The Music Academy

Songs for Sang: A miniseries in 11 parts ~Part 2~

Kota stared out his bedroom window, eyeing the neighborhood but not really seeing anything in the dark. "Looks like rain." He mumbled; his thoughts distracted by the meeting he'd had earlier with his team.

He certainly didn't want to be the one to admit he had burst into song first.

How were they supposed to tell who she was? That was just odd. One girl would hold that much power? He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. His sister's favorite book heroine was Katniss Everdeen and the only line he recalled right now was the one where it was mentioned that she had no idea the power she held.

He supposed it was the same here. This girl, whoever she was, would likely, he hoped, be clueless. Worst case scenario she'd post something on Twitter or Instagram about these crazy guys who kept serenading her. His eyes moved past the house with the new neighbors before moving back as he caught sight of movement around the bushes. He frowned, sticking his head out the window as he tried to focus on it but instead caught a face full of raindrops and confirmation that the wind was picking up. He sighed and grabbed his rain poncho, whistling for Max as he headed downstairs.

He'd nave to go outside to check it out better.

Moved out of the garage with Max, ducking around the car and heading out to the street as he saw the small figure again, darting away from the house. Huh, wonder where they're headed, he wondered as he caught sight of a fluffy cloud of blonde hair.

Her... girl... she.

I wonder where she's headed, Kota thought, his eyes narrowed.

Oh no, no, no... surely, she isn't headed for that house on the corner. He groaned softly.

Fine.

He bent and unhooked Max's leash. Max looked up at him, head tilting in question. "Go get her." He said, adding the sign to his dog before he took off like a shot down the street. Kota belatedly realized that he probably should have told his dog to use caution and headed off after him. He winced as he heard the soft 'oof' and a thud as the girl fell with Max sitting on her. "Max..." He moved to get the dog off of her. "Sor..." He blinked as she rolled over and sat up.

Whoa.

She was cute. Tiny little thing though, hardly much taller or bigger than his sister. He saw a question shimmering in her big green eyes but then he realized it was likely tears as he saw the blood running down her arm.

"What...?" She spluttered, staring up at him and then eyeing Max as if she was afraid of the dog.

"Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy... but here's my number, so call me maybe!" Kota sang before his eyes widened and he clapped a hand over his mouth, staring at her as his heart thundered in his chest and his ears filled with pounding and he felt like clamping his lips closed as the words threatened to bubble out again.

The chorus of the song was a repeated version, after all.

"I don't have a phone." She blurted, scrambling to her feet.

Kota exhaled slowly as the words and urge to sing fled. "I'm sorry about my dog. The... the leash broke." He said, lamely.

"Oh." She ducked her head slightly, grimacing as she caught sight of the mud she was now covered with.

"Where were you going? You weren't sneaking into that house, were you? It's too dangerous."

"Uh... no, of course not." He could tell she was bluffing.

"Come with me." He invited. "My mom's working the night shift and my sister's already asleep but it's dry and I swear you'll be safe. We can wash your clothes and take care of that cut." He nodded towards her wrist.

"Oh." She seemed startled to see that she was bleeding. "I... shouldn't. I can take care of it at home."

"But will you get in trouble for having been out?" He pressed. "Or for needing to do laundry for suspiciously muddy clothes?"

She winced before glancing at him and then at the house he'd motioned to. Max leaned into her leg, raising one paw as if in apology for knocking her down. "Oh... okay. There'd be far too many explanations needed at my house, you've got that right."

He smiled at her. "No need to be nervous. This is Max, my sister is Jessica and I'm Dakota, but my friends call me Kota."

"And I should call you?"

He almost said maybe but he smiled. "You can call me Kota. I make a good friend if you give me a chance...?"

She seemed to pick up on him fishing for a name. "It's Sang." She said softly, before coughing. "Sang. My name's Sang. Yes, like I sang a song, but I don't sing... but you did."

He rolled his eyes. "That's fair." He took her backpack from her before sending Max towards the open garage. "Let's get you dried out. I can make hot chocolate. Do you like marshmallows?"

'Love them." She said, walking with him as they headed to the house.