R: Hey!
Something thumps against my shoulder just as I’ve left the classroom on my way to the cafeteria.
R: I’m Ritsu, you know!
A relatively short girl is standing beside me, she has light brown hair in even length around the head, expect for her bangs, who are tied up in a hair ring. She has a very determined look in her sparkling chestnut eyes, and a playful grin is planted on her mouth. I hope she doesn’t plan to pull me into some project, like Shizune and Misha have been doing.
R: You wouldn’t be interested in joining the light music club?
Of course.
Light Music?
I have never really cared for music, and much less played an instrument, I don’t think this is my thing.
H: You’re right, I wouldn’t
I end up sounding a little angrier than I intended.
R: You sure? we’ll eat cakes and dress up and everything!
H: Are you trying to rope in a guy with that? And what about actually playing music?
R: That too of course, even though it hurts a lot with this damned hand…
The last part is almost a whisper, said more to her hand than to me.
It makes me wonder what’s wrong with her hand, but I don’t want to ask, that will make her ask about my disability too.
And I really don’t want to talk about it.
H: Well, I can’t play an instrument, for one.
R: We’ll that’s ok, you’ll learn as you go. My last guitarist could only play castanet prior to joining, but she became pretty good!
H: Your last guitarist? Do you treat guitarists like a consumable?
R: No, that was on my other school, prior to Yamaku…
Her voice loses her confidence, this is clearly a topic she’s not comfortable with.
It makes me wonder why she even brought it up in the first place.
R: So what brings you here to Yamaku? Not bass-allergy I hope.
I don’t wanna talk about this.
Nope
Not at all
I try to dodge the question.
H: You want me to play bass?
R: So you want to? Well, it’s the easiest instrument, I think. You just have to stand there and slap the upper string.
The playfulness has returned to her voice, it’s actually kind of cute.
I find heat rising to my cheeks, I’m probably blushing.
I hate blushing.
R: So it’s settled then, from now on you’re my new bassist!
She flashes a big grin, taunting me to retaliate.
I don’t have a comeback though.
And light music might actually be kind of fun.
Ritsu seems nice enough at least.
And it would give me an excuse not to join the student council.
H: I guess I could give it a try…
She jumps into the air, clenching her fist and bringing it over her head.
Even if she overreacts way too much for it to be genuine, it’s undeniably pretty charming
R: You have to help me find two other people.
H: why, someone you know?
R: Perhaps, I don't think so.
H: what do you mean?
R: We're gonna need four members to be regarded as an official club…