How is this even a Role!?!?

“How can ya eat so rittle. No queztion why ya have no meat.” Ohara put the famous school pizza bread in her mouth and decided to notice Natsumi’s eating habit at that exact moment.

“Are ya gonna eat or talk.” Morin also did the same as Ohara, but with her usual “small bites”, at least she was able to make some sense.

You are the one to talk… Natsumi thought to herself using the correct text bubble this time.

The three troublemakers were at their usual spot during lunchtime and once again Ohara and Morin were already fighting even though their lunch break just started not too long ago.

“I guess I am not that hungry.” The calm soothing voice that seemed so fragile that make you take her side instantly belongs to this silver-white-haired girl. So white and pure like snow, innocent and untainted, that was her colour. Angelic and elegant, you can imagine her with wings and a halo.

“But you are never hungry.” Ohara swallowed her food and everyone could see the big bulge of food on her trachea disappearing.

“She has a point. All you eat at lunch is one melon bread. Does that really fill ya up?”

“I don’t think I can eat much so early in the day.”

“But ain’t this afternoon.” Ohara took a massive bite off the bread rather a little aggressively. “Or cha muzt be heavy dinna.” She took a moment to swallow her food. “ That melon bread probs doesn’t contain much calories higher than 300KJ.”

“And here we go again. Sorry about that Mii-chan.” Morin gave Natsumi another disappointed smile.

Ohara and Morin were both from the area. Raised and born they were childhood friends and it seems like none of that has changed since then…

One of the many things that surprised Natsumi when she came to this countryside was the people. Before, people that approached her are either people who have other ulterior motives, jealous people or even people who wanted to leach off her fame. All of her friendships before all felt a little fake…it was forged, planned, formulated…

But here, out in the countryside, she led a new life. People were much more carefree and they all said things without a single thought. They have honesty as their moral code and she felt a little sentimental when encountered with genuine genuine things. It may not be as true as she thought it might be, but she felt a little relieved not having to keep her guard up all the time.

But for the reason that she didn’t eat much? She was used to being told what she can or can’t eat or how much she can eat. Although it was hard at first, she took it as “someone wanted her, and she’s granting that wish”. Sometimes her life got mixed up with her work and her work entwined with her normal life. As a result, she got used to not eating a lot.

As part of it, she learned the ability to control her hunger. As she likes to call it

‘I am eating my own hunger.’

Doesn’t make much sense, but bit by bit it started to work like magic. Might be because it has the word “eat”, or it might be because it sounded a little like cannibalism, her hunger disappeared.

“It’s fine…oh, were you guys late to physics?”

“Before I answer that question… look at her state right now.” Morin stopped eating and cast her gaze downwards, her eyes, that of a living dead.

“So…you guys were late.” Natsumi chuckled a little. The kind of chuckle where she brought her hand to her mouth as if to hide her small dimple as she let out a laugh with curved closed eyes.

“If I had ditched her, I wouldn’t…” A rather strong aura of hate and anger surrounded Morin for a brief moment.

“But you couldn’t…could you?” The so-called Mii-chan chortled again.

“We had to stand outside the classroom on one foot while balancing a book on our head and holding a ruler in our mouth!”

“Uwah, that really still happens.”

“And you? What did you ge –”

Morin’s statement was unexpectedly interrupted.

“…Say…do you want to go to the karaoke after school?” Natsumi, out of the blue, asked Morin and Ohara.

Suddenly everything went quiet.

Even Ohara who was muttering, just a second ago, utter nonstop, nonsense calculation stopped. That little awkward moment of silence that everyone must have felt before in their life crept in. The wind stopped blowing and even the birds restrained themselves from chirping as if it was instructed to.

“…Did you just ask us to go to the karaoke?” The glass-wearing girl was the first to break that silence.

“…Yeah…is that a no?” Natsumi suddenly felt a rush of embarrassment.

“OMG, yes, we are So so going!” Ohara pushed her face into Natsumi and for some reason, her eyes were sparkling stars and it seemed that she has created so many stars that little stars overflew from her and were glittering around her. Isn’t that a little too much just to show excitement? I too asked myself but when I looked at Ohara again….impossible to her is just “I am possible”. She even gave Natsumi a punch to her shoulder.

“Are you really that excited…” Natsumi from confident… has a visible drop of sweat rolling down her cheek.

“Yes! We have been trying to go with you for so long but you kept coming up with excuses to decline us. We thought that you really hate singing…and even questioned if you hated hanging around with us!”

“Ehh…really? Have I really turned down that many….?”

“Yes! You got Ohara all depressed one time…”

“Is that when she was avoiding me and just put a lunch box on my desk every day?”

“That’s her way of dealing with it...” Morin said in a teacher-like voice. A lecture on Nobugi Ohara, the…the…I don’t even know at this point, to be honest.

“Aww…Ohacchan.” Stealing Morin’s way of calling Ohara, “let’s all go this time okay? I will even pay.”

“Your sweet words will not make me go easy on you. I won’t show you any mercy! My sound will cut your throat and your blood will be splattered all over the floor! And I-I. And I won’t even clean it up!”

Ohara struggled to find the word as she decided to say one more thing but wasn’t actually prepared. She went with something that was rather…what should I call it…right… unorthodox. Right…I think that word pretty much summed up Nobugi Ohara in one word.

Unorthodox…

“She gets mad competitive when it comes to singing…but I won’t lose to you too!”

“So…both of you get really competitive…”

Maybe she shouldn’t go with them…Natsumi started to regret her decision.

***

“MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!”

Haruki was on the floor screaming and twitching his body like crazy like he was in extreme pain.

Natsumi thought that she was experiencing a déjà vu…. Why was that?

It was because that was exactly what her two friends said to her when the three of them were finally at the karaoke together for the first time yesterday.

Both Ohara and Morin entered the karaoke with high spirit, as high as a flag on a ship…wait that’s...different high, but they all came out 5 minutes later with the face of a dying, hungry resentful ghost that wasn’t able to let go of their past. The receptionist was about to ask them if there was any problem, but when she called out to them, the look on their face terrified her.

This time, the begging wasn’t as loud with only one voice…but for one person…you have to give it to him to create that many decibels.

“…Is it really that bad…?” Natsumi asked nervously after she pressed paused on her recording.

“YOU STILL HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK THAT?!”

“Surely you must be exaggerati –“

“YOU SOUNDED WORSE THAN A DYING CAT…I WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO CAT SCRATCH ON A BLACKBOARD THAN THIS. I – I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT.”

“But you just di –“

“What did I get myself into…” Haruki started banging his head against the wall. Luckily, it was a practice room and the room is cushioned with soft sound-absorbing material.

“If it’s that bad…then... you don’t have to…” Natsumi felt bad and moved closer to the door. She already technically killed her friend. Why was it a good idea to decide to show it to Haruki after her friend’s reaction?

As they were in a practice room, no sound escaped from that place or otherwise, the student next door might as well rip their ears off.

“It’s fine.” After catching his breath and calming his heart from the traumatic experience, Haruki interjected her. “I appreciate you trying to record yourself…at least it won’t surprise me when I have to hear it live…” Haruki continued to calm himself down…got his heartbeat up real good…

“But…”

“Do you want me to help you or not?” Returning to his cool and composed usual self…he insisted.

“No, it’s just tha –“

“Then first, you are going to have to stand up.” Haruki got his hand on Natsumi’s hand and got her up.

“Breath deeply…you have to feel your diaphragm and belly move.” He did the action that he just described and she imitated him with ease.

“Also… breathe through your mouth. It is much quicker to get air in than through your nose.”

“I thought that you never took any lesson.” She asked him.

“This is the utmost basic… you should have been able to figure this out on your own…your natural posture is already good enough so…just keep your head forward…and lift your chin up a bit.”

“Now say la…in that posture.”

“La-“

“And keep it going.”

“Laaaaa.”

With the drone unpitched sound in the background, Haruki walked towards the wooden upright piano in the room and pressed a key on the piano, the A key.

“Now, try to replicate this sound.”

Moriyama Natsumi opened her mouth and gave meaning to the short distance between the two of them, closer than arm-reached –

Immediately Haruki dropped onto his knee and wailed.

“I can’t do this. I can’t do this. This is torture. This is worse than death itself” He slammed the floor numerous times with his fist.

“And you are not even hearing yourself…”

“Sorry…”

“No, you are not coming here and getting nothing.” He sighed and got himself up once more.

“Do you know a song well…it can even be as simple as twinkle little star.” After knowing that continuing with the more traditional method would end up in him turning deaf, he retorted to hopefully something that she might be able to do.

“…I think I got one…” Natsumi pondered a little and immediately, one song came to her mind.

“Okay, can you hum that…? Not sing.” He instructed, carefully adding emphasis to where it’s needed.

“…I will give it a try.”

Although singing was not her forte, she was able to hum perfectly. And although you can’t hear the words, the gentle soothing melody spread across, carrying a tune of happiness and serendipity.

“…Can you do it again?” Haruki was surprised a little; he smiled to himself.

“Umm…yeah…” And once again, Natsumi did it again. Although some parts might sound wrong, but one thing was certain –

It was definitely something that was valuable to her.

“H-hhow?!”

“Huh?”

“You are playing the song!” Haruki has his hand on the piano and immediately his finger moved like a jellyfish as it sprang from one note to another in swift and refined and graceful motion playing what Natsumi just hummed.

“No, I am just playing what you are humming.” He answered as if it was the most normal thing in the world. To be able to play just hearing something once…well…in this case, it was twice.

“But I never told you what the song is!”

“Is that even possible?!”

“Lemme see, with this kind of tune…” And immediately there was harmony. Although it was a weak harmony, a bit dry and a little out of place, it sounded appropriate and fitting to the piece. “…Something like this…?”

“What sort of skill is that?!”

“Hm? That was just melodic dictation…and I tried improvising some harmony…but it sounded bad. Just the same old I-IV-V-VII-I chord progression and I did some arpeggio.”

“You are speaking in a totally different language right now… but that was so cool! Can you teach me how to do that?”

“Just sing like a normal person first and I will see about that.”

“How stingy!”

“It’s not something you can learn easily…” Haruki said as he faced out the window. The sun just shifted and the sun was at a different angle, pointing its ray directly into the room. And with the sun, a cherry blossom flew in and landed on the piano.

“Also, if you want, I am free after school today if you wanna find me.”

“But I don’t have your contact info…”

“Pass me your phone.”

She handed him a smartphone while Haruki brought out his flip-up phone.

“Wow you are really a city-rich girl…you know that having a smartphone doesn’t make you smarter…right?”

Natsumi hit Haruki for that comment.

The countryside is truly different… thought Natsumi…

It was after school when the door to the music practice room, the furthest in the corridor was slid open and a rather attractive face entered the room that had its windows open and the spring breeze blowing the curtain up like an accordion.

“Ah, I forgot to knock.” Natsumi was a little taken back as she entered the room. It wasn’t that there was a creature inside the room or that the person who told her that he was going to be there wasn’t there, but it was pink petals.

Pink petals were dancing in circles and in the middle of that circle was Haruki. Haruki was playing the violin. His eyes were closed and even someone like Natsumi who have absolutely no clues in music, was drawn to his sound. The emotion, the expression, the warm feeling that it gave when the notes entered her ears. It vibrates and resonates within her mind. The melody enveloped her and each element surrounded her, snuggled and embraced her tightly. Everything felt as if it was dyed pink with a tint of orange.

It was a new world.

Her eyes were opened.

And when the last vibration stopped, one of the cherry blossoms managed to get on her head.

“So you are here.” The scene of Haruki playing Sakura petals waltzing around him was so picturesque that it stuck to Natsumi’s eyes.

“You can play the viola!”

“It’s a violin!”

“Ah, my bad.”

“By the way…you have a sakura petal on your hair.” Right here… he pointed to his own head and ended up having to tell directions for her to eventually find it.

“Do you wanna start?” He put the violin down on the case and brushed the rosin off his hand.

“Y-yyes please.”

“Right…first of all…I am going to pluck these in and I think we are ready.” He brought a pair of bright orange earplugs to his ears and popped them both in…tight.

“Right… I want you to match my note… just try…l will tell you if you have to go higher or lower… and if you don’t mind… can you not scream everything and just sing subtly. Think of a lullaby…caressing a baby…maybe…”

“Okay, I think I got it.”

“Right... let’s begin.”

And from vigorous training from pitch matching to the basic understanding of music which Haruki totally geeked out all about from the room reverb and natural sound, it was already near dusk and the sun was going down. The pink was dyed orange and it was time for them to walk home.

***

“Is this your home this way?” Natsumi who was walking silently after Haruki called out to him.

“Not really…but I am going to stop by at a family restaurant first.” He had his school bag over his shoulder.

“And were you even going to tell me that…?”

“Hmm, my bad…well…I might as well invite you to join me…do you want to?”

“S-ssure…” She had never chance to accept any invitation from a boy because she was forbidden to but with a rather nice-looking restaurant in front of her and after a hard day of work…she couldn’t resist her hunger.

The bell chimed when Haruki opened the door signalling to the staff team that there were new customers.

“Welcome! How many people will be joining us today?” The staff shouted.

“2 people.” He with a peace sign.

“2 people coming up!” The staff shouted to the back. “Please follow the other staff and they will guide you to your table.”

“Thank you very much.” He gestured back to her for her to follow.

“Ah, if it isn’t Haru-kun.” A rather lady of age came out behind a curtain with a cigarette in her mouth even though there was a sign that it was forbidden to smoke inside.

“Auntie, good evening. Didn’t you say that you will quit smoking?”

“Did my husband ask for you?” She puffed out smoke and walked closer to Natsumi.

“Totally ignoring my question…I am here to eat today.”

“You brought a gal this time… ain’t she a total beauty?”

“Really? I never notice.” He answered with both of his hands behind his head.

“Of course you don’t. Anyway, you can put it on your tab like always.” She said before walking back the way she came from.

“Thank you very much, auntie.”

“This way please.” Tadashi said to then after he waited for the owner to leave.

“Thanks, Tadashi.” Haruki answered and put his school bag down on the closest vacant chair.

But before the so-called Tadashi left to grab the two of them menus, the short spiky grass-field-like haired gave a nudge to Haruki.

“Oi, Haruki, is she your girlfriend?” Tadashi put up a hand to block any eavesdropper and whispered into Haruki’s ear.

“Nah, she’s just a friend.” Haruki in return answered in a rather larger voice.

“Ah, I see. Can you introduce me to her later…?”

“Aunt-“

“Okay, I will go back to work!”

Haruki snickered as he watched Tadashi walk away with a slight look of frustration and flushed.

“Do you know them?” After everyone has left and they have ordered, Natsumi immediately asked Haruki.

“Oh yeah, I kinda work here.” He answered humbly.

“You have a job?”

“Unlike you rich girl, I have to help my parents with the fee.”

“You aren’t even a regular. Here is your ordered club sandwich.” It was Tadashi who came in and overheard their conversation.

“And I work harder than the person who’s supposed to be working here.” He gave Haruki a little nudge with his elbow as he walked away.

“You see that keyboard over there? That’s kinda mine. I play here from time to time and I get paid for it.”

“Woah, do you also play the viola here?”

“I do, but I play the violin! How many times do I have to say? Viola is bigger and it has a C string! Anyway, didn’t you order way too much?” As he pointed out where the keyboard was, the waiter kept bringing more and more and more food. Because Haruki knew that he didn’t order them…it must be all her…

“I am hungry.” She said as she clapped her hands together.

“Good call from me I guess.”

“Oh yeah, what were you doing with those balloons?”

“Identifying pitch.”

“You lost me.”

“Right… I should start from the beginning. Basically, everything that caused vibrations has a pitch. Pitch is just that different frequency of vibration and as I said earlier, P.D.Q. Bach used the sound of popping balloons in the 1712 Overture. I was just re-creating that while trying to identify its pitch. Of course, I was doing circular breathing when blowing into those balloons.”

“What, what and what?!”

“Don’t worry about it. I am just a music nerd.”

“So…is it your passion then? Is that something you want to do in the future?” She asked before putting a big bite of the hamburger steak inside her mouth.

“I…don’t know…” His answer…sounded a little more distant.

“How come? Your eyes were sparkling as day when you were talking about it. You seemed happy from just discussing the topic.”

“It’s just that…it gets too restrictive.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I want to play for fun, I don’t care if I make a mistake, I wanna play in whatever way I want.”

“Then do that.”

“It’s not that simple…I have to follow the will of the composer. I have to follow what’s written on the piece of paper of these dead composers. Sometimes… it feels a little…hard to breathe… I am sorry, I can’t really explain it…I can’t really express myself.”

“Then act.”

“Act with me.” Natsumi said it again.

“Why would I do that?”

“If you don’t know who you are, then we are on the same boat. Acting is the tool to find ourselves.”

“I can’t even express my emotion and you want me to act?”

“I have seen you express all different kinds of emotion. You just have to…not hide it. Do it with me, the school play.”

“…Kay…”

“Wait, really?!”

“Yeah, I was going to have to be part of it anyway. The principal can’t just use me to play the music. Go hire some professional and not just save money on using me! But it’s not like I know how to act…”

“Then I will teach you.”

“Can someone like you can even…?”

“I will take your word for it.”

“Oh, by the way, Moriyama, you have some sauce on your mouth.”

“Eh? Where?”

“Over here.” Haruki pointed to his cheek and Natsumi wiped the sauce off. The thing that she didn’t wipe off though, was her cherry-coloured cheek.

“One more plate of this please!”

“I see that you have to be a glutton to act…”

“Don’t call a girl a glutton!” She gave him another light punch. He only let out a small laugh.

“How about you? What do you want to do.”

“I want to try acting again.”

“I see. Moriy –”

“You can call me Natsumi.”

“Then I am fine with you calling me with Haruki.”

“Then…Natsumi…. when’s the audition?”

“Lemme check my phone. I took a picture of it.” She said with her mouth full. As she scrolled through her phone –

Her expression went blank.

“Hmm? You ate too much and feel bad?”

She turned her phone toward Haruki.

On her screen before the screen switched to the brand of the phone because of battery depletion was 04/03 written.

Today was 04/03

They have missed the audition.

“Thank you for auditioning the other day.” Inaba sensei said in a boomy voice.

“We will announce the role of each person who got through. Remember, if you didn’t get the role that you wanted, there’s always next time.”

Natsumi looked as others were given their paper first and she started to fret. She took a glance at her nearest people who received their paper… their name was written clearly at the top along with their roles and description of their role. As cheers were roaring with excitement and congratulatory. Natsumi received her.

On the piece of paper was one word written –

Townspeople C.

Not even townspeople A.

Not even townspeople B.

Not even her name, nor a description.

Townspeople C.

“These roles will NOT be provisional. These will be your role for this year’s school play, the musical –“

“The Snow Country”.