aotsuki-san?"
"She's okay now," Kumiko answered. "Reina just said she needed to rest over the weekend."
"Ah… that's good to hear." Shuichi slouched, crossing his arms. "I envy you, you know," he confessed. "What I'd trade with you just to sit next to her in class."
"Ha?" Kumiko uttered, frowning. Shuichi was not in her class this year. But apparently, he knew she sat next to Kanon. "No, you won't. I'm not sharing her with you."
Shuichi chuckled. "Eto… the friend I met earlier," he said. "I told her Aotsuki-san transferred to Kitauji. She wasn't exactly surprised, and she kind of told me something."
"Honma ni?"
"It's nothing really interesting to me, but…" Shuichi paused for a moment. "She and Aotsuki-san were classmates. Aostuki-san and Kousaka-san were very close, she told me…"
"I already know that, Shuichi…" Kumiko interrupted. "It's not a secret."
"She also told me rumors in their school went about that they had a 'special' form of relationship."
"Eh…" Kumiko's face twitched. She had a thing for imagination and the farfetched. But the rumors seem too wild for her system not to accept it.
"They must have been really close for a wild rumor like that to be spreading out," Shuichi said, chuckling again. "But you know, I think I understand it at some point. Kousaka-san didn't have a lot of friends then, and when we didn't have practice, she always headed out early."
"Y-you shouldn't say things like that, you know," Kumiko stammered. What she had seen earlier was more than enough proof. But as Kanon said, it was not meant to be taken the wrong way.
"Just telling you in case something blows up again," Shuichi said. "You know, the girls in the club can make things worse."
Kumiko exhaled. Of course, Shuichi had a point. "They're just very close," she stressed. "I hope they don't fuss over it so much."
"Ah, you are right," Shuichi nodded.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Taki-sensei paused as he looked at the wide view from outside the hall. It was already evening. Club session finished a little late for today. But it was the end of another busy school week. He was looking forward to resting better for the night. He stretched a little and made his way back to the faculty room. As he neared, he noticed the sliding door was slightly open, and there was light peering through opening. He remembered shutting the door and turning off the lights before going to the rest room. He stepped in, pushing the sliding door a little more to the side, and entered.
Two people were inside, the wind ensemble club's vice advisor, Matsumoto-sensei, and one of the sophomore classes' homeroom teachers, Shoda-sensei.
Taki-sensei closed the door and went back to his desk.
"Working late again, Noboru-kun?" Shoda-sensei asked. Mug in hand, she was heading for the water dispenser.
"Ee, Amaya," Taki-sensei answered. His eyes followed Shoda-sensei as she returned to her desk nearby. "Working late, too, I see."
"The club was invited to play in a fundraiser next week," Shoda-sensei said, fixing herself on her seat. "We had a long discussion."
"Ah… sou desu ka," Taki-sensei said, shuffling through one pile of quizzes on his desk.
He and Shoda-sensei were oriented into Kitauji High School at the same time. While he was hired to teach music and arts, she was hired to teach math. Shoda-sensei is also the advisor of the school's light music club. Their shared interest in music was one of the reasons they immediately developed a close friendship.
"How was club today, Noboru-kun?" Shoda-sensei asked.
"I oriented Aotsuki-san into the wind ensemble this afternoon," Taki-sensei answered.
"You did?" Matsumoto-sensei uttered in her usual stern tone. Apparently, she was listening. "She was sick. We reminded you here earlier."
"Wasureshita ja nai," Taki-sensei said. "I didn't. But she decided to push through it."
"Students can be complex cases," Shoda-sensei said. "Either they try too hard or they don't. I wanted to send her home today. But she said she needed to complete her scheduled tests because of her scholarship."
"Attitude like that goes far," Matusmoto-sensei remarked. "But health should be a priority. She won't enjoy success if she doesn't take care of herself." She put down her pile of papers on her desk and opened her drawer.
Taki-sensei nodded. While he and the vice advisor motivated everyone in the club, they put health before everything. "Ne, Amaya," he called out to Shoda-sensei.
"Hai?"
"Have you met with Mishkin-Onoe-san yet?" Taki-sensei asked. "You have a schedule, remember?" He was referring to Kira, Kanon's manager. From how it was relayed to him, Mishkin decided to sign Kanon under its own management after her exit from the alternative learning program. Kira, one of the younger heirs of the Mishkin Conservatory, was said to have taken a pause from teaching in the conservatory to handle Kanon's career personally. Since Kanon's return to Japan, Kira has also served as one of her assigned guardians.
"Ah…" Shoda-sensei uttered. "We met while you were still at the convention."
"And?"
"Eto… Besides reminding her of school regulations, we also discussed Kanon's schooling and workload, knowing that she has obligations off-campus. Kira cleared it wasn't as tight as the school admin described it. But she did say that should Kanon need to absent herself because of other matters, she will inform us beforehand."
"Ah…"
"She also told me she teaches at the new arts school near the sports park -" Shoda-sensei's phone suddenly buzzes, interrupting her. She quickly picks it up. "I need to get this," she said. "Sumimasen." She promptly excused herself and exited the faculty lounge.
Taki-sensei picked up his mug and headed to the water dispenser. He lowered a little, placing his mug under the hot dispenser tap and pushing the lever in the process.
"Have you told her yet?"
Taki-sensei looked over his shoulder to glance at Matsumoto-sensei. Then, he looked back into his mug, waiting until water fills more than half of it. Pulling his mug back, he stood up right, saying, "Mada."
"Naze ikenai no?"
'Why not…' Taki-sensei wondered as he walked back to his desk. He placed his mug on the table and sat down. He took a pack of tea from his jar. Unsealing the paper pack, he lifted the tea bag out and dipped it into his mug.
"Noboru…" Matsumoto-sensei called Taki-sensei's attention.
Taki-sensei sighed. "Don't you think it's best not to complicate things, Matsumoto-sensei?" he asked smilingly, covering his uneasiness.
"I love complexities, Noboru," Matsumoto-sensei said. "It's why I became a teacher."
-0-0-0-0-0-
Reina inhaled as she reclined against the bench, feeling the light, cool air brush on her cheeks. She opened her eyes to the view across the river. The bright lights of the city glittered from a great distance. It relaxed her. It was the reason she would sometimes come on her own and sit on her usual spot along the riverbank at night. It had been quite a day for her.
"Reina?"
"Kumiko?" Reina looked over her shoulder and saw Kumiko, still in uniform, descend to the riverbank and approach her. Kumiko's presence seemed to void whatever else was around them. Everytime she came into view, she was all Reina could see… like a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
"Hazuki-chan, Midori-chan, and I hung out a little longer. Then, I went to the konbini to check out something," Kumiko said. "What are you doing here?"
"Just having time off," Reina answered, again looking ahead.
"Sou desu ka," Kumiko said, sitting next to Reina. She pressed her hands against the bench seat and looked to the view across the river. "The city lights look nice from here."
Reina nodded.
"How is Kanon-chan?" Kumiko asked.
"She was still feverish when we left school," Reina answered. "By the time we arrived at her place, her temperature had gone up again."
"Ah…" Kumiko uttered in a low tone. "Will she be okay?"
"I hope so." Underneath the brevity of Reina's words was the worry. She worried about Kanon. "I want to see her tomorrow. I mean, so I could check on her…" She trailed but decided to say nothing more.
"You should," Kumiko urged. "She probably needs company."
Reina nodded. She was told Kira would be out for the weekend. She was supposed to go to Tokyo to represent Kanon in a meeting, as she had been advised by the school physician to rest for the weekend.
"Demo… how about you? How are you feeling now?"
Reina glanced at Kumiko, smiling. "Okay, I guess," she said. Kumiko's words last night were the last blow to her ego, so it seemed. In the end, she ended up yielding.
"I'm glad you're talking now."
Reina fell quiet for a moment. "Arigatou, Kumiko…" she said softly.
"Eh? I didn't really do much," Kumiko said, smiling. "Fixing it was your choice."
"That's a pretty horrible thing to say," Reina commented. "But… I can't say no to you, can I?"
Kumiko giggled.
"Doushite?" Reina side-glanced at Kumiko. 'Why is she laughing?' she thought. That was not a joke.
Kumiko shook her head. "Sumimasen," she apologized, clearing her throat. Then, after a brief pause, she snorted. Again, she started laughing.
Reina simply stared at Kumiko. 'Mugoi…' she thought. She was supposed to be irked. But seeing Kumiko so amused because of her… Reina sighed, chuckling. "You really think it's funny, eh?" she asked.
"S-Sumimasen…" Kumiko faltered in the midst of her laughter.
"Okay…" Reina nodded, raising both hands. Then, she turned to Kumiko and lunged for her sides.
"Reinaaaaaaaa!"
-0-0-0-0-0-
In the absence of drums, bass, and brass, her left foot tapped to the beat, her head bobbing to the bluesy piano melody in the air, Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke." Kanon could hear his soulful vocals in her head while her fingers skipped gracefully along the music room piano. She remembered the words well enough that she was tempted to sing along to it.
"Kanon-chan?"
"Kanon abruptly paused before reaching the chorus, then glancing to the side. "Ohayou, Midori-chan," she greeted. Sapphire was a few steps away with her contrabass. Kanon was too caught up with the sound that she did not notice anyone come into the music room.
"Ohayou," Sapphire greeted smilingly, putting down her instrument. "You're here early."
"You too," Kanon said. "I come in early most of the time."
"Ah, sou desu ka," Sapphire said. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine now," Kanon answered, still slightly embarrassed over what happened last week. "Sorry for worrying everyone."
"Ki ni suru na," Sapphire assured. "Eto… I wanted to check out the storage to see if the storage area here has cleaning kits for string instruments. I couldn't find any over the weekend."
"I think I saw some in the third shelf," Kanon recalled.
"Arigatou, Kanon-chan," Sapphire said. "Sumimasen." She quickly headed into the storage area. Moments later, she emerged from the door with a pouch and a rag in one hand, towing one chair with her as she approached her contrabass case. "Is Kousaka-san here already?" she asked as she gently lay her case on the floor and unlatched it.
Kanon shrugged. "I think she's coming with Kumiko-chan today," she said.
"They are pretty close, aren't they?" Sapphire noted, searching for the stains on her contrabass and wiping each off with her cleaner-soaked rag.
"They attended the same middle school," Kanon said. "They weren't classmates, though. Rei-kun was in the primary section, I remember. I do remember that they were in the same club. She would tell me a few stories."
"Ah…" Sapphire stood and rotated her bass, checking for stains on its rear. "Anou… what was Kousaka-san like? I never really knew her even if we were in the same club."
Kanon chuckled. "Secretive, gifted, usually well-mannered… can get a little stubborn and troublesome when she wants to prove a point," she said. "But she is a good friend."
"It does make me curious sometimes."
"Well, Rei-kun isn't very sociable, isn't she?" Kanon said smilingly. She and Reina shared the same, private nature. "I'm sure you'll get to know her better after a while. It just needs a little more time."
"You are right," Sapphire said. She paused from polishing her instrument. "Demo… She looks more comfortable with you, though."
"Ah…" Kanon uttered, tilting her head. "We have known each other that long."
"This probably isn't something for me to say, but… you really look good together…"
"Hm…" Kanon kept her silence. That, she suddenly remembered. Her thoughts scrambled. Her system seemed to be at war everytime the thought crossed her mind.
"…like a duet, I guess."
Kanon suddenly gave a Sapphire a quizzical look.
Sapphire giggled. "But that is just me," she said.
"Thanks… I think."
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Ne, want to play from the top again? I know the bass lines."
"Hai. I'll count us in."
Reina stood with her back behind the slightly opened door of the music room. The bluesy music filled her ears. But her she paid no attention to it. 'When will you learn to say something,' she thought, tilting her head as she clenched her fist.
"Kousaka-san?"
"Eh?" Reina looked ahead. One of the bass section's members, Nakagawa Natsuki, was approaching with a euphonium case over her shoulder. Immediately, setting her thoughts aside, she stood at attention and took a few steps forward. "Ohayou, Nakagawa-san," she greeted, swallowing. She was not to let any hint of unease escape her system.
"Ohayou," Natsuki greeted back. "Natsuki is fine." Then, she smiled.
"Hai… Natsuki-sempai…" Reina said, somewhat embarrassed. Besides being a fellow section member, Natsuki is Kumiko's friend. "I guess Reina would be fine, too."
"Reina…" Natsuki echoed. "Okay then." She smiled, pausing for a moment. "I thought you were at your usual spot. I was on my way to see you, so I could return the euph before class starts."
"Ah… sou desu ka," Reina said. "Gotou-san is in the old storage area. Just put it back. The logbook is still with Matsumoto-sensei. I'll take note of it later."
"Okay," Natsuki said. "Anou… daijobu desu ka? You look a little pale."
Reina shook her head. "Daijobu desu," she assured.
"If you say so…" Natsuki said, shrugging. She somewhat stretched her neck to the music room door. "Aotsuki-san is in there, isn't she?"
Reina nodded.
"I'm glad she's okay…" Natsuki said, trailing as she turned to Reina. "Anou… this might sound irrelevant, but…" Again, she paused. "You need to play louder to be heard in bigger spaces."
Reina immediately understood what Natsuki meant but said nothing to her defense.
"No harm in trying, is there?" Natsuki said. Then, she nodded and smiled. Then, she tugged the strap of the euphonium case. "Anyway, I should keep going. Ja mata!"