He is nine when his grandfather is commissioned to repair an antique violin. He watches, perched atop a stool in order to see the worktable.
"This is one of the finest violins in the world, Seiji," he grandfather remarks, turning the instrument over in his hands. "I've no idea how they work; the owner only asked me to polish it and repair the handle. This is one of the finest violins in the world, because it was made in Cremona, Italy."
Cremona, Italy. He repeats the words in a whisper. It sounds like the name of a place in a storybook, and he imagines wizards make magical violins there, out of spells and potions.
The afternoon sun pours through the workshop window, as his grandfather carefully polishes the violin. When he's finished, Seiji brings him the bow, and his grandfather carefully strums once, just to make sure nothing went wrong.
The wood glistens, and Seiji is sure he has witnessed magic.
——
He smiles as the light hits The Baron's eyes, and brings the statue to life.
The girl from the library gasps as the dull stones flare shades of green and blue. She doesn't know that he's watching the colors as they dance in her own eyes, and make kaleidoscopes across her skin.
He doesn't tell her that she sparkles brighter.
——
The ocean is blinding in the morning.
Seiji shields his eyes with one hand, determined to stare the horizon in the face anyway. The waves glare back.
"I'm going," he assures them. "I'm going to Cremona. I'm going to become a violinmaker. I'm going to succeed. And you can't stop me."
The ship rocks and he stumbles, banging his suitcase painfully against his left knee. But he finds his footing again, before turning his eyes to the burning white water with a laugh.
——
It's more of a stack of papers than a book. The staples are clinging to the margins as if their lives depend on it. The pages are wrinkled at some corners, as if the copy was shoved into a place it did not fit.
The title reads: Whisper of the Heart.
"I-I want you to read it," Shizuku stammers, eyes down.
So he reads.
She waits all the while, seated in the chair next to him, trying to concentrate on the new novel she just checked out. He smirks at the deep breaths she takes every time he turns a page.
When he closes the manuscript, straightening the pages neatly, she slams her own book shut.
"Tell me what you think. I know the story is stupid, and my spelling is terrible, and I elaborated to much, and sometimes I didn't describe enough—"
"I loved it."
"…Really?"
"Really."
Her cheeks start to darken, and so do his.
"Be honest."
Seiji takes her hand.
"It was magical."
The sun sets in the library window, turning everything gold.
