She paused for a moment, setting the Crimson bass aside. Then, she reached for the black, glossy 5-string bass with its striking gold accents. Its weight felt a bit denser. As she looped the strap over her shoulder, it felt like she was shouldering something more than just a musical instrument.
And once she started playing...
The rhythm changed. It was wilder, faster. Still in 4/4, but filled with accents and subtle syncopations that made the rhythm feel alive and challenging. Her plucking was teasing, almost "naughty"—as if rebelling, yet remaining controlled within the structure she built herself.
The ringing sound of the fifth string added a different depth, like opening up a larger space for her to express herself.
"This one... is perhaps the current me."
"Bolder. Freer. More honest."
She stopped for a moment, looking at her fingers.
Then she gave a short laugh. Not because it was funny, but because something inside her felt as though it had reconnected.
"Illya... we're really starting to move, aren't we?"
Eva looked toward the balcony across the way. Eillya's curtains were closed, but she knew… the girl must be practicing too. The world that had once collapsed... was now being rebuilt.
Together.
Morning arrived with soft light seeping through the bedroom curtains. The air was still cool, but Eva's body felt lighter than usual. Her nearly healed leg no longer throbbed when it touched the floor. With a small smile, she stood up, changed her clothes, and left the house… only to walk into the house next door, as per the routine she had long established.
Without hesitation, Eva opened Eillya's unlocked front door. She stepped inside quietly, placed her small bag on the sofa, and headed straight for the kitchen. Her hands grew busy preparing breakfast; the savory aroma of omelets and toasted bread slowly filled the room. She served it on the dining table, complete with two glasses of warm water.
However, even after everything was ready, Eillya had yet to appear.
"Hmm... strange that Illya hasn't come down yet," Eva murmured with a suspicious but gentle tone.
She wiped her hands with a towel and climbed the stairs to the second floor. Her footsteps were nearly silent in the stillness of the house. Eillya's bedroom door was slightly ajar, and as soon as Eva peeked her head in, she froze.
Eillya had fallen asleep in a sitting position, her head resting on her desk with her left arm acting as a pillow. Beneath that left hand was a scrap of paper that looked like song lyrics. At the top center of the paper, a single word was written: "Oath."
The rest of the writing seemed hidden beneath Eillya's head and hand.
Eva could only give a small smile at the sight. A sense of warmth flowed from her chest to her fingertips. Silently, she stepped inside and approached, then tapped Eillya's shoulder gently.
"Illya, wake up..." Eva said with a voice as soft as morning dew.
Eillya stirred slightly but wasn't fully conscious yet.
Eva pinched her cheek softly. "Hey... are you overworking yourself? Sleeping at your desk like this?"
Finally, Eillya opened her eyes slowly, her gaze blank for a moment before focusing back on Eva's face, which was watching her closely. With a confused look, she only murmured, "Eva...?"
"Yeah, breakfast is ready. But instead, you're sleeping here like a rock. How are you going to sing if your shoulders are all stiff, huh?" Eva said again, this time with a slightly scolding tone, though her eyes remained soft.
Eillya only nodded slowly, then sat up straight, while Eva caught a secret glimpse of the paper from earlier before turning away, leaving it for later.
A few minutes later, they were sitting at the dining table. The aroma of warm breakfast enveloped the room, and thin steam rose from the freshly served plates. Eillya still looked sleepy, holding a spoon with her eyes half-open.
Eva crossed her arms over her chest, squinting at Eillya.
"Illya… if you sleep at your desk like last night one more time, I swear I'll bring a pillow and a blanket and put them there."
Eillya only stared with a flat expression, then looked down slightly, like a child who had just been caught.
"Listen, your spirit is great, I get it. But don't go sacrificing your body too. You want to chase your dream but collapse halfway through? Not funny."
Eillya was silent. For a second, her eyes met Eva's, as if she wanted to answer but hesitated.
Eva continued while starting to eat her toast, "You've changed a lot, and I've seen for myself how hard you're trying. But remember, you're not a robot. If you break, who's going to sing?"
Eillya finally gave a small smile, weak but sincere.
"Right…"
"Good." Eva lightly flicked a finger toward Eillya, then lifted her glass of juice. "Because if you get sick, I'll..." Eva didn't finish her sentence. She only told Eillya to finish her breakfast and get ready for school.
At school, after classes ended, Eva's path was different than usual. She didn't follow Eillya to the vocal studio. This time, she decided to head home alone—or more accurately, to stop by a music store not far from her route home.
The afternoon sky was still bright, and the breeze carried the scent of road dust mixed with the warm smell of twilight. When Eva opened the door to the small shop, the sound of a hanging bell greeted her. But that wasn't what made her pause.
Behind the cashier counter, a girl sat playing a 7-string guitar. Her fingers moved quickly and with precision. Every pluck and tap sounded clean, forming a progressive melody that made the hair on Eva's neck stand up.
"...That technique..." Eva thought, her eyes narrowing. "Her age... probably just slightly different from mine? I'll ask her later..."
The girl didn't notice Eva's presence until a few seconds later. Once she did, she stopped playing immediately and turned with a polite smile.
"Welcome," she said, in a tone that was friendly yet professional. It seemed to be the standard procedure for her job at the store.
Eva only replied with a small smile, nodding without a word, and began to browse the aisles filled with musical instrument accessories.
While the girl sank back into her guitar playing, Eva focused on her goal. She checked several brands of bass strings in the glass display case. After a few minutes of consideration, she took two sets of high-quality stainless steel strings: one for her 4-string bass and one for her 5-string.
She looked at both in her hands for a moment, then gave a small smile.
"A worthy investment."
Eva walked casually toward the cashier counter with the two sets of strings in hand. However, the cashier was still lost in her playing; the notes from the seven-string guitar flowed with a fluid and practiced technique, showing she was no mere amateur. There was no exaggerated expression, only diligence and calmness in every note.
"Hello~ excuse me, I'd like to pay for these..." Eva said in a friendly tone, slightly lifting one set of strings to get her attention.
The cashier startled slightly, stopped playing, and bowed her head in a polite gesture. "Ah, sorry! Please, let me help you with that," she said while setting her guitar aside and beginning to scan Eva's items.
Eva watched the girl for a moment, then commented lightly, "Your playing just now—it was good. Your fingers are very fluid."
The cashier didn't answer immediately. After finishing the calculation, she only gave a thin smile and said, "Thank you... but I still feel like something is missing."
Eva raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting for an explanation.
"I haven't been able to bring this guitar to life yet," she continued calmly. "Technique alone isn't enough, is it?"
Eva didn't answer, only responding with a brief look before lowering her gaze.
"The total is $488.90," the cashier said, adding after seeing Eva's uniform, "These are quite premium strings. Are you sure?"
Without many words, Eva nodded. She opened the inside of her blazer and pulled out a shiny metallic card—a platinum card engraved with her name. A gift from her mother before she moved to Keiya to cover her living expenses.
She slid it toward the cashier without much of an expression. "Of course~."
The cashier took it, looking slightly surprised but maintaining her composure. She processed the payment without further questions, while Eva simply waited, calm as usual.
After the transaction was complete, the cashier handed over a small bag containing the two sets of bass strings and the card to Eva. The relatively empty shop left room for a brief silence, filled only by the instrumental music from the store's speakers.
Eva still stood in front of the counter, looking at the instruments lined up on the wall, then finally spoke up, "By the way, my name is Eva Arabella. I go to Rosendale, class 1-A. I think we're the same age?"
The cashier nodded slightly, looking at Eva for a moment before answering, "Alia Adelaide. Westeria High, class 1-C."
Eva smiled, "Westeria, huh?"
Alia only nodded again, this time more lightly.
Westeria High—a girls' school quite well-known in Keiya. Its name frequently appeared in sports and academic competitions, standing grandly not far from the city center. Although it was a tier below Rosendale in terms of reputation and prestige, Westeria was known for having a free yet progressive environment, especially in supporting arts and culture extracurriculars.
"And you like music too, don't you," Eva murmured softly, more to herself, looking at Alia with a hint of curiosity.
Alia didn't answer directly, only leaning her hands on the counter, her eyes fixed on the bass strings she had just packed. "Maybe. But it seems you look more certain than I do."
Eva only laughed softly, "Being certain doesn't necessarily mean being right; doubting doesn't necessarily mean being wrong~."
The two went silent again for a moment, in a silence that was strangely not awkward.
Eva looked back at the seven-string guitar Alia had been playing. Her curiosity hadn't faded yet.
"If you don't mind me asking," Eva said softly but clearly, "what time does your part-time shift end?"
Alia turned again, lifting an eyebrow slightly. "Seven PM. Why?"
Eva leaned her hands on the counter, still smiling casually. "In that case, come with me to a cafe near here afterward. My treat."
Alia blinked slowly. "Your treat?"
"Hmm, not in a strictly formal way." Eva shrugged. "I just want to talk. And I think... I know how to bring that guitar to life."
Instantly, Alia's eyes narrowed slightly, her flat expression turning into one of curiosity. "That guitar?"
Eva pointed to the seven-string guitar leaning on the rack behind the counter. "Yes. The one you were playing. Your playing is tidy... but empty. It's not your fault; I've experienced something like that too."
Alia stared at her for a few seconds, then took a breath, not answering immediately.
Eva only stared back with a light but confident gaze.
"…If you're just making things up, I'm leaving," Alia murmured finally.