Evening is kinda beautiful

"How do you bring those drums?" Hanako on the chat group, which now I realized, how the hell is Olivia going to carry her drums?

"Easy, don't worry." Olivia answered.

After that, we agreed to do it sunday next week at the town square, which is like half an hour away with a bike, we're going to do it on the evening, so it should be chill enough to not pass out before playing.

Now I don't have anything to do until next week, or until Olivia's parents not at home so we can rehearse a bit before playing in front of people.

I mean I stream like everyday, but it's only for about 4 hours at most if there is nothing special, because it's pretty exhausting to talk for 4 hours straight, even though it's pretty fun. I can write songs too, but it's pretty hard to write something if i force myself to do it, usually it's just spur of the moment.

I think I'll play there alone, to make myself comfortable with the place, and to build my stamina. Actually, I can ride the bus or train to go there, there is no need to ride my bike. Well my excuse is because I never went there, so.

it's only noon, I guess I'll just sleep, and hopefully when I woke up it's already dark outside.

I woke up and it's almost dark, my mom is already home and bought some dinner.

She bought omurice, it looks delicious, I don't know if it's because it actually is or because I'm hungry after not eating lunch.

We're now eating dinner together at the dinner table, "Did you not eat lunch?" my mom a bit upset.

"I was doing something, and fell asleep."

"Just because you were sleeping, doesn't mean you can just skip lunch, you know."

She always get upset when I forgot to eat, or shower.

"So, how is your band going?" my mom asked me.

"Pretty good, we got a lot of new listeners recently, and we're going to play at the town square next sunday!"

"That's good to hear, I can't wait to be in a documentary when you're famous."

"Why would be there a documentary/"

"That's what famous artists do, right?"

"Not if I say no."

"Ah, come on, let your mom be famous too!" She laughs, and almost choked on her food. "I'm good."

"By the way, I will play at the town square tonight."

"Not next week?"

"No, I'll play alone."

"Just don't go too late, do you need pocket money?"

"I still have some."

"Alright then, I'll have shower first, and don't forget to shower also before you're going to bed later, or I'll drag you to the bathroom."

"Yeees."

After eating dinner, I went to my bedroom to get my acoustic guitar, I wish I have those small battery powered amp, because I like the sound of electric guitar more, and playing with effects is fun, even though I don't have a pedal effects, usually I use software for the effects. I wonder if I can do it in a live setting, maybe connect my guitar to my laptop then to my amp.

I got my guitar in the bag, and changed into something more comfy for going outside, my high school uniform. Ever since that day, I've been falling in love with skirts, usually I prefer wearing shorts more, but skirts are so refreshing, my legs can move and breath easily in these hot days, while still covering up to my knees. I don't think I can ever wear a long skirts though.

I'm taking the train there, rush hour is over so it's not cramped, and not hot.

The town square is 5 minutes walk from here, it's been a while I'm going outside at this time of the day, other than going to the cafe we usually met. Last time it was, when I was in college I think?

I can see people walking around with their friends, families, ynot to mention there are quite a bit of couples too, I want to throw a brick at those couples.

I mean it's probably nothing special for normal people that go outside every day, but hearing the sound of cars, people chatting, the music from shops, the sight of busy street is something I missed. Even though sooner or later I'll see this sight more often, I'll appreciate today's sight so I can give a bit more life inside my heart.

When I got there, there are already a few people doing street performances. I saw a magician that spawned a frog from his hat, that's a bit unusual, and gross, imagine the goo or slime from the frog inside the hat. There's also a guy who shreds his guitar like a mad man, it's cool, but it's just shredding, I wish I could shred my ears so I don't have to hear that again.

Now I'm at the "quiet" part of the town square, there are still a lot of people around here, but there is no one performing or shredding my ears.

As I walk around, I see a girl sitting alone at the bench, she is carrying a guitar in her bag, I think. She looks down, I want to talk with her but what if that's just how she looks like? and she is just waiting for someone there?

Should I talk with her? what if she thought that I am a creep? but she looks down, I want to help her if I could.

ah, screw it. I will tank the embarrassment.

I walk to the bench, "can I sit here?"

"Um, yeah."

I sit right beside her, now I have to muster my courage to ask her if there is something wrong. Ruru, this is fine, there is nothing wrong asking someone who looks sad.

"A-are you okay?" I asked her.

She just stares at me, and then looks down again, it's so embarrassing. But then. "I want to sing here, but after seeing those talented people, I'm scared that people will mock me because I'm bad."

I know that feeling, your works being insulted sucks, because it's part of yourself that you want people to hear, but they can't see that.

"Don't think about it too much, I'm pretty bad at playing and singing, but I'm still doing it because I like it, and then I found people who likes my music. I'm sure you'll found someone that likes yours too."

"You make music?"

"Yep, I'm in a band called Natsuzora Cider."

"Wait, that band? the one that made Last Summer Voice?" She is surprised.

I'm more surprised, because I finally met someone who listen to my song in real life, that is not Shiina or Olivia or Hanako. "You know it?! thank you for listening to us!"

"My friend recommended it to me. To talk with an actual artist like you, it's a wild coincidence, what are you doing here?"

"I want to play my songs here too, because I don't have anything to do. Wait, why don't we play together?"

"But I'm not very good."

"So do I, you'll sing and I play the guitar, or you play the guitar and sing too, and I'll just play alongside you."

"But-"

"No buts, if there is something going wrong, you can count on me."

She puts out her guitar, and I follow suit. She said she want to play something she is familiar with, but I don't know how to play any of the songs, I wish I brought my tripod too so I can see the notes online.

Oh, I have an idea.

I put my guitar case on the ground, use it as a stand for my phone, and I can just sit in front of it while reading the notations.

At first she is confused with what am I doing, but after seeing what I did, she just rolls with it, and play.

People starts stopping by to hear us, and even though I'm also a little bit nervous of them staring at me sitting on the ground, the feeling instantly goes away when they clap their hands after we played a song.

Overall it was fun, and we even played Last Summer Voice. She is actually good at singing and playing guitar, much better than me in fact. Hopefully this experience will bring her more confidence to keep playing and making music.

"It was fun, isn't it?" I asked her.

"Thank you for tonight." She bows down to me, I pushed her head up, it's awkward.

"No need to do that, I was having fun myself." I check my phone, it's already 9, what the hell. "Anyway, I need to get home. Oh, I forgot, what's your name? my name's Ruru."

"Yuuko."

"So Yuuko, thank you. By the way, we're going to perform here next sunday, come see us if you can, and see ya!" I waved my hands and then run away, mom probably already waiting at the door right now.