Sight-Infused

“So, what do you think?”

Both Mina and I clapped our hands, despite Mina’s clapping being a lot more silent compared to mine. I was left speechless at the performance I just witnessed. Somehow, despite just joining recently, Aliya had managed to fit in perfectly with the group.

Ok, maybe not perfectly, but all she would need was a bit more practice. She also sang the song perfectly, and to think it had just been maybe two hours since she joined them. I parted from her directly after school ended, and there’s no telling how long she spent with Mina. She may have less than two hours to learn, and she still managed to go this far.

“Sorry for not telling you about this. We’ve been practicing a lot.”

She pulled a napkin from her pocket and wiped her sweat off.

“Nah, it’s alright. Besides, your performance really is spectacular.”

“Thanks! We’ll be performing at the club festival next Saturday. Please come and watch us.”

She smiled brightly.

“Of course. I’ll be looking forward to your performance. Good luck to all of you.”

I waved toward the group, Aliya along with the upperclassmen waved back. I headed to the exit, but I realized Mina didn’t follow me. This time, she stood at the same place where she watched the others, holding her hands on her chest. She stared at her feet, her body slightly shivering.

“Umm…”

She struggled to speak, parting her lips with no voice coming out.

“Mina?”

Aliya asked, worried.

“Can I… can I join you?”

The band practically froze at that point. They all looked at Mina, who was now frozen in place. I couldn’t help but wonder if Mina’s soul had left us at that very point. The band members looked at each other, wondering what to do. I approached Mina and whispered,

“What can you play?”

“Umm… the keyboard.”

I looked around the room, finding a conveniently placed keyboard at the side. I walked over, without asking permission as everyone else was still frozen. I opened the cover and turned it on, before signaling to Mina to come closer. She shakily approached and played a tune.

“That’s awesome! I don’t know you have such talents!”

Aliya was the most excited, Plona nodded behind her.

“Such talents. Of course, you can. This means we’ll retain our original composition, this is perfect if I say so myself.”

“Alright, time to practice even more!”

Zriat banged a random tune on the drums. I guess he really did like them.

“Good luck with your training.”

Leaving the relieved Mina and the band behind, I walked alone out of the room. I checked the clock.

Five-fifty in the evening.

Time to grab dinner, I guess…

I walked alone to the cafeteria, passing various students heading out of the building. Leaving the music room, a weird sense of loneliness fell upon me. To see-

“-To see even the introvert have the courage to grow, you find yourself hopelessly alone.”

“How do you keep appearing in front of me?”

I screamed at Antonio, who stood in front of the music room while still wearing his lab coat, with two massive books in tow.

“I originally went to this building to borrow some books, but by the time I was about to return, I heard the band practicing. I got curious and went up here.”

He brought the two books up to my eyes.

“Still, how do I keep running into you?”

“If I were you, I would consider it fate. Maybe a painful reminder of the state you’re currently in.”

“How do you even understand so much of me in just a few hours?”

“I claim it as a particular skill of mine.”

He walked away, books in tow.

“Think about what you just witnessed, Ranold. If she, of all people, could grow, you could too. Even the largest trees come from small seeds, or graft, depending on which method you chose.”

He waved before disappearing into the corridors.

“I wish you would stop being so correct…”

I mumbled as I followed in his footsteps.