CPSG 08

Chapter8

(Bookmarked)
(Manami, Reiko, and Masami)

The next day…
Miraculously, Manami was at school.
Normally, she wouldn’t put down her paintbrush until morning, but since Emi had promised to model for her again today, the two of them had ended up falling asleep in each other’s arms around three in the morning.

But with the spring sunshine making her drowsy, Manami was absentminded and sleepy.

“Manami, you look sleepy. Were you up all night painting again?”
Manami, lying down with her head on the desk, murmured:
“Sort of… but I only painted until three this time, then went to bed… Still, I’m amazing, right? I actually came to school.”
“Yes, very amazing. As expected of a middle schooler!”
Reiko stroked Manami’s head as she lay there, brushing away the strands of hair scattered across the desk.

At that moment, Nakayama Masami, who had just been chosen as class representative in homeroom, came over.

“Rei-chan, you’re good at piano, aren’t you?”
“I wouldn’t say good, but…”
“I know you are! I’ve been listening since elementary school at the music recitals. But we never ended up in the same class, so I never had the chance to talk to you.”
“You shouldn’t have worried about that. You could have talked to me anytime. Do you play piano too, Masami-chan?”
“I gave up halfway through. That’s why I admire people who can play…”
“What are you saying! It’s not too late. You should try again.”
“No, I can’t. I don’t have the time. Cram school…”
“Ah, right. Piano only matters if you’re applying to the music department.”
“But I write poetry. Poems…”
“Oh really? A proper little literary girl, huh?”
“So, if possible, I was hoping someone could put music to my poems.”
“What? That’s so boring!”
“Rei-chan, don’t you compose music?”

Masami looked disappointed that Reiko showed no interest in composing.

“Composing is a hassle! That’s Manami’s territory!”
“Manami-chan plays piano too?”

When Masami called her, Manami sluggishly lifted her sleepy face.
“I hate piano…”

Her absentminded tone made Reiko point at the book Masami was clutching to her chest.

“What are you saying? That’s… a poetry collection?”
“Yes, it’s a collection of poems I wrote myself.”
Masami handed it to Reiko.

It looked like a plain white autograph book, filled with colorful pens and colored pencils, with bright illustrations mixed in among the poems.

“Wow, so cute. Masami, you’re surprisingly meticulous.”

Drawn by the word “cute,” Manami also asked:
“Can I see it too?”
“Of course!”

Reiko handed the poetry collection to Manami.

“Do you write poetry too, Manami-chan?”
“No, I don’t write poems. I draw.”
“Draw? Like paintings? Japanese-style? Western-style?”
“Yes. I do oil painting, though…”
“What are you talking about! Manami is actually a real pianist!”

Reiko burst out impatiently.

“You play piano too?”
“A little, I guess…”
“Oh, come on! Don’t play innocent!”
“Rei, I don’t think you’re using that phrase right.”
“Close enough!”

Reiko had a habit of blurting out words without much thought, just going with the mood of the moment.

She quickly changed the subject.

“Masami, are you free during lunch break?”
“Yeah, I don’t have any plans.”
“Then let’s go to the gym together. I’ll show you Manami’s true identity.”
“Rei, you’re exaggerating! But Masami-chan, you should come too. I just found a really nice poem—I’ll put it to music for you.”

As the bell was about to ring for class, Manami tied back her long hair with a rubber band and said to Masami:
“Really?”
“Of course! And let me borrow this poetry collection for a bit. I want to read it more carefully later.”
“Sure. Please read it thoroughly!”