A New Start

I'd never really noticed the trees lining this road before, even though I walked this way every single day. Maybe it was because today was my first day at a new high school. I guess I was paying more attention to my surroundings than usual.

 I really didn't want to embarrass myself on the very first day.

 I wonder if Nozomi and I will end up in the same class.

 I have no idea.

 "Good morning, everyone. We have a new student joining us today. Would you like to introduce yourself?"

 "Hello, everyone. My name is Umut. My family moved to this city because of my father's job. I really enjoy playing the violin. I hope we can all get along."

 "He plays the violin? And he's actually pretty handsome... I wonder where he'll be sitting."

 "Umut, we only just finalized the seating arrangement, but you can take the empty seat by the window if you'd like.

 "Today we'll be covering polynomials. Please open your math textbooks to page thirty-seven."

 "Psst! Hey, new kid! Umut, can you hear me?" 

 "Ah! Nozomi! I didn't even notice you were here. I wasn't expecting us to end up in the same class. Sorry."

 "It's okay. Looks like you don't have a textbook. We can share mine for today."

 "Thanks." 

 "How does the new guy know Nozomi? Don't tell me he already won her over during the first class..."

 "Come with me. It's break time—I have something I want to tell you."

 "Hold on. It's my first break here. I should meet some new people and make a good impression."

 "Dude, you've already become pretty popular with the girls. Come on, it'll only take five minutes."

 "...Ugh, fine. I'm coming."

"I'd love to say, 'It's been years since we last saw each other,' but we've been talking on social media almost every day."

"By the way, congratulations. I heard you placed third in the violin competition in Spain."

"Thanks, Nozomi. Hearing that from someone as talented as you—and more importantly, from one of my closest friends—really means a lot. Looks like high school is going to be a lot more fun than I expected."

"Oh, before I forget! My mom invited you over for dinner. You're coming to our house tonight."

"People are seriously going to think we're dating on my very first day. Even this situation looks suspicious." 

"That's only because you've watched way too many rom-coms. I can talk to my friend wherever I want, about whatever I want. Anyway, the bell just rang. You don't want to be late for class on your very first day... do you, new kid?"

My first day was going much more smoothly than I expected. The nervousness I had felt in the morning was slowly fading, and I had even started talking with a few of my classmates. 

Even so, everything still felt unfamiliar. A new school, new people, and a completely different routine that I had to get used to. 

But at least I wasn't completely alone. 

As the classes went by one after another, I didn't even notice how quickly time was passing. The morning of my first day was already over before I knew it. 

Then, finally, the lunch bell rang. 

The classroom immediately became lively. Some students started preparing to eat with their friends, while others got up to head to the cafeteria.

As I was about to take my lunch out of my bag, I heard a familiar voice coming from the doorway. 

"Umut, do you have any plans for lunch?" 

"I don't really have any plans right now, Nozomi." 

"Then you're coming with me to the back courtyard. I'm going to introduce you to my friends. I know that look on your face. Don’t worry, they’ve already heard about you.’’ 

When we arrived at the back courtyard, I saw a few students sitting around a bench. Nozomi raised her hand and called out to them.

"Hey, everyone! The person I told you about is here." 

As soon as they noticed us, they all turned their attention toward me. To be honest, I felt a little nervous. I hadn't expected to meet this many people on my first day at a new school.

"You're the new student Nozomi told us about, right?" 

"I guess I am. I'm Umut. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Ayaka. I hope you have a great time at this school."

"I'm Haruka. By the way, Nozomi has told us quite a lot about you."

 Nozomi immediately interrupted. 

 "Hey, not that much. I just mentioned an old friend."

 "Are you sure? Because from the way you talked about him, he sounded like someone pretty important."

 "Haruka..."

 Watching them talk, I couldn't help but smile. When I came here this morning, I thought everyone would feel like a stranger. 

 But somehow, I didn't feel as alone as I expected. 

 "Well, shouldn't we start eating before our lunches get cold?"

 At Nozomi's words, we all started taking out our lunches.

 As we started taking out our lunches, Haruka looked at me with a curious expression. 

 "By the way, Umut, Nozomi said you play the violin. Are you actually that good?"

 I looked at her for a moment, then glanced down at the lunch box she had opened. 

 "Well... I'd say my violin playing is probably about as good as the way your bento looks."

 Haruka blinked in surprise. 

 "My bento?" 

I nodded seriously. 

 "The arrangement, the colors, the way everything is placed... it looks like you put a lot of care into making it. If I can make someone feel the same way when they hear my violin, then I'd say I'm doing pretty well."

 For a moment, everyone went quiet.

 Then Haruka smiled. 

 "That was a much more serious answer than I expected." 

 "I thought a simple 'I'm good at it' would be too boring."

Nozomi laughed softly.

 "That's so like you, Umut."

 "Actually, it's not that surprising. My mother is a chef."

 Haruka smiled slightly as she looked at her lunch box.

 "That's why I started learning how to cook when I was very young. My mother would always have me help her in the kitchen. I guess it eventually became a habit."

 "I see. Then I guess there's a reason why it looks this good." 

 "You think so?"

 "Yeah. It feels like you didn't just put ingredients into it. You put a lot of effort into making it."

 Haruka looked away, slightly embarrassed. 

 Just then, Ayaka suddenly spoke up. 

 "By the way, Umut..."

 "Hm?" 

 "Would you like to join our music club?"

 For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. 

 "The music club?" 

 I looked around in surprise.

 "Wait, this school has a music club?"    

Ayaka looked at me with a surprised expression.

"You probably don't know because you're new here, but yes. It's actually a pretty active club."

 Nozomi smiled and joined the conversation.

 "Don't forget, Umut. This isn't your old school anymore. It might be a good chance to try something new." 

 At that moment, I had a feeling my first day was going to turn out very differently from what I expected. 

 As we continued eating, I glanced at Nozomi while taking another bite of my lunch.

 "By the way, Nozomi..."

 "Hm?" 

 "You never told me there was a music club here."

 Nozomi looked at me and tilted her head. 

 "Did I not?"

 "No, you didn't. You told me about the school, the classes, and even introduced me to your friends... but you somehow forgot to mention the music club."

 I said it with a slightly annoyed expression, but I wasn't actually angry.

 Nozomi laughed softly.

 "Sorry, sorry. I guess it just slipped my mind." 

 "How does something like that just slip your mind? You know how much music means to me."

 "Well, I thought you'd find out eventually."

 I sighed and continued eating. 

 "You're still the same as always, Nozomi." 

 "Is that a compliment?"

 "I'm not sure yet."

 Ayaka watched us for a while before suddenly bursting into laughter.

"You two really talk like an old couple."

 Nozomi's face immediately turned red.

 "What? No, that's not it! We're just friends!"

 Ayaka smiled and shook her head.

 "Sure, sure. Anyway... I guess you'll need a new pianist now." 

 For a moment, I didn't understand what she meant. 

 "A new pianist?"

 Then I looked at Nozomi and suddenly froze. 

 "Wait... You joined the music club and you didn't even tell me?"

 Nozomi looked away awkwardly. 

 "Well..." 

 "Seriously, Nozomi? You're so strange. You told me about so many things, but somehow you forgot to mention this?"

 After a few seconds of silence, everyone started laughing.

 I never expected my first day to turn out like this.

 After lunch, the classes went by faster than I expected. Even though it was my first day, I was slowly starting to get used to my new classroom. 

 I had met some new people and gotten a general idea of how things worked at this school. The nervousness I felt when I arrived that morning had gradually been replaced by a more comfortable feeling.

 When the final bell rang, the students slowly began leaving the classroom. 

 Just as I was packing up my bag, Souta one of the classmates I had recently met, came over to me.

 "Hey, Umut. A few of us are going bowling this weekend. Do you want to come with us?"

 "Bowling?" 

 "Yeah. It'll just be us guys hanging out and talking. It'll also be a good chance for us to get to know you better."  

The offer sounded fun, but I still hadn't properly talked with most of the people in my class yet.

"That sounds fun, but... I think I'll pass for now." 

Souta looked at me with a surprised expression. 

"Why? Do you have something else planned?" 

"Not exactly. I still haven't really gotten to know most of the people here. I want to get used to things first."

After a short pause, I added: 

"Besides, I already promised someone else." 

"I see. Then maybe next time."

Souta accepted my answer and waved goodbye before leaving.

As Souta was passing by the school entrance after classes ended, he saw me

But I wasn't alone. 

Nozomi and Ayaka were standing beside me.

Souta stopped in place for a few seconds.  

Wait... already? On his first day? 

This guy just arrived, and he's already hanging out with two girls

What kind of start is this?

He placed a hand on his chin and started thinking seriously.

Should I start playing the violin too?  

No... The violin can't be the reason. 

Then what's this guy's secret?

While a small chaos was unfolding inside Souta's head, we left the school grounds without knowing anything about it.

The three of us were sitting on the floor in Nozomi's room, playing a game together. 

"Yes! I won!"

Ayaka raised her hands in excitement, while Nozomi looked at her with a surprised expression. 

"Wait... How did you win? You were losing just a moment ago." 

"Luck."

"That wasn't just luck." 

Watching the two of them, I couldn't help but smile. Even though we had only met today, I was already starting to feel like we had been friends for a long time. 

Just then, my ear suddenly started ringing. 

"Huh?" 

I touched my ear.

Souta is definitely talking behind my back.  

He's probably even cursing me right now. 

I didn't know what he was thinking, but for some reason, I was strangely certain.

"Umut? Are you okay?" 

I snapped back to reality when I heard Nozomi's voice. 

"I'm fine. My ear just started ringing." 

 "Maybe someone is talking about you." 

 "Nozomi, I'm pretty sure Souta isn't saying anything nice about me right now." 

 Ayaka suddenly spoke up. 

 "Wait, you mean Souta from our class?"

 "Yeah, the person I met today." 

 "I see..." 

 Ayaka and Nozomi looked at each other and smiled slightly. 

 "I guess he probably has a lot to say about you."

 "I hope it's something good." 

 Just then, a voice came from outside the room.  

"Kids, dinner is ready!"

 It was Nozomi's mother's voice. 

 "Game time is over. It's time to eat."

 We all stopped playing and left the room. 

 During dinner, Nozomi's mother looked at me with a warm smile.

 "Umut, today was your first day at school, wasn't it? How did it go?"

 I thought about it for a moment.

 When I came here this morning, I thought everyone would feel like strangers.

 But by the end of the day, I had made new friends and was happy to be reunited with an old friend at the same school. 

 "It went much better than I expected."

 Nozomi smiled at me.

 "See? You were worried for nothing." 

 "Maybe a little."

 As we ate dinner together, I realized that the beginning of my new life was turning out to be completely different from what I had imagined.

 After dinner, we stayed in the living room for a while longer, talking. 

 Talking with Nozomi's mother felt surprisingly comfortable. She made me feel like I had been a part of this family for a long time.

 Just then, my phone started ringing. It was my father calling. 

 "Sorry, I think I need to head home soon." 

 "No problem. I actually need to leave too." 

 Ayaka stood up as well. 

 "I'll head out too. We can walk together." 

 The two of us left the house together. 

 As we walked through the cool evening air, Ayaka turned to me and asked:

"By the way... how long have you known Nozomi?"

 "Quite a long time. We've been friends since elementary school." 

 "Since elementary school?" 

 "Yeah. I think that's probably why her mother is so comfortable around me. She's known me for a long time." 

 Ayaka didn't seem surprised. She just nodded slightly. 

 "That actually makes sense."

 After walking for a while, I became curious and asked her: 

 "What about you? How did you meet Nozomi?"

 Ayaka thought for a moment before answering.

 "We met in the music club. Since we were in the same club, we gradually became friends."

 I wasn't very surprised by her answer.

 That was just how Nozomi was. If someone needed help or if there was someone new she wanted to get to know, she always somehow found a way to connect with them.

 When we arrived at the subway station, Ayaka took out her phone.

 "Can I get your contact information?" 

 "Sure."

 After exchanging our contacts, I put my phone away.

 "By the way, feel free to call me anytime. If you need something or if you just want to talk."

 Ayaka smiled slightly. 

 "Okay. I'll remember that."

 Then we waved goodbye to each other.

 At the end of my first day, I realized I had already connected with more people than I ever expected.  

The moment I opened the front door, the familiar smell of cigarette smoke reached me.

 I already knew the reason. 

 Whenever my father was stressed, he had a habit of smoking more than usual.

 "I’m home." 

 His voice came from the kitchen.

 I took off my shoes and walked inside. My father was standing there, and the moment he saw me, he pointed toward a package on the table. 

 "Your textbooks arrived." 

 "Thanks." 

 I glanced at him for a moment.

 "You had a rough day at work, didn't you?" 

 For a second, he looked surprised. 

 Then he smiled and lit another cigarette. 

 "How did you figure that out? I thought I didn't leave any obvious clues." 

 I couldn't help but laugh.

 "Your definition of 'no clues' is pretty different from mine."

 He laughed as well.

 The two of us stayed there for a while, just enjoying a normal conversation. 

 "So, how was your first day at your new school?" 

 Hearing that question, I started telling him everything.

 About my new classmates.

 About seeing Nozomi again.

 About the music club. 

 About the people I had met.

 I didn't realize how much I had to talk about until I started.  

My father listened quietly, occasionally nodding.

 Then, all of a sudden, he started laughing. 

 "Ah, so that's where that perfume smell came from."

 I froze. 

 "...What?" 

 He looked at me with a teasing smile.

 "I was wondering why you smelled different when you came home."

 My face immediately became warm. 

 "I see you're having a pretty eventful first day."

 I didn't know how to respond.

 I simply turned around and headed straight to the bathroom.

"Make sure you wash properly!"

 His voice followed me. 

 "Who knows? Maybe you'll come home with another new scent tomorrow!" 

 I could still hear him laughing behind me.

 Sometimes my father really knew how to embarrass me. 

 After taking a shower, I felt much more relaxed. At the same time, the exhaustion from the day finally caught up with me.

 I immediately collapsed onto my bed.

 After replying to the emoji Ayaka sent me and answering Nozomi's messages, I closed my eyes.

 While thinking about everything that happened on my first day, I slowly drifted off to sleep.

A week had passed before I even realized it.

 I'd met a lot of new people and, somehow, I'd settled in much faster than I had expected. Maybe Dad was right. If I hadn't spent so much time worrying, things probably would've gone a lot smoother. 

 But still...

 "Why are the classes so hard already?!"

 I groaned as I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. 

 "Seriously... what's with this school?"

 I'd planned to spend the weekend playing basketball and exploring the city I'd just moved to.

 Instead, I was buried under a mountain of homework.

 As I idly spun my phone in my hand, an idea crossed my mind. 

 Maybe I should ask Nozomi to show me around the city.

I opened our chat and sent her a message.

 "Hey, Nozomi. Are you free today? Maybe around five-thirty or six?" 

 Her reply came almost immediately. 

 "I don't have any plans today. If I can finish this math homework, we can meet up. This school is seriously making me hate math."

 I blinked at the screen. 

 "Wait... even you struggle with math? I never would've guessed. It's not that I can't do the assignments, but they take up so much time. Honestly, I've even started wondering if transferring to this school was a mistake."

 A few seconds later, another message popped up.

 "You should be ashamed of yourself. You got into this school on a scholarship, and now you're complaining about the workload? I seriously don't understand you. It's honestly annoying."

 I couldn't help but laugh.

 "Hahaha. You're unbelievable. Why does my situation annoy you so much? Just because I earned a scholarship doesn't mean I'm supposed to ace every class.  

Besides, why does everyone already know me as 'the scholarship student' after only one week?"

 "Because there are only three scholarship students in the entire school, including you. Everyone else pays tuition, so naturally people group you together." 

 That made me curious. 

 "Who are the other two?"

 "Remember the girl who came to our classroom on the first day? She was looking for you. She even called you out into the hallway, but you never showed up."

 I paused for a moment.

 "...Oh."

 Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered someone calling my name. 

 "Yeah... I think someone did call me into the hallway. There was a guy standing next to her too. I completely forgot about it because I went to the gym to play basketball."

 "That girl is the president of the student council, and the guy with her is the vice president. They probably wanted to show you around the school and explain how everything works. But, of course, basketball was more important to you."

 An awkward smile spread across my face.

 "...Yeah, that was pretty rude of me."

 I quickly typed another reply.

 "I should go apologize to them on Monday. I really owe them one."

 "I'm sure you'll work it out. Anyway, I'm going back to my math homework. I'll meet you at the metro station at the time you mentioned."

 A small smile formed on my face as I typed my final message.

 "Got it. Good luck with your homework. See you later."

 After sending a message to Nozomi, I spent some time studying with the books in front of me.

 Once I finished my homework, I took a shower and opened my closet.

 The moment I looked inside, I realized there was a huge problem.  

There was barely anything I could wear outside.

 Since we had moved to this city so quickly, I hadn't had much time to prepare my clothes. Most of what I owned was either for school or just casual wear around the house.

 I really need to buy some new clothes.

 I thought to myself.

 I wasn't really someone who cared about fashion or had a specific style. 

 So, I simply picked out a pair of baggy pants and a basic brown T-shirt.

 When I checked the time, my eyes widened.

 "I might be late."

 I quickly grabbed my necklace, put it on, and rushed out of the house. 

 I arrived at the station almost out of breath.

 That's when I saw her. 

Nozomi was leaning against the wall, looking at her phone while waiting for me.

 Seeing her in casual clothes outside of school for the first time in a while caught me off guard.

 She was wearing wide-leg denim jeans with an oversized cardigan. It was a simple outfit, but it suited the weather perfectly. 

 I walked over to her and greeted her. 

 "Hey." 

 The moment she looked at me, her eyes moved toward my necklace. 

 "That necklace really suits you. It always has."

 For a second, I felt my chest tighten.

 This necklace was something my mother had given me. 

 I didn't want her to notice how emotional I had become, so I quickly changed the subject and started talking.  

"Where are you taking me today, Captain? Trust me, you don't want a navigator in your crew who doesn't know a single place."

 Nozomi crossed her arms and looked at me. 

 "If I hired you as my navigator, I'd start questioning my own ability as a captain. You can be sure of that." 

 We both started laughing. 

 "Anyway, our first stop is Shotengai. They sell almost everything there. If you ever need something, you'll probably find it there." 

 "You're exaggerating." 

 I said that, but I wasn't really convinced.

 However, the moment we stepped into the street, I had to admit I was wrong. 

 Rows of shops stretched as far as I could see. Stationery stores, electronics shops, bakeries, small restaurants, second-hand stores... 

 There really was a little bit of everything.

 Nozomi noticed my surprised expression and smiled.

 "What happened? Didn't you expect this?"

 "It's just... bigger than I imagined." 

 "One day, you should come here with your dad and buy whatever your house is missing. You can spend some father-son time together too."

 "I'm not sure I'll ever come here with my dad."

 Nozomi laughed. 

 "That much?"

 "That much."

 Throughout the day, Nozomi always had something to say about almost every shop we passed.

 Sometimes she told me the story behind a store, and sometimes she talked about the memories she had there.

 While listening to her, I realized I was slowly getting used to the streets of this city. 

Before I knew it, hours had passed.

 Nozomi had taken me to many different places and shown me the shops she liked one by one. Small cafés, arcades, bookstores... 

 The city had a much warmer atmosphere than I had expected when I first arrived.

 Just then, something came to mind.

 "Hey... can you take me to a clothing store?"

 "Why?"

 "My closet is basically empty. I don't really have proper clothes to wear outside."

 Nozomi looked me up and down.

 "I knew you were going to say that."

 "How did you know?"

 "Your clothes." 

 "So you noticed... Then why didn't you take me there earlier? What kind of friend are you?"

 "We should eat first. Then we'll go shopping." 

 "Actually, that's reasonable... Do you know a good place?"

 "The café I'm taking you to is really good. A lot of students from our school go there too."

 "Because it's expensive?" 

 Nozomi started laughing.

 "Don't make me laugh. The food there is just really good."

 The moment we entered the café, I felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

 Before we even sat down, one of the workers looked at me carefully.

 When she came over to take our order, she kept looking at me before turning to Nozomi. 

 "Who is this?"

 I smiled and answered.  

"You can ask me directly, you know. Instead of asking my friend."

 The woman gave me a teasing look.

 "I'm talking to Nozomi, not you, new kid." 

 "If there's a problem, we can talk about it in the ring."

 I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the name tag on her chest.

 It said "Mei." 

 "I don't have a problem with that. Just tell me the place and time, Mei-san."

 Mei laughed and turned back to Nozomi. 

 "Teenage boys are really exhausting, aren't they?"

 Nozomi started laughing too. 

 "You're absolutely right, Mei-nee. Can you bring us the usual? Two of them." 

 "Sure." 

 After Mei walked away, I couldn't hold back my curiosity.

 "Why did she treat me like that?"

 The smile on Nozomi's face faded slightly.

 "Mei-nee used to be a professional boxer."

 I listened carefully. 

 "After she won a match one day, her opponent couldn't accept losing. After the fight, she and her friends attacked Mei-nee." 

 She paused for a moment. 

 "She was hospitalized. The doctors said that if something like that happened again, she could end up paralyzed. Because of that, her family forced her to quit boxing." 

 I listened silently. 

 "After leaving the hospital, she received psychological support for a long time. Later, she started working at this café."

 "What does that have to do with me?"

"One day, a male customer harassed her here. Since then, she has treated unfamiliar men like that. Don't worry. She'll warm up to you once she gets to know you."

 I nodded slightly. 

 "I see..."

 Right then, our orders arrived. 

 Cheddar fries...

 A chicken wrap...

 And a strawberry milkshake sitting in front of me.

 "I didn't order a milkshake." 

 Mei smiled. 

 "It's on the house." 

 I thanked her and took my first bite. 

 The moment I tasted it, an incredible flavor spread through my mouth.

 "This... is amazing."

 After we finished eating, Nozomi smiled and asked: 

 "So? How was it?" 

 "That was the best chicken wrap I've ever had." 

 "See?"

 "You were right."

 Just then, I heard a familiar voice. 

 "Umut?" 

 I turned around. 

 "Souta! What are you doing here?" 

 "I'm waiting for a friend. I saw you through the window, so I thought I'd come say hi."

 We talked about basketball for a while.

"Do we have a game this week too?"

 "Of course. We play every week. You're invited too now." 

 "Great."

 "I should get going. See you later."

 "See you."

 After Souta left, I looked back at Nozomi. 

 The girl who had been smiling until then was gone. 

 Her face was completely red, and she was avoiding eye contact. 

 At that moment, I understood something I hadn't noticed before. 

 "...Could it be?"

 Before I could finish, Nozomi suddenly shouted.

 "Could it be what?"

 "Uh... You were going to show me the park. The one with the nice view."

 Nozomi took a deep breath.

 "You're right. Let's go."

 The park was even more beautiful than I expected.

 The river flowed quietly, and the leaves of the trees danced with the wind.

 For a while, we just sat there and watched the scenery. 

 As the wind passed through our hair, both of us became lost in our own thoughts.

 Eventually, I broke the silence. 

 "Nozomi..."

 "Hm?" 

 "You like Souta, don't you?" 

 She froze. 

 She didn't answer for a long time.  

Then, quietly, she spoke. 

 "...Yes."

 Her face turned completely red. 

 "But I don't know how to tell him. What if he doesn't like me? What if there's already someone else in his life?"

 I smiled.

 "Don't worry about it." 

 "That's easy for you to say."

 "I'll find out without letting him notice." 

 "Find out what?"

 "Whether he has a girlfriend or not."

 Nozomi's eyes suddenly lit up.

 "Would you really do that?" 

 "Of course."

 A small smile appeared on her face.

 "Thank you, Umut."

 Seeing my friend's smile return made me happy too.

 Just then, a strong wind blew. 

 We both shivered slightly.

 Nozomi suddenly stood up.

 "Ah... wait." 

 She thought for a moment.

 "I forgot to take you to the clothing store."

 I only remembered it after she said it. 

 "It's fine. We've already walked around enough today. We can go another time."

"Are you sure?"

 "Yeah. Besides, I joined the music club. I have a lot of things I need to do."

 Nozomi stayed silent for a few seconds.

 "...You still don't have your violin, do you?"

 I lowered my head.

 "No. I haven't bought another one since the accident."

 "But I will." 

 "I want to participate in competitions again."

 Nozomi quietly nodded.

 After that, we walked for a long time without saying anything.

 Just walking side by side. 

 Listening to the peaceful atmosphere of the streets as they disappeared into the night. 

 When I got home, I had a feeling I couldn't explain. 

 The moment my dad saw me, he came over.

 Without saying anything, he hugged me.

 Unable to hold it in anymore, I started crying on his shoulder. 

 "Umut..."

 "You know you can go see her whenever you want."

 "I know, Dad."

 "But you also know the time isn't right yet." 

 "One day... I want to play for her again." 

 "That was her dream too." 

 My dad closed his eyes. 

 "I know, son."  

"Believe me, I know that better than anyone." 

 When I noticed his voice trembling, I ended the hug. 

 I quietly went back to my room.

 I fell onto my bed.

 As I stared at the ceiling, I closed my eyes.

 Everything that happened today felt like too much to fit into a single day.

 But today, for the first time, I felt like this city wasn't completely unfamiliar anymore.

 I was already halfway through my second week of school. The first three days had flown by because of the endless classes. 

 Today was Thursday. 

 Which meant it was club day.

 Finally, the day had come for my first Music Club meeting. I couldn't stop smiling all day. Nozomi must have noticed because she immediately brought it up. 

 "Umut, are you happy because of the club today? It's obvious how much you love playing the violin." 

 "You know me, Nozomi. The violin means more to me than a girlfriend. So there's no reason to hide how happy I am." I smiled. "Besides, I've noticed you wear the same smile whenever you're talking to Souta. Am I wrong?"

 Nozomi's face instantly turned red. 

 "W-What's that supposed to mean? And what does it have to do with our conversation?" she stammered. "More importantly, you said you were going to talk to him. Did you?"

 "..."

 I froze.

 "AAAAAH! I'm so sorry, Nozomi! I completely forgot! I didn't even bring it up during basketball practice. I'm really sorry."

 "You idiot!" she sighed. "Just surprise me for once."

 "I said I'm sorry! I promise I'll talk to him. This time I really won't forget."

"Yeah, yeah... whatever." She waved her hand dismissively. "Before the club starts, stop by the Student Council room after school and apologize to the Student Council President and the Vice President. They called you last week, and you never showed up." 

 "You're right." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "I'll stop by after school. It'll also be a good chance to meet some new people."

 "Good." 

 The rest of the classes passed by in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, the final bell echoed through the school.

 With my bag over my shoulder, I headed toward the Student Council room.

 The school was divided into two main buildings: the East Block and the West Block, separated by a large courtyard where students spent their breaks. 

 The East Block housed the regular classrooms and academic departments, while the West Block contained the gymnasiums, laboratories, technology and art workshops, club rooms, and administrative offices. The Student Council room was located on the very top floor of the West Block, in a private section next to the rooftop.

 On my way there, I finally had the chance to explore more of the campus.

 The hallways were lined with photographs, trophies, and plaques showcasing the school's long history and countless achievements. I had to admit it—I had underestimated this place. 

 "So it really is a prestigious school..."

 But...

 "These damn stairs never end!" 

 Why did the Student Council have to be all the way at the top? 

 After what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the door. 

 It looked more like the entrance to a castle than an office. 

 "...Isn't this a little over the top?" 

 Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. 

 The moment I stepped inside, the scent of coffee mixed with old books and polished wood filled the air.

Everyone inside turned to look at me.

 I looked at them. 

 They looked at me. 

 The entire room froze.

 Trying to break the awkward silence, I smiled. 

 "So this is why the Student Council gets the best room in the school. The view from up here must be incredible. What do you think? Should I run for president too?"

 The girl standing behind the front desk frowned. 

 "Excuse me, but who are you? This is the Student Council Office. You're not allowed to enter without permission. Please leave."

 I chuckled.

 "Miss, your sweet way of speaking almost convinced me. But I'm a student, and you're students too. I don't think walking into the Student Council office is exactly a crime."

 Before the atmosphere could become even more tense, a young man with black hair stood up from his chair. 

 "Please forgive my secretary's behavior." He smiled politely. "My name is Kei Ichijo, the Student Council President."

 He gestured toward the girl beside him.

 "And this is our Vice President, Shiori Kisaragi."

 "We invited you here last week, but unfortunately you couldn't make it. We're delighted to finally welcome you today."

 I couldn't help but admire his composure. 

 "Now that's someone who actually sounds like a Student Council President."

 "The pleasure is mine." I gave a small bow. "I'm really happy to meet you. I honestly forgot about your invitation last week."

 "I understand." Kei nodded calmly. "We're all human. In that case, I'll leave the rest of the conversation to my vice president."

 "Thank you, President."

Shiori opened the file in her hands. 

 "First of all, welcome to our school, Mr. Umut." 

 "I reviewed your student records before today's meeting. Unfortunately, there wasn't much information available. Besides your experience in basketball and the violin, there isn't much to evaluate. You appear to have excellent academic potential, but your social skills seem... somewhat lacking."

 I raised an eyebrow.

 "İnteresting." 

 "But I don't believe you're in a position to judge me like that. I came here to introduce myself, not to be interviewed."

 Shiori's expression stiffened.

 In a voice only I could hear, she quietly muttered something in French.

 "...You're right. I apologize." 

 I smiled to myself.

 "Anyway, I'd better get going. If I stay in this comfortable chair any longer, I'll be late for my club."

 I walked toward the door before stopping. 

 "Oh, one more thing." 

 "It isn't written in my records, but because of my father's job, I lived in France for three years."

 Then, in fluent French, I said, 

 "Take care." 

 Without waiting for a response, I left the room.

 The moment the door closed behind me, I heard Kei's voice echo through the office. 

 "Shiori!" 

 "Y-Yes, President?"

 "What exactly did you say to our guest with those lovely lips of yours?" 

 "U-Um... I'll explain tonight..."

"SHIORI!"

 As I walked down the hallway, I could still hear the commotion behind the door. 

 "Wow... The President really has some lungs when he's angry."

 I glanced at my watch. 

 "Crap! I'm going to be late for Music Club!"

 Without another thought, I dashed toward the stairs. 

 The moment I approached the Music Club room, a familiar melody reached my ears.

 La Campanella. 

 I slowed my steps.

 I knew someone who could play this piece with such elegance and precision.

 "Nozomi..." 

 Who else could it be?

 I stopped in front of the door for a few seconds. Instead of entering, I closed my eyes and allowed the melody to pull me in. 

 Every note seemed to dance through the air.

 Nozomi's piano was as flawless as always. 

 But then, another sound joined in. 

 A violin.

 The delicate sound blended perfectly with the piano, creating a completely different feeling. It wasn't just technically beautiful.

 It had warmth. 

 Curiosity got the better of me.

 I opened the door and stepped inside. 

 The first thing I saw was Nozomi sitting at the piano.

 But my eyes immediately moved to the person beside her. 

 The one holding the violin...  

Ayaka. 

 The moment Nozomi noticed me, her face lit up.

 "Umut!" 

 She stood up and walked toward me.

 "You're finally here. Welcome to the club! But you're a little late."

 "I was at the Student Council. I ended up meeting some new people." 

 Then I turned back toward Ayaka.

 "Ayaka... you play the violin?" 

 A shy expression appeared on her face. 

 "Um... yes. But I was a little embarrassed to tell you." 

 "Why?" 

 "Nozomi talked about you a lot." She looked away. "So I searched for you a little. I saw that you had won many competitions. I also found out that you studied in France for three years." 

 "France?"

 Nozomi looked at me in surprise.

 "Umut... was that why you transferred schools?"

 A short silence followed.

 "Yes."

 I lowered my head slightly.

 "But I didn't want anyone to know. Somehow, some people still found out."

 Ayaka immediately became flustered.

 "I'm sorry! I really won't tell anyone else." 

 "It's fine." I smiled. "Don't worry about it."

I looked at the violin in her hands. 

 "Besides... I really liked your playing."

"Really?"

 "Yeah. There's emotion in it."

 I thought for a moment. 

 "Actually, I need to buy a new violin too. If you're free this weekend, would you like to go with me?"

 Ayaka's eyes lit up.

 "Really? I'd love to!"

 Before we could continue talking, our club advisor entered the room. 

 "Sorry to interrupt." 

 He looked at me.

 "You must be Umut."

He nodded. 

 "The principal spoke very highly of you. Since you're here, let us hear what you can do." 

 I picked up a violin for the first time in a long while.

 It felt strange.

 Like meeting an old friend again. 

 The first piece that came to my mind was...

 Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. 

 Camille Saint-Saëns.

 During the three years I spent in France, I had practiced this piece countless times. 

 But to me, it wasn't just a piece of music. 

 It was those years.

 The loneliness.

 The effort. 

 The fear of failure.  

And the determination to stand back up. 

 Everything was inside this violin.

 I placed the bow on the strings. 

 The first note spread through the room. 

 Slow. 

 Deep. 

 Melancholic.

No one spoke.

 When the opening ended, I could feel that some people were still judging me. 

 "Let's see if he's really as good as they say."

 Those kinds of eyes were still watching me.

 But as the piece continued, something changed.

 I wasn't just playing notes anymore. 

 I was breathing together with the violin.

 My fingers moved without hesitation. 

 Every movement of the bow released the emotions I had kept buried inside. 

 I closed my eyes. 

 I remembered the old practice rooms in France. 

 The countless hours of repetition.

 The days when I practiced until my hands hurt.

 All of it had led to this moment. 

 When I reached the middle section, I could feel the silence in the room changing.

 People weren't watching me anymore. 

 They were listening to the music. 

 The faster passages.  

The sharp transitions.

 The rising voice of the violin...

 It felt like the entire room was trembling. 

 When I reached the final section, I wasn't performing anymore.

 I was simply letting everything inside me out. 

 The final note echoed through the room. 

 Slowly, I lowered my bow.

 Then I opened my eyes. 

 Silence. 

 Nobody spoke. 

 It felt like everyone had forgotten how to breathe. 

 A few seconds later, our club advisor stood up. 

 "Bravo..." 

 He started clapping softly. 

 Then everyone else followed. 

 The applause grew louder.

 Tears were flowing from Nozomi's eyes. 

 Ayaka was quietly smiling. 

 Even our club advisor's eyes were slightly wet. 

 But his expression was filled with pride. 

 I noticed several students standing near the door with shocked expressions. 

 Apparently, the sound had reached the hallway. 

 Soon, several upperclassmen surrounded me.

 "Was that real?"

 "Is he the new student?"

"Did he really study in France for three years?"

 Questions came one after another.

 Seeing the situation, our club advisor quickly stepped in. 

 "Alright, alright. Everyone return to your own clubs. The performance is over."

 The crowd slowly disappeared. 

 But everyone seemed to have the same question on their minds. 

 "Who exactly is this new student?"

 Throughout the club period, the principal visited us several times. 

 "I'll come again to hear this beautiful sound."

 He said that every time.

 When the club finally ended, my arms were aching terribly.

 Nozomi noticed and immediately brought me a drink and a towel together with Ayaka.

 After resting for a while, we packed our things and started heading home.,

  On the way, Nozomi noticed that I was unusually quiet. 

 "Umut?" 

 "Hmm?"

 "Did something happen? You look like something is bothering you."

 After thinking for a moment, I asked:

 "Nozomi... why were you crying after I played?"

 She looked surprised. 

 "And why did so many people gather? I don't understand." 

 Nozomi smiled. 

 "Because you didn't just play the right notes."

 "What do you mean?"

"When you play music, you show your emotions too. You're not like someone trying to be a perfect machine..."

 She looked at me warmly. 

 "You're someone who truly feels the music." 

 Then she smiled. 

 "Once you get a new violin, this school will finally understand what real art is."

 We laughed.

 We separated at the station.

 When I arrived home, I talked with my father for a while. He asked me about the club.

 I told him everything that happened.

He listened silently. 

 Then, without saying anything, he went back to his room.

 I went to my own room as well.

 The moment my head touched the pillow, exhaustion took over.

 My eyes closed. 

 That night, for the first time in a long while, I fell asleep peacefully.