Chapter 3 - Rumor

"If anyone hears the sound of that piano, they will die!" While saying this sentence, Itsuki while putting the flashlight under his chin.

Takumi and Riku even jumped to see Itsuki's scary face because of the flashlight under his chin.

"Ah so it's like that? They will die because they have been cursed." Riku concluded.

"How could there be such a thing, My Friend?" Takumi still doubted his friends' words. Before Takumi can prove it himself, Takumi won't immediately believe it. That's why he came to this theater in the middle of the night like this.

"Shall we just go? Come on!"

"Itsuki's right. Let's just get out of here, Taku-chan!" Riku spoke while gripping Takumi's arm.

"I don't want to stay in this place for long!" Itsuki muttered again.

After that, Itsuki and Riku ran out of the theater. They both thought that Takumi would run behind them too. But in fact, Takumi still wants to fulfill his curiosity.

Takumi did intend to catch up with his two friends who ran outside. However, suddenly Takumi heard the sound of the piano playing. Takumi turned around and aimed the flashlight at the source of the sound.

The sound of the piano seemed to come from behind the red curtain. Takumi became even more curious. He walked slowly up some stairs to reach the stage. Takumi wanted to confirm who was playing the piano in the middle of the night like this.

Takumi drew closer to the red curtain. Just as Takumi was about to open the curtain, a hand stopped him.

"Takumi Akazawa! What are you going to do, huh?!" It's Itsuki's voice.

Takumi had not since when his friend was next to him. In fact, it was clear that Itsuki left the theater with Riku.

"I... I heard the piano sound just now, Itsuki. Someone's really playing the piano here." Takumi answered. The focus of his eyes was still on the red curtain in front of him.

Itsuki flinched at Takumi's confession. A frown was imprinted on Itsuki's forehead.

"Are you kidding me, Akazawa?"

"No! I'm serious, Itsuki! There really is someone playing the piano behind this curtain. I'm sure of that."

"That was for sure ...."

Itsuki hadn't finished speaking his sentence yet, but Takumi had already grabbed his friend's hand. Takumi and Itsuki ran out of the theater until Takumi unknowingly dropped his flashlight and cell phone.

When they were outside the theater, Riku was also there. Riku was waiting outside earlier.

"What happened?" Riku asked when he saw Takumi and Itsuki running.

"I actually heard the piano sound earlier. It's a really good song." Takumi tried to explain what he had experienced earlier.

"But ... I didn't hear it, Akazawa! I followed you inside to ask you out earlier. It was just before you opened the red curtain." Itsuki joined in.

"I'm serious, Itsuki! I heard it earlier!" Takumi still insisted. He was sure that his hearing was still functioning normally.

"Okay! Now can you guys be less tensed? There wasn't a sound earlier. I didn't hear anything from outside here either." Riku spoke, trying to mediate between Takumi and Itsuki's argument.

"But ... I actually heard it earlier, Riku! You think I'm lying, huh?!" Takumi shouted. He was angry that no one believed his words.

"Fine, I'll believe you, Taku-chan. At least it's just someone practicing the piano. The volume might be very low. That's why I who was outside didn't hear." Riku lied so that Takumi wouldn't get angry anymore.

"But ... think about it again! Who's the one who doesn't have a job and plays the piano here in the middle of the night, huh?!" Itsuki, who had often argued with Takumi, spoke.

Takumi was so annoyed that he clenched his fists. However, he realized something as his hands clenched into fists.

"Eh?! Where did my cellphone go?" asked Takumi, reaching into all his trouser pockets.

Riku and Itsuki joined in looking around them. However, Takumi's cellphone was also not found.

"Could it be that your cellphone fell inside earlier, Akazawa?" Itsuki asked while looking at the door of the theater which looked very dark.

Takumi thought back after hearing Itsuki's conjecture. Takumi was about to run towards the door of the old building again, before Itsuki grabbed his hand.

"Heh?! What are you going to do again, Akazawa?! Why are you still going into that place again, huh?!" Itsuki snapped, still gripping Takumi's wrist.