Life in Song
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Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 18, 2015 6:12:35 GMT -6
Sunday, April 27th, 2003, 1:45pm
The cashier was a retired ex musician who had gained fame touring America before returning to Japan as a nobody and opening a CD store in Hikarizaka where no one would recognize him.
A faint smile played across Akemi's lips as she began to formulate the stranger's backstory. Blue, long-lashed eyes glanced furtively at the unassuming middle-aged man who tapped at the cash register, taking in his mannerisms and the details of his appearance. He looked to be in his 40s, but he had aged well, getting away with somewhat trendy clothing that other men his age likely wouldn't touch. She'd seen him at the store multiple times but had yet to determine his "story" until today. It was a relatively slow hour, and there were few other customers worth watching. Once she finished his tale, perhaps it was best she leave.
Humming a tune, she picked through the CD stacks, listening to the quiet clacks as she flicked each case and pausing every few seconds to shoot another glance at the cashier. His number one hit had been a ballad to his wife, she decided. But they divorced shortly before his return to Japa- Ah.
The man answered the store's phone and Akemi observed as his face lit up at the sound of the voice on the other end. Perhaps he had remarried. Or found a girlfriend? No... No, it was his niece, she thought. Yes, an unexpected call from his teenage niece who reminded him of his own daughter he had left behind with his wife.
Having looked over the last CD in the aisle, the girl quietly moved on to the next, though she had already lost interest in the store's products. People were the real attraction here, or anywhere for that matter. Music was a lovely getaway, as open to interpretation as humans were, but songs did not change their tunes in the same way people shifted their moods and actions. A song sounded the same no matter how many times it was played. Although... What would happen if that weren't the case? The thought made her cock her head, muttering a quiet "Hmm" to herself as she turned the idea over in her mind.
A song like a person... A song that changed over time and between moods... What an interesting concept. Could she make it happen if she imagined it?
She paused. Her arms slowly lowered from the rack, coming back to rest at her sides as she stared blankly at the CDs before her. In a world where songs were like people, would a store like this be a nursery? Or an adoption center of some kind? For a moment, she imagined the rack of CDs before her replaced with a table lined with infants crying and screaming tunes from that month's Oricon singles chart. The image forced an amused snort from the girl, the right corner of her mouth pulling upward into an awkward smirk.
Such a world would certainly be interesting, to say the least. However, she had a feeling that sentient songs wouldn't look quite like people, if they even had a physical form at all. Yes... Perhaps they didn't. Perhaps it was possible that songs really did have life, but in an intangible form. Or maybe she could give one life if she tried.
A new curiosity overtook the redhead, and she turned to face the nearby listening station, staring at it questioningly for a few seconds before approaching. Maybe music did still carry some attraction here after all. She could finish the cashier's story later. He was always working on Saturdays anyway.
Delicately, she slipped on the headphones at the station and traced a finger gently along the list of songs and artists before her. What type of song should she bring life to? What type of song was worthy? And was she even worthy of such a task? Maybe not. She smiled. Maybe not, but no one could stop her from trying.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on Apr 19, 2015 2:28:06 GMT -6
He had some time to kill, so why not spend it at the music store? Since he had no responsibilities, he always made sure to spend what time he had intelligently. Which was freely. Without a care in the world. Motivated only by his whims. That was the life! His usual routine involved spending his days holed up in his dorm, usually with Okazaki, but sometimes it was nice to explore the city. That, and it was required for his survival. Like to eat. Unfortunately, shopping for essentials was a responsibility he was unable to permanently avoid. Though he did try.
Upon entering the store he made a beeline to his favorite section. Alternative. It was here where, in the past, he had discovered the greatest songs of his era. Most people didn't seem to understand the depth and complexity this type of music could reach...but he did. It spoke to the soul! Sure the style wasn't always the most...conventional, but who gave a damn about conventions? He certainly didn't! He quickly browsed through the titles to see if there was anything new.
"Tch..."
He muttered in annoyance. Nothing. That was the only flaw with having musical tastes as refined as his. Releases were rare and it wasn't uncommon for stores to have a full week or two where nothing new came out. He shrugged and began to walk around at random. He contemplated leaving, but he had only just arrived and didn't want to look like the type of person who had only come for one reason. He would play it cool for a while before casually walking out. Most of it was the same old. Rock. Metal. Pop. Suddenly he was in a section he'd never seen before. It was simply labeled "Rising Stars". Rising stars? Ha. He would be the judge of that. He picked up the headphones and flipped to a track at random. What kind of name was "Asian Kung-Fu Generation" anyway? It sounded stupid. Except it didn't. It sounded awesome! His initial disdain quickly turned to excitement as he wondered what kind of music such an awesome sounding band name could come up with. The song started. A strong bass line started playing, a fast paced tune that set the pace for the piece. It was fast and had a good beat. The rest of the instruments came crashing in soon after - guitar and drums - setting up the melody and rhythm. The only thing missing was... the lyrics. Just as he had thought it, they began. This...this was amazing! He'd have to remember this song for later. He glanced at the track number then picked up one of the CD's to find the name. "Far And Beyond"...it even had a cool name!
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Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 19, 2015 13:17:40 GMT -6
Akemi's finger had indecisively trailed up and down the track list multiple times when the tinkling of the store doorbell tickled her ears through the thick headphones. A new arrival? Perhaps another reason to linger in the store? She turned her head at a slight angle and gave the newcomer a discreet sideways glance.
Ah. That person was...
"Sunohara," she whispered to herself as the name returned to her memory. They'd never spoken before. She doubted he knew who she was. Her own knowledge of him came only from rumors of his delinquency and the last two years she had spent quietly observing her peers at Hikarizaka. Had she ever decided upon a backstory for him?
His blond head remained fixed within the crosshairs of her gaze as she searched the file cabinets of her mind for his tale but came up empty. Somehow she had missed him. How strange. He seemed peculiar enough to be ripe with story potential. A known delinquent, and one with such interesting straw-colored hair... Was he secretly a scarecrow?
"Heh..."
She let out a tiny chuckle at the image. He probably left the farm and decided to become human instead because he couldn't scare the crows away. His face was too soft and babyish to scare anyone. Now that she thought about it, the fact a boy like him was a delinquent was rather amusing, not unlike a small dog that tried to bark louder to intimidate creatures far more fierce. Though which did that make him then? A puppy or a scarecrow?
Ah, he was coming closer.
Akemi's eyes fell back to the CD track list before her as Sunohara approached the listening station right around the corner, mere feet from her. She still hadn't chosen a song... A song to bring to life. She considered the list before her again, but no title or artist jumped out to her the way she felt the right one should. She'd leave it to fate, then. What song had he chosen? She attempted to step back and peer at him from an angle to see his selection, but he was in the way.
It couldn't be helped. She'd need to ask.
Slowly, she peeked around the corner, head turned sideways so just her eyes stared out at the boy, red hair hanging down. She paused, blinked, then poked her head out further to speak.
"Hello," she spoke, smiling warmly. "Sunohara-san." A small hand tugged gently at his sleeve as she called him.
Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to start with an introduction. After all, he didn't know her. But proper social etiquette wasn't something the girl typically made an effort to keep.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on Apr 20, 2015 2:56:26 GMT -6
He felt a tug interrupt his rock session. He wanted to ignore it, but the sensation felt far too unnatural for his mind to simply let go. He glanced down and saw a hand. Just who the hell was bothering him at a time like this?! He glanced up and locked eyes with the girl in front of him. Cute. It was the first thought that entered his mind. Then again, he had a tendency to think that of most girls. However this time it was a bit different. It wasn't an observation from the sidelines or a thought he had in retrospect. She was standing right in front of him. Looking straight at him. Smiling warmly. He hadn't had an interaction like that with a girl in a long time. But why was she bothering him?! It was just getting to the good part! Annoyance clashed with attraction and his mood settled in the middle somewhere. He removed his headphones with his free hand and responded.
"What do you want?"
Though his intention had been to respond in an annoyed tone, in reality he sounded more neutral then he had expected - even curious. It was the smile that had put him off the most. If she was trying to get his attention for some mundane reason, like if his fly was down, she would have a neutral expression as well. Yet she was smiling. Quite warmly in fact. He was at a bit of a loss. Quite frankly he had never gotten this far before. Even if he had, he was usually a bit more prepared then this. Something like this happening while he was in the middle of a rock session was probably the worst case scenario. What was he supposed to do?
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Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 22, 2015 11:26:21 GMT -6
It took a few moments of soft, persistent tugging to get the boy's attention, but when he finally locked gazes with her, blue meeting blue, she released his sleeve and stepped out from behind the corner, slipping her headphones off her ears.
"What do you want?"
His words elicited a quiet, tinkling laugh, and Akemi pressed her fingertips to her lips to suppress it. There was no recognition in his expression. He hadn't heard her at all, had he? Didn't know she'd called him by name, likely didn't even know they went to the same school, much less that she was in the homeroom right next door to his. Such an oblivious little puppy. Or scarecrow? Either way, it was... funny. The rumored delinquent that most of the student body frowned at wasn't really very intimidating at all. She almost wanted to pat him on the head.
"The song," she said, lowering the hand at her mouth to point to the tracklist beside them, still grinning with amusement. "What is it?"
A faintly audible tune was escaping from the headphones around Sunohara's neck, and she took a step closer to lean an ear toward him, straining to listen. The bass was strong and clear, but she could barely make out the lyrics. Still, a song like this... It seemed to have enough potential personality. Yes, it would serve her purposes. She could work with it. Songs were static and unchanging, but they still had varying amounts of depth, she thought. It would be more difficult to imagine life in a song that lacked substance. But she had a good feeling about this one.
Now all she needed to do was listen to it properly. To close her eyes and lose herself in the crash of sounds and melodies, willing them to become something real, something that could feel, just as they caused others to feel.
But first, Sunohara needed to answer her. She glanced up at him expectantly and raised her brow, ear still pointed at his headphones.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on Apr 23, 2015 5:47:25 GMT -6
Laughing? Had he said something strange? Or was she making fun of him?! But...no. The sound she had made wasn't loud or grating enough to be meant as an insult. It was soft. Gentle almost. Giggling. His blood pressure rose as his cheeks flushed ever so slightly. He didn't really notice it before but...she was actually pretty cute. Wait! Was this...f-f-flirting?! Crap. Crap crap crap. What was he supposed to do? Laugh with her? Continue the joke? Ah but he never made a joke in the first place! What did she find so funny then? Was she laughing at him after all? But...no she coul-
"The song. What is it?"
Ah. That was all. She just wanted to know the song. He couldn't really blame her, as the song was pretty amazing. Unfortunately this brief moment of respite evaporated right before his eyes, for she took a step forward. Though the girl seemed unaware, the boy was acutely aware of how she so casually passed over the boundary of acceptable personal space for acquaintances. As if the boundary didn't exist. As if he was already...more then just an acquaintance. His blood pressure spiked as he jumped to the only logical conclusion left to him. Eeeeek! Was she hitting on him after all?! Crap she was close. And looking directly at him! What was with that unwavering glare?! Was that her smell?! Ah...it smelled nice...no no no pay attention! She asked a question! What was the question?! The song! What was the song?!
"F-F-F-F-Far and Beyond, miss!"
It was as if he had become a completely different person. Not only was he talking to her formally, but the pitch of his voice seemed to have gone up by several octaves. In fact, he wasn't even talking to her like a normal human being anymore - instead he was stuck in a salute, as if he had answered a question from a commanding officer and was awaiting his next order.
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Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 24, 2015 1:49:31 GMT -6
He looked... distressed?
In the split second it took Akemi to evaluate the boy's slightly flushed and flustered expression, her thoughts clicked and the understanding hit her. Oh... Did he think-
"F-F-F-F-Far and Beyond, miss!"
He did. Another fit of quiet giggles burst from her, and this time both her hands shot up to muffle the sound. He was so excitable, so easily swayed... This only confirmed her earlier judgment of him. He really was a puppy, not a delinquent. How did such a person come to gain such a reputation, then? She'd heard Sunohara Youhei had the worst attendance in school. What did a puppy do while playing hooky? An image of the boy frolicking happily about the town burying bones and sniffing trees flashed through her mind causing her to giggle even more.
That settled it. He was a puppy in human form, the result of some mysterious enchantment or supernatural force, and he didn't understand the way the human world worked. His absence from school wasn't an act of rebellion, but a result of blissful ignorance. Maybe that was also why his hair was blond? That, or he was... A gyaruo? But he didn't have a tan...
"Thank you," she finally managed once her laughter had subsided. She turned her back on him to look over the tracklist once again, eyes scanning for the name before eventually spotting it. Asian Kung-Fu Generation? Ah, they were becoming popular recently. So this album was their re-release... An interesting choice for her little experiment. The source of her choice was no less interesting. She'd hit people-watching gold today. How had she not discovered him before? What else would he do or say?
"Did you choose this song," she began slowly, considering her words to choose a question that would hopefully result in another unexpected show. "Because you believe in a future ruled by martial artists?" She twirled to face him again with an ambiguous smile.
How would he respond? Seriously? Jokingly? Did he even know what "Asian Kung-Fu Generation" meant in English? Maybe not if he was missing so much school. Even so, she awaited his reaction, watching him with eyes reflecting a vague mixture of calm curiosity and amusement.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on Apr 25, 2015 1:11:15 GMT -6
She was giggling again. Damn it! How was he supposed to react to that? What was she giggling about anyway?! She wasn't even trying to hide it anymore! His blood was pumping as his vision seemed to swim ever so slightly. Lightheaded perhaps? Luckily she had backed off and was still laughing so he had some time to compose himself. What was the next step? Should he ask her out now? Wait...what was her name? Was he supposed to ask her that now? But the conversation had already gone on too long! Okay that settled it. After she stopped laughing they would converse a bit more...and then he'd ask her out!
First she would respond to his answer by saying "Well you certainly have good taste in music." Then he'd reply "Thank you...but I believe my taste in beauty is far superior.". "Taste in beauty?" she would ask innocently. "Forgive me for being so frank...but I've never met another woman who looked as stunning as you do right now" She would blush, instinctively moving away from embarrassment, but before she could escape, he would gently grasp her hand, forcing her to face him once more. "Would you do me the honor of allowing me to taking you out on a date tomorrow?". Her eyes would light up with surprise. The sudden request would temporarily put her off guard and she would be unable to formulate a proper response. This is when he would deal the finishing blow. "Sunohara. Sunohara Youhei. But I'd prefer if you referred to me as...Youhei-kun." Perfect! This is how he would nab his first girlfriend! His plan was perfect. Flawless. Any moment now and his fantasies would become reality!
"Thank you."
She said, as she paused for a while. The next line. Something to respond to. So he could use it as a comparison for her looks. He was ready. All of his years of reading action manga would pay off right here in this instant. She need only speak up! The tension was palpable. His hands wouldn't stop sweating. Just...say it!
"Did you choose this song..."
Yes? YES? YES?! Hurry it along already!
"Because you believe in a future ruled by martial artists?"
"..."
...WHAT KIND OF QUESTION WAS THAT?! His new found confidence quickly crumbled as he scrambled for an answer. Future martial artists?! What the hell is that about?! The band name? Asian Kung-Fu Generatsonoff? IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANT?! Kung-Fu was obvious...martial arts...Asian probably meant the continent...probably. It was the last word that was giving him difficulty. Ahhhh why was he being tested on his English at a time like this?! Answer. Something. ANYTHING.
"O-of course. It's the hottest rage these days! Y-you know like...that English movie...Tha Matix"
SAFE.
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Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 25, 2015 20:04:36 GMT -6
His silence was begging for interpretation.
Akemi scanned the boy's expression, her gaze chipping away at him, searching for some insight into his thought process. There was a look of thinly veiled panic in his eyes as he seemed to scramble for a response. What types of ideas went through his head that caused him to act in such an entertaining fashion? She tried to imagine an inner dialogue for him but failed to come up with anything appropriately... puppyish.
"O-of course. It's the hottest rage these days! Y-you know like... that English movie... Tha Matix."
Tha... Matix?
Yet another wave of giggles washed over the girl, and she clutched the bottom half of her face with her hand, upper body shaking with her laughter but blue gaze still fixed on the boy floundering before her. Funny. Was this how he always flirted with girls? Though a puppy couldn't be expected to understand the intricate workings and subtleties of human courtship, she supposed. She herself found them rather strange and foreign, and the few other times she'd noticed boys trying to get her attention, she'd quickly driven them away, much to her own amusement. What did that make her then? An alien? A puppy hitting on an alien... What a bizarre and fascinating tale.
But even if his romantic endeavors were doomed to fail, surely this meeting was... Some kind of fate? She had stumbled upon the perfect walking show, just as the new school year was getting underway. Somehow she'd need to keep an eye on him for new developments in the continuing adventures of the delinquent puppy. He was too interesting a spectacle to simply walk away from after one viewing, and she needed a distraction now and then. With exams to come and her parents bearing down on her about the impending future, her senior year was sure to be in need of lighthearted moments.
"Tha Matix..." she repeated the mispronunciation, a hint of laughter still in her voice. "Then it's a future ruled by both martial artists and machines?". She cast a thoughtful gaze upward, pressing an index finger to her chin. ...But she was getting distracted.
Discovering the live act that was Sunohara was a bonus, but it hadn't been her original goal. The song. She still needed to hear the song.
"The song. May I hear it?"
The subject change was abrupt, but if she was aware of this fact, she displayed no recognition of it. Instead, she slowly raised a hand to reach for the headphones that still hung around the blond's neck, delicately lifting one ear piece and shooting him a soft, questioning look, silently asking for his permission to proceed.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on Apr 27, 2015 3:59:09 GMT -6
Something was a bit...off about her. A small doubt in the back of his mind. A deep unsettling sensation in his hearts of hearts. It was the way she seemed to laugh just a bit too much. It was certainly genuine...however it almost seemed to be a bit overdone. Her eyes as well. They seemed completely innocent and benign but in truth...they were quite sharp. There hadn't been a moment she had taken her eyes off of him. It was like she was reading him. Or perhaps...analyzing. It was the kind of eyes that the other students at school would throw his way when they didn't think he was looking. Judging him. Looking down on him. But...even that assessment wasn't completely accurate. It wasn't just her eyes or her body language. It was everything. Something was off. Even while certain aspects of her seemed so familiar, such as the judging eyes he hated so much, other parts were completely foreign to him, which made it harder to react to those eyes as if he would another. To begin with, those who possessed those eyes never talked to him unless it was absolutely necessary. She was probably the first who had done so for fun.
Unfortunately the rest of his being was in another place entirely, completely unaware of whatever inner mechanisms were turning in his subconsciousness. Though he had time to calm down again, his brain had other ideas this time. Did she laugh at everything this much? Or just him? Was...she really making fun of him after all?! WHY WERE GIRLS SO CONFUSING. Then again...he had said something strange. And by "strange" he meant that he had sputtered something out in the spur of the moment and really had no idea what he was talking about. Had he ruined his chances? No...it didn't seem like it. Generally speaking, if a girl was happy that was probably a good thing. Then again, he had zero experience with girls, so whatever he thought he knew about this entire process was meaningless. Rather then calm down, he was simply getting more and more stressed out
"Tha Matix...Then it's a future ruled by both martial artists and machines?"
She was still going on about that?! How was he supposed to know?! To begin with how did this whole thing even begin?! Why had he chosen this song?! Why had he told her the name?! WHAT WAS HER NAME ANYWAY?! Damn it everything was getting out of co-
"The song. May I hear it?"
Oh.
"YES! Of course!"
In what was likely some sort of record, he removed the headphones, placed them on the girl's head, and hit "Back" and then "Play", so that she could hear the song from the beginning. Unfortunately, the volume had been quite high and likely would come to a bit of a shock to the girl. High volume for high intensity was his motto when it came to these types of things.
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Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 30, 2015 4:31:01 GMT -6
"YES! Of course!"
In one swift, blurred motion, the headphones were quickly snatched up and shoved onto Akemi's head, her hand still hovering near the boy's neck. The split second it took for the blond to hit the rewind button was not enough time to prepare for the blast that followed. What should have been a low bass to lead into the song erupted from the headphones and crashed into her ears followed by the thundering of a guitar. She jumped, the usually calm redhead looking visibly alarmed, and her raised hand reflexively grabbed the boy's shoulder to steady herself. Her free hand tore the headphones from her ears, gripping them tightly. With wide eyes, she stared at the boy for a moment. Even a puppy could be dangerous if you let your guard down. Perhaps he was best observed from a safe distance, away from his overactive antics.
She blinked. Then laughed.
No... She had just been surprised was all. He was probably still safe.
Her grip on the boy's shoulder loosened until her hand returned to its recently frequent position over her mouth, muffling her quiet giggles. In truth, it was a laughter of mixed feelings, half amusement and half nerves. A defense mechanism. Being caught off guard wasn't something the girl was accustomed to. Usually it was the other way around. Sunohara really was full of surprises, perhaps even moreso than she had originally thought. It had only been for a second, but in that brief moment, she had lost control over the situation, and that was... uncomfortable.
"That was loud," she stated simply, quieting her giggles to offer the boy an amused but awkward smile. "Your ears are like a fortress. Strong and resistant to damage..."
She trailed off, letting the odd comment hang in the air, then turned back to the listening station and wordlessly flicked at the volume dial. How could his eardrums withstand the audio assault? He was... Was strange a fair word to use coming from her? Yes, perhaps so... After all, no normal person had ever tried to flirt with her without being put off, and certainly not in the manner he had displayed. And what wasn't strange about a human puppy? This really was a meeting of fate after all, wasn't it? A gathering of the two strangest individuals in Hikarizaka. Maybe some unseen force was looking for a good show just like her, waiting to see which would outweird the other.
"Now let's try again," she spoke, regaining her previous easy composure as she slipped the headphones back over her ears and hit the play button. This time when the sound came, she closed her eyes and embraced it.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on May 3, 2015 4:22:27 GMT -6
Though he had initially been too distracted to notice her reaction, the sudden tightness on his shoulder quickly summoned his attention. Annoyed at the unwarranted move he spoke up
"Hey what-"
But his words died in his mouth. The girl he had been talking to before had been replaced by someone else entirely. Of course, he didn't literally think this to be the case, nonetheless the shift was truly shocking. Accompanying her tight grip her hands seemed to be...shaking. When she finally looked at him it was a completely different look from before. It wasn't merely surprise or annoyance but...fear? Panic? It wasn't the type of eyes he would ever expect from a girl in a situation like this. Much less one he had just been talking to. He felt a ting of guilt as well as a wave of confusion, both mentally and emotionally. She had been so confident before, making the moves on him so effortlessly. Even if she hadn't been flirting, his actions of placing the earphones on her head shouldn't have elicited such a response.
Then all of a sudden she was laughing again, and the brief moment of clarity and pureness seemed to fade away like a dream. Though his gut spoke clearly to him, his mind began to explain it all away away, for he wasn't the type of person to be able to handle confusing situations adequately. It was simple really. He had been listening to the song loudly, and by transferring the headphones so quickly he had simply surprised her. If he was just minding his own business a song suddenly exploded in his ear he might have briefly been put off by the disturbance as well. Not panicked though. Or scared. He was too manly for such emotions.
"That was loud. Your ears are like a fortress. Strong and resistant to damage..."
His expression immediately lit up at the compliment (it was a compliment right?) as he responded with a nervous laughter of his own, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin, as if embarrassed, and responding
"What can I say? I am pretty strong..."
As she returned her attention to the music he took a deep breath, glad that the world had stopped spinning so quickly for a moment. Maybe now things could start making sense again. He briefly glanced towards the exit of the store, wondering if it would be a good time to escape. Something in the back of his mind compelled him to seriously consider that choice, but the possibility of a date was so close! He couldn't let it go now that he had come so far! And this band was amazing! She would listen to it, agree his taste in music was fantastic, and surely take him up on his offer. It was so close...
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Post by Sugase Akemi on May 8, 2015 4:04:50 GMT -6
Dialing down the volume made a world of difference. No longer thunderous, the bass tugged at Akemi's ears, drawing her in as the guitar and drums crashed over her in a wave of sound. It was a noise she could almost feel, and she imgained the notes pouring from the headphones in a shower around her. Her head bobbed gently with the music, as if floating along an ocean of song. When the vocals finally hit her ears, she opened her eyes.
There was so much energy. The hard sounds of the guitar, the steady beat of the drums, the rawness of the singer's voice, which at times seemed to shout rather than sing the lyrics... Yes, this was perfect. This had personality. If the point of the experiment was to observe a song that could change over time, it would need to have a personality to change to begin with. There was plenty to spare here.
"This has a lovely character," she commented, more to herself than the boy standing beside her. She had become absorbed in the music and had almost forgotten he was there; A fine distraction after the brief, off-putting moment that had taken place just before. "I need this." She glanced upward at the CD rack before them, eyes scanning the rows until they spotted the peculiar band name alongside an equally unusual album name. Houkai Amplifier? Amplify... In English, that meant to increase or intensify, didn't it? To increase collapse? Interesting... And perhaps a bit depressing. If it was coming from this album, would this song also carry such melancholic traits in its personality?
"Collapse... Increaser... Intensifier?" Absentmindedly, she raised an arm and reached out toward the CD case, fingertips lightly grazing the words as she spoke the attempted translation aloud. Then, as if handling fragile glass, she picked up the album with both hands and brought it closer for examination. An illustration of a young man decorated the cover, eyes closed and head rested calmly on hand. What appeared to be a sound plug protruded from his ear, the wire leading off the edge of the picture to some unseen location. The large cowlick that came off the man's bowlcut curled into a swirl. He looked... peaceful.
Ah. But the wire... Then it really was a future ruled by machines. She stifled a quiet snort of laughter. Now all that was needed was some proof the man on the cover was a martial artist, and the image would be complete. The redhead glanced back at the boy with her, amused, though she knew he likely wouldn't make the same connection she had.
All that was left was to buy the CD. She had completed her little mission and found some bonus entertainment in the process... No, he had completed her mission for her. It was all so wonderfully convenient. What more could he offer if she lingered in the store longer?
Placing the CD on the counter in front of her to slide the headphones off her ears, she fully turned to face him again, staring expectantly as if waiting for him to transform back into a puppy.
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Post by Sunohara Youhei on May 13, 2015 1:56:53 GMT -6
Time had been moving far too fast. One moment he had wandered into a music store and the next a random girl had been hitting on him and asking strange questions! The last few minutes had been so much of a blur he could hardly remember what had actually transpired, but as she reapplied the headphones, he had a rare opportunity of peace to recover. Facing away from him and closing her eyes even offered him the freedom to act as he pleased without any forethought for social cues...on the other hand, it meant he had no idea what to do with himself. Was he supposed to just wait? Pretend to browse? Leave? No. Not leave. That definitely wasn't an option.
His eyes made the decision for him. With nowhere else to look, it naturally rested on her face. She was turned towards the music station now with her eyes closed. Staring at her face would be stupid regardless of how much freedom he had, but for some reason he couldn't look away. There was something...different about it now. Something had changed but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. It seemed more genuine. Real. Though the girl had just been assertively talking to him moments ago, it was *this* girl he was staring at now that he couldn't stay away from. One seemed to scare him away while the other seemed to draw him closer. But that was stupid right? How could the two be any different? He didn't know. He didn't question it. He simply observed. Quietly watched as her head, ever so slightly, bobbed to the beat. Her finger lightly tapping to the beat. Her expression neutral yet alive all at once. Even when she suddenly opened her eyes...he didn't flinch. He could hear the quiet song through her headphones. Knew the vocals would come in at that moment. Felt that, as entranced as she was, that she certainly have a reaction. It certainly did not disappoint. It sounded idiotic, but he wasn't sure he had ever seen anyone listen to music quite as well as she did. And this was her first time hearing this song? It wasn't a favorite of hers? Her eyes closed once more, now accompanied by a soft but gleeful smile. Two times she had been surprised now. Once, when he had placed the headphones over her head, and now, once again, when the lyrics came crashing in. Both times she had smiled. In fact, last time she had even laughed. But while that one had put him on edge, this one felt relaxing. It looked so pure. He had always thought he enjoyed music far more then others. Other people were completely static as they listened to music. Not him though. He rocked out. Sing the lyrics as loud as he could. Jam out to the beat, just like a good song deserved! But...she was doing none of these things. Softly tapping her foot. Bobbing her head. Expressions shifting ever so slightly as her body moved to the rhythm. She was as passive anyone else and yet...seemed to have an acceptance and understanding for the music that exceeded his own. It was beautiful.
"This has a lovely character."
And just like that the moment ended. She was certainly still lost in her trance, paying no attention to him, but rather then lost in another realm - one of drums and guitars and a sick beat to boot - she was now back on earth, in the music store, standing right next to him, attempting to find the album to the song she was listening to. This reality came crashing down on his head. His pulse began to speed up and his breathing grew haggard, the nervousness from before returning once more as he realized he had still not accomplished his original goal. He was going to do it. He was going to ask her out. He quickly wracked his brain for any ideas or clever ways to go about it. Perhaps lie and say he had more of there songs? That way he could even lure her into his room...heh heh heh he-but wait! If she bought the album now there wouldn't be any need for that! Maybe...school? But did she even go to the same school?! His reputation at school was horrible to begin with so why would that be a good idea in the first place?! Think think think think thi-
And just like that his time had run out. Though he had been given ages to plan, time seemed to have run away from him once again. The movement and the sound of her voice had ceased and she was looking straight at him, as if expecting a reaction of some kind. Ordinarily, he would have chickened out by now, but those expectant eyes nudged him just enough to sputter the words that would change his life forever. For those eyes seemed to ask "What are you waiting for?", and he had no choice but to answer.
"W-w-w-w-will you go on a date with me?!"
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Post by Sugase Akemi on May 13, 2015 12:59:08 GMT -6
....... what.
The brief moment immediately following the sputtered question was somehow both completely empty and full of a million thoughts. Akemi's expectant gaze went blank, body held frozen in place by momentary surprise while her mind processed the scene in milliseconds.
Was he being serious? He had obviously been trying to flirt with her, sure, but no one had ever actually gotten to this point without... But she was... This was... The funniest thing that had ever happened to her.
With that thought, the moment ended, and her right hand slapped itself across her mouth in an attempt to cork the enormous fit of laughter that threatened to burst forth. To the untrained eye, the action may have looked like an expression of shock, but the girl could barely contain her amusement. Sunohara was asking her on a date. An actual date. With her. The alien girl. Oh, the poor puppy...
As the ridiculousness of the situation continued to sink in, she spun around to face away from the oblivious blond, unable to hide the smile that was no longer tugging but yanking at the corners of her mouth. In an effort to calm herself, she inhaled deeply then cleared her throat. This had been far more entertainment than expected. What was the plan? How should she respond to such a... misguided request?
Slowly, she turned to look at the source of her amusement once again, hand slipping down to reveal a light smile in place of her previous exaggerated one. "That would be..." She trailed off, glancing sideways as she considered her words.
This was probably the best entertainment opportunity she had ever been offered. Would a chance like this ever come again? No, probably not... Better to get as many laughs as she could out of him before he realized what she was. Even a puppy would likely sniff her out eventually. The poor thing. He'd no idea what he was getting himself into. So funny. Almost adorable in a way.
"I'll go," she finally stated matter-of-factly, eyes returning to fix on him. "It would be... fun."
Fun indeed.
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