Komi began packing up her stuff for after class. She would normally leave with Tadano but he seemed in kind of a hurry to leave. Najimi didn't seem to notice or care that he left early. When Komi tried to ask Tadano where he was going, he just said that he has important business to attend to. He didn't say more. She found it kind of strange but she let it slide. Normally, he's on time for class so one day shouldn't be that big of a deal.
Actually, now that she thinks about it, he's been leaving class early every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the past four months-ish for this 'special errand.' Maybe she should check on him. Shae walked over to Najimi. 'Have you seen Tadano? He's been leaving early for a while and I'm worried.' Komi's paper read to Najimi. Najimi stared at it, and then at Komi. Then, they started laughing. Really hard.
"Oh, Komi! You're funny!" Najimi said, still laughing. "Tadano goes to the music store after school!"
'Why?'
"Well, why don't you go and find out for yourself then, hm?" Najimi asked.
'Where is the music place?'
"That-a-way," Najimi said, pointing out the window and to the left. "Then take the next right and you'll see it. It has a trombone on the sign."
Komi bowed and left. She followed Najimi's instructions and stopped in front of a building with a trombone. The sign read, 'Notelies.'
Komi walked inside. She opened her jaw in shock. There are instruments everywhere. Even some instruments she's never seen, like one that looks like an eighth note, for instance.
She walked along the walls for a while until she came to some rooms with people inside. She couldn't see very well but she could see the tops of their heads. She walked past Tadano's room until she came back a second later. She smiled when she saw his head. She tapped on the door, startling Tadano. She heard a screech from inside the room. It took him a second but he got the door open. "Oh, K-Komi! H-hi! I didn't expect to see you here!"
'What are you doing?' she wrote
"I'm-uh..." Tadano stammered. He looked around. "Can you keep a secret?" Komi nodded a reply. Tadano pulled her into the room and closed the door. "I, uh...I play the..." his voice trailed off too quiet for Komi to hear. She tilted her head a little. "Just watch." Tadano tuned around and turned back around holding a flute. He started playing a melody, with harmonizing chords. Komi stared in awe. Who knew Tadano could play flute? And so well at that!
Once Tadano finished, his face turned red. "It's kind of embarrassing but I like it..." Tadano said.
'I like it! You sound really good!'
"You think so?"
Komi nodded, her eyes sparkling. 'Can you teach me?' Tadano's face turned a darker shade of red. "W-what? Y-you want me to t-t-teach you?" Komi nodded again. "I-uh-okay. Just promise not to tell anyone okay?" Once again, she nodded. Tadano pulled out a music sheet and started teaching her to read the music, then showed her which notes played what. They stayed in there for a while until the store closed.