Your Song

Chapter Forty Four | Two Sides

The staircase was a bit dark, lit only by the occasional gaslight on the wall, but it was enough for the seven of you to be able to see.

"There's no booby traps anywhere, right?" Yu asked, grabbing hold of Kaya's shoulders.

Shindo let out a scoff. "Of course not." He got to a dead end at the top of the staircase and knocked on the wall. It was less sturdy, so it was certainly some sort of painting.

Someone knocked back, a rhythm forming between Shindo and the person on the other side. Hina.

Knock, knock knock, knock.

Knock knock, knock knock.

Then the painting moved to the side and Hina held the edge of it. "Apologies for leaving in such a rush."

"Don't worry, you were in some uncomfortable clothes all day." Shindo answered, stepping out of the opening and holding out his hand to help everyone else.

Hina, on the other hand, returned to sitting on her bed, staring out her window.

"What do you supposed is out there that's so interesting?" Kaya asked.

"That's the very thing she finds interesting. Out there." Shindo said, his tone so gentle that you nearly didn't recognize the voice.

You walked up to Hina and sat next to her, staring out the very same window that she did. However, you likely weren't seeing the same thing she did.

Acres and acres of forest and grassy lands, a lake in the distance. To you, it was a generally normal sight. You were Canadian, what could you say?

To Hina, it was right out of the very books she'd read constantly.

"Do you ever notice the people who seem to tail us when we are together?" Hina suddenly asked.

"Uh, no?"

She laughed a bit. "Don't feel bad. They are professionals. As a result of their services, we are never in immediate danger." She paused. A long pause that seemed like it was purposely added to add suspense. "I am never in immediate danger."

You glanced at her, seeing the... sad look in her eye. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"Of course it is." Hina felt the bed sink behind her and she knew the others had decided to sit down on her bed as well. "Of course, I would never wish any immediate danger upon myself."

You could hear the but coming from a mile away.

"But I could be doing something as simple as going out to retrieve the mail, and I witness the shadows of bodyguards within the darkness." She smiled a bit, looking down at the forest behind her house.

But it wasn't a happy smile. It was more... solemn. Bittersweet.

"Apologies. I have spoken for far too long." Hina stood up and brushed off her clothes. "Come. I shall show you quite the spectacle."

She took your hand and pulled you towards the wall. "Take a look at this wall." Her famous smile took up a portion of her face. A small smile, a smile that could mean anything. "What do you think could be considered a key to a secret?"

You took a step towards the wall, your eyes darting around the furniture pressed against it and the artwork hung across the walls.

"Why Y/N?" Kaya questioned.

"Shindo is already aware of the passage. You are elite in the art of locating secrets." Hina crossed her arms, watching you stand before the only non-bare wall in her bedroom. "I would like to see exactly how skilled our dear singer is in finding hidden messages."