The beautifully-honed sound of the bow strokes embracing the violin strings, creating a perfect melody. Salut d'Amour. The woman with long black hair played it so beautifully, that anyone hearing it would be intoxicated with the sound. Her slender yet steady, dedicated fingers held the bow firmly and played her hearts out.
"H***" A muffled voice called out to me once.
""H*r*" Twice.
"H*ru" Thrice. Her voice gradually raising louder and louder throughout my ears.
"Haru!" This time- she managed to jolt me awake. I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurry like it was hindered by clouds. My entire mind felt foggy. And to add it up- my gaze felt like it was rotating throughout the room, until it finally managed to lock onto the person infront of me- who so rudely snapped me out of my slumber.
Ah, of course.
Who else could it be other than Rui? My only friend. Real friend- that is. Her hands was slumped on my desk that I was laying on just a second ago, before she so shamelessly interrupted me that is.
"Lunch time!" She said with a pout. Rui's curly hair was still a mess as always, one that's close enough to be mistaken as a bird nest. Yet- her light brown eyes that almost resemble chocolate, always made her quite peculiar.
Right, lunch. Huh? It's already lunchtime? I slowly shifted my gaze around me, looking at the faces that remained in the classroom. Six loud, annoying boys who's towering over one sitted individual. Ah, seems like I totally slept through our morning classes.
"What? What? Takahashi, don't tell me you slept the entire time again?" The boy who was sitting down suddenly spoke. His tone so friendly you'd almost mistook him for my friend. Rui looked abrupty annoyed by him for some reason. That was the only reason I need to dislike him as well. After all- making Rui dislike you, is a whole different feat. Just how much of a horrible person could you be?
Huh. Why is this one attentive to his surroundings? I only gazed at them once.
"...Seems so" A short reply. Although- I formed a small smile to make up for the lack of effort in my words. An obviously fake one at that. The boy didn't seemed offended, instead- he simply chuckled. Perhaps, he noticed my lack of effort in socializing right now. That he decided to end the conversation without any complaints.
Huh, at least he had a little bit of decency left.
"Lunch-"
"Right, right. Lunch, fine"
I immediately interrupted the so painfully annoying, whining Rui. So without any further ado- I grabbed my wallet, before following her out of the classroom.
Class 1-B
"You're gonna die from malnutrition at this point" Rui casually stated, as if simply talking about the weather. I didn't mind. In fact- I liked blunt people who goes straight to the point instead of beating around the bush. I understood Rui's concerns. After all- I've only bought Anpan for lunch ever since school started. No one would make me a bento, and to be honest- eating was too much effort.
I just...didn't have the appetite, perhaps?
"My weight is normal for my height, thank you" A casual dismissal. As always. Even to Rui- I've never once let her closer than necessary. One factor was that we've only known each other for a few months now. The biggest reason was that I didn't like being unraveled. I dislike it when someone tries to understand or "see through me" I dislike the thought of someone seeing through my entire soul and laying myself bare. After all- uderstanding one's everything is the same as giving your heart to someone and hoping they won't crush it.
Without any complaint- Rui simply scoffed sarcastically before accepting her fate.
I slowly laid on the floor. Dismissing the fact that our school's rooftop isn't even properly maintained by janitors or students. Because of this, cherry blossom petals have long since laid on our rooftop floor's. It was spring now.
My gaze landed onto the sky. The cold air hitting and caressing my skin at the same time, and the rooftop's cold floor embracing my body so coldy. The sky was blue, bright, and empty. Perfect. I was once again- staring into nothingness. As if I was looking at my own reflection.
An empty shell.
"Woah, that's insane!" One of the students sat on a circle on the gym floor reacted. His eyes brimming with admiration as he held his phone in a horizontal placement. His two friends beside him- simply let out a chuckle, as if they were more than used to their friend's ourtbust.
They're third years, right? I thought to myself as our class entered the gym. There was already a net in the middle- acting as a barrier between the two classes. Although our school was wealthy enough and had three gyms- it seems like the third year's respective gym's roof cave in a while back. Currently- it was still under construction. And both second years sections also have their P.E classes today. So in short- the third years have no choice but to bother the first years gym.
"Aren't they from class 3-A?" Rui spoke, peeking through my shoulders- trying to get a proper view of the third years at the other side of the gym.
3-A? They must be smart. Here in Hiyano High School- the class section is decided through academic abilities. The first number (1, 2, or 3) indicates their grade level and the letter that follows (A or B) is their respective sections that are decided through academic abilities by the teachers and administrators. So if someone's in class A- they're smarter than the ones in class B.
"Look! It's Natsu-senpai!" One of the girls squealed as the others followed.
"It's the prince!" They so excitedly cheered. Even I could tell that the "prince" they're talking about is the one who's sat at the middle between the three. The other two definitely looked good- but the third year in the middle was in a whole different level. He's probably the most handsome guy in this school.
"Sakura-san!" Rui called out- waving her hand as if she and the third year was close enough for such pleasantries.
"Woah...it's kinda rare seeing Asahi-san smiling like that" One of boys said. Impressive, even they joined in in fangirling over these three.
Talk about a power trio.
When our class finally reached our side of the court- the girls immediately started complaining and ran towards the very end of our side. Some talking to other girls, some talking to their other crushes, and most- trying to get that trio's attention.
"Don't tell me you don't even know those three?" Rui questioned, raising an eyebrow abruptly. "Am I obliged to?" I immediately spouted back, following it with one last glance at the third years. Although- I froze in my tracks when I saw what that Sakura guy was fawning about.
His phone's audio was in max rate like a speaker, and his brightness was so high it felt like the sun had come down to greet us its presence. Who wouldn't had noticed that, right?
A video of someone playing the violin.
Fuck.
Why does everything come hunting me now?
"Haru!" Rui called out, shaking me out of my bewildered state. She was looking at me with such confused, yet concerned eyes that it almost made me curious on what kind of expression I had right now. Sadness? Excitement? Sorrow? Grief? Yearning? I wonder if I looked like the whole word came crashing down, or perhaps- a human who was being hunted by a persistent ghost. Probably the latter.
"Suzuki-sensei told us to stretch" She added, pointing at the middle-aged buffed guy in the center of our side. Arms crossed, and gaze locked onto us as if telling "get a move on" Wow- talk about passion.
"...Right" was all I managed to mumble, it was so quiet that it could almost be mistaken as a whisper. As I spared one last glance at the third years's phone.
Great, thanks for reminding me of shitty memories.
"You seem out of it" Rui's voice cut through. Despite the buzzing gym, yelling here, yelling there, laughing here, laughing there- I still managed to drift apart from reality and get my mind up in the clouds once again. It felt like locking up my surroundings away and running to my one and only safe zone.
We were sitting on the gym's cold, hard, wooden floor at the corner. After all- Suzuki-sensei gave our class the privilege to let anyone who finished the entire regimen rest or leave. Though- his prepared routine wasn't even easy to pass, so the offer was more than useless. It was luck that I even managed to finish it all.
"Do I?"
A beat of silence.
"You know...you always-"
Rui trailed off. Her voice turning quieter and quieter by each word she let out, until she no longed dared to finish her sentence. Perhaps she knew that getting an answer out of me was useless.
"Nevermind" A soft dismissal. "Just know that I'm right here if you need someone to talk to, Haru" She was truly kind. Even though I always avoid and dismiss her questions regarding my past or childhood- she never saw it as a sign of rejecting our friendship. Instead- Rui would simply reply with a gentle reminder; that she'll always be open. Sometimes- Rui does come off as persuasive, but never when it comes to personal or private topics. She knows when to raise a white flag and understand.
"...Sure, thanks"
The whole day- it felt like I was completely out of it. My entire mind was clouded again, and my thoughts were in a whole different world once more. My surroundings didn't matter, nor did the fact that this is now my present. After catching a glimpse of that video in the gym earlier- I felt half-nostalgic and half-sorrowful. Until the moment the bell rang, until I picked up my bag and left the classroom, until I bumped into a stranger at the school gates. My mind was in the gutter that I coudn't even turn around and apologize.
The stranger by the school gates however- looked like he was petrified by the way he gaped at me. I didn't even have the memory to remember what he looked like.
When I entered my room- I didn't came crushing down on my bed as usual. Instead- I found my stare reaching a particular empty spot at the corner of my room, as if something was reserved to be placed there.
No matter how much I pushed it down. No matter how much I swallowed my emotions. No matter how much I avoided and forgot about it.
I can never fool my heart nor memories.
I missed it.
The sensation of my fingers touching the violin's fingerboard, moving from chord to chord. The firm yet soft grip of my hand holding the bow. The feeling of my heart pounding with excitement and euphoria.
I missed playing the violin.
I missed the violin.
I missed the one little thing that made my life light up.
"Pfft-"
"As if I could ever go back" I capitulated to my own words. It almost sounded like I was convincing my own heart and mind.
Right?
The next morning, my day started and went normally. Read, study, write, answer, have lunch with Rui, read, study, write, answer, and go home. This is it. The life that I should live. The life that I should obey to live. A realistic, logical life. Once I graduate High School, I'll aim for T-university and take law or medicine. That's all. That's the only path laid before me.
That was supposed to be it. Yet- you just had to came crashing into my life.
On my way out of the school- by the school gates. I once again bumped into someone. This time- I made sure to properly apologize. But before I even had the chance to open my lips, the stranger spoke.
"Ah! little prodigy!"
Huh? That nickname-
No, no way. There's a lot of people with a nickname like that, right?
Using every bit of courage I had, I slowly turned around. Right infront of me- was someone who was beautiful as spring, and as fleeting as it. Exactly like autumn.
Dark brown hair like maple leaves, and dark brown eyes like wood. A fair, well balanced skin tone. And a slim yet lean and tall build.
"I knew it!" He said with such confidence, pointing his index finger at me. Not accusatory, but recognition. His smile, as bright as the sun- yet as gentle as the cherry blossoms slowly falling down right now.
"Little prodigy!"
Ah, I'm doomed, aren't I?
How long has it been since I've been called by that childish nickname?