A song that unites us
]@Bartholomew Lindenmomo
The greenhouses… I had only been there a few times, and those times I hadn't really paid attention to all the species that lived there. So this morning, after a good lunch, I grabbed my cape and headed towards the greenhouses where the students were allowed to wander.
I chose to go today and at this precise moment because I had noticed that many people were enjoying the sun or the coolness of the castle. So in the greenhouses, I wouldn't run into many people.
As I studied the species one by one, I started singing a song that my grandmother had taught me when I was very little. It's a kind of nursery rhyme. It's about a skull and dawn. But no one really understood its meaning. Despite that, it didn't stop the children from singing it. I found it very beautiful, and at least singing in Japanese helps me get over my homesickness. However, there's one thing I'll never understand: my speaking voice is deep, drawling, and jaded. whereas my singing voice is soft and melodious. I shrugged. The important thing is to love what you do. So, without thinking too much, I launched into it, and the greenhouse windows echoed my voice.
- かごめ かごめ
籠の中の鳥は
いついつ出やる
夜明けの晩に
鶴と亀が滑った
後ろの正面だあれ *
*Kagome, Kagome,
The bird inside the cage,
When, oh when, will it come out?
On the night of dawn,
The crane and the turtle slipped,
Who is standing behind you?
A song that unites us
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▶ ＰＬＡＹＩＮＧ: Kagome, Kagome (Greenhouse Acoustic) | ＶＯＬＵＭＥ: ▂▃▄▅▆▇
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▶ ＰＬＡＹＩＮＧ: Kagome, Kagome (Greenhouse Acoustic) | ＶＯＬＵＭＥ: ▂▃▄▅▆▇
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━━━━TRACK INFO
Curious
Stealthy
Confident
Speech
Thoughts
Music
Action
The Hogwarts greenhouses were always a place for Bartholomew. They were calm and nice. Not crowded like the Gryffindor common room. After eating a lunch he came here to read his Japanese Manga in peace. He found a spot behind some big plants and sat down on a stone bench. Just as he was getting comfortable he heard a sound that made him stop.
Someone was singing a song. It was a nursery rhyme that his grandmother used to sing to him. The voice was soft and nice. It gave him chills. "What are the chances?" he thought, his heart beating fast. Hearing someone sing in Japanese in a castle was really cool.
He left his stuff on the bench. Sneaked through the plants to find the person singing. He did not want to step on any plants so he was careful. He followed the sound of the singing. "Tsuru to kame ga subetta (The crane and the turtle slipped)". He looked through some hanging vines. Saw a girl walking around the greenhouses looking happy. When she finished singing the music disappeared into the air.
Bartholomew could not help himself. He stepped out from behind the vines. Leaned against a table trying to look cool. He. Said "Well I am the one standing behind you" He bowed a little. Said "You sing really well. I did not think anyone here knew Japanese songs. My name is Bartholomew Lindenmomo, nice to meet you." He was really impressed, by her singing. Wanted to talk to her. The Hogwarts greenhouses were a place to meet new people and Bartholomew was happy he came here to read his Japanese Manga.
Someone was singing a song. It was a nursery rhyme that his grandmother used to sing to him. The voice was soft and nice. It gave him chills. "What are the chances?" he thought, his heart beating fast. Hearing someone sing in Japanese in a castle was really cool.
He left his stuff on the bench. Sneaked through the plants to find the person singing. He did not want to step on any plants so he was careful. He followed the sound of the singing. "Tsuru to kame ga subetta (The crane and the turtle slipped)". He looked through some hanging vines. Saw a girl walking around the greenhouses looking happy. When she finished singing the music disappeared into the air.
Bartholomew could not help himself. He stepped out from behind the vines. Leaned against a table trying to look cool. He. Said "Well I am the one standing behind you" He bowed a little. Said "You sing really well. I did not think anyone here knew Japanese songs. My name is Bartholomew Lindenmomo, nice to meet you." He was really impressed, by her singing. Wanted to talk to her. The Hogwarts greenhouses were a place to meet new people and Bartholomew was happy he came here to read his Japanese Manga.
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ＷＯＲＤ ＣＯＵＮＴ:２７６
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Last edited by Bartholomew Lindenmomo on 19 Aug 2026, 18:39, edited 2 times in total.
A song that unites us
@Bartholomew Lindenmomo
-Narration,
-word,Code: Select all
[revelio]My thoughts that I said out loud in Japanese translated into English[/revelio]
As I was singing, I heard footsteps. They were muffled by the dirt on the ground, but I clearly heard someone approaching.
Thanks to my werewolf nature, several of my senses were heightened, such as hearing, smell, and sight, especially in the dark. So when someone started speaking to me, their voice coming from behind me, I wasn't even surprised.
I turned around, my face expressionless. The young man told me a little joke, then complimented me on my singing, and finally introduced himself.
He said I sang very well. I was grateful for the compliment. It's true that Japanese is my native language, so I could sing it without much difficulty. However, because I speak Japanese, I have a rather strong accent when I speak English.
When I started speaking English, my accent was so strong that sometimes people couldn't even understand what I was saying. Now, my accent is still very noticeable, but at least you can understand what I'm saying. So I replied in my bored, deep voice:
"That's really kind, thank you. I've known this song since I was a child. Pleased to meet you, Bartholomew Lindenmomo. I'm Ōkami Faoláin."
However, something else struck me. I had sung in Japanese, and he told me he was behind me, like the song says. That means he understood what I was saying in my native language.
- しまった、それじゃあ声に出して考えることはできないな……。*
*Darn, I can't think out loud then...*
I realized my mistake; I had just been thinking aloud in Japanese, and the young boy must have understood everything. He must think I'm crazy right now. Still remaining impassive, I asked:
- You understand Japanese quite well for an 11-year-old Englishman, how come?
A song that unites us
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
▶ ＰＬＡＹＩＮＧ: Kagome, Kagome (Greenhouse Acoustic) | ＶＯＬＵＭＥ: ▂▃▄▅▆▇
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▶ ＰＬＡＹＩＮＧ: Kagome, Kagome (Greenhouse Acoustic) | ＶＯＬＵＭＥ: ▂▃▄▅▆▇
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━━━━TRACK INFO
Relaxed
Confused
Candid
Speech
Thoughts
Music
Humor
As Ōkami turned around she did not seem to care that Bartholomew had appeared out of nowhere. Bartholomew noticed that her vibe was totally different from what he expected. Her singing voice was really soft and nice. When she spoke her voice was deep and had a strong Japanese accent. He nodded slowly showing that he liked it. He thought to himself "That accent is really cool. It suits her personality." He was sitting against a potting table looking very relaxed. He thought she would say something important.
Then she said something in Japanese really fast and Bartholomew's smile disappeared. He looked confused. Tilted his head. He did not understand what she was saying. When she asked him how he knew Japanese Bartholomew could not help but let out a genuine, booming laugh that echoed off the greenhouse glass. The irony of the situation was just too peak, seriously.
"Wait, stop, do not say anything" he said, laughing. "I do not want you to say something in Japanese that I do not understand." He held up his hands like he was surrendering. "Wait, stop, do not say anything" I have no idea what you just said. You can trust me I will not tell anyone. I am not a genius who knows languages. I am a normal guy who likes good things. You thought I was smart did not you? That is funny.
Bartholomew ran his hand through his hair. He was still smiling. "I do not know Japanese" he said. "I knew the song 'Kagome, Kagome' because my grandmother had a record with that song on it. I used to listen to it all the time. I only know a basic words, like 'Arigato'. I was lucky to guess the end of your song. You do not have to call me 'Bartholomew Lindenmomo' call me 'Barry'. Did you grow up in Japan? You bring a cool style here I like it."
Then she said something in Japanese really fast and Bartholomew's smile disappeared. He looked confused. Tilted his head. He did not understand what she was saying. When she asked him how he knew Japanese Bartholomew could not help but let out a genuine, booming laugh that echoed off the greenhouse glass. The irony of the situation was just too peak, seriously.
"Wait, stop, do not say anything" he said, laughing. "I do not want you to say something in Japanese that I do not understand." He held up his hands like he was surrendering. "Wait, stop, do not say anything" I have no idea what you just said. You can trust me I will not tell anyone. I am not a genius who knows languages. I am a normal guy who likes good things. You thought I was smart did not you? That is funny.
Bartholomew ran his hand through his hair. He was still smiling. "I do not know Japanese" he said. "I knew the song 'Kagome, Kagome' because my grandmother had a record with that song on it. I used to listen to it all the time. I only know a basic words, like 'Arigato'. I was lucky to guess the end of your song. You do not have to call me 'Bartholomew Lindenmomo' call me 'Barry'. Did you grow up in Japan? You bring a cool style here I like it."
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ＷＯＲＤ ＣＯＵＮＴ: 313
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Last edited by Bartholomew Lindenmomo on 19 Aug 2026, 20:00, edited 1 time in total.
A song that unites us
@Bartholomew Lindenmomo
The young boy burst into a crystalline laugh that echoed off the glass of the greenhouses. He was laughing as he told me I could cast a spell on him in another language.
" 確かに、もしそれがあなたを黙らせるためなら…"
It's true that if it's to shut you up...
"But that wasn't my style. Besides, I don't know if the spells we learn in class are said the same way in other languages or if we have to translate them... it's an interesting question that I'll be sure to ask our spellcasting teacher."
He added that he wasn't bilingual, so I could continue to express my thoughts aloud in Japanese without any problem. That suited me just fine. I often need it to clarify my thoughts.
He continued talking, telling me how he knew the song, which Japanese word he knew, and whether I had lived in Japan.
"Oh, very well, I see. I didn't know this song was on a…vinyl record…What exactly is that? And yes, I lived in Japan until I was 10…then I came to live in Ireland."
My accent wasn't as strong as before, but it was certainly audible. I hope at least that I was understood.
The young boy facing me was still leaning casually on the potting table.
"Hmm, are you planning to stay leaning on the table for long? Because it's covered in soil, and if you don't want to stain your clothes…Barry…"
The sounds I had the most trouble pronouncing were [r], [bl], and [ɛ]. These are sounds I don't have, so I had to learn them, but [r] is definitely the most complicated.