NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: Confusion
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Thick and Mellow would be the appropriate adjectives to describe the unique and elegant sound of the electric nylon strings guitar. Some might say it was tedious, horrible, and even boring. Some would say its sound was good but bla bla bla...Under the excuse of not being catchy in the ears of most listeners. Some couldn't accept the uncomfortable feelings when arranging notes using nylon because they were used to co-exist with the traditional guitar for so long that they couldn't get rid of the sharp, pleasant, and warm vibration from those steel strings. Perhaps, it was too picky for users to accompany.
In short, it doesn't play its role well in modern music nowadays. Moreover, the price of those nylon-string guitars wasn't pleasant either. Due to its oblivion recently, no shop was willing to take the risk to sell it. From the economic view, it was just a simple matter of 'demand and supply'. That was why I had to ask Aka-chan-sensei for help in this matter. Ordering Online was good but I couldn't feel at peace in my mind.
"So, what's your opinion?"
I turned my eyes to look at a group of my acquaintances.
Of course, my deaf-note old hag didn't show any expression on her face while she was nodding her head like a bamboo pipe at the onsen.
"Weird"
Nagisha commented. She stared blankly at the guitar in my hands. It definitely sounded good, right? The acoustic one might be slightly different but you could tell clearly when it was the electric one.
"Yes, it's weird and buzzed at the end..."
Charlotte seriously hit the main point.
"You're right. Buzzing was the unique sound of the electric nylon-string guitar. Although it doesn't sound obvious, it still maintains the quality without too much change"
I wanted to show a smug face but felt helpless instead.
"Sui-san is right. However, this kind of guitar isn't even on the top list for the artist to use for their singing...but it's widely used for solo pieces. I mean the song with only instruments"
Aka-chan-sensei gave her knowledge to all the members.
"Sui-san, don't tell me you want to use it for your next song?"
Aka-chan-sensei was suspicious and asked. However, she was right. I intended to use it. If I were Suiri 8 years ago, I would have stuck to complicated creations like my piece 'Past Life' and abused many instruments like my first rock song 'Oblivious Summer'. However, people had time to be more mature. I gradually preferred to be simpler as time passed by.
I nodded my head in agreement.
However, I heard an excited murmur from the old hag.
"Wealth is coming ♪♪ Wealth is coming ♪♪"
"..."
The old hag was humming in a weird melody. Her straight face began to bloom with flowers. There was even a 'Kira-kira' special effect on her face, not stopping me from sending a disgusted gaze.
"..."
I didn't know if this old hag received my signal but she immediately adjusted her expression as if nothing had happened.
"Did you say something, my lovely auntie?"
I asked with a bullet gaze.
Then, her eyes changed from excitement into calmness. She was just as shameless as ever.
"It must be your imagination"
She retorted.
"No, I didn't hear w..."
Before I could retort, she immediately blocked me.
"Yes, you heard wrong"
"I...."
"You're wrong"
Damn, this old hag!! As long as I opened my mouth, she didn't even let me talk!!! My chest jumped in anger. If it weren't for my emotionless face, wrinkles would have dominated my appearance.
Geez~
Everyone laughed because of the old hag's atmosphere and reaction just now. After twisting and turning, I finished the test trial of my newly bought guitar and packed everything up. Today's schedule was quite tight and busy. I couldn't stay in this paradise for any longer. And then...
"Hmm...but I can't think of the melody that uses this electric nylon-string guitar..."
Aka-chan-sensei closed her eyes and imagined her music in her head. She was right. Until now, I haven't seen anyone who played it in their song [including vocals]. However, I have had some inspiration lately.
"Sensei, you don't need to worry. It's just because there hasn't been a pioneer. It's like the first person who discovered that milk from a cow was drinkable, or poop from the weasel eating the coffee beans could be used as an ingredient..."
I explained slightly.
"Oh! Reasonable"
Aka-chan-sensei nodded her head in agreement.
"Eh!? Wait a minute! There's something wrong! Oiii! How can you say it with a straight face!?"
Aka-chan-sensei scolded fiercely.
"But it's true, isn't it?"
I replied. In fact, in Viet Nam country, there was a drink called 'Weasel Coffee' and I found it horrifying when looking for more information. Then, a question popped into my mind when I thought of how the first person could touch and 'taste' it...I meant, there was an explanation from a scientific researcher but HOW... It was the same as the cow-milk situation. We all knew it was drinkable. Then, thinking back, the first person must have done something to the cow and figured out that the milk was drinkable!!!
"Sui-san, stop that thinking immediately!"
"I know it may be true but can't you find another decent example like our first male Omega Nobunaga in the past!?"
"Who brought happiness to our decent life as an Omega and erased the sexual discrimination!"
Akane-sensei gave a huge and mighty example. Wow~ I wanted to clap my hands now.
"But it'll be easier to understand when we look at those simple things around us, right? Akane-sensei~"
I titled my head and tried to act cutely and innocently.
"You...! You!!!"
Suddenly, Aka-chan-sensei hugged her head as if her blood pressure soared. Teasing her was so fun~ The agitating loli was a pleasure to watch. Hehehe~
*puff*
"So you belong to the 'doing first thing with a cow', and we're the person 'questioning what are you doing to the cow?'"
"???"
The old hag immediately swiped away my momentary pleasure, leaving only hatred in my heart!
"Hehe~ Don't give me that look. It's a pit you digging by yourself"
"I admit that it's so easy to understand now. You're a genius, Sui-chan"
Mei-obaa-san shrugged with a hint of sarcasm.
"It'll be easier to understand when we look at those simple things around us, right?"
"Quoted from the big star of Dreamscape Delight"
She continued to tease me. Then, she turned serious and murmured low enough for me to hear.
"Suddenly I preferred the quiet and silent Suiri more than the talkative one"
Gununununu~
I was unwilling!!! What did you mean, old hag!!?
"Senpai, you deserve it!"
Guh~ An arrow immediately pierced through my heart.
Even my lovely junior Nagisha betrayed me! She had taken a stance with the old hag!
"Sorry, Sui-chan, I can't save you"
Gah!
Even Charlotte, the main heroine, had confessed her love to me!!!
There was only one person. I looked at the red-haired girl holding Shiho-chan with a pleading gaze. However, her gaze dodged me skillfully, stabbing another arrow in my heart~
Gunununu~ Even my master had left me...
I hated this bullying from the old hag too much!
"Hahaha~"
And then, the unexpected savior fished me out of the dilemma.
"Sui-san"
Aka-chan-sensei called out to me.
"Hmm, yes?"
She didn't call me 'Student Sui-san' like in the past because she wanted to request me under the Shimori Akane identity instead of the 'Sensei' position. I knew her intention when she used that address.
Of course, when I owed Aka-chan-sensei a favor, I had to pay her back.
"I know..."
It was a deal between us in the chat. Although Akari had given up her dream and became a trainee teacher recently, her love for music had never been extinguished in the first place. The evidence was my memories of her. The male protagonist would ignite that flame from the ash and take away her heart. It had never disappeared.
"Please, take care of Akari-chan, my sister. If she did something wrong, just scold her, and teach her how to be right. I believe in you, Suiri"
Aka-chan-sensei spoke.
Ah, yes, Akari's weakness was performing in front of a huge stage with massive audiences. Her bocchi personality had become an obstacle, causing her to make more mistakes on the stage. Then, it led to this situation. Akane-sensei asked me to take care of the Heroine Akari.
We decided to start at 0. Akari-sensei was currently the mysterious guitarist, who helped me to record songs and practice in the band. It went smoothly but she couldn't stand on the stage by herself. She had failed more than 2 times at the school performance. Although her mistake wasn't serious, it had deeply affected her confidence (She didn't have it in the first place anyway) and guts.
I also wanted to share my experience but it originally came from my past life, the memory of a certain musician from another world. It couldn't be helped at all.
Besides that, did you feel something wrong? You just asked a JK to take care of an adult!!!
"Sensei, this is the nth time you have abused my ears with that sentence"
I said.
I didn't know whether she was afraid of her sister walking into the old path of her past or she was a helpless siscon. However, I never dared to slack off in my job. Plus, I wouldn't let anything go wrong like the old me.
"Then, I disturb you like before"
Aka-chan-sensei smiled gently but I could see a trace of sadness. This face...I knew it. The memories of the boy Haruto began to flow in my mind. Unwillingness, regret, and self-blame attributes were all blended into that face. 'Student Hoshiyuki-san, I don't want you to have any regret in your school day'. Aka-chan-sensei had a regret...Akari could fulfill her dream with the help of the male protagonist in the original. Then, what about the cannon folder character like Akane? I asked myself. There was no sentence mentioning her past, or the wish-fulfillment of the background character.
For almost 3 years, she hadn't opened herself to me. Not revealing her hurtful past, she just wore the facade of a mature adult in the body of a child.
"Akari will come to your company at noon. Maybe she's still doing her exam right now"
Akane-sensei returned to her normal state and pondered. As for the exam, Akari was attending the international test of foreign language because her certificate had just expired 2 months ago. I was quite surprised and even curious how she could pass the speaking test with her bocchi personality.
"I know what you're thinking! She's timid but not incompetent to the point of not being able to communicate with strangers!"
Aka-chan-sensei grumbled.
"Yes, yes, yes"
I had gotten used to her adult's care for her sister.
"Geez~"
She stomped her feet in anger and hummed to ignore me.
Just for a moment, I mentioned that Charlotte had confessed her love to me...I knew and even hung her around like a 'bad woman' in my impression from my previous life. I should give her an answer soon but how? I had enough of escaping, running, and avoiding... Should I steal the alpha from the protagonist? Would he blame me? Besides that, the two of them were a stranger to each other now.
"Ja~, bye-bye, sensei"
Every meeting had its own end. I had to separate from this so-called paradise in my previous life. I waved my hand gently.
"Bye~ bye, Sui-san"
I bid farewell and didn't forget to cuddle the little Shiho in Sasaki's arms.
"Meow~"
"Bye~ Shiho-chan"
"Meow~, meow~"
Ah...What were you trying to say to me? I wished that there would be a class to understand the cat's language. Realizing our parting, Sasaki dropped Shiho-chan to the floor and cleaned the left fur on her outfit.
We all together left the music instrument shop while my gaze kept lingering on the blond's figure walking in front of me. Was it all right to accept her love? 'If you don't like her, just say I don't like you, Sui-chan' my mom once said. She was right and I knew I was a scum who was just a coward, acted like the autistic victim. It was just too late...If I had accepted her confession earlier, there wouldn't be to the point of dragging another innocent person into my mess. It was like I played with their feelings.
I felt sorry for Otonashi Sakura...True love? What was its definition? You're determined to grow old with the other party. Holding hands, kissing, exchanging love, marriage, and having kids were the future I'd imagined when I was differentiated into an Omega in this world.
I didn't want to admit it but I had abused Charlotte's feelings for me. 5 years of chasing me wasn't a joke. I just turned a blind eye to be more comfortable. Was I worthy of her? A pathetic coward was afraid of being hurt again...
Dreamscape Delight Building, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo City.
"Then, Sui-chan, I can only accompany you there"
Arriving at Mei's entertainment company, Charlotte also had to part away because of her busy schedule. The sole heir of the Shinonawa family had unbearable pressure for her age. Ah, I forgot that an unexpected character was born out of nowhere. Just as you thought, Charlotte also had a little brother older than Rei 1 year. At Rei's birthday party, the little boy of the Shinonawa family. To share the loneliness and the pressure of Charlotte, the couple decided to bear another child. However, he hadn't appeared much in the circle because of his frail body.
If I remember correctly, Charlotte was the sole heiress because her parents couldn't afford to have another child. And here we were. Charlotte told me he was artificially impregnated in the tube.
Seeing her busy face, I couldn't help but feel a little weird. Hyouri had disappeared, and now Charlotte didn't stick with me like glue. My heart felt a little complicated...
"Um..."
I replied. She seemed to be dejected...
"Wait a minute..."
I held her hand and tried to look for the heartbeat feeling when she confessed to me.
*Ba-dump ba-dump*
The heartbeat...It was racing fast in my chest. People say that your heart only beats faster when you meet your crush. How long had I tasted this feeling? The nervousness...Long time no see...In my previous life, I experienced it when I met Erika and the first time I performed on the stage of my university.
"What's wrong? Sui-chan"
She asked.
"Um...Nothing, be careful..."
Guhhh~ As expected of me, the cowardness was also the reason my 'best friend' could take Erika away...
"Then, I'll go now"
She turned around and walked to her family vehicle parking there. What if? What if another Omega took away position in her heart? What would I do? Finding countless excuses was for what?
"Sui-chan, just now, your behavior just now was so weird. Don't tell me you have already liked that little alpha, Char-chan~, huh?"
The old hag spoke but it stabbed straight at the center of my heart.
"No, I just wanted to test the so-called 'love' from the Internet if I love her"
I hurriedly found an excuse to cover my clumsiness. Indeed, the heartbeat raced but I felt something wrong...I meant it was my heartbeat physically but not mentally. Was it the result of gender's instinct in this world? Or just...Hyouri?
I didn't know why...I felt my heart racing but not because of my own. This feeling...Had Hyouri come back to me? For more than 10 years we had coexisted. This feeling must be so. It was from Hyouri, right? Damn you, Suiri...Now, you had to blame your buddy for your feelings.
"So, how's the result, Sui-senpai?"
Nagisha at this time spoke, giving me a surprise. I didn't expect her to dwell on this topic.
"I don't know"
Was it love? Or was it just an instinct of an Omega?
"Phew~"
Nagisha sighed in relief, making me puzzled.
"Sui-chan, you don't need to be in a hurry. I know the deadline set for you becomes an invisible pressure and you shouldn't let your so-called 'guilty conscience' be mistaken for 'love'"
"You still have a long time to learn it"
"Don't make a stupid decision hastily or regret it in the future"
"..."
Woa~ Who was talking to me now? Was she the same old hag that I knew?
"Oh, sis, have you eaten something wrong this morning? You sound like a philosopher"
That was right. I agreed with the person just talking now. It didn't fit her image at all but she was right. I was a bit hasty...
Hmm? Eh? Mom!!! I turned my gaze toward my mom. Oh, why did I act so surprised? My mom was my manager in this company. It was a matter of fact for her presence there. Behind her was the familiar purple-haired girl that I knew. Yet, they were a little weird today... Their faces seemed to be shinier and livelier than the image I remembered last night.
"Hmm, sis-in-law seemed to have a good 'night', huh?"
The old hag smiled meaningfully, confusing me. However, Tenoji-senpai's face turned red like a tomato and I noticed some red marks like mosquito bites around her neck. I asked worriedly.
"Miwako-nee, do you need some cream? It seems hurt"
I approached her in no time and acted like a gentleman...I meant gentlewoman.
"Ah, Sui-chan, don't worry, just a bad mosquito bit me hard this morning"
Miwako hurriedly covered her neck and smiled strangely. Hmm...It was so suspicious. She acted so 'sus'.
Jii~ I tried to find fault in her sentence by staring straight at her eye. I wanted to read her thoughts. If you were bitten, you should've accepted my help. Her cold sweat poured down as if her secret was about to be discovered by me...
"Ara~, Sui-chan, your mommy's also bitten by an energetic mosquito this morning. Apply some cream for me, please"
Natasha-Okaa-sama said, interrupting my reasoning. Oh, my mom was also bitten...
"Why does the airport have so many mosquitoes now? I need to be prepared for tomorrow..."
I murmured in a low voice and took out the cream to apply for my mom.
"Phew~"
Another sigh of relief appeared from my future sister-in-law. Both Nagisha and Miwako had a deep secret there but I wouldn't dwell too deep.
"Senpai, you're an idiot"
"..."
Nagisha murmured something but I didn't hear clearly.
Meanwhile...
Shiori and Maria were sitting on the seat of the airplane.
Witnessing her mother's haggard face, Maria asked out of worriedness.
"Mom, you have tried your best..."
Maria said in a sympathetic tone.
"Daughter, you're not better than me either"
Shiori smiled slightly but her eyelids wanted to close at this moment. Her daughter's haggard face made Shiori feel better at this moment. At least, there was someone sharing the same story with her.
*Achuu*
Suddenly, both of them sneezed hard
"It seems that someone's talking about us"
"..."
Maria said.
'Or, we just wore less clothes last night'
Both of them thought in their heads.
"Good night, daughter"
Shiori was the first person to log out of the Earth first.
"You too, Mom"
Maria also couldn't withstand the sleepiness because of extravagantly spending stamina on exercises last night...