Chapter Fourteen
When the bell rings for lunch, I immediately head out to the school's indoor garden to talk to Teto. I make sure to bring my notebook with me. My face flushes and a smile forms on my face as I remember Miku and Len's compliments from earlier today. I can already imagine what the song will be like… perfect.
I push open the door, carrying my lunch bag and notebook, into the garden. As soon as she sees me, Teto's eyes soften and she gives me a small wave. "Hey!" I smile. She smiles back. I sit down next to her. "I brought my notebook this time," I say.
"Oh. Have you guys had any luck with your song yet?" she asks.
"Yeah. It's awesome!"
"I'm sure it is," Teto says, looking at the grass below. "You've got the perfect group!" she says.
"I do?"
"Yeah! You have Miku, our school's best singer! You've got Len, who's king on guitar and drums, and look at yourself! Word's spread across the school that you're a great songwriter," Teto breaths.
"Oh, that? That's just some silly lie that Miku made up," I murmur.
"Lie?" Teto asks. "I watched your group during Songwriting today. It's nowhere close to a lie. Not everyone has that kind of talent," Teto tells me.
"You watched our group?" I ask Teto.
"Yeah. And you know what I noticed?" she asks, with a smile on her face. "You three are perfect together. They're really counting on you, too. I mean, look at Miku. Did you even see how amazed she was at your writing? And especially Len, I think he really likes you!" Teto teases. I flick her, laughing.
"Likes me? No way," I say, blushing.
"Come on, he hugged you in front of the world this morning," Teto laughs. A drop of sweat falls off my forehead as I roll my eyes.
"Did everyone see that?!" I ask to the glass ceiling. Teto laughs harder. It's not long before I join in. Suddenly, I hear the door swing open. Speak of the devil. Len and Miku walk into the garden smiling.
"Is there a little bit of extra room?" Miku asks, her voice echoing through the garden. Teto and I exchange a glance and hold back laughter.
"Of course! Come sit down by us," I say. Miku and Len do as I tell them to.
"Miku-sama, Len-sama, your song is amazing," says Teto with a drop of her head. Miku beams with pride.
"Thanks, but it was all Madoka," she says, nudging my shoulder.
"Speaking of our song, shouldn't we work on it right now?" asks Len. I nod.
"Is there any chance… that I could help?" Teto asks quietly. Miku, Len, and I all share a glance.
"Of course," all three of us say at once, grinning. I open up my notebook. Teto reads what I have so far.
They always laughed at you, but you never tried to fight back
And although you try your best, you could never guess
It would all be swept away by the rain
And when that new umbrella was torn away in the wind
I knew by a print or two that umbrella had
Gone to something like a stray trapped in the rain
It's just another day when they hate you being alive
With no reason to be kept at a distance from
Them when every time you tried your hardest
What did I do to make them all want to leave me behind?
And when you don't understand, you end up wanting to be alone
But why not add up all the words you were just trying to scream out
Put them to a bunch of notes and let me sing them
How could such a bunch of noise be fit for human ears?
But you wouldn't give up
Surely getting better every day that you try
In an instant you can make me sing for just you and I
So keep your words, and let me sing them for the world to hear
When Teto is done reading, she looks at me in amazement. "Madoka-sama, that is amazing! I got to hear bits and pieces of it, but all together, the story that it tells is so good!" she says.
"Thanks, but it's unfinished," I admit. Teto shrugs. Miku and Len both nod.
"Teto is right, though!" Miku says.
"But Madoka, when can we finish it?" Len asks. Suddenly, I get an idea.