VI. I'm Really Scared

Clearly lost in a state of confusion, Masaru scrambles to pick up the marker and write back... but no... he doesn’t need to write back. Seeming as if he came to this realization, he continues to fumble with the board and the marker, putting them down on the desk.

MASARU (VOICEOVER)

I... I didn’t know you could do sign language.

Yuuko, staring at him, seems to be shaking as well. Not the same kind of shaking that Masaru had been doing at first, but one that Yuuko herself has to be aware of.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

Well... I wasn’t going to tell you.

Masaru grabs the white board and proceeds to put it back in his bag, unable to properly portray a solid emotion, jumping back and forth between expressions.

After putting the whiteboard away, he brings his attention back to Yuuko.

MASARU (VOICEOVER)

...

... You saw?

Yuuko looks around at the room again, taking in the scrambles of papers and instrument stands scattered across the room.

YUUKO

...

MASARU (VOICEOVER)

... Sorry

Yuuko lets out an exasperated breath of confusion, then proceeds to sign.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

Why?

Masaru struggles with himself for a moment, looking away from Yuuko and biting the corner of his lip while he signs to her.

MASARU (VOICEOVER)

I tried... I tried really hard... I wanted to be someone you guys can rely on... I really did... I still do.

Slowly, he turns his attention back to Yuuko, and finishes his sentence.

MASARU (VOICEOVER)

... but I can’t do it. It really isn’t possible for someone in my condition.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

...

Masaru.

Hesitantly, he responds by looking her in the eyes now.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

I’ve wanted to leave every time somebody else quit.

Masaru widens his eyes, and a second later, he puts a subtle smirk on his face.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

You’re not talented enough yet.

Masaru’s head now slowly drifts down, his eyes looking back and forth, but eventually dropping to the ground.

Suddenly, a tap comes from his shoulder. Looking up, Yuuko raises her hand again.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

But that’s not enough. You’re here. I want to believe in you.

Masaru blinks, now fixing his gaze on Yuuko.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

There is no one way to play an instrument. Patterns within an instrument are what remains the same, but the individual is where there can be no replication.

...

So believe, Masaru.

Masaru’s eyes widen and his hands tremble.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

You don’t hear music like the rest of us. So develop your own way, don’t rely on the people that can hear. Even if it sucks, focus on how you can hear.

Continuing to sit in his chair, Masaru slowly nods his head.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

Stop focusing on what everyone else is doing.

Yuuko pauses, turning from Masaru to his bag. She points at it and reaches her hand out.

Masaru looks back and forth for a moment, but then freezes, grabbing his white board out of his bag, and he passes it along to her.

TEXT: Just Listen, Masaru.

Masaru continues staring at her with wide eyes for a couple seconds, his mouth slightly agape. Finally, his eyes soften, and his mouth turns into a thin smile.

MASARU (VOICEOVER)

I’m really scared, you know?

Finally letting on a slight smirk, to match Masaru, Yuuko softens up her expression.

YUUKO (VOICEOVER)

Well, I also still feel like leaving...

...

But I’ll stay.

Prove it to yourself. Then prove it to us.

Masaru’s smile turns into a long sigh, letting out a weary breath. The tension that had been accumulated in the room now gradually releases.

Reaching for the whiteboard, he takes it from Yuuko.

TEXT: If I imagine myself trying again... I start to shake a little, and I get dizzy.

After reading the message, Yuuko looks up, skeptically, at Masaru. But he holds his finger up as he erases, and continues his message.

TEXT: But I also imagined myself leaving the orchestra... and I hated myself for it. I don’t want to hate myself... I don’t want regrets. So I won’t walk away.

After a couple erases, Masaru finishes his message.

A light that had been missing from his eyes appears, and he lets out a light laugh.

At the sight of this, Yuuko also lets out a sigh, and lets a soft breath of laughter escape her nose.

THE SHOT SWITCHES TO OUTSIDE THE WINDOW, giving one last look at the two interacting.