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As he began to play, the Nocturne in C sharp minor flowed from his fingertips, its delicate melody weaving through the air like a whispered secret. Each note carried a subtle sadness, a gentle lament for the fleeting moments of beauty that slipped through one's grasp like sand through fingers. The music, like a soft caress, wrapped itself around the emptiness of the theater, filling the space with its ethereal presence.
Sitting in the darkness, the boy with a sorrowful expression felt a pang of curiosity as the first notes of the Nocturne reached his ears. He had come to the theater seeking refuge from the chaos of the world outside, drawn by an inexplicable pull that seemed to tug at his very soul. And now, as he listened to the haunting melody, he felt something stir within him—a sense of recognition, perhaps, or a fleeting glimpse of understanding.
With each passing moment, the music seemed to peel back the layers of his consciousness, revealing hidden depths and forgotten truths. He felt himself drawn deeper into the embrace of the melody, lost in its graceful arcs and melancholic refrains. It was as if the music spoke directly to his heart, resonating with the quiet ache that had taken root within him.
As he closed his eyes and allowed himself to be carried away by the music's gentle currents, he felt a sense of peace wash over him—a fleeting respite from the noise and chaos of the world outside of the theater. It was a moment of surrender, of letting go of the burdens that weighed heavy on his heart and simply allowing himself to be carried away by the music's haunting beauty.
And as the final notes of the Nocturne faded into silence, leaving only the echo of their shared moment behind, the boy opened his eyes and looked out into the darkness of the theater. In that moment, he knew that he had found something precious—a glimmer of hope amidst the gentle melancholy of the night. And though he could not see the figure standing upon the stage, he felt a connection—a silent bond forged in the quiet beauty of Chopin's music. And just like that, it was over. A shared moment of beauty ended in an instant. The boy, lost in the haunting melody of the violin, felt an ache in his chest as reality came crashing back. The familiar female voice, which had been momentarily silenced by the music, began to whistle again, a stark contrast to the ethereal notes that had filled the theater moments before.
Without realizing it, he found himself rising from his seat, the spell of the music broken by the harshness of the outside world. As he stepped out of the theater into the dimly lit hallway, he couldn't shake the lingering echo of the Nocturne that still reverberated in his mind.
Glancing around, he noticed that it was indeed getting late. The once vibrant hues of sunset had faded into the inky darkness of night, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting its silvery glow over the world below.
Feeling a sense of disorientation, his hand instinctively reached for his pocket, where he usually kept his phone. But to his dismay, his fingers found only emptiness. Panic fluttered in his chest as he frantically searched around him, hoping to catch a glimpse of his missing device. "Did it fall out of my pocket while I was sleeping?" he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities. Despite the sudden surge of panic, he managed to keep his composure. The school was almost empty at this hour—surely, if he had dropped it, someone would have noticed and left it untouched.
"Do you not hear me? I've been calling after you!" A familiar voice broke through his thoughts, but Chiba couldn't immediately place it. Before he could respond, the voice continued, "This yours?". The boy turned around and looked at the source of the voice. Standing before him was a guy, his features softened by the gentle glow of the hallway lights. His eyes, a warm shade of brown, or perhaps a tone of gray, held a mixture of concern and amusement as he held out the phone, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Relief flooded through him as he reached out to take the phone from the other boy's outstretched hand. "Thank you," he said, his voice tinged with gratitude. "I must have dropped it while I was in the theater."
The other boy nodded, his smile widening as he watched him pocket the phone. "No problem," he replied, his tone light and cheerful. "Just make sure to keep a better eye on it next time."
As he looked at the other boy, a sense of familiarity washed over him, though he couldn't quite place where he had seen him before. There was something about the curve of his smile, the sparkle in his eyes, that made him feel strangely at ease.
"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," he said, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The other boy's smile widened at his question, and he extended his hand in greeting. "You can call me Naegi," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "We go to the same class. You are Chiba, correct?".
A classmate, so that's why he looked so famililar. "Did you listen to the music as well?", Chiba asked, attempting to make conversation. Naegi nodded, but his gaze seemed distant, as if he was looking beyond Chiba. "Yes, I did," he replied softly. "I couldn't help but be drawn to it."
"What are you doing here at a time like this?", Naegi inquired, curious about Chiba's presence in the hallway.
"I dozed off a while ago, I didn't mean to stay so long. What about you? The school should be closing soon." Naegi met his gaze with an odd smile. "I was on my way home, actually, when I realized that I left my keys in my locker," he sighed dramatically, "when I came to pick it up, I realized that the door to the theater wasn't closed so I wanted to see if something interesting was happening.". Chiba couldn't help but be intrigued by Naegi's easygoing demeanor and the way he seemed to effortlessly navigate the conversation.
"I hope you found what you were looking for then," Chiba replied, his voice tinged with weariness as he massaged his temples. It was time to head home; his headache was worsening with each passing moment."I surely did," Naegi mumbled, turning around. Without waiting for another reply, he started walking away. "You coming? We gotta go home," Naegi called out. Even though his voice was firm, it still hold a gentle tone. Despite the exhaustion weighing on him, Chiba quickened his pace to catch up with Naegi.