Raven stood still for a moment, feeling the weight of memories creeping back into his mind. I'm zoning out to the past too frequently these days, he thought, shaking his head as he buried the resurfacing memories.
"Anyway, what brings you here?" he asked, turning to Ai.
She looked at him for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. "The sounds woke me up, so I came to check what was going on."
"Ah, sorry for disturbing you. They'll be done setting everything up soon, so I ask for your patience."
"It's fine!~ I'm already up, so it doesn't matter anymore." Her cheerful tone felt off, like a subtle accusation hiding beneath her smile, though she didn't seem fully aware of it.
Just then, a worker emerged from the apartment, providing Raven a much-needed exit from the awkwardness.
"Sir, the setup is complete. Please come check it out."
"Ah, I'll be there." Raven turned back to Ai, noticing her slight fidgeting. Her eyes were bright with excitement, though she tried to hide it.
He paused, considering. He wasn't one to invite people into his personal space, but something about her eagerness got to him. With a touch of hesitation, he asked, "Do you… want to come check it out?"
"Huh?" Ai froze, her eyes wide, a blush creeping up her cheeks like a child caught sneaking candy. Quickly recovering, she grinned with masked enthusiasm. "Really~?"
She's got the reactions down to a T, I'll give her that, Raven thought, seeing through the act but choosing not to comment.
"Yeah," he replied simply, gesturing for her to follow.
Inside, Raven's apartment was well-furnished but minimalist. The lack of decoration gave it a clean, almost impersonal feel—exactly the way he liked it. He led her to the newly set-up studio, which had once been an empty room but now looked completely transformed. The soundproofing panels along the walls created a professional ambiance, and high-end audio gear sat neatly on a polished desk. A microphone hung from a boom arm, poised for use, while sleek monitors displayed the recording software. Everything was pristine—exactly how he had envisioned.
In the center of the room stood a grand piano, its glossy black surface gleaming under the soft studio lights. Along the walls were an array of guitars, bass violins, flutes, and even a drum set in the back. Every instrument Raven needed was right there, perfectly arranged as if waiting for the music to flow.
For a moment, Raven ran his fingers over the piano keys, feeling a flicker of peace. Each instrument held a memory—not just of his first life, but the many lives that followed. Friends, battles, and the ones he lost. This place… he thought, it's like a shrine to the past.
Ai's eyes widened as she stepped in, her excitement barely contained. "Wow… This looks amazing!"
Raven gave a small nod, his expression indifferent. "It's nothing fancy."
"Nothing fancy?" she repeated, incredulous. "This place is like a professional studio! Are you maybe nouveau riche?"
"Nothing like that," Raven replied dismissively. Though his success had earned him wealth, he disliked flaunting it. Thank you, global economy, for staying the same, he mused.
"Hmmm~?" Ai eyed him suspiciously but chose not to press further. Instead, she wandered around the room, inspecting the various instruments and equipment. Then, suddenly, she turned to him, her face lighting up with excitement.
"Can you sing something~?"
Raven was taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm but quickly shook his head. "No."
"Aww, please?" she insisted, her tone playful.
"Why?" He furrowed his brow, not quite understanding her motive.
"Looking at all these instruments, I want to hear you play them. And you owe me for waking me up with the noise," she teased, her grin mischievous.
Raven hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with her request. But pointing out her act felt like more of a headache than it was worth. As he considered, Ai pouted dramatically.
"I can't even sleep now, and it was my half-day off, too~"
Sigh. This girl… Raven shook his head, finally giving in. "Alright, but only one song."
"Yay~!" Ai beamed, her enthusiasm infectious.
Raven sighed again, picking up a Gibson guitar from the rack and sitting on a stool. He gestured toward another stool. "You should sit."
Ai quickly complied, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"I'll be singing in English, so I don't know if you'll understand."
"Don't worry~ I listen to English songs all the time. I'm sure I'll get it."
Sigh. Alright, Raven thought, adjusting the guitar and clearing his throat.
As soon as he played the first note, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
Ai sat there, frozen, her eyes wide as if someone had hit her with a revelation. She couldn't quite grasp what was happening, her mind swirling with unexpected emotions as the rich, melancholic sound of Raven's voice filled the room.
What… she thought, as the music drew her in. She found herself completely lost in the spectacle unfolding before her, her previous playful attitude now a distant memory.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Next Chapter is Raven's Song!!!!!
I've Selected many known and less renowned songs for this fic.
I hope you come to love them as much as I do
Don't forget to leave some comments for the poor author.