Complete Private Wait... I know that voice

[Chako]

Miss Yuhan was busy with work today, so Lisa couldn't sightsee with her.

So today, Lisa and her mom were sightseeing by themselves! Looking around what a whole different country had to offer them!

It was a nice experience, overall. Lisa was glad that the US also spoke English for sure, as sightseeing by themselves would be a lot harder otherwise.

Either way, just as they had arrived at a park, Lisa was told by her mom that a bathroom emergency had occurred, so she would need to be left alone for a while.

... Lisa hoped her mom would be okay.

In the meantime, she was left alone there in the park, watching some children play... This is a time as good as any other, right?

Lisa took her harp out of the harp bag that she had on her lap, carefully positioned it so that she could feel comfortable playing on her wheelchair, and started playing something.

Spoiler: Song

It wasn't like she had any specific song in mind when she started playing. She just figured she'd let her fingers move in whatever way they wanted and she'd go along with the first song that came to mind.

... She was a bit surprised that the song that came out was the very first song that she played when she started doing bard work in Honeyhome... Not that she minded it. It was one of her favorites, after all.

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Despite her hopes, the park was not enough to soothe Bluebird's Mira's soul. Not when the city loomed behind the manicured treeline and the stench of the roads It was the best she could get, though. With her eyes closed and her headphones cancelling out the sound of cars and people, she could imagine she was back in Arcia.

Oh, how she longed to be there now, but her "manager" shared the hotel room, and she would ask questions if she spent too long in the other world. These trips away from home had always been stressful, but now it felt like torture the way they kept Bluebird Mira away from her friends, her paradise...

In the distance, a group of children played with carefree laugher. Mira watched them with both envy and pity, except...

One child was bound to a wheelchair, unable to join the others. She was otherwise unremarkable, except for the harp in her hands. She watched the girl pluck the strings before risking removing the headphones. Mira's ears were greeted by a gentle melody, unlike anything else in this world.

(A melody that was faintly familiar...?)

She approached slowly, not wishing to disturb the young harpist. If nothing else, the girl deserved an attentive audience, one that the city was unlikely to give her.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Lisa kept on playing the song to the end. It was something she had played plenty of times already, so the song flowed smoothly without any issues.

Once it ended, Lisa carefully positioned her harp to make sure it wouldn't fall, stretched a bit, and was just ready to start playing another song.

Except she actually saw someone looking at her while she stretched.

She stared at the woman and smiled, "Did you like the song?" she figured the woman must have been listening.

It felt nice. Lisa didn't expect the kids to care much about classical music during their playtime, but it would be disappointing to be playing out in public and not have a single person pay attention to her... Especially now that she was getting used to playing in Honeyhome. The locals there seemed to have taken a liking to her performances, so she always gets an audience whenever she plays... Even if only Starcalled actually donate her anything.

"If you have any requests, I can play them! For as long as I know the song, of course!" It's not like many people knew what were good songs for playing with a solo harp, but... Hey, if she could make someone smile with her songs, that would be a time well-spent!

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

That voice is... familiar...

Mira hesitated, caught off guard by the girl's attention. Run away, some part of her wailed, but she wasn't in danger. So instead she smiled weakly and bobbed her head in acknowledgement.

"Yes, it was quite nice," Bluebird Mira said, closing the distance some between the two of them. Her voice was still a little hoarse - she was neglecting her vocal exercises lately - but clear. "You are very skilled."

Mira kept her hands clasped in front of her, only occasionally making eye contact with the girl with the harp. Why was her voice familiar? It itched at the back of her thoughts.

"I wouldn't know what songs you know... I will leave the next song to you." She glanced briefly at the ground around the wheelchair, looking for a hat or case. Street musicians usually appreciated money, right...?

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Lisa opened her eyes wide when hearing the voice, "T-t-t-t-t-thank you! I-I-I appreciate it!" Wait, hold on, Lisa! Stop overthinking it! You're not finding someone from Arcia by sheer chance on a park in the US!

Lisa tried taking a deep breath, but it was hard to ignore the similarity... Sure, she didn't know anyone with a hoarse voice like that in Arcia, but... It's not like she was the only person in Arcia with any sort of disability. Maybe this person too was-

Stop! Stop stop stop! You'll weird out this woman who just praised your playing! Stare too much and you'll bother her!

Lisa stopped herself from thinking any further on this. To not try figuring out which voice was so close to this one... Wish I had Chako's ears with me right now. I'd instantly be able to notice if the voice truly matches... I just told myself to stop, damn it!

"Uhn... A-alright. It will be a bit longer one, okay?" Lisa needed to empty her head of thoughts... So she put her hands to work, so that her head would stop having stupid thought and ideas.

Spoiler: Song

As her hands moved, and the song played, Lisa managed to calm down a bit. Focusing on a song helped her stop focusing on anything else for a bit. Just remembering each of the notes she had to play, and the rhythm she had to work with. The melody that she practiced many times over to get right...

By the time she was done, she had finally managed to calm down, "Did you like this one, Birdie?"

... What did I just say?

"I-I-I-I-I mean! You voice sounds just like a bird's!" A Bluebird's, "I-I-I... I'm sorry. I just didn't know your name. I should have just used 'miss'..."

... At least don't steal other people's nickname, you silly! You're not close enough to Bluebird to give use Ruby's nickname for her!

Lisa started blushing more and more with each passing second... At some moment in the song her head seemed to have subconsciously made a connection she wasn't aware of, and now she had just referred to a stranger with a nickname that had nothing to do with her... Even if their voices were strikingly similar...

"I-I'm... I'm Lisa, by the way." She figured she would add. It was probably not a good idea to just go telling her name to a stranger she just met, but she was the one who brought the name thing up first, and... Well, it should be fine to tell her first name to a stranger on a whole another country, right? It's not like she'd be able to do anything bad to Lisa with just that alone.

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Mira took off her headphones and closed her eyes. In this world of recordings and remixes, there was nothing quite like a real instrument played by human hands. She couldn't help but sway to it as well.

At least she was able to stop herself from humming along in duet, like she might with Ruby or... Chako...

...could it be?

Chako did play the harp, didn't she? And her voice had the same timbre and accent. It seemed so unlikely. If it truly was Chako, then such a meeting...

"Did you like this one, Birdie?"

...would be no less than a miracle.

"It was wonderful" Mira smiled, her shy demeanor melting like ice beneath the sunlight. She pushed her hair behind one ear as she approached, a familiar expression on her face as she looked down at Chako... at Lisa. "It is good to meet you, Lisa. My name is Mira.

Such a frail looking child... it was a glimpse at the truth behind Chako she didn't expect to have today.
@Chako

 

[Chako]

Lisa really did appreciate how the miss reacted to her playing. The amount of attention she could afford while playing was limited, but still... She could notice enough to see that someone was enjoying her performance.

A shame Lisa just had to ruin the moment with the 'Birdie' thing!

... Except... The miss was smiling? She seemed happy to be called 'Birdie' and, and... Miss Mira really started giving off that Bluebird feeling in more than just her voice...

"N-nice to meet you, miss Mira." Lisa managed to reply, "I... Uhn..." How was she even supposed to approach this topic? Her curiosity really was getting the best of her, but it's not like she could just ask if miss Mira knew the way to Arcia or something, could she? "Do you... Do you like birds, trees, forests and the like!?

"L-like, I do! I totally do! I can't explore them very much usually, but..." Lisa glanced at her own legs, "Well... You feel like the kind of person that would catch me if I was falling off a tree!

"... I'm not making any sense, am I? I'm sorry..." Lisa was blushing hard... She must be looking crazy right now... Well, unless miss Mira actually got what she meant, then it's just a crazy coincidence that they met here today, "I'm just... Very inexplicably happy that I met you today, miss Mira!" Lisa gave out a beaming smile, That could come off as someone just being happy that they found someone who paid attention to their songs, right? Right!?

Wait, hold on, I could have just asked the way to Arcia, actually. It's not like anyone who's never been there would understand the meaning of the question anyways... I'm so stupid!

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

If Mira had her wings, they'd be fluttering now. Instead she was content with clasping her hands behind her back, trying not to smile too widely as Lisa stuttered her way through her introduction. Birds, forests, falling from trees... if there had been any lingering doubts, her awkward words would have long since blown them away.

Mira leaned closed to Lisa, her hair briefly obscuring her face from any watchers. The sound of her music whispered from her headphones - some kind of hymn, but the lyrics weren't any common language. "Do not fret, Chako. I know you as surely as you know me.

She leaned back once more. "I am glad to meet you as well. Truly fate has brought us together on this day." Some of the hoarseness had gone from Mira's voice, in a way that felt a little forced. But without that edge, it was nearly indistinguishable from Bluebird's.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Miss Mira's smile somehow relieved Lisa... Lisa knew she was being strange, but she also knew that the happiness she was feeling right now was not a lie... It really was her, right?

Miss Mira's words were all the confirmation she needed, Lisa smiled from ear to ear in response, "I'm really really glad to meet you here too, Bluebird!" Lisa could also overhear a faint bit of the hymn in miss Mira's headphone that she had taken off... It felt just like Bluebird!

"A-ah, and I'm sorry for accidentally using Ruby's nickname for you there, it wasn't on purpose, I was just kinda lost in my own words there and... W-well, I'm happy! Meeting both you and miss Yu-" Wait, no! Don't use her real name! Or rather! Don't go telling others about where miss Yuhan lives!

Lisa's started panicking as she tried to think of a way to fix this mess that she was creating, "Yu-yu-yu-yu-you and my friend! I came to the US to meet a friend, you know, miss Mira!? Meeting the both of you here was truly wonderful! A wonderful coincidence!

"... Or maybe it's fate like you just said. It would be nice, wouldn't it?" Lisa smiled, "I didn't expect mom to actually be able to take me all the way to the US to see the opera. Being able to see you here too was just way too lucky of me, so-so-so-so..." Lisa blushed a bit, it was a bit embarrassing to say it out loud, "Well... I just think it would be nice if this wasn't just luck and more of a divine will, in a way, don't you think so?" Not just miss Mira, but also actually being received well by miss Yuhan and even meeting Bao! Lisa was so worried that she would be seen as creepy for going to miss Yuhan's show!

It was really nice that this trip was just giving her more and more than what she could have possibly asked for.

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Mira smiled. Chako was just as cute in this world as she was in the next! Considering how many people put on false masks, it was a breath of fresh air to know she was sincere in both worlds.

"Do not fret, Lisa. Ruby may have coined the name, but you may use it too." She tilted her head. "In fact, I'd be honored if you did! Though I suppose in this world, 'Mira' will have to do."

And then something in Chako's words drew her attention.

"Meeting the both of you here was truly wonderful! A wonderful coincidence!"​

Mira's eyes widened with surprise. Was Ruby... here? In this city? She put a hand on her chest as her heart fluttered with excitement. She'd thought, prayed that one day she might meet her in person, but had told herself it wouldn't happen. To think she was so close...!

"...I too believe this is fate, Lisa. Such miracles should be named for what they are." She clasped her hands together. "You are here for an... 'opera'? What is that?"

@Chako

 

[Chako]

"Oh, that so!?" But wasn't it like, a lover's nickname!? Lisa was a bit unsure of how to take it, but she still beamed at that, "Thank you, miss Mira!"

Miss Mira's reaction to Lisa's words were a bit strange though... Had Lisa said something bad? Though it's not like miss Mira looked sad or anything, so it was probably fine...?

Lisa giggled in response to miss Mira's next words though, "I dunno if I'd call that a miracle though, isn't that meant for more grandiose things? Although... I guess a minor miracle would work, couldn't it!?" It felt a bit silly trying to say it was a miracle to talk about them meeting, but... Honestly? Lisa was very happy just thinking of the idea.

"Oh? Ruby never told you about them!? They're like, plays involving lots of singing! I loved seeing Ruby's recorded performances, but seeing it live was something else!"

... Crap. "L-l-l-l-l-like when seeing a musical performance, yanno!? It's nice listening to classical music with my headset, but nothing beats hearing a harp in real time, right!? S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-so I really really loved seeing the opera here while visiting miss Yuhan!"

... Double crap, "T-t-that's my friend! The friend I'm visiting! Miss Yuhan is a great friend! I was in the opera with her!"

Lisa seriously wanted to bury herself in a hole right now to close her stupid mouth. How much more information was she going to leak in a single conversation!? She just really hoped that miss Mira wouldn't connect the dots... It wouldn't be fair to miss Yuhan if she just blurted out all that without permission...

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

"The word 'miracle' need not be restricted to grand gestures," Mira said, answering Lisa's giggle with a brief huff of her own. "Even the sunrise is worthy of the word."

Despite her continued cheer, Mira's eyes were sharp as she listened to Lisa's words.

Ruby was in this "opera", an act involving music and performance. "Oh, so like a musical! I've been shown some of those before."

Lisa was visiting someone named "Yuhan". "I agree. Digital recordings and even virtual shows seem so... empty."

This Yuhan had been in the opera. "I'm glad you have a friend you can enjoy such things with. In this world and time, so few appreciate real things."

It all seemed so clear now. That her dear friend was here, and if it weren't for this chance meeting and Chako's childish honestly, she might have never known.

"Perhaps I should speak with my manager... seeing an opera sounds like it'd be good once I've completed my obligations." Mira tapped her chin thoughtfully. Oh, what she would give to fly away and find Ruby now - but she had her duties.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Lisa tilted her head, "Wouldn't that kinda defeat the whole point of the word? Isn't it meant to refer to things that are special?

"... Well, I guess meeting you today was certainly special though!" And seeing the sunrise could give off a special feeling too, so it could kinda work to some extent... Lisa heard stuff about how pretty it can be to see the sunrise from the top of a mountain or something, so... Maybe I should try mountain climbing in Arcia later... It was something to add to the list, for sure.

"Yes! It's totally a musical! Like, there was a pretty popular one some years back, the Ghost of the Opera was a total hit in the late 20th century! I heard that my grandma even had the DVD recording of it!" Would miss Mira know what a DVD was though? Well, she was older than Lisa, so surely she must know!

"I don't think I would call them empty..." Lisa pondered, "More like... Lacking. I could see Ru-Ru-Ru-Roo-Whoosever's performance in a video and think it's beautiful! B-b-but like, it really can't compare to seeing it live! It's just not the same, yanno!?

"But like... Well, if there was no value in recorded performances, then we wouldn't really wear headphones, right?" Lisa smiled at she glanced at miss Mira's headphones. Good grief! I really need to stop almost doxing miss Yuhan! Come on! Get a hold of yourself, Lisa!

Lisa nodded to miss Mira's next words, "I know, right...? My best friend always goes see my harp recitals, but she never shows any real interest in seeing anybody else's performance live... She says it's cheaper to just watch it on metube later..." Lisa still dragged her to shows every now and then though, but it's not like she could do it often, "Mom and miss Yuhan can appreciate those things more though! And I'm glad you can too, miss Mira!"

Lisa blinked a few times when hearing miss Mira's next words though... A manager? Was she like, some important person? Maybe an idol of sorts? She didn't look like one, but nice clothes, makeup, and a change in the styling of the hair could easily change someone's looks, so it wasn't like Lisa could write off the possibility... Though it was probably too much prying if she were to ask, so she focused on miss Mira's sudden interest in operas instead, "Oh, you totally should! There's a great one airing in Chinatown not too far from here! You should totally try finding the time to look it up!"

... Lisa, you moron. Miss Mira would be able to recognize miss Yuhan's voice, "W-w-well, I'm not sure for how long they'll be performing there, that is! B-but I really enjoyed it, b-b-but I would totally understand if you didn't find the time to go there!" Did that help? Lisa doubted it. She didn't know how to fix this one... I'm really sorry miss Yuhan! I messed up big time now!

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Mira touched her headphones. They were still playing, though the song had long since ended. "I suppose. But I will always value those experiences we have in person more."

She smiled down at Lisa. "But I am glad to see you also value such things. I meet few of your age who do." Not that her age mattered here - it seemed like most people she met nowadays didn't care for this world.

Perhaps if they knew there was another option...

"Chinatown, you said? I will keep that in mind." And she would talk to her manager about it. She would almost certainly approve of the decision, and it might keep her from complaining of her time spent in Arcia.

She reached for her purse, a small, simple thing, and pulled out her planner. For all use a phone might provide, Mira still preferred taking pen to paper. "Could I have the name of the opera and the theater? I'm sure there must be many in this city, and I would not want to go to the wrong one!"

@Chako

 

[Chako]

"Right!? In person shows are always the best!

"... I guess you need to have music be an important part of your life to really care about it though." What's up with it being so convenient to just watch things on metube or listening to it on placefy... Though Lisa couldn't get how people could really enjoy those highly compressed songs. At least get a proper lossless file if you wanna listen to music at home!

That said, Lisa smiled as she thought a bit more about miss Mira's words, "Oh, and I'm glad in-person shows are valuable for you too, miss Mira! It's not often that I can talk to someone who likes them!" Well, she was talking to miss Yuhan on this trip, of course, but that was the exception and not the norm.

And then, Miss Mira's next words made Lisa go a bit pale... I'm so sorry, miss Yuhan, no way around it now... "Right, right... The address was XXX, the theater was YYY and the opera's name was ZZZ... I really really do recommend it!" That much was true, despite Lisa's mixed feelings on simply telling miss Mira about miss Yuhan's opera without asking miss Yuhan about it first, she really did enjoy watching the whole thing, and she hoped miss Mira would enjoy it too!

And after thinking this far, another thought came to Lisa's head, so she took out her phone, "Say... Would it be alright for us to exchange contacts? To like... Let us talk even when we're not in Arcia?" Lisa was a bit nervous about asking it, but... She really wanted to make the most of this chance meeting! No point in holding back now!

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Mira carefully noted down the information Chako provided in neat letters. It was more than enough that she could seek it out herself, but she'd have to pass it to her manager eventually, if only to make sure the tickets and times matched her budget and schedule.

"Thank you, Lisa. I'm sure I'll enjoy it!" Her smile was gentle, though it wavered slightly when the question of sharing contact information came up. She'd never done that sort of thing herself before. Most of her connections were through other people. For a moment she felt scared...

...but she'd done it before in Arcia. Bluebird's friend list was small, but she'd made that choice herself. And so she calmed her quavering heart and nodded.

"I'll give you my phone number. I don't have anything else to message on. Is that okay?" Mira had never needed it before, after all.

She wrote her number down on an empty page of her planner and ripped it out. "Sometimes I'm... busy, but I'll always try to respond as soon as I can." She folded the paper neatly as she spoke, then offered it to Lisa.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Lisa's worries about doxing miss Yuhan disappeared for a bit when miss Mira reacted to her request to exchange contacts... Guess it's no good...? It was a bit disappointing, but Lisa would have to understand if miss Mira preferred to keep things in Earth and in Arcia separate.

Except that, shortly after that, miss Mira replied affirmatively! Lisa could not hide her happiness at that, "Yeah! That will be just fine!" she happily picked the planner's page that was handed to her, then quickly took out her phone to add a new contact, then, she sent a message with a single ": )" to miss Mira, and right after that, Lisa immediately showed the message to miss Mira in her own phone, "See!? That's me!

"Oh, and don't worry about it! I also get busy when I'm at school or in Arcia, but I'll respond as soon as I can too!" Lisa happily told her.

Though suddenly... "Sorry, Lisa, things took longer than I thought..." Lisa heard a very familiar voice.

A voice that Lisa instantly turned her head around to look at, "Mom! Look, look! I found another friend that I met online! And this one wasn't even planned! The world is so small, isn't it!?" Lisa gladly gestured towards miss Mira, then told her, "Miss Mira, that's my mom! She was the one who brought me to the US for this trip!"

"Another one...?" Sophia was visibly worried about it. Her daughter seemed to be a bit too trusting of people she had never met before... And she couldn't help wondering if this was really just a coincidence or if there was ill-intent behind this meeting...

"Yeah! I can't believe how lucky I really was! To think I would not only be able to visit miss Yuhan, but also end up meeting miss Mira too! And we even exchanged contacts! That was way too lucky! Or maybe it was fate, actually!" Lisa, on the other hand, looked like the happiest girl in the world right now, with a head completely free of any worries.

Sopha sighed, then approached Lisa, "... Let's talk about this later, okay? I'm happy that you've met a friend, but remember to take care of yourself, alright?" She then turned to miss Mira's direction, "Thank you for taking care of my daughter while I was busy. I'm Sophia." And offered her a handshake.

Lisa felt a bit troubled about her mom's reaction... She definitely wasn't as happy as Lisa was about all this... Goodness, she really can't trust my judge of character!? I know miss Mira is a good person! I'm old enough to know if someone is trying to scam me or is actually my friend! Lisa thought all that, but she didn't voice it... She did appreciate that her mom decided to leave the conversation for later. It wasn't something she wanted to talk about in front of miss Mira.

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Mira blinked as Lisa's mother appeared. All traces of Bluebird seemed to vanish at once, leaving the quiet, polite woman Lisa had first met.

"It was no trouble at all. Your daughter is very sweet." Mira gave Sophia a polite curtsy and a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "My name is Mira Watson. I understand your concern, but rest assured I have no ill intent."

She looked down at her phone, with the single smile messaged to her. She considered her first impressions, then offered both her phone and the written slip of paper to Sophia. "If you wish, I'll delete her contact information under your supervision. Or I can give the information directly to you so you can make the decision."

It hurt, having to offer cutting this newfound connection so soon after making it. But she could hear the suspicion and worry in Sophia's voice... and it was important, to protect children.

Besides... there was always Arcia. Only gods could take than from them.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Lisa nodded at miss Mira's words. It was obvious that she had no ill intent! Anyone could see that!

Lisa was then absolutely flabbergasted when seeing miss Mira offer both her phone and the paper slip, "M-mooom!" She's not going to delete my contact from miss Mira's phone, is she?

As for Sophia... She smiled and picked just the paper slip, "I appreciate you being willing to share your contact number, but I'm not gonna try to take my daughter's friends away from her." she gently stroke Lisa's hair then, which made Lisa visibly relax, "Besides, I know that you two could both exchange contact numbers again online anyways. I'd rather not give Lisa any reason to hide those things from me."

... Oh, right, that was an option. I hadn't even thought of that... She had just thought that, worst came to worst, they could still meet up in Arcia whenever they wanted... But she definitely wanted to have miss Mira's contact on top of being able to meet Bluebird, "I'd rather not hide those things from you either, mom..." Lisa commented... Though she was going to hide what exactly Arcia was from her for the rest of her life.

"Did you two meet in the same game you met miss Yuhan in?" Sophia asked.

It always annoyed Lisa when Arcia was referred to as a game, but... Well, that's how she talked about it with her mom, "Y-yeah! We met in the same place! Miss Mira saved me from falling from a tree back when I was still getting used to moving my legs!" Then she held one of miss Mira's hands with both of her own, "Seems like fate just keeps bringing us together, doesn't it!?" Lisa smiled from ear to ear.

Whatever it was that Sophia thought about this exchange, she decided to not voice it... She was smiling, but an attentive eye would still see the worry in her expression.

@Bluebird

 

[Bluebird]

Mira Eden

Mira nodded. "Thank you for trusting me. She could certainly see the concern, but she could also tell she'd won Sophia over. She nodded towards Lisa with a more genuine smile. "Do listen to your mother, though! She just wants to protect you."

She opened her mouth, ready to comment on Lisa's near-accident in Arcia, only for her phone to begin ringing. She looked down at the screen to see the name and face of her manager. A flicker of disdain crossed her face before she muted the ringing.

"Ah, it appears I'm needed. It has been wonderful meeting you both." Another curtsy, another shallow smile. Mira's phone chirped, indicating a message from her manager.

And then another. They clearly considered whatever was on their mind of imminent importance.

"Take care Sophia and Lisa. I suppose I'll be in contact soon! With that final farewell she turned away. Once she'd made a little distance she finally called her manager back with a flat voice. "Yes, what is it? ...I see..."

@Chako