Ch. 1【Looking For The Moon】a reflection
It was a normal day for Itoshi Sae from class 1E. Sae was changing his clothes in the locker room, when the seniors around him once again talked about how 'promising' and 'extraordinary' the freshmen this year were, him included.
Of course that nonsensical talk didn't interest Sae the slightest. Having heard all that since the start of his career and remembering the stressful months before and after school started, Sae would rather ignore all that talk and get rid of the annoyance and possible headache.
During the first two months, around the time school started, quite a lot of rumors and news were spread by the press. Some major news agencies had gotten wind of the names of some students that were applying/entering this year. The lineup was the crop of harvest that made headlines everywhere.
For a month, the country was in uproar at the famous names that had been published and rumored to attend Sakuhanabira Middle School.
Among them were a few names Sae was acquainted with. For example, Sano Yuusuke and Yagumo An.
Grantedly, Sae didn't know Yuusuke before. The two of them met during English Class. There weren't many that could speak at their caliber, which cause the two of them to naturally get close.
As for An, maybe because they were both young athletes aiming to go pro, with a 'prodigy' label to them... The two of them met a lot when they were younger at interviews or at magazines or press releases. These meetings didn't end well though, and whenever they happened to cross each other, a cold, cruel war was raging.
Maybe the saying a "dislike of their own kind" might fit here. For some reason Sae got the distinct feeling that that girl did not like him at all.
Not that Sae cared, he wasn't interested in her either and considered her, like he does to everyone, an annoyance in his life.
There was no time for him to meddle with what press, rumors and - simply said - others thought of him. Sae only had one goal.
'I will become the best in the world.'
His blatant disinterest in others (except for his little brother) stems from his confidence and belief that he IS the best. And as the best he was fully focused on achieving his goal. The only way to do so was to evolve, to practice and to better himself.
Not to mention, as a young teen his body's still mid development. Until he is older and stronger, that's when he will be able to improve greatly. Now most of his training now, went into learning theories, sharpening his mind and eyes and developing his muscles and motor skills the best as he can.
Thinking that his seniors were just wasting time with the rumors again, Sae grabbed his Nike sports bag and moved to exit the dressing room with his protein drink in hand. The moment he passed by the seniors and exited the room, a new name, one he wasn't paying attention to before caught his ears: Nakahara Yui.
The door closed with a heavy thump.
'Nakahara Yui' Sae thought. For some reason it sounded familiar but he couldn't remember what it was or where he heard it from.
Dismissing that name quickly, Sae shook his head once and moved to leave the sports hall.
The sports facilities were mapped behind the school's main hall. In order to reach the school gate, one had to pass by the classrooms located in the main building.
By the time Sae left the changing room, the sun was already setting. Most clubs had already ended, and the students all went home; for Sae it was a quiet walk home. After the first horrendous month, the other two had been fairly peaceful, or rather as peaceful as it could get for someone of his status.
It was to the point of being monotone even. Sae didn't mind the peace he could get now. His real battle would begin in Spain.
As he set his mind to relax on his walk home, a distant sound stopped him in his track. From a far the sound of a piano could be heard.
It was a deep, soothing all surrounding sound and with just one chord Sae felt like he was submerged into the depths of water. Although heavy, the sensation wasn't suffocating. Rather it felt warm, as if he was gently floating amidst the depth of sea.
As if enchanted, Sae followed the magical melody. His steps were light and slow, he divulged in the sound and the flowing sensation. It was a new feeling, he hadn't ever felt before. His footsteps led him to the Music Faculty and he stopped in front of a door.
Sae stood there and listened until the song ended, and only once it did, did he realize what he had been doing. He was curious but also embarrassed at his sudden interest in something else other than football. For all his life, Sae had never shown any interest in anything else except for football. Now here he was; frozen in front of a door, lured by the mere sound of a piano.
He didn't know what to do. Should he enter? Honestly, he didn't want to interact with anyone. All he wanted was to just hear more of that sound. As if his pleas were heard, after the soft sound of shuffling, the sound of the piano emerged anew.
This time it was a different sound. It was bright and much more clear, it was like a gentle spring breeze and Sae felt like a gust of wind brushed him by.
'What a superb warm sound', Sae thought to himself as he enjoyed the pristine clear sound each note enunciated.
For some reason, Sae felt something inside of him untangle ever so slightly. He wasn't aware of it yet but something was slowly starting to change in his life. He quietly went home with a lighter heart on that day.
For a week after that Sae would linger and dilly-dally on his way home. He wanted to listen to the sound of that piano again. Yet sadly, he didn't hear it ever again. It was as if the person just disappeared.
Without him noticing Sae's mood started to change slightly. He had always been an egoistic and reserved boy, not because he was shy but simply because he never had much to say.
It was on one fine day, while he was casually hanging out with some of his friends during break, that this question slipped out of pure curiosity.
«Hey, do you know anyone that can play the piano?» Sae asked while taking a sip from his water bottle. Two guys were hanging in the courtyard beneath the shade of a tree with him. They were watching the basketball game in front of them while having their lunch.
The two guys looked at him. Sano Yuusuke's hazel eyes widened slightly at Sae's sudden question and they narrowed once he saw Sae's poker face.
«Hm...» Yuusuke had two choices to make now. One was to tease Sae and the other was to be honest. Of course he chose the later one.
«I do know some. Why are you asking?»
Sae looked at him trying not to be too surprised.
«Give me their names.» Sae spoke.
Yuusuke looked at him weirdly and sighed. He then gestured with his free hand to Shuu who swiftly handed him a piece of paper and a pen.
«Here, I will write down their names and classes.»
Sae looked at him quickly scribbling down names neatly. He took another sip from his drink.
Without looking at Yuusuke's direction, Sae asked after a while. «You're not gonna ask why?»
Yuusuke half laughed and half scoffed.
«Dude, I don't care. I'm not close to any of them except...» He suddenly paused in his speech and writing as if he had realized something. With a shake of his head he decided not to ponder on it any longer.
'No way.' He thought.
Sae gave him a questioning raised eyebrow but he too decided not to be bothered any further. Taking the list from Yuusuke as soon as he was done, Sae left quickly with a single handed wave.
Escaping to the locker room, Sae seated himself on a bench and opened the lengthy note.
As promised Yuusuke had named and written down any student that was a piano player. The list amounted about up to 12 names.
'Not many' Sae thought as he pondered over what to do next.
Truth was, he had asked out of a sudden urge. He hadn't really thought much about what to do with the information. But for now, he figured, it wouldn't be bad to keep the information he got in the back of his head.
Sae also knew that Yuusuke probably had a way to find whoever Sae was looking for. But more than the person it was the music itself that interested him. He figured that anybody could play it and it would be fine.
For the last few days Sae had started listening to classical music, maybe it was a new way of coping. He had to admit that it wasn't as boring as he thought it was.
However, although beautiful, it didn't hit him the way that piano hit him at that time.
He reasoned that it was just a difference hearing it live in person than over a recording. There's no way, he was actually interested in someone else, and someone not football related at that.
'No way.' Sae thought as he casually browsed through the list of names.
There wasn't really any name that stood out to him so far. To be honest, he didn't bother remembering and knowing any names. It was all a waste of time and headspace for him. The only thing Sae had on his mind was football, and his world was fine with that.
«?» Sae thought as he reread a name again.
«... Nakahara Yui... where have I heard it before?» Sae pondered over the strangely familiar name.
No matter how hard he thought (he wasn't trying hard really), he could not remember where it came from and thus decided to just keep it that way for now.
After Sae left, Yuusuke's eyes followed the red-head quietly. 'Hm...' Yuusuke pondered openly.
«Young Master?» Shuu's voice from his side got his attention. «Is there something on your mind?»
Was there something on his mind? Yes, there was. Yuusuke couldn't help that nagging feeling of dread in his stomach. At the same time he pondered over Sae's mysterious behavior.
Watching his master in deep contemplation, Shuu seemed to have realized something.
«In that case, why not test it?»
«Test?» Yuusuke repeated quietly and after a few seconds of silence he seemed to have figured out something. 'Ha! There's a way to test it, right!'
Springing up from his seat with an excited, (mischievous) glint in his eyes, Yuusuke returned back to the classroom.
Thanks to Shuu's advice Yuusuke had figured out what was bothering him. This might be the last bit of humanity that remained in him speaking, but it bothered him that he had sold out his close friend's name like that.
Yuusuke didn't expect this feeling of guilt to bite at him but what's done had already been done. He would keep an eye on her for the next coming few days and step in, in case that was needed as an apology.
Truthfully, 'Yui-chan's a good girl.' Even he would feel bad if something was to happen to her.
Not to mention that Megumi would be furious at him.
But first off, Yuusuke needed more information first. And for that he needed to test out something. Mentally apologizing to Yui now and promising that he will keep an eye on her for sure, he reentered the classroom.
As usual Yui, Ageha, An and Megumi were sitting around a table, their snacks and lunch opened in the middle. Oddly Takao wasn't around this time. Yuusuke figured that he was probably running errands for the teachers.
Megumi was saying something, when they noticed him coming and made space for him and Shuu to sit.
Grabbing the nearest free chair, Yuusuke joined the table while Shuu chose to stand behind Ageha protectively.
«Yo, what are you guys talking about?» Yuusuke asked.
The girls looked at each other and then Megumi answered. «We were talking about the new Cafe that had opened last week. It's supposedly really good.»
«It's great! I have only been there once but it's really cute, see?» An said and shoved over her phone with a picture of hot chocolate with a bear on top.
Yuusuke had no comment on this. He was never really fond of cute stuff. «You guys are pretty cruel for drinking that. I mean...» 'Could you drink something so realistic looking?'
He didn't quite finish his sentence but An had already rolled her eyes.
«You just don't get it.» She said and took her phone back. «Indulging in beautiful things is a girl's pleasure!»
«Well..., not everyone's.» Yuusuke said with a smirk and looked at Megumi and Yui.
Suddenly all eyes were on those two.
Megumi looked a bit unsure of what to say so instead Yui took the word.
«I do like cute things but I don't really like sweets. I'd rather adore them from afar but I do get their appeal.» Yui explained gently as she looked at the cute picture An had taken.
«Well, I guess you and Gumi-chan do seem to suit the refined, elegant style more.» An said thinking.
«More like mature.» Yuusuke concluded and everyone nodded in agreement.
With the argument concluded Megumi heaved a sigh which made Yui and Yuusuke, who were sitting closest to her look at her.
«Ah, come to think of it...» Yuusuke remembered something important and looked at Yui.
«I spoke to Sae today. That guy actually showed interest in something else other than football for once.»
That one sentence caused everyone on that table to stop what they were doing. Even Ageha who was in the middle of taking a bite from her sandwich paused midair and looked at him with a suprised expression.
«No way...» Both An and Megumi mumbled with certainty in their voices. They truly did not believe that Itoshi "Genius" Sae out of everyone could show interest in something else but football.
Yuusuke had to laugh at them. He could understand their reaction but as a guy or rather someone who was similar to Sae he could kind of understand his perspective as well.
«Well,... why don't you hear me out first.» Yuusuke calmed the distrusting girls.
His eyes went to Yui and he could tell that said girl had no clue what was going on at all.
'Figured' He thought. 'Yui absolutely had no interaction with Sae.' He concluded from her clueless expression.
«Spill it, bozo» An commanded her very rich childhood friend impatiently.
Yuusuke rolled his eyes but complied since he too had no reason to hold it off from any of them any longer.
He leaned in closer and the rest automatically followed.
Shuu looked at them from above and had to smile lightly. They look like a bunch of baby chicks picking up some food from the ground. It was quite endearing kinda.
Without being aware of Shuu's headcanon, Yuusuke started whispering.
«Itoshi "genius" Sae came to ask me for something.» He paused meaningfully. «It seems like he has a new found interest in pianist?»
«?» They all looked around confusedly.
«The f-ck?» An was the first one to break the silence.
«I concur.» Megumi agreed with An for once.
Yui meanwhile blinked seeming interested.
She looked at Yuusuke. «May I ask why he does so?»
Yuusuke shrugged off-handedly. «No clue. However, I did give him a list of the pianists, I know.» He looked at Yui.
«... I may have involved you into that.»
Bash.
«Baka!» An scolded him with a heavy slap to the head.
Ageha frowned at him, while Megumi sighed at her (stupid) adorable boyfriend.
«... Yuu, why?» She asked him. Giving him a chance to defend himself.
Yuusuke looked at his beloved with gratitude thinking once again that Megumi was great!
He smiled professionally as if he was scheming something. His smile raised everyone's anticipation. Was Yuusuke up to something?
«I have absolutely no clue either.»
He said smiling goofily.
What a let them down.
Bash. Bash. Cling
«... I'm sorry for that idiot.» Megumi apologized to Yui honestly with a slight blush on her cheeks.
Said girl just waved it off with a calm smile.
«It's fine, don't worry. I'm most curious about why Itoshi-san's looking.»
In her mind she was thinking if Sae was perhaps interested in music.
Meanwhile their eyes all went to Yuusuke who was trying to recover from their triple bashing.
«Yeah, no. Sorry that guy's gonna be useless.» Megumi calmly assessed with a glance at her boyfriend.
Yui smiled in acceptance and looked out of the window. 'Should I just ask?' She pondered for a moment.
But then a calm voice interrupted them all.
«Actually, Yuusuke had an idea about that.» It was Shuu who had decided to speak up on this rare occurrence.
They glanced at Yuusuke in union who was rubbing his forehead painfully. An and Megumi may have slapped his head hard enough for it to faceplant the desk with a loud clang.
«I did. But no use. My brain is fcking dying right now.» Yuusuke said dramatically and An didn't miss this change to diss him.
«You wuss.»
Ageha looked between the two of them with worry in here eyes. She feared that a fight might break out between them with how tense they were currently being. She then looked at Shuu with her round deer like orbs who returned her worried look with a sincere one. Wordlessly saying that it's alright.
Yui tilted her head. Ignoring the bickering duo in front of her, she turned to consult with Megumi.
«I think, I can just ask him.» Yui suggested without hesitation.
Megumi nodded. «I guess you can but what will you ask him? Hey you, why are you looking for a pianist?»
Yui smiled. «Yes. That's what I was thinking.»
Megumi's beautiful face contorted into pain. This was such a Yui-thing to do but no way could she just let her dear friend do that.
«No, Yui. Just no. You don't get Itoshi-san. He's...» 'a weirdo.' Megumi ended in her mind but she didn't dare to speak it out loud.
Yui looked at her friend in confusion. Not quite convinced but for now she chose to just accept their concern.
Although curious, it wasn't a matter of urgency anyway so the girl could just wait a bit longer and grasp the opportunity shall it ever come to being. With that in mind Yui switched gears and started to switch the topic to their recent debate about the best garnish with rice.
Immediately jumping onto that silly conversation a heated debate broke out and it lasted until the teacher entered the room. Class started again with no clear winner announced.