Run or play?

Mizuki tilts her head quizzically as Eillia tries to find words to come out of her mouth.

Instead of saying anything, she swallowed her saliva and showed Mizuki a huge, polite smile.

Eillia: “I… I’ll think about it for a bit. Thanks for the offer, though. I have some stuff to do, so I’ll catch you later…”

Then she walked out of the cafe as fast as she could, which made the tension a bit awkward.

Mizuki lifts her hand and looks at her palm.

Mizuki: “I wonder if I said anything wrong…”

Shaua: “I overheard everything.”

Shaua walks up to the table Mizuki is sitting at and sits in the same seat Eillia previously was sitting.

Shaua: “I apologise for my niece's behaviour if you find her rude… Well, what happened to her was…”

Shaua starts explaining and telling her about Eillia’s past, while Mizuki sits still and listens carefully.

After Shaua was done explaining, she passed Mizuki a map.

Shaua: “... Her favourite spot is the one I marked with the cross… I’m sorry, but please help me talk to her in my stead.”

Mizuki: “I will, but… Why me? We’ve just met…”

Shaua smiles gently.

Shaua: “I got a feeling that… You can help her for the better.”

Mizuki: “I… I see…I’ll go to her now.”

Mizuki carries the guitar bag and grabs the map before heading out of the cafe. Shaua stood still, watching Mizuki as she left the cafe.

                               ***

Eillia was sitting at one corner outside the castle of Astrea, gazing at the scenery of Astrea as the warm winds blew at her face gently.

Eillia: “Maybe I should go back and apologise later…”

Just then, she could hear footsteps. She turns her head towards the sound, and she sees Mizuki, sweating and panting.

Eillia: “I… I assumed that my Aunt told you about this place…”

Mizuki: “Yup… Your favourite spot took me a while to find… So troublesome…”

Eillia sneered.

Eillia: “Look who’s the real granny…”

Mizuki sat down and tried catching her breath.

Mizuki: “But… It’s understandable. The view of the city here is… Amazing.”

Eillia smiled.

Eillia: “I know, right?”

Mizuki admires the different instrument-shaped buildings that can be seen. Just then, she thought of something and voiced out.

Mizuki: “You know… Your aunt told me about your ex band…”

Eillia’s smile immediately dropped, and she laughed awkwardly.

Eillia: “I… I see… I’m pathetic, don’t you think?”

Mizuki: “Well… I don’t think so.”

Eillia turns her head towards Mizuki in surprise.

Mizuki: “To me… You are quite good yourself and… your ex-band is just jerks.”

Eillia looks down.

Eillia: “No… It’s my fault for not playing well at that time… It’s understandable why they are… Mean…”

Mizuki sighs.

Mizuki: “You were a beginner at that time… Plus, you are talented, you know that? They just don’t know how to appreciate you.”

Still not entirely convinced, Eillia fidgets with her hands.

Eillia: "You make it seem so simple. However, it's difficult to believe in yourself again when those closest to you stop believing in you.

For a moment, Mizuki just looks at the horizon as her smile wavers. Then she laughs a little, half amused, half bitter.

Mizuki: “You know… We have a lot in common.”

Curious, Eillia tilts her head.

Eillia: “Huh? What do you mean?”

Mizuki leans back, her tone is casual, but her eyes are… A bit distant.

Mizuki: "I wasn't exactly... well-liked back in my world. I was frequently mocked. I thought I had friends, but instead they made fun of me. What about my family? To put it simply, I wasn't their first pick either.”

Eillia looks at her, taken aback by Mizuki’s bluntness. Mizuki scratches the back of her neck, as if embarrassed.

Mizuki: “So, yeah. I know what it feels like to be left behind, to feel like you’re not good enough. That’s why if they couldn’t recognize your value, then screw them. You don’t need their approval to be great.”

There's a heavy but uneasy silence. The soft wind blows gently, carrying Mizuki’s words away.

Eillia: “Then how did you deal with all this… and… act like normal… like right now?”

Mizuki smiles crookedly.

Mizuki: “Hah. Sometimes I still feel like punching them in the face. But I am the prodigy. I was always better, no matter what happened.”

Eillia chuckled a bit.

Eillia: “You are such an egoist.”

Mizuki: “Yup, I am.”

Both of them laughed softly at the same time.

The weight between them feels lighter for a moment. Mizuki believes the city below almost resembles a stage that is waiting for its performers as it shimmers in the last of the sunlight.

Eillia: “...Thanks.”

Mizuki: “No problem… My rhythm guitarist. Let’s go back to the cafe.”

Mizuki stood up and walked away as she smirked playfully.

Eillia then stood up and chased after her. She rolled her eyes but gave off a small smile.

Eillia: “Hey, but I haven’t agreed to anything…!”

Together, they begin walking back toward the cafe.

As the evening crowds fill the streets, two young elves block their way. Their smirks are sharp, their instruments slung like weapons over their shoulders.

Both of them look quite similar to each other, in punk fashion, wearing the same green jacket. But one of them has pink hair, while the other one has brown hair.

???: “Well, well. If it isn’t little Eillia. Still acting like you’re worth listening to?”

The pink-haired one mocked. Eillia goes cold. Mizuki immediately notices that her shoulders are tense.

So two of them are members of her ex-band, huh? Interesting.

The other elf snickered.

???: "Who is your new pal? Another project for pity? How about a little challenge, head-to-head, two guitars? If you lose, you acknowledge that you were never band material.

The taunt lingers. Eillia clenches her fists and looks down.

With a smile as sharp as a pick scraping strings, Mizuki takes a step forward.

Mizuki: “Two grannies picking on one? That’s not nice.”

The pink-haired elf raises her eyebrows furiously.

???: “And who are you supposed to be, human?”

Mizuki chuckles lightly.

Mizuki: “Just someone who can beat both of you in this fun challenge, but it’s not my call.”

Her tone is steady but playful as she turns to face Eillia.

Mizuki: “So, what would you like to do? You can flee...or confront them directly. There is no right or wrong answer.”

The tension is high as the street becomes quiet.