Unexpected Duet

Hyacinth sat at the piano, his fingers hovering over the keys. The dorm's small practice room was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the wooden bench beneath him. A notebook lay open on the stand, filled with scribbled melodies and half-finished compositions. He had spent hours trying to capture the feeling he wanted—something raw, something real—but no matter how many times he played, the notes felt empty.

He exhaled sharply and slumped forward, resting his forehead against the cool surface of the piano. Frustration coiled in his chest. Was he overthinking it? He knew the feeling he wanted to express, yet somehow, translating it into music felt impossible. His fingers twitched as he played a few hesitant notes, but the melody faltered, incomplete. It was like staring at a blank page with too many thoughts and nowhere to start.

But it wasn't just about music. Hyacinth closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Ever since he transferred to Shimakaze Academy, he had felt like he was running—running from the past, from the silence that had been forced upon him, from the doubts that still lingered no matter how much progress he made. Music was supposed to be his voice, the one thing that could say everything he couldn't. And yet, even here, even now, the notes refused to come together. Was he not good enough? Or was he just afraid that no one would understand what he was trying to say?

Letting out a silent groan, he slid off the bench and lay flat on the wooden floor, arms sprawled out. Maybe if he just let his mind go blank, the inspiration would come to him. He stared at the ceiling, deep in thought, when the door suddenly swung open with an overly dramatic gasp.

"Oh my goodness! A poor student has collapsed from sheer exhaustion! Someone fetch water, a blanket—no, a violin! We must serenade him back to life!"

Hyacinth blinked in confusion and turned his head just in time to see a blur of pink rush toward him. Before he could react, a pair of warm hands grabbed his shoulders, shaking him slightly.

"Stay with me! What's your name? What year are you? Do you see a bright light?"

Hyacinth sat up quickly, waving his hands in protest. The stranger—a boy dressed head to toe in various shades of pink—sighed in exaggerated relief. He wore an androgynous outfit, a mix of soft, ruffled fabric and tailored pieces that struck a perfect balance between masculine and feminine. He had opted for a more flowy, elegant look, with a pearl-studded choker completing the ensemble. His golden-blond hair was pulled into a high ponytail, with soft curls at the ends that bounced as he clutched his chest dramatically.

"Oh, thank goodness! I thought I'd stumbled upon a tragedy. Imagine the scandal—me, discovering a fainted musician in the middle of campus. I'd have to tell the tale for generations." He sighed dreamily before suddenly perking up again. "Oh! Where are my manners? Gabriel Valencia, but you may call me Gabby! Everyone does. And who might you be, my mysterious, floor-lying friend?"

Hyacinth, still processing the whirlwind of energy in front of him, instinctively began signing his name. His hands moved fluidly, fingers spelling out each letter before transitioning into a polite greeting.

Gabby squinted at Hyacinth's hands, tilting his head. His fingers wiggled slightly, as if mimicking the motion. "Wait, wait—don't tell me! I think I can decode this… Hmm… No, I've got nothing." He huffed dramatically before blinking in confusion. "Oh! A secret hand signal? Are we in an exclusive club? I love exclusivity, but I think I missed the membership instructions!"

Hyacinth paused, realizing Gabby didn't understand sign language. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly reached for his bag and pulled out his small pink whiteboard instead. He scrawled his name in neat handwriting before holding it up.

Gabby's vibrant smile faltered just slightly, his perfectly shaped brows knitting together. His usual theatrics dimmed for just a moment, as if realizing something important. "Oh… what's this? A written introduction?" His voice softened slightly as he read Hyacinth's name. He then chuckled, though with less flair than before. "Are we exchanging secret codes now?"

Hyacinth hesitated for a second before writing again: I can't speak. I use sign language.

Gabby blinked, his mouth forming a small 'o' of realization. "Oh… oh! Oh! Darling, why didn't you just say so—wait. No. I see why now." He smacked his forehead lightly, looking sheepish. "That was probably a terrible way to phrase it, wasn't it?"

For a brief moment, there was a flicker of something different in Gabby's expression—genuine apology, perhaps? A quiet understanding beneath all the exuberance? His gaze lingered on Hyacinth for just a second longer, softer, more thoughtful. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by his usual vibrant grin.

Hyacinth let out a silent chuckle, shaking his head. He appreciated the sincerity behind Gabby's words, even if they were a bit dramatic.

"Well! Now that I know, I shall simply have to learn, won't I?" Gabby placed a hand on his hip, giving Hyacinth a confident grin. "I'm always up for a challenge. But for now, since I assume you were not actually fainting from hunger or distress—what exactly were you doing on the floor?"

Hyacinth tapped his marker against the whiteboard before writing: Thinking.

Gabby raised an eyebrow. "Thinking? That intensely? My dear, if I thought that hard, I'd be asleep in two minutes flat."

Hyacinth smirked slightly before writing again: Music. I'm composing.

Gabby's eyes sparkled with interest. "A fellow artist! Now, this is destiny. What are we composing? A ballad? A waltz? An angst-filled masterpiece of unrequited love?"

Hyacinth stared at the whiteboard, his fingers tightening slightly around the marker. He hesitated, then simply wrote: Something important.

Gabby clasped his hands together, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh, the mystery! The intrigue! You simply must let me hear it when it's done." Then, as if a thought struck him, he grinned mischievously. "Actually, why wait? Why don't we play something together right now? An impromptu duet, if you will."

Hyacinth hesitated, then glanced at the piano. Maybe… maybe that was exactly what he needed.