“Well, that’s all for today. Dismissed.”

“”Thank you for your hard work.””

　After the conductor, Eltova, announced the conclusion for today, the musicians, including myself, said and bowed together. Then, everyone began to prepare for clean up.

　The quiet hall in the opera house filled with a buzz.

　It sounds like those with energy to spare are calling out to each other and heading out for dinner.

　But I have no time for that. Yesterday, I couldn’t practice well at all because of that troublesome neighbour.

　Fortunately, I wasn’t a drag in today’s practice though it was true that there were a few close calls. 

“I need to practice properly today…….”

　Stowing my violin in its case, I headed for the changing room.

“Catalina, can I have a word?”

　I was stopped in the hallway on my way there.

　The person who called out to me was the conductor, Eltova Jewelnics.

　His loose, wavy hair like golden threads was tied back, giving him an elegant air. 

　The leader of our orchestra, with an excellent family background, a good face and boasting an unshakable popularity, our ace.

“Y, yes! What might this be for?”

　Suddenly stopped by my boss, I instinctively turned and straightened my back. 

　I wondered if he was going to warn me about the few bars I had been weak in.

　Nervously, I prepared myself, but what he said came as a surprise.

“Catalina, you have always shown an interest in wanting to compose, haven’t you?

“Eh? Ah, yes!”

　I have no intention of ending as a mere violinist, so I was also dabbling in composition.

　There are musicians who just play pieces and musicians who can compose and play their own pieces. It was obvious to me who could achieve more success as a a musician. 

　In fact, most of the famous musicians in the Royal Capital write their own lyrics or pieces. It was the same for Eltova, who was standing right before me.

　Since I never know whether for some reason I might be in a situation where I can no longer play my instrument, the wider the scope of my work, the better.  

　Perhaps with this in mind, I had asked Eltova to allow me to compose pieces whenever there was an opportunity. 

“For our next performance, I want an original piece for our orchestra. Normally, I would be the one composing, but I have my hands busy with other work.”

“Don’t tell me, you’re willing to leave it to me!?”

“No, I have also asked other members. However, in the event that you are chosen, it will debut at our concert. WIth such conditions, Catalina, would you also like to participate?”

　Of course, it would not be decided without conditions, it was apparently a competition. 

　However, I’d never been allowed to take on such a challenge before. This is a big chance. 

“Please allow me to do so!”

“Alright, the deadline is in one week. Until then, I want you to finish a piece that you can be proud of. It does not matter what genre.”

　Eltova nodded.

“Thank you very much.”

“I know it will surely be difficult to have to write music as well, but make you keep up with practice for this week’s performance.” 

“……Y, yes.”

　After handing me an outline regarding original pieces, Eltova smiled and left. 

　In the end, he did have a good grasp of the fact that I hadn’t done well in today’s practice session. What a frightful sense of hearing.   

　I felt a chill down my back as I watched Eltova gracefully walk away.

　Still having to practice the music for this week’s concert, I wonder if I have the time for composing …….

　No, even so I have to do it.

　If I don’t do my best here, it’s unclear when my next chance will come. I must not waste this opportunity that’s come my way.

“This is where you have to hold fast, Catalina Macrae!”

　I said aloud, as if to scold my weak heart, and headed for the changing room.

　This is where my path to great success as a musician will begin.

　●

“No good! I can’t think of anythinggggggggg!”

　It’s the sixth day I’ve been stuck at home to work on composing,

　I hadn’t been able to finish anything even resembling a piece. 

　All I had were some scribbled bars of music on paper that couldn’t be turned into a piece. There’s no way I could made a composition just by combining them. 

“Ah, it’s already evening! Oh no, I have to start practising violin soon! But I haven’t written anything at all!”

　I noticed the setting sun shining through the window and panicked.

　Like this, the few hours left today will pass mercilessly. There’s less than half a day until the submission day.

　I had my hands full just composing music and still I had to practice my regular pieces. How can I do this?

　However, I’ve heard that the conductor, Eltova, works on several pieces of music while practising other instruments and conducting. Compared to that, my workload was nothing.

“There’s still something I can do. It’ll be okay if I skip dinner and sleep less.”

　Yes, there is still time. Calm down, Catalina Macrae.

　After taking a few deep breaths to calm down, I activated my soundproofing magic tool and picked up my violin.

　First, from a single note. Then from there, slowly build a melody.

　If I can just get into a flow, then I’ll be able to progress smoothly. I knew this from all the previous pieces that I’ve made.

　Take your time and concentrate…….

<～～♪>

　Just as I was about to enter the world of composing, I heard singing again from the next room.

“Again……”

　The noise interrupted my focus and I became irritated.

　However, as I listened to my neighbour sing, I noticed that the rhythm was very good.

　But since it was just his natural voice, I couldn’t get the full melody. 

　Though if I were to accompany it with my own melody, would it be something like this?

　I played the violin unconsciously.

　And before I knew it, a piece of music had been completed right before my eyes.

　Even if I was the one saying so, it was a very good piece, enough for me to praise myself. 

　However, in spite of this wonderful music, I could not be honestly happy.

　After all, I had just added my own melody to a song my neighbour was singing.

　Of course, I had also added my own interpretation and arrangement to it, but does this count as plagiarising someone else’s song……?

　Having aspired to be a musician since I was a child, I’ve heard all kinds of tunes from east to west.

　I listen to songs even in my spare time, I listen carefully to pieces from famous as well as less well-known musicians. 

　But my neighbour’s songs were nothing like those.

　Music is culture and history. Composed melodies will definitely reflect the land, its culture and unique rhythms. 

　However, I could not detect any of these elements in my neighbour’s song.

　It was as if I was listening to a song from a faraway foreign country……. Anyway, it was sophisticated and fresh.

“Maybe my neighbour is a famous musician?”

“……This is bad. Let’s make another piece.”

　Plagiarising someone else’s song is not something my pride as a musician will allow.

　I set the finished piece aside in one corner and grabbed my bow to make my own piece next.

　●

“Ah, I overslept!”

　I’d been working late into the night on composing, and I must have fallen asleep and overslept.

　Fortunately, today’s rehearsal was in the afternoon, but the sun was almost in the middle of the sky.

　So it wouldn’t be strange if the orchestra members were already gathered in the opera house. 

　Quickly getting myself ready, I threw my violin and the music to be submitted into my case.

　I hurriedly headed for the opera house in the central district.

　When I arrived at the hall of the opera house, most of the members were already there.

　I rushed to the changing room, where I found Eltova in front of me, looking very smartly dressed today as well.

“Sorry, I’m late!”

“Not everyone has assembled yet, so you do not need to be in that much of a hurry.”

“Thank you very much.”

　Unlike me, whose makeup and hair was in a mess, he was well-groomed. I was so frustrated by this that I felt ashamed of myself.

“Rather than that, the deadline for the composition is today, so did you manage to get it done? If so, I would like to check.”

“Ah, yes! I’ll hand it to you right away!”

　With that request from Eltova, I opened the violin case that I had been carrying on my back.

　However, my hands were sweaty from running all the way here.

　I opened the case so forcefully that the violin rolled out from inside.

“Ooops, careful, careful. It’s your precious instrument. Take good care of it.”

“I’m so sorry, thank you very much.”

　I thought it was going to be knocked to the ground just like that, but Eltova caught it just in time. 

　Musical instruments are delicate things.

　You never know how the shock of falling to the ground might affect them. I’m very grateful to Eltova for grabbing it in that moment.

“Oh, this is the piece you wrote, right?”

“Yes.”

　It looked like the paper on which my composition was written fell out along with the impact of opening the case. 

　Eltova picked up the paper and looked over it with cold eyes.

　I was surprised that he actually started checking the piece right Infront of my eyes,  but still, without any feeling of wanting to leave, I watched with bated breath. 

　Eltova, who had been quietly gazing at the music, discovered another sheet of paper and unrolled it with great interest. 

“Oh yeah? Another sheet?

“Eh? Ah, that’s–“

　There was another sheet of music mixed in. It was the plagiarised piece that I’d written last night based on my neighbour’s song.

　Apparently, I was in such a rush this morning that I’d placed it together in the case. 

　I quickly reached out to retrieve it, but Eltova blocked me.

　Unlike when he saw the first sheet, his expression is very serious. His eyes move busily, as though fascinated.

“……Wonderful. The first piece was mediocre, but this one is very sophisticated and innovative.” 

　My face was about to contort because the piece that I’d written by myself was harshly criticised, but I somehow managed to hold it in.

“I will show it to the manager and the others, but Catalina, we will probably go with your piece. This is good enough. You really tried your best, didn’t you?”

　That’s just a melody I copied by ear without permission after hearing my neighbour’s song…..

　But I couldn’t honestly say that after receiving such a great response. 

　If I said such a thing, it would be like throwing mud on Eltova who had praised it so highly, and I would be scolded for arranging someone else’s song.

“T, thank you very much.”

　In such a situation, I could only say words of thanks while trying to fix my facial expression. 

　I had wanted to be selected so badly for the composition competition, but now I found myself praying that I would not be chosen.

　Despite these wishes, the original piece for the next concert was decided to be the arrangement of my neighbour’s song that I submitted.

–

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