The Melody of the Heart (Otoya x OC x Reiji)

Measure 16

With absolutely no rest, Yui dragged her feet as she tiredly trudged into the classroom.  She thought her classes were pointless, so she would try to sleep during them.

Though, she didn't expect much success with that plan either.  All her ideas of sleeping during class were ruined when she saw the camp director standing behind the podium, shuffling through papers as he always did.

"Good morning, young musicians!" The director greeted excitedly.  "I'm sure you are all ready for your next challenge, which may as well be the most difficult of all of your tasks thus far."

Anyone could almost feel the eagerness in the air from the idols and composers.  Yet, the aura that surrounded Yui was full of dread.

"Now, since declaring your tracks as idols and composers, everything has been aligned due to that path.  However, here, we believe the best way to learn is to challenge you as teams.  And so, we will be switching around your roles."

The director released a strange chuckle.  "In five days, you will perform a song of your choice, whether it is original or a cover.  But the ones performing on that evening will not be the idols.  The musicians that perform that evening will be the composers."

Upon hearing these words, Yui froze, horror consuming her body. She didn't allow anything else to be heard by her own ears until the camp director left the room, dismissing them into classes.

But now, she had no intention to even go to her classes.  Fueled with fear and nervousness, she escaped the crowd of musicians, heading down an opposite hall and hiding within the isolated music room.

She cursed herself as she sunk to the cold, wooden ground.

But standing before her, glimmering under the sunlight that peered through the windows, the shining black grand seemed to beckon her touch.  Almost as though she were in a trance, Yui walked up to the instrument.

She ran her fingers across the silky key cover, and eventually, flipped it open to reveal the ivory that was attached to the hundreds of strings inside the case.

Before she comprehended her actions she had sat on the smooth bench and begun to play.  She played a few songs over and over again.  And then, she opened her mouth to sing.

The first three songs she created no one had heard.  They were ballads that gave her strength when she felt low.  Even one she had written with Reiji's friendship in mind.

It had only felt like minutes, but it had truly been a few hours that she spent on the piano, singing without a worry in mind.

She started to imagine beautiful harmonies to accompany her songs, and the sound in her mind made her smile.

The smile faded when Yui realized the harmonies were not from her imagination.  With a gasp, she stood abruptly, causing the piano bench to crash onto the floor.  She slammed the key cover back over the keys, accidently crushing a few of her fingers as she did so.

"Ow!" She yelped, clutching her bruised fingers.

"I'm sorry! Did I scare you?" Otoya looked at her with worry.  He stepped closer to her and with a light touch, he took her pained fingers in his hands.  He brought them to his lips and gave them a tender kiss.  "But, I do have to say, I was right."

"About what?"

"Yui has a pretty singing voice, but she's just too shy to show it." He wore a cheeky grin as Yui's face reddened.

She wrenched her hand from his gentle grasp.  "You didn't hear anything!" She yelled. "You're supposed to be in class anyway!"

"You can't keep me from getting worried.  I haven't seen you in hours."  His vibrant red eyes were prying as he looked into her narrow silver orbs.  "Besides, who would of thought I could witness such a beautiful voice.  And those ballads, too.  They were so... emotional, and I guess a bit sad, too."

Yui frowned bitterly.  "Forget about it." She said as though it were an order.

Surprisingly, Otoya released a chuckle.  "I while ago I told you to forget about something that I considered very important.  I still told you to forget because I knew it would trouble you.  But I know you still never forgot."

"Then never speak of it again!" She bit her lip insecurely.

"Why do you not want to hear about how smart, talented, and cute you are?" He asked with a smile.

The girl averted her steely gaze, still pouting her lip.  "Because they are not true."

"Everyone thinks different things.  They may not be true to you, but to me, they are very true."

"Only to you!" She suddenly spat.  "But to everyone else who will see me on that stage in only five days, I am horrible! They don't like me, and they won't hesitate to let the world know.  All alone on that stage, where will you be to say that I'm supposedly 'not' what they say I am?!"  Tears could be seen budding in the corners of her eyes.

"So, that's what is truly bothering you...  And you use your songs to escape." Otoya's expression softened as he reached his hand towards her again. Though, his smile showed his pain when the girl stepped away.

As Yui bit her lip, a few tears dripped down her cheeks.  "I don't want you to pity me or feel like you have to say nice things about me because no one else does."

"Do you really think that's how I feel?" Otoya's vibrant red eyes were struck with sadness.  "Even after..." He trailed, furrowing his thick eyebrows as he felt his stomach bubble with anger.  "That really hurts, Yui!"

"All this time I've stuck up for you! I want to heal you from your trauma, I want to comfort you, I want you to know how great you are... But you need to realize that I'm not doing this out of pity!" The girl was taken aback by his outburst.  "If you think that I'm so shallow to be doing this out of pity then I should just leave you alone."

He clenched his fist.  "Despite that and how much you're killing me with this whole Reiji thing, I do really care about you, so I won't leave you."

"Tell me, how in the world am I supposed to get on that stage in five days and sing in front of everyone?!"

To her surprise, Otoya suddenly hugged her.  He stroked her head soothingly as she relaxed in his warm arms.  "For starters, calm down." He whispered kindly, all anger that once flared within him fading.

With a deep breath, Yui dried her tears.  "Okay..." She murmured.

"The next thing we need to focus on is getting comfortable singing in front of just one person.  And because I'm here, you will sing for me." His bright grin returned to his face.  "Are you going to sing one of those ballads?"

"No!" She answered much too quickly.

"Why not? They were beautiful."

"Because they’re really personal, so it's embarrassing." She lowered her head.

"I won't force you to, but if you do perform such a personal song, it's easier to get lost in the music and forget that you're actually performing." Otoya put a finger to his chin thoughtfully.  "What about that one about going on, even if it's hard?"

Yui knew exactly what song he was talking about.  She had written it when she hadn't seen Reiji in a while and was going through some tough trials at school, right before she started homeschooling.  It was the most encouraging song she had ever written.

"I don't know... It's very personal.  And what if people don't like it?" She looked to her red-haired friend for advice.

"I don't think they wouldn't like it.  If anything, it would make them start crying." He released a chuckle.

With a deep sigh, Yui tightened her resolve.  "Alright... I guess that would be the one..."