2-5: A musical friend

“And now, be prepared for my next move.”

After each class we had enough free time to eat, spend time with friends or in general, anything you can do with free time. I was impatient to do a performance, so I decided to do shows in places where people could see me. Right now I was doing a classic show with dancing puppets, just to give a nice impression. But, no one was looking at me, actually, it was like they were trying to ignore me.

“Magicians don’t like this kind of show…?”

Yesterday after my fight against that annoying guy I tried to talk with someone, but no one wanted to be close to me. I thought it would be something temporary, but even today no one is looking at me.

“This is the worst…”

A show without public is like cup noodles without water, it just doesn’t work. Without any other option, I put my puppets in a tiny bag for puppets and went to another place.

“Class hasn't started yet?”

I could practice for a future performance, but there wasn’t enough time. It was better practice after classes…I don’t have anything else?

“Hmm...”

I tried to whistle to amuse myself, but that only reminded me that I wasn't capable of doing anything else.

“(Maybe Cloe wants to spend time with me.)”

Even when I usually avoid her, having company could make this free time less boring. Literally anything would work.

While I was thinking about that, I felt a touch on my back.

“Excuse me…”

“Hmm?”

I looked behind, and it was my roommate who touched my back. His dark expression was easy to recognize.

“Do you need something?”

“Just…what is that song?”

“Huh?”

“You know…the one you were whistling.”

“...Ah.”

Just then I noticed that I was whistling a song from my world. It doesn’t matter how many years I spend in this world, I can’t forget the previous one.

“Well, it was…”

“...Ah, sorry for that…”

“It’s nothing, I’m also curious about some things.”

“...”

“It’s a song I heard once. I remember the melody, but I don’t know the name.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

He wouldn’t understand a japanese name, and he totally wouldn’t understand some words due to the year we are in, so I couldn't take the risk of sharing the name.

“That’s a shame…”

“I know.”

“...Then…you could whistle again?”

“What?”

“I-I mean, I just wanna know if I could translate it to an instrumental version.”

“Right, you were writing a music sheet.”

“Yeah…actually, that was a song I composed…”

“Really?!”

“Yeah…”

Having a musical genius as a roommate was a huge surprise. But more importantly, this is the opportunity I needed for knowing him better. Even in my old world music was a good way to make friends.

“I guess I can whistle again.”

“Really?!”

“Woah, that was a big reaction.”

“Ah…sorry…”

“Well, I can do it, but not in public.”

“Why?”

“...Concentration.”

“I see. Then we can try in the art classroom, there’s no one there right now.”

“Sure.”

“Then, follow me.”

“Okay…”

“Right, I’m Fran.”

“I’m Thomas.”

Fran headed to the art classroom with me behind. In there I could whistle without worrying about other people.

“Here we are.”

“I can’t believe this place was open.”

“Actually…I have the key.”

“Huh? Why?”

“...I like practicing in lonely places…”

“I guess writing is easier without annoying noises.”

“...”

For some reason, he seemed to be a little sad with my answer. I was about to ask if I just said something rude, but he quickly approached two chairs and sat in one, so I did the same.

“You can start…”

“Okay.”

I only whistled the song while he wrote everything on a notebook. I ended up repeating the exact same song five times until he was satisfied with the result.

“You got it?”

“Yeah, it’s a weird song…”

“What do you mean?”

“It feels full of melancholy…”

“I guess that’s just how that song sounds.”

“I thought you only knew about funny songs.”

“Haha, that’s a weird first impression.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry. It feels good teaching this to someone.”

“...”

“Can I hear the final result?”

“You already know the song…”

“I only know how to whistle it.”

“...Then…”

Fran searched in the classroom until he found a violin. When he played the song, it was hard to believe that this was his first time playing it.

“Woah.”

“It’s good…?”

“It is, you’re really good with the violin.”

“...My family is known for their music…”

“That explains it.”

“Well…thanks…you can go…”

“Huh? We still have time.”

“I don’t want to be a nuisance…”

He stood up and headed to the exit trying to not make eye contact. I didn’t want to spend more time alone, that was the worst! so I tried to stop him.

“I can show you more songs.”

“I don’t think you know any more unknown songs…”

“Well…”

I doubted a little, but if it was the only way to keep him in the classroom, I didn’t have any other option, so I sang the first song I could remember.

“...Huh?”

He stopped when I started singing a song in Japanese. I barely know him, but I understand he has a genuine interest for unknown songs, so he can’t just ignore this.

“W-What is that song?”

“Another song that I know.”

“I don’t even know that language…”

“You'll be able to hear more if you stay here.”

“...Then…”

Fran returned to his seat and started writing a lot of musical sheets. After every song I explained the thematic in a very vague way and he wrote it trying to see if that could be adapted to his language.

“What is a nightingale?”

“It’s like a bird, but the song doesn’t talk about birds, so it’s more like a metaphor.”

“I see…”

Slowly his dark and sad expression became a weak smile that showed his interest in what I was saying. We both started to feel really comfortable with each other, so I even did some dance trying to explain the feelings of the songs.

“Hehe…”

“(Wow, he can laugh.)”

We enjoyed talking about music too much. So much, that he did something that probably we both thought would be impossible.

“...Tica linga lira….”

“Huh?”

I stopped when I suddenly heard a soft singing.

“That was your singing voice?”

“Ah!...I did it out loud…?”

“Yeah.”

“S-Sorry for-.”

“Do it again.”

“Huh?”

“I wanna hear it better.”

“...My voice is awful…”

“C’mon, just a little.”

“...You’re not gonna laugh?”

“I only laugh with jokes.”

“...All right…”

He doubted, but after taking a deep breath, he started singing one of the adapted lyrics he was writing. I thought his violin skills would be the best about him, but his voice was beautiful. His voice and even his smile reminded me of some of Yuto's best musicals.

When he stopped, I clapped.

“That was really good!”

“...It’s not that good…”

“The heck are you talking about?! I loved every single part, I can’t even imagine how you would sound if you actually memorized the entire lyrics!”

“...Really, it's not that good…”

“Stop saying that.”

“I’m only good with instruments…That’s what everyone praises.”

“They’re stupid.”

I approached him and gently touched his neck with a finger.

“This is totally your best instrument, and you clearly enjoyed using it, so stop talking trash about it.”

“...But.”

“I’m gonna give you all the praises you deserve until you get the message, okay?”

I gave him a big smile, and he blushed, probably from embarrassment. I would have continued like that for a while longer, but a bell rang in the distance.

“Ah, the class is about to start, let’s go together.”

“...Right.”

We headed to the classroom after spending a good time together. Surprisingly, he said something in the way.

“...We could do this more often?”

“Of course!”

That way, I got my second friend in this world.