CHAPTER 2: A SONG FOR THE NIGHT

Seimei awoke to the dim light of dawn filtering through the thin curtains of his small apartment. The cramped room was a reflection of his life: modest, worn, and filled with a quiet, unspoken struggle. He lay on his narrow bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, willing himself to get up and face another day.

With a resigned sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He dressed in his usual attire: a simple t-shirt and jeans, topped with a well-worn jacket. The routine was automatic, his mind elsewhere as he prepared for the day ahead. As he looked in the mirror, he saw the same sad, depressed expression that had haunted him for months. Dark circles under his eyes told the story of sleepless nights spent worrying about his mother and their future.

Today was the 14th of May. Seimei's thoughts drifted to the bar where he would be playing that evening. "I guess I'm going to play at HOPE," he thought, the irony of the name not lost on him. He sighed deeply, grabbed his guitar case, and headed out the door.

The train ride was uneventful, the same monotonous journey through the bustling city. Seimei sat by the window, watching the urban landscape blur past, his reflection a ghostly overlay on the glass. He felt a profound disconnect from the world around him, as if he were merely a spectator in his own life.

When the train finally reached his stop, Seimei disembarked and made his way to the bar. HOPE was a modest establishment tucked away in a side street, a place where people came to unwind and escape their troubles for a few hours. As Seimei entered, the familiar sounds and sights greeted him: laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of conversation.

Seimei found an empty table in the corner and sat down, his guitar case resting beside him. He watched the patrons with a detached curiosity, their joy and camaraderie a stark contrast to the turmoil he felt inside. He envied their ability to lose themselves in the moment, to find solace in the company of others.

As the hours passed, the bar grew livelier, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and the sound of merriment. Seimei waited patiently, lost in his thoughts, until the time finally came for him to perform.

He took a deep breath and walked to the small stage, the weight of his guitar comforting against his back. The crowd quieted down, turning their attention to the young musician who had become a regular fixture at HOPE. Seimei sat on a wooden chair, adjusting the microphone before him.

"Hi everyone," he began, his voice steady but soft. "My name is Seimei. I'm a musician, and tonight, I'm going to play a song called 'Happy.' I hope you like it."

He strummed the first chord, the familiar vibrations coursing through his fingers. As the melody filled the room, Seimei closed his eyes and let the music carry him away, if only for a little while. The song's hopeful notes were a stark contrast to the sadness in his heart, but in that moment, he played not just for himself, but for everyone who needed a glimmer of happiness in their lives.

END OF CHAPTER 2