Elira’s not a genius. Far from it actually.

Sure, academically, she’s smart and yes she’s knowledgeable in a lot of things, but compared to geniuses like Leo Tsukinaga, Elira would tell you that she’s average at best.

Ever since becoming close friends with the eccentric composer, Elira always wondered how he was able to constantly compose. Inspiration, to her, comes in waves like the ocean; one moment it surges through her very being and the next it’s gone, leaving a barren wasteland for her to travel in solitude.

Elira’s inspiration tends to stem from her experiences, which was why a lot of her songs had a dash of sadness, melancholy, despair and sometimes, even a hint of frustration. No matter how badly she wanted to write a happy song, her past would always come back to haunt her. As if taunting her, like a hunter toying with its prey. That’s why she could never seem to wrap her head around the infinite pool of inspiration that Leo has seemingly tapped into.

“Inspiration is everywhere, wahaha~☆ Just find your muse and the symphony shall resound throughout the cosmos~♪” was what Leo proclaimed.

Ah, a muse; such as Emilie Flöge to Gustav Klimt and Elizabeth Siddal to Dante Rossetti. The power love has on an artist is a sight to behold yet, it’s a rather difficult thing to find in the first place.

Love is not some kind of mathematical equation where you solve for “x”, nor is it a scientific methodology where you can combine elements to create a whole new compound. It’s something arbitrary. Intangible. Beyond logic and reasoning and in the realm of irrationality. Elira knows that, which was why she accepted the fact that she’ll never reach Leo’s level.

Leo, who’s known to give out his love to everyone and everything, unironically knows more about love than Elira, even if he doesn’t realize it himself. So it’s no wonder why his mind is constantly filled with melodies. Elira knows she’ll never get to experience that opera, but at least she can enjoy her local theater.

Though, as time passed, a subtlety started to plague Elira.

It started off with short beats that she would click her pen to while doing paperwork, followed by simple tunes she would hum while walking down the hallway. Unbeknownst to her, this was all due to a certain someone.

The gentle strumming of a harp envelops her mind when watching him practice. The victorious sound of trumpets resounding in her ears after watching him perform another successful live. A playful piano tune encompassing her very soul every time she teases him. They were all faint, so quiet in fact that Elira initially didn’t notice them, but once she did, they seemingly never left.

Each melody was different, Elira would even argue that they were unique to the situation. It was strange and even nerve-wracking to Elira, who never experienced something like this before. It scared her because she didn’t know what was happening.

In the realm of the unknown, you never know what’s going to happen next. It’s difficult to predict, to estimate and to hypothesize as there’s no basis of reality. For someone like Elira, who hasn’t fully experienced this world, it’s a confusing dimension to traverse.

~ ~ ~

That day was a winter wonderland as snowflakes danced across the air and fluttered down towards the earth. Elira and Izumi planned to hang out together as school was off for the Christmas holidays. Packing her camera, a small notebook, and other necessities in her small backpack, Elira made her way to their meeting location.

When it comes to their hangouts, Elira would always end up arriving early as she couldn’t help but feel excited every time. The way her heart always raced at the thought of being with him was, once again, brushed to the side as she claims that she was merely glad to see a friend outside of school and business purposes.