Ch.3【Stellar Collision】when two stars come together
The school day ended peacefully and soon the crew went their separate ways for after school lessons or clubs.
An had lamented tearfully about how she wasn't able to listen in on Yui's piano playing today because of extra practice.
Megumi and Takao also had to leave early because of private matters, while Ageha was off to work leaving only Yuusuke and Shuu available.
Well, the later one should have been available but he had mysteriously excused himself first on an 'urgent' call. (In truth Yuusuke had just given him a pass and an excuse to spend time with Ageha.)
They had promised to meet up after Yuusuke's basketball club. Yui had in the mean time settled on going through some of the pieces and playing something to pass time.
About 1h and 30min later Yuusuke had appeared with a smile.
«Sorry, I'm late. It sounds really good to listen to it after a long time.» He said with a brilliant smile. A rare sincere one which meant that he really meant what he had been saying.
To be honest, although Yuusuke had planned this with an intention in mind. Now that he was here and listening to it, he really felt relaxed and pleasured by the magical healing sound of Yui's playing.
Sitting down onto a chair near the door he had closed his eyes and crossed his legs in a relaxed position just letting the sound waves crash over him.
Once Yui had finished and reopened her eyes, she realized his relaxed body language and asked.
«Are you tired?»
«Hm... not really. I'm enjoying the moment.»
«Then, before I answer your question; may I offer this one more piece to you?»
Hearing her genuine offer Yuusuke opened his eyes to look at her. After awhile he said.
«Of course, it's my pleasure.»
Upon receiving his permission. Yui closed her eyes once again, after a deep inhale and exhale she released all the tenseness in her body and started playing a beautiful sound that reminded him of the grand sunset reflected on a townscape.
(The piece Yui plays here is called 'Arabesque No. 1 by Debussy')
Like that the two of them passed the time peacefully.
Around the same time basketball practice had ended for Yuusuke, football practice had also ended for Sae. The young prodigy had actually pondered on staying there longer however with a match incoming the whole team was advised to take it easy as to avoid any kind of injury.
Sae honestly doubt he could get any of those injuries but he figured he might get more out of it by practicing with his younger brother.
Although the team was good, they weren't quite up to par with the prodigy yet. In addition to that playing with his own brother was more fun in certain kind of way.
Of course there was one more reason. One which the young teen did not want to admit.
With that in mind the football boy took a quick shower before he got changed.
A gentle piano melody cascaded and filled the empty hallways like a trail of water. For a brief moment it seems to envelop the world in a gentle color. Even Yuusuke who had come here for a reason temporarily forgot what he had come for and just decided to indulge in the warm and soothing melody.
In his mind he felt himself carried safely towards a sunny forest. From aside a small river was glistening in the sunlight. The sound of laughter could be heard from a far. A light and warm bell like sound.
The feeling of sunlight on his skin melted into a soft tingle. A strangely pleasing feeling.
Not too long after, as if on instinct, Yuusuke was pulled out of his reverie. Subconsciously glancing out the window he could see a few seniors pass by.
If his memory served him right these were members of the football team.
Acting as if his phone was ringing Yuusuke shuffled through his pocket.
Due to the distraction Yui too stopped playing being pulled out of her focus.
'Sorry.' Yuusuke mentally apologized for interrupting her and acted like he was on call.
Yui stopped and waited politely.
After a short moment Yuusuke ended the call and stood up. «I'm sorry. It's an urgent call from home.» He said looking apologetic with a deep sigh.
Yui waved her hand and smiled gently. «It's okay, please don't apologize. Thank you for listening.»
Yuusuke's expression shifted for a moment but he then grabbed his bag and went to leave.
«I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you next time. See you.»
Yui too stood up and waved after him. «See you.» She called after him happily.
As Yuusuke dashed down the stairs he felt a strange quesy feeling.
In his minds he repeatedly admonished himself.
'You're the worst.'
'You're terrible.'
'You asshole.'
«Sorry, Yui...» Yuusuke sighed to himself as he finally reached the bottom of the stairs. He trudged to his locker with a heavy heart. The moment he reached it he could hear the sound of the piano playing again. Unsure of what he was feeling, Yuusuke just sighed and leaned his forehead against his locker.
«Tch... god damn.» He quietly whispered to himself. After a moment of nothing but the piano and a few students trudging by Yuusuke had regained his calm and put on his shoes.
Walking towards the exit he thought. 'Whatever... I'll leave the rest to you,
... Sae.'
Soon after Yuusuke left a miraculous encounter was about to happen.
Having finished showering and changing Sae once again walked the familiar path towards the exit.
As he passed by the familiar faculties for music for a brief moment he was hopeful to hear something. Staring up the windows in hopes that someone was there, Sae's waiting was only meet with silence.
He couldn't help but sigh. It seems like he won't get to hear anything or find out whoever it was before he left for Spain.
A slight tinge stabbed his chest making the teen boy shiver slightly.
«The fuck-» Sae cursed not understanding what it was that he was feeling. His eyes narrowed into a deep frown as a heavy nasty feeling bubbled up from the depth of his stomach.
«!»
«Wha-» Sae couldn't even finish the words that came out of his lips when he suddenly heard it.
He heard it!
'This sound! I found it.'
At once the heavy feeling of being pulled down by mud and gore left him and instead it was as if all the colors in his world have returned at once.
It was like a ray of light shone down on him. Freeing him, deliberating him. Embracing him gently and shielding him in a blanket of warmth and freedom all the way.
With renewed strength the teen slapped his cheeks with both hands to pull himself out of his musings.
After going through all the pain of finding them, he won't let them go another time.
With a renewed resolve Sae dashed.
The sound filled and illuminated the hallways. 'It's weird, how the usual hallways suddenly look different today.' Sae thought to himself as he made the stairs up towards where he knew the music rooms were located.
Right now he saw the hallways in a color he had never seen before. They resembled oil paintings or was it watercolor? Sae couldn't tell yet it made him feel light and queasy. His world suddenly lit up in a myriad of colors. Colouring a beautiful rainbow of all hues, sparkling and twinkling in a sight he hadn't seen before. It looks like... a galaxy was spread in front of him; one full of light and colors.
These colors weren't overwhelming, nor was the light blinding. Everything just seemed perfect at the moment.
With each step he got closer, his excitement grew. It was the kind of excitement he got when playing soccer most of the times.
Clack.
Exhilaration, liberation. Joy.
Clack. Clack
Yet there was something else there. Something more comforting and soothing then everything he ever felt.
Clack. 'Yet one step closer.'
Something more warm and humble than any reward obtained.
Clack. Clack. 'And another one.'
For a moment time seems to stop in slow motion. The temperature, the air, the sound outside, the sound of the piano, the sound of his own beating heart and each motion of his muscles. It was like Sae could feel them all. He could hear them all yet at the same time it felt so distant. As if the slightest touch could break this world into a million of shards. It was the first time he was met with such an delicate, intangible and fleeting feeling.
Clack. 'Just one more step.'
Without knowing his eyes filled with an uncanny wetness.
Clack. «Finally here.»
The moment Sae reached the door the whole world seemed to return back to it's usual.
It was then that Sae realized.
It was something so simple and natural, yet he had never noticed it. Maybe he had just forgotten.
Being caught up in his dream and future he had forgotten about that one thing so simple and humane.
He didn't know that he had been looking for it, nor when he had forgotten it.
This feeling,
This thing,
This place,
A safe haven from everything,
His own "Querencia".
With a deep sigh Sae opened the door without any hesitation in his action.
«I found you.»
If someone were to ask Yui what just happened she really had no idea.
The only thing she remembered was bidding Yuusuke goodbye and returning to finish the last piece she had planned for today.
It was also the one meant to answer Yuusuke's request. A piece that portrayed the moment she had witnessed today at the football field.
Even with no one to hear it, Yui just wanted to play it. At least once, just this once. For herself and for the memories of today. For all in all, thinking about what she saw today... 'It was truly beautiful.'
«I found you.»
«?!» Startled by the sudden noise and voice Yui stopped playing. Her hands hovered above the piano keys frozen.
Her blue eyes widened in shock as she looked towards the door where the voice had come from.
'Itoshi... Sae?' She thought as she felt her heartbeat rise and the blood flooding to her cheeks.
'Why's Sae here? And why now?' Yui shyly looked back at the sheets to regain her calm.
His appearance startled her. To be thinking that she was thinking of him and in a sense chose this song inspired by him and now said person was actually here now...
This was beyond her comprehension.
'!' Suddenly remembering something she asked.
«Were you... looking for me?» She asked hesitantly lowering her hands in surprise.
If her hearing didn't fail her she could swear he said something along the lines of, found you.
Sae's stunning emerald orbs focused onto her crystal blue ones. There was something deep and fiery in his eyes that surprised and captivated her at the same time.
'Were his eyes always this intense?' She wondered not knowing him well.
Instead of answering Sae entered and quietly closed the door behind him. He confidently yet slowly walked up to her.
Once they were about an arms length apart, Sae suddenly broke the eye contact. His eyes trailed to the piano tiles, her hands and then to the sheet and then back to her eyes.
«That piece- What is it called?» Sae asked.
His sudden question evoke a smile from the girl. It looked very cute in his eyes. It was as if an angel was smiling down on him. (He would later beat himself for this. Man's whipped.)
«It's called Un Sospiro by Liszt. I didn't finish it yet but would you like to listen?» Yui offered patiently.
Instead of giving a verbal reply Sae took the nearest chair and pulled it to sit diagonally in front of her.
«Is this okay?» He asked without further ado.
His quick response surprised her.
«Of course. If you like to you can also sit next to me.» Yui offered as she pointed towards the spot to her right.
Sae was about to ask why but the moment he looked up and saw her gentle smile he found himself mute.
Without wasting another second Sae pulled the chair over to her right and took a seat a little further back.
From his position he could look over her shoulder at the sheets and her fingers hovering above the keys.
'Her fingers are beautiful.' Sae thought absentmindedly. The moment he realized what he had been thinking though a deep blush marred his face.
'Just what's wrong with me.' Sae lamented.
Thankfully Yui had returned her attention back to the piano. And soon she started with her preparation. Just as she did before with Yuusuke. Yui took a deep breathe and exhaled deeply relieving all the tension from her body before straightening up her torso and positioning her hand to play.
The moment she opened her eyes Sae could tell the intense focus the young girl had.
Despite having no knowledge about music he felt a deep sense of awe and respect for the gentle looking girl.
It was a sense only a few could give him and most of them excelled at what they were doing.
All thoughts Sae had up to this point vanished the moment her hands started to move.
The beautiful sound hit him at full force and it spread through all of his cells. A deep shivering sensation overwhelmed him and he felt and saw colors in ways he hadn't seen before.
This moment was one he will always remember.
Time passed by quickly and by the time Yui had finished the piece it was already time to go already.
«Do you come by often?» Sae asked seemingly out of nowhere as he watched the girl pack her stuff.
He only realized now how pretty she actually looked with her soft crystal blue eyes and light ash brown colored hair.
Organizing the folders Yui answered after a moment of silence. «Just sometimes when I want to play.» She replied honestly.
Once again it was silent. Yet strangely it wasn't uncomfortable.
«Come to think of it. I haven't introduced myself yet. May I?» Yui asked politely.
Caught by surprise Sae just nodded.
«Hello, I'm Nakahara Yui from Class 1-B. It's nice to meet you.» Yui greeted with a warm smile and slight dip of her head.
Sae mimicked her with a slight nod of his own. 'Nakahara Yui.' He repeated in his head.
«I'm Itoshi Sae...» Sae trailed off unsure of what else to say.
Yui gave him a sympathetic smile. «I already knew. Sae-san is very popular.» She continued the smile never leaving her face.
«...» Sae didn't reply anything. He just waited for her to finish.
Which she did now.
Yui grabbed her bag and closed the piano gently.
«Thank you for waiting. Is Sae-san fine with you?» Yui questioned politely once she walked next to him.
They both left the room and closed the door shut.
«Sure, I don't mind. Should I call you Yui then?» Sae asked cooly, yet inside his heart was beating with excitement at calling her by her first name.
Yui chuckled quietly. «That sounds nice. I would like that.»
«It sounds like we are really close friends.» Yui said once they reached the stairs.
«Is it bad?» Sae asked not sure what else to say.
Yui stopped and spun around immediately. «No, not at all. It just reminded me of how you, Yuusuke, Shuu and Takao suddenly got so close. Everyone called you by Sae before I knew it. I too...» Yui trailed off noticing that she was rambling slightly.
Sae let out a teasing smile at that. «Heh... so you do talk about me.»
Joining him with his smile Yui chuckled. «We do occasionally. But most of it is about how good you are at football.» Yui replied innocently.
Sae gave her a curious look. He did not expect that honest reply but somehow it pleased him.
«I actually saw you play today.» Yui said once they reached their lockers.
Sae looked at her with surprise. Now this was news he didn't expect.
A myriad of thoughts and questions ran through his mind and he needed to sort through what reply would be most appropriate for this situation now.
After a short pause he suddenly asked in a mysterious and quiet voice after slipping on his shoes and walking back to Yui. «How... was it?»
The girl who was about to close her locker turned around with a smile. Her crystal eyes sparkled slightly and her white skin seemed rosy with excitement. Her soft smile seemingly always present.
«It was very beautiful.» She said. «It looks like you really love football. You looked very immersed and captivated by it. Yet the way you play seem so tender and calculated. Also your dribbling is-»
Sae held up a hand in front of her face effectively stopping her from her rant.
When she looked at him he had already turned around, showing her only his back.
His action confused her. From what she had been told Sae was a proud and confident guy with a hint of arrogance, especially when it comes to football.
Yet the one she had met doesn't seem as boasting and arrogant as the rumors made him out to be. He seemed pretty calm in her eyes.
«Let's go.» Sae said and left first.
'This just proves again that rumors can't be trusted.' Yui concluded as she happily followed him with a smile.
Because the smaller girl had been caught up in her own thoughts, she had missed the small blush that spread onto Sae's ears ever since she started her rant of compliments.
But that was only perfect for Sae.
On their way home on that day the two had some light talks until the large crossroad. Their walk was a mixture of silence and chatter, just the perfect balance for both of them to feel at ease and comfortable with each other.
Whether by coincidence or by fate a tender friendship was starting to blossom between these two lovely beings.
«Then, see you tomorrow, Sae-san.» Yui bid her goodbye with a polite bow before skipping off into the crowd of people.
With a casual wave, Sae watched her retreating figure getting smaller and smaller in the wave of people. He silently stood there, hands in his pocket and watched until the small figure fully disappeared into the crowd. Once she was completely out of sight he let out a long sigh.
A slight smile appeared on his face which he quickly hid by zipping up his sports jacket and pulling it over his mouth.
'See you tomorrow.' Sae thought to himself. As he too finally turned around ready to go home.