Act 3, Autumn
It wasn't unusual to see Eriol early in the music school, and particularly not out of the ordinary that the dark-haired young man was standing outside one of the piano rooms, leaning on the balcony railings comfortably in the late afternoon.
I still have twenty minutes, he thought to himself serenely as he watched cello students, walking leisurely on the marble pavement with their peers and making their way to the main gate.
It was safe to say that one of Eriol Hiiragizawa's hobbies included observing people, their dispositions, tendencies and ticks. For him there was something interesting about knowing what individuals are constrained to do in different circumstances. The habit also made him feel wholly invisible especially when these people didn't know he was watching.
Music, ironically, wasn't something that could make him invisible. Since he was young, even before he could play the piano, he always stood out. Having one of the most talented pianists of his generation as his father just made matters worse. Eriol couldn't draw himself out of Clow Reed's shadow no matter how hard he fought against it.
The familiar sight of the darkest hair he had ever seen in his life pulled him out of his reverie. The figure disappeared in the entrance below as fast as she materialized, leaving a trail of mystery behind her.
Daidōji Tomoyo, he figured, was just like him.
Why are we still here, Daidōji-san? He asked in his mind. The answer didn't come as expected, but he was grateful of the cool, comforting autumn wind that swept his bangs away from his closed lids.
Then the young man heard it.
Feux follets?
He knew it was a particularly difficult piece to play, and wondered who in this music school that only taught children the basics had the talent to even execute the piece correctly.
Eriol wanted to know who was playing on the piano, but stepping in the practice room would just distract the pianist's concentration.
It can only be one of the senior instructors.
The tall curtains of the French windows that obscured his sight, though almost as flimsy as gauze, were challenging him further.
The swift double notes were played rather heavily, as if the pianist was more troubled than the supposed whimsical nature of the piece. Only when the pianist sat straight from an uncomfortable crouched position that he realized he was listening to his dorm mate playing Liszt all this time. Her long, curling hair looked darker from where he stood, a stark, inky contrast to the ivory walls behind her and her porcelain-like face.
She had stopped playing a long time ago but Eriol still couldn't tear his gaze off her unguarded face, drawn to the secrecy of that anxious expression.
So beautiful.
His thoughts must have given him away because the girl had stood from her seat at once, a gasp falling out of her delicate mouth.
"I am so sorry. I didn't know there was someone else in the room." Her voice was just as melodious as her music.
"There wasn't. I was out in the balcony," Eriol opposed calmly before finally allowing himself inside.
Peaceful sapphire met restless amethyst.
The shock on her face when she recognized who the person was behind the over-sized windows was much more distinct than she had probably realized.
"Hiiragizawa-san."
It rather came out as a confused statement in his ears but the young man couldn't tell how his name could still sound beautiful.
"Konnichiwa Daidōji-san," Eriol greeted her with a slight bow. He didn't want to startle her or embarrass her in any way, but by saying it just made her snap inside.
"Sumimasen. I didn't mean to. I didn't know this was your practice room," Tomoyo went on frantically. Her luxurious dark hair fell in cascades as she bent over in apology and misplaced guilt. "I am not supposed to be here. I should leave. The children are waiting for me."
He couldn't tell if it was the way her eyes were shining, or how her gentle face, usually devoid of real emotion, looked that moment that attracted him to her. For whatever reason, he just couldn't look away now.
Before Eriol could react the young woman was quick to gather her things from the floor and run to the double doors.
"Forgive me for intruding, Hiiragizawa-san," she nervously said again as if her last two apologies weren't enough, bowing for the last time without meeting his azure eyes before closing the door behind her.
That was without a doubt the real Tomoyo Daidōji talking to him, one who wasn't always drifting in and out of her mind as if she didn't really have any life in her. Whatever she was desperately trying to keep to herself must be worth uncovering.
He pressed a key with a careful finger distractedly, his own thoughts wandering to the dark-haired woman who had just left.
Quick notes:
konichiwa – "Good afternoon." or "Good day."
kohai – opposite of senpai, and used toward underclassmen in school and newcomers in the workplace
"Feux follets" is the fifth etude of the set of twelve Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt.
