000 [Chris]
001 "Do you mind if we practice together today?"
002 [Torta]
003 "... Huh?"
004 She'd been perfectly relaxed before, but the moment this topic came up, Torta tensed up and she awaited my reaction.
005 [Chris]
006 "You told me I could ask you whenever I felt up to it, didn't you?"
007 [Torta]
008 "That's not what I meant..."
009 [Chris]
010 "Huh? What did you mean, then?"
011 I already knew what she meant, but I couldn't stop myself from asking anyway.
012 [Torta]
013 "..."
014 [Chris]
015 "Ah... I won't force you to come with me if you don't want to."
016 [Torta]
017 "Like I said, that's not it."
018 [Chris]
019 "Then what *2Ais*2A it?"
020 [Torta]
021 "Why do you keep inviting me, Chris?"
022 [Chris]
023 "Well... Because I'm searching for a partner."
024 [Torta]
025 "Because I'm one of your candidates?"
026 [Chris]
027 "... Exactly."
028 [Torta]
029 "Do you even want to partner with me?"
030 [Chris]
031 "If I absolutely didn't, I wouldn't keep asking you."
032 [Torta]
033 "Absolutely... Absolutely, huh."
034 [Chris]
035 "Is it the uncertainty that you dislike?"
036 [Torta]
037 "... That's not it. Then, can I change my question? For whose sake do you want to partner with me?"
038 [Chris]
039 "..."
040 It was---
041 For my own sake?
042 For Torta's sake?
043 ... Or perhaps for Ari's sake?
044 [Torta]
045 "Do you want to because Ari told you to?"
046 [Chris]
047 "... That plays a part in it, but it's not the entire reason."
048 I couldn't lie.
049 If I declared it wasn't for Ari's sake, she might have asked me for whose sake it was then - in which case I would have been unable to answer.
050 I already found myself at a loss for words now.
051 [Torta]
052 "Then anyone would've been fine, as long as Ari had told you so?"
053 [Chris]
054 "... I don't think so."
055 Torta went silent for a moment. She then continued, as though having ignored my answer,
056 [Torta]
057 "... Fine, let's go practice then."
058 I followed Torta in her trail as she assertively strode out into the corridor - I had to walk swiftly just to catch up.
059 [Chris]
060 "Torta..."
061 [Torta]
062 "... I said I'd practice with you, didn't I?"
063 [Chris]
064 "Well, sure. But you at least understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
065 With that, Torta finally stopped, and looked me in the eye at point-blank range.
066 [Torta]
067 "... I do!"
068 [Chris]
069 "If you... don't like it, then---"
070 [Torta]
071 "But you don't understand me. I'm not saying I don't want to partner with you."
072 [Chris]
073 "..."
074 [Torta]
075 "It's just that... if you came running to me just because Ari told you to practice with me, you could've just decided on me a little sooner."
076 [Chris]
077 "... Then what was I supposed to do?"
078 [Torta]
079 "Never mind... it should be clear after hearing that, right? It's my bad - I'm just being selfish. Just forget about it, sorry."
080 [Chris]
081 "... Torta..."
082 Torta avoided my gaze by glancing in a different direction for a moment. Then, as though having completely gotten over it, she brightly declared,
083 [Torta]
084 "I feel a lot better after getting all that off my chest! ... Let's go practice now."
085 [Chris]
086 "... Got it."
087 [Torta]
088 "Thanks."
089 With lunch break already over, there was no one left in the corridors.
090 Even so, there still was the small possibility of someone passing through.
091 And just when I wished how great it would be if no one had heard us, the person I least wanted to see turned the corner of the corridor.
092 [Cordell]
093 "You two are a pretty interesting bunch."
094 [Chris]
095 "... Ms. Cordell."
096 [Torta]
097 "Huh? Ah..."
098 [Cordell]
099 "It took some effort to properly time my emergence."
100 [Chris]
101 "... So you were listening."
102 [Cordell]
103 "I overheard, to be more accurate."
104 [Chris]
105 "A-Anyway, we are going to practice now, so if you will excuse us. Torta."
106 [Torta]
107 "Y-Yes."
108 [Cordell]
109 "Before you go, can I have a minute?"
110 Ms. Cordell thwarted our attempt at a swift escape.
111 [Chris]
112 "W-What is it?"
113 [Cordell]
114 "It seems that lately you've been practicing often with Tortinita."
115 [Chris]
116 "... How did you know that?"
117 [Cordell]
118 "That doesn't matter."
119 ... Yes it does.
120 [Cordell]
121 "Anyway, would you care to show me your performance right now?"
122 [Chris]
123 "Right... now? Come to think of it, isn't it time for Asino's lesson?"
124 [Cordell]
125 "Asino just informed me he wanted to take today's lesson off. Since that left me with some free time, I decided to go and look for you."
126 [Chris]
127 "Asino did?"
128 It happened that students would sometimes cancel their own lessons.
129 No attendance records were kept for private lessons. The two fixed-term yearly concerts and the graduation recital were the only events that influenced our grades.
130 ... Even so, it wasn't that common of an occurrence.
131 Although we were students, we had a right to receive lessons - it was not an obligation.
132 I couldn't speak for everyone, but the majority of students here loved music, and were probably shooting for a career involving it in some form.
133 Which was why even students like me had to work diligently the months before the graduation recital.
134 [Chris]
135 "And, err... you were looking for me?"
136 [Cordell]
137 "Since Tortinita is with you now, how about showing me your performance?"
138 [Chris]
139 "... Our performance?"
140 [Cordell]
141 "Yes. What else?"
142 [Chris]
143 "... Well, err..."
144 Would it be best if I told her I wasn't too confident about it yet?
145 But then, I felt bad about refusing her by basically telling her I hadn't been practicing enough.
146 After all, Ms. Cordell had gone out of her way to come and ask me. More importantly, I noticed Torta anxiously staring at me from the corner of my eye.
147 [Chris]
148 "Okay, sure."
149 If I declined Ms. Cordell now...
150 I had the feeling I would hurt Torta again.
151 She would believe that I only had ears for Ari's words; that I had no motivation at all; that I only partnered with her out of necessity.
152 But that was not the only thing I felt - I really wanted to choose Torta as my partner now.
153 Granted, that choice wasn't final.
154 But everything led me here.
155 There wasn't much time left anymore.
156 [Chris]
157 "Torta - you don't mind, do you?"
158 [Torta]
159 "... I don't mind."
160 [Chris]
161 "There you have it. Then should we come to your lesson room?"
162 [Cordell]
163 "Yes. From what I can see, it seems you're all set. Let's head over there now."
164 [Chris]
165 "Understood."
166 [Cordell]
167 "Okay, you can begin."
168 After completing our preparations, Torta and I locked eyes.
169 She silently nodded, confirming that she was ready.
170 I couldn't afford to make mistakes now.
171 This was a unique opportunity to prove that I chose Torta on my own volition.
172 [Chris]
173 "Here it goes."
174 [Torta]
175 "... Okay."
176 [Cordell]
177 "Excellent,"
178 Ms. Cordell stated in her usual tone, alternating her gaze between Torta and I.
179 Those were high words of praise for her doing.
180 On a side note, it seemed 'Not bad.', and 'As expected from you.' were compliments in her book as well.
181 Whenever she didn't like it, she would simply say 'Again.' and have me do it over.
182 And whenever she had enough, she would say 'That's enough. Let's call it a day.' and end the lesson with that.
183 People who didn't know better would probably get depressed by it. She had a frigid personality.
184 [Chris]
185 "Thank you very much."
186 [Cordell]
187 "You've improved greatly in such a short time, Tortinita."
188 [Torta]
189 "Thank you very much,"
190 Torta thanked her, and bowed deeply.
191 [Chris]
192 "Improved...?"
193 [Cordell]
194 "I said this before, didn't I? I know what I need to know."
195 Thinking about it, I could venture a guess as to how she did know.
196 Seeing what happened today, if she had an informant, it would have to be Asino.
197 She likely came to the cafeteria in search of me because Asino told her I would be there, as well.
198 [Cordell]
199 "Anyway, I'm relieved. Keep up the good work. But it is still far from perfect."
200 [Chris]
201 "I know."
202 [Torta]
203 "Then we will get back to practicing."
204 [Cordell]
205 "Right. I suppose I'll go search for another one of my students."
206 [Chris]
207 "Do you have that much free time?"
208 [Cordell]
209 "Enough to check up on some students under my charge,"
210 Ms. Cordell said, then smiled.
211 [Chris]
212 "Okay, let's continue."
213 [Torta]
214 "... Yeah,"
215 Torta replied cheerfully, opposite to her earlier mood.
216 I ascertained for myself then and there that I was here for no one other than myself and the person in front of me.
217 It may have taken a while for me to come to that realization,
218 but I was sure it wasn't too late.
219 That was what I felt when looking at Torta, smiling at me in close proximity.
220 I had been able to concentrate on the rest of the practice session a lot better than earlier.
221 Amidst the illusion of our hearts being connected, we repeated our performance - over, and over again.
222 As though to express my regret to someone---
223 As though striving to prove something---
224 I continued repeating the piece on my Fortell.
225 b10
226 [Cordell]
227 "You lack training,"
228 Ms. Cordell stated promptly, with no hint of anger in her voice.
229 Sure enough, we didn't have enough practice under our belts to be able to produce a satisfactory result on a whim.
230 And we knew very well that this time, the result was below the mark.
231 [Chris]
232 "... I'm sorry."
233 [Cordell]
234 "Nothing to apologize about. I'm just telling you to practice more in the future."
235 [Chris]
236 "I understand."
237 [Cordell]
238 "Do you?"
239 [Chris]
240 "... Huh?"
241 [Cordell]
242 "It was clear that the mistakes were all on your part. Even considering it's her own song, Tortinita's performance was above par."
243 [Torta]
244 "... Thank you."
245 [Chris]
246 "Yes, I understand that."
247 [Cordell]
248 "Something on your mind?"
249 [Chris]
250 "How so?"
251 [Cordell]
252 "Because you are easily influenced by that."
253 [Chris]
254 "..."
255 [Cordell]
256 " It seems you have an idea as to what I'm talking about."
257 [Chris]
258 "... Well, everyone has a worry or two on their mind. It doesn't take a psychic to figure that out."
259 [Cordell]
260 "In any case, your response confirms my suspicions."
261 [Chris]
262 "Well, I never denied it in the first place."
263 [Cordell]
264 "I know, and I never condemned you for it. However, there are people around you who you can confide in, aren't there?"
265 Whether she realized it or not, she looked in Torta's direction and shrugged weakly.
266 [Chris]
267 "... Anyway, I acknowledge that I haven't practiced enough. So we're going to resume this instant."
268 [Cordell]
269 "You do that."
270 [Chris]
271 "Torta, let's go."
272 [Torta]
273 "Ah... Okay."
274 After packing up, I casually bid Ms. Cordell goodbye. As I was about to leave the room, Torta bowed to her once more and politely expressed her gratitude.
275 [Torta]
276 "Thank you very much."
277 [Cordell]
278 "No problem. You should perform for me again sometime. Provided I have the time, I'll listen to you."
279 [Chris]
280 "... Thank you."
281 After that, we practiced as usual.
282 Repeating and repeating, and if some part was off, attempting to fix it.
283 But no matter how long we played, I never got that sensation of our hearts being connected.
284 If I had any troubles on my mind, then they would be about the girl in front of me, and Ari.
285 And if I were asked who I could confide in regarding these troubles, I would likely raise the name of the girl who wasn't here.
286 Hence the only means for consult was the rather roundabout way of passing letters back and forth.
287 [Torta]
288 "Good work today. Invite me again whenever you feel like it,"
289 Torta said, at least on the surface looking calm and collected.
290 When I told her I would stay behind to practice some more, she complimented me, before going home by herself.
291 And so, I was left behind in the room on my own.
292 Closing my eyes, and imagining the sound of the rain falling down outside, I thought about what to do from now on.
293 b10
294 The two of us left for a practice room, and spent the day practicing as usual.
295 Even right in the middle of it, one thing Torta had told me kept repeating itself in my head:
296 'Then anyone would've been fine, as long as Ari had told you so?'
297 ---After finishing up, Torta said, at least on the surface looking calm and collected,
298 [Torta]
299 "Good work today. Ask me again whenever you feel like it."
300 When I told her I would stay behind to practice some more, she complimented me, and then went home by herself.
301 Closing my eyes, and imagining the sound of the rain falling down outside, I thought about what to do from now on.
302 b12