The Songwriter's Funeral Song

XXVII. Coward to Live, Brave to Leave

The Songwriter's Funeral Song
Coward to Live, Brave to Leave

Yuru's POV

"Miyako, you coward."

If cowardness has strength, what would it be?

"That was then. Now, I'm not."

Is change really necessary? How can we say if it's good or bad? Who are we to judge? The idea of right and wrong was only in favor of human desire.

A year and months earlier...

I left the engineering office early in the afternoon just to visit my sister's university. I've got the news that she's quitting her chemical engineering course. She can't do such a hasty decision. I've never known her to be like that person. I'm paying for her studies, and with just months more, she could graduate.

"A talk with Ms. Hashimoto Miyako please," I spoke as I opened the door of the university's music room. Students stopped from their business and put their attention at me. Miyako isn't there, but one student pointed out where she is.

"I can lead you there, Ma'am," she assisted.

We were walking along the footpath with greeneries aside. The weather is fair, and the number of clouds is enough to shed us from the sunlight. We can hear the birds' tweets blending with the students' chatter. The person that I'm walking with later began a conversation.

"Miyako was always in the garden when she writes lyrics. I guess, she can show her talent more when she's there. But I pity her because she can't even play any instrument. She can't be a good fit in the music club, right, Senior?

I just looked at the one who spoke and remained silent. I have any other questions reserved, but this person seemed to dislike my sister.

"You're the one who's been sending me reports. Am I right?" I asked.

"Yes, that's me. I'm glad we met, Senior." The girl beamed, and I nodded.

"Tell me more. I would like to know when and how she started."

She let go almost a thousand words and stopped when we finally arrived at the garden. There's no useful information that I've absorbed since she's been only telling Miyako's failures.

I already had a glimpse of Miyako's back from a distance, sitting on a wooden bench and busy writing something.

"This is my boundary, Senior. She must not know that I brought you here."

"I see. Thank you." I reached her a white long envelope with a sum of money inside. "Here's your pay, and this will be our last interaction." After receiving it, she gave a bow and left. I then walked to Miyako and tapped her left shoulder. She turned her head to me as she felt the signal. She jumped back a little when she saw me and hurriedly hid her notebook in her hands.

"Why are you here? How did you find me?" she asked.

"I'm here to walk home with you. The students from the music room supposed that you were here. I came with one's assistance."

She looked away and flipped her notebook closed. "I have other things to do. I'll be coming home late."

"Then I'll wait. I'll be discussing something with you." I sat with her on the bench and looked at her notebook. "What are you writing?"

"It's none of your business," she replied with a slight annoyance, "if you have something to say, just say it."

"But the question is, are you prepared to hear it here and now? I don't want your classmates watch you weep."