Beyond the Sound | Yuzuru Hanyu

2.

When Maya heard her friend say that the job offer was in Japan, she couldn't help all the mixed feelings that it brought upon her.

"We would have to learn the language and everything but it would be so fun! You should come!"

Strangely enough, her first reaction was to laugh like a madwoman.

"Why are you laughing?" Chiara asked confused.

"You know my last name, right?"

"Yamamoto or something."

"Yeah..."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"It's a Japanese last name..."

It was only then that Chiara looked at her with a serious face.

"You're Japanese?!!!"

"Yeah... How the hell did you miss that?"

"I have no idea.... But that makes it way easier! You can teach me the language and guide me around."

"I haven't spoken Japanese in ages, Chiara. Besides, it isn't because I was born there that I'm a good tourist guide. I only know Kyoto."

Maya didn't look like your typical Japanese girl. Her mother was italian and the asian genes weren't that evident on her facial features unless you looked carefully.

The green eyes that she carried contrasted with the almond shape eyes but that was the only indication of her ethnicity.

"So you don't want to go?"

"I didn't say that... this is a lot to process."

"Just say yes, it will be fun!"

"My mother will hate the idea."

They had moved to Italy after her father's death and Maya still wasn't sure what was the full story. What she did know was that her mother wasn't keen on anything Japanese and tried to cut every single tie she had with the Oriental country.

"As if you ever stopped doing anything because she didn't agree... I love your mother and I don't know why you think she wouldn't approve, but this is an amazing opportunity!"

"We're working on Arena di Verona, this is already an amazing opportunity, Chiara."

"Sure, but it isn't Tokyo Dome..."

When Chiara muttered the name of the venue, Maya completely stopped in her tracks.

"You're joking?"

Tokyo Dome was the ultimate concert venue in Japan. Every single famous artist strived to perform there and getting a show in such a venue was no easy feat, no matter how big your name was.

It's safe to say that it was a place that every person in show business wanted to work on, whether it was sound people or the performers themselves.

"I'm not, they are looking to refresh their production and sound team. I bet that with your resumé, you can easily get a place there was well. I might have mentioned you to the recruiter too... so who knows..."

"Chiara!"

"What?"

"You did all of that behind my back?"

"Don't pretend you're mad."

"How could I be mad?"

"I know..."

For once, Maya could say that Chiara's excitement was valid.

Arriving home on that day was weird because she couldn't face her mother knowing that she was secretly planning on going back to Japan.

The chances of her mother, Giulia, not being happy with the whole thing were pretty big and she doubted any sweet-talking was enough to convince her.

Maya still didn't know for sure what happened there, her mother had never fully told her why they left the country but everytime something about Japan came up, the older woman would immediately say something about it.

Most of the comments weren't nice either.

Maybe understanding the reasoning behind her mother's hate was what she needed to be able to convince her that this was a good choice for her.

"Mom..."

"Yes, dear?"

"Can I ask something?"

"You usually don't ask, you just throw the question... so what is this about?"

As usual, her mother could tell that there was an hidden plan just from the way she spoke.

"Japan..."

"What about it?"

"Come on... we both know something happened to make us come to Italy and everyone who knows you is aware that you seem to hate the country."

Giulia looked at her daughter with a serious expression before looking at the ground and back up.

"Why are you asking now?"

"You first."

Maya could see her mother squinting at her, as if trying to figure out whatever was on her mind. All of this without success.

"We came to italy so you could study music."

"Nice try, but I was already studying music in Japan. And my teacher was pretty great."

Sighing, the woman finally started talking.

"After you dad died, I had to find a way to supply for both of us. We had been living in Japan for years at that time and I honestly loved it."

"Then what happened?"

"The cruel male-dominated working system happened. They hate when women step over them."

"Is that why you hate the country?"

"I don't hate Japan. It is my favorite country to live in. I just hate most Japanese people I came across with."

"But you loved dad."

"Your father was different. He was a Westerner at heart and studying abroad changed his perspective on a lot of things."

"I see."

"What is this all about? Why ask now?"

Her mother's curiosity was certainly expected. Maya had no doubts that she was still trying to figure out why her daughter suddenly brought this topic to the conversation.

"Chiara received an offer to work there, that's all."

Maya could try and fool her mother all she wanted, but it didn't mean that it would work that easily.

"Chiara, huh? You two are inseparable."

"Yeah."

She saw her mother's expressions shift slowly but surely. From surprised to mad and even a tiny bit of what looked to be acceptance.

"You want to go as well..."

"It isn't because it's Japan, it's just that the opportunity is huge."

"How huge?"

"Tokyo Dome."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Giulia seemed to be considering it for a long time, trying to gather the right words in her brain before uttering them out loud.

"I won't stop you. You know I wouldn't do that. But I do want you to remember my words carefully. They won't like that you're better than them and knowing you, you won't like to be stepped over. Going for this won't be easy, no matter how good you are. But... at the same time I want to tell you that I know you're too strong to allow anyone to use you. So... if you truly want this, I just have to accept and let you go."