Unexpected Notes

CHAPTER-3

Late weekend nights usually ended the same way for me. Flat on my bed, lights off, music playing while I stared at the ceiling.

Tonight, I was listening to some underground artist my friends wouldn’t stop talking about. I expected her to be overhyped.

She wasn’t.

Her voice caught me off guard. Not because it was perfect, but because it didn’t try to be. It sounded like someone who hadn’t figured everything out yet… and was okay with that. Somehow, it still felt comforting to listen to.

Apparently, she studied at our university. Did small gigs here and there.

I found myself wondering what it was like to put yourself out there like that. To chase something you cared about, knowing it might not work out.

I didn’t think about meeting her or anything dramatic like that.

Still… I hoped she’d make it.

Maybe because I couldn’t follow that path myself, and I knew how it felt to let a passion slip away.

Well, I ended up listening to all the songs she had released so far. One turned into another, and before I knew it, I’d gone through her entire catalog. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I checked her artist profile.

There was no picture, for some reason. Just her name.

Kana Kobayashi.

I followed her without thinking too much about it. It felt like the simplest way to show support, even if it was small.

And just like that, my weekend slipped by. Before I knew it, I was back to my usual routine.

“Listening to music this early in the morning?” Minori’s shrill voice cut through my thoughts.

“It helps pass the time,” I said. “Makes the day feel like it has background music… instead of me being a background character in my own life.”
I realized a second too late how philosophical that sounded.

She stared at me. “You know you sound like a Shakespeare book when you talk like that, right?”
Then she reached over, pulled one earbud out of my ear, and listened.

“…You’re listening to Kana?” she said, sounding surprised.

“So you know her too?” I replied. “I guess a lot of people on campus talk about her. I think her songs are really nice, don’t you?” I added, trying not to sound too eager.

She smirked. “You sound like a huge fan.”

“I just started listening to her this week-” I began, but she cut me off.

“Come meet me at the cafeteria after classes,” she said, her tone oddly mischievous.

“I don’t really have much time after classes,” I replied. “You know I have to head to work as soon as possible.”

“It won’t take long,” she said. “Just come, alright?”

I hesitated. “…Well, I guess I can’t deny such a polite request.”
I sighed. “I won’t stay long, though.”

She smiled. “That’s fine.”

Her enthusiasm scared me a little, but I told myself it was probably fine.

…It wasn’t.

When I reached the cafeteria, Minori was already there—standing beside her.

The girl I’d been thinking about. The one I might have a crush on…

if this was what a crush even felt like. My chest tightened just looking at her.

Don’t do anything stupid, I told myself.

“Heya, Issei! I’m glad you actually came,” Minori said, waving me over.

“Hey,” I replied. “Whatever this is, let’s make it quick. I need to head out to work soon.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she brushed it off. “I just want you to meet my friend!”

She turned slightly.

“Hello. My name is Kana Kobayashi. Nice to meet you.”
She gave a small, polite smile. “I was kind of dragged into this too, so… sorry if I’m wasting your time.”

The moment I heard her voice, my thoughts froze.

It’s her.

“H-hi,” I said, the words tripping over each other. “I’m Issei Iwa- Iwamoto. And, uh, no, you’re not wasting my time.”

Why did I stutter like that?

She didn’t seem to mind.
“Nice to meet you, Issei,” Kana said gently.

Minori clapped her hands together, clearly pleased with herself.
“See? That wasn’t so hard,” she said.

I shot her a look. “You could’ve warned me.”

“That would’ve ruined the fun.”

Kana laughed softly, shaking her head. “She’s always like this,” she said. “I apologize on her behalf.”

“You don’t have to,” I replied quickly. “I mean- it’s fine. Really.”

Smooth. Real smooth.

There was a brief pause. Not uncomfortable, just… uncertain. Like all three of us were waiting for someone else to decide what came next.

“So,” Minori said, leaning forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Issei here has been listening to your music.”

I froze.

Kana blinked. “Oh?”

“J-just a little,” I said, heat rushing to my face. “I mean- who would want to miss out on good songs.”

I wanted to disappear.

Kana didn’t seem put off, though. If anything, she looked… surprised. Then she smiled.
“Thank you,” she said simply. “That actually means a lot.”

And for the first time since sitting down, my shoulders relaxed just a little.

That didn’t last long.

I glanced at my watch and nearly jumped out of my seat. It was way later than I thought.

“I- I’m really sorry to leave so suddenly,” I said, standing up. “I’ve got to get to work.”

“It was really nice meeting you in person, Miss Kobayashi,” I added.

“Same here,” she replied, smiling.

I shot Minori a glare. “I’ll have a talk with you later…”

She just grinned.

I hurried out as fast as I could, already late.

Is this what having a crush feels like? I’d never been this nervous around someone before… yet a part of me hoped I’d see her again.

I pushed the thought aside as I rushed to work. I could think about it later.

Getting back to my apartment after work, I noticed a text from Minori waiting for me.

“I thought you just admired her songs. Didn’t know you also had a crush on her, tee hee~”

That was the last thing I wanted to read. Especially since one thought immediately ran through my head.

Did I really look and sound like that? I don’t even know myself if…

I typed back before I could overthink it.

“Did I really act like that? I don’t even know if I-”

Her reply came almost instantly.

“Yes. You looked like a middle school boy standing next to his crush for the first time, haha.”

I stared at my phone for a moment.

How could I come off like that when I’d never even met her before? I didn’t know her personality. I didn’t even know what kind of person she really was.

Feeling something for a stranger didn’t make sense… yet I couldn’t deny that I had.

Maybe I just didn’t understand how this whole heart thing worked.

All those love songs and romantic movies… they never really taught me anything useful. Just fairytale endings, or heartbreaks that left nothing behind.

I set my phone down and lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling again.

Music was still playing softly through my earbuds. One of her songs.

I didn’t really understand the lyrics this time either.

But for some reason, I didn’t skip it.

END CHAPTER-3