Carlo, fatigued from the recent upheaval, sprawled himself out on the comfy blue bed he had claimed in the university's gymnasium. His gaze wandered upward as he got lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. It was an odd sight; the gym, more accustomed to the sounds of sports and physical activity, had been transformed into a makeshift dorm room. Carlo's personal items, including his bed, study desk, cabinets, and various other belongings, lent an incongruous domestic feel to the athletic setting.
He had barely begun to lose himself in contemplation when a rogue volleyball whizzed across the gym and smacked him right in the face. Carlo's eyes shot wide open, and his reaction was an instinctual and startled shriek that echoed through the gym. It was then that he fully realized his surroundings. Students all around him were practicing volleyball for an upcoming match, and his area was right in the middle of the action.
Panic surged through him as he took in the volleyball-cluttered environment and the bewildered looks of the students around him. Professor Baldy, their coach, decked out in a white coaching uniform, sprinted toward Carlo, his face etched with irritation. Shouting angrily and blowing his whistle like a war siren, he berated Carlo, "You're in the way of our practice! Why is all this piled here?!" His finger jabbed toward Carlo's possessions.
Without wasting any time, Carlo snatched a nearby volleyball and handed it to Professor Baldy, blurting out an apology, "I'm sorry."
With the agility of a master conductor switching from a crescendo to a whisper, Professor Baldy's tone transformed instantly. "Alright, let's continue with practice," he said with nonchalance, as if the whole incident were an amusing hiccup in his day. The sudden shift in his demeanor left Carlo stupefied, and he couldn't help but find it rather funny in an absurd sort of way.
On the other side of the gym, Honey had made herself at home in Carlo's chair, her graceful presence a contrast to the gym's athletic ambiance. She sat at Carlo's brown study table, her fingers delicately caressing the surface as she plucked a pencil from the nearby box.
"Carlo, so you sat here to study," she remarked, her eyes alight with curiosity.
Carlo, appreciating the recognition of his study habits, glanced over at Honey and replied, "Yes, most of the time I was reading many kinds of books."
Honey's gaze fell upon a particularly conspicuous item: a large, old red Daruma doll, its right eye bearing the marks of an inked wish. The doll appeared worn and aged, adorned with years of dust and grime. Her eyes widened with surprise and intrigue as she inquired, "What wish did you make on this Daruma?" Her gaze then shifted to Carlo, waiting for his response.
"I... don't really remember," Carlo admitted, a faint twinkle of nostalgia in his eyes. With that, he settled back onto his bed, allowing himself to get lost in the rush of memories and the oddity of his surroundings.
Carlo, sinking deeper into his bed, was suddenly struck by the gnawing feeling that something important was missing. His eyes widened with realization, and he hurriedly scooted to the left, extending his arm to probe beneath the bed as though searching for a hidden treasure. The urgency in his movements grew as he muttered, "Not here... not here."
Desperation etched across his face, Carlo thrust his head under the bed, only to find that the crucial item he sought was conspicuously absent. Panic began to take hold, and he repeated, more urgently this time, "Not here, not here!"
Carlo couldn't contain his anxiety any longer and shot up from his bed. He frantically waved at Stephen, who was carrying a box nearby. Stephen noticed Carlo's distress and whispered from a distance, "What's wrong?"
Carlo, with a frantic whisper, responded, "Where's the stuff under the bed...?"
Stephen, cool and collected, didn't seem perturbed by the question. He replied, "I put it all in that drawer." But alas, it was too late to prevent what came next.
Evie, curiosity getting the best of her, opened the drawer to reveal its risqué contents. Her eyes widened in shock, and she let out a high-pitched shriek that echoed through the gym. She had stumbled upon some rather explicit adult magazines and tapes tucked away inside the drawer.
Carlo groaned in despair and slapped his hand onto the blanket. Honey, ever curious, couldn't help but inquire, "What's the matter?"
Carlo's panic reached its peak, and he leaped from his bed in a hurry. He dashed to the open drawer, frantically closing it with a swift motion. He turned to the others and hastily insisted, "Nothing!"
Honey, her curiosity fully aroused, started to approach Carlo, her brows furrowed in question. But Carlo was resolute in guarding the drawer. The mere thought of what was inside left him in a cold sweat, fearing what Honey might think if she discovered his hidden stash.
Carlo extended his hands in a protective gesture, his voice strained as he pleaded with Honey, "You can't look!"
Evie, on the brink of revealing the drawer's contents, was about to speak up, but Carlo acted quickly. He moved to cover her mouth with his hand, muffling any potential revelation. In a hushed and anxious tone, he implored, "You can't talk!"
Carlo was fully aware that his secret was perilously close to being unveiled, and he was willing to go to great lengths to keep it hidden, even if it meant temporarily silencing those around him.
Honey, sensing something was amiss, turned around to face Stephen and asked, "What is in there?" Her voice was tinged with curiosity.
Stephen, in his usual straightforward manner, answered without much thought, "X-rated magazines and tapes."
Honey's eyes widened in sheer astonishment, and her jaw dropped in a state of shock from the unexpected revelation. Carlo let out an exasperated groan of frustration and muttered, "Geezus...!!!" The situation had escalated into a comedy of errors, and Carlo was left to face the consequences of his hidden stash.
Suddenly, a voice crackled through the gym's public announcement system, capturing everyone's attention. It was Arthur's voice, reverberating from the speakers, as he announced, "Fourth-year Architecture major, Carlo D'Amico."
Carlo, Evie, Honey, and even Stephen instinctively looked up, their focus redirected to the unexpected message. Arthur's voice persisted, his tone brimming with an air of urgency, "Fourth-year Architecture major, Carlo D'Amico. Please come to the Beaumont Research Center right away."
Carlo's expression contorted with bewilderment as he muttered, "What happened?" They all waited with bated breath as the message continued, "If you don't arrive within five minutes..." A brief silence hung in the air, adding to the suspense before the call abruptly ended. Carlo's eyes widened, and his heart began to race.
In a frenzy, Carlo shouted, "Oh no! I'm worried!" His adrenaline pumping, he scrambled to put on his shoes, fumbling with the laces in his haste. His nerves got the better of him as he turned to the others and barked, "Absolutely, don't touch my stuff!"
Evie, Honey, and Stephen exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from concern to curiosity. They waved Carlo off as he hurriedly made his way out of the gymnasium, his mind racing with questions and uncertainties about what lay ahead at the Beaumont Research Center.
Carlo sprinted as if his life depended on it, racing from the main campus to the Hamadayama Research Center. With each stride, the weight of Arthur's warning pressed down on him like a ticking time bomb, intensifying the urgency to arrive on time. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he pushed through the entrance and into the laboratory.
Inside, Arthur was casually arranging items on his desk, seemingly unperturbed by Carlo's breathless entrance. He checked his watch, registering Carlo's arrival with a composed demeanor. "Oh, that was fast. Two minutes and twenty-two seconds," Arthur noted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
Carlo, gasping for breath, wasted no time in questioning, "What is it, professor?"
Arthur, engrossed in his task, inquired, "Do you have a ticket for the lottery? I'm still missing one before I complete the set." His gaze shifted toward the table where the lottery tickets lay, one ticket conspicuously missing.
Carlo's eyes widened in disbelief, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "You called me here just for that?" The situation seemed almost too absurd to be real, as if he had unwittingly become a pawn in some elaborate practical joke.
With a grin that belied his whimsical desire, Arthur explained, "I suddenly wanted to go to the hot springs after I saw this flyer." He handed the paper to Carlo. As Carlo scanned the paper, he discovered it was the list of prizes for the upcoming lottery. Carlo couldn't hide his astonishment as he read aloud, "The grand prize is a mink coat?"
Arthur chuckled as he stood from his chair, reaching for his coffee. "Of course, everyone thinks the hot springs are the real draw," he mused, his laughter ringing casually through the room. Carlo joined in the laughter, albeit with a hint of bewilderment, just to be part of the conversation.
However, the urgency of his original visit resurfaced, and Carlo firmly placed the paper on the table. He stood up, his tone resolute as he declared, "This isn't the time to discuss this. I'm going now."
Just as Carlo reached the door, Arthur's voice called out to him, causing him to pause in his tracks. "Hey, Carlo," Arthur began, his tone taking on a more serious note. Carlo turned to face his professor, answering, "Yes?"
Leaning against a nearby pillar, Arthur continued, "What are you going to do about work?"
Carlo hesitated for a moment, sensing a palpable shift in the atmosphere. Arthur had more to say, and it piqued Carlo's curiosity. "I had a chat with my friend who owns a company," Arthur revealed, his tone becoming more earnest. "He asked me to refer any good students to him. It's a family-run business. If you're interested, you should go and try it out. It's not too far from the field of architecture, but it's better than working in something completely unrelated." Arthur returned to his office chair, his gaze fixed on Carlo
Carlo let out a deep sigh and admitted, "Sorry."
Arthur regarded him with a serious expression, prompting Carlo to continue, "My... original intention for coming to this university wasn't because I was interested in architecture."
Surprise registered on Arthur's face, and he leaned forward, eager to hear more. "What do you mean?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued by Carlo's revelation.
☘
Honey sat on the gymnasium floor, her heart filled with a warm sense of contentment. As she marked the left eye of the daruma doll with a carefully drawn heart shape, a bright smile graced her face. It was a simple act, yet it resonated with a sense of pure joy.
Stephen, noticing what Honey was doing, couldn't contain his amusement and, with a quizzical look, brought down a stand fan. "Hey, that's not right," he chimed in. Honey paused, her eyes fixed on him, ready to learn from his wisdom. Stephen continued, "You only draw both eyes on the daruma when your wish comes true."
Honey nodded understandingly, her expression bright with the joy of learning. "I know," she affirmed, a touch of innocence in her voice. Stephen couldn't help but question her about her wish. "Your wish came true already?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Honey, holding a new eraser she had recently acquired, chuckled as she explained, "I just bought an eraser from the store. I keep forgetting to buy one." She flashed the new eraser, demonstrating her simple wish fulfillment.
Stephen scratched his head, amused by the apparent modesty of her wish. "That is a pretty small wish," he remarked. Honey, however, looked slightly puzzled, questioning her own judgment. "I can't do that?" she inquired, her eagerness to learn shining through.
Stephen, ever the quirky mentor, reassured her with a warm smile. "No, you can, for sure. There is no big or small wish." He followed this with a small, whimsical gesture. "Alright, let me give you another one." He handed her another small daruma doll. Honey accepted it with gratitude, her eyes sparkling, and she cheerfully exclaimed, "Thank you very much!" with her charming voice.
Evie, meanwhile, held an old white paper and called out to Honey, "Honey, come look at this." Honey eagerly joined Evie, and as she read the contents of the paper, her eyes lit up with understanding. "It's Carlo's essay," she remarked.
Evie chuckled as she read aloud, "My dad is a weird person, he says." Honey glanced at Stephen and offered him a sweet smile, her heart filled with affection for the eccentric man. Stephen, in response, let out a small, modest chuckle.
At that moment, Professor Baldy interjected, making his presence known with a comical twist. "Madison," he called out, while he was busily tucking in Carlo's bed. Everyone in the room, including Evie and Honey, was taken aback by his sudden request. Evie's response was lighthearted, as she inquired with amusement, "What are you doing?" Professor Baldy's response, however, remained enigmatic as he simply replied, "Keep reading." The unexpected exchange left them all sharing a moment of bemusement.
Evie continued to read Carlo's essay, revealing more heartwarming sentiments from the young student. As she narrated his words, the room, including the volleyball players, was enveloped in a sense of awe, and even the usually stern Professor Baldy was not immune to the enchantment of Carlo's words.
"When I caught a cold, my dad brought me to the hospital on his bicycle. But because we couldn't go uphill, we got off the bike halfway. My dad said with a smile, 'The bicycle is tired.' I gave my dad the cold after that, and he had to stay in bed for a whole week. I said to him, 'Dad, I'm sorry.' But he just smiled and said, 'This is a present that Carlo gave me.' I love my dad's smiling face. The end."
Professor Baldy, touched by the pure and straightforward sentiment of the essay, couldn't help but express his emotions. His eyes welled up with tears, and he remarked, "What a straightforward child!" He continued, his voice choked with emotion, "This child is so straightforward." His tears fell, leaving everyone in the room surprised by his unexpected display of emotion.
Evie, puzzled by the sudden change in her teacher, asked with concern, "Teach, are you okay?"
Wiping his tears, Professor Baldy walked over to Stephen, his curiosity piqued. He addressed Stephen, referring to him as "Carlo's Dad," and asked, "How did you raise such a great child?" The room fell into a contemplative silence as they awaited Stephen's response.
Stephen, in a manner that was both humble and filled with wisdom, replied, "It's not about me." This statement left the room in even deeper contemplation, with Honey herself struggling to understand the complexity of Carlo's family dynamics. She, too, sought clarification and asked, "It's not you?" to which Stephen nodded in agreement.
Professor Baldy, perplexed, questioned, "Then who is it about?"
The room held its breath as Stephen, with a deep sigh, revealed the truth, saying, "I married his mother after her divorce." The weight of this revelation hung heavily in the air, leaving Honey and Evie in a state of wordless shock. Their smiles, borne from the touching essay, were replaced by a cascade of overwhelming emotions.
As Professor Baldy queried, "Madison, why did you read that essay out loud?"
Evie, embarrassed by the misunderstanding, whispered, "You told me to read it!" However, Professor Baldy, making a peculiar face at her, simply returned to his bed, leaving the room in a state of introspection.
Honey, meanwhile, couldn't help but stare at Stephen with a sense of wonder. The room had transformed into an emotional whirlwind as they grappled with the complexities of Carlo's family, and Honey's gaze held a trace of profound curiosity and perhaps admiration for the man who had shared his life and love with Carlo's mother. The moment was laced with a certain dramatic tension as the full weight of the revelation settled upon them.
☘
In the quiet confines of the laboratory, Carlo and Arthur found themselves engaged in a conversation that took a serious turn. Carlo, now seated with his head bowed, began to open up to Arthur about his family and the true reasons that had brought him to Crescendo Art University. The weight of his words added a palpable drama to the atmosphere.
"If it wasn't for my mother and Stephen's marriage, I would not have gone to this university," Carlo admitted with a touch of vulnerability. He continued, his voice tinged with regret, "I only needed a reason to leave. So I came to this city and to this university. That's why, after seeing people who were born to create art, like Edward and Honey, I feel very ashamed." He released a deep sigh, bearing the weight of his past decisions.
Listening intently, Arthur let out a thoughtful click of his tongue before offering his words of wisdom. "It doesn't matter what the original intent was," he stated firmly. Carlo looked up, his eyes meeting Arthur's, as the older man continued to impart his wisdom. "But you can't use that as a reason to stop yourself from moving forward."
Carlo took a moment to absorb the gravity of Arthur's advice. This heartfelt exchange allowed Carlo to confront his past motivations and contemplate the path he truly wanted to tread, a journey that transcended the initial reasons that had brought him to Crescendo Art University.