Ch. 4: Experience Punk!
The next morning…-
Carlo: “Hey, OO!!”
There was a vigorous banging on my door.
Carlo: “Let’s go! We’re gonna practice!!”
OO: “Yeah…”
For some reason I was incredibly reluctant as I got up and followed Carlo out.
He took the lead, and we finally arrived in a grand hall.
OO: “Carlo?”
We had only just arrived in the hall when Carlo slung a guitar over his shoulder.
Carlo: “Yesterday we finished with only doing the piano! So today we’re doin’ punk practice!”
The guitar made a sound as he slid his fingers down the neck, and Carlo casually began to strum the guitar.
OO: “Wow, that’s amazing!”
I clapped without thinking, and Carlo’s happy expression turned to surprise as his eyebrows shot up.
Carlo: “What…what are you cheering me on for!? You gotta do it too!”
OO: “Eh…?”
Carlo: “If you keep saying you don’t want to sing, you should at least try playing an instrument! If I get another guitar ready, it’ll feel a little more punk, yeah?”
He unfastened the guitar around his shoulder, and called back to me.
OO: “Um…”
Carlo: “Come on, up here! You gotta try it on stage!”
OO: “C-Carlo….wait!”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the stage.
My feet dragged, and got caught on a long cord winding around the stage.
OO: “Ah…!”
I tripped and lost my balance.
Carlo: “OO!!”
Carlo’s sharp voice echoed in the hall.
Ch. 5: Let's Be Punk!
Carlo: “Owowowow….”
I opened my eyes and saw I had fallen with Carlo catching me.
Carlo: “You OK?”
Carlo rubbed his head and looked at me.
OO: “I’m sorry Carlo.”
Carlo: “Don’t ya think you should be saying ‘thank you’ instead of ‘I’m sorry’ in this situation?”
Carlo grinned at me.
OO: “Yeah…thanks Carlo.”
Carlo: “Yooou’re welcome!”
Carlo gently patted my back.
At that action, my face started to heat up.
OO: “H-hey…”
Carlo: “Hm?”
OO: “I’m…I’m fine now.”
Carlo’s hand on my back stopped, and his mouth opened wide in shock.
Carlo: “S-sorry!”
OO: “It’s ok…”
My heart had been pounding loudly and wouldn’t stop, but I was also worried about Carlo.
(Carlo…he didn’t get hurt did he?)
I stole a glance at Carlo without him realizing, and saw him frowning.
(What’s wrong?)
I tilted my head at Carlo, who was still holding on to me.
OO: “Carlo?”
Carlo: “It’s just kinda a shame to let you go, you know?”
OO: “Eh…!?”
Carlo: “What, you sound hysteric! My heart’s been goin’ super crazy for a while now.”
OO: “R…really?”
Carlo: “Hey, hasn’t yours!?”
Carlo peered into my eyes as if he could see right through them.
My face became red in an instant.
(I’m sure my face is bright red now…)
Carlo grinned then as he looked at me with my red face.
Carlo: “How about it? Do you wanna spend some time like this, in a punk moment?”
OO: “…!”
Carlo’s face came closer as he whispered to me.
OO: “W-what are you saying…!”
Carlo: “Your face is bright red!”
OO: “Geez, don’t tease me like that…”
Carlo: “But I’m serious.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Carlo: “I’m always serious!”
Carlo held on to me even tighter.
OO: “Carlo…”
Carlo: “Let’s be punk!”
Regardless of whether he was being serious or joking, Carlo smiled mischievously.
In that dim room, a light shone on the two of us.
END