The Empty World

Music, it always had been a part of Elise's life. Although it was a small part, a precious something which she had concealed from the outside world for so long, to her music had been a means to cope with the hardships of reality. As a child she would often play the piano, and in recent days, after the events of the Sports Festival and the realization of the current state of the hero industry, the crimson-haired lass couldn't help but find herself trying to return to that world, the world of music.

To her the world of music was a place of emotions and truth, where people could express themselves in ways mere words couldn't convey. Perhaps it was for that reason she had taken up her hobby again, a decision wholeheartedly supported by her younger brother and her mother. It was for that reason Elise had also opened a small website. It was nothing big, in fact it only had a minuscule amount of viewers, but Elise often enjoyed posting small clips of songs she played. Sometimes she would play the melody of a famous anime and ask people if they recognized it, at other times she would convey a message, a collection of emotions and would ask what people thought about it.

The few frequent viewers she had were in general positive, of course, there was the occasional complaint about her playing existing songs but overall the comments were favorable. People liked joining her in her little games, and seemed to like the songs she played.

However, it was on a pleasant Saturday morning that the young lady came upon a rather surprising message. With Tetsuko busy training, Elise had taken the opportunity to open up the laptop in their room and check her email when a message addressed to her found its way into the mailbox.

It didn't take long for Elise to read the message, and the initial feeling she had was one of bewilderment. Of course, the name was familiar to her.

Kaito Arakawa, there were many things that the old man was called through his musical career. Some called him the latest generation of geniuses, the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin, some even called him the 'King of the Piano', and it was no understatement to say that the man was once heralded as one of the most famous and talented pianists in the entire world. 'Was' being the keyword here.

Elise's hand reached to her chin, a thoughtful look on her face as she tried to think back on the identity of this famous musician. There were plenty of news articles, about how the man had someday suddenly retired from the world of music. He refused to perform anymore, and while there were plenty of rumors and speculations about why, a true reason or answer was never found. This, of course, fascinated Elise immensely, but it also left her curious why this man, after so many years would end up seeking her out.

He invited her for a meeting in Tokyo's Park, and after a moment of consideration, Elise decided to write the man back.



After all was said and done, Elise made her way to the train station in Musutafu and was on the trail of a mystery no reporter had been able to solve till now: Why did Kaito Arakawa, a man heralded as one of the greatest pianists currently alive disappear from the world of music?

Fortunately the train ride to Tokyo didn't take that long, nothing a bit of daydreaming about a certain iron-blooded knight didn't solve, but at long last, she arrived at the park, her phone having a small newspaper article open as she gazed around. Still, as she spotted the man in the living flesh she couldn't help but gulp and quickly shake her head. Why? Because This was Kaito Arakawa...

"For a moment I can't help but wonder if I'm looking at a future Kirk..." Elise muttered softly as she finally took the courage to approach the man and spoke, trying to surpress her earlier thoughts with her trademark cheerful smile. "Kaito-san I presume?"

There were quite a few things she wanted to ask and find out about this man, but first things first. She could at least entertain him and see what he wanted from her.

Despite the smile on her lips, Elise could feel the nervousness within her entire being. Indeed, even if she was skilled at hiding her feelings, it didn't mean she was capable of erasing them. And why exactly was she nervous? As a pianist herself, she obviously knew the name Arakawa Kaito, he was, by all means, a big name in the music industry, some might even call him a legend similar to how Darkshine was often revered to as one of the most famous pro-heroes of the first generation. It was such a man that brought respect, respect based on his accomplishments. Someone who could bring an entire football stadium to be filled to the last seat with people, all just to have a chance to hear him perform. That man was a symbol in the world of music, and as much as it inspired Elise to be called out by this man, it almost made her nervous.

Fortunately for her Kaito seemed to be quite a social and friendly soul, as the man smiled and answered her inquiry with an enthusiasm that only few students at her school could match. "That's me~ Elise von Eisenberg, p-pleased to meet you." For a moment she could feel her nervousness stirring, to the point she had almost bit her own tongue, but after a moment she finally found herself calming down as Kaito invited her to enjoy some pleasantries at a tea-house. Of course, Elise didn't mind, from past experiences she had learned that conversations often flowed better when one had a nice cup of tea and some sweet snacks to sample. A momentary pause followed for the crimson-haired lass as the two of them took a seat at the terrace. When one of the waiters came she ordered, just as expected some apple tea and afterward turned her gaze toward the musician.

"Please forgive me for being so blunt with the following inquiry Kaito-san, but I couldn't help but wonder about this after receiving your mail: Why exactly did you leave the world of music? Of course, there are plenty of theories and rumors that the media gave in the wake of your retirement, but those are just that: rumors. Forgive me if it's an unpleasant question, but I can't help but wonder: You were someone who was said to stand at the peak of the musical industry. A man who could have it all: Fame, wealth, glory, people lined up just to hear you play and often you were revered to as one of the greatest musicians currently alive. Yet from your last songs before your retirement I feel it was neither fame or wealth that you were looking for."

Elise paused for a moment, around the same time her tea was brought and bringing her drink to her lips she took a long sip from it. "For some reason, your last songs felt similar to how I feel about the hero industry: Disappointed, as if something important is missing, a key piece in the puzzle that without being completed isn't worth it. But what is it that you didn't find in the world of music Kaito-san?"

She gently lowered her drink onto the table and pondered for a moment. There were so many different artists around, so many people that were more popular and talented than her... "And what does it have to do with me Kaito-san? Surely there are a lot of musicians around, take Scarlett for example, in just a short period of time her songs have made her become so popular almost everyone at my school knows her. There are a lot of musicians who are more skilled or popular than I am..."

Indeed, after all, she only played the piano as a hobby, as a means to express her emotions, to her the piano was simply a friend that allowed her to reveal those emotions which were often so difficult to put properly into words. So it was only natural that Elise wasn't certain about the reason why someone famous like Kaito had decided to seek her out, she who wouldn't even be able to be called a true professional, compared to the countless people who might had been both more talented and popular than she was.

Times change, it was a hard fact that a lot of people were forced to come to terms with. Elise was no stranger to this notion, as being one of a new generation that was being trained to become what society called pro-heroes, the young lady felt sorely disappointed in the nature of this 'hero society'. Students bickered with each other, their egos infatuated and competitiveness bordering onto hostility often became a dominant presence in the chatroom of their school. It made Elise feel disappointed, that the noble and selfless image of a true hero had been reduced to something like this.

However, before they turned focus onto that matter, Kaito's musings bewildered Elise: "Scarlett's songs are an outcry?" She raised a hand to her chin, pondering for a moment. Could it be that being an idol was perhaps Rin's way of expressing her emotions, or rather she was crying out for help, but didn't actually express why or what she needed help for within her songs? She did notice that Scarlett's first album was indeed a collection of genres, something which had a bit that might interest everyone, and it made Elise think further about what Kaito was saying. He did have a point, not every song suited every person, she for example often liked upbeat and cheerful songs, or more softer ones. In fact, whenever she tried to think of her feelings, she did notice that a lot of times a particular style accompanied her performances as if her personality shown itself through her music.

And so Kaito arrived at the important piece of his story: his explanation about why he retired. It seemed that Kaito was quite similar to her: a man who saw the world of music as a way to express his emotions, to commune with the people on a level that transcended mere words. However, similar to the hero society, it seemed the world of music had become twisted, with people seeking fame and wealth, wanting to walk the easy path rather than take the risk to reveal one's emotions.

It was tragic when Kaito praised her piano performance Elise couldn't help but smile briefly, although her smile seemed laced with just a hint of sorrow. "I thank you for your compliment Kaito-san, although I wouldn't really call me a professional, I'm not even certain if I'm able to call myself a musician."

She paused for a moment, as if trying to figure out the right words to continue her explanation, and then it finally came. "I seek neither fame or wealth, in fact, you could say that the thing I seek isn't of such a simplistic nature. You could say that I play the piano as a means of expressing myself."

She raised her hand, brushing away some stray locks of her long hair, and for the shortest of moments felt her fingertips fleetingly brush against the hairclip that adorned her hair, a childhood present from a very special knight of her. "Ever since I was little I struggled to show my emotions, my real feelings to others. Too often I hid them, too often I acted, to the point that acting became a natural thing for me to do. It was only through the piano that I could express myself in a way that felt genuine, felt like the 'real' me."

Her smile softened as she hummed softly. "Although recent days have seen improvements in that, I still hope that someday my music will reach her, that my songs will give her the courage to discover that which she longs to find and finally tell me the thing I long to hear."

A sheepish chuckle escaped her lips as she continued. "But I'm rambling, in fact even now I feel that something is missing in my music, something which could make it reach further. That is what I desire the most: I don't want my songs to become famous, I want my songs to touch people, to inspire them and warm their hearts."

A momentary pause followed before she smiled weakly. "An incomplete song, oddly suiting for someone who others would say isn't even a real pianist. An incomplete song for an incomplete pianist~" She looked up at Kaito and spoke softly. "I'm not certain what it is that you seek Kaito-san, but do you truly think you would find it here, with someone who doesn't even know what she is looking for herself?"

Once more Elise couldn't help but be pulled into a web of thoughts. Kaito told her to focus on the first song, and how he felt it might have been a song that was not even written about Rin herself, although a part of the lyrics did make her feel uncomfortable: The thought that life wasn't made for the weak and the helpless... If survival of the fittest was to become the belief that society functioned on, then what about those who were weak and helpless on their own? Would they be abandoned? Banished and forsaken? Was it not a hero's calling to defend the weak and the helpless? Now she thought more about it, the more it felt odd for such a song to had Scarlett- no Rin as its songstress. Was that truly the type of mentality the girl held within her, a side exposed by the world of music?

Nonetheless, Elise was quick to shake her head, banish the worrying thoughts from her mind as she instead found herself wondering about the next thing Kaito told her. Elise couldn't help but ask him a question in the wake of his words. "What do you believe to be a musician Kaito-san?" She paused for a moment, pondering what answer the man was going to provide her before she continued onwards herself. "I like to think that 'my' definition of a musician is to be someone who wants to tell you something through the world of music. It doesn't necesarrily have to be good or talented, they just need to have a desire to tell their story."

However, it was what followed that had come rather unexpectedly. An offer, an invitation from a legend who was willing to teach her, to let her reach for that which remained out of her grasp. To let her songs truly shine with emotions. Yet it was what followed that caught her by surprise: He warned her that while she should hold on tightly to the emotions which guided her performance, she should let go of the pain certain things brought. This pain, this frustration, those anguishing specters which made her feel sad, so only by learning to embrace her emotions without any regret, could she reach that point that she was aiming for?

"A song that can reach Tetsu, a song just for her..." Elise whispered softly, thinking back about how much she longed to let Tetsuko know just how deep and powerful her emotions were, but at the same time she was also aware that ever since the events in Kashima, Elise had been subconciously wary of the same feelings, as if a part of her was afraid of those emotions, knowing that they sometimes hurt the girl she loved so much.

"Do you think you could teach me? To play the piano without regrets? To let my song reach Tetsuko? There is so much I want to tell her, so much I want to show her that can't be done properly through words... If you believe your teachings will help me express those things without regrets, then please teach me Kaito-san."

Elise nodded her head gently in agreement to Kaito's statement. To her there was nobody as suited for the title of 'Musician' as someone who showed a love for music, toward the world of music. Although she longed to express herself through her music, it was fine if nobody heard her. It was the reason why she often practiced with nobody around to hear her, after all it was just the act of playing, of connecting her feelings with the piano and letting the world of music sweep her away that had been enough.

A momentary pause followed as she smiled at his statement that she could only be considered a great musician because of her understanding of her love for music, and the way she showed it through her music. Although, in all honesty, she wasn't sure if she was worthy of such praise, considering she often felt surrounded by much more talented people. Nonetheless, Kaito allowed her a chance, he offered her a path where her heartfelt story could be told to her beloved Tetsuko, to play the piano in a way it was meant to be played. Of course, unlike some instruments, you couldn't play a piano everywhere, after all you needed a piano for it! And so Kaito suggested that they would finish their tea and head toward the conservatory, a place not too far from the park they were currently situated in.

Fortunately Elise had always been something of an enthusiastic drinker, considering her quirk, so when Kaito suggested for them to finish their drinks Elise smiled briefly, tilting the edge of the cup lightly to showcase she had already finished her drink a while ago, and after ensuring the man had a fair time to finish his own tea, the two of them would make their way along the sandy path of the park, toward the nearby bus stop that would lead them toward the observatory.

"I wonder..." Elise began, a hand raised to her chin as she seemed to ponder about something. "I mentioned before about how I felt disappointed in the hero industry. Even while it is still a new concept in our society, the notion of a 'true' hero seems to be forgotten by most who aspire to gain the prestigious status of 'Pro-hero'. All they see is a chance at glory, a possibility to obtain fame and wealth, There are some who even just wish to take the mantle for their desire to fight villains. for them, the act of helping people, of saving them is a simple byproduct of the calling."

She sighed briefly, shaking her head lightly. "It is clear that in its current state, the selfless and noble calling of true heroism is lost upon most of this generation. Those people aren't going to become heroes, they will be glorified peacekeepers. And it saddens me that I'm powerless to change it."

She turned her gaze up at Kaito and inquired, her tone soft although there was a spark of resolution in her eyes. "But it's not the same here, I am not powerless this time. If what you say is true, then my music might hold a power of its own, and with your guidance, I might become able to change the world of music. To make people remember the true essence of music."

As the bus they took arrived at the conservatory and the two of them disembarked the vehicle Elise added to her comment with a smile. "Of course, I won't be able to focus on music alone~ After all I aspire to become the greatest nurse in existence! But perhaps... perhaps I can also become the 'hero' who saved the music world! Led people back onto the right path and made them remember their love for music."