Hesitant Melodies

**Chapter 4: Hesitant Melodies**

The next afternoon, the sun poured golden light into Takumi’s apartment, catching dust motes as they danced lazily in the air. His guitar lay across his bed, repaired and ready.

Takumi sat on the edge of his sofa, staring at the instrument. The weekend encounter at the music shop kept replaying in his mind—Haruki and Miyuki smiling together, now aware of his secret.

*Can I really do this? Play with them… in front of people…*

Living alone had its advantages. His parents were mostly absent, tangled in their own conflicts from years ago, and Kanae had a key, so she could come by whenever necessary. That meant his music could stay truly his—hidden even from them—and he could speak freely with Kanae about his doubts.

He picked up his phone, hesitating. His fingers hovered over the keyboard before typing:

*"Kanae… I need to talk. It’s important. Can you come over?"*

Within minutes, a knock echoed at the door. Kanae stepped inside, eyes wide as she took in his tense posture. “Takumi… you sounded serious on the phone. What’s going on?”

Takumi gestured to the guitar. “Haruki and Miyuki know I play… and they might want me to join them for the cultural festival. I… I don’t know if I can. What if I freeze again? What if I mess up?”

Kanae’s brows furrowed, and she sank into the chair across from him. Her hand rested lightly on his arm, concern etched across her face. “Takumi… I’m surprised you didn’t tell me sooner. How did they even find out?”

He hesitated, then explained briefly: “At the music shop… I went to repair my guitar, and they were there practicing for the festival. They saw me.”

Kanae’s eyes widened. “And you didn’t call me right then?”

Takumi shook his head quickly. “I… I didn’t want to disturb you. It was the weekend… your time to visit your mother. I didn’t want to bother you.”

For a moment, Kanae was silent, her expression softening. A small smile tugged at her lips. “Takumi… you actually thought of that? Even at your age… after everything you’ve been through… That’s… really thoughtful of you.”

Her tone shifted quickly, firm but caring. “But don’t ever do that again! Even if it’s the weekend, I need to know these things. You can’t carry this alone. I won’t let you experience something bad just because you’re trying to protect me.”

Takumi swallowed, feeling a warmth and care in her words that made his chest tighten. “Okay… I promise.”

Kanae’s eyes softened further, her voice gentle but serious. “Anyways this… this is a big step. I can see why you’re worried. And you’ve been through enough already—your fear of performing is real, and it’s understandable.”

She paused, letting her gaze linger on him. “You’ve grown a lot since Blue Star started, and you’ve poured yourself into your music. But I also know about your best friend… and Miyuki. You care so much, and that makes this even harder, doesn’t it?”

Takumi swallowed, nodding slightly. “Yeah… I’ve always watched them from the sidelines. I don’t want to get in the way… but I also don’t want to hide anymore.”

Kanae gave a small, thoughtful smile, a mixture of pride and worry. “Takumi… it’s okay to be afraid. It’s okay to hesitate. But music is part of you, and hiding it won’t make you happier. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to take the first step, and you’ll find your rhythm with them.”

Her gaze lingered on him, gentle but firm. “I’ll be here with you, every step. But this… this is your choice. Only you can decide to face it.”

He gripped the guitar case, feeling a strange warmth in her words. *Maybe… maybe I can do this. Slowly. Carefully…*

Finally, he nodded. “Okay… I’ll do it. I’ll go.”

Kanae’s relieved smile widened. “Good. You’re brave, Takumi. And remember… I’ll always be here if you need me.”

After school, Takumi stepped into the music room, heart hammering. Haruki and Miyuki were already there, unpacking sheet music.

He set his guitar on the stand and strummed a few tentative chords. He struck a chord and let it fade, as if unsure whether the room deserved to hear the next one.

*I can’t just hide anymore,* he thought. *But can I really face them?*

Miyuki and Haruki noticed the change immediately—there was a quiet determination in his posture that hadn’t been there before.

“You’re really here,” Miyuki said softly, her smile encouraging.

Haruki grinned. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Takumi.”

He took a deep breath, fingers trembling slightly as they hovered over the strings. He struck the first note. It wavered, uncertain, but it rang—like a whisper that refused to die.

And somewhere deep inside, the spark of Blue Star whispered that maybe this was the start of something he hadn’t dared imagine: a melody shared, not just with strangers, but with the people who mattered most.

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