𝟶𝟺𝟺: 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗 ♪

Just a few days passed after Valentine's Day. I wonder if he was able to have fun that day...

I still find myself thinking about him. Crap.

I absolutely didn't, I wasn't able to get out of the house and get anything for my brothers.

On top of that, we had nonstop practice. As if those seven hours of studying weren't bad enough...

I'm tired.

This is no different from the music school father wanted me to enroll in. But of course, my stubborn self enrolled into a different one.

"Wow! This place is so-- wonderhoy~!" I hear a very high-pitched girl scream. I haven't heard that word in a while, and so loud, too! Hold on-

.. Otori?

"Quiet down! You said you'd be on your best behavior!" An older man shushes her. At least Father isn't here today. Wait, Otori is here! I almost let that slip past me!

I get up from my bed, sprinting down the hall and down the stairs to get a glimpse of her if it really is her. She's getting blocked by Tobia! Move, please!

Pink hair.. it is her!

The second I take one step past the wall, she goes stiff and begins to look around frantically.

"Emu?" The older man asks, worried. This is her usual self... I wonder what goes on in her head.

I hid behind the corner, hoping she wouldn't spot me. Just then, she immediately turns her head, making direct eye contact with me. Crap!

"Toya--"

I run back up the stairs, almost reaching my room, but she launches herself, falling on top of me. Ow!

"--kun!!"

She squeals for a minute straight, piercing my ears and putting me in a chokehold. I can't breathe..! Goodbye, world.. it wasn't nice being h--

"Keep your hands to yourself! I've told you this!" The man peels her off of me, carrying her by her shirt. He sighs, placing her down and scolding her. Who is that..?

"Are you okay? Honestly, why didn't you come to greet them if you knew them..?" Tobia rushes up to me, helping me get up. I nod, wincing. How can someone so small be so.. heavy.

"But Toya-kun is here! He suddenly left us one day, and all of us were so sad." She whines as he stretches her cheek.

My older brother and the man stare at each other for a second, catching on quickly. Tobia frowns at me. I'm sorry.. I hadn't realized it was her at first...

He lets go, and like a magnet, she runs up to me and hugs me tightly. I hug her back.

"Why are you here?" She asks.

"W.. Why are you..?"

"Big brother's boyfriend lives here. Does that mean you're also his brother?!" She says so naturally. I pause, slowly looking up at the man who turns bright red. Does she out everyone like this?

I then look at Tobia with a shocked face. Is this the person Yasunori had mentioned?

"E-Emu--," He mutters, preparing to scold her again. I wave at him, a little nervous. He's intimidating...

"I-- I'm sorry. My name is Shousuke Otori, I am Emu's older brother." He bows, and I shake his hand. He doesn't seem like he's rude or anything like that...

"I should have mentioned this earlier..." Tobia pinches the bridge of his nose, groaning.

"Now, what to do with you?" He scowls at Otori, who nervously laughs, hiding behind me.

"It's okay, I.. can distract her. Y-You two go someplace else..." I nod, reassuring him. He raises his eyebrows in surprise but allows it and takes Tobia away.

"Toya-kun and I are together again~!" She hums, rubbing her face into my shirt. She might be a lot to handle for just a moment...

"T-To answer your question.. I'm truly s-sorry. I came.. by choice."

"But it was so sudden. Everyone is really worried, nobody can reach out to you..!" She cries, looking up at me with teary eyes. Can you not make me feel more guilty than I already do?!

"I'm sorry."

"But, I think that something happened for you to do this. I know you do not have the heart to drop everyone who loves you just like that."

She's right... Even if my reasoning was me being weak.

"Wait. Big brother mentioned we came here to wish him and his brothers good luck on their upcoming performance, but I don't think it's for him.. don't tell me you're..?"

I remember what my mother and brothers were discussing, and I felt my heart stop for a second.

Father just took me here because he didn't want me to stay with my mother any longer. Rather, in that area. As for this concert, they haven't told me where we're going to perform, though.

That's right.. the practices I've had were not just senseless keys and strings I had to practice... They're all for a purpose. Is this the thing that will make him proud..?

The reason I was born?

"I don't think I have any power over what your father does.. And it's not like I can just take you back, even though I really want to."

I nod, agreeing with her. She's right.. I'm afraid of how my father would react to that. And more importantly, how I'd face him. I practically abandoned him and returned everything he's given me.. I no longer have memories I can cherish with him. Except..

I look down, clenching the necklace in my hand.

Never mind that. More importantly, i wonder how long my brother has been in a relationship like that. And if father knows. If he was that pissed at me for being with Akito, I could not imagine his reaction to a relationship that Tobia has most likely hid for a long time. Considering he is the eldest...

Is that why he barely had a reaction when I came out?

"Isn't that your first time on a plane? You've never mentioned going on one before." She switches the topic since the atmosphere was getting a bit heavy.

I nod.

"Were you.. scared?" She sighs. I shake my head. Of course I wasn't! It's not bad if I can't see from below me.. but yes, I was having a million thoughts about the outcome.

The worst part was the pain in my ear, though... It took everything in me not to cry or cause a scene, especially since my father was still angry.

There were so many people staring at me, though.. and the seats across from us, too. Were they laughing at me because they could see my tears?

"Well.. good luck." She smiles at me wearily. She's a good person.

"I was only able to stay here for a week. And I came a few days ago, so I have to leave tomorrow! I would've wanted to come sooner if I knew you were here!" She sighs, welcoming herself on my bed. I hesitate to sit next to her and sigh.

We spent the next hour talking about school since we were already on the topic and how my progress is coming along. With the music and my communication, basically.

I think I've gotten better at using my voice...

But not speaking up.

This is my chance to get answers at least.. they may not be that close, but it's better than nothing.

"S-So.. how is.. he?" I mumble, blushing. My heart is racing just at the thought of speaking about him.

"Huh? I didn't catch that." She says immediately, smiling like an idiot. She heard it!!

"Nothing." I turn to the other direction with a flushed face. She grins, moving her face closer to me.

"Come on! Tell me!" She grabs my shoulders, shaking me back and forth. Persistent to hear me ask again, she eventually gives up. My neck hurts from shaking my head rapidly.

"Fine!" She frowns, pinching my cheeks. Ow.

"Honestly, after you left, we haven't had chances to talk that much. Not after the theatre club. He hasn't joined again... To be honest, I don't think he really cares--"

"Emu! We have to go now! You have a scheduled video call from your friends, remember? We have to go pack anyway. We both know you don't get up easily when we actually have to go someplace." Otori's older brother says, yet slams the door open while yelling. She whines, dragging herself over to him.

.. What? He doesn't care?

Is that so.

It doesn't matter to me anymore. This is not my main focus. I'm getting distracted. I was nothing more than an experience. How could I get my hopes up for the second time?

I don't care.

But even so.. why does my heart hurt?

I get up to walk them out along with Tobia. This might be the only time in a while that I'll actually see anyone in a while. We have the concert in a month.

"Goodbye." Tobia smiles at Otori's older brother, and he nods.

"O-Okay.. bye, Toya-kun! I'll see you someday, I promise!" She waves, getting into the car. I wave back, disappointed.

"Are you nervous?" He asks.

Obviously, I nod rapidly. It's not even next week, but I'm already shaking so much and running out of breath! Imagine how it'll be on that day!!

How many people will be there? I could mess up, and my father would be extremely disappointed in me. I know my abilities are decent, but I could just forget how to play the moment I get on the stage. Has he not learned from the last time?! Why hasn't he even asked me if I wanted to do this, or at least told me!

Everyone would be focused on me, watching my every move, making sure it's perfect.. I might throw up--

"Toya!" Tobia places his hand on my shoulder, looking down at me with worry. I snap out of it, looking up at him. How the hell am I sweating?

"I shouldn't have asked... I swear I saw you getting close to death." He scoffs. So embarrassing..

"Let's go inside."

Come to think of it, whenever they had performances, they were never told on such short notice. I mean, I was told I have a month left.

Is it because Father thinks I already have the ability to play on this level? He has such expectations for me...

I'm extremely afraid.

-*-*-

Somehow, Tobia handed me his phone and showed a message from Otori's older brother.

"Plz show this to Toya-kun! ⋋( ○'⌓'○)

Hi Toya-kun! ٩(⊙‿⊙)۶ This is ur bff! Plz unblock me when u see this. I have no wifi on this plane, wahh... I promise I won't tell Akito-kun about our meeting. I just want to talk to u!! I want to check up on ur well-being from time to time. Have a wonderhoy day! ᕙ(‾̀◡‾́)ᕗ wuajshiwuhusihdusu!!! anhwui!!!"

That's definitely Otori. She would always spam letters and her way of spelling.. is something.

"Everything you are from now on is what you choose. Father pushes you past your limits a lot of the time. And like an idiot, you still keep going knowing you've reached it. You've endured a lot, but it's time you stopped letting others decide for you. I trust you to make wise decisions." He ruffles my hair, leaving my room. Wow. Am I that much of a pushover?

Otori wants me to get back in contact with her, but.. I don't think I'm ready for that kind of step yet. It was nice talking to her, but I'll wait for when I'm ready. I trust her when she says she won't tell Akito. But does that mean he'll never know where I am?

Now that I remember something.. are they waiting for me? Otori didn't seem mad at me, so...

Hm...

I'll be okay.

°•°•°

"Ah, Shinonome-kun, you showed up. Good evening." He grins, welcoming me. As if I wouldn't.

"Hey." I frown, completely ignoring him and taking a seat.

You're not getting away from me this time.

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟺𝟺, '𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗 ♪': 𝚎𝚗𝚍.

°•°•°

Creator's note: WHATS UP YALL WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS!!! NEXT CHAPTWR SHITS GONNA GO DOWN!!!!!!