- Music or Movement? - (No Straight Roads x Reader Oneshots)

Repeat after me - Yinu

The concert hall was devoid of an audience, allowing the sounds from the grand piano to flood against the noise-strangling silence. The symphony the Golden Maestro played rippled through every cell of my body, pulling my mind from reality and into the flowerbed of her melody. Every note she played blossomed around us both, eventually growing the garden of her song.

I sat next to her straddled upon the stool, getting a closer-than-front-row seat. It was like a concert just for us both. Fiddling with my keytar I was going through the list of instruments it could mimic. The upgrade was new (courtesy of Neon J's engineering skills) and I was still trying to memorize all the different settings I now had access to. The music began to fall from its crescendo, making way for the ending. Her talent was already astounding on its own and the more she practiced and learned, the more her art flourished. Her fingers were more than graceful, like water gliding across the land. It was entrancing to sit and listen, I did so relishing every second.

Being one of the younger members of NSR, Yinu and I found it easier to get along (not that I didn't like hanging out with the others.) We also had a very similar choice in instruments, mine being a digital set of keys and her's being much larger. Yinu grew up playing the piano whereas I had only truly started playing five years ago. Despite this, we still became good friends when I first joined NSR.

The song was coming to an end, slowing down to match the steady heartbeat of time. Yinu's eyes were opening to the gradual closing of the song. The ending left a warm silence that made way for words to be said.

"It gets better every time I hear you play. Are you sure Tatiana made a mistake when ranking you beneath the K-pop Robots?"

"I'm very sure that no mistake was made. It just means I have more room to improve!"

"You sure? I think you're already better than Beethoven himself."

"Yes, I'm sure! And I'm only 9. I have more than enough time to progress."

Her smile was so bright that my own lips reached up to match hers.

"You compliment me so much that you overlook your own talent."

"Hun, I'm not an elite, you are. I'm pretty sure that means something."

Yinu shuffled herself to face me directly and crossed her arms to emphasize her words. "You are my equal. Just because you don't have the same title as me and just because you don't have your own district does not mean that you aren't a talented musician!" The little huff she let out making me giggle, further hoisting me away from the gloomy prickles growing in the back of my eyes. "Also, didn't you refuse the offer of getting a district? Tatiana says that you can still say yes!"

Turning my eyes back to my keytar I began to fiddle with the '8-bit' knob. "Yeah yeah, you got me." The familiar feeling of glossy keys under my gloves. "But you know why I said no. I've only just built up the confidence to perform by DJ Sub's side. Even then the crowds still scare me."

Pausing over the 'acoustic guitar' knob. "How do you think I'll be able to deal with an entire district? That's far too much responsibility, too many people, too many eyes and- "

Yinu's hands patted against my face, stopping me midsentence. The glaring determination in her eyes reflecting the roses ablaze. Her grip squishing my cheeks together, pulling my lips into a duck-face. The even breathes reassuring her confidence.

"Repeat after me."

Breathe in 

"My name is (y/n)."

"My name is (y/n)."

Breathe out

Her hand softening their hold when she hears the funny tone my squished lips made.

"I am a member of NSR."

I knew where this was going. 

"I am a member of NSR."

"I am a talented musician and I am just as good as the other Elite NSR musicians."

My pause earned a pinch to the cheek.

sigh

"I'm a talented musician and I'm just as good as the other Elite NSR musicians."

"And I will stop whining about how I think that ' I'm not good enough.' "

"Ok, that's pushing it."

Her lips pulling into a thin line across her face. She let go and turned back to the piano, her eyes flicking back to me with a hint of annoyance. The mood shifting as she played again. 

I recognized the song. It was a piece that she got me to learn. Her idea was that I could practice or perform with her. I understood that she wanted me to play. Probably an attempt to change the subject entirely. 

I caved in and did just as she wanted, letting my electrical ribbons accompany her smooth symphonic sheets. We had done this so many times, the notes imprinted in our movements. The light around us took form, a bird sat upon the grand piano's lid. Yinu's smile gave away her satisfaction. She closed her eyes again as a flock blossomed around us both. Midst the flurry of feathers sprouted forth a sign of her own power. Golden roses twisted up the legs of the piano and stool. I felt at peace as we played, repeating each other in sync. 

Was she right?

Did I discredit myself that much?

I wasn't so apparent to me at first because no one had pointed it out to me. Except for Yinu. She knew my doubt and my fear. Not on a personal level, but she tried non the less. I appreciated it. I really did.

My thoughts were swept away as my mind laid back, between the flock, upon the garden, the music that we played to keep one another afloat in this world of thorns and claws. This world we create for. 

This world that we progress through together.

1000 words

Sorry that this took so long. I kept on forgetting to update and the mock exams were getting in the way too. I have a somewhat clear idea for the next chapter so it might come a little faster. Oh well. Hope ya'll are doing well!