Chapter XIII: Come One, Come All! Part 1
At night, Ryujin and Hageshi chat about memes again.
"Dude, I cannot believed this, the Pokemon surprise meme." (Hageshi)
"Yeah, it's gonna be like 'The test isn't that hard. The test: 100 items. Surprised Pikachu Meme'" (Ryujin)
"Lol, I hope will not happen in school. (Hageshi)
"Nah, the minimum tests I heard are average to 70 or 75 items dude." (Ryujin)
"Well that's a comic relief!" (Hageshi)
"Nope, (brings out a Lego thumbs up) this is" (Ryujin)
Both laugh, the sparkle with memes is a grandeur of the YouTube Heritage and History, but, it's a good bone-tickling if they would watch more of it on YouTube and Facebook.
As Ryujin remains on the phone with Hageshi, he receives an invitation to participate in the sports events of the Starlight Festival.
"Hey, Ryujin, you should join us for the sports events! Let's go for the board games, I'm thinking Games of the Generals, GG! It'll be a blast," Hageshi suggests.
"Thanks, man, but I think I'll pass this time. I have my eye on the badminton tournament with Haruto," Ryujin replies.
"Ah, got it. Well, let me know if you change your mind," Hageshi says.
The prospect of engaging in friendly competition appeals to Ryujin, offering a welcome break from the usual academic pursuits.
Sunday dawns with the anticipation of sports registration for the festival. Hageshi and Kuebiko eagerly sign up for basketball, their enthusiasm palpable as they prepare to showcase their skills on the court. Meanwhile, in a clandestine maneuver, Ryujin makes his way to the badminton registration booth, quietly pursuing his own interests. While signing,
"Name?", the staff asks.
"Haruto Ogata"
Ryujin turns to his right and sees Haruto.
"Hey, man, glad you can make it.", Ryujin says with a smile.
"Yeah, I thought my fam wouldn't make me go here, but since it's just near, I told them, 'Imma just go to the Comfort Rooms, Mom and Dad', and I hop on the earliest bus to get here."
"Nice trick man, what if they find out?" (Ryujin)
"Hmm, they won't, since they went into a mirror maze. And it will take them about 3 hours to get out. And in fact, I did go to the Comfort Room, and jumping out of the small high window, and going to the nearest bus stop and here we are." (Haruto)
"Neat, now they be traveling a misdirection." (Ryujin)
Hageshi also enters the chat.
"Hey dudes, have you both registered?" (Hageshi)
"Yeah, badminton" (Ryujin and Haruto)
"Well, me and Kuebiko have signed up for Basketball" (Hageshi)
"I thought you'd be signing up for the board games?" (Ryujin)
"Yeah?" (Haruto)
"In retrospect, the list was bamboozled by the regular classes, especially in the Colleges, that's why I went to this option, dunk the ball." (Hageshi)
The following day, the campus buzzes with activity as food stalls line the dike, enticing students with a variety of delectable treats. Inoshiro, Ryujin, Hageshi, and Haruto walks by the stalls.
"Damn, they even have Burgers and Hotdogs here" (Inoshiro)
"I mean, forget the Takoyashi and Sushi, but they also have other international dishes here" (Hageshi)
"Look at this! They have Siomai, Siopao, and what's this? Empanada? Calamares? Fishball? Quekiam? What's that?" (Ryujin)
"Ah Mabuhay po! I'm from the Philippines, and please try some of these! The first four customers are on the house! We got Calamares (Squid Rings), Fishball (bouncy balls made of fish), Ilocos Empanada (crusty fried shell with vegetables and Vigan Longganisa ground meat), and Quekiam (meat roll)." (Vendor)
"Hmm, you guys want?" (Ryujin)
All three of them nod.
"Alright, we'll have 4 Calamares and 4 Empanadas." (Ryujin)
"4 Calamares and 4 Empanadas coming right up." (Vendor)
After eating, they go back to school and inside the classroom, the piano is positioned and most of their classmates are already there. With rehearsals looming, Shinse, the music teacher, is suddenly called away by Mr. Hajime, leaving the students in need of guidance.
Taking initiative, Ryujin steps forward, seizing the opportunity to showcase his musical talents. He pushes a D key down, like a ripple in the water. As he pushes more keys, D, A, D, E, F#, and higher D. Every keys pushed down, sounds like a raindrop hitting a rain drum with such melodic and the tune soothing, striking a ripple throughout the wave.
"Looks like we're on our own. How about we take charge and practice ourselves?" Ryujin suggests.
His suggestion meets with nods of agreement from his classmates.
"Can you play the school anthem, Ryujin?" (Arita)
"Technically, yes Class Rep, I'll see what I can do" (Ryujin)
"Please, play and let's all practice so that we'll be all ready" (Takeshi)
As Ryujin is about to push down the other keys, he looks at Hageshi, Haruto, and Inoshiro as they nod. Then, he looks towards the officers, Arita, Fujima, and Takeshi, as they nod at him as well. He nods, and plays the piece.
"Alright, everyone, let's start with the first piece. Follow my lead," Ryujin directs.
With confidence and precision, he leads his classmates through the practice session, ensuring they are well-prepared for the upcoming performance.
"From small, and tall, but now for all,
We gather up and sing it proud,
Our voices heard from sky to ground,
Dedicate it as we stand tall.
Stars aligned, form shapes from lines,
Our institution be recognized,
Across the valiant plains they rise,
The shining torch will set ablaze all kinds.
University of the Constellations,
We dedicate our hearts to you with endeavor,
Wherever we may be, loyal as ever,
We carry the name and our pride to all nations."
They practice more, until they get the right tune. As Shinse gets back from the office,
"Alright everybody, sorry to keep you all waiting here. Now, from a one and a two and a three, and—" (Shinse)
All of the students sings with melodic timing for the beats, proper pacing, and blending of voices.
"Fascinating! Where-How did you all do this?", Shinse wonders.
"It's because of Ryujin, Sir. He taught us the melody and rhythm of the hymn." (Arita)
"Furukawa? That's unbelievable! Furukawa, please come up here." (Shinse)
"Sir?", Ryujin comes up in front.
"Hmm, play Rondo Alla Turca by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, please" (Shinse)
Ryujin plays the piece as ever, though it lacks some polish beats but the background and melody brings an ecstatic and climatic tone to the piece.
"Impressive, now the Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel." (Shinse)
Notes, after notes, its climatic peak and the sudden drops of intense tone of the volume brings a classical piece bring to life, engorged by all of his classmates, especially Saki.
"Man, I didn't know he is so good at playing the piano.", Saki remarks in her mind.
"Now, the University Anthem." (Shinse)
Ryujin plays the anthem, gracefully and with honor, bringing the rhythm of fidelity, and loyalty to the campus, each note and beat giving emphasis and broaden expression of the campus' identity as well as its integrity and foundation of its symphony in the piece. After playing, Shinse remarks on Ryujin.
"I haven't seen someone played the anthem so gracefully, almost all of the notes are precise, and the key scale is almost to the original. How did you know to play such a piece?", Shinse asks him.
"Well, Sir, it's like this. When I was a child back then, my grandfather taught me music but it was first on the Koto. We didn't had a piano back then, and still until Grade 5 when my mom bought me a piano.", Ryujin articulates.
"Did you applied your learnings from the Koto to the piano?" (Shinse)
"No Sir, when I was introduced to the piano, my fingers just magically danced on the keys, with what I just heard, like songs I love and I heard of, even Soran Bushi." (Ryujin)
"Huh, that's really astonishing for a boy at your age, given that you are still in Grade 7 or first year high school. How about other instruments? What other instruments do you play?" (Shinse)
"Sir, I play the guitar, piano, Koto, harmonica, ukulele, flute, kalimba, ocarina, lyre, and violin sir." (Ryujin)
The class is shocked as Ryujin said this.
"Impressive, and how remarkable. I haven't seen someone who is very talented in music! Did you take any of those instruments in tutor proper? Or did you self-taught?" (Shinse)
"I was only self-taught sir." (Ryujin)
The class is more shocked in awe as Ryujin mentioned it.
"That's a nice spirit, and to be honest, Furukawa, I was just like you, self-taught, but I was more older back then, about 18." (Shinse)
Shinse then faces the class.
"Ok class, I'll be the one beating, while Furukawa will play the song. This would be in moderate 2/4 beats, so please, everyone focus on the beat ok? And a 1 and a 2, and 3 and—" (Shinse)
Ryujin plays the song, as Shinse starts beating for the intro of the hymn. Then, at the breaking point, the class sings the anthem, accompanied with the nice piano instrumental and the beating of Shinse's arms. After the anthem, they all clap for Ryujin, especially Shinse who seems so proud of him.