Wondering

Locked up in his room, Masaki spend his weekend working on another track. He tried his best to put the whole producing-for-a-band thing out of his head and focussed himself on learning new production skills that could help him later on. With a little financial help from his father, he bought a new plugin he installed in his digital music program. This plugin helped him create more realistic-sounding orchestral backing tracks he used to make some of his older tracks sound a lot richer.

This sounds great, but I feel something is still missing...

He grabbed the stack of CDs he bought at the record store, hoping to find a short sample he could mix in to achieve the sound he was looking for.

In the record store, with Akane Ishihara…

He started swooning a little, just thinking about her, his heart beating faster and faster.

No! no!

He shouldn’t let himself get distracted by whatever new attractive girl comes in his path. He needs to spend his time working on improving his production skills, there is simply no time for lowly pursuits like that being in a relationship. Regardless, she’s one of the school’s most popular girls, there is no way she’s wanting to date a nerd that spends all his time in his room anyway.

She did follow me all the way to the record shop though… She wouldn’t do that if she wasn’t interested right?

What if she was interested in him, romantically?

Pictures of the two of them going on a date popped into Masaki’s head. They could go to concerts, play music together. He could show her his bedroo… ehh… music production setup he meant. Masaki’s head turned red because of embarrassment.

That would certainly be nice…

Masaki shook his head. He distracted himself again, he needed to keep working on his music. Once he becomes a famous music producer, girls will surely fawn over him. Until then, it’s better to put thoughts of romance out of his head. Dating in high school, is a waste of time anyways.

Just as Masaki had regained his concentration, he heard someone knocking on his door.

Ehh... another distraction.

“You may enter”

He yelled as the door opened. It was his father who entered his room.

“So, I see you're making good use of the new orchestral plugin?”

Masaki nodded.

He handed his dad his headphones.

“Please have a listen.”

A smile formed on his dad’s usually stoic face.

“You're doing a great job here. Can I suggest EQing out the string's bass a little more?”

“Mmm… I don’t know. I kind of like the thicker sound.”

His dad laughed.

“Well, it’s your track so it’s on you to make the decision.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“I think you’ve met Taro Shoda before Masaki?”

He certainly heard that name before.

“Isn’t that your rival, the guy you went to school with?”

His dad nodded his head.

“Yes, I must have told you about him.”

He looked a little nervous.

“I don’t know if I should be telling you this, since you said you didn’t want to produce a band anymore.”

“But that girl's band you visited, Maid in Melodies I think they were called. I heard Shado-san has offered them a record contract.”

“Apparently he is using his son, who is the same age as you, as a scout and they will work on producing the band together.”

Masaki’s heart dropped three stories down to the basement.

A teenage guy working closely together with Akane?

Wait, why did I think of that first?

He tried his best to remain calm while his father was still in his room.

“That sucks, Dad. We wasted our chance here.”

“I am glad someone picks up that band.”

His dad looked a little confused.

“Masaki, didn’t you say they were no good?”

He scratched his head.

“Well, I mean, maybe my nerves had clouded my judgment a little. They weren’t as bad as I made them out to be.”

His dad sighed.

“I have a lot I still need to teach you, Masaki…”

Masaki nodded, not wanting to drag this conversation on any longer.

“True, maybe you can learn me how to use the notebook.”

“But for now, I have to concentrate on finishing the track.”

“Okay, Masaki… I will leave you alone now.”

Masaki attentively listened to the sound of his father's footsteps going down the stairs. After he heard the door of the living room open, he violently hit the desk with his fist.

Damn!

I have all these chances, the concert, the hallway, the record store. I could have given her the business card ANY TIME!

Now some other guy is sweeping them up!

Masaki jumped on his bed and buried his face in the pillow. Sorrow filled his eyes.

I messed up big time…

Akane Ishihara…

The thought of another producer working with Maid in Melodies made him realize he had been untrue to his feelings all this time. For these past few weeks, he had been trying his hardest to deny the thing he wanted most. Working with Ishihara-san and her amazing band, was all he could think about. His heart was completely consumed by her and the great passion for the music she showed on stage. How could he have been such a fool?

It’s all too late now… why do I even bother becoming a producer if I can’t produce Maid in Melodies.

A couple of tears rolled down his cheeks, getting absorbed by the pillow.

Isihara-san, what would she do in a situation like this?

There was no way she was going to lie down, defeated like this. For someone to have a passion like that, it means you have to put yourself out there and take responsibility in your life.

Masaki thought about the courage she must have had to stand on that stage, wearing the maid outfit, and performing her songs so passionately to all those people.

It must have been hard for them too, to get a spot at the concert venue.

I am starting to like her even more and more. If I’d only had a tiny bit of courage like that.

He squeezed his hand into a fist.

I can’t continue to be a coward like this.

Taking inspiration from Akane, Masaki felt a newly generated energy flow through his body.

It is not too late, I can fix this!

Masaki jumped up and sat down before his laptop.

His fingers swept over the keyboard and typed in.

‘Maid in melodies next live’

He smashed the enter key.

“The next Maid in Melodies concert is Monday at live house The Roundabout”

“Tickets are still available”

Masaki’s mouse hovered over the Buy Tickets button. Was he really going to do this? A wave of doubt hit Masaki. Is he really going to visit the concert and give her the business card?

He opened his drawer where I stashed away the card, grabbed it, and held it in his hand.

Yes, I’ll do it! I can’t let this chance slip AGAIN!

With his well-considered judgment made, he passionately hit the Buy button and completed the payment.

I’ll be seeing Akane perform live again.

He started rolling his bureau chair with excitement.

Monday couldn’t happen soon enough…