"Ne, Kumiko-chan…" Hazuki poked Kumiko's head with the rubber eraser tip of her pencil.
Kumiko did not budge an inch. She was still, collapsed over her notebook on the living room kotatsu. She had fallen sound asleep while studying. With Hazuki and Sapphire, they were invited over at Kanon's house to review for their exams on the coming week.
"Shimatta…" Hazuki uttered, lightly slapping her palm on her face.
"Ne, Kumiko-chan!" Sapphire tried shaking Kumiko awake. "Okiru kudasai!"
Again, Kumiko did not move.
Sapphire paused for a moment, thinking of a tactic to wake Kumiko up.
"Eto… we still have English," Kanon reminded, showing the English textbook to Hazuki and Sapphire.
"We'd love a refresher on English," Sapphire said. They were doing okay in English class so far. But she thought she wanted to consider. "Ne, Hazuki-chan?" She turned to Hazuki for an answer.
Hazuki did not seem to hear her. She was too absorbed balancing and stacking one random item after another on Kumiko's head. And she was doing a good job doing just that.
"Ha-zuki-chan!" Sapphire called Hazuki's attention.
"Eek!" Hazuki screeched. The stack suddenly fell apart. Sighing, she turned to Sapphire with a frustrated expression on her face.
"Kumiko-chan, pizza's here," Kanon called.
"That won't work," Hazuki shook her head. "Kumiko-chan, the ice cream truck's coming!"
"There are no ice cream trucks here," Kanon told Hazuki, giggling.
"Ah, wasureta," Hazuki giggled, scratching her head.
"Kumiko-chan, I have cookies…" Sapphire tried.
Still, Kumiko was immobile.
"…and candy," Sapphire continued.
Nothing happened.
The three sighed and remained quiet for a moment.
Kanon suddenly put a finger up and cleared her throat. "Kumiko-chan…" she sweetly called out. "Rei-kun's here…"
Hazuki and Sapphire looked intently at Kumiko.
"…with cake."
Kumiko suddenly shifted. "R-Reina… Cake…" she uttered, yawning as she stretched her arms.
Hazuki and Sapphire's jaws dropped as Kumiko sat upward.
"Doko?" Kumiko asked, sleepily glancing around the living room.
The other three looked at each other.
While Hazuki covered her mouth with both hands, Sapphire and Kanon grinned awkwardly.
"E… Eto…" Sapphire uttered. She somewhat realized Kanon did not think it through.
"U-so!" Kumiko groaned childishly, yawning again. "There's no Reina! There's no cake!"
"G-Gomen ne, Kumiko-chan," Kanon apologized. "It was my idea."
A squint-eyed Kumiko stared back at Kanon.
"Ha?" Kanon uttered, scratching her head, appearing innocent yet sweating beads through the cool temperature.
"If I can't have cake…" Kumiko said in a husky, ghastly tone.
"Eh…?" Kanon uttered, suddenly looking confused.
"I'll eat you instead!" Kumiko suddenly lunged for Kanon.
"Yaaaaaa!"
-0-0-0-0-0-
"You can always come in when you're locked out of the house… or if you just want to stay over…"
Reina made a reckless decision to confront Kanon last night. But upon seeing her, Reina was suddenly riddled with second thoughts that, instead of confronting Kanon, she reasoned she had been locked out of the house while her parents were out for the night. But feeble as the excuse might have been, Kanon believed her. She let Reina in and handed her spare keys to the front and back door in case it happens again.
Reina returned home early this morning to see her parents off as her father is scheduled to perform in a series of concerts overseas. After doing her weekend chores and studying, she decided to return to the Aotsuki residence and stay over the weekend.
Approaching the steps, she could hear sounds of roughhousing from outside the house. 'She did say she has Kumiko and her friends over,' she thought, making her way up the stairs. The sounds grew louder as she reached the door. 'What are they doing?' she wondered. She fished out the spare keys from her pocket and opened the front door. "Shitsurei shimasu," she greeted in a slightly raised voice as she stepped in and took off her shoes.
There was no response, but the roughhousing noises continued. And it was coming from the living room.
"Eh?" Reina uttered, shrugging. She fit into her slippers as she placed her shoes on the rack. Stepping up to the hall and taking a few steps, she felt a heavy thud across the floor. Jolted, she put down her bag and hurried to the living room, pausing at the entrance.
The couch set and the kotatsu were a mess, but Kumiko, Hazuki, Sapphire, and Kanon were not there. They were at the other end of the living room, right of the mounted shelves and a few steps away from the dining hall entrance. While Kanon was curled up, the other three crouched against the floor and surrounded her.
"Gomen nasai, Kanon-chan!" Kumiko apologized in distraught.
"Ki ni suru na," Kanon told Kumiko, smiling. "You didn't do anything.
"Daijobu desu ka, Kanon-chan?" Sapphire asked.
"Daijobu," Kanon answered casually, standing as Kumiko pulled her up.
"What happened here?" Reina asked sternly as she approached them.
"K-Kousaka-san!" Hazuki and Sapphire chorused in astonished tones as they turned to Reina.
Reina's face slightly twitched upon hearing them call her by her last name again, already taking the hint that she had somewhat scared them.
"R-Reina…" Kumiko uttered, face red with apparent embarrassment.
"Irrashaimase… Rei-kun," Kanon greeted.
"Isn't it too late for that?" Reina asked.
Kanon chuckled. "Fun got the best of us, it seems," she said.
Again, Hazuki turned to Kanon. "Kanon-chan!" she uttered in shock, pointing to Kanon's forehead.
"Eh?" Kanon reached for her forehead.
Reina immediately rushed and knocked over Kanon's hand, placing a handkerchief over her forehead. She saw it too. There was a cut on the right side of Kanon's forehead, and it was bleeding. Kanon had a rather intense fear of blood, she suddenly remembered.
"It's bleeding, isn't it?" Kanon asked as she slightly lifted her head. The shakiness in her voice was evident that she sounded as if she was about to cry.
"I-Iie!" Reina denied, firmly holding her handkerchief in place with her fingers.
"Uso!" Kanon suddenly turned pale.
"Don't be such a baby!" Reina lightly scolded Kanon. She worried Kanon might collapse before they could move out of the living room. She turned to Kumiko and the others. "Gomen nasai, minna," she apologized.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Kumiko exited the front door and looked about the Aotsukis' trimmed front lawn. She stretched a little, then glancing at the time on her watch: it was past three in the afternoon. She sighed, still somewhat affected by the earlier incident. She was only joking when she threatened Kanon and chased her around the living room. But she and Kanon had been so caught up with the nonsense, Kanon accidentally injured herself, and their group study session had to end for today.
"Wonderful weather we're having," Sapphire remarked, smiling to the clear sky as she stood at the foot of the porch steps.
"Sou," Hazuki agreed, leaping from the steps.
"I think I want ice cream…" Sapphire mouthed, as if hypnotized by the shifting clouds.
"There's an ice cream parlor near the station," Hazuki said. "We can go, if you want."
Sapphire nodded. "I'd like that," she said, turning to Kumiko. "What about you, Kumiko-chan?"
Kumiko nodded as she made her way down the steps. Maybe cooling down a little would help, so she thought. Kanon did say it was an accident, and there was nothing to feel sorry about as she blindly ran towards a sharp corner and fell on her back. And Kumiko and Reina managed to talk a little before leaving. Reina cleared that she was not mad at all. But even so, Kumiko felt she had shamed herself in front of Reina because of her childish behavior.
The three started walking. They were quiet as they walked away from the Aotsuki residence and made their way through the block.
"Ne, Kumiko-chan!" Hazuki suddenly said, gripping Kumiko's shoulder. "Still thinking about what happened?"
Kumiko turned to Hazuki, nodding.
"Ah, but it was an accident,"Hazuki said, putting her arm around Kumiko's shoulder and tugging her a little. "Kanon-chan ran into something."
"She wouldn't have started running if I didn't joke about eating her," Kumiko reasoned.
"…and threatening her with a green highlighter?" Sapphire continued.
Hazuki immediately hushed Sapphire.
"Gomen ne," Sapphire apologized in a soft tone.
Green highlighter? Kumiko was looking for her highlighter when she was gathering her things earlier. She thought she lost it. She stopped for a moment, backtracking. She then remembered that she instinctively grabbed the first object her hand came across on the kotatsu before pouncing on Kanon. She put it in her pocket when she helped her get up after falling. She reached into her pocket and found her missing highlighter. She stared at it, somewhat in disbelief that she actually threatened Kanon with it. Then, she burst into laughter.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"I can't believe you fooled her with me bringing cake over," Reina scolded Kanon as she lightly dabbed on the cut with disinfectant.
"Sumimasen, Rei-kun," Kanon apologized. "She was so fast asleep. I thought she wouldn't wake up to cake and you."
"And, besides that... she wasn't really going to eat you, you know," Reina said pragmatically.
"I know that…" Kanon said. "But she threatened me with a green highlighter."
Reina suddenly paused, raising an eyebrow. Green highlighter?
Teenagers are children above twelve, but not all children above twelve are teenagers.
Kumiko and Kanon are teenagers.
Chasing each other over random silliness is childish behavior.
Therefore, Kumiko and Kanon are children.
Reina turned away as she snorted but stopped herself from laughing. Plus the ill-defined logic, she actually found it funny. But because of the horseplay, Kanon eventually ended up being injured by a sharp corner of one of the living room ledges. And just to keep Kanon from seeing blood, Reina found herself trapped into agreeing to help teach Kumiko, Hazuki, and Sapphire tomorrow. "I have to help you tutor them tomorrow," she said. While she promised to help Kumiko in every way she can, she felt somewhat uncomfortable teaching Hazuki and Sapphire as well. She had grown fond of Kumiko's friends and their candidness. But interaction and anything related to it was one of her least favorite activities. She felt terrible at it.
"Maybe I'm not the best person to tell you this, but…" Kanon said, pausing. "…you're not going to die from getting along, you know."
Reina snarled, pressing firmly on Kanon's cut.
Kanon winced, recoiling.
"Stay still," Reina said sternly, holding Kanon's head and facing it to her direction. Then, she continued dabbing onto the cut. While it was not something that would come from someone as solitary as her, Kanon was right.
Kanon sighed, looking to the side.
"I'm doing my best," Reina admitted.
"Ii ne…"
Reina thought about it, whenever Kanon socialized with others. Childish and selfish as it may be, she hated it, more often than not. Not because Kanon did better leaving her solitary nature when needed, but because to Reina, it meant having to share her with strangers. Maybe it was another thing she needed to change, so she thought.
But Haruka…
What about Haruka?
Haruka was no stranger to them.
Kanon opened up the topic during their late night conversation. She cleared what it was, and Reina trusted her. But still, thinking about it could make her restless.
Casting aside her doubts, she turned to reach for the first aid kit. She took a strip of bandage and tore it open. Again, she turned to Kanon and brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead. Drawing closer, she peeled and placed the bandage over the cut, flattening it with both thumbs. "Doozo…" she said
"Arigatou…" Kanon said as she stared softly at Reina and smiled.
Reina looked back. Kanon showed no hint of the layers of intensity and façade she would so often put up. It was that unarmed, open stare that never failed to see through her. That and the silence between them spoke volumes. Reina felt something crumble in her system as her world pulled to a stop.
The forgotten, cold, dark, and empty space in her mind suddenly caught a bright light that everything around it was strikingly vivid.
At one end was a vulnerable Kanon.
At the other end was her.
Her phone abruptly sounds, breaking the silence, jerking her back into reality.
"You should get that," Kanon said, smiling. But her voice suggested heaviness. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."
Reina blindly picked up her phone to answer the call. "Moshimoshi," she greeted as she watched Kanon head back into the living room. Through the ounce of relief pierced a growing inch of disappointment.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Kanon lowered to the kotatsu, her thoughts running as she gathered her references.
Reina eventually cut off communication with her while she was away. While it gravely hurt her, she returned as promised, gambling on the hope of speaking to her again, clearing things, and resuming her life in Kyoto. While they managed to talk and eventually rekindle their close friendship, things have changed.
Reina has gradually begun to open doors to other people.
She has Taki-sensei to inspire her.
And she has Kumiko by her side.
Kanon was pleased to know all these things. And little by little, she adapts to the changes…
…Or so she thought.
"I want to see it the way you do, Mojacchi. But I know it's not just that."
Kanon paused upon remembering those words. Taki-sensei told her more than once. It was not just that. Kanon denied it several times, but the truth was she was only suppressing it over and over until it became routine. And the more it became routine, the more she was exhausted with its growing weight.
The flashback of Reina staring at her last night suddenly crossed her mind. She leaned over the kotatsu, fearing the heft throbbing through her chest. She realized Reina had pierced and cracked through her once-impervious defense.
Her phone suddenly buzzed along the kotatsu, inching and lightly nudging her elbow. She picked it up, reading Kira's name on the home screen. "Moshimoshi," she greeted.
"Moshimoshi," Kira greeted back. "Are you home?"
"Hai," Kanon answered, disguising the heaviness of her mood. Exhaling heavily, she slumped onto the kotatsu and pressed the phone to her ear. "How's everything there? Have you and Nicola met already?"
"Mada," Kira answered. "Nicola went back to London Friday morning. But I was able to meet Tara on-campus this morning."
"Sou desu ka," Kanon said. Come to think, she and Tara have not spoken since her first few days in Tokyo. "How is she?"
"We weren't able to talk long. But she did say she was going to be busy."
"Ah." Typical of Tara to say so, Kanon thought.
"Eto… aside from that, there's something I need to tell you."
"Nani desu ka?"
"Kanon…" Kira paused for a few seconds. "…I found her."
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Your Math exam consists of five parts, each type indicated on the headings. Please check if you have ten pages each."
Kumiko counted as she tossed one page after another. Ten pages.
"Write your name and section on the blanks provided on the first page. Please do not browse or write anything else on the other pages until I say so."
Kanon puffed air into her cold hands before picking up her pen to write. First exam, but the tension in the room is already infectious. She needed to get a rate higher than passing on her Math exam if she wanted to continue playing for the club, Matsumoto-sensei and Shoda-sensei reminded her last Friday. The reminder only aggravated her uneasiness, but they were right. She needed to pull her current rating a little higher.
"Kumiko-chan!"
"Ha?" Kumiko lifted her head as she heard a whisper and turned to Kanon.
Kanon pulled a thumb up and smiled.
Kumiko relaxed a little and reclined on her seat, pulling a thumb up in response.
"Minna, face the board."
The class faced front in response.
"You have two hours to complete your exam. You may look up for inspiration, down for desperation, but never left or right for alternative solutions. Wakarimasu ka?"
"Hai!" the class chorused.
"You may all start." Shoda-sensei picked up and started the timer on her desk.
-0-0-0-0-0-
The results are officially out. Posted in the respective announcement boards within two days, students have been told since freshman year. In alphabetical order, only the names of those who passed all exams will be posted. Those who are not listed, however, will be called after class to be briefed and scheduled for makeup exams.
The results of the second years were posted on the second floor. Kumiko, Hazuki, and Sapphire stood a short distance from the second year crowd before them.
"Oi, I passed!"
"Me too!"
"Kojima, Kojima, Kojima… There it is!"
"Where's my name?"
"My name isn't in the list!"
Kumiko heard some lines through the mix of voices. While some where excited and positive, there were some who were worried. And there were a few who were frustrated. She felt the lump on her throat as one student after another left the crowd. Soon, she and her friends will be moving forward to browse their own names.
"The English exam was hard, wasn't it?" Hazuki asked.
"It was," Sapphire nodded. "The teacher who made the English tests is from overseas, I heard. Where she comes from, English is one of its primary languages. They say she's very good at it."
Kumiko knew it through Natsuki. The new English teacher is from another country, and she handles the third year classes. It was not the first time Kitauji hired a foreign teacher. But it was Kumiko's first time to experience a teacher who was not only from another country, but was well-versed in her subject. She was confident about the exam that she was not at all bothered by it. But along with the rest of the class, she experienced an unpleasant surprise.
The crowd lessened to a manageable size, and the three approached the board.
Kumiko wrung her hands, closing her eyes and breathing in.
"Ochitsuite."
Kumiko heard a voice and felt a firm grip on her folded hands. She opened her eyes and turned to the person next to her. It was Reina.
Letting go of Kumiko's hands, Reina pointed on a name on the page before her:
[…
Oumae Kumiko
…]
Kumiko felt the weight lifted off her chest. She passed.
"We passed too!" Hazuki said, raising her arm. Then, she pointed to hers and Sapphire's, which were separated by other names on the page:
[…
Katou Hazuki
…
Kawashima Sapphire*
…]
Kumiko read Hazuki and Sapphire's names. "Omodetou," she congratulated them. "Otsukaresama deshita."
"Anata mo," Hazuki and Sapphire said in return.
"Ne, your name's here too, Reina," Sapphire said, pointing to the page in front of her:
[…
Kousaka Reina*
…]
Reina's name was somewhere near the end of the "Ka-Ko" list. Like Sapphire's, there was also an asterisk next to it.
"Eh? I always wanted to know what the asterisk at the end was for," Hazuki said.
"It's for the upper fifteen…" Reina said. "…upper fifteen percent."
"Upper fifteen?!" Hazuki exclaimed.
"Ee," Reina nodded. "The school also posts a separate list of the upper fifteen." She pointed to the set of sheets surrounded by red borders far right of them, least viewed end of the bulletin board.
"Ah!" Hazuki uttered and scratched her head. "No wonder you'd look at the right end of the board, Midori-chan."
"Eh…" Sapphire fidgeted with her fingers. She was somewhat red. "You should have asked me last year…"
The four headed to the far right of the board to look at the list. As expected, Reina and Sapphire were included. But unlike the regular list, the names were printed with a bigger typeface. And they no longer had any asterisks at the end.
Kumiko suddenly remembered she had not seen Kanon among the engaged crowd earlier. "Eto… has Kanon-chan looked for her name yet?" she asked. "I didn't see her."
"She must be discussing something with Taki-sensei," Reina answered Kumiko. "Demo, mitte." She pointed to one of the names under "A":
[…
Aotsuki Kanon
…]
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Minna, I have an important announcement -" A knock on the door suddenly interrupts Taki-sensei. "Sumimasen," he said, raising his hand. He turned and descended the podium, then headed out the door.
The silence in the new music room suddenly broke into whirrs among some club members.
Kumiko looked about. She already knew what the announcement was as Reina had told her. But it was a secret. She had kept it from everyone, including her fellow section mates. She glanced at Reina. She was in her usual, calmer self.
"Ne, Kumiko-chan, I wonder what it is this time?" Natsuki asked.
"Something fun?" Kumiko feigned to guess, smiling. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Takuya and Riko. Takuya's expression seemed solid, but she knew better. Like her, he knew what today's announcement will be.
"Whatever it is, I'm ready for a surprise," Hazuki said.
"Same here," Sapphire seconded.
Kumiko felt somewhat otherwise. Though she met the requirement, she still felt the shock from the moderate beating from her recent English test. She shifted her focus to Kanon, who was at the left corner next to the chalkboard. Arms crossed, she was staring at the podium floor, as if in deep thought.
Taki-sensei returned to the room and returned to his spot in the middle of the podium.
The whispers died in an instant.
"Where were we?" Taki-sensei trailed. "Ah, the announcement!"
Kanon stood at attention and turned to Taki-sensei.
"The principal recently told me that we've been invited to play at the evening concert on the opening of the Nishiyama Grounds," Taki-sensei announced.
The members reacted with a collective gasp followed by scattered whispers.
"Evening Concert?!" Hazuki and Sapphire uttered in chorus.
"But opening day is in three weeks," Natsuki told Kumiko. "And we need to practice for SunFes."
"Before anyone reacts violently," Taki-sensei began his explanation. "I'd like to inform you that this was an urgent request. Neither of us was agreeable to such. However, as we are rebuilding our reputation as a wind ensemble, the principal thinks it is in our best interest to take advantage of the offer."
"Taki-sensei," one of the new recruits raised his hand. "What about SunFes?"
"SunFes will be our priority, like last year," Taki-sensei answered. "If our target is to play in the Regionals and the Nationals, we should do our best during SunFes."
Kumiko dwelled on Taki-sensei's answer. If their priority is SunFes, why still entertain the evening concert if it will lessen their preparation time for it?
A senior student raised his hand. "About opening night, will there be requirements?"
"Hai, there are," Taki-sensei nodded. "The evening concert actually has a theme. There is also a maximum number set for performing members."
Another student raised her hand. "Does that mean we'll be having auditions?"
"None," Taki-sensei answered. "To some, I know it opposes what I've said last year. But since we lack time, the officers and I discussed what needed to be done and came to an agreement. Since SunFes is our priority, in preparation for it, all the new members will undergo special training with Matsumoto-sensei and me. That narrows down the members playing on the concert night to fit within the maximum requirement."
Again, the members whispered among themselves.
"That is reasonable," Natsuki said. "We don't have much time left. And we have been conditioned to play solidly together. It's kind of a mutual thing, come to think."
"Hai," Sapphire nodded.
Kumiko prepared for a backlash against Taki-sensei. But she was surprised to hear none.
Taki-sensei turned to Kanon, gesturing her to come forward. "Because I'll be training the new members, I put Aotsuki-san in-charge of your piece in the evening concert," he said.
Kanon approached the spot next to Taki-sensei and looked about the room.
Kanon seemed nervous and reluctant, Kumiko observed. The whispers in the room were generally of rejoice as they will be working with someone like her. However, there were a few expressing doubt. Gifted as she may be, like them, she is still a student, younger than some of the club members.
"New members," Taki-sensei addressed the new members of the club. "Please head to the next room. Matsumoto-sensei will be briefing you there. I'll follow shortly."
The new members excused themselves and exited the door.
Taki-sensei then turned to Kanon. "Aotsuki-san, the floor is yours." He stepped aside and descended the podium.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Kanon took the center of the podium and looked about the room. Many eager eyes were fixated on her. Again, she wondered if taking lead was the right thing to do at all. She wrung her hands and gathered her thoughts. She wanted to say something, but her words seemed tangled somewhere.
Reina cleared her throat, cutting through the solid silence of the room. Then, she coughed.
Kanon turned to Reina's direction.
"Iki-o shitte kudasai," Reina said, followed by faint coughing.
Kanon immediately recognized the feigned coughing that she herself suddenly broke into laughter.
With Reina, the rest of the room laughed as well.
Kanon cleared her throat, and inhaled. "Sumimasen," she apologized upon hearing the laughter fade out. "To be honest, I am very nervous." She paused for a moment, again, attempting to gather her thoughts. "As Taki-sensei mentioned, I will be responsible for our performance in the Nishiyama Evening Concert. The theme is Foreign Cinema. All of the bands invited will be playing pieces or medleys from foreign films. We are required to perform one or two pieces with the minimum playing time of six minutes and the maximum of ten."
One member from the percussion section raised her hand. "Do you already have a selected piece for us?"
Kanon nodded. "I was able to find a suitable piece for the evening," she said. "And I changed it a bit over the weekend. We start practicing tomorrow, and as Taki-sensei suggested, we'll also be practicing on Saturday mornings. Is that okay for everyone?"
"Hai," everyone answered.
Kanon moved behind the table on the podium, where a sheet music copies were piled according to section. "Taki-sensei and I will be passing these around," she said. "I want everyone to browse first. If you have questions, please feel free to ask."
-0-0-0-0-0-
After a long and serious discussion, club session was finally over.
Kumiko sat on the first step of the stairs by the school entrance as she waited for Hazuki and Sapphire. Putting her bag next to her, she brought her copy of the sheet music to her lap to read it again. There were a few questions she wanted to ask Kanon during the session. But she felt as if she was at a loss for words then. She did not know whether it was because of the influx of questions coming from the other members or it was simply because she felt awkward addressing Kanon formally in public. To the club, Kanon is assistant band director, below Taki-sensei but above Takuya and the other officers.
Being friends with her sometimes made Kumiko forget who she is.
"Kumiko."
Kumiko lifted her head and looked over her shoulder.
Shuichi waved at Kumiko as he approached. Then, he sat next to her.
"What are you doing here?" Kumiko asked coldly, again turning to browse the sheet music.
"I was supposed to ask you that," Shuichi said. "Your friends are still upstairs. I saw them."
"Shoda-sensei called them for an errand," Kumiko told Shuichi. "They'll be here soon."
"Ah. Sou desu ka," Shuichi uttered, scratching his head.
Kumiko grumbled. Shuichi's presence irritated her sometimes. But she did her best controlling how she felt. After all, he is still her friend.
"Eto… I overheard some of the trombone guys earlier," Shuichi said. "They were pretty surprised with Aotsuki-san's song choice."
"Eh? Naze?" Kumiko asked, pausing and turning to Shuichi.
"Aotsuki-san's known for having a very intense, vibrant taste," Shuichi said. "They thought the medley sounded… you know… kinda mellow."
"Mellow?" Kumiko echoed. Their concert piece happened to be a medley of compositions for an animated movie. She saw nothing wrong with it at all. Then again, she has yet to listen to Kanon's compositions or watch her previous performances.
Shuichi nodded. "I think so too," he trailed, extending his legs along the steps as he reclined. He rested his elbows as he looked up the late afternoon sky. "But I don't really mind."
"Just because it's mellow doesn't mean it's weak," Kumiko stressed, setting aside her sheet music copy. "You 'play' songs, not 'slay' them."
"Eh?" Shuichi uttered, staring at Kumiko with a raised eyebrow.
"Ha?" Kumiko's jaw dropped, dumbfounded by her own words. She was beginning to sound like Reina.
Shuichi laughed.
Grumbling, Kumiko frowned and crossed her arms in response.
Shuichi sighed heavily as his laughter faded. "Sou ne."
"Eh?"
-0-0-0-0-0-
"A TRUMPET DUET?!"
"No need to yell, you know," Reina flatly told Yuuko as they packed their belongings. "Kanon noted it on the sheet music. You should've browsed first before reacting to Taki-sensei." They were the only ones left in the classroom. The rest of the trumpet section had been dismissed earlier, as Taki-sensei and Kanon needed to speak to them separately about the trumpet duet in the evening concert piece.
Yuuko sighed, putting her bag over her shoulder. "Eto… I hate to admit it, but I'm not prepared to take a step forward." she confessed. "I thought standing out was your job."
Reina suddenly turned to Yuuko, somewhat surprised at her confession. She did not expect Yuuko to express hesitation. "You're section leader now," she reminded Yuuko. "If you hesitate, it's going to show on everyone… even on myself."
Taki-sensei and Kanon openly expressed the lack of time and preparation over the private discussion. Because Yuuko has been appointed trumpet section leader and Reina has been noted over last year's performance, Taki-sensei recommended them to perform the duet.
Yuuko and Kaori possessed very different personalities, Reina observed, reason for her to doubt Yuuko's ability to lead them. Yuuko was stubborn, impulsive, and brash, opposite of how Reina remembered Kaori. She somewhat opposed to the idea, as with a few senior members of the trumpet section. But if Yuuko did not accept the position, she would be forced to step forward and take lead… something she did not want. Despite the slight objection, she chose to support Yuuko's leadership.
Yuuko and Reina exited the room. Reina closed the door, waiting for Yuuko to say something. But she was quiet. The two started walking along the empty school hall, the view of the sunset just outside it.
"I've idolized Kaori-sempai since I started playing for the club," Yuuko said, breaking the silence. "I know I can't play as good as she is or handle the trumpet section the way she did."
Reina exhaled, suddenly recalling her father's words and feeling the need to say them. "Yuuko-sempai," she said. "You can't always go around following a shadow. At some point, you have to make your own path."
Yuuko looked at Reina with a confused expression on her face.
Of course, Yuuko did not get it, needless to say. It was not at all unusual. Reina shrugged, opting to say something else. "We need to practice for the duet," she told her. "If we want to sound good, we have to focus and work together."
"Sou," Yuuko nodded.
Again, silence fell between the two as they descended the stairs and parted ways in the locker area.
Reina opened her locker, reaching for her brown shoes. She paused for a moment, contemplating on the trumpet duet. Slipping into them, she wondered what ran through Kanon's head when she chose that piece. It was not at all something Kanon would likely choose. She had a more intense and vigorous preference. At least, that was what Reina knew. Putting her indoor shoes back inside, she closed her locker and headed out.
"Ikimashoo ka?"
To Reina's surprise, Yuuko was waiting for her at the hallway. She thought she would go on ahead. "Natsuki-sempai wa doko desu ka?" she asked.
"She's probably at the gate," Yuuko answered. "She did say she'll wait for me. Going home with someone?"
"Kanon's waiting at the gate, she told me," Reina answered.
"Sou desu ka?"
"Hai," Reina nodded, detecting of the sudden eagerness in Yuuko's voice. "Kumiko, Hazuki, and Midori went home already, so it's just us."
"Eto… Reina," Yuuko uttered, suddenly sounding mellow.
"Hm?"
"I'm…" Yuuko paused, sinking a little. "I'm sorry if I can't help it sometimes."
"Can't help but what?"
"You know…" Yuuko hinted, fiddling with her pointed index fingers.
Reina understood. Of course, the occasional teasing meant nothing to Yuuko. But Reina took it seriously the first time, almost causing tension between them. She did admit that it felt uncomfortable the first time. "Just… don't overdo it," she warned Yuuko. "People can get the wrong idea, you know."
Yuuko nodded. "Ah!" she uttered, somewhat turning red. "Kanon's pretty cute, isn't she? Some of the members said she's pretty popular among the first years."
Reina gripped her bag strap and cleared her throat in response. Yuuko did not need to be so modest about the truth. She has overheard second years and third years talk about Kanon.
Yuuko giggled. "It must have been a joy growing up with her," she said.
Reina shrugged. The reason she and Kanon got along was because of some traits they shared, particularly their withdrawn personalities and interest in music. Looking through a typical teenager's perspective, Kanon could be pretty boring.
"Are she and Ogasawara-san dating?"
Again, Reina felt the discomfort despite Kanon clearing it to her already, stressing that while she and Haruka have grown very close, they were not dating. "They're not dating," she shook her head. "They're just very close."
"Like you two?"
Again, Reina shrugged. "Maa." But the fact is, it bothered her. In her heart, she did not want to share the same level as Haruka's. But it was not for her to decide.
The two walked along the entrance hall, to the doorway of the school building.
"Ne, Reina," Yuuko said, again mellowing her tone.
"Hm?"
"Maybe I don't know you that well yet," Yuuko said. "But… you share a connection with Kanon."
Reina glanced at Yuuko, wondering.
"Maybe it's just me, but…" Yuuko paused, stretching her arms and forming a frame with L-shaped hands. "…something just forms… like… say, a magnetic field."
Reina sighed. Magnetic field… A strange comparison, so it seemed.
Yuuko giggled.
"Eh? Nani?" Reina side-glanced at Yuuko with her trademark gruff expression.
"Sumimasen," Yuuko apologized, clearing her throat. "But isn't this the part when you're supposed to resist?"
"Resist what?"
Again, Yuuko giggled.
"You shouldn't think such things."
"Mmm…" Yuuko uttered. "…if you say so."
Again, the two grew quiet. They exited the school building and paused as they reached the stairs.
Reina noticed Kanon with Natsuki. They were talking near the foot of the stairs.
"Oi!" Yuuko called out to Natsuki and Kanon and waved.
Natsuki and Kanon waved back at Yuuko.
"Did anyone ever tell you that your eyes are a giveaway?" Yuuko suddenly asked in a softer tone.
Reina abruptly tilted her head and looked to the side, frowning. Her subconscious staring at Kanon was becoming a habit of hers.
"I know a look when I see it," Yuuko said smilingly, still in her softer voice.
Reina said nothing. Someone already told her that.
Yuuko took a moment before speaking. "Anyway, Natsuki and I need to go. Ja mata!" Her usual, chirpy voice returned to its normal volume.
"Kiotsukette." Reina watched Yuuko make her way down the stairs to meet Natsuki. Stories about Natsuki and Yuuko's unusual relationship have been circulating around campus for a while already, much like the rumors about Kaori and Haruka's last year. Rumors like those are normal across campus. Though she did not care for idle talks or speculations, she admits that sometimes, such stories make her curious.
Natsuki and Yuuko met at the bottom of the stairs. Then, they looked back at Reina.
"Let's talk again sometime!" Yuuko hollered. She and Natsuki waved at Reina before finally turning to leave.
Reina waved back and watched the two head out the gate.
"Rei-kun."
"Eh?" Reina shifted her view and noticed Kanon standing on the landing tread just below her. She did not notice Kanon had gone up to meet her halfway.
"Kaerimashoo ka?" Kanon asked.
Reina nodded, descending the flight of steps to meet Kanon.
-0-0-0-0-0-
The view of the early morning sky greeted from the wide open window of the corridor. Clear. Blue. Crisp. The rays of the sun shone on the open field, where the baseball team currently practices for its next game.
Taki-sensei suddenly felt nostalgic as he watched from the railing. The smell and feel of the morning air reminded him of his younger days on campus as a student. Mug of coffee in one hand and his black leather notebook clipped under his arm, he turned to his left and headed to the music room at the end of the hall. Reaching the entrance, he paused for a moment, gently setting his hand around the door handle. Then, he opened door of the music room. Then, he slipped into the space before gently closing the door.
The room was empty.
Dragging one desk with him, he approached the grand piano and placed the desk next to it. The put his mug on the desk and pulled out the piano stool. He took his seat, flipping the front cover of his notebook where a picture of a young lady with dark hair and a wide, beautiful smile was attached to it.
Those were happier days.
Then one day, it just stopped.
He had lost her.
Being the son of the respected Taki Tohru is a never-ending challenge. It pressured him so much that he hated it. And it cost him. To this day, he regrets it. But despite his pledge to never follow his father's footsteps, he found himself here, where his father started.
"Ohayou gazaimasu, Nobo-niisan."
"Eh?" Startled, he quickly closed his notebook and looked ahead.
A full-handed Kanon approached Taki-sensei, carrying her bag over her right shoulder, holding her violin case with her right hand, paper cup with her left.
"Ohayou, Mojacchi," Taki-sensei greeted back and placed his notebook on the desk. "You're here early."
"I'm planning to rearrange some parts of our piece for the evening concert," Kanon said, putting her bag under the desk. "It seems to come up short somewhere." She pulled an empty chair and placed it near the desk before taking her seat.
"Honma?" Taki-sensei said, reaching for his mug. "I think it's fine the way it is." He paused to sip. "What do you need to change?"
"The length and some of the parts I feel 'hollow' in the piece."
"Hollow…" Taki-sensei echoed, trailing. He and Kanon have diverse tastes in music. He would not know which parts seemed hollow according to her taste. Though the last decision rests in him, he respects the young musician's judgment. He admits she knew better at some parts. "Whatever you make of it, tell me. I trust you."
Kanon nodded, drinking from her cup.
"Did you tell Reina to practice the duet with Yoshikawa-san?" Taki-sensei asked.
"Hai," Kanon affirmed.
"I honestly thought she would object," Taki-sensei chuckled, suddenly remembering his first year as club adviser. "She and Yoshikawa-san had some tension last year."
"They both told me," Kanon said. "It's nice that they've put it behind them. They've been getting along so far."
"That's nice to hear," Taki-sensei complimented. "Anou… Do see through all the section, duet, and solo practices from time to time. It's best if you can listen to them as well as suggest some things for improvement, should there be any."
"Hai," Kanon nodded.
Silence then fell on the two. Again, Taki-sensei reached for his notebook and flipped to his bookmarked page. There was something scrawled on the upper left margin, his important meeting off-campus later in the evening. He made sure not to forget it.
"Anou… Nobo-niisan," Kanon spoke again.
"Hm?"
"This may be uncomfortable for you, but… I remembered what you said when we were still in Tokyo."
"Dore?" Taki sensei asked. He and Kanon saw each other regularly while he was still completing a program in Tokyo. Their uncommon friendship sprouted from there.
"You didn't want to be like Tohru-jisan," Kanon recalled, again, sipping from her cup.
Taki-sensei nodded. It was no secret.
"Demo… why are you here?"
Taki-sensei put his mug down. He knew sooner or later Kanon would ask him that he prepared for his answer beforehand. "One of the school board members wrote to me personally, asking me to consider teaching here," he narrated. "I didn't want anything to do with this place back then. The memories were still fresh, and I was still a little angry over what happened. Even if I was aware of how the club's performance has declined after my father left, even after my wife died, it didn't really change my mind." He paused, recalling what made him reconsider.
"Then, why did you change your mind? Was it because of Reina?"
Taki-sensei shook his head. He paused for a moment and stared intently at Kanon. "Oumae Kumiko-san," he said briefly.
"Kumiko?" Kanon uttered with slightly furrowed brow. She seemed rather surprised.
"Your friend has potential," Taki-sensei remarked. "Word has it that she once outclassed an upperclassman during an audition when she was still in Daikichiyama North. Reina confirmed this when I asked her." Again, he paused to drink. "It made me curious, one reason or another. Daikichiyama North wasn't just any school with a marching band."
Kumiko was plain, awkward; no unique qualities that make her stand out from girls her age. Her academic performance was average at best, Math being her weakest subject. Taki-sensei admitted being slightly dismayed at first. However…
She was capable of being very special.
Just like her.
To be special, sometimes, you need to realize you aren't. Kashiwagi Hisoka, Kanon's mother, once said this. She is also a notable composer like Taki-sensei's father.
"Bassists, the bass section… their presence can be subtle, overlooked sometimes. But they are what hold everything together," Kanon said after a moment of silence, putting her paper cup down.
Taki-sensei nodded. Kumiko embodied her instrument of choice, come to think. Present, yet unnoticed.
"Ne, Nobo-niisan."
"Hm?"
"Kumiko resembles Emiko-san, don't you think?"
Taki-sensei gripped his mug handle to his surprise. Nobody has mentioned her name in a long time. Nobody. He suddenly fell silent.
"Just to let you know…" Kanon said, then pausing for a moment. "Hotaka-niisan isn't angry. He never was."
Taki-sensei sighed heavily. It was hard to tell what Hotaka was thinking during those times, he recalled. What happened then put cracks on their friendship.
"Seeing people in such tangles discourages me from growing up," Kanon said half-jokingly.
Taki-sensei stared blankly at Kanon.
"Demo," Kanon quickly appended, smiling. "That's not for me to say, is it?" She finished what was left in her paper cup. "I need to throw this. Sumimasen." She excused herself and stood. Pulling an about face, she saw Yoroizuka Mizore approaching them.
Mizore stopped a few steps away Taki-sensei and Kanon. "Ohayou gozaimasu, Taki-sensei, Kanon," she formally greeted.
"Ohayou, Mizore-sempai," Kanon greeted back.
"Ohayou, Yoroizuka-san," Taki-sensei greeted, standing up. He noticed Mizore was carrying her oboe case with her. He was well-aware that Mizore is the last oboe player in the club as none of the new applicants played the instrument.
"Matsumoto-sensei wants to talk to you," Mizore informed Taki-sensei. "She's in the faculty lounge."
Taki-sensei nodded in response, pushing his glasses. "Wakatta," he said, turning to Kanon. "I'll be returning to the faculty lounge now. I'll see you during club session."
"Hai." Kanon nodded.
Taki-sensei gathered his things and made his way past Mizore and Kanon.
"Eto… Kanon. I brought my oboe, as you said."
Taki-sensei suddenly pulled to a stop as he heard Mizore call Kanon.
"Okay. Five minutes, and we run through your parts."
"Hai."
Taki-sensei smiled to himself and continued walking his way to the door.