Chapter 54: Practicing Bass Until Dawn

Part One

“Cola, the bento’s heated, and I brought tea bags. Should I boil water? Got a kettle?”

“Of course, gotta eat instant noodles somehow…”

“Okay, go eat then. Microwaved food cools fast.”

“Uh… thanks.” Cola glances at Liuli, wanting to say more but swallowing her words.

“It’s my first time taking care of a friend… Feels kinda nice,” Liuli says.

“Really? Haha… how about I call you every time I’m sick?”

“Please do! I’d be happy!”

“Why happy?”

“Feeling needed, I guess… Um, asking suddenly makes me shy…”

“Haha, I’m gonna eat.”

“Mm! Where’s Inukai-sensei?”

“She left.”

“Probably tired?”

“Looked like she could barely keep her eyes open.”

“She said she pulled an all-nighter and hasn’t slept.”

“Staying awake this long? Kinda impressed…”

Part Two

At the low table, Cola nibbles the bento’s rice—tasteless, like it’s made from decade-old stock.

“Still hurting?” Liuli sets a cup of hot tea in front of her, sitting down softly.

“Yeah, sometimes intense, sometimes less.” Cola gives a bitter smile. “It’s awful.”

“Some people hurt more the first time. It usually gets better…”

“Thinking about it every month already gives me a headache.”

“I was anxious at first too, but you get used to it. Honestly… it’s not so bad. After it’s over, you feel refreshed, like you wouldn’t be as energized without it.”

“Probably no different from normal, just feels stronger with the contrast.”

“I don’t think so. The first couple days after feel super energetic.”

“Maybe it’s flushing out impurities, like a body cleanse?” Cola mutters, scooping up a soggy chicken cutlet that’s practically dough. “Hope it’s not this bad next time…”

“Avoid cold drinks before it starts, and it’s usually fine.”

“Right, gotta track when it comes each month.”

“There’s an app for that! It calculates for you—gets more accurate the more you log. Way easier than manually tracking.”

“Tech’s amazing,” Cola smacks her lips.

“Move around a bit after eating?”

“Uh, I’ll walk around the house later.”

“Mm, oh, right!” Liuli’s eyes light up. “You didn’t show up today, and so many people were disappointed. They wanted to see the ‘cute trap’ girl.”

“If they knew I’m not a real ‘trap,’ they’d be let down.”

“So we can’t let it slip… But you’re really popular, Cola.”

“You’re popular too, Liuli. People just don’t say it to avoid embarrassing you.”

“Eh? R-Really?”

“Of course. I’m outgoing, so people tease me without worrying I’ll get nervous or mad.”

“Mm…” Liuli ponders.

“You’re not sleeping early tonight, right? Gaming?”

“Yup!” Liuli beams at the mention of games. “Got a new cartridge I haven’t played yet. Gotta try it!”

“What’d you get?”

“Rune Factory, the latest one!”

“Oh, that… Wasn’t there one on 3DS?”

“That’s an older one. Want it? I have that cartridge too.”

“Uh…”

“You promised no pirated games.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re so strict about that,” Cola nods helplessly. “Bring it over sometime?”

“No problem! I can grab it now!”

“No need…” Cola waves her off.

“What about you? Not sleeping early either?”

“Maybe four or five a.m. Can’t sleep too late, or I’ll miss work again.”

“If you’re still feeling bad, I can ask Natsuki-nee for a day off tomorrow.”

“We’ll see… If it hurts this bad, I can’t work…”

“Don’t push yourself!”

“I know, I know.”

“I’ll head back then?”

“Go play your game, huh?”

“Cough…! I-I can stay longer to take care of you…”

“Haha, go play. I’m fine.”

“Really don’t need company? Being sick makes people feel fragile. Being alone feels worse.”

“What? I’m an optimist. Cramps won’t get me down. See? I’m smiling, haha—”

“…Then I’m really going?”

“Bye, bye!” Cola waves exaggeratedly, acting carefree.

“Call me if you need anything! I can come back anytime!”

“No worries, I’m not the type who needs company.”

Liuli bites her lip, nodding slightly, looking a bit disappointed.

Once the door closes, Cola exhales, sprawling on the floor—then curls up like a shrimp again.

“Ugh… hurts like hell… Playing tough, huh…” she mutters through gritted teeth. “Man’s pride? Not showing weakness in front of girls? Total bullshit. Who isn’t afraid of loneliness…?”

Part Three

Maybe the hot tea helped, or her body’s adjusting to the cramps—either way, Cola finally has the energy to sit and fiddle with her phone.
She hasn’t played some games in a while. Despite daily check-ins before, missing a few days killed her interest.
Now she wonders what she even found fun about them.

It’s late—most chat apps are dead.
Trying to argue with forum bros, her posts get no replies.
“Trolls sleep too, huh,” she mutters pointlessly.

The night drags on, dawn far away.
Unable to sleep and bored, she stares into space, cheek propped on her hand.
Then, her peripheral vision catches the bass in the corner. She rolls over, grabbing it.

“I’m just a beginner. Playing a score perfectly without mistakes is already good. Improvising or adding emotion? Way too hard…” She strokes the black-and-red bass, colored like cola. “Might as well practice. Won’t hurt to get better… Where’s my earphones…”

It’s late, and even a quiet instrument like a bass carries in the silence.
She connects it to the amp, plugs in earphones, and starts practicing a score, letting the deep, resonant bass hum in her ears through the quiet night…

Part Four

August skies brighten early.
By 5 a.m., faint light creeps through the window.

Cola, immersed in bass all night, removes her earphones, feeling like she’s returned from an isolated world.
“Phew… that was kinda fun.”

She stretches, sets the bass back in the corner, and flops onto the floor.
For others, it’s almost time to wake up. For her, it’s time to sleep.
But as her eyes close, a sudden urge to pee hits. Grumbling, she heads to the bathroom.

After, she notices the overflowing trash. She swaps the bag out.
“What day is it? Trash pickup day?” She checks her phone, digging through photos for the schedule. “Damn, August 8 was burnable trash… yesterday! Missed it again!!”

Since moving to this apartment, she hasn’t managed to take out the trash once.
She reminds herself the day before, but always forgets.
Even without cooking, the kitchen bin’s stuffed.

“Next pickup’s the 12th… Can’t forget again. Maybe set an alarm… Or print a schedule at the copy shop and stick it on the door…” She takes a deep breath, catching a faint fermentation stench by the bin.
“Good thing Japan’s low on roaches, or this’d be a nest by now, not just a smell…”

“I gotta toss this trash, or I’m screwed.” She rubs her forehead. “Japan’s such a pain—fixed trash days, sorting into burnable, recyclable, clothing… So complicated! Just collect it daily and create jobs, damn it…”

While it’s on her mind, she sets a trash alarm, then slumps back into the air-conditioned bedroom.
Glancing at the brightening sky, she rubs her eyes, planning to do more—but her head tilts, and she passes out, curtains still open.