Arpeggios Part 2

But as for what that something is, unfortunately, he does not know. He does not know enough about the grievances that she suffered in the past. When they first met in middle school, she was singing ave maria in the classroom.

"Ah! You two are late." Hijiri suddenly exclaimed.

He looked up and saw Nao and Sumire entering the classroom and walking over.

Nao sighed. "It's this person's fault. She had the nerve to run from me, and I found her asleep in the art room. She wouldn't wake up no matter what."

He watched as Sumire hit Nao. "Quit being a meanie. You know I can't help it. I was working late last night. Didn't Aki-San tell you?"

"I didn't drop by. So? Where was it?"

Despite the nonchalant question, Masato already felt the tension in the air.

Sumire looked away, causing Nao's eyes to twitch, annoyed.

"Princess you ! What did I say about that place? Rather you were with them? Are you crazy? You know how those guys are!"

"It's okay. Ru was with me."

"Nao," Masato interjected. "Enough, she seems tired. Let her nap before the teacher comes."

Sumire looked over at him then and gave him a grateful look before returning to sleep.

Nao sighed. "You shouldn't baby her too much. You understand, right? That girl always ends up in troublesome situations."

In truth, he understood why Nao was worried. From what he could determine from the conversation just now, it seemed like Sumire had been taking on extra shifts at work - and the recent job was with those guys.

He eyed her clothing and saw the long sleeves and collars covering her neck. It's no wonder she is exhausted. But for her to take on extra work when her debut is approaching like this, is something else going on?

"Hey, since when did she start to do this??"

"It was roughly when we returned from winter break."

It's exactly like Mikaze's words; he glanced over at his friend, who had sat down in his seat pretending to read a book and yet was glancing briefly at Sumire.

What could have happened? Masato sighed deeply, even though he wanted to get closer to Sumire. Why does he always end up being the person furthest away from her

When the hour hit twelve, the fifth lesson ended, and it was time for lunch.

Monday's seemed to drag on for him, probably because the lesson hour slots were longer than usual. Masato yawned. He has no plans for lunch just yet. He isn't hungry either, so maybe he should follow Sumire's example and sleep.

He watched as Hijiri kneeled down to meet the sleeping Sumire's eye level. "She looks really tired. Was she working late again?"

Nao's eyes twitched, annoyed. "You knew?"

"Well, as her cousin, I have benefits."

Nao looked away in defeat, causing Hijiri to chuckle. "I was joking, you know? Usually, with stuff like this, she would tell me. But lately, something seems different. I got this information."

"Oh, on her forehead, there is a gash."

Nao immediately stood up and bent down to see. From where he stood, he could see a large deep red scar as if someone had cut her with a knife.

"That must hurt," Mikaze mumbled as he strolled into the room.

"Where did you go?"

Mikaze grinned, causing him to sigh. Mikaze did not need to explain. Honestly, this guy.

"I just overheard something strange. Perhaps it has something to do with Sumire-chan. Actually, for a while, there have been some unsettling rumors about a girl beating up all the yakuza gangs."

At those words, Masato frowned. Is it the work of the media? For some reason, the media have an odd obsession with Sumire. He does not understand that obsession. But Nao, Masaru and Mamoru-san seem to be wary of it.

Nao flinched. "Tsk." He grabbed hold of his bag. "Hijiri, I'm leaving. Send an email to Asahi that I'll be right over."

"Yes, yes. Have fun."

Masato bent down and noticed scars on the girl's hands as well as cuts. Those didn't come from a fight; she's probably been practicing. His gaze landed on the doorway where Nao was moments ago. It's a shame Nao didn't see it because if his guess was correct, then those scars are probably for his sake again.

Masato understood their relationship and knew full well that if she got hurt it would be for Nao's sake.

Mamoru-san is the closest person to Sumire. But as her childhood friend Senbi Nao is important to her too.

"But if she's like this, isn't it because she is trying to forget something? I mean, we all know Sumire-chan is, right? If she wants to forget, erase something. If she wants to distract herself, then she keeps herself busy. Sumire-chan is desperately trying to forget something again." Mikaze said, worried.

What is she trying so desperately to forget that she would hurt herself like this? It's not like Mamoru-san to leave her when she is in such an unstable condition. Masato sighed deeply. Isn't this why he is losing? Why does he keep pushing her toward other people?

"1-A Senna Masato, you have a visitor." A voice from the intercom said breaking his thoughts.

Masato sighed deeply when she heard the announcement. He already knew, even without details, who his visitor was.

"Are you going?" Mikaze looked at him, concerned.

"It's fine." Masato briefly looked over at Sumire asleep before he removed his blazer and wrapped it around her. "Tell her she can keep that."

The only person who would visit him now is that dammed father of his.

..

Music room two.

Masato leaned back on the chair in front of the piano as he sighed deeply. As he thought, the visitor ended up being his father, but as usual, the old man did not have anything good to say.

'When will you truly play music?'

How many times has his father asked him that question before? The first time he asked that question, he ended up in a fit of rage. But hearing those condescending words with no regard to his feelings. Masato simply left it be.

'I had to stop myself from saying I am busy getting you a daughter-in-law.' How would his father react if he knew that his son was courting Sumire? It seemed like his father liked Sumire's performances. That's right, Sumire's sound is different from his.

There is something pure, no something sorrowful and yet beautiful about her sound.

'At least with her, I can hear her soul in her music. But what about you? A textbook performance? Do you not have any emotions?'

There was a time where he envied Sumire. It was only fleeting envy, but back then, he was jealous of how she could express her emotions perfectly. After he got to know her, he realized that she could do that because she had had a difficult life.