Chapter Text
“Something I never learned from my father was how he met my mother.”
I look back on my childhood days and I think to myself, where did it go wrong? Was it when my father taught me to play music, or was it when my mother encouraged me to make a song for his birthday? Was it meant to play out this way from the moment they chose to have a child, or when they chose to name me Kanade?
I don’t dwell on these thoughts much, because whoever I strive to be doesn’t truly matter. No, what matters is what I can do for those around me. I have a gift, and it can be used to hurt people if I use it carelessly.
Something I never learned from my father was how he met my mother, but something I did learn from both of them was the passion they saw in each other. The three of us were raised in music, beloved by and believed in it.
Is it possible for me to save someone, and help them see that passion in themselves?
Kanade: “This isn’t right, the intervals are off…”
Blip!
Kanade: “Hm?”
Kanade: “Oh, it’s from my last song.”
Click–click.
The audio playback automatically starts. A soft melody rings in the air, surrounded by a piercing harmony.
Anon. Comment: “This is amazing, please keep up the work~!”
Kanade smiles.
Kanade: “That’s good to hear.”
Kanade: “I’ll keep up the work, so one day…”
Knock–knock.
Kanade: “Hm?”
Kanade turns around on her chair and removes her headphones. From the door…
???: “Yoisaki–san? Are you there?”
Kanade: “Yes. You can come in.”
The door to her bedroom opens.
Honami: “Are you doing well? I just finished cleaning up the household, but I wanted to see if there was anything else you needed.”
Kanade: “Oh, not really. Thank you for your work.”
Honami: “Of course! I left you some miso soup in the fridge.”
Kanade: “You made miso soup?”
Honami: “Your health is important, Yoisaki–san.”
Kanade sighs.
Kanade: “I’ve been feeling better since the last time that happened. You don’t have to worry about me, Mochizuki–san. I’m sure there’s plenty more things you can do with your time.”
Honami: “Well, I chose this job because I like spending my time cleaning. It happens so often now… but, you are your own person. I can’t stop you.”
Kanade: “You’re saying it like it’s a bad thing.”
Honami looks off to the side.
Honami: “I should be heading home now. I hope you have a nice day!”
Kanade nods.
Kanade: “The same goes to you.”
Honami exits. Kanade turns back to her monitors and almost slides her headphones back into place.
Standing inside her monitor is a young girl with teal hair tied into a low bun, yet still having enough hair to skew off into two separate low-ponytails that curl at the ends which reach the floor. She wears a knitted white turtleneck sweater, detailed in a handmade care, and its sleeves reach past her arms. Her winter–blue scarf covers the lower half of her face, and its ends reach past her knees. She also wears fluffy ear–muffs, and black, star–patterned tights. Her leg–warmers are also as fluffy as her earmuffs, thick and warm enough to nearly eclipse her boots.
Kanade: “What the–?”
The girl tilts her head. She reaches out towards the monitor screen, her sleeve draping to reveal a doll–like hand…
Kanade recoils into her seat. She reaches for the power button, and shuts her computer off. The girl vanishes with it.
Kanade takes a breath and repowers her computer. It turns on normally, and the mysterious girl does not reappear.
Kanade: “That was weird.”
Kanade: “Hold on…”
Click–click.
Kanade groans.
Kanade: “None of my progress was saved… I’ll have to start over.”
Click–click.
I once had a thought of being able to create music with others. I once believed the music I created could be uplifted by those around me with the same dreams.
Soon, however, I realized those dreams couldn’t come to fruition. My songs weren’t good enough to reach anyone who wanted to create music like that. They weren’t powerful enough to make someone think, “I can be saved, too.”
So, I learned everything myself. I make my own art and music videos, and I create the lyrics. It takes away time from creating music, but every part is essential. No matter what happens, I am the only one capable enough to create music that evokes that feeling of wanting to be saved. That is what my gift is for.
This was supposed to be my daily life, my raison d’etre. However, this girl appearing on my screen… it couldn’t have just been some glitch or virus, could it?