SS ー YP's Birthday (2024)

There's not a single sound. It's stifling quiet―

"......"

(... I haven't slept much.)

After abruptly waking up, I turn around and find someone in my bed.

(Who's this again? Pretty sure it's the woman sitting next to me at the bar――)

The one with the sickly-sweet drink.
I invited her over to my apartment while pretending to be enthusiastic about her suggestion. So, here we are. Not the first time, not the last.
I get out of bed and sit at the piano to fiddle with its keys.
Smooth and cool; I feel like anyone would be happy just by pressing these.

"YP, you're awake."

The sound of the piano wakes the woman up.

"It's the middle of the night. Not going to sleep?"

I've already finished what I needed to do.
I flash her a smile and after exchanging a few words, taking the hint, the woman changed and left.
Then, shortly after it closed, a knock came at the door.

"It's open."
"Spirited much?"

There was Cherry.

"Yeah, it asked me to play."
"You mean you talked to the piano?
... Also, it is a bad omen to play that piece to a woman."
"Really? It's a happy story, isn't it?"
"It is often seen as a blighted love.
Don't they both die in the end?"
"Nevertheless, the demon dies. And they're proven righteous in their love."
"... Is that right?"

Cherry does not seem to want to free the entryway; instead, he leans against the wall turning his head listlessly.

"You're, huh, not going to sleep?"
"I have some work to do. The God of Destruction has started to eat away at my schedule as well."
"Haha, no one does it like him."
"I am at my wits end. If I were a demon, I would transform Junky into a field mouse
and keep him in a cage during the day. I'll be on my way now."
"I know you're still not going to sleep, but good night. Is it alright if I play the piano?"
"If I didn't like it, I would have informed you long ago."

Why bother coming to see me, anyway? Did he stop by on a whim?
I was about to brush it off as something not worth worrying about, but...

"... Right, one more thing: happy birthday."
"...? ...... Oh, you mean mine?"
"What is this, a horror movie? If not yours, who else's? Junky made a reservation for tonight."
"Okay."
"I hope I'll see you there."

After seeing Cherry off, I put my fingers on the keys again.

Dreams come to me when I play the piano.
The line between dreams and reality blurs and it brings me joy.

『 When ー is at the piano, my body moves on its own.』
『 It's as if ー's fingers were meant for playing the piano.』

My happiness is here,

『 Why, why. WHYWHYWHY CAN'T I BE HAPPY......!』

... It still is. So, please listen.
It won't be a sad story, but one where you're happy.
And then, when everyone else is "happy",
I shall be "content".

Happy Birthday, YP.