U. (Pixiv)

~

"Hey everyone," I enter the room and Mugi passes me a cup of tea. "Thanks. I got soaked on my way here, so this should help me warm up."
"Looks like Yui wasn't the only one then," Ritsu says as she takes a bite of her cake.
"What do you mean?"
"On her way here to school this morning, Yui got the same treatment," Mugi explains.
"Why does that not surprise me?"

"But I'm impressed!" Azusa said. "You sacrificed yourself to save your guitar."
"I don't doubt that Yui would do anything for Giita," I say.
"Praise me more!" Yui squirms in her seat from all of the glory given to her.
"I wish she would put that effort in studying, though." Yui sulks after I turn the compliment around.

"By the way, how did you do in your exam?" I ask her.
"I aced it!" She shouts with pride. "Full marks!"
"Woah, really?" I say in astonishment. "Good job!"
"And good job to you too," Mio said. "We know how difficult it can be to tutor Yui."
"I didn't do too much. I only assisted her for, like, two of the days. And Nodoka was there for the first day." I admit.
"Don't say that!" Yui said. "You helped more than you say you did."
"I think the fact that you could put up with teaching her for an hour, let alone two days, is impressive in and of itself," Ritsu said.
"I agree," Mio said. "The last time Ritsu tried to tutor her, she was more of a hindrance than a help."

"Getting back on topic," Azusa stops Ritsu from making a snarky retort. "You should be careful. If you don't take care of and dry your guitar, mold can grow on the fretboard." I see Mio flinch as I take a seat next to Mugi and Yui.
"Really," Ritsu smirks. "Like, you open the case to find the fretboard is covered in mold?" Mio turns away from Ritsu in fear. She must care for her bass a lot.

Yui gets up to check on her guitar. "Giita shouldn't have transformed like that..." Azusa gets up to check as well.
"There's no mold, but the strings have some rust." She said.
"Should I restring it?" Yui asks.
"When was the last time you did?"
"Two months ago."
"Then it'd be a good idea."
"I should probably restring my guitar as well," I said as I get up from the table with them.

I reach for my guitar's case and take the yellow raincoat off it, before removing the guitar from its case completely. I also take a packet of guitar strings from the front pocket. I lay it down on the floor and begin to loosen the pegs. I then double-check that I've loosened the pegs, and check once more.

"Are you okay?" Mugi asks. "You're checking your pegs a lot."
"I'm fine," I assure. "I guess I'm just a bit cautious."
"How so?" Mio asks.
"Six years ago I was watching my uncle as he was restringing his guitar. He was cutting all of the strings, and when he got to the last one it mustn't have been loosened properly. It bounced back from the tension it had built up and left a large gash on my right cheek. There's still a scar if you look closely." I point Yui, who had left her guitar, to my wound. Mio suddenly screams, which catches me off-guard. "What happened?!"
"Nothing," Azusa said. "Mio is just a little jumpy. She doesn't do well with pain, scary stories, or large crowds."
"Oh," I feel bad now. "Sorry, Mio. I didn't know."
"No, no," Ritsu dismisses me. "You did good." She leans closer to Mio's ear. "Your bass's string snaps and leaves cuts and bruises all over your body."
"Stop!" Mio pleads.

"Giita, let me put a new set of strings on you," Yui said.
"It's good that you take care of it," Azusa said. "But you don't have to talk so dearly to it every time." Yui looks up at Azusa.
"Is Azunyan jealous?" Azusa gasps in response.
"It's a triangle," Ritsu said.
"Not you too!" Azusa shouts.
"Love Triangle!" Mio said. "That sounds nice and bittersweet."
"Mio too?!"
"I haven't been here long, but it seems you have a tough competition, Azusa," I said. "Giita is very dear to her."
"Of all the people, I'd expect you to stick by my side!"
"Aww, Azunyan, you should have told me sooner," Yui said. Azusa screams in frustration. 

~

"Finally done restringing." Yui sighs in relief.
"That took you a while," I say as I finish my cake.
"Don't get burned out yet," Azusa said.

"C'mon let's practice," Mio said. "The rain stopped to so it feels-"
"Really?!" Yui jumps up. "Let's go home! Now's the chance!"
"What about practice?" Azusa asked.
"I don't want Giita to get wet!" Yui said.
"You're talking about Giita again," Azusa said.
"As I said, Azusa: Tough competition." Yui places her hands on Azusa's shoulders and gave her a wide smile.
"You're still very precious to me."

"Yui," I say. "I have an extra raincoat for your guitar at my house if you want it."
"Let's go!" Yui grabs your arm and drags you out of the room.
"Wait! I still need to grab my stuff!"
"Fine!" Yui stops mid-sprint, turns sharply, and drags me back to the music room. The sudden stop caused me to fall on the floor.
"Ow..." I slowly get up and grab my stuff.

"That's everything," I say as I pick up my bag, umbrella, and guitar.
"Good, let's go." Yui doesn't give me a chance to breathe as I am taken once again. I turn to see the rest of the Light Music Club smiling at me.

"Poor Y/N," Azusa said. "Yui didn't even let him say goodbye."
"She must be eager to get that raincoat," Mio said.
"Yui's always been wild," Mugi said. "To be honest, I'm surprised she let him come back to get his stuff." Ritsu sits smirking as she watches Y/N and Yui sprint down the stairs.
"What's with that look..?" Mio recoiled a bit in fear.
"You know, Azusa, I'm starting to think that your Love Triangle might evolve into a Love Square."
"Enough of that!" Azusa shouts. "Wait... what do you mean?"
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that," Mio said.

~ The next day.

"Japan's climate isn't very suitable for instruments," I heard Azusa say as I enter the room. Thankfully, I didn't get soaked as much as I did yesterday.
"I know," Mio replied. "Hello again, Y/N." She greeted me. I waved in return. The rest of the club wave back.
"If the neck absorbs moisture, it can warp, which affects tuning." Azusa continues.
"Really," Yui replies.
"You can tell if you check with octave tuning," Azusa explains. 

I start to lose focus of their conversation as I watch the rainfall outside. It's not going to stop anytime soon, is it? I open the case of my guitar just to double-check for any damage. Thankfully, I found nothing. I look back to the window once more before my thoughts are interrupted by Ritsu.

"We're going to practice," She said. "Do you want to listen?"
"Sure," I respond. "It's been a while since I've heard you guys play."
"Hey!"
"Sorry! I didn't mean anything bad by that."
"Why don't you choose a song for us to play?" Mugi suggested.
"Good idea, Mugi." Mio praised. I am handed a sheet of all of the songs the Light Music Club has made.

"How about My Love is a Stapler?" I suggest.
"Stapler it is," Ritsu sat down on the stool behind her drums and lifted her sticks. She waited for everyone to get into their respective places. "Ready?" They all nod.

The music starts, and not long after, Yui begins to sing. There it is again. That clumsy personality Yui brought around disappeared in an instant. She didn't miss a single beat. It's astonishing how much Yui changes when performing. Of course, it isn't just her. Mio, who picked up the vocals after Yui, changed as well. The usually timid Mio from before disappeared and in her place was a Mio that sang and played her heart out. And then, I noticed that their smiles returned. Their smiles that always appeared when performing returned once more. They enjoy these moments. I wonder if I would enjoy performing as much as these five do?

They finished their song with a breath of relief and looked at me for confirmation.
"That was excellent," I say. "You all seem to have so much fun when performing. Just you five against the world. I don't know why you don't practice more."
"I wonder why," Mio and Azusa say in unison as they look in Ritsu's and Yui's direction.

Ritsu stands up to get a drink and looks out of the window. "It just won't quit," She said.
"No," Azusa replied.
"The wind's picking up too," Mio added.
"The weather forecast said it's going to rain again tomorrow," Mugi told us.
"That's not too surprising," I say.

"I guess I'll leave my bass here tonight," Mio said. She sets the case of her bass against the wall.
"That's so mean, Mio!" Yui shouts, startling her.
"W-What is it?" Mio asked. Yui got lower and faced Mio's bass.
"Poor Elizabeth," Yui began to tear up. "You're being abandoned."
"I'm leaving it here so it doesn't get wet!" Mio gets frustrated at Yui. "And don't give it a name!"

"Why don't you leave your guitar here too?" Ritsu suggests.
"You should," Azusa agrees. "Now that the plastic cover looks like that." She looks at a pile of plastic and tape sitting on a desk.
"How did I not notice that until now?" I ask myself. "Wait, what happened to the raincoat I gave you yesterday?"

"I forgot I had it when I woke up this morning..." She avoided looking me in the eyes.
"Why am I not surprised?" I say under my breath.

Yui sets her guitar case next to Mio's bass. "If a stranger comes and talks to you, don't follow him. Elizabeth, you'll be spending the night together with Giita."
"Stop giving it a name!" Mio barks.
"Muttan," I hear Azusa mumble.
"I think that's a perfect name!" Mugi must have heard her too.
"S-Stop reading my mind!" Azusa shouts.
"But you were talking out loud." Mugi looks confused.
"Well, then mine would be called..."
"Akio!" Yui shouts.
"Akio," I repeat. I see Ritsu smirk out of the corner of my eye. "What is it..?" I feel unnerved.
"I'll tell you later," She says.

~

"It's pouring!" Ritsu complains.
"It's going to soak our shoes," Azusa said.
"Leaving the bass behind was the right move," Mio said. We continue our walk until we part ways with Mio and Ritsu.

"Anyway, guys, see you tomorrow," Yui said as she crossed the street. Azusa and Mugi said their farewells as well. I was about to follow them when Ritsu grabs my collar.

"Ow," I groan. "What now?"
"Have you figured it out yet?" She asks.
"Figured what out?"
"Why she gave your guitar the name Akio," She finishes.
"Because it sounds like acoustic?" I reply.
"Well, yes, but check the kanji."
"The kanji? The kanji is 'bright' and- wait, what?" Ritsu's smirk widens. "That's just a coincidence." I try to dismiss it.
"Is it?" I look towards Yui.
"It is... I think." I say. I watch as she stumbles across the road.
"Giita, I'm so worried." I hear her mutter.
"You better catch her before she faints," Ritsu lets go of my collar. I look at her, her words in my mind. That's got to be a coincidence. Yui can't have done that on purpose. Besides, I don't even feel that way towards Yui... right? Great. This is going to keep me up all night.

~

It's 11 pm at the Hirasawa household. Ui is sitting in her room with a pen to paper. "Finally done with my homework," She stretches and leans back in her chair. Suddenly, she is stopped in her tracks by a peculiar sound. "W-What's that noise?" It continues. Ui slowly and carefully draws her attention to the closet behind her. "Is it a burglar?" The sound doesn't stop. The constant scratching keeps persisting. Eventually, Ui gives in. "S-Sis!" She gets up from her chair and runs into Yui's room.

"Sis! I hear strange noises!" As Ui enters her sister's room, she finds her 'burglar'. It was Yui clawing her walls. "What are you doing?" Ui asks.
"Ui!" Yui cries.
"What's the matter?"
"Ui!" Yui repeats, collapsing onto her bed.
"Is everything all right, Sis?" Yui regains her footing and grabs onto Ui, holding her tight.
"I'm too worried about Giita staying at school to go to sleep!"
"Sis..." Ui smiles at her goofy yet caring sister.

"I can't stand it anymore!" Yui breaks free from Ui's grasp and reaches for her window. "I'm going to get him!"
"Sis!" Ui shouts. "We're on the second floor! It's raining outside! You're still in your pajamas!"
Yui acknowledges her sister's plea. Well, one of them at least. She jumps off the bed and sprints out of her room and down the stairs.
"Where are you going?!" Ui calls after her and follows her out of the room. She finds Yui sitting next to the front door putting on some shoes. Without answering, Yui dashes out of the house and towards the school.
"Sis!" Ui puts on a pair of shoes and chases after her.

~

I yawn and exit the bathroom. "I should probably head to bed now," I say to myself. I walk across the hall and enter my room. "Hey, Bud. You sleeping with me tonight?" He doesn't reply. Instead, he focussed on looking out of my window. "What do you see?" I peer out of the window to have a look. "Nothing but rain... C'mon, Bud, let's sleep." He doesn't stop looking out of the window. He must see a squirrel or something.

I lay down on my bed and wrap the covers around me. My mind immediately goes back to what Ritsu said earlier. "Just a coincidence," I tell myself. "But," I start to doubt myself. "Akio doesn't sound too much like acoustic. What if she did mean that?" Bud starts to bark. "I guess I'll have to ask her the next time I see her." He doesn't stop. He must see the squirrel now.

"Shut that dog up!" I hear my dad call from across the hall.
"Quiet down, Bud," I tell him. "The squirrel won't do any harm out there." Bud begins to jump on me. "Ow! What is it?" He looks back out of the window. "That's no squirrel..." I open my window to find Yui running down the street in the pouring rain.

"Yui!" I call her. What is she doing? "Yui!" I call louder.
"Shut up!" My dad shouts again. "We're trying to sleep!" No good. I'm going to have to go out there and get her.
"Thanks, Bud!" I pet him and we both run out of my room and to the front door. I open it and call for her again. "YUI!" She heard me this time. She stops in her tracks and looks in my direction. "What are you doing?" I ask her. She ignores me and continues to run down the street. What happened? I put on my shoes in record time and chase after her. "Stay inside, Bud. You'll get wet." He barks in confirmation.

"YUI!" I call once more. She's not that fast so it doesn't take long for me to get within earshot. She finally turns to face me. "What are you doing? It's raining!" Yui turns around to look down the street. "Come back to my house and we can wait out the rain." She keeps glancing at me and down the street. "C'mon." She looks at me once more before nodding. We walk back to my house together.

"Can I ask why-" Before I can speak, another voice cuts me off.
"Sis!" We both see Ui running towards us.
"Ui!" Yui picks up her pace and embraces her sister.

"Thanks for catching Yui for me," Ui said.
"No problem," I said. "Come back to my house and we can wait out the rain," I tell her.
"Thanks,"

"Wait here and I'll grab some towels," I tell them. I sprint up the stairs and enter the bathroom, grabbing three towels for us all. Before I can make it back downstairs I'm stopped by Futaba.
"What the hell were you doing?" She said. "Why are you wet?"
"I saw someone I knew running in the rain so I went to catch them," I replied.
"Why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," I said.
"No, why did you go outside to get them? How do you not know if they were going for a nighttime run?"
"In the rain? In their pajamas?"
"Fair point. Well, don't stay up too late. And don't make too much noise. People are trying to sleep." Futaba walks back to her room and I go back downstairs.

I come back down to find not only Yui petting Bud but Ui as well. "Here you go," I hand them both a towel. "So, why was Yui running in the rain?"
"Yui was worried about leaving her guitar at school for the night," Ui explains.
"Wait," I'm astonished. "That's it?" I look to Yui who was too busy petting Bud to listen to our conversation.
"Hehe..." Ui rubs the back of her neck. "Sorry about that."
"It's over, now. Well, almost. Would you two like some tea while we wait for the rain to stop? It'll warm you up a bit."
"Yes, please," They both said. I enter the kitchen and come back with two cups of tea.

"Excuse me, but where is your bathroom?" Ui asks.
"Just down that hall. The second door to the right." I point her in the direction she needs to go.
"Thank you," Ui stands up and follows the directions I gave her.
"Yui," I take her attention away from Bud. "Can I ask something?"
"Go ahead," She returns to petting Bud.
"Why did... what made you name my guitar Akio?"
"'Cause, it sounds like acoustic." She responds.
"Is that it?"
"Yeah," I sigh in relief. "Why?" She turns to me.
"Just wondering." She's being sincere. Yui's a horrible liar.

"Can I ask you something?" Yui said.
"Sure,"
"What do you think of the Light Music Club?"
"You seem to talk about the Light Busic Club a lot when we're alone."
"I know," She replies. "I don't know why that is."
"Well, I think the Light Music Club is a fun place to hang out. I've never been in a club before, but it feels like I'm a member even though I'm not a part of the band."
"You are a member,"
"I am?"
"Yeah! You've been with us long enough. I feel like it's only fair to call you a member. And besides, you've done what only a Light Music Club member can do."
"Like what?"
"You've sacrificed things for the sake of the club."
"I have?"
"Yeah! The first time we met, you went out of your way to witness our Welcome Concert for the freshmen. Then you kept visiting a school you didn't even attend to watch us practice. And today, when you caught me in the rain."
"Thanks..." I smile. "It feels good to hear that I'm a member. This club changed me for the better. Before I met you all, I was by myself most of the time. Yeah, I have friends, but they're not close friends. They're more like classmates than anything else. I can only consider one of them to be a good friend of mine. Thanks to the club, I've got more friends than I had at my own school. I'm grateful that you invited me to the club." I slowly began to realize what I was saying. "Sorry... I'm a bit tired. I don't know what I was talking about. Don't tell Ritsu about this. She'll make fun of me for being all sappy." Yui laughs.
"I won't," We sit in silence, gazing at each other.

"Looks like the weather is clearing up," Ui said smiling at me. I fake cough a bit before looking out of the window.
"So it is,"
"We should probably head home now. Thank you for having us!" Ui said.
"No problem. Yui was due a visit with Bud anyway." As Yui is saying her goodbyes to the dog in question Ui whispers to me.
"She chose you over her guitar," Ui walks out of the front door. "C'mon, Sis. Thanks again!" They both wave as I wave back.

Thanks, Ui. Now I really won't sleep.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! As of me posting this, it is officially 2022 (for me at least)! I hope you all have a spectacular year!