Ritsu and I are sitting in the music room, we’ve almost given up on Hanako ever showing up when there’s a knock on the door.
R: Come on in! The door is unlocked!
The door is carefully opened, and in steps Lilly, closely followed by Hanako who is desperately clinging to her arm, she looks if possible even more scared than she did earlier.
L: Good afternoon, I’m sorry we are late.
H: Don’t mind. Hello to you as well Hanako.
Hanako takes a few more steps to hide behind Lilly’s back, but she stutters out a reply regardless.
Ha: H-Hello
R: so you’re gonna sing? Cool, Hisao only know one song so you’ll have to learn that one.
Ritus is a lot more forward than me, and has already grabbed Hanako by her hand and started pulling her halfway to the stage, where we already have readied the microphone while waiting for her to show up.
Surprisingly, Hanako looks more shocked than scared, I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing.
Lilly also looks a little confused, clearly not entirely sure what is going on.
R: Ok, sing something you know, so we know you’re good.
R: Even if we’ll take anything at this point.
Hanako hesitates a little, as if the thought of singing in front of a crowd, even if it’s just three people, is the most terrifying thing in the world.
R: wait, you’re probably nervous, don’t be, pretend that we’re fruit!
This only makes Hanako look more flustered, but regardless, she closes her eyes and starts on a tune, at first barely audible, but after a few lines she becomes a little more secure, she is always stumbling though, and keeping her eyes shut, as if we will stop existing if she doesn’t see us.
Her voice is really good, it’s pretty high pitched and has a nice soothing chime to it.
I somehow doubt it will be fitting to “I want to be your dog”, but that’s a problem for later.
I don’t recognize the song she is singing; it’s some generic Japanese love song.
 
Hanako’s song ends, and a smile is almost playing along the sides of her closing lips.
Is hastily disappears as soon as she opens her eyes to meet our applause, and she attempts to hide herself away by holding her hands in front of her face.
R: you’re great!
Ritsu is fast to make her way to the scene. Lilly is also trying to find a route, which proves to be rather difficult as her guide is standing on the stage, trying to escape Ritsu’s praise.
H: Allow me.
I grab Lilly’s shoulder and do my best to guide her through the room, I also jump at the opportunity to ask Lilly if Hanako joining really is such a good idea.
L: Oh, don’t worry, she seems like she really wants this, just don’t push her.
L: And I’ll be there with her too.
H: You play an instrument?
L: haha, no, I’m just doing a favor for a friend.
H: I see.
H: no, err, I mean…
Lilly is visibly amused by my awkward word choice. She must be used to this.
It bothers me that I still pay so much attention to the disabilities of the other students; I’d hate to be thought of as “the guy that can’t walk up a flight of stairs without getting exhausted”.
L: My my, there’s no reason to change your vocabulary for my sake.
By now, Ritsu is done praising Hanako, so we quickly end our whispering conversation.
I guess what she said about Hanako is right, she knows her better than me after all.
But still, she looks so scared whenever we try to interact with her.
Even now, after Ritsu showered her in Praise, she looks as though sinking through the floor is the only thing she has ever wanted.
H: That was really good!
I don’t think some additional praise will do her any good, but it’s my honest opinion.
R: I don’t think she can do “I want to be your dog”.
No matter how many times I hear it, I can’t help but being charmed into a stupid grin by her adorably horrible English.
Hanako on the other hand, looks as though she was caught in the act of killing someone.
R: Her voice is way too nice.
This makes Hanako look slightly less terrified.
She’s still on the deep end of the fear-scale though.
I wonder if she ever completely relaxes?
R: I’m sorry for having to break it to you Hisao, but you’ll have to increase your repertoire to two songs.
H: I’m not doing badly for having played for a week goddammit.
R: Don’t worry, I’m just teasing you!
Then she does her cute wink while playfully pouting, and I can’t find it in my heart to stay mad at her.
It’s not like I was really mad in the first place either.
 
R: So maybe we could play that song you sang?
Ha: m-maybe
R: So what was it, I didn’t recognize.
Ha: “M-My dear”
Her English is notably better than Ritsu’s.
Than mine too, for that matter.
Ha: B-but, I really h-have to go now!
Hanako almost runs out of the room, grabbing Lilly to pull her along with her.
L: if you’ll have us excused…
It makes me a little worried if Hanako will ever really fit in the band.
We still need a guitarist before next week too.
R: Are you ready to play mushy love songs until your fingers bleed?