000 I planned to spend the day relaxing,
001 and only think about Ari and Lise.
002 Since I was going to do an ensemble with Phorni tonight anyway, I didn't feel like playing my Fortell, so I just read a book on my bed.
003 Spending days off like this was normal routine, so I had no complaints.
004 Well, at least *2AI*2A didn't complain...
005 However, Phorni had been moody ever since the matter from yesterday.
006 [Phorni]
007 "It's already noon, you know? How about practicing or something?"
008 She'd been acting like this ever since I'd told her everything honestly.
009 [Chris]
010 "I'll do that tonight."
011 [Phorni]
012 "I don't mean the ensemble. Don't you have to practice for graduation?"
013 [Chris]
014 "... Hey, do you have a problem, or something?"
015 [Phorni]
016 "... No, not really."
017 [Chris]
018 "Not really?"
019 [Phorni]
020 "Well, you only think about some other girl, even though you've yet to decide on a partner."
021 [Chris]
022 "... That's not true."
023 [Phorni]
024 "That *2Ais*2A true!"
025 [Chris]
026 "But I can't just abandon her like this."
027 [Phorni]
028 "Maybe so, but..."
029 [Chris]
030 "Besides, I might ask her to be my partner."
031 [Phorni]
032 "Do you think she'll agree?"
033 [Chris]
034 "... Maybe, maybe not."
035 [Phorni]
036 "That answer isn't good enough!"
037 [Chris]
038 "Lise... resembles Arietta."
039 [Phorni]
040 "..."
041 [Chris]
042 "Anyway. Before all becomes completely hopeless, it seems Ms. Cordell will arrange something for me."
043 [Phorni]
044 "So in the end, you leave all the work to someone else."
045 [Chris]
046 "Only if all else fails."
047 It wasn't a problem I could solve on my own.
048 I fully believed that Arietta found her calling because Torta and I were there for her.
049 If she had been all alone back then...
050 It was obviously pointless to think about that now, nor would it provide any answers.
051 In any case, Lise didn't have anyone around her that she could call a friend.
052 At least, I didn't think she considered Fal to be her friend.
053 And I wasn't close enough to her to be called her friend, either.
054 But I wanted to be.
055 Lise had been going to the old school building as a means of escape, singing her songs in solitude.
056 Accompanying her performance was all I could do for her right now.
057 Until the day she was able to confide in me, I wanted to continue to go the old school building.
058 [Phorni]
059 "... Oh well, whatever. Better practice by doing a proper ensemble tonight then. If you do, I'll let it slide."
060 [Chris]
061 "Okay, okay - thanks."
062 Phorni seemed serious about exempting me, and ended the exchange with a smile.
063 Feeling relieved, I was about to lie down on my bed again, until---
064 Someone knocked on the door.
065 [Chris]
066 "... Who could it be?"
067 Since I wouldn't obtain an answer by asking Phorni, I shuffled my feet toward the door.
068 [Chris]
069 "Yes! Coming!"
070 [Asino]
071 "Yo! Are you free?"
072 [Chris]
073 "Well yeah, as you can see."
074 [Asino]
075 "Wanna go out for a bit? I have something to discuss."
076 [Chris]
077 "Really? ... Sure, but where to?"
078 [Asino]
079 "I was thinking of grabbing something to eat. Had lunch yet?"
080 [Chris]
081 "Not yet. Perfect timing, I guess. So where to?"
082 [Asino]
083 "How about that trattoria from before?"
084 I just went there yesterday...
085 Well, there was plenty on the menu, so it didn't really matter.
086 [Chris]
087 "Got it. Hold on, I'm gonna go grab my coat."
088 [Asino]
089 "Just make it quick."
090 [Chris]
091 "I will."
092 Leaving Asino there, I went back inside to retrieve my coat.
093 [Phorni]
094 "Hey, is it Asino? Is it Asino?"
095 [Chris]
096 "... Yeah."
097 [Phorni]
098 "Are you leaving right away? I'm going to check him out."
099 Phorni took a dive from the desk.
100 I trailed her figure until she landed safely on the floor, to make sure she didn't crash into something.
101 I only had to grab my coat and inform Phorni of my plans, so I quickly returned to Asino.
102 [Chris]
103 "... Sorry for the wait."
104 [Asino]
105 "No problem."
106 [Phorni]
107 "Ah, so this is Asino,"
108 Phorni said, looking up at him from below.
109 Since I couldn't answer, I just gave a halfhearted nod.
110 [Chris]
111 "... I'm off!"
112 [Phorni]
113 "Be careful!"
114 Asino looked at me with eyes that said, 'He says goodbye to an empty room. What a freak,' so I uttered a short explanation.
115 [Chris]
116 "Just a habit. Don't mind me."
117 [Chris]
118 "So, what did you want to talk about?"
119 [Asino]
120 "I'll tell you when we get there."
121 [Chris]
122 "Fine by me."
123 Having said that, I really was curious.
124 Asino had come to my front door many times before,
125 but he hadn't once come inside, so this was actually the first time Phorni saw him.
126 I couldn't imagine Asino visiting if he didn't have some important business, so his slightly austere profile had me worried.
127 Then again, it was only a five minute walk.
128 We soon arrived at our destination.
129 I quickly wrapped up my order, took a sip from the glass of water, and queried Asino again.
130 [Chris]
131 "So? Is this going to be about my partner?"
132 It was the only reason I could think of why he would bring me out here for.
133 Asino probably didn't want to remember Grave's lecture.
134 He never talked about it the times I'd met him afterward.
135 [Asino]
136 "That too."
137 [Chris]
138 "Strange way of putting it."
139 [Asino]
140 "I guess. Truth is, this is about Liselsia."
141 [Chris]
142 "... Liselsia? You mean Lise?"
143 [Asino]
144 "Yeah. The freshman girl we met in front of the bulletin board the other day."
145 [Chris]
146 "So her name is Liselsia. What a pretty name. But how do you know that?"
147 [Asino]
148 "... She piqued my curiosity. I did some investigating."
149 [Chris]
150 "... Really? Why?"
151 [Asino]
152 "She mentioned Grave's lecture, right? That was what bothered me."
153 [Chris]
154 "... Really?"
155 [Asino]
156 "Anyway, how about giving up on that girl?"
157 [Chris]
158 "... What do you mean? I'm not really..."
159 [Asino]
160 "You haven't been practicing with anyone lately, have you? And I can't imagine you having many acquaintances. Put two and two together."
161 [Chris]
162 "Well, yeah... But how do you know I haven't been practicing with anyone?"
163 [Asino]
164 "Tortinita's been complaining."
165 [Chris]
166 "... I see. Seems you two are closer than I thought."
167 [Asino]
168 "Stop it. She's not my type."
169 [Chris]
170 "Torta said the same thing."
171 [Asino]
172 "I know. So, you intend to partner with her, right?"
173 [Chris]
174 "... I suppose I do. But why should I give up on her?"
175 [Asino]
176 "There are some nasty rumors floating around."
177 [Chris]
178 "... Wai---"
179 [Asino]
180 "No surprise, with an old man like that."
181 ---t a sec, I had wanted to say...
182 [Asino]
183 "Hm? What is it?"
184 [Chris]
185 "... What does Lise's father have to do with this?"
186 [Asino]
187 "Oh, I was just getting to that. It's Grave. Grave Cesarini."
188 At that moment, a waiter arrived to deliver our meal.
189 I straightened myself from my forward-leaning position, then took a sip of water to calm down.
190 Asino slid aside his plate, apparently wanting to finish the conversation first.
191 I wasn't really in the mood to have a relaxed meal now either.
192 I waited patiently for Asino to re-initiate the exchange.
193 I wondered if what he said was something completely unrelated.
194 Or perhaps...
195 [Asino]
196 "The rumors say she's been doing some nasty things behind the scenes - as one would expect from the daughter of that man."
197 [Chris]
198 "..."
199 I had wanted to hear about the rumors, and about the girl herself, from Lise's own mouth.
200 But... was this really something I should stay ignorant of?
201 I might be able to clear up some misconceptions right off the bat.
202 When I thought about it that way, I became unable to stop Asino from talking.
203 [Asino]
204 "She uses her father's authority to wriggle herself into contests filled to capacity, and shows up paired with professional singers."
205 [Asino]
206 "And she boasts about it behind the curtains, acting all high and mighty like the snooty brat she is."
207 [Chris]
208 "... That's enough."
209 [Asino]
210 "One more thing. There's one other thing you need to know."
211 [Chris]
212 "Not interested. I don't believe any of that stuff, anyway."
213 [Asino]
214 "No, you really should know this."
215 [Chris]
216 "... Shut up, Asino."
217 [Asino]
218 "No, you shut up and hear me out. When I said she paired with professional singers... that didn't raise any questions in your head?"
219 [Chris]
220 "... Why should it? Aren't duets fairly common?"
221 [Asino]
222 "A student pairing with a professional wouldn't make herself appear any better, now would she? It would only accentuate her own lack of skill."
223 [Chris]
224 "... So?"
225 [Asino]
226 "But a pairing with a Fortell player would garner a considerable positive effect."
227 [Chris]
228 "But you just said she paired with a singer..."
229 [Asino]
230 "Liselsia Cesarini. First year Fortell student. Didn't I say she was Grave's daughter? Do you really think that man would allow her to be anything but a Fortellist?"
231 [Chris]
232 "... Lise's a Fortellist?"
233 [Asino]
234 "I confirmed it. I suppose she never told you. She might be playing you for a fool as well."
235 [Chris]
236 "... That's impossible."
237 [Asino]
238 "Can you really state that with certainty?"
239 [Chris]
240 "I just did. Weren't you listening?"
241 [Asino]
242 "... Heh."
243 Asino loosened up his stern expression and produced his trademark cynical smirk.
244 [Asino]
245 "I thought you'd say that."
246 [Chris]
247 "..."
248 [Asino]
249 "These were all things I heard from others. Want to hear my personal opinion on the matter now?"
250 [Chris]
251 "Go ahead."
252 [Asino]
253 "Rumors are rumors. I've only seen her once, so I can't make judgments from that."
254 [Chris]
255 "What was your initial impression of her? I doubt she appeared to be that kind of person to you."
256 [Asino]
257 "Maybe not. However, there are also rumors about her crying to draw sympathy whenever things don't go her way. Don't get mad."
258 [Chris]
259 "I'm not mad."
260 [Asino]
261 "Anyway. You're closer to Liselsia than me, so if you say so, fine. I won't tell you what to do. I just want you to keep these things in mind."
262 [Chris]
263 "... Thanks, I guess."
264 [Asino]
265 "No problem. How about your partner?"
266 [Chris]
267 "Hm? I was hoping to ask Lise."
268 [Asino]
269 "... Are you serious? She's not even a vocalist."
270 [Chris]
271 "The rules say it doesn't matter who it is."
272 [Asino]
273 "... Sure, the rules don't. Is she a good singer?"
274 [Chris]
275 "I suppose. From what I could tell from doing ensembles with her a few times, she has a good voice."
276 Besides... if she was a Fortell student, it meant she didn't practice singing a lot.
277 That meant she had mastered the art to such a level purely as a form of self-study.
278 It would be appropriate to say she had talent.
279 [Asino]
280 "Well, if you want to partner with her, I won't object. Do whatever you want."
281 [Chris]
282 "... But then, the problem is whether she wants to partner with me or not."
283 That was no joke in any way - in fact it was the primary doubt on my mind right now.
284 The rumors... were probably all false.
285 [Asino]
286 "You're as strange as ever."
287 [Chris]
288 "... Anyway, those rumors you talked of - none of those were incurred by herself, were they?"
289 [Asino]
290 "Huh?"
291 [Chris]
292 "Like borrowing her father's authority. I can't imagine Lise herself would flaunt stuff like that."
293 [Chris]
294 "But that Grave would be capable of doing it, right? Same for pairing her with a professional singer."
295 I slightly stressed the word 'that,' in mimicry of Asino.
296 [Asino]
297 "... Well, there's a possibility she's been hiding it, right?"
298 [Chris]
299 "If she's been hiding it, how come people call her a snooty brat?"
300 [Asino]
301 "Maybe she only told her friends?"
302 [Chris]
303 "And where are these friends?"
304 [Asino]
305 "Maybe this triggered the break of their friendship."
306 [Chris]
307 "..."
308 Certainly, that was one interpretation.
309 But that couldn't be true.
310 If she were a person swinging around her authority like a parasol, she wouldn't be cooping herself up in some decrepit building.
311 She could have used her influence to practice in a much nicer place than that.
312 That was why I could state with certainty that Lise wasn't lying.
313 If I was being deceived after all, all I could do was to admit that I'd been wrong,
314 and caution myself not to trust people too easily anymore afterward - like Fal said to me yesterday.
315 ... Then again, I didn't think there was even an atomic chance of that happening.
316 [Asino]
317 "... Well, whatever. Judge her any way you want. Let's eat before it gets cold."
318 [Chris]
319 "Yeah."
320 I had almost forgotten about my lunch.
321 I pulled the plate back in front of me and decided to quickly finish it, as it had already grown cold.
322 [Asino]
323 "Well, that's all I wanted to talk about."
324 [Chris]
325 "Thanks. So in the end, you came to encourage me, didn't you?"
326 [Asino]
327 "Wrong. I just came to laugh at you for getting deceived."
328 [Chris]
329 "I'm not getting deceived."
330 [Asino]
331 "Let's hope not."
332 [Chris]
333 "... You know how Lise is, right?"
334 [Asino]
335 "I don't. I've pretty much never talked to her."
336 [Chris]
337 "..."
338 [Asino]
339 "Anyway, good luck with Liselsia."
340 [Chris]
341 "... Thanks."
342 Saying only that, Asino left.
343 He wouldn't wish me good luck if he really thought I was being deceived.
344 Of course, had I pointed that out to him, he would have refuted it, saying he was just wishing me luck not to get deceived.
345 But despite his constant ribbing, he still has a sense of camaraderie within him.
346 Although Torta might deny it, it was probably in part for my sake that Asino had investigated Lise.
347 Then again, it was also true that he hated Grave.
348 Having returned to my room, I dropped down on my bed.
349 I had plenty to think about.
350 First of all, the fact that Lise was a Fortell student.
351 As I'd already told Asino, I wasn't too concerned about that.
352 There was no problem with her abilities.
353 It was just that the problem may be with Lise herself.
354 ... Despite being in the Fortell department, she must love to sing.
355 Perhaps she was going to the old school building to hide this fact.
356 After all, with Grave's personality, I doubted he would allow it.
357 But...
358 The people around her would surely change their mind about her if only they heard her sing.
359 I was convinced of that.
360 But I wasn't even able to grant her such an opportunity.
361 We would only be avoided at the cenacolo, with no one stopping to listen to her.
362 ---Which was exactly why the graduation recital was the perfect opportunity.
363 [Phorni]
364 "... Why the serious face?"
365 [Chris]
366 "... Because I'm a serious person."
367 Phorni, who I'd assumed had disappeared when I got home, suddenly appeared before me.
368 She was looking down at me from my desk.
369 I reluctantly rose up to talk to her.
370 [Phorni]
371 "At least announce your arrival. So? What did Asino want?"
372 [Chris]
373 "... He came to encourage me about Lise."
374 It was a very frank way of putting it, but it captured the essence of the matter.
375 That was just his way of doing things.
376 [Phorni]
377 "Tell me more! That's not all, is it?"
378 [Chris]
379 "... Nah."
380 It seemed Phorni sensed something, perhaps from my serious expression.
381 Her voice sounded full of confidence.
382 So, I told her everything that had happened.
383 I doubt it could hurt being completely honest about the matter with her.
384 I hoped there would come a chance Phorni could listen to Lise sing.
385 I wouldn't exactly be able to tell Lise of Phorni's impressions, but I myself wanted to let her hear.
386 [Chris]
387 "... And that's that."
388 [Phorni]
389 "..."
390 [Chris]
391 "So I'm thinking of asking Lise to be my partner."
392 [Phorni]
393 "If that's what you want to do, then what's the problem?"
394 Unlike the reluctant way in which she gave me her exemption this morning, she sounded very earnest now.
395 [Chris]
396 "Thanks. I'm not sure how it'll turn out, though."
397 [Phorni]
398 "But don't forget to tell Torta, okay?"
399 [Chris]
400 "... Why suddenly bring up Torta?"
401 [Phorni]
402 "Because she's surely concerned about you."
403 [Chris]
404 "Yeah... I guess you're right."
405 After that, I threw myself down on my bed again.
406 Neither Ari nor Torta had priority in my mind right now.
407 It wasn't like I was ignoring Ari, obviously.
408 I was going to write a proper reply to her letter that was supposed to arrive today. My feelings for her hadn't changed.
409 I just didn't want to become a heartless person who would leave a friend - although we only performed ensembles together - alone with her problems.
410 My feelings for Lise were different from my feelings for Ari.
411 So for now... For now, all I could do was to silently apologize to Ari, and ask for her forgiveness.
412 'Dear Chris, is it still raining over there?
413 The weather here is great as usual.
414 Is it not about time to decide on a partner for the graduation recital?
415 Your previous letter said that it might become a person other than Torta. Do you have a candidate?
416 You're not good at making friends, so I am a little worried.
417 I have a feeling I wrote the same thing before when you just moved, but in the end you were able to make wonderful friends - like Asino.
418 So to be honest, I am really not that worried about friends.
419 I am worried about something else.
420 Since we live so far apart, I only know of the things that Torta writes to me about, right?
421 So I've gotten a little anxious.
422 Because I heard there was a girl among your candidates.
423 What's more, I heard she was cute, and kind.
424 Since the chances were fifty-fifty it would become a girl, I am not particularly blaming you.
425 But it is still making me a little uneasy.
426 Anyway, I know I am just griping, so please let whatever I write here slide.
427 On another note, I have an unfortunate announcement to make.
428 I don't think I will be able to visit you this year.
429 About three years have passed for me as well since I started working here.
430 Since I've been working hard, and enjoy what I do, I have recently been allowed to handle the entire baking process myself, and even train newcomers.
431 It will be especially busy during the year-end period, so I don't think I will be able to leave.
432 It is such a shame I will not be able to see you this year.
433 But it seems you are busy practicing for your graduation as well, so let us remain patient for a while longer.
434 Come to think of it, that patience... will not be required for much longer in the first place.
435 I am very much looking forward to the day of our reunion.
436 Until the next letter, goodbye.
437 PS:
438 No matter who becomes your partner, please let Torta be the first to know.
439 She is always concerned about you.
440 She is looking after you in my place, after all.
441 Arietta'
442 I needed a little longer than usual to snap out of the lingering memory of Ari.
443 My final resolution on who to ask to be my partner was definitely leaning toward Lise.
444 But I was still unsure whether or not to inform Ari of this.
445 There was a chance she might refuse, but moreover, if I brought up Lise, there would be a lot of things I needed to explain.
446 [Phorni]
447 "Chris?"
448 [Chris]
449 "... Huh?"
450 [Phorni]
451 "What did Ari write?"
452 [Chris]
453 "Same as always."
454 Gently stroking the surface of the neatly folded letter, I repeated those words in a mutter.
455 [Chris]
456 "Same as always..."
457 Somehow not feeling like writing a reply straight away, I kept sitting in my chair for a while.
458 Following the reasoning I had made up in my mind, I decided not to ask Torta to be my partner.
459 But I wondered if I wouldn't end up betraying both Ari and Torta this way.
460 An uneasiness I couldn't quite place was clenching itself around my heart.
461 [Phorni]
462 "Chris."
463 Phorni was already standing on top of the music stand, beckoning me.
464 [Phorni]
465 "Let's sing."
466 [Chris]
467 "... Sure."
468 In the midst of the wave of music, I was no longer shackled to the matters that were troubling me.
469 I could feel Phorni's pleasant voice in my skin, and I let myself get carried away by the wave that felt as if it rocked the core of my soul.
470 I wasn't sure how many pieces we had performed in succession,
471 but we had certainly played a lot more than usual. Before I realized it, it had become a time I would normally be asleep.
472 Without taking the moment to bask in the afterglow of the performance, I hastily looked outside the window.
473 It was dark out, which told me it had become very late.
474 I quickly made preparations to write the reply at my desk.
475 [Phorni]
476 "Oh my, it's gotten pretty late."
477 [Chris]
478 "Yeah. I have to hurry and write a reply."
479 [Phorni]
480 "Or else you won't have it done before tomorrow morning."
481 Phorni seemed unusually curious today as to what I was writing.
482 [Chris]
483 "Didn't I ever tell you not to look at what I write?"
484 [Phorni]
485 "Who cares, I'm interested."
486 [Chris]
487 "I won't be writing anything out of the ordinary."
488 [Phorni]
489 "What about your partner? She asked you about it, didn't she?"
490 [Chris]
491 "... I guess."
492 [Phorni]
493 "Are you going to write about Lise?"
494 [Chris]
495 "... I probably won't go into detail. I'll just write to her saying I'm practicing together with a freshman girl."
496 [Phorni]
497 "... I see,"
498 Phorni said in a murmur, then disappeared into thin air.
499 I put the finished letter in my bag and dropped down on my bed.
500 I've thrown myself down like this often today, but now, perhaps due to the fatigue in my body, I fell into a slumber immediately.
501 bl06
502 'Dear Chris, is it still raining over there?
503 The weather here is great as usual.
504 Is it not about time to decide on a partner for the graduation recital?
505 Your previous letter said that it might become a person other than Torta. Do you have a candidate?
506 You're not good at making friends, so I am a little worried.
507 I have a feeling I wrote the same thing before when you just moved, but in the end you were able to make wonderful friends - like Asino.
508 So to be honest, I am really not that worried about friends.
509 I am worried about something else.
510 Since we live so far apart, I only know of the things that Torta writes to me about, right?
511 So I've gotten a little anxious.
512 Because I heard there was a girl among your candidates.
513 What's more, I heard she was cute, and kind.
514 Since the chances were fifty-fifty it would become a girl, I am not particularly blaming you.
515 But it is still making me a little uneasy.
516 Anyway, I know I am just griping, so please let whatever I write here slide.
517 On another note, I have an unfortunate announcement to make.
518 I don't think I will be able to visit you this year.
519 About three years have passed for me as well since I started working here.
520 Since I've been working hard, and enjoy what I do, I have recently been allowed to handle the entire baking process myself, and even train newcomers.
521 It will be especially busy during the year-end period, so I don't think I will be able to leave.
522 It is such a shame I will not be able to see you this year.
523 But it seems you are busy practicing for your graduation as well, so let us remain patient for a while longer.
524 Come to think of it, that patience... will not be required for much longer in the first place.
525 I am very much looking forward to the day of our reunion.
526 Until the next letter, goodbye.
527 PS:
528 No matter who becomes your partner, please let Torta be the first to know.
529 She is always concerned about you.
530 She is looking after you in my place, after all.
531 Arietta'
532 I needed a little longer than usual to snap out of the lingering memory of Ari.
533 My determination on who to choose as my partner had returned to square one.
534 I'd decided to forget everything about Lise yesterday.
535 And I was going to perform the ensemble with Phorni as usual.
536 It was just going to be a little lonelier this Natale.
537 I was disappointed, but if Ari didn't have the time, there was no helping it.
538 I wrote up a short letter expressing my disappointment, and put it in my bag.
539 [Chris]
540 "C'mon, let's begin."
541 [Phorni]
542 "... Yeah."
543 I had told Phorni everything about Lise.
544 She replied merely with an 'I see.'
545 [Phorni]
546 "Okay, we're going to keep at it until late today!"
547 [Chris]
548 "Haha."
549 Our ensemble that day continued until late at night.
550 It would take a little more time for me to forget about Lise.
551 But all would be fine as long as I kept thinking about Ari.
552 Time would pass by quickly that way.
553 Just like how it has for the past two years.
554 The coming three months should pass by in a flash.
555 b13