Artemis/Band Story/Chapter 20

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**Slowly, but Surely** is the twentieth chapter of Artemis's Story.

## Synopsis

As Fuyu and Bestisia helps Tamami to learn the keyboard, Ayaka discovers that Yuna finds it difficult to smile....

## Transcripts

[Road]

**Yuna** : ......I guess you're right.

**Ayaka** : .........

**Ayaka** : .....Sakaki.

**Yuna** : Just call me Yuna. What is it?

**Ayaka** : Try smiling.

**Yuna** : ......? That's easy.....

(Yuna tries to smile)

**Yuna** : ......

**Ayaka** : .......

**Yuna** : .......That's weird.

**Yuna** : I seem to have forgotten.....how to smile.

**Ayaka** : I.....don't know if you're joking or not...

(Yuna tries to smile, but it makes her face seem weird instead)

**Ayaka** : Pfft.

**Yuna** : ......

**Ayaka** : I'm sorry.....I just can't help it.

**Yuna** : Hmph. Forget it.

(Yuna walks in a faster pace)

**Ayaka** : Ah, Yuna! Wait for me!

(Yuna stops walking)

**Yuna** : ........

**Ayaka** : What's wrong?

**Yuna** : ..........I'm starving. Let's go eat.

**Ayaka** : Oh, um, alright.

**Ayaka** : Do you have a recommendation where to go?

**Yuna** : ........Tsukiji Ramen at Goshogawara City.

**Ayaka** : Ah! That's the ramen shop that recently opened these few weeks, right?

**Yuna** : Hm-hm.

**Ayaka** : Let's go, then!

**Ayaka** : I never thought you love ramen, Yuna.

**Yuna** : What are you talking about? Everyone does.

**Ayaka** : Ahaha.

**Ayaka** : (I wonder how's Tamami doing)

[Music Club]

**Tamami** : Awawawawa.....

(Tamami presses the wrong keynote)

**Gaheris** : No, not like that. To press this keynote, use your.......

**Tamami** : Oh, I see.

**Fuyu** : She's learning quickly.

**Bestisia** : She's surprisingly skilled....

**King** : A fabulous candidate for the fabulous Club.

**Tamami** : Oh! I did it!! I played a song correctly!

**Gaheris** : Congratulations, milady! However-

**Tamami** : Does that mean I can join the Music Club already? Please? Please? Please?

**Fuyu** : Tamami.

**Tamami** : Yes?

**Fuyu** : The song you've just learned was meant for beginners. You still have a long way to go.

**Tamami** : Oh.....

**Bestisia** : But.......you're halfway there.

**Tamami** : What do you mean?

**Fuyu** : Once you're able to play this song and show us a satisfying performance, you'll finally be allowed to join us.

(Fuyu hands Tamami a song sheet)

**Tamami** : Whoa......This song is full of bean sprouts!

**Fuyu** : Yes, it's- What?

**Tamami** : Bean sprouts! See?

(Tamami points at the notes)

**Fuyu** : You......called them bean sprouts.....?

**Bestisia** : Aww, that's so cute.

**Tamami** : Well, I started saying that when I was a small child.

(Flashback)

**Tamami's Teacher** : Alright kids, let's have a look at these notes.

**Tamami** (Several years younger) : Sensei!

**Tamami's Teacher** : What is it, Sanada?

**Tamami** : Why are you showing us bean sprouts? I thought this was the Music Class.

(The whole class laughs)

**Tamami's Teacher** : ........Oh, Tamami. Those are not bean sprouts, those are notes.

**Tamami** : They're not bean sprouts? Aww......

(Tamami looks disappointed)

**Tamami's Teacher** : ...........Alright, then. If that's what you want to call it, then let's call it that.

**Tamami** : Really?!

**Tamami's Teacher** : Yup!

**Tamami** : Yay! Bean sprouts!!

(Flashback ends)

**Tamami** : I still called them bean sprouts until now, though.

**King** : Maybe I should call them fabulous bean sprouts as we-

**Fuyu** : No.

**Bestisia** : Bean sprouts~ Bean sprouts~ Bean-

**Fuyu** : .........

**Bestisia** : Ehehe.

**Gaheris** : Well, I suppose our practice is done for today. It's a pleasure to be able to teach you many things, Tamami-sama.

**Tamami** : No, it's nothing. I appreciate you helping me, even though it's kind of random.

**Gaheris** : It's always a pleasure to assist a lady.

**Tamami** : Ahaha. Thanks for calling me "a lady".

**Gaheris** : Ahaha.

**Tamami** : Ehehe.

**King** : What a fabulous day! We get to witness a birth of a fabulous friendship! I think I need to leave my lunch back at home.

**Fuyu** : Don't do that. You'll only bring trouble for Gaheris.

**Gaheris** : I don't mind, honestly. Everything Young Master does is to bring the world to a better place.

**King** : Exactly my point!! I see you've come to learn of my Fabulous sight, my dear nephew!

**Fuyu** : ......Nephew?

**King** : Yup. Most of my butlers and maids are my family.

**Gaheris** : Um, everyone, please don't jump to conclusions. We weren't actually Young Master's nephew.

**Tamami** : ........Okay.

**Gaheris** : We were made a family due to Young Master's Father's benevolence, His Lordship Eiasviel and Her Grace's Theresia's kindness. They adopted us into House Rosenkreuz and, long story short, we were trying to repay our debt to them.

**Bestisia** : I see. You must be happy to live in a big family.

**Gaheris** : I treasured every moment.

**King** : Oh yeah, Gareth's still not here yet.

**Tamami** : Gareth?

**King** : A student here, she's also one of my maids.

**Tamami** : WHAT?!

**Gaheris** : Yes, and she's also my younger sister.

**Tamami** : WHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!?????

(The door to the Practice Studio swings wide open)

**Gareth** : Brother!!!!!! I'm hereeeeeeeee-

(Gareth looks at Tamami, who is still shocked at the information)

**Gareth** : ............

**Tamami** : .............

**Gareth** : TAMAMI-CHAN?????????

**Tamami** : GA-CHANNNNNNNNNN???????

**Gaheris** : "Ga-chan"?

**Gareth** : It's a nickname she gave me.

**Fuyu** : Are you two.....

(Gareth high-fives Tamami, which Tamami responds perfectly)

**Tamami & Gareth** : We're classmates!!

**Fuyu** : A-ah...I see.

**Gareth** : Actually, I came here to see my lonely brother, Gaheris.

**Gaheris** : Hey, I'm not lonely! Tintagel Castle was full of activities!

**Gareth** : Yeah, big bro. Go sweep the floors on the castle halls while humming rhymes, will you? Hehe.

**Gaheris** : Ah! W-Who told you that??!!

**Gareth** : Big Bro Gawain did. He told me that you were having so much fun working as a butler.

**Gaheris** : Brother.....

**Gareth** : By the way, why are you all gathered here anyways?

**Tamami** : Your brother helped with learning the keyboard.

**Gareth** : What? Hey, Big Bro! That's not fair! I wanna learn music too!

**Gaheris** : But you told me that you applied for three clubs, didn't you?

**Gareth** : Well, yes, but.....I can talk to Principal to change it if I want to.

**Tamami** : Three Clubs?

**Gareth** : Yup! I joined the Dance Club, the Language & Calligraphy Club, and um.....what was it again......Oc....Oc.....Occu Club?

**Fuyu** : The Occult Club.

**Gareth** : Ah, yes! That one! It looks interesting in the brochure, so I'm interested!

**Tamami** : Good for you, Ga-chan! I've only joined two at the moment.

**Gareth** : That's okay! We can still do things together during class.

(The school's bell then rang, signifying it's time for the students to go home)

**King** : Whoa, it was this late already?! We should pack up and go home, Gareth, Gaheris!

**Gareth & Gaheris** : Yes, Young Master!

**Bestisia** : Wait, why are you guys rushing?

**King** : Today at 7.00 pm, we'll be having a golf competition at the castle with Father. See you all tomorrow! And stay FABULOUS!!

**Gaheris** : We'll be leaving now. See you tomorrow, everyone.

**Gareth** : Bye, Tamami-chan! Bye, Soldier-chan! Bye, Snow White-chan!

(The three leaves the Club)

**Fuyu** : (Snow.....White....chan?)

**Bestisia** : She knew I'm a soldier! I'm glad my training didn't go to waste!

**Tamami** : I guess......we should go home now?

**Fuyu** : Yup. Let's go.

**Bestisia** : Let's talk about Sakaki-san, Tamami! We're all ears for you!

**Tamami** : Alright. Be sure to open your ears wide!

**Fuyu** : You two are too excited if you're just talking about someone.

[Tsukiji Ramen, Goshogawara City]

**Yuna** : We're here.

**Ayaka** : I forgot getting to Goshogawara City is quite a journey from Yasukobe Station. Now, I'm hungry too.

(The two enters the shop and orders their preferred ramen)

**Yuna & Ayaka** : Thank you for the meal.

(The two starts eating)

**Ayaka** : .........

(Ayaka looks at Yuna, who is silently eating her food)

**Yuna** : ..........?

(Yuna notices Ayaka's gaze)

**Ayaka** : Are you always that silent when you're eating?

**Yuna** : It's better to not talk when we're eating. You could choke yourself if you're not careful.

**Ayaka** : Ahaha....You're right.

**Yuna** : But if you want to talk, then I'm fine with it.

**Ayaka** : ......Okay.

**Ayaka** : ........

**Yuna** : ........

**Ayaka** : Maybe, we could invite Fuyu and the others here next time.

**Yuna** : Good idea.

(Yuna's expression remains unchanged)

**Yuna** : Were you guys close before?

**Ayaka** : Who are you talking about?

**Yuna** : You, Bestisia and Fuyu. Are the three of you friends from middle school?

**Ayaka** : Ah, no. We just happened to meet because I was recommended by Tadashiro-senpai to join their band.

**Yuna** : I see.

**Yuna** : Actually, the day I first met you all......

**Yuna** : When I looked at Bestisia's guitar, I remembered something....

**Ayaka** : What is it?

**Yuna** : I was terrified of everything. And I thought, even with Tamami's help, I won't be coming back and come in contact with music anymore. But, thanks to all of you.....

**Ayaka** : You were able to come back?

**Yuna** : I'm still scared.....of everything that I might have done.....But....slowly....I'm starting to feel like I could.

**Ayaka** : .....

**Yuna** : Thanks to all of you.......I want to change......I want to come back....what I used to be......I don't want to run anymore.....this is for my own sake.......and Tamami's wish.

(Yuna closes her eyes)

**Yuna** : And......for Masaki's sake, as well.

**Ayaka** : .......

(Ayaka smiles)

**Ayaka** : You're a strong girl, Yuna.

**Yuna** : .......Hm.

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