Chapter Text
Why are you crying, Mafuyu? Everything is so right. You're ungrateful. You should be grateful. They do so much for you.
So.. dramatic.
The thoughts couldn't stop running in her head, no matter how much she tried to silence them with tears, hitting her head and just doing nothing. They just wouldn't shut up. And it hurt, knowing how much her parents did for her just to make her happy... right?
They both wanted what was the best for her. Being a doctor meant having a stabilized life with money and contacts. She wouldn't have to worry about anything at all. She could have a nice husband and kids that would also be doctors after her, and...
....
She didn't want any of it. Did she now? The thought made Mafuyu open her eyes again as she changed into her middle school's uniform. She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing... Nothing at all. This wasn't her. It couldn't be. The girl stared. For a long while.
Her eyes slowly moved around and soon enough landed on the keyboard in the corner of her room. It was covered in dust from unuse. She forgot about it when she went to fourth grade. Mom said it was useless. Mafuyu took slow steps towards it. Maybe..
"…………Music, huh..."
Just then, Mafuyu's mother came in with a small smile on her face, holding her bag and already ready to leave for work.
"Honey, are you up to school? You have to leave in 20 minutes."
"Ah.... Yes, mom. I'll be heading out in no time." She smiled back at her, nodding. She couldn't be late to school, after all. She never was. And so exactly at 7:30, she left the house and headed off to school.
The day was normal. Everyone was nice like always. Everyone talked to her and noticed her, everyone wanted her attention. She helped students in their studies and did the teachers' tasks if they asked her to. That's what everybody does, right?
"Earth to Mafuyu! What's up with you today?" One of her classmates suddenly called out at the end of the day as she packed her things, ready to go home.
"Ah... Sorry, didn't hear you! What's going on?" She put on a kind smile, bobbing her head slightly as she nodded.
"We're going to a mall with Miyuki and Toru. Do you wanna go with us? Pretty please!"
"Ah, well... I'd love to, but I have to study for the math test today. And I already told mom I'll be home right after school, so... Maybe some other time, girls." Mafuyu didn't like to lie. But the thought of that keyboard in her room kept nagging her for the whole day. She just... Felt like playing again.
"Awww.... No fun! Well, it's alright. Put mom first. How about tomorrow?" The girl pushed more, and Mafuyu just couldn't say no.. could she?
"Hehe. Sure. I'll see you tomorrow. Have fun." Mafuyu waved at her classmate and started to walk away, her smile slowly dropping from her face the further she was from school. She just wanted to be home and.... Play a song or two.
And so she did. For a few days straight, she kept coming home and played. Even wrote two or three small songs. It made her feel somewhat less empty for a bit. Or so she thought.
One night as she played, she heard someone walking around the house. The footsteps were light and she heard the familiar shuffle of her mom's slippers moving around. She was probably getting water or something. Mafuyu stopped playing, sensing the woman's presence getting more near, definitely to check if she was sleeping. So the girl quickly turned everything off and almost jumped in the bed, faking sleep just as her mom opened the doors.
"...Such a good girl. Sound asleep." Her mom commented, smiling softly as she closed the door back and walked out of the room moments later.
Good girl. Was that who she was? She didn't know anymore. But... If her mom thought so..