Broken Strings

Part 3

A week later, Naoko found himself at the golden gates of Chou City's School of Fine Arts and Music. His mother took the effort to enroll him in the best music school nearest to their city. Shiratori City didn't have any music school so Naoko had to study his music in Chou City.

Chou was a beautiful garden lined along a beach filled with crystal clear water and soft white sand encircled by towering trees and cherry blossoms. The wind was subtle and fresh as if it was purified before entering the atmosphere. No wonder they built a music school in Chou City. It was a calm Utopia for talented students of music and arts.

Naoko loved Chou City. And so did he love his school for the summer. He passed along the classic brick arch and stepped inside the premises of the campus. The path was made in luxurious marble and decorated with bushes of roses along the way. The school was in the heart of a bright green forest. Naoko had to walk a few meters just to get to the main building of the school.

As soon as he reached the end of the path, he saw this huge oak door embedded with silver ornaments and elongated windows which were also ornamented with silver pieces.

On the elevated steps towards the door, a lady dressed in a long azure gown greeted him and said, "Welcome Master Mitsuwa to Chou City's School of Fine Arts and Music. I am the Director of the House of Music, Madame Claire Hanizuki. And I will be guiding you today around the campus. Your personal items and wardrobe has been placed inside your room which we will be headed to later on."

Naoko smiled and replied to the lady, "I am pleased to meet you Madame Hanizuki. I am honored to be in your wonderful institution."

"Very well then", said the lady, "I will now escort you around the campus."

Both of them entered the towering oak door and into the shining lobby of the school.

As they entered, Naoko was amazed to see the beautiful paintings lined on the wall. They looked very priceless and very adoring. He also noticed the blue Ming vase placed at the middle of the room. It was painted with majestic dragons and clouds and mountains of different heights. He also saw the flowing velvet curtain in a silvery hue mounted on golden rods above the gothic windows. Above him was an enormous silver chandelier adorned with pure crystals and aquamarine gems. He felt thrilled on what mystery he would be unfolding next as he walked upon the silvery carpet that lead to the grand staircase of the lobby.

"Are you happy on what you see Master Mitsuwa?", asked the lady.

"Well, yes Madame. The school is.... well... very beautiful? I can't explain its splendor in mere words!", Naoko chuckled in a laughable face.

"Then you would like what you will see next, Master Mitsuwa.", said the lady.

"Madame, you can just call me Naoko, if you would like to.", Naoko offered. "I am not really used in being called master or any sort of titles."

"Pardon me.", said the lady."But in this school, all faculty officials and teachers must address all the students as master or mistress. It is our code, Master Mitsuwa."

"I understand... Madame", Naoko replied shyly as they walked.

"But do not be downed Master. Cheer up. You will be amazed on what you will see behind this door.", the lady exclaimed.

They were walking along a hall filled with classic silver candelabras and portraits of former ace students of the academy as they stumbled upon another towering oak door. But this time, the door was in a bronze hue- very metallic and deep in color.

Naoko wondered why the door was very different from the silver theme of the lobby and hallway. He just thought that maybe the architect that designed the school lost interest from silver all the sudden then changed into a serious tone of bronze.

The door was opened by a couple of maids dressed in a classic black maid suit. A bright light welcomed them as they walked inside the bronze oak door and into a hall decorated with warm bronze ornaments.

"Master, this is where our trail begins: The Central Hall.", said the lady. "As we walk along this area, I will be narrating a little bit of history of the places we will be visiting today. And I would have to ask you to be in your best manners because the council members stroll around the campus every once in a while to check on the condition of the school. They wouldn't like it if they would see you slouching or dragging your feet around. Are we clear master?"

"Well, yes of course Madame Hanizuki. I acquiesce to your request", Naoko replied silently.