"Dang! Those vocalists are great!" Satori said and stretched his hands in the air. The audition for their band was already finished- even the ones scheduled for another time- and they promised to deliberate the next day because they were too tired to even stand after trying to console people and sugarcoat their shortcomings as performers. "So I really had to send Mr. Murase there to drag you back in here, you Kuu!"
"He sure came- nice timing." Kuu said- and he had been sulking for about three hours since he was dragged away from the old music room- and worse, Mr. Murase caught him in the act of stealing a selfie with a sleep girl.
[It's not like I violated her human rightssssssssssss~]
But Mr. Murase did not scold him nor told his bandmates where he dragged him from- and he was too thankful for that.
"Yo. I emailed you the pictures boss. Now make sure you include me in that group thesis or something- and teach me Math and physics." Josef suddenly approached him, making him flinch- but the moment he heard what he said, Kuu immediately shifted back to his normal self- his lively and cute self and began scrolling and downloading in his phone. "You bastard- you did not even bothed telling me that you knew a pretty girl. Aren't I- Josef the great- your best friend for life, your childhood friend- the first person who was supposed to know that you already have a girlfriend?!"
It seemed like the [girlfriend] word rang onto his entire body and he became as red as strawberry as soon as the thought came to him. "Sh-shut up! I don't want anyone to know this. So shut up."
"Yes boss." Josef said and laughed at him teasingly.
Kuu finally received the notification that the photos were already downloaded. He quickly opened the folder- and there he saw the most precious picture he saw in his entire life-
A nostalgic room- a huge white piano with Anonymous and him leaning on each other. He quickly turned to Josef and jumped to him for a hug with sparkles on his eyes again.
"You are amazingly reliable despite how you look like!" Kuu said as Josef hit his head lightly in a playful manner.
"Didn't I tell you that I was a journalist? That is nothing but a simple feat." Josef said but Kuu was already away from him, sparkling as he looked at his phone, selecting the most beautiful one to become his wallpaper.
"I shouldn't tell him about the renovation." Josef said and tried leaving- but Kuu held his hand- but he seemed mad.
"Wh-nani omaiwa-"
"Is this all?" Kuu asked, showing him his gallery.
"Dude- that's a hundred pictures of you and her talking to each other- leaning against each other- and I even got a close-up on her- see?" Josef said but Kuu seemed more upset.
"you didn't capture her true hair- this is a wig and she looked more beautiful in her hair- her true hair!" Kuu said, pointing to the close-up picture of Anonymous he tried to stick to his friend- but Josef ended up looking at he picture while blushing.
"She could be more beautiful than that? And wig? What are you talking about you nitwit?"
"Her beauty while wearing this wig isn't even comparable to when her long curly hair extends to her waist. She looked like a goddess." Kuu said, now calm and collected as he remembered how Anonymous looked like.
"So that was why you failed to find her- the wig."
"I haven't completely found her. Her name is still registered as Anonymous in my brain. Wait. What should I use as a wallpaper among these hundred photos? Dang I can't believe I was forced to leave her like that. That Sir Murase! Oh! She's cute here- here as well- and she's smiling here- and here she's ethereal- the sun made her look like a goddess- hey! Help me choose!"
But Josef already left him to his own company and splinted towards the others as they said goodbye to each other. As they left the theatre, Kuu was able to catch up to them but he was still paying attention to the phone he had on his hands and that was why he bumped someone.
"Kyaaaahh! I'm sorry!" Kuu said without looking away at his phone. However, the person he just bumped took away the treasure in his arms and held it up in the air. "Hey! Are you trying to start a fight- wha- eh- S-sir Murase- I'm sorry! I'm so sorry- don't drop my phone please!"
Mr. Murase stood in front of him- superior in height and in size and on his hands were the phone of Kuu- who almost cried there and then, afraid that the photos will be deleted. He eyed Kuu and looked at the images on his phone. "What were you doing with my student in that old music room Kuu?" he had his intimidating presence displayed in front of Kuu who was surprisingly no longer faltering. "Why is her hair straight?" He gave the phone back to him and almost left, but a question that Kuu threw at him made him stop on his tracks.
"So you know her, sir." Kuu said.
It was an inane statement that Murase looked at him in an instant because he doubted that it was from one of his top students. "She's my student. How could I not know her? Ah, just a piece of advice- that girl isn't very welcoming of strangers. I suggest that you stay away before your heart gets broken."
"So you know her more that being your student." Kuu said, again with a serious tone and expression.
"Yes. She was a former trainee in my sister's agency. She- no- her group was set to debut after completing her training but one day, she just turned in her paper which indicated that she wanted to leave the agency- then no news about her came to us- well, my sister tried to convince her out of it- but what we knew was that the girl stopped singing- no- she stopped music completely so the moment I saw you – I saw her on that music room, I was shocked."
Kuu didn't know what to say- or do- or how to react to the sudden revelation that felt like slapped his face- he failed to realize how versatile her playing was- her extreme control and precision on her tone- her monster presence-
"From what I heard, one of her groupmates is also here- but you know, after she left the agency, my sister reprimanded the group she used to be a part of- but that I don't know why- and I knew they disbanded even before debuting."
"A-anonymous. I- I can't believe it."
"So you don't know her name yet but you cling to her like that? LOL." Murase said and left him to his own thoughts, and when he turned around, the members of FIX club caught her attention because he saw Akuji, and it almost looked like she belonged there- with the people that walked beside her. Her appearance shocked him- because her hair was too long now that it hid her face.
He clenched his fist and looked down, heartbreaking endlessly.
[Everytime I see Akuji, I always remember how I failed as her group's teacher.]
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"Woah! Out of seven hundred plus participants- only fifteen passed- and you are one of those people! I couldn't be prouder I'm so happy!" Camie cried as they looked at the results posted that hot Tuesday afternoon- and Suzuka, together with Shiro looked ecstatic more than anyone else.
However, Camie, deep inside herself was a feeling she never wanted to feel. She don't know what it was- but she was certain that it was something she already felt before-
"We'll treat you later so come to the music room with us for now." Shiro said and held her hands.
"What? Is that okay?" Camie asked, but what she really wanted to say was [No please. You'll just suffocate me.]
"Yes! It's public today because they will present us to the student body- and we will give you the front seat!"
[I hate you. I hate the both of you.]
She was supposed to protest- or shout at them for being insensitive- but she just smiled at them and let herself be dragged by the couple of people that took her hands.
And she really got the front seat- the best spot for anyone wanting to watch- but the worst one for someone like Camie because it offered her a good view of all the people that reminded her of hersel-
[No. You aren't the person you were before. stop.]
That was what she thought when a familiar voice took the podium and started talking. It was the person she dreaded to see- it was the voice that threatened her to come back to who she was before-
"Welcome! Thank you for coming! I now present to you our freshmen band which is yet to be named. Please expect great things from them and please expect that I will give my best into raising them."
It was the same words Murase said the moment he fought for her petty group when it was on the brink of disbandment. He was the only one that fought for them- but she still left even if he insisted- or even begged her. She didn't want to look up to him anymore. She hated his determination. She hated his passion.
The people on the mini stage on that room were met with the applause from the people that filled it. Despite having failed the audition, they still supported them without hard feelings.
"How are you Camie? Long time no see."
Her thoughts were interrupted- and her eyes went wide. She heard the chair on her left make a noise that sent shivers on her spine. She knew that presence- that calm, soothing presence that tells everyone that it's going to be fine.
"I- y-you got the wrong person, sir." Camie replied and tried changing her voice so it wouldn't resemble hers, but the sudden laugh made her look at the person who sat next to her.
"I don't think so." Murase said, his eyes were sad, while a tinge of tear was lurking his eyes. "How are you Camie? Why didn't you audition?"
It was no use trying to pretend and Camie, in an instant knew it. She looked down at her trembling hands and sighed. "I've been fine sir. How about you?"
"I've been fine as well- you see, I am so happy to be training these people but it was so hard because I used to train a girl idol grou-"
"That doesn't exist anymore." Camie continued for him and clenched her fist.
"That doesn't exist anymore- but the members I cherish the most are still out there, you know?" Murase said and Camie hated the comfort she got on his tone. "Say, why don't you give me a second chance?"
"I'm sorry sir but I don't think I'm in place to accept your offer after what I did to her." Camie said, determined to reject him.
"So you turned away from music because of what happened before."
"Yes. So please. Don't rub any more salt on my open wound." Camie said and held her hands. "I destroyed her and now she doesn't want to sing anymore."
"Are you sure about that?" Murase said, drawing Camie's attention to him.
"What do you mean, sir?" Camie asked, her irises dilated.
"She's enrolled in this school, right? And you know it because you probably saw her name on the list or saw her walking around with that massive hair of hers. Guess what- I saw her on the music room, though I am not sure whether or not she played the piano or sang there- but seeing her in a music room is a plus, right?" Murase told her, and Camie's eyes sparkled with joy.
"That's nice." She said and smiled at herself. However, seeing the passionate people in front of her made her feel like she wanted to vomit. They were disgusting in her eyes.
"Think about coming back to my teaching. I'm willing to let go of everything I founded here to train you guys again. To set the biggest mistake of my life- letting you go astray- right." He said and stood up to go to the stage and adjourn the event as Suzuka and Shiro prodded to her and there she was again, showing her fake smile.