Mom actually took a great deal of effort to prepare a bouquet for me to offer to Tobirama. It's sad to be saying this though—not only had she chosen narcissus which is out of season, she also said this, "Listen to this properly Haruto. Narcissus means 'conceited' in the language of flowers! Be sure to tell Tobirama that when you offer him the bouquet!" What an idiot.
After the concert was over, I told the girls to wait for me at the lobby. Just as I was about to visit the lounge which was located at the backstage, Weiss grabbed me by my suit's helm and gave me a tug.
"Yes?"
"… I'm coming along."
Why? I mean, Tobirama will be at the lounge too, right? It's not possible for Weiss to specially go there to see him, right? I thought of Penny right away. (It looked like) Penny was staring at Weiss back then… there should be a reason for that, right? Perhaps they knew each other?
The corridor leading to the lounge was filled with orchestra members as well as the large instruments. Since the performing band was Boston Symphony Orchestra, I could hear conversations in English all around me. I was at a loss of what to do.
Just then, one of the orchestra members saw Weiss hiding behind my back, and walked towards us after exclaiming what sounded like "Oh!" We were then quickly surrounded by the orchestra. That's proof that Weiss is famous in the professional world as well.
"Umm, well…" Weiss pushed me aside when I tried to communicate with them with my broken English. She then began to converse with the middle-age American horn player with an incredibly authentic sounding English. She then turned around to look at me, pointed to the end of the corridor with an unhappy expression on her face, and said, "He said Papa finds the interviewers irritating, so he is hiding in that room."
The orchestra member took us into a smaller lounge located deep into the corridor. Just as I was about to grab the doorknob and open the door, it suddenly opened quickly from the inside.
"Weiss!"
A small person along with a voice filled with excitement squeezed through the opening and hugged me all of the sudden.
"… W-whoaaaa!?"
"Weiss, I miss you so much!"
My nose came into contact with her soft hair. Right after I realized the person was the Violinist of Heavens herself, I was hugged tight by her slender arms, and her face was buried deep into my chest. There was a faint scent of flowers coming from her hair—no wait! I became flustered all of the sudden, and hurriedly pushed her body away.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Ah, sorry. I was mistaken."
The American pretty looked at my face and said that in a nonchalant manner, before tip-toeing slightly to kiss me lightly on my cheek. She then turned her attention to Weiss as I remained rooted on the spot.
"I miss you so much, my darling!"
What surprised me even more was how Weiss never hit her or yelled at her despite her hugging onto her tightly. She was only putting on a slightly unhappy expression as she silently allowed her cheeks to be kissed lightly by her. This kid is really impressive—that was all I could think with only the remaining half of my brain functioning properly.
Weiss noticed my gaze and her face turned red. She pushed Penny away.
"… W-when did you come to Japan, Penny?"
"Yesterday. I am planning to stay in Japan for a while, so we can see each other everyday. Before today's encore, I heard from Maestro Tobirama that Weiss will be coming to listen to the concert as well, so I requested—"
There was a sudden cough. I finally saw Tobirama sitting before the dressing table located deep within the room.
"You are here in Kushina's place, right? So that means you will be writing the critique? Mmm… I am looking forward to it." Tobirama said that to me with a serious expression. You are scaring me with your expectations…
The four of us sat down face to face on the sofa in the lounge. I was sitting right in front of Tobirama, while Weiss was sitting by my side. For some reason, Penny sat herself on the sofa-back behind Weiss and I. Please, can you sit yourself properly? You are making me feel really uncomfortable?
"Critique? He's writing it?"
Penny grabbed my hair suddenly and stuck her body over my head to look at my face, which caused me to nearly overturn. Her peach-red lips were right before my eyes, which reminded me of what happened earlier. I do hope she can keep a distance away from me.
"That is rude of you, Penny. Sit down properly! The person whose hair is messed up by you may look young, but he is a music critic. He is our competitor."
Penny disappeared from my sight all of the sudden. I see, she had stood up beside the sofa and stared at Tobirama with her eyes opened wide, before turning around to continue staring at me. It's only at such a close distance that I realized she is really thin and small. She may actually be of a smaller build than Weiss.
I thought she would be sitting beside Tobirama, but she unexpectedly sat herself down next to me. Since the sofa was a two-seater, Weiss, Penny and I had no choice but to stick to each other. What's with this? Is she making fun of me?
"Is that so? Then I am really sorry! Nice to meet you for the first time. Just as you already know, I am a violinist."
I stretched out her hand while introducing herself. There was a strange expression coming from Penny's eyes which I didn't quite know what it was. Hostility? Enmity? A sense of wariness? Or perhaps curiosity? Her expression looked like it was a mix of everything, but at the same time, did not seem like any one of the above as well.
I hesitated for a while before shaking her hand stiffly. I could feel a sense of incongruity. What's the reason for that?
"My enemy, what is your name?"
Enemy?
"My name is Haruto. Namikaze Haruto."
Even though she is younger than me, she spoke to me in a tone as though she is conversing with someone of her own age. I unconsciously spoke to her in a very polite manner.
"Haruto, huh? Can I call you 'Ruto'?"
I was stunned. Weiss, who was beside me, looked like she wanted to say something as well. The only person to address me with that name is Weiss.
"Penny…" Weiss, who was sitting on the other side of the sofa, suddenly spoke. "You can't."
"What do you mean by that?" Asked Penny, as she propped over my shoulder to look at Weiss.
"You cannot call him by that."
"Why?"
"You just can't."
Why? I was at a loss of what was happening around me. Then again, why was Tobirama looking that angry as well?
"Well… everyone calls me 'Haruto or Namikaze'. If you can, please address me as that."
"So what instrument does Ruto play?"
"Listen to what I'm saying here, okay!?"
"Stupid Penny!"
Completely ignoring what we said, Penny continued.
"Ruto, the skin of your left fingers are very tough, so you should be playing some sort of instrument, right?"
I was shocked. Penny walked to my side and lifted my left hand.
"Well…"
"Ruto is the bassist of our band," said Weiss.
Penny and I were both slightly surprised by that, so we both stared at Weiss' face. From the edges of my eyes, I could see an unhappy expression on Tobirama's face.
"Mmm? So you are a companion of Weiss?"
Penny began to play around with my fingers as she said that. I found it a little strange. She's not the least bit surprised at how Weiss' in a band? Or does she know about it already? Just what is the relationship between the two of them? However, I don't think it's the right time for me to ask her that…
"Are you good with your bass?"
"He's horribly bad at it." Weiss answered without hesitation, and that caused me to sink into the abyss of depression. I know I suck at playing the bass, sorry about that!
"I knew it. These fingers are not used to create music. Instead, they exist to distort the truth."
I quickly waved Penny's hands away. What's with that!? Why are all her words filled with animosity? It's the first time we met each other, and I don't think I've done anything to piss her off.
"… Do you hate music critics?" I tried asking her. There are a lot of musicians who are like that.
"Mmm. I do." Like the sun which reappears after a heavy downpour, a bright smile appeared on Penny's face as she answered me in a straightforward manner.
"I see. So you hate them huh?" I said those words with a smile in order to show my approval of her reply.
"Oh, you mean you have not heard about the things those people have done to my precious Weiss?"
"What…" I was at a loss for words.
"Penny, stop that." Weiss actually shielded me physically and said that in a very stern manner.
"But Weiss, you said before you hate those people as well?"
"But there is no need for you to say those things to Ruto."
"You used to talk about tying up all the critics and drying them under the sun so that you can use them as fertilizers for the grapes.
"I-I never said that!" Weiss stood up with her face red.
"Penny's the one who said those things." Tobirama sighed.
"Ah, is that so? I remember Weiss talking about how that will make the grapes taste bad, so it's a bad idea after all."
"Penny's the one who said those things as well! Geez! You dolt!"
Weiss stood up, stretched past my shoulders and proceeded to slap hard on Penny's head. Tobirama and I exchanged a look of helplessness between us. Do what you two like, but can you please don't sandwich me in the middle of your quarrels?
In order to prevent myself from falling victim to Weiss' slaps, I shielded my head with my arms and ran away from the sofa. At the same time, just as Weiss was about to hit her with her right hand, Penny grabbed it quickly and entwined her fingers with hers.
"… You should remember how those people have written all that nonsense ever since you could not play the piano, right? And recently, after the issue about your sickness was leaked, those people criticized you unfairly about your lack of professionalism, or how you are running away from the stage."
I stood up in shock and looked at them. I am in no position to be saying much, but… I never thought the critics would be that brazen in discussing the issue about Weiss's right hand.
"Are you still continuing with your rehabilitation? Though they do seem to be in a much better shape…"
However, Weiss was not angry, and neither did she fling Penny's hand away. All she did was give a light nod and murmured. "You don't have to worry. I will do something about it by myself."
I stared helplessly at Weiss's profile. I had indirectly asked her about her hand many times ever since I met her. The reason for the immobility of her fingers is mainly due to her psychological issues. As for whether she wants to continue playing the piano, I have never heard anything concrete coming from her.
I will do something about it by myself—that's what Weiss said, and it was my first time hearing her say that. Does that mean that she will try to do something 'in order to play the piano once more'? If that is really the case, then… why didn't she tell me?
Was it because it was Penny who asked? Because they are both living in the same world? Basking under the same brilliance, the same cheers and the same criticisms? Having tasted the same loneliness? So that's why she could say those words to her? If that's the case, then…
It seemed like Tobirama said something to me, and Penny did the same while staring at my face. However, I could not remember what I said in reply. Why the hell am I here? I pondered on that question repeatedly with my half-blank mind.