CG 25: Advice (Kou)
SECOND quarter was cram-packed with the usual school events.
It came as no surprise that Rin and Mihara, Takkun’s real name, were the stars of the show during the sports festival. Calling Takkun by name instead of his childhood nickname was a hard habit to kick.
Tazaki, the bad boy with the silver piercing, was the dark horse of the day. It turned out that he was pretty popular because he was on the basketball team. His grades were questionable, but girls had a thing for athletic boys. I was impressed by the vocal power of middle school girls who cheered till their voices went hoarse during the boys’ relay and athletic events.
Tomoi participated in the three-legged race with the young female school nurse.
So jealous! My heart raced for him all over again when I saw how he carefully matched his pace to hers and prevented her from tripping.
And then came the ultimate event from the gaming gods!
I had won first place in the obstacle race and was walking along the edge of the grounds to return to my classmates when Tomoi happened to be walking toward me from the opposite direction. His expression softened into a smile when he noticed me just as I was gushing internally over how cool he looked in his jersey.
“You did good out there.” He patted me on the shoulder in passing.
I felt like praising myself for not swooning on the spot.
The culture festival always came after the sports festival. I was put in charge of playing the piano accompaniment during the choral competition. My class was the most disorganized out of the first-year students. Most of the boys were too nervous or shy to sing aloud, and Rei and the girls ragged on them for it.
Just like the sports festival was a place for students to show off their athleticism, the culture festival was a place for students to show off their artistry.
Our middle school band was a so-called “leisure club” that didn’t partake in any competitions. They mostly performed pop and anime songs. I couldn’t help but move my fingers to the beat of the trumpet music I heard through the open windows after school.
Not affiliated with any school clubs, I just watched as an observer the whole time—until the principal suddenly called me to his office after school two days before the culture festival.
“You want me to perform on stage?” I asked.
“The PTA was very vocal about allowing students exempt from school clubs a place to present the results of their hard work too. You are the only student in our school exempt from club activities right now, Miss Shimao. We have a piano in the gym. Would you mind performing a song for the school?”
Hold your horses, Mr. Principal! I understand your logic, but you should ask for something like that sooner! Do you think middle schoolers will sit through classical music? If you told me sooner, I would’ve arranged popular jazz numbers and anime songs into a medley that students would want to listen to!
I stamped down my desire to complain and nodded. It didn’t take a genius to know he wasn’t asking, but telling me to do it.
“Very good. Thank you. You will have ten minutes to perform. I look forward to hearing your performance.” Evidently relieved that I’d accepted, his stiff expression gave way to a broad smile.
I bowed to him and trudged my way out of school, my feet dragging with the pressure suddenly put on my shoulders.
What should I play? How should I play it? There’s no time to even run it by Miss Ayumi. I racked my brain over what to play while I walked with my bike. Chopin’s always safe. But ten minutes! “Fantaisie-Impromptu” is too short. “Heroic Polonaise” runs less than ten minutes too… But I love that song to pieces. Maybe that’s what I’ll go with.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed the black Benz driving beside me.
Shocked by the honking horn, I nearly knocked my bicycle over.
What in the world?! My eyes darted around until they made direct contact with Kou’s through the lowered backseat window.
“I thought that was you. What’s with your face?”
That’s my line, buddy! And leave my face alone!
“You scared me! Are you on your way home from school, Kou?”
“Yeah. Did your bike tire go flat?”
“Nope. I just wanted time to think.”
“Is that all?”
“Yeah… If you have nothing else to say, can I go?”
“No. Um, well…”
I became unreasonably irritated with Kou when I saw his rare display of being lost for words. Most of my irritation had nothing to do with him, but he was a good person to take it out on. His timing sucked; we were destined to always get off on the wrong foot.
“If you have something to say, just say it already. Parking in the middle of the road is a safety hazard,” I rushed him in a crabby tone.
Kou breathed a short sigh then spoke as if he’d regained his cool. “Why don’t you come to my house if you have no other plans? I’ll listen to your problems.”
Apparently I’d been trudging down the street with such a grave expression it was noticeable from a car. I felt bad for being such a narrow-minded person that I had become annoyed with Kou for going out of his way to stop and talk to me.
“…Sorry for making you worry. Thanks for the offer.” I decided to take him up on his generosity.
Being a Seio student, Kou might have a good suggestion for what I should play. The gorgeous Bösendorfer instantly came to mind.
“You’re in a weaker state than I thought,” Kou remarked, his eyes going round. His expression said it all—he didn’t think I’d actually take him up on his offer.
Did he just offer to be polite? The thought crossed my mind, but he was the one who called out to me. I was going to take full advantage of that and consult him about my problems.
“You could say that. Let me stop by my house and drop off my bike and books first.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you there.”
I straddled my bike and pedaled after the Benz driving ahead of me, all the while wondering why the depression hanging over me had vanished into thin air.