Learning To Fly: A Saki Enomoto Pseudo-Route

Ignition :: Black & Yellow

AN: Song for the chapter is below!

-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-

"How are you doing back there?" Saki asks. "I can move the seat up a bit if you want."

I wriggle a bit to find a more comfortable position. "Only a little bit, if that's okay."

With a muted clunk, the seat moves forward a few centimeters. The relief on my hips and knees is instantaneous and much welcome.

There are five of us in the car. Mrs. Sakamoto's driving, and since Saki invoked the sacred incantation known as "shotgun," I'm crammed in the backseat with Noriko and Chisato. After a few more moments of readjusting to make sure there are no elbows painfully jabbing where they don't belong, Mrs. Sakamoto puts the car in gear and we drive off.

The morning has gone well, much like the first time we ventured down into the city like this, except for a few key differences. This time, I thought to grab a proper breakfast first. More seriously however, is the air of expectation that we have. Today is the day that Saki and Chisato are going to start recording the music that they've spent the last few months working on together. While Noriko and I are merely along for support, the vibe of excitement coming from the other three is contagious.

"Takamura said he was on his way when I called him earlier," the teacher says as she merges into traffic at the bottom of the hill. "When we get there, you might have to wait a while while he sets up the equipment for today."

"That's okay," Chisato answers. "It's probably going to take me just as much time to warm up to playing that Yamaha."

"I'll be tuning my violin, so I'm fine."

"I have my book."

I can feel Saki's eyes rolling before she cranes her head back to look at me. "You're serious? You actually brought a book?"

"I told you I was going to."

"What about you, Noriko?" the older woman asks, smoothly heading off an argument before it can get the chance to start.

"Um, I'd actually like to watch Mr. Takamura, if that's okay. Do you think he'd have a problem with that?"

"No, but you might. He's pretty passionate about what he does and if someone shows interest in it, he'll push it as far as you let him," Mrs. Sakamoto replies with an amused undertone to her voice.

Hmm, I wonder why that sounds so familiar.

Noriko shifts a bit against me. "Well, when you told me what you were planning for recording with the computers, I just think it would be neat to see how he does it."

"I can't wait to see it either," Chisato pipes up. "I know you've explained it a few times but I just can't seem to wrap my head around it."

"Don't worry. You'll see how it works when we get there. Takamura's been doing this for longer than all of you have been alive, and he's one of the best at it."

-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-

Upon exiting the car, my back pops as I stand up to stretch. I take Noriko's hand to help her out of the backseat, then move to open Saki's door to do the same. She thanks me as she stands upright, adjusting her skirt and brushing her hair back. Mrs. Sakamoto is a bit slower to get out of the car, taking a minute to compose herself.

Chisato, in her ever present enthusiasm, is already behind the car waiting for her teacher to open the trunk so she can grab her backpack.

"Well hello there!" I hear a man shout, and turn to look.

I'm greeted by the sight of a tall, muscular man wearing dark blue jeans, a tan shirt, and a black sports blazer. He has a pair of sunglasses perched on top of his forehead, above which is a shock of jet black hair styled into a pompadour. My immediate impression is to be taken aback, as he gives off the feel of an older biker that you definitely wouldn't want to meet while walking down a dark street.

"Hello Shogo," Mrs. Sakamoto addresses him warmly as he makes his way towards us with quick, assured strides. The two share a quick embrace, and I'm in awe how his aura of intimidation melts away with that one simple gesture.

"And to you two!" the man continues, nodding towards Chisato and Saki. "It's been a while. And who might the rest of you be?"

Noriko introduces herself first. "My name is Noriko Mimura. It's a pleasure to meet you," she formally says, bowing slightly.

"Hisao Nakai," I state, mimicking her motions.

"Shogo Takamura," he replies, nodding towards both of us. "Hana may have told you that I run this little joint and the one next to it. The pleasure's mine."

"Sensei, can you open the trunk?" Chisato says, completely oblivious to the formalities taking place, or choosing not to care. It's rather endearing, in a way.

Mrs. Sakamoto complies, but not without a look of partially feigned annoyance. "There's no big rush, we're here all day."

"I know, but I'm just so excited to get started!"

"Down, girl," Saki admonishes, reaching in to grab her violin. She hands it to me with a small smile of gratitude as I gladly take it from her.

All of start having various conversations among ourselves as we finally make our way into the studio. Unlike the last time we were here, the lights of about a dozen electronics are powered on and glittering, ready for action.

Chisato drops her backpack in a place that's just far enough out of the way to not inconvenience everyone else and heads straight for the piano. It's shining bright under the lights, the dark wood polished to a mirrored finish. She hovers around it like a hummingbird trying to figure out the best angle to attack a feeder from.

This prompts a laugh from Takamura. "Were you afraid it wasn't going to be here?"

"Well, no," she says sheepishly, turning pink. "But...come on! How can you not love this?"

"I'll love it more when I finish paying it off," he answers. When he sees the look of shock on Chisato's face, he quickly amends his statement. "Don't worry, it's insured."

Saki moves to the violin case where I put it down and opens it. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."

"Take your time. I haven't finished turning on all the equipment yet," Takamura says.

"Can I help?" Noriko asks with a small voice, looking up at him. "Or see at least? I'd like to do that."

Takamura crosses his arms in front of his barrel of a chest, with the same glint in his eye I saw Nomiya give when he thought I might join the art club, or when Mutou has someone ask him a science related question.

"Would you like to see how I set up the board to record?" he asks with a wink.

"Very much so!" Noriko says, giving a small hop in place of excitement.

Takamura grins ear to ear, and holds out his arm to indicate the way to the engineering booth that was locked the first time we were here.

-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-

The intercom crackles. "Testing, one two. Chisato, give me a quick bar."

Chisato nods and plays a few notes on the piano, sliding up and down the scale. Two microphones are suspended above it from long poles, and it seems these are the focus of Takamura's attention.

He picks two dials in the metal forest laid out before him and fusses with them before turning and whispering something to Noriko that I can't make out.

He turns his attention back towards the intercom. "One more time, if you could." Chisato repeats her earlier action and the large man gives her a thumbs up. "Okay Saki, your turn."

Saki rests her violin in the crook of her chin and plays the same tones that Chisato just played. Takamura nods, and he asks her to do it one more time to be sure.

"Alright. You should be able to hear the metronome in your headphones. Are you two ready to record your first piece?"

Both of them dip their heads in approval.

"Okay then. From eight. Seven, six, five, four..."

Takamura's voice trails off and doesn't speak the last few numbers aloud, letting Chisato and Saki look at each other. A few seconds later, right on cue together, they start playing. Three notes in and I can tell it's the same music they played together at the festival. Pachelbel? I think that was the name of it.

Both of their hands dance across their instruments, and I'm once completely under the spell they weave. The intimate setting, the low light from the studio itself, the warm colors and tones surrounding me...it all combines to make an even more profound effect than it was at the festival.

That was a concert. This is a private show.

The music stirs up memories in me, not just the original ones that I felt when I heard them play for the first time, but the memory of the event itself...and that leads into everything that's happened the last few weeks since that day Saki asked me to watch her play at the festival.

The first time we went swimming. The first time we went into town together. The first time we opened up to each other. Our first kiss. Just walking together, laughing, talking, enjoying each other and the shared warmth of our mutual presence.

I've always thought it was a bit corny when someone defined a person or a relationship with a song, until I'm hearing this now and all the thoughts it invokes in me.

I get it. And I'm so glad I do.