Sonata No Kioku
16-Buying guitar & An Immediate Date

It had been more than 20 minutes I waited at the appointment place, but the figure of Haruka never came. Even his nose was not visible at all. Where's this troublemaker girl?

"Where the hell is he, isn't he dropping off?" I don't stop looking at cellphones just in case he's afraid to send a message.

When I was focusing on the phone, suddenly a little boy came from the direction of the comic store, hit me and then fell. The sound of crying was heard after that, of course, my phone fell and broke.

"Wire.... Okaa-san must be angry if she knows this" my inner self.

"Huaaa, what's this red-red?? It hurts!!!" The whimper was accompanied by crying.

I let the phone crumble, then bowed to the boy. "Oh, don't cry. You're a strong and brave boy, so little wounds won't hurt you" I tried to stop her crying.

"But... But... This red-red won't stop, please help me onii-chan" said the little boy who suddenly hugged me with trembling hands.

"If you stop crying, onii-chan will treat you." I said

"Certainly so?" Ask

"Yes, let's now go onii-chan to the park. Can you walk? Need me to carry?" I asked back.

"I can walk, because I'm a big boy!" The answer.

"Then let's go" asked me in response to the boy's nod quickly.

At the same time, Haruka who was exhausted from running in a hurry was confused because she could not find me, plus an unanswered phone call.

A few moments later, the boy and I went back to where they were. I was surprised to see the face of Haruka who was like a dying person sitting resignedly in front of the comic store.

"Haruka!! Where the hell have you been?" My toot.

"Gihh, should I say that?! Where have you been, I have come you do not exist! Not picked up on the phone!! I'm freaking out!!" Haruka said with anger

"I'm sorry, I was actually treating this kid's wound for falling in the park. I can't pick up the phone because my phone is broken" I replied.

"That's it, great. I guess why, if the business is done let's go to the store" Haruka's body aura also changed drastically after seeing this little boy I took care of.

"We split up here, do you know the way home?" Manya make sure.

"Yes, I want to know!" Answer the boy

"Okay, I'll see you again, Kinta-kun. Be careful on the road" I cried.

"Onii-chan and Onee-chan are also careful. Sorry to interrupt your date. Dah" the boy ran and disappeared at the turn.

"Who? Dating?!" I said half screaming.

"Hahaha, let him be a child. Yuk pull out" said Haruka.

"Kok he just take it anyway?" I thought confused and hurried to follow.

"Hihihi, date yes... Hopefully I can feel it" inner Haruka while giggling amusedly.

🎶

To reach the Shop Haruka said, we had to get out of the entrance of the train station across, then walk down through the pedestrian bridge. After walking a little from the stairs, we just went to a crossroads near the settlement.

"Alright we've reached the store" cried Haruka.

I momentarily looked at the shop flanked by two equivalent buildings. A signboard reading 'Kamitani Music Shop' was displayed above the entrance. The shop was indeed narrow and looked old, but because of the clever decoration made the atmosphere look different.

"Have a good time wooing my brother, surely you will get a big discount" he suggested before I started to walk into the store.

"How is it, I have no bargaining experience" I started to break out in cold sweat and hesitated to enter.

"But, Ta-chan. Why play guitar? Though you haven't played in a long time, not to mention the words from Kanzaki-san" Haruka kept asking about that, according to my predictions.

"Well that's obvious, 'cause I want to play guitar again" I answered the origin.

"Basic liar. I've known you since childhood, you're the type of person who doesn't do this all of a sudden. You think I just met you?"

"It doesn't matter, do I want to play again? You'll always support me, right?" I asked while smiling at him.

For a moment I saw Haruka speechless with blushing cheeks. I don't know what he's thinking but I have a bad feeling.

"Te-whatever it is." he said, holding my hand and walking into the store.

"What the fuck was that smile?? Uhkk, make it unfocused. Then why do I feel something pounding like this??" Haruka's restless mind.

Now, Haruka and I walk across various CD shelves and decorations in the form of musical instruments and notes. The smell that is typical of music stores also makes me feel nostalgic with the joy that I got when I was a child.

"Is there a manager??"

As Haruka asked, a man walked out from the back door of the counter right next to the manager's room. His silver-colored hair was messy and the shirt worn was not neat. Though his looks and posture are like athletes, but it is all marred by his childlike appearance.

His face also looks soybean, plus there are several folds of eye bags. A horrible sight for a person as handsome as himself.

"Oh, it turns out you're Haru-chan. Sorry yes, now I am busy taking care of the store files and also the preparation of the swimming championship next week." said the man who turned out to be her brother Haruka's husband.

"It's okay anyway, I'm here just dropping off my friend who wants to buy a guitar" Haruka replied as she elbowed me.

"Good then, please look first" he said.

As he was about to get closer to the counter table, the voice of someone sounded from the manager's door that was wide open.

"Sir manager, the stock of violin strings and guitar that was ordered two weeks ago, is not appropriate"

"Who? Senpai anyway, today work too?" Haruka.

"Senpai?" I repeated one word from Haruka's words while looking over.

I was surprised to see the young girl there. It turned out to be true, it was Yamauchi Keiko-senpai who once invited me to join the music club. The style of clothing worn at school and here is very different. At school he looks like an exemplary student, but here like a rock metal guitarist. It's very eccentric, even though he's wearing a uniform and a shop apron.

"Yo, Haruka!—loh? Why would this kid be in a place like this?!" He asked while watching me from top to bottom.

"Why is Senpai here? Do you work part-time?" I asked.

"It's absolutely right. I started working here when I stepped on 3rd grade Junior High, counting as a free time filler. By the way, we meet again huh, boy. So you've decided to join, haven't you?" He spoke at length.

"That's it, no thanks" I replied.

"Huff, why?" Ask a little disappointed.

Senpai clasped my shoulders while saying. "Don't rush to decide. Take it easy, you don't have to feel sad here. Because this is my shop. Bwahahaha" exclaimed senpai.

"I'm sorry, it's actually my shop." said the man beside Haruka.

"Yes yes, it's the same. By the way, the manager, our client who ordered the strings was angry. Did the manager forget to keep his stuff?" Senpai began to divert the conversation.

"That's it, I don't really know either. It should be the supervisor who takes care of that... But today he's sick." said the man.

"Sir, you're not as reliable as your wife" ledek flat senpai.

The man who is the husband of Haruka's sister also looks like he wants to cry, so he cannot be said like that by a second-grade High School boy.

"Keep aside on that business, hey boy! Wanna bet?"

"What's? A bet?!"

🎶

The sky that has now become dark decorated with stars, making the light of the lights in this narrow room shine brightly. At a time like this, I whose intention is to buy a guitar, even have to be involved with this beautiful paras senpai bet.

"What order?" My toot.

"Before that, how much money did you bring?" He asked back.

"Well, a lot" I replied.

"Correct? Hm... Not bad either" immediately senpai took my wallet from the back pocket of the pants without saying first.

"Cih, don't take anyone's wallet at will dong! Especially when viewed" I said.

From the busyness of Arata and Keiko-senpai who are still fighting over each other's wallets. Haruka was silent while putting on a fake smile, she now felt a pain that came out of nowhere. And it hurt even more when I saw Arata and Senpai who were both cool.

"Kok I'm so sorry to see them familiar?" Think Haruka.

"I turned it back. Let me tell you, with 60 thousand yen, you don't necessarily get the desired item. Here it's all expensive stuff" said senpai.

"What is it?" My toot.

"That's a lie, Arata-kun... Don't listen to him" the manager replied as he snatched away.

"Haha, sorry manager. All right, let's bet, boy!" His shouting.

"What bet?" Ask Haruka.

"This boy and I are going to suit each other. If the boy wins, I'll give you half the price for the master's best recommendation guitar. If I win, I have the right to choose a guitar that suits your budget. How's it?" senpai.

"Wait a minute, Keiko-chan. Why is your attitude so impudent to customers?" The manager began to panic and confusion.

I looked towards Haruka who was encouraging me to know what her purpose was. Then, I stared at Senpai confidently.

"All right, I accept. But is it okay to sell it for only half the price?" I'm ascertaining.

"Don't bother about it, anyway I will also still make a profit even though it is sold for half the price" said the senpai quickly.

"Keiko-chan's chat... Do not divulge company secrets to customers." said the manager who almost cried.

"Whisper the manager. Yosh, let's just get started, boy!"

"Maybe.."

"Ready? I won't use my style.."

"Whatever.."

Keiko-senpai at a glance seemed to be sharing her mysterious smile and began preparing her choice.

"From the way he clasped his hands, like he was going to pull out a paper. Alright I'll reply with scissors!" My inner.

"Stone... The scissors... Paper!" Along with the voices of the two of us, I immediately pulled out the scissors. At first I was pretty sure I won. However, the senpai fingers that I predicted would open to form paper, now even closed clenched like a stone.

"...Hem, kid, you're too gullible" he said.

"Did? L'm... Lose...?"

🎶

"Yeay I won, well now according to the agreement I'll pick you a guitar. Surely that does not drain the contents of your wallet too much" he exclaimed.

He ruffled my hair while smiling triumphantly. I just pouted unmoved looking at myself who was easy to get into his cheap traps. Meanwhile, behind Senpai, the manager seemed to breathe a sigh of relief for whatever reason.

"Alright, come with me to the shelf over there" she asked as she pulled my hand. But when Senpai grasped it, suddenly another voice sounded.

"No!" The sound of a slap from Haruka's hand hitting right on the back of Keiko-senpai's hand.

"Lho's? S-sorry senpai I didn't mean that..." Stuttered.

"Hahaha, it's okay. Let's go quickly there" said the senpai who did not hold my hand.

"Basar Haruka is stupid!!! I am why the hell?! Instead of feeling guilty, why am I relieved?" Inner Haruka.

On the other hand the manager just laughed a little at the innocent and insensitive little sister of his wife. "Basic teenager, just envy.."

My steps came to a halt right on the shelf to the right whose color had faded. I raised my head and looked at Senpai. The guitar was a beautiful light brown that looked to be flickering under the spotlight.

"I highly recommend this guitar. If you look again it includes beginners in the guitar world" he said.

"Emm, price?" My toot.

"55,500 yen, tax included. Since you're a new customer here, I'll give you a discount of 50 thousand yen." The answer.

"All right, but why this guitar?" my many.

"Hmm? This smart and handsome guy like you doesn't know? It's called the bass guitar. The strings are indeed less than other guitars and the resulting tone is lower saru octave" explained senpai.

"Not that, I also know that this guitar is a bus. But I mean, why would Senpai suggest I buy this guitar?" I looked at him confused.

"Well, because it's still a guitar family, right?" He answered with origin.

"That's true, but..."

Haruka suddenly put her left hand on my shoulder and said.

"Because music clubs lack bass players, that's what senpai means"

• • • • !

"AHH!! SO THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS!" It took me four seconds to realize what Haruka said and what Senpai was trying to do to me. Senpai had planned to buy a bass guitar from the beginning, so that there was no other option to get me into his music club. The one who didn't realize his plan from the beginning, was just me.

"Basic Ta-chan, you're too honest and innocent huh" led Haruka as she pinched my gnarled cheek.

"Whispering ah. but right from the beginning I was not interested in entering and again I also had no intention to play the bus!" my dispute.

"That's also true for you who don't really intend to master the basics of playing guitar right?" He immediately threw away my words of protest just like that.

"After all, you bought a guitar to challenge Kanzaki Shiori-san right, so as not to take yourself for granted anymore?" Her speech.

"On target!!" My inner.

"You can't win with a regular guitar. Because Kanzaki has great potential in the world of music, he can also turn some piano and violin songs perfectly into a guitar. But if you use the bus, I'm sure you'll win!"

"Uhh. I'm stuck!"

🎶

The night wind was roaring along the way. In the end, I bought a bass guitar because I was lulled by senpai's words and regret. In a few steps on the way home, I could only sigh and curse myself.

"You why Ta-chan? Not feeling well?" Ask Haruka.

"No, just a little sorry" I replied.

"Haha, no need to regret it. After all, you've finally bought what you want. So it doesn't matter, does it?" Haruka smiled at me and tried to cheer me up.

I smiled back and somehow my mind became a little calm thanks to his words earlier. "You're right, thank you for today"

Haruka was silent for a moment with a reddened face. Silence was also felt between our steps.

"Why is her face so sweet!! What's the matter with me exactly??" Inner Haruka.

"Oh yes, Haruka" I called him and he looked quickly.

"We went to the new cafe at the end of the road was yuk. Count as a token of gratitude" I asked.

"What?? Tumben once Ta-chan is like this to me?? It was like a date.." Haruka's face turned red.

"If you think of it as a date it's okay" said I who took his hand and walked into the cafe.

"Dating.... So this is what it feels like? I feel like someone is going to explode inside me. ahhhtang!! What is this feeling?! Even though it's night, why do I feel hot?" Think Haruka.

A long night to avenge Kanzaki's actions ended in awkward conversation between me and Haruka at the cafe. Somehow Haruka so show another figure of her shy cat. Plus, he so take me to special places people who are dating and often tease me. During the night, I was treated as Haruka's official girlfriend... Really troublesome!

"Did she really think of this as a date? Though I'm just talking.." My mind is upset.

"Hihihi, an impromptu date is really fun! Especially with the one who made me flutter!!" Inner Haruka was happy.

🎶

🌼つづく🌼