She's stuck in her room again... To be fair, Cecelia did start her school ter then I did, "But... still." I still didn't know how I should act... I was wondering if perhaps I was being too meddlesome or not in trying to interact with her. I really had no idea how to approach Cecelia without potentially making things worse.

  I went back to the dining area and ate alone. After eating, I reheated her portion, leaving it on the kitchen table with a note before heading back to my room to get ready.

  Back in my room, I checked myself in the mirror again. Looking at myself; my hair was straight and clean - check -, my uniform was presentable and clean - check -, my face was clean and didn't have any pieces of food - check -, my school bag had my sketchbook for my elective - check. I sat down to pull my knee high socks up, "Good..." I did a final check, again. I twirled around, my skirt fluttering up slightly before falling back, "Okay." I felt confident in myself at st after I examining myself one st time.

  I went down to our doorway and put on my shoes to go. I looked back at the house. "I'm leaving Cecelia; there's breakfast for you when you come out!" I yelled in the most caring way possible.

  "See you again Teseia!" Felis waved; I waved back as she left into the halls for her own electives...

  I turned and hung my head down, "Art..." The weight in my bag was the reminder that today was electives. I wouldn't have Felis with me today.

  Though, as it happened to be, Noe happened to be the instructor for both String Musical Art and Arts Sketching and Design. I at least had someone I could depend upon, but... I didn't want to make a bad impression on myself to Noe so early.

  As I walked into the art room alone, I looked around. Everyone in the css seemed like quiet, serious introverts. Serious as in serious about their work and passion - completely different from the serious in a difficult science or intensive study css. I felt totally out of pce mentally as a smart student here...

  As I looked for somewhere to sit, I sat down at a seat with a drawing stand. With drawing in mind, I id my sketchbook I had onto the stand and tried thinking of something to draw... the room? That should be simple, as I looked around... There were plenty of potted pnts here as well as the open window with the sunlight, so it should be pretty detailed, right?

  I started my drawing... line after line, scribble after scribble...

  Huh...? Why is Noe looking my way? I was just drawing what came to mind, the cssroom. "It—wow, it looks great Teseia!" Eh?

  ... What was good about it?

  Looking at my sketch again, to me it looked like a bunch of lines connected in a pretty way. The css should only be pencil sketches, so I simply did this in the time before css, but to say I was a good artist? I mean—, it looked good, but... Great? Was there something I was missing that Noe saw? Not to mention my drawing was still incomplete as I didn't even draw the outer yers of the room such as the clouds, and I still needed to complete shading the sketch.

  "Is—is it really so Instructor Noe?" I honestly couldn't really tell—huh...?

  I instinctively moved out of the way for Noe as she looked at my sketch... "Your hand movement is refined, and your control with your pencil is amazing - the sharpness of your sketch shows it. I'm looking forward to seeing your works Teseia." Wah—?

  "... sure...?" I mean... I felt conflicted on how to respond back to Noe's enthusiasm; I could only nod back bnkly.

  Though Noe looked joyed to hear me answer in confirmation regardless. "I am really looking forward to seeing your art!" I guess I needed to make it through now. Though it felt nice - having someone have this enthusiastic about me.

  I sure hoped that Alicia's natural skills transted to music as well... In that css—well, I would really need some excuses.

  "I would like for everyone to look at their sheets." Eh—, er—. What was this...? I looked at the sheet Noe gave me for my borrowed instrument, yet looking at the music sheet I couldn't think of it as anything meaningful. I couldn't even comprehend how to read this... I know these lines and dots and symbols and everything that the sheet had meant something, but just what in the world did these symbols mean, and what action should I do according to what they read?

  Actually—, thinking through, I did do something in advance... Something that will probably be my excuse to end times as I live through my new life. I raised my hand—this is where I use memory loss as an excuse, right?

  "Yes, you may go Teseia." Ah—not—, um—err, I guess...? I didn't need to use the restroom, but not going would probably be more awkward than not going...

  I got up from my seat and put my instrument in its case on the ground gently before carefully getting out of formation from the sea of seats to exit the music room. As I left the music room, suddenly a heavenly melody started—this... Was this music?

  "... I should go to the restroom..." Staying here would make me look weird, and it would make my worries about what's to come worse.

  After going, and coming back uneventfully, I looked at what was in front of me again... here I was, back at the music room. I took a deep breath—and knocked on the door.

  After a few seconds, Noe was the one who opened the door. "Welcome back Teseia, please come on in—,"

  "Ano—could I speak with you Instructor Noe?" I needed to tell her this before I end up messing up this css by my ck of knowledge.

  "Is something the matter Teseia?" Noe asked me. I nodded. Noe closed the door to the music room and stepped outside with me. "I assume it is something urgent, looking at how panicked and worried you are now, and how panicked you were before." Did I really look like that?

  I—now that I thought about it, a sudden sense of shame came to me. Before, no one really noticed me, but... "Ano—I—," Was—was telling Noe really the right thing? "... don't know how to read these music sheets..." I felt frightened telling Noe, in the case she had a negative response. I was afraid of disappointing her—but I honestly told her. Noe wouldn't sh out at me—probably. "And—... I don't want to ruin your css's beautiful melody."

  "Ah—." Noe uttered before going silent... I held my breath, "I understand." She still kept her smile throughout this—,

  "I'm sorry—apologies..."

  "It's okay Teseia." Hearing Noe say it, I felt... it was comforting my worries hearing Noe tell me. I took a deep breath—it was okay...

  I took another deep breath, "I don't remember anything of who I was; and all my current csses came to me as a shock." I felt myself spewing words... even after I calmed myself. "I felt natural drawing, like my hand moved on its own; but here I feel confused, I just can't recall anything with music in my head, unlike drawing where it came by like my body's will..." I felt scared being so honest with her, but maybe, Noe could be a support for me to rely on. Maybe—,

  "Poor thing—I can't say much, but..." Noe uttered, "I know you're a hard worker and a brilliant student; if not for your accident and memory loss, you would be standing proud in front right now as a bright student." I could only hold my head down as she pat my head like a pet, "I'll let you watch on for a few days and send you home with some instructional videos and readings." Noe let go of her hand as she opened the door to the music room. "Here, come in, Teseia."

  "Haah~, thank you Noe..." I really was blessed that Noe was both my homeroom instructor and my elective teacher. She was a wonderful person.

  I sat back down to my seat. "I apologize css, but due to an injury from her accident that has not quite healed yet, Teseia will not be pying with us for now." Noe—I looked at her to see her smile at me... well, I suppose she wasn't 'wrong', but I still felt guilty using my injury as an excuse.

  I sat in formation still, listening and watching how the other students pyed. I kept the sheets in front of me and tried looking at others with an instrument that looked like my own. I tried to see how it connected with the sheet in front of me, but I had no idea how the music notes went to how they pyed.

  Before long, the css ended. The final beat ended as the sound struck through in a lengthy, yet wonderful sound... well—I couldn't expin it, but there was a sense of majesty to it.

  "Thank you everyone, you all did wonderfully; you may leave for lunch." Noe said as everyone packed their instruments in their cases.

  I kept my instrument in my case the entire time, but I took the time to check my bag to make sure I had everything. My books for my afternoon csses - check -, my boxed lunch from home - check. I should be good to go—,

  "I know it is a lot, but could you come to my office after school?" Noe asked as she closed the cover of the piano.

  "Of course." I suppose I would need to have some personal lesson to catch up with everyone else.

  I got up and carried the instrument's strap, putting it back onto the rack with the borrowed instruments. "Thank you Teseia. I apologize for taking your time. If your memory loss gives you any other issue, you can rely on me Teseia." Noe...

  ... Fufu, "Then—, please remember me when I forget." I uttered, as monotonous as I could.

  ... Why... did she suddenly make such a scary expression? "You make terrible jokes; don't say something like that again, please."

  "Sorry—sorry!" Why was this of all things I was getting reprimanded for?

  With it being lunch time, I returned to the art room.

  "Drawing..." It seemed Alicia's talent was still very much inside with me. I myself was amazed at how I could draw with Alicia's natural pencil movement. "I should try to draw something." I was sure that as long as I thought of something and saw it, I could draw it. My hands seemed to have good control with a pencil; though... as I thought about it, "Why was Alicia so good with a pencil, but terrible with a knife?" I would think that knowing how to apply pressure and force applied to both of drawing and home economics, but—perhaps I was mistaken.

  Well, I should eat before thinking of something to draw. I opened my lunch box and started eating cleanly.

  The school had no regutions on where we were allowed to eat, as long as we made sure wherever we ate was clean for csses.

  "Oh, hello again." A girl walked into the art room—wait!

  "It's you!" It was that uppercssman girl who asked me if I was fine on my first day.

  "Oh, we meet again." She said before sitting down at a stand. She looked at me before—wait, she isn't trying to draw me, is she? "Could I get your name?" Huh?

  "Ano—... Teseia Alicia." She seemed odd, yet so familiar...

  "Could I get your permission to draw, Teseia?" Wait—she couldn't be? Leicia? How could I— "Oh sorry; my name is Qualtia."

  Of course I knew your name! Though, your hair... why? Why did she change her signature long dark red hair into one that was... Well, her hair wasn't short, but she cut her hair just below her neck? It gave her a completely different look. Not to mention her naturally formed bangs that hung between her eyes were cut short.

  Her change in appearance was a shock, though her gentle, carefree personality, eagerness to sketch and draw, and simple introduction proved it was still her.

  "L—Qualtia..." I felt embarrassed having to do this again... I knew Leicia—though me being who I am now, I should think of her by her surname when I see her... before I accidentally act like I'm close with her. Qualtia was an excellent artist, especially a pencil artist, but—... I couldn't help but feel embarrassed now with my current situation. It was whatever when Qualtia did it before, but now as a girl, I felt more conscious of how I look.

  "You can eat; just act natural. I'll show you the sketch before you're done." She procimed.

  Then... I guess just eat. I took a deep breath and tried to act natural...

  ... ... ...

  "Done. You can come over when you are done eating." As always, Qualtia finished her sketch quickly.

  I just gave Qualtia a nod. I've done modeling for her many times, yet seeing her do it here with a seemingly random person was a shock... I never really felt conscious of it before, but my impression as a girl felt on edge - I had no idea how I appeared myself, so... I was afraid of looking at her drawing only to see myself not how I want.

  I finished the small bit of my lunch quickly then—ah... Qualtia's artwork looked beautiful, "Wha—... wow..."

  I felt like I was looking at myself, in monochrome. My posture looked refined and elegant; my left eye was open with my bangs lifted up a little more than how I usually styled it, but how Qualtia drew me made it look much better then when I looked into the mirror. It emphasized my beautiful eyes... I felt this was even better than half the drawings she did when she drew me before or Kaeu.

  Was this the true potential of what art could be? I stared at my hands - could I really do something like this as well? A sense of inspiration came to me. Before I would never even consider it, but now... "Thank you for letting me see the work of a professional Qualtia." Professional was short selling Qualtia's skills—uniquely amazing was how I could word it best.

  Qualtia shook her head, "It was nothing." She uttered, "Err—yes, apologies; of course. I'm actually trying to get into a competition with other artists, so thank you for allowing me to draw you."

  "... Yes—," Why does Qualtia always respond to a thanks with a 'thanks'? A part of me almost wanted to blurt out my original response, 'Yes, now stop responding with a thanks', but I caught myself.

  Ugh—Qualtia seems so normal that I feel like I would be bound to let my true self slip through. I got up and packed my things. I felt content with just seeing Qualtia again despite her changed appearance, so I felt no need to draw myself. I also wanted to leave now before I make any mistakes.

  "Thank you for cooperating with the whims of an uppercssman." Qualtia got up after I did and tucked the paper canvas she used to the corner of the room. "I'm sure we'll see each other again Teseia." She uttered.

  "Yes—I am sure Qualtia." I waved to her before leaving the room.

  ... hah~, why is my life now full of coincidences? Meeting my two best friends in school?

  "What a funny prank by the Empress..." I uttered to myself before heading to one of my csses.

  "Pardon the intrusion, Instructor Noe..." I said as I entered Noe's office. Once I was in, I closed the door and made a courteous bow.

  "Welcome Teseia. Take a seat please, dear." Noe said as she brought her attention to me. I took a seat on the chair in front of her desk, "No need to be formal - I know you become stiff and polite when nervous, but... I would like if you were able to be rexed here Teseia."

  I took a deep breath - honestly, despite her words earlier in the day I felt nervous coming here... Though—I felt slightly embarrassed that my habits were so obvious—, "Thank you..." I uttered.

  "I mean what I meant, now and earlier. If there are any issues that arises due to your memory loss or your injuries, I will be here for you Teseia."

  I let out a sigh, "... thank you, Instructor Noe..." I gnced away - I couldn't bear to have anyone look at my face right now... I was—I was gd to have Noe as my homeroom instructor...

  "Take your time Teseia—I don't know you much besides what I know from today and yesterday, but whenever you want to talk, I am here for you—besides, you remind me of someone I used to know..."

  "..." I took another deep breath. "I... there's a lot on my mind. So—when the time comes, could I confide in you... Noe?"

  "Of course dear."

  After Noe's reassuring words, she showed me videos on basic music theory and how to read music notes. I held a violin she offered me in her office, and Noe noted that my hands seemed to naturally know how to hold and py the violin. After around 30 minutes of lessons with Noe, my lesson came to an end. Noe sent me videos to watch alongside a basic music instruction book as I left home.

  Arriving home, I y on the couch. I wanted time to myself...

  After a while, I got up - I've spent enough time zing around. I went to the kitchen and put on my apron to prepare dinner.

  As I prepared dinner, the front door opened. I turned my head, seeing Cecelia walk in. "Alicia—?"

  "Welcome home, Cecelia." I was unsure of what to say, but kept to a simple safe greeting... though I didn't really know what to say afterwards... "Err—dinner will be done soon... so—err..."

  "... ano—thank you..." Cecelia said before retreating upstairs...

  Making sure Cecelia was gone, I let out a sigh—I had no idea what to do... though, I suppose I should focus on making dinner. I'm sure something will come to us one day.

  From the few days I lived with Cecelia, I found that she wasn't picky. She took and ate everything without leaving any trash. She also knew how to clean up after herself; I never had to clean up after coming back home from school, or in the morning when I made breakfast.

  Soon enough, dinner was done. I ate alone before heading upstairs to tell Cecelia that dinner was ready before returning to my room.

  I fell onto my soft girly bed, looking up to the ceiling. My ceiling filled with glittering stars.

  ... I wished that I could be close with Cecelia. Even though I was not the 'Alicia' she probably knew; I still just wished to get along with someone... I never really had someone I could call family before - even the one person I had that was akin to a 'younger sister' due to our age acted more like my junior than anything else. Cecelia was... the only family I had now.

  "... hey..." I never realized it until now, "... it's really lonely—," Even before, my friends I could talk to, "Not having anyone..." I didn't want to do anything... I know I should've changed out of my uniform, but I just wanted time to myself. I took one of my pillows and hugged it close to me...

  "Guess I should study." I got up, changed out of my uniform and went to my desk to study.