More actions
< The first concerto | Story
Chapter 6: A Debt Left Unresolved
消えない負い目 (? (edit))
消えない負い目 (? (edit))
Character appearances:
Toya's Room
Flashback
.png)
MEIKO
Toya-kun, those feelings you have that are hard to talk about with anyone——
MEIKO
It could be that those have something to do with your songwriting.
End flashback
Toya
(...I have to reflect. On every day up until now.)
Toya
(So that I can make this song.)
Toya
(——I first touched the piano when I was three years old.)
Toya
(My memories of it are faint. But...I remember the sound from that day.)
Toya
(When I pressed down the keys, all that played was a flat note. But when my dad gently pressed a key——)
Flashback
.png)
Piano note
End flashback
Toya
(...It played a beautiful note, one that I would never forget for the rest of my life. Like the sun calmly shining through the trees, or a gentle breeze drifting by...)
Toya
(...At the time, it was strange to me how such a thing could happen. How could such a different sound play, when we both touched the same thing?)
Toya
(It was so mysterious——it made me want to interact with the instrument more.)
Toya
(And someday, I'd play a beautiful note like that, just like my dad——)
Toya
(That was my first encounter with music.)
Toya
(And after that...my days of suffering began.)
Flashback
.png)
Toya's Father
——That's wrong. Play it again. ...Don't think you can go to sleep before you're able to do it.
Toya
(Dad really was strict.)
Toya
(It was something I already knew, from watching my brothers practice——)
Toya
(But my dad's strictness was more severe than I'd imagined. Even now, when I stand in front of a piano, I feel the anxiety start to resurface.)
Toya
(...But...)
Piano music playing
Audience applauding
}
Toya's Father
——Toya.
Toya's Father
Your performance today wasn't bad at all.
Young Toya
...!
Toya's Father
But don't be satisfied with this.
Toya's Father
Music is broader and deeper than you could possibly imagine——it has no end.
Toya's Father
But, if it's you, you might be able to figure out the essence of it someday.
Toya
(...It made me so happy.)
Toya
(For the first time, Dad told me that I wasn't bad. He told me that someday, I might be able to understand.)
Toya
(So I wanted to live up to those expectations.)
Toya
(I really wanted...to live up to them...)
Toya
(But the more I thought that, the heavier my fingers became.)
Toya
(The endless days of practice. The concerts, so pressuring that I thought I'd be crushed. And...)
Toya
(Finally——I reached my limit.)
Toya's Father
...You can't do it anymore?
Toya's Father
You're spouting nonsense.
Middle School Toya
...It's impossible...
Middle School Toya
I can't...take this way of living anymore.
Middle School Toya
Day in, day out...I sacrifice everything, and do nothing but continue playing in the same room——
Middle School Toya
...I understand that you expect a lot of me, Dad. And because you expect so much of me, you have equally high demands.
Middle School Toya
But... But, I can't...!
Toya's Father
...So that's all you're capable of?
Middle School Toya
Eh...
Toya's Father
You're throwing everything away for such a frivolous reason.
Middle School Toya
...Kh.
Middle School Toya
...What...What could you possibly know about me!?
Middle School Toya
I...I just want to live my own life!
Middle School Toya
Just like ordinary people, I want to experience things I've never seen before..! That's all, and yet——
Middle School Toya
...I don't want to live tied down anymore!!
Toya's Father
Toya——!!
End flashback
Toya
(I...ran away.)
Toya
(I betrayed their expectations...and I ran.)
Toya
(...I've been told that there's no need for me to think I ran away.)
Toya
(I thought that by now, I'd be able to view classical in a more positive light.)
Toya
(But, the pain from back then still remains in my heart——)
Toya
...Is that why?
Toya
Because I carry this guilt, I still——
Toya
I still think "I can't match it"?
Toya
That, because I threw away all that was important to me, ran away, and gave up on everything——I won't be able to match Ken-san and everyone's expectations...?
Toya
That's...what I was thinking, deep down...?
Toya
...If I think about it that way, what Dad was saying——it makes sense.
Flashback
Toya's Father
I don't feel there's any pride in your song.
End flashback
Toya
(...Of course.)
Toya
(I...I've been thinking that I ran away. I haven't been able to feel proud of myself.)
Toya
(Of course I can't write a good song...)
Toya
(Because I can't write songs with the same determination as Ken-san and the others...)
Toya
(...No! No, but even still——)
Flashback
.png)
End flashback
Toya
(Even still, I have to make one...! So that I can surpass RAD WEEKEND with everyone.)
Toya
(But, what should I do?)
Toya
(I can't change my past.)
Toya
(Which means no matter how I struggle, I can never rid myself of this guilt...)
Toya
(And as long as this guilt remains, I won't——)
Toya
...Kh...Why...?
Toya
Why did I...have to run away that day?!
Toya
I...!!
???
——What's the matter? You raised your voice all of a sudden.
Toya
...!
???
——I'm coming in.
Toya
...Dad...