It started small.
A whisper here. A glance there.
By the end of the week, I couldn't walk down the hallway without feeling eyes on me.
"Hey, isn't that the guy who plays guitar?"
"Yeah, I heard he's crazy good."
"No way. He's too boring-looking."
"Swear I heard it from Rina. She wouldn't lie."
Rina.
I nearly dropped my books when I heard her name mixed into the rumors.
Of course it was her. Who else could've spilled it?
By lunch, I cornered her behind the vending machines.
"You told people," I hissed.
Rina blinked innocently, sipping a strawberry milk carton. "Told them what?"
"That I play guitar!"
"Ohhh." She tilted her head. "Yeah, maybe."
"Maybe?!" My voice cracked.
"Relax, Music Boy." She leaned back against the machine, her black skirt swishing. "All I said was you're not as boring as you look. The rest… people just connected the dots."
"Rina!"
"What?" She grinned, sharp as always. "Don't tell me you didn't want anyone to know."
"I didn't!"
Her smirk faltered just a little. "…Why not?"
I clenched my fists, staring at the ground. "…Because it's mine. The songs. My mom's songs. They're all I have left of her. I don't want people… messing with them."
Silence stretched between us, broken only by the buzz of the vending machine.
When Rina finally spoke, her voice was softer. "I didn't mean to… I wasn't trying to mess with anything. I just…" She trailed off, biting her lip.
I looked up. Her usual smirk was gone. For once, she looked almost guilty.
Before I could say anything, a voice called out from the hall.
"Haruto!"
We both turned. Mr. Saito stood there, beaming like he'd just found a winning lottery ticket.
"I heard you play guitar," he said. "Perfect timing—our school festival is coming up. We need performers. You'd be wonderful for it!"
I froze.
"No," I blurted.
"Yes!" Rina countered instantly, eyes sparkling.
I whipped my head toward her. "What are you doing?!"
"Backing you up." She smirked again, though it looked forced. "Come on, Music Boy. You've got fans already. Why not give them a show?"
Mr. Saito clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I'll put your name down for the audition."
"I—I didn't agree to—"
But he was already walking away, humming cheerfully.
I turned back to Rina, panic rising in my chest. "You—"
"Don't thank me all at once," she said, flashing that infuriating grin.
"I'm going to die."
"You'll live."
I buried my face in my hands.
She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Trust me, Haruto. This is what you need."
And for the first time since we'd met, I couldn't tell if she was teasing… or if she truly believed it.
---
That night, I sat with my guitar, staring at the strings.
My fingers wouldn't move.
Because no matter how badly I wanted Mom's songs to matter—sharing them with the world still felt like handing over pieces of her I wasn't ready to give away.
And yet… Rina's words wouldn't leave me.
Trust me, Haruto. This is what you need.