Piano no Mori has become one of my favourite mangas, and I am really sad that so many people can't see past the unusual artwork to see the beauty in it.
Here is a short and sweet one shot to express my feelings for the manga. It's set around chapter 236/237 (Volume 25), and inspired by chapter 238 "That's why I wish the day would never come for Ajino to bring up the subject again"
Don't Make That Face
Everyone was celebrating the competition results, and most had consumed far too much alcohol. Ajino was swept up in a group of over enthusiastic drunks.
"Kai's teacher, Kai's teacher, play the piano for us!"
Ajino tried to refuse but he was manhandled into the piano seat. Kai looked over and seeing what was happening, panicked.
No, I wanted him to not think about it again. Don't make that face. Please don't make that face.
He pushed himself fiercely through the crowd until he could stand next to his beloved teacher. Ajino was massaging his left hand, staring conflicted at the piano keys.
Don't make that face. Please don't make that face.
Gently pulling Ajino's hands apart, Kai slipped onto the piano stool next to him. He held his teacher's troubled gaze as he released Ajino's right hand. The left, he held onto tightly and pulled onto his lap where he refused to let it go. He had already trespassed enough on his teachers feelings about the injured hand, and he didn't want Ajino to have to think about it if it was going to cause him to have that expression on his face.
All the while maintaining eye contact, Kai placed his own left hand on the keyboard and started playing the bass line to 'Heart and Soul'.
Ajino started at the well-known tune, and tears welled in his eyes. Was this boy ever going to stop looking out for him? He had never intended to burden his pupil with his own problems, and yet here Kai was, propping him up once again. His right hand added the top line to the piano, but he wasn't watching the keyboard. His eyes were looking into Kai's soul.
He would accept the operation from the musician hand doctor. If it didn't succeed, then Kai would be there for him, just as he would be if it succeeded. He let himself hope. Maybe there really was a chance that he could play piano again.
Kai relaxed.
Ah, he stopped making that face.