The midweek lull had settled over CirCLE Livehouse, casting a heavy blanket of monotony over the atmosphere.
Leaning against the counter, I let out a weary sigh, feeling the weight of boredom pressing down on me. The faint murmur of music from the speakers did little to alleviate the dullness that hung in the air.
With Marina off at another meeting with the livehouse's owner, the responsibility of managing the place fell squarely on my shoulders.
Yet, there was little for me to do in her absence, the usual tasks of tidying up and organizing were already completed.
Resting my chin on my folded arms, I gazed up at the ceiling, watching the slow rotation of the ceiling fan as if it held the secret to breaking free from the monotony.
"Bored... So bored..."
Just then, the door creaked open, breaking the stillness of the room. A familiar face peeked inside, eyes scanning the dimly lit interior before settling on me.
"Yo, Kyo-kun! What's up?" It was Soumei, one of the regular performers at CirCLE Livehouse, his easygoing demeanor a welcome distraction from the boredom that had enveloped me.
I straightened up, offering him a small smile. "Hey, Soumei. Not much, just counting down the minutes until something exciting happens around here."
Soumei chuckled, sauntering over to the counter. "Tell me about it. It's been dead quiet today."
I nodded, gesturing to the empty space behind me. "Yeah, another meeting with the owner."
"Well, I'm here to spice things up a bit." Soumei flashed me a mischievous grin, pulling out his guitar from its case. "How about a little impromptu jam session?"
As Soumei's fingers danced over his air guitar, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Wow, You can play?"
"Of course~ I have to impress girls with instruments," he replied, flashing me a wink and a charming smile.
I rolled my eyes at his remark. "That's stupid."
Leaning in closer, Soumei whispered in my ear, "By the way, I know you trust me a lot, but is this really where you work? Isn't this a girls' band livehouse?"
"Yeah? What about it?" I replied, feeling a tad defensive.
A mischievous grin spread across Soumei's face as he continued, "Are the girls here cute?"
I sighed, shaking my head in exasperation. "Of course, but I don't hit on them like you."
"Aww shucks! I missed my chance to apply here!" Soumei exclaimed dramatically, his smirk widening. "Hey, how about you help me apply here?"
I shot him a deadpan look. "I refuse."
"Eh!? Why?! Is it because you're the only boy here?!" Soumei protested, feigning offense.
I sighed once more, trying to maintain my composure. "Look... I didn't even apply here for girls. I need money."
Soumei leaned back, his smirk still firmly in place. "I also need money... and girls."
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at his persistence. "Please turn around and leave."
"Wow~ What a scary smile~" Soumei teased, his grin growing wider.
As the door swung open, Soumei and I froze mid-conversation, caught off guard by the newcomer's arrival.
"Hm?" The newcomer, a girl with a serious demeanor, surveyed the scene with a raised eyebrow, her gaze shifting between Soumei and me before she made her way purposefully to the counter. "Are you Nakasone Kyo?" she inquired, her voice steady and assertive.
Caught between surprise and curiosity, I could only nod nervously in response. "Y-Yes, that's me..."
Unbeknownst to her, Soumei took advantage of the distraction, flashing a mischievous grin and making exaggerated hand gestures behind her back, signaling "Have a good day" with mock seriousness before swiftly slipping out the door.
I shot Soumei a withering glare as he made his exit, silently cursing him for leaving me to deal with the situation alone.
With a deep breath, I refocused my attention on the newcomer, feeling a twinge of apprehension as she stood before me.
Wait a minute... She's familiar.
"How can I help you today?"
Her expression softened slightly as she addressed me. "I'm here to thank you..."
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Thank me? For what?"
"For helping Kirigaya-san," she explained, her tone respectful yet earnest.
Recognition dawned on me as I realized who she was. "Ohh... You're the violinist... Morfonica's violinist."
She nodded, confirming my suspicion. "Yes, that's right. My name is Yashio Rui, violinist of Morfonica and composer."
"I-I see," I stammered, taken aback by her astute observation.
The air around us seemed to grow heavy with the weight of her words, and for a moment, I found myself at a loss for what to say next.
"U-Uhm... Is there anything I can do to help you?" I asked tentatively, hoping to break the tension.
She regarded me with a thoughtful expression, her gaze unwavering. "Nothing... It's just that... are you perhaps hiding your talent?"
Her question caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of surprise at her insight. "What do you mean?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"This is just my assumption," she began, her tone measured and deliberate, "but... I heard that you've assisted Poppin'Party, Roselia, Afterglow, and Pastel*Palettes."
My eyes widened in astonishment.
"And the way you taught Kirigaya-san yesterday... Somehow she seemed to change a bit."
I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutinizing gaze. "It was all thanks to her, not me," I replied, attempting to deflect her observation.
But Rui's eyes narrowed slightly, and I could sense a hint of skepticism in her tone. "Is that so? Perhaps... there's more to it than you realize."
I remained silent, watching as Rui made her way toward the rehearsal room. Her words echoed in my mind, stirring up a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
"Well... I better practice now... The others soon will be here."
I nodded wordlessly in response, still grappling with the implications of our conversation. As she glanced back at me before disappearing into the rehearsal room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at me.
Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention back to the counter, my mind buzzing with conflicting thoughts.
It's true... I've been hiding my talent ever since that incident in middle school. But maybe... maybe it's time to confront those demons and embrace my passion for music once again.
But not now... I...
As I approached the rehearsal room, the melodic strains of a violin filled the air, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. The sound was captivating, its gentle notes weaving a tapestry of emotions that resonated deep within me.
With bated breath, I pushed the door open, revealing the source of the enchanting music.
There, bathed in the soft glow of the room's lighting, stood Rui Yashio, her eyes closed in serene concentration as she played the violin with effortless grace.
Each stroke of the bow seemed to cast a spell, enveloping the room in a veil of tranquility that transported me to another realm.
Lost in the ethereal melody, I leaned against the doorway, allowing the music to wash over me like a gentle wave.
"Ah... Nakasone-san," she greeted softly, her voice breaking the silence like a whisper in the wind.
I blinked, startled by her sudden acknowledgment. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just... drawn to the music."
She's beautiful.
As I stood there, soaking in the beauty of Rui's music, she suddenly addressed me, breaking the silence that enveloped the room.
"Nakasone-san."
I turned to face her, surprised by her words. "Yes? Yashio-san?"
Her gaze held a gentle warmth as she spoke, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "If you're feeling down because of your talent... Don't be... Everyone has their own talent... Even I myself am talented when it comes to violins."
I couldn't help but smile at her reassuring words, grateful for her unexpected encouragement.
"Thank you, Yashio-san, I'll keep that in mind."
Taking her words to heart, I turned on my heel and made my way back to the counter, As the members of Morfonica arrived and began their rehearsal