To be honest, I didn't tell Weiss something, there is a major problem with that classroom, the gaps in the door. The soundproofing in the classroom isn't perfect, so sound will travel out of the room. Due to that, a rumor about how "a very impressive guitar solo can be heard from the school's courtyard after school" had spread throughout the school a few days later.
"Which piece? Is it that 'Cyarari—Spitting Milk from the Nose'?"
"I've heard that before too. I'll get dizzy if I listen to it for too long."
So it's actually Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565. That girl really likes Bach, huh? It wasn't time for homeroom yet, and I was listening halfheartedly to the broadcast of the girls' morning gossip, while recalling the pieces Weiss played.
"She played Farewell yesterday too. It was so very fast. Originally I couldn't figure out what piece it was."
"Ah, so that's Farewell?"
I had heard the guitar version of Farewell as well. Chopin had initially composed the piece to be played at a very fast tempo, roughly four times the speed of current day interpretations and so in a certain sense, Weiss' performance was actually the correct version. I wanted to say that, but everyone would definitely say I am a hentai critic or a stalker, so I chose to remain silent.
Rossweisse-sensei opened the door before the school bell was done chiming, and Weiss followed behind her. The whole class suddenly sank into silence. Everyone exchanged looks with each other briefly, before returning to their own seats as though nothing had happened. The only one who was unaware of the situation was the very person herself. Even so, it seemed like Weiss had sensed that something was going on. As she walked towards her seat, she looked at everyone with a puzzled gaze.
"Wanna go listen today after school?"
"Then I'll have a listen before my club activities start—"
I heard people whispering that, and I also saw a few guys sneaking a few glances at Weiss while grinning broadly. It had been a week since Weiss's transfer here, and the number of girls who would start a conversation with her had dropped to nearly zero, she was probably being treated like a rare creature by everyone. However, that had become quite a problem for me as well. That place was actually my resting place, and yet it was occupied by someone else. Looks like I'll have to snatch the classroom back from Weiss's hands.
I came up with a really despicable plan. I'll lock myself in the classroom, and with that Weiss will be shut out of the place. When Math, which was the sixth period of the day, was over, I immediately grabbed my bag and rushed out of the classroom after saying goodbye to Yasaka. However, I was dumbfounded when I arrived at the old music block at the back of the building. There was already a padlock hanging on the door of the classroom. Damn her, how dare she do that to my room! While looking at the lock before me, I remembered the paper-clip and the flat-blade screwdriver that were stored in my bag.
Don't underestimate the skills that I've acquired from modifying sound systems since I was kid, a long, thin wire is all I need to settle a lock of that cheap caliber. No, that would be considered a crime, right? Speaking of which, it will be game over for me if I'm seen by anyone while trying to pick the lock open anyway. However, if I do it quickly, it will probably take less than a minute…
"What are you doing?" A voice suddenly came from behind me. I nearly jumped three meters up in fright. As I turned my head it was actually Weiss. She was totally furious, and her snow-white hair looked as though they were standing on her head. "You criminal, you must've been thinking about picking the lock, right? Please do not come close to me ever again."
That is indeed the case, but on what grounds do you have the right to scold me?
"Why are you always following me?"
How mean, so she herself is treating me as a stalker too? Stalking is a criminal offense should she actually charge a complaint against me, looks like my life is in a very terrible situation right now.
"Hey, look… I have always used this classroom, and that amplifier was modified by me too." I explained while trying my hardest to hold myself back.
"You were just using it without permission!"
"But Rossweisse-sensei gave me permission to use the classroom too… "
"This is a room for practice, not a place for you to laze around and waste your time while listening to CDs!"
Weiss pushed me aside. She opened the lock, then walked into the classroom and shut the door. I froze on the spot and thought for a few seconds. I then barged into the room without a second thought, by opening the door forcibly as though I was trying to tear it down.
"Stop treating me like an idiot who is wasting his time! Life is all about wasting time till a person dies!"
"Then why don't you just die already?"
Did she just say something extremely cruel to me? Dammit… this just like I was facing another Naruko.
"… It's just guitar. I can play that too!"
Those words came out of my mouth unknowingly. They were no nonsense though. As a guy who listens to all sorts of rock, I used to play the guitar as well together with Menma, though that was something I did during the summer of my second year of middle school. I found my mom's dusty guitar from the storeroom in my house back then, which I then used to practice the prelude to Stairway to Heaven fervently. However, I no longer touch it anymore.
Weiss narrowed her eyes, and her gaze became cold. Her expression looked as though she was saying, "I bet that's just you spouting nonsense anyway." Just as I was about to say something again, Weiss suddenly took up her guitar which was leaning next to the table, and plugged it into the amplifier. She then walked to my side, and forcibly put full-sized headphones on my head.
"Wha…?"
"Don't move!"
She gently grabbed the pick with her two fingers, and strummed the strings of the guitar. I suddenly fell into the flow of the melody. Amid the strong discords, those ever-changing descending notes came gushing out like the waterfalls at the top of a cliff. What followed next were the grand and yet eerie arpeggio arch, as well as a well polished melody that encompasses the stamping of feet along with the dance both of which were rising up from beneath the valleys.
That's… chopin's Étude Op. 10, No. 12. A storm raged on in my mind, but that was forcefully interrupted by the sudden cadence. I was left dumbfounded. Weiss pulled off the headphones from my head, and the sounds of reality slowly crept into my ears. My heartbeats; the sounds of me breathing; the engine sounds from a faraway road; the cheers as the baseball team were running to the bases each and every sound I heard just seemed so unreal.
Weiss bent down and stared at me, as though she was saying, "Does your 'playing guitar' sound something like this?"
There was quite a heavy silence.
"Can you still say 'It's just guitar. I can play that too' with that?"
I originally wanted to say, "Stop treating me like an idiot", but I really could not say it convincingly.
"I've already said it. Get out. This is a place to practice."
"What's the big deal with playing a musical instrument?" I complained. "So your meaning is if I bring a guitar here, I'll be able to use this classroom too?"
"Don't mimic me if you lack the ability to do so. Scram!"
As I was at a loss of what to do, Weiss pushed me out of the classroom. Not long after, another piece flowed through the gaps from behind the tightly shut door. It's Chopin's Marche Funèbre from Piano Sonata No. 2 in B minor. She's deliberately looking for a fight? No wait, she didn't know about how the sounds could be heard from outside of the room, right?
I pressed my palms on the door as my head dropped downwards. For a while, I allowed my body to be seeped in the sounds of Weiss' guitar. It gradually turned into an unbearable pain, but I found myself unable to leave that place. I was thinking why guitar? Just play your piano honestly. If so, I could have listened to you playing the piano, while naively thinking to myself, "though she's young, her techniques are really quite brilliant."
Why do you have to step into my world? Nearly all the pieces that you are playing are piano pieces, right? What sort of prank is that?!
"Don't mimic me if you lack the ability to do so." I remembered the words of Weiss. My shoulders slumped unwillingly, and I retracted my palms off the door. If compared to the sublime techniques of Weiss, no one would possess skills within the acceptable range, regardless of who he or she is. It was especially so for me, since I gave up on guitar just after three months of playing it.
Can't be helped. It is a classroom that I was using without any prior permission since it is quite alluring to be in an environment where I can listen to my favorite CDs at full blast without the need of wearing full-sized headphones; however, that is also all there is to it. I won't feel particularly troubled without it.
Just as I turned around and was about to make my way back to the main building… "You're giving up already?" A voice suddenly came from behind me.
I jumped in shock, and quickly turned my head backwards. What came to my eyes was the sight of a black and red haired girl in her uniform, who was half kneeling right above the door-the low roof of the music classroom. She was wearing a huge, fearless grin. I could not move an inch, and could only look at her motionlessly.
… W-who's that girl?
She had a set of pretty facial features, with silver eyes that were giving off a horrifyingly sharp gaze. She was just like a female cat that had escaped from an exceptionally well-to-do environment where she was raised in, like Egypt or some other royal families.
"Are you gonna run away looking all crestfallen right after you had received a lesson from her? You'll become a true defeatist like this, you know?"
My numb legs could finally move, I moved backwards a little.
"… What are you talking about?"
That girl then hummed a song. It's Ray Charles's Born to Lose.
"Born to lose. Don't you think this song exists just for you?"
"We are all born to lose. Isn't that how it is all along?"
No wait, why am I answering her? I should run away. Things are not looking good. I better not get close to people like her. She gave a hearty laugh.
"So, you're actually quite good with your remarks, aye? I feel slightly relieved. Why don't you draw out your weapon? Your country is being ravaged by the enemy." Thud thud. She said that as she knocked her heels against the door of the practice room.
Why must I allow myself to be criticized by you like that? Then again, who the hell are you?
"Weiss Schnee should have played it to you just now. Chopin's Étude Op. 10, No. 12—Revolutionary Étude."
She said that with her index finger outstretched. Nodded with a "Mmm," and then I suddenly remembered something I was wearing full-sized headphones, right? How did she know? That violent smile of hers could have caused even a lion to faint.
"I can hear all the revolutionary songs of this world." She nimbly jumped off from the rooftop and made a silent landing between me and the door, then straightened herself immediately.
"I wish to make Weiss Schnee my comrade. Therefore, I am in need of your help. Please assist me."
"No, stop, I really have no idea what the hell you are talking about"
"My name's Hyuuga Ruby."
Ruby. I'd heard that name somewhere before. I began to search my memories. Oh right, Yang mentioned that name to me before. Ruby stretched out her hand towards me. "The Folk Music Research Club welcomes you in as a member, Namikaze Haruto.