"So, since none of you can play Drums, I will be the one playing it, and Kuu'll be on the keyboard." Josef said, assuming leadership and authority. Kuu looked like he was in a bad mood, so Josef knew that he needed to support him. "I believe you have an urgent business to take care of, Kuu."
"Yeah, sure, I'll be taking my leave then." Kuu said and immediately left the clubroom with a gloomy face unbeknownst to anyone.
"And Camie as well, I think?" Josef said and glared at her, knowing that she wanted to talk to Kuu. For the practices they had done, he felt like Kuu and Camie were very distant and he wanted them to fix their own problem.
"Y-yes. Sorry." She said and walked away; and the moment she left the room, Kuu was already standing on the corridor as he leaned on the wall beside the door of their room.
"I guess you'll try to convince her." Camie looked down because Kuu had read her intentions from the start but he showed no concern for her- his only concern was Akuji's welfare, and she couldn't blame him for wanting to protect her because of what Camie did to her back then. "She's always at the club room at this hour. Good luck." Kuu said with a serious tone in his voice and came back on the music room, trying to smile and hide away his annoyance.
Camie didn't spend any other wasted moment trying to figure out what to do- or fathom why Kuu was crazy mad at her - since she knew the reason very well that it pained her so deeply. She ran as fast as she could to get away from the Music room and went rampaging on the stairs as her heart remained compact even if it looked like it would burst out her chest any time of the day.
Every step she took was too scary for her that she needed to remind herself why she needed to go and do everything she can to assure that she becomes alive again - she needed to revive her because she was a part of the reasons of [her] death- in [her] passion- that is. She was sure that her heart transfered to her ears because it was banging her head like a bulldozer and it was beating so loudly that she failed to think of anything to say to her.
[Would she be surprised to see me, or would she be mad?] She failed to think of anything because it scared her and alerted her with what is to come. Then she came at the third floor- and what welcomed her ears was a music from the out-of-tune piano on the walls- and the tune and playing is so happy that all her worries vanished and made her smile at herself.
"Ah, so you came back, Akuji." Camie said and ran as fast as she could to reach the old music room where the piano was situated.
It felt like it took her forever just to stand in front of the door, nervously listening to the happy piano and crying her eyes out.
She made the choice to open the door but was surprised at what she saw.
"Hello? Ah, who are you?"
A person, who doesn't look or sound like Akuji one bit flinched as Camie went to the music room in a sudden. [She] immediately shut the cover of the piano and attempted to leave because it made her flustered to see how aggressive Camie was when she opened the door.
"I'm sorry. I thought you were someone I know." Camie said apologetically and turned away from the person.
"Sorry, I did scare you, right? I have a bad heart that was why I panicked. By the way, are you a member of Glee club? Did Mr. Murase send you here? Oh, by the way, I'm Yelda. Please tell sir that I really am not interested in joining the band. Sorry."
Camie looked at her in an instant as her eyes widened. "Mr. Murase recommended you?"
"Yes. Why? Though it's not really important anymore. I am not interested. Please tell him that. Goodbye." Yelda said and left her alone in the music room, awestruck as to why Murase did not recommend [her] when they both clearly had the agreement to try taking her back to music.
"What's going on? I can't follow." Camie asked herself and opened the piano again- brownish and dented keys welcomed her, making her press the A-key, realizing it really did sound out of tune, plus- she didn't know how to play.
"I didn't know that Akuji will transfer here... She must have had a hard time dealing with us three... by any chance, I really hope that she had already forgiven us..." Camie said and touched the piano keys, reminiscing the good old days they spent together as members of the same band." Ahh.. It was really fun performing with her on that practice room."
But Camie's face did not show any feeling of happiness in her face as she remembered their trainee days- when the three of them became shadows of Akuji's light - and when they were completely outshined by her twinkle.
"I really ruined her." She sighed and closed the lid of the piano; then prepared to leave.
However, just as she was about to leave, another person came barging at the door. Her light green eyes pierced her- and her straight hair was too obvious of a wig because it wasn't neatly placed in her head. Camie instantly knew who the person was and she fell on her knees in an instant- and cried like a baby. Her heart shattered in an instant the moment their eyes met each other's- then a hand was offered to her. She slowly looked up and saw the smile she hated to see- the same smile [she] showed before leaving the agency, never to be seen again.
[Why are you helping me?]
"Are you okay? How are you, Camie?"
Hand stretched to her, Camie took it and pulled her into a warm hug, which she reciprocated, and they both sat down as the sun nearly set.
"L-long time no see. How have you been?" Camie asked her and held her hands tightly, trying not to look at her wig.
"I'm perfectly fine. I'm great, in fact. It's nice to see you again" Akuji replied, went towards the piano, and stared at it. Camie anticipated that she'd play it, but she didn't because her hands trembled like crazy.
"T-that is nice t-to know." Camie replied and looked at her hands. "You used to play piano when we were trainees. Ahh, I can still remember the moment you set your hands on the piano on our practice room and played your own composition leaving everyone astound."
"I guess I would have to admit that the Akuji before was impressive in a way." Akuji said and looked down.
"You were- are- impressive- too impressive, in fact that the other members became envious." Camie spoke her mind but was bugged off by it since Akuji took it as a mere opinion and didn't show any bit of emotion in her face and stance. It took a while for her to answer.
"Anyway, the Akuji you know is already dead. No point ravaging over the past."
Camie was surprised at her bold statement that showed no point of turning back to who she was before that she looked at Akuji's beautiful form in a split second as she tried to suppress her trembling hands and Camie saw that she was looking at the piano in front of them; and sighed. To Camie's surprise, there was no sadness in her eyes- only emptiness.
They say that- strip a person of music, and he becomes a hollow.
" So, you stopped playing as well," Camie remarked and looked down at her feet, a heavy atmosphere surrounded them.
"I still play piano sometimes. But the other music-related things, that, I no longer do." Akuji replied and shut the piano lid.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Camie failed to find words, making her mutter those two words in return.
"No need to apologize. I brought this fate onto myself..." Akuji paused, "and I don't see the point of you talking to me now, me who ruined your dream and your passion. I heard that Sir Murase recommended you for the band. Congrats. I know you can do it."
V
"Y-yeah. Thanks." Camie said. She wanted to ask her why she wasn't recommended but she would look like she was investigating her. Her remark about being the reason why her dream shattered broke her heart- because eventually, Akuji blamed herself of it when it was in fact- Camie herself and the other two senpais ruined Akuji. "Do you want to perform together, again?"
Akuji flinched at the sudden question and looked at her in an instant that the wind friction of her turning her head looked like it could light up a match. Camie tried to read her expression, but failed in the end; realizing that, Akuji laughed.
"You are the same as ever! [laughs] you can still make jokes at times like these!" Akuji burst into laughter, making Camie disappointed at herself. "I don't have plans to be involved in music let alone perform. And I don't want to kill someone's passion again. Let me atone for what I did to you and our senpais through this."
Akuji didn't have the intention of making Camie's conscience used against her, but her remark made Camie almost bawl out and cry on her. The resolve Camie saw through her eyes was too scary to be true- the person who once loved music is now very much deprived of it because of them. She wanted to tell her she was sorry- she wanted to say that she longed to perform with them together again- and she knew it was time.
"I... Akuji.. I'm..."
"Well, it's time to go, nice talking, Camie. Thank you." A sound of Akuji's alarm interrupted her speech and she looked like she was in a hurry for she took her bag from her side and stood up.
[sorry... I'm sorry...]
Camie was left on that music room, crying for her dear friend whose musical soul died that she knew she needed to offer condolences. She decided on that very same moment that she would make Akuji realize that it wasn't her fault at all- and that Camie would make sure to bring her back to music.
She vacated her chair and ran towards the door, and onto the stairs, barricading Akuji's way.
"Why? Are you oka-"
"Concert. Battle of the bands. I will be performing there. Make sure you watch me, and after my performance, please meet me at the old music room. Please… please… come." Camie said as she panted. Akuji, who saw confidence in her eyes looked at her feet, making Camie concerned. "D-did I say something wrong- I'm-" and Akuji placed her finger on Camie's lip and looked straight into her eyes.
"How could I miss your comeback in music? I'm so happy that you came back... I'm so happy that you found passion once again. I'll come watch you. I promise."
What looked at Camie was a smiling Akuji, eyes happy and were filled with tears, the smile that she always flashed that can outshine even the mighty sun. With that, Camie was forced into smiling as well because her smile was like a happy virus.
_
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" Ah~ Kyaahh! My princess! Akuji! Wait for me! "
Due on the cuteness of the voice who was coming up on the stairs, Camie realized that she was staring at Akuji for too long and realized that Kuu had come for her. Not a minute passed by and Kuu was in front of them, speechless as he saw Akuji's eyes filled with tears. His gaze which was essentially a glare turned to Camie, then back to Akuji and realized that she was crying tears of joy that Kuu smiled to himself.
"Aku~ Are you leaving already?" Kuu asked Akuji, making Camie readily invisible.
"What's with that nickname?" Akuji chuckled at realized that she forgot to remove her wig. "I need to go home early because of a certain test tomorrow."
"What a shame" Kuu pouted and turned to Camie with a serious face. "Practice isn't finished yet. Twenty-minute break will be over soon and Josef needs you."
"Y-yes." Camie said and left the two of them, however, Kuu's excited voice made her flinch.
"Aku, come with me! I'll show you the club room and I will introduce you to the band I'm responsible for!" and as Akuji tried to argue, Kuu was already dragging her down as he passed Camie and smiled. Akuji wanted to ask for help, but Kuu looked so ecstatic she knew she couldn't afford to refuse, and deep inside of her, it made her glad, being held like that. She felt like she was being transported to a whole new world in his arms.