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Who: Baku and Chloe
Where: Chitoku Music Room
When: Wednesday, April 19, After School
What: Ogata Baku stars in, "Violin Massacre!"

Over and over again, Ogata Baku would play the basic scales on the violin, and over and over again he would make one or two mistakes. And once again, he would grit his teeth and become even more frustrated than he already was. Just looking around, he could see that some of the other students were naturals at this. Progeny, even. He almost wanted to quit, seeing that his own contribution to the room was little but idle noise at the moment.

Almost.

And so he kept at it, repeating the same scales over and over. Though he hardly improves much, he eventually is able to do that much without messing up every time. Despite the improvement, it does little to encourage him. "Pick a culture club," they said. It will be fun, they said. These rules are just arbitrary, sometimes. True enough, he really did wish he was better with the violin, but the heat of the moment swirls in his thoughts, manifesting in a slight grimace on his face. Maybe everyone else was psyching him out. He decided to take a short break and watch the others for a while.

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The ridiculously tall girl trudged her way towards the music room. Towards her Sanctum. The only place that she actually felt like she belonged, sat in front of a piano. The piano... it was a rare time of respite for her. The ivory and ebony keys didn't glare at her accusingly, and the strings never whispered nastily behind her back. The solid wooden frame never made passive-aggressive comments about how different she was. It was her haven....

When there weren't other students around. After arguing, or rather, debating with Ryuta in the home ec room, she was wondering if she had the patience to deal with the onslaught of what she knew would happen next. The German opened the door and stepped into the music room as quietly as she could. Even if she tried to go unnoticed, it was hard given her circumstances; no one would miss a 5'10" blonde gaijin with a piercing icy gaze if they walked into a room, no matter how quietly.

Chloe briskly walked towards the piano without a glance to anyone. Her gaze was soley on the piano now, even as the whispers began. The German tried to block them out. They were everywhere in the school, and the music room was no different.

'Look, it's the gaijin.'
'Keep your voice, down, she'll hear you!'
'So what?'
'Shhh!'

Always the same. No matter where she went. The German, eager to drown out the vexing whispers, began to play the piano for the first time since arriving at the school. As soon as her fingers found the keys, all worries eased from her as all that mattered was Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor.

Like the others, he had noticed Chloe's entrance and regarded her with curiosity rather than the xenophobia of the other students in the room. Separately, he did notice the whispers going on around him. He returned to attempting his scales again, shutting his eyes for concentration, but the whispers only got louder as the girl took long strides towards the piano. They reached a crescendo, and Baku gritted his teeth again; this was not at his own failure, but rather at the whispering. She hasn't even said anything. She didn't offend anyone. Society's messed up sometimes.

And then he heard her piano performance. His attention shifted to her again as the peppy, light opening was played in perfect time before giving way to the softer portion of the song, all transitioned elegantly. The whispers grew into murmurs just under the sound of the piano. Maybe if you had some determination to practice instead of gossiping, you could get that good, he silently chastised the other students.

And something inside him snapped. The defiant part of the high schooler wanted to take that xenophobia and slap it in their faces. And so he set his violin down gently and confidently strode over to the piano.

"What is he doing?"
"Wait, isn't that one of those newer kids?"

Baku stops at the side of the piano and says nothing, opting to simply lean against it and listen to Chloe's performance. He could feel the eyes on him and their awe of the fact that he would approach so boldly. He couldn't help but crack a smirk at that.

Edited 2013-09-20 19:38 (UTC)

Chloe had her eyes closed as her fingers flew frantically across the keys. The prelude, specifically Op. 23 No. 5, was both frantic and strong, militaristic but heartfelt at the same time. Halfway through, she felt rather than saw someone walk up to the piano. Those icy eyes of hers opened and locked on Baku. There was a smirk on his face...

Was he here to start something? She wouldn't be surprised. The tall girl said nothing as her eyes seemed to bore a hole right through his face, her hands not ceasing their dance across the keys. It wouldn't surprise her if he was one of 'them'. The school was full of them. Most of them stuck to whispering rumours behind her back and snickering when they thought she wasn't looking... but sometimes some of them took a more direct approach. That smirk did not sit well with her... but on closer inspection, she detected no malice in the smirk. Perhaps it was situational and not directed at her? Chloe's intense gaze looked back over her shoulder at the students who had been whispering. The moment she looked over her shoulder at them, the whispers ceased. It was like they suddenly developed lockjaw when her cold and eerie gaze fell upon them.

After a few moments, her gaze returned to Baku as the song came to a strong yet gentle end, the last note ringing softly through the room. Chloe paused a few moments before actually speaking up.

"Can I help you?"

When Chloe began to glare at him, Baku began to wonder if he'd made the wrong impression by simply approaching her, but he held his ground. He simply watched on in silence until the conclusion of her recital. He made sure to keep his stance nonaggressive, perhaps even casual... and it was at approximately that moment that his social sixth sense came into play. That is, he became acutely aware of the sets of eyes throughout the room that were staring directly at him. At her.

"Can I help you?" she said. And for a while, the world stopped and watched. The sound of the fluorescent lighting was almost deafening in comparison to the silence. Ordinarily, Baku might have slunk back to his seat, but his aforementioned defiant streak was in full swing. Not only did he approach her.

"Your skill on that piano is awesome."

But he also complimented her. Baku, 1. Xenophobic pricks, 0. Sure, she looked a little creepy, but Baku chalked it up to an ethnic difference. He was not nearly as picky about that sort of thing as his elders - especially his father. Perhaps that's why he was able to overcome the eyes set upon him.

Edited 2013-09-21 01:42 (UTC)

It was rare that someone would approach her, rarer still if they didn't just start insulting her. This boy... it felt almost like he was doing this to prove a point. Did he actually want to talk to her, or was he just doing this to prove something? Her eyes narrowed almost unnoticeably. He certainly was suspicious, and his compliment felt strange to her. She almost couldn't gauge how sincere he actually was meant to sound. Almost.

"...Thanks."

Her tone was low and even, but her gaze did not leave his face. Did he have anything else to say? Anything else to prove?

The conversation hangs for a moment, and it became readily apparent that Baku hadn't thought his approach all the way through. The whispers start up again and most of the students simply return to their practicing; while a minority had continued to watch the pair, most of them simply dismissed them. This didn't help Baku's train of thought at all, of course. Say something, damnit.

"How long have you been playing?"

His gaze is more curiosity than anything else. She may not be from Japan, but she's still human. Given a chance, anyone could be a good person. A twinge of shame in his countrymen that had regressed to an era of xenophobia returns, but he does his best not to sound like he is pitying her. I know how insulting THAT can be.

His expression changed. It was like his determination had begun to flicker. She had done it again, hadn't she? Whenever people approached her, she scared them away. That was what she wanted, right? To keep people at far more than an arms' length away? Yes, that was what she wanted...

But the way his curiosity poked through his almost flustered attitude made her slightly reconsider his motives. Perhaps she had been to hasty...? The German let out a soft sigh and sat back slightly from the piano, her gaze just as steely as before but with a different quality this time... what was it? Perhaps it was her patience returning.

"Since I was a child." she responded, nodding slightly to his violin. "Yourself?"

He turns his attention to the violin with a dry chuckle, shaking his head, "I'm not very good with it, admittedly, but I needed a culture club and... well, I always enjoyed listening to the orchestras when I was little." The noise of the others faded out into the distance, and he found it easier for his words to Chloe to form as he continued, "My father wouldn't have any of that, though. He always pressed kendo on me... many people have problems inheriting a family business or tradition, but I actually enjoy it. It helps me think."

He falls back into silence a moment, then nods back to the piano, "what made you decide on the piano?" Alright, this isn't going so bad. Hell, I might've met someone more anxious about people than me.

So he had picked it up just recently. Her head tilted slightly, almost inquisitively. It was reminiscent of a curious dog of sorts. He seemed to be more of a sports kind of guy as opposed to a fine arts student as well. Kendo? She thought of taking Kendo instead of Judo... but she didn't feel worthy enough to wield a blade. Judo was the next best option, not to trounce on the good name of judo; it was difficult and rewarding, and she like that about it. She could work up a sweat and not feel like it was a waste. It was a rare feeling for her. She then realized she had been asked a question. In her low, even tone, she responded.

"This."

The foreigner closed her eyes and, once again, her fingers began to slowly and almost sorrowfully plod out the sombre Moonlight Sonata, specifically the first and most well-known movement.

As she launches into another song, Baku is content to simply stand by and listen as she plays. He's heard the song before, but he fights the urge to hum along with the song; he doesn't want to disrupt her concentration or mood, after all. For one as musically inexperienced as he, it's simply amazing to him how she could possibly remember each and every one of those keys, exactly when to press it, and how long to hold it. It's a delicate process that he comes to appreciate through his silence over the course of the song.

Edited 2013-09-21 04:36 (UTC)

Piano was something Chloe felt she could do that no one could take away from her. Since she was a child, a piano had always been a constant companion throughout the years, good and bad. The German had come to rely on the piano almost like a coping mechanism of sorts... the movement came to a close as the last note rang out softly and hauntingly, her eyes opening and her blue gaze returning to Baku.

"Why violin?"

Baku manages to flash Chloe a wide grin before he responds, "there's no way I can one-up that performance or even explain why I chose it, really. I've just always liked the sound, really. Maybe it's fate." His eyes squint slightly and he looks around the room before lowering his tone a bit, giving him an almost suspicious look. "Because my roommate, Ryuto-san... you've probably seen him on all the posters, right? Anyways, he plays the violin too. And guess what his athletic club is?"

As if anticipating her thoughts, he nods, "kendo. I'm telling you, someone has way too much time on their hands to pick us, out of everyone in our grade, to room us together."

Alright, she's not much of a talker. I can carry this.

"How about your roommate?"

Edited 2013-09-21 05:10 (UTC)

Wait, Ryuta was his roommate? Chloe blinked. Well... from what she could tell of this young man so far, he might drive Ryuta absolutely crazy. She didn't know him too well, but she got the feeling he was hard working but easy going. Perhaps not the best with rules? She couldn't be sure. They were both in the same clubs, too. What a strange happenstance, she thought. At his question, Chloe's gaze shifted only slightly to one that was... sliiightly more grim than before.

"Don't have one."

He squints his eyes and his brows furrow at the revelation. She doesn't have a roommate? That's certainly a bit unusual, but then again, 'usual' is not a word I would use to describe... uhh... oh hell, I'm pretty damn rude. His eyes widen slightly at this revelation and takes a brisk, polite bow for Chloe.

"Gah, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ogata Baku." He offers her a warm smile at the introduction and continues, "I'm a second year here. What's your name?"

Chloe stood when the boy introduced himself. Politely, she squared her shoulders and returned the bow instead of shaking his hand as she was used to. Ogata Baku, hm? An unusual name, she had to admit, but it was a good name. He was a second year to boot.

"Chloe Abendroth. A pleasure, Ogata-san."

She sat back down on the piano bench, watching him quietly. A thought mulled around her head for a while and she debated on asking it. Before she could really make up her mind on it, she just asked it anyway.

"Why did you approach me?"

"Likewise, Chloe-san."

Her next question didn't so much catch him off-guard as attempt to draw upon something that he hadn't entirely considered. Good question; why DID I approach her? Probably something to do with social justice and his own contrarian nature, but 'I don't know' is probably not a very good answer to give. Got something better?

His eyes scan over the others briefly before he turns back to Chloe with a gentle shrug.

"To prove that not everyone is like that, I guess."

Maybe to both of us.

"To me or to you?"

The German quirked a brow very slightly as she asked that question. Her tone was even as ever, but she held back a bit of the bite from it. If it was for him, she knew his type. The crusading hero who didn't give a damn about anything but his reputation. He had even used her first name... no one used her first name save for Miyume, and she had given her permission. It wasn't like she minded too terribly; it WAS easier for the Japanese to pronounce her given name rather than her surname.

"To both of us, I think. I... don't really know."

He offers a simple shrug. That was the truth. No use holding back, really. She wasn't shy about asking those kinds of questions, apparently. Perhaps Kuuki-san is a better name for her now. The thought prompts a silly smile from the teen, but he dismisses the thought and looks back to her again.

"No one should have to be by themselves."

No one should...? What a ridiculous statement. No one should be by themselves? Being alone was preferable to her. When one's life is a vortex of whispers, insults, and knowing you don't belong anywhere? Being alone was much more preferable to that. At least when she was alone, there was no whispers to drown out. At least when she was alone she could try to feel like a normal person. She always ended up kidding herself in the end, but the thought was still there. Being alone meant she could be alone with her thoughts... they were terrible thoughts, but they were hers. When she spoke next, her tone of voice held a very small hint of steel to it.

"I prefer it."

It wasn't a hint that he should leave. She didn't actually mind talking to him. But she had never been one to beat around the bush. Some called it tact, she called it being honest.

"Do you?"

Judging by the way he bends over slowly to pick up the handle of his violin case, it was a rhetorical question meant to question her resolve, not an actual inquiry to be answered. You're so cliché, that's only in movies. His other hand fishes a phone out of his pocket and he presses a button on the side, eyes locking on the time. It's probably a good idea to get going, anyways.

"Well, I have to get back soon, or Ryuta-san might get himself into trouble for being tactless again. It was good to meet you," and with that, Baku begins to walk off, but something stops him. "If you're ever interested in kendo, feel free to stop by on club days. I need someone to watch Ryuta get trounced, anyways," A flash of competitive fire burns through his eyes as he smiles and nods, "farewell, Kiiro-san." He says this with a playful lilt to his voice, but before he can be questioned on the matter, he takes his leave of the music room.

Edited 2013-09-21 16:13 (UTC)

His questioning her quietly lit an angry flame in her chest, but she fought it down. Her grim expression never wavered, but she watched him as he turned to leave. Did she? Of course she did. Who in their right might would subject themselves to this kind of thing willingly? Even if there were people like Miyume, or Haruka, or even this Baku... there were about four times as many who were their opposites. She wasn't great at math, but those odds were not in her favour.

As he paused at the door to talk to her again, she saw the light in his eyes. He was a competitive one, wasn't he? Then came the name he called her. Kiiro-san? As the boy left the music room, one hand slowly raised to the hair that fell down into her face. Yellow...

After Baku left, it took a few minutes, but Chloe could hear the whispers start up again. They were quieter now, hushed slightly by the fact that she had actually spoken. For some in the club it was probably the first time she had ever spoken in front of them. As she heard the whispers start again, she looked grimly down at the keys.

"...I do."

And she continued playing

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