"Ray~ Happy birthday! How're our siblings? Are they all right?"

He listened to her voice quietly, unable to comprehend his feelings. He hadn't heard that voice in a long time and having her little, now-8-year-old companions hand him the tape recorder, caused his heart to clench more.

"I swear to God, if Lannion and Thoma are listening to this first I'll kill them." She muttered, "Anyways, uh, are you doing good?"

"I am."

"I hope you're alive."

"I am."

"Um... What else?" Her voice hushed, before morphing back into her lively tone, "Oh, right. I didn't tell you why I stayed with them, did I?"

"You didn't."

"Welp, you'll get your answer once you finish listening to this! Ahaha!"

He cracked a faint smile, hearing her laugh again was as angelic as ever.

"I am alive though. Promise."

"I doubt that."

"Say—remember how I used to play songs once your birthday rolls around? Well, I learned a new one! Wanna hear?"

He pressed his lips together, "Please..."

"Alrighty then!"

She was silent for a while. Shuffles were audible. Ray didn't know which instrument she would play this time.

There was a vacant room in the Grace Field House, which (Y/N) occupied with musical instruments she received from Michelle. You see, Michelle adored playing beautiful melodies, which is how she gained (Y/N)'s attention. Day by day, the two would learn new musical pieces in separate instruments.

Sometimes they would harmonize, other times they would play solo.

But, after Michelle's departure, (Y/N) was left all alone. She continued to play, of course, but she can get lonely once in a while. This is why Ray started to accompany her.

He would listen to her practice. He loved how graceful she was once her fingers graze against any sort of instrument.

By now, she learned almost all the melodies.

She huffed softly before her fingers started strumming the strings.

He was familiar with the piece and instrument. Though the melody suits better with the piano, she chose to play it with a different instrument. A koto.

She rarely played the koto, mostly because it was tricky just by strumming it perfectly.

The song was River Flows In You, one of (Y/N)'s personal favorite songs. Ray remembered how she would describe it, "A song that can flow straight into your heart."

She thought her description sounded cliché, but he thought it was earnest.

Though the song required two kotos, she managed with only one.

He could imagine her fingers plucking it gently, her eyes closed and her emotions seeping out of her body.

It lasted for a minute, ending with an abrupt halt. (Y/N) didn't memorize the whole tune, leaving her in silence.

"That's all I remember, heh..." She giggled nervously, "Hah, it sucks, I know."

He pictured her smiling brightly.

"Oh right! So uh, I'm about to end this now. Um, after listening, go to Thoma and ask him for (Y/N)'s journal. He'll know what that means." She instructed him, "Once he gives it to you, you'll have to read through each page, well, if you want. You could just skip through the others and immediately head to page 02."

"Yeah, I barely wrote in it."

"But you'll get your answer."

"...Okay..."

"Good! Guess this is the end of the tape!"

"Once again, happy birthday Ray!"

"I love you!"

"This is (Y/N), signing off!"

"Bye!"

"Bye..."

His voice shuddered after it ended, he wanted to continue talking to her. It didn't matter if it was just a record, as long as she talked for hours on end, that'd be enough.

Letting out a sigh, he grabbed his bag and shoved the tape recorder inside it.

"Thoma!"

————

happy birthday Ray 💛