Strawberry Orange Star Night

Adagiomanontroppo-Conaffetto

The curb stone road beside the sea cliff is only one foot wide, a section higher than the road surface.Naranja jumped onto the narrow stone path, with his arms outstretched to maintain his balance, step by step, like a newborn deer, swaying forward.He had already changed out of his formal clothes and put back on the clothes he had worn before the concert.

Fogg also unbuttoned his suit jacket, and his cravat hung loosely under his shirt collar.He was carrying a cello case, with Naranga's dry cleaning bag on his left arm, and his right hand hanging in the air, guarding a place about one step behind Naranja.The two walked uphill along the sea cliff in unison, one high and the other low. The warm afternoon sun shone on their bodies, and their shadows melted together.

Fogg remembered what happened in the church not long ago.It wasn't until the priest coughed that the two of them woke up like a dream and let go of each other... Amidst the giggling of the nuns, Naranja's face flushed red.He randomly grabbed the dry cleaning bag on the pew, rolled his old clothes in his arms, and rushed to the church bathroom without looking back.

"May God bless you, lovely children. I have already told your head... Please come here again for a concert at Easter."

The white beard couldn't hide the smile on the corner of the old priest's mouth.He glanced in the direction where Naranja ran away in a hurry, and nodded kindly at Fuge.

"It would be great to hear the two of you playing together."

Fuge thanked the priest, staring at the priest's back as he went away, thoughtfully.Yes... What kind of music should I play?His cheeks were hot and his heart was sore.

After a while, he came back to his senses.He slightly loosened the formal attire that bound his hands and feet, turned around and carefully put the violin he had put away hastily into the box, fastened it properly, carried it behind his back, and went to the corridor outside the bathroom to wait for Naranja.

Naranja quickly changed back to the clothes before the concert, carrying a dry cleaning bag, and faced Fugo as soon as he came out.His eyes were flickering, his face was still a little red, as if he didn't know where to put his free hand, he finally scratched his head and grinned at Fugo.

——Thinking of Naranja's cute look at that time, Fuge couldn't help laughing.

Hearing his laughter, Naranja lowered his head and glanced at him, stepped forward with a light leap, turned around in the air, and landed firmly on the ground with his arms still stretched out, facing Fuge face to face.He was going backwards, and Fuge was going forward. The two were a few steps away from each other, and they walked together towards the top of the sea cliff, in the direction of Fuge's original home.

This looks really like that kind of gliding small plane.Fugo thought while looking at the skydiving pilot pattern on Naranga's T-shirt.He laughed even harder.

"Why are you looking at me and smiling!"

Nalanja was annoyed, he lowered his arms, jumped two steps forward to come to Fuge's side, and bumped into Fuge.Fugo dodged to the side, and Naranja threw another punch.The two came and went, joking and playing for a while, until Naranja's stomach growled.

"Oops! I'm hungry."

Naranja stopped fisting and kicking, rubbed his belly, and laughed together with Fuge in embarrassment.

The two looked around as they walked, and finally found a panini stall on the corner not far ahead.The two of them leaned forward, Nalanga ordered a mozzarella cheese with tomato and shiitake mushrooms, and Fuge ordered a salami with extra vegetables.Soon, the steaming panini was delivered to his hand, and Naranja couldn't wait to eat it.Fogg thanked the shopkeeper, paid the money, and the two moved on.

"You should eat more meat to grow taller."

Even though Fuge said so, he still folded the paper towels from the stall, picked out all the shiitake mushrooms in his share, and put them in Nalanga's share.

"I don't like meat! I just like mushrooms."

Nalanga looked happily at the extra shiitake mushrooms, and immediately took another big bite, her cheeks bulging like a hamster.

"Then I will leave you behind and grow taller. You have to look up to see me in the future, and your neck will be sore."

Naranja was busy eating with both hands, so she stretched out her legs and kicked Fugo.Fugo snorted, didn't fight back, and started to eat lunch.

The two walked side by side.Spring is here in Naples.There are pink flowers blooming on the green buildings and street trees, and the sea breeze is also tinged with the warm sun, with the fragrance of flowers and birds singing, lazily brushing through the hair, softer than fantasy.Looking out over the sea cliff, as far as the eye can see is the endless sea and sky, the sky is full of clouds, the sea is shimmering with golden light, and the fishing boats are like white ink dots on the impression painting.Along the crescent-like coastline, there are layers of houses, colorful buildings mixed with green trees and red flowers, which diffuse the bright sunshine into a large soft halo.

From time to time, Fugo turned his face to look at Naranja.Naranja seemed to be fascinated by the beauty of the bay, and kept looking out of the sea cliff.He finished eating before Fugo, and turned around after a while.

"Where is your home? Is it the one by the sea?"

His mouth was covered with sauce.Fuge couldn't see it, so he took out another tissue and wiped Naranja's mouth.

"No, it's on the mountain. Let's take the cable car."

"I've never been on a cable car!"

Naranja chirped excitedly.Fugo nodded, finished the remaining panini in two or three bites, wiped his mouth, stuffed the wrapping paper and used tissues into paper bags, and threw them into the trash can.He took Naranja to find the station, bought a ticket and got on the train. The two sat side by side, with Naranja sitting by the window and Fuge by the aisle.

Fuge unloaded the piano case and put it aside. Turning around, he saw Naranja sticking his head out of the car window, like a puppy on a trip.Startled, he stretched out his hand and pushed the head back.Naranca snorted and slapped Fugo's hand away.The cable car started to move, and Naranja no longer stretched his head out, but kept looking out the window.The scenery outside the window sank obliquely back.

"Is it at the top of the mountain?"

"Yes. We have to sit until the end. But we started sitting in the middle, so we don't need to sit for long."

"Oh."

Fugo looked out together with Naranja's eyes, and saw the church where they held the concert from a distance. The pure white cross was particularly conspicuous against the blue sky.He remembered what the priest had said.Just as he was about to speak, Nalanga rushed ahead of him and called him.

"Fogg."

"Ok?"

"Do you remember the dance of the elves?"

Naranja turned around and looked at Fugo.Fugo nodded.

How can you not remember?

That afternoon, at about this time, the sun was so bright that it was a bit dazzling, so Fugo sat against the light.He concentrated on practicing the piano, until he heard the door squeak, he found Naranja leaning against the door, and he didn't know how long he stayed there, his expression was a bit dazed.Later, Naranja slipped in and sat down on the piano bench, insisting on listening to him play.

Fuge looked at Naranja, his heart skipped a beat.The sun shines on Naranja's body, and the fluffy and messy hair looks extraordinarily soft, bright and lively like a small animal.He blinked and remembered the fairy tales of Peter Pan that he had read when he was a child... The elf who would never grow up was sitting in front of him alive, with round eyes, staring at him expectantly.

So Fugo played a song.It is Popper's dance of the elves, the tune is loud, lively, and joyous, exactly the same as Naranga.

When he heard that the piece was played for himself, Naranja suddenly jumped up.Fugo couldn't help teasing him, calling him a goblin.Naturally, he refused to admit defeat and asked Fuge to play it again, and this time he wanted to accompany him... As soon as the sound of the piano came out, Fuge laughed dumbfounded: Nalanga obviously hadn't read the score - he was improvising, and the song was a powerful and unconstrained style ,free.

While playing, Fuge looked at Nalanga's restless back, and couldn't help but think of the story of Peter Pan in his heart.

"Your piano partner is just playing the piano indiscriminately."

Thinking of the scene at that time, Fugo involuntarily raised the corners of his mouth.Naranca wrinkled her nose.

"Although it's strange, it's our first ensemble, Fugo."

"That can't be counted as an ensemble."

"So... I want to really play with you."

Fugo opened his eyes slightly.Nalanja's voice was not loud, but he was very firm. He looked straight at Fuge, his eyes were as clear as a lake.He put his right fingertips on the back of Fugo's left hand, and tapped lightly, like knocking out arpeggios on piano keys.

The church is already far, far behind.The clock chimed on the hour, softer than Debussy's moonlight.The sound of the bell aroused flocks of birds, and the light and shadows passed by the window of the cable car.

How could there be such a coincidence?He thinks the same as me.Fugo laughed, grabbed Naranga's hand, pinched the back of his hand with his thumb, and kneaded the other four fingers in his palm, like kneading strings on the fretboard of a cello.

"Do you remember the minuet?"

asked Fogg.He held Naranga's arm high, stretched out his right index finger, pretended to be a bow, and sawed him.

"Remember! At that time I practiced Bach's and you practiced Beethoven's."

Naranja withdrew his arm and slapped Fugo's hand away.Fugo stopped making trouble.

"Yes... I've been thinking about it for a long time. Let's play Beethoven's Cello Sonata together. What do you think?"

"Beethoven! Like you!"

Naranja chuckled and lowered his head to push Fugo.

"But I don't know if there is one that suits me."

"Yes. You can listen to every song and see if the one you choose is the same as what I think."

Fugo took out his mobile phone and found the album in the database, which is the version of Fournier and Gulda.He plugged in the earphones, put one on, and stuffed the other into Naranga's right ear.

They listened to the song one by one, completely immersed in the music.The music speeds up the passage of time, the cable car stops and goes, and soon reaches the terminal.They got out of the car hand in hand, finished listening to number one, and now they are listening to number two.

After getting out of the car, Naranja let out an exclamation.This is a rich area in Naples, with many mansions and famous cars everywhere. It is at the highest point of the city in terms of status and altitude.It has the best view overlooking the city. If you look down from the San Martino Monastery, you can clearly see Mount Vesuvius and the Santa Lucia Bay sung in the song. The location of the "Enthusiasm" orchestra is also considered prosperous, but compared with this, it can't help but pale in comparison.

At this time, the music in the earphones played to the second movement.Fugo felt Naranja's hand tighten.He secretly looked forward to it in his heart... Sure enough, after the playback was over, Nalanja excitedly pulled off the earphones and returned them to Fugo.

"This is it!"

"Are you sure? There's number five in total. Don't you want to listen to anything else?"

Fugo said pretending to be serious.But he couldn't hold back the joy in his heart very quickly, he laughed out loud before he finished speaking, and let go of Naranja's shoulders and hugged him.Naranja pursed her lips and put her hands in her trouser pockets.

"You obviously want this one too! Go to the bookstore to buy the score later."

"it is good."

Fuge wrapped the earphone cable and put it back into his pocket together with the phone.

The further you go, the quieter the surrounding scenery becomes, with more and more green trees and flowers, and the distance between mansions is getting bigger and bigger.Until later, I walked for a long time and did not see the house again. All I saw were exquisite and strong brass railings and lush green plants.Disturbingly familiar, thought Fugo.

Naranja finally seemed to be unable to hold back anymore.He ran forward a few steps restlessly, looked around, and turned his head to look at Fugo, his face full of confusion.

"Where is this? There are no houses around!"

Fugo rubbed his temples, and raised his chin against the right railing.

"This is all my home."

Naranja stopped in her tracks, dumbfounded, and stared blankly at Fugo walking forward.Fuge stretched out his hand to pat him on the back, and turned him in a circle, only then did he come back to his senses, and he and Fugo stepped forward together.

Turning the corner in front, and passing by countless green trees, they came to the hollow carved wrought iron gate.Standing at the door, looking over the railing, you can see the magnificent manor, fountains, and garden squares inside.

Fugo led Naranja closer, and rang the bell next to the gate.After a while, the display screen lit up, and he saw the butler who had been away for more than a year.

"Master!—are you wounded?"

When the aged butler saw him, his eyes lit up. He obviously saw the gauze wrapped around Fuge's head and eyes at a glance, and his old voice trembled uncontrollably.

"It's all right. Where's mother?"

"Madam, if you are here, you must inform her first."

The old man said apologetically.He did not answer the door, but assured Fogo he would be back soon.The display went dark.

Fugo shrugged and glanced at Naranja.Naranja bit her lip, her eyebrows drooped, looking pitiful.

"...Fuge, are you the young master of such a good family?"

He shook again, raised his hand to touch the bandage on Fuge's head, and opened his mouth cautiously.

"If your family knew that I beat you like this, would they...just...send someone to beat me to death?"

Fugo let out a short chuckle.He squeezed Naranja's hand comfortingly and shook his head.

"I don't even know if my mother still recognizes my son."

"I definitely do!"

Naranja shouted loudly and grabbed Fugo tightly.

"...Naranja, I made her ashamed. She was kicked out. Although I want to run away..."

"...I hate my father. After my mother left, I never wanted to go home. I don't know what's going on in your house, but since you still want to come back..."

"I don't hate my mother."

Fugo said quietly.He has been thinking about this question ever since he learned of Naranja's past.After all, my mother didn't do anything outrageous.Now that I think about it, the piano and violin I learned when I was a child finally laid the foundation for the cello that I am proficient in now...Music theory and musical feeling are both interlinked.If it wasn't for the piano, he wouldn't know Little Star Variations; if it wasn't for the violin, he wouldn't have the concept of intonation, and he wouldn't be able to take the opportunity to enter "passion", let alone meet Naranga.

She is just a little more vain than ordinary people.On the other hand, such a disturbance must have irreparably ruined her dream.Fuge looked at Naranja's wrinkled face, and felt that his internal organs were all mixed together.

I have too many things, but I don't know how to cherish them.The troubles I had when I was a child are nothing compared to Naranja's past.

He must come back.He wanted to apologize to his mother, but at the same time, he also wanted to do something for Naranga.

"Master, I'm very sorry... Madam doesn't want to see you yet. But, you can leave a video... I will ask her to watch it."

The display screen turned on again, and the butler's voice came.Fugo sighed, nodded his thanks to the butler, then took a few steps back, facing the camera by the door.Seeing this, Naranja raised his leg and wanted to get out of the shooting range, but Fugo grabbed him tightly and dragged him back to his side.

"Mom,... how are you? I'm already playing the cello very well. I've joined an orchestra called Passion, and they're all talented musicians. We had a concert just now, and the seats were sold out. very successful……"

He held up Naranga's hand toward the camera.

"This is Naranga, he plays the piano. The orchestra will hold a concert again on Easter, the two of us will play Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. [-]. I will send you an invitation. If it is possible...please Come and listen."

"...I'm so sorry for what I did over a year ago, Mother."

He paused, pondered for a while, and finally said his apology.He lowered his eyes and remained silent for a while, then raised his eyes and turned to look at the display screen, nodded to the housekeeper, indicating that he had finished speaking.Naranga kept silent, and held his hand from beginning to end, the palm of which was as warm as the sun.

Since they still had to go to the bookstore to buy music scores, fearing that it would be too late and the bookstore would be closed, Fuge called and booked a taxi.They waited in front of the door for a while, and Nalanja looked at Fugo from time to time, and turned his head to look deep into the manor from time to time.

Soon, the car came.They leave by car.

"Fogg! Look quickly, isn't that your mother?"

Naranca took one last look behind the glass and suddenly cried out.Fuge turned his head and looked into the distance, the luxurious gate of the former residence gradually went away, he vaguely glimpsed a slender figure between the railings, the long skirt fluttered, and the blond hair was as brilliant as his.

weird first date (nope)