As Itsuki and Aimi strolled through the winding paths of Sylvan Melody, the villagers went about their daily routines, but many cast curious glances towards Itsuki. He noticed their subtle looks of interest – some were fleeting, others lingered longer.
A group of children playing near one of the streams stopped their game to stare openly at him, their eyes wide with wonder. They whispered among themselves, their gaze following Itsuki as he passed by.
"Why's everyone looking at me like that?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant but clearly puzzled by the attention.
Aimi glanced at him with a small, knowing smile. "Well, it's your clothes," she explained. "They're... different."
Itsuki looked down at his attire, suddenly conscious of the differences. He was wearing what was typical for a young man in Tokyo – a simple, graphic t-shirt paired with jeans, and casual sneakers. His clothes were modern, urban, and sharply contrasted with the natural, earthy tones and materials of the villagers' garments.
In comparison, Aimi's dress was a harmony of the forest itself. Made from woven fabrics that mirrored the hues of the woods, it flowed gracefully around her, blending seamlessly with the environment. Her dress was adorned with subtle patterns that mimicked the leaves and flowers of the forest.
Around them, the villagers wore clothes made from natural fibers like cotton and linen, dyed with pigments extracted from plants and berries. Their clothes were functional yet beautiful, with a style that was both timeless and perfectly suited to their surroundings. Embroidered details and woven accessories added personal touches, reflecting each individual's inner feelings.
Itsuki nodded in understanding, feeling a bit like an exotic bird amidst a flock of harmonious sparrows.
Aimi led Itsuki through the meandering paths of Sylvan Melody, eventually arriving at a quaint house nestled amongst a grove of tall, whispering trees. The house, like the others in the village, blended seamlessly with its natural surroundings, its walls made of interwoven branches and its roof covered in a lush green canopy.
"This is my home," Aimi said, a note of pride in her voice as she gestured towards the house. Its windows were open, inviting the gentle forest breeze, and the sound of a distant bird song filled the air.
As Itsuki stepped towards Aimi's home, a wave of nervousness washed over him. The cultural norms of his world echoed in his mind, reminding him of the usual boundaries and etiquettes when it came to entering a girl's home, especially one he had just met. The house was cozy and welcoming, yet Itsuki couldn't shake off the feeling that he was intruding into a personal space, a private sanctuary not usually shared with strangers. He stood awkwardly just inside the doorway, his hands fidgeting at his sides, acutely aware of every small movement he made.
Aimi watched Itsuki's hesitant movements with a hint of confusion. His apprehension at simply entering her home seemed unusual to her. In Sylvan Melody, homes were often seen as extensions of the community, places where neighbors and friends were always welcomed with open arms. The concept of a visitor being nervous about crossing the threshold of another's dwelling was foreign to her.
"Is everything alright?" Aimi asked, her head tilting in concern. "You seem... uneasy. Is it not common to visit others' homes where you're from?"
Itsuki shuffled his feet, his voice tinged with a nervous edge. "Ah, well, it's just that I haven't really been invited to a girl's home before. Not even Yuna's, and she's a close friend and bandmate," he explained, his cheeks coloring slightly at the admission.
Aimi blinked, clearly not understanding the reservation that Itsuki held.
"Yuna?" Aimi echoed, her eyebrows rising in curiosity. "Is she someone special to you?" Aimi asked, her tone gentle yet inquisitive.
Itsuki's expression softened as memories of Yuna surfaced, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yuna, she's... more than just a friend, really. She's like a pillar in my life," he began, his eyes lighting up with fondness. "She's a great singer. We've been through a lot together."
He chuckled lightly, recalling a particular memory. "I remember this one time, we found an old, broken piano abandoned on the side of the road. It was pretty beat up, but I saw potential in it. Yuna didn't even hesitate; she helped me carry it back to our studio. It must have been quite a sight, the two of us lugging that heavy thing through the streets," he said.
"It's the same piano I still play today. Yuna and I spent weeks fixing it up. It's more than an instrument to me now, it's.... special."
"So she's your girlfriend then?" she inquired innocently, tilting her head slightly as she studied his reaction.
Aimi's question caught Itsuki off guard, his face flushed a deeper shade of red, and he quickly waved his hands in front of him in a dismissive gesture. "No, no, it's not like that at all!" he stammered, suddenly finding the patterns on the floor extremely interesting.
"We're just really good friends, bandmates. That's all," he added hastily, trying to clear any misconceptions. The idea of Yuna being his girlfriend hadn't crossed his mind, or perhaps it had, it wasn't as though they were actually dating. But, it's not as though he minded the idea.
"Come on, sit down and relax," she urged him. "It won't do you any good to just stand around all day. Ignoring a host's hospitality is rude, don't you know?"
Her small hands, with a surprising amount of force, shoved Itsuki towards a cozy corner of the room. The floor was adorned with small woven pillows, arranged in a semi-circle, creating a casual and inviting seating area.
"It's okay, really. Make yourself at home, I'll bring you something to drink." She paused in the doorway towards what itsuki assumed was a kitchen area, "Oh, there's a bath out back if you want to clean up. I'll bring you a change of clothes."
Itsuki looked down at his clothes as Aimi exited. His unexpected journey through the forest and the passage through the thicket had left clear marks on his clothes. His jeans bore smudges of earth and streaks of green from the leaves and plants he had brushed against. The hem of his t-shirt was slightly frayed and stained with the hues of the forest floor. Even his sneakers, once a pristine white and clear black, were now dusted with a layer of soil and bits of dried leaves
Itsuki sighed, "I suppose a bath would do me some good." Moving towards where Aimi had gestured the bath would be, Itsuki found a bathing area behind a small doorway of what reminded Itsuki of tethered strips of bamboo.
Unlike the modern, sleek bathrooms of Tokyo, this space exuded a rustic charm. The walls were made of woven reeds, providing both privacy and a connection to the natural surroundings. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting a warm, dappled light across the area.
The centerpiece of the bath was a large, wooden log, hollowed out and hand-carved from a single piece of wood. It was filled with crystal-clear water that let off a bit of steam that lingered in the air above.
Nestled beside the water was a small, crystalline stone, remarkable in its appearance. It had been meticulously hand-carved, featuring a delicate scale etched into its surface. The most striking feature of the stone was an image of a music note embossed in a material that shimmered like gold, catching the light and glinting brilliantly. Itsuki instantly recognized the note as an E#.
As Itsuki gazed at the intricately carved stone, a realization dawned upon him. "They really care for music here...." he murmured to himself, his mind piecing together the subtle clues he had encountered since his arrival.
From Aimi's effortless strumming on her ukulele that seemed to resonate with the natural world, to the way the forest itself seemed to hum and sing around him, music seemed much more important to the villagers than just a form of entertainment.
Itsuki brushed it all off as a coincidence. "Well, different cultures have different preferences. I guess these people just really like music."
Itsuki finished undressing and slowly made his way into the pool. The water was warm, just right for a comfortable bath. Itsuki wondered how the water had been able to be as warm as it was, but he didn't spend too long thinking about it.
"Maybe I should play something for them? It seems like they might enjoy it. I don't have much else I can do to thank them for their help." Thinking about music brought Itsuki's attention back to the engraved note by the edge of the pool.
"E#, huh?" Absentmindedly, Itsuki began to whistle the note as closely as he could. He was never the best at whistling, but he could manage basic notes and melodies.
As the note resonated through the air, the stone responded almost immediately, absorbing the sound and beginning to emit a gentle warmth.
Caught off guard by the sudden increase in water temperature, Itsuki yelped in surprise, the sound echoing slightly in the open-air bath. The warm water was pleasant, but the unexpected change startled him, making him wonder if he had somehow triggered it.
Suddenly, Aimi burst through the door, "Itsuki, you alright? I heard you scream" As she stepped in, Itsuki, taken aback by her sudden appearance, quickly turned away, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Still facing away, Itsuki stammered out his question, trying to mask his embarrassment. "Wh-What are you doing?" he asked, his voice unsteady.
Aimi blinked. "I'm checking to see if you're alright. Is the water not to your liking, maybe it's too warm for you? I'll help you out."
Itsuki, still feeling awkward, responded, "No, really, it's fine. I'm fine, I'll take care of it."
Aimi rolled her eyes, "relax it'll only take a second." Aimi pulled her ukulele out from behind her back and played a single F#.
A small stone, unseen when Itsuki first entered, almost identical to the first, began to glow as the sound echoed through the room. Almost immediately, Itsuki felt the water grow colder as it reduced in temperature.
"That ought to do it." Aimi stated as she swung the instrument back behind her. "I'll leave you to it, let me know if you need anything." She paused before exiting, "Preferably without screaming next time." She exited with a wink.
Itsuki sat in silence as he stared at the two stones. "Are those stones... Magic?"