The Night Sky

“Huh? You want me to play for you?” Aya reeled as she processed the situation. One of the most well known figures in the nation, asking her to play piano?

Is this the lucky break I’ve been waiting for?

And yet…

“Well…don’t get your hopes up or anything,” she remarked as she slowly got up from the table, stumbling through her own chair as she led Hanako to the piano in the other room.

Aya sat down on the bench as Hanako stood off to the side, arms crossed with such a piercing gaze it made the back of her neck sweat.

She took a deep breath.

Inhale

Exhale

She took a deep breath.

Inhale

Exhale

She took-

Oh come on just get it over with.

Hanako watched with bated breath as those soft hands rose up and rested on the keys.

Then, a note.

And another note.

Aya’s hands danced gracefully over the keyboard, hitting every note and rhythm with pinpoint accuracy. The song floated through the room and the house. And yet…

Something feels off

Hanako couldn’t pinpoint it at all, but the hypnotizing dance of music was gone. It was good, objectively good, yet nothing of the night that week ago that so captivated her remained. Instead it just felt like every other performance she’d heard.

Aya played the final note and quickly wiped her hands on her pants.

“How was it?” she inquired, still looking down at the glistening keys.

“Oh! Yeah, yeah it was pretty good.” It was good. She wasn’t lying.

“…”

“…hey, I don’t want to insult you or anything. But like, I heard you playing earlier when I was walking by, and back then you sounded a lot…nevermind. Sorry. Forget I said anything.”

“No. No, it’s fine.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m really bad at playing in front of people I don’t know. Actually no, just people in general. I don’t know why.” She heaved another big sigh. “Sorry to disappoint.”

Great. In front of the biggest star of the nation, and I blew it. Of course. Maybe they were right…

“Oh I didn’t mean to bring it up. Truth is Aya, I’ve never done good in front of other people either.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to try and comfort me. I’m honestly just not cut out for this.”

“No! I think you have a beautiful craft that should be allowed to shine.”

Hanako suddenly grabbed Aya’s hands and held them between the two, causing Aya to yelp before turning and finally facing Hanako. Her eyes almost seemed to glow with a quiet intensity, not blinding like the sun but assuredly beautiful, as if gazing into the night sky in the countryside.

“I’ll help you. If you can’t play in front of others, play in front of me. I’ve already heard you multiple times now, so the damage is already done. I’ll help you until you become the greatest pianist in the world.”

“Huh? But why would you do all that for me?”

“Because…Because your music was so beautiful I couldn’t breathe. When I heard your music outside, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was so out of this world. The fact that more people haven’t heard you play is a crime.”

“Oh, I…” A rosy pink emanated across Aya’s face as she quickly looked down.

“So, what do you say? Can I help you?”

It was a decision made on a whim, fueled by the desperation of two like-minded people. And as the pattering of the rain on the roof slowed and the sun began to peek out from the stormy gray clouds, a promise was made upon the emerging rainbow.

“Okay. Sure.”

What is even happening? How come The Hanako Hoshino is coming to my house again?

Aya groaned, leaning back in her chair. On the computer in front of her sat search results for Hanako Hoshino and tabs upon tabs of information, from early childhood to her forays into the singing world.

I need to make a better impression on her.

She kept skimming through paragraphs and pages, noting every minute detail and diatribe until-

Knock knock knock

Aya jumped out of her chair, coming back to reality with rapt attention. Scrambling to close all the tabs, she managed to make her way over to the door after a minute and quickly opened it, almost slamming the door into the wall in the process.

Even in oversized clothes and ways to disguise her features, Aya swore she still radiated beauty and grace, to where it felt like a crime for her to enter her house. But with a small bow, Hanako stepped in and Aya quickly closed the door behind her.

“Thank you for having me once again.”

“Oh, it’s no problem! Do you want some apple juice?”

“…sure?”

Aya rushed through the house to retrieve the cup she had poured beforehand while reading through Hanako’s favorite foods and drinks. She set the cup down in front of her guest, staring at her with sparkling expectant eyes like a puppy bringing their owner a stick they found.

Hanako turned the cup over in her hands for a bit before taking a sip and setting it down.

“Did you want to play then?”

“Oh, oh yes.”

“Alright. Don’t mind me and just practice, I’ll watch over you.”

How could I not mind you?

Aya carefully sat down on the bench. She straightened herself and rested her hands on her thighs. And then reached up to grab and open the folder of sheet music on top of the piano.