Arima Kousei shuffles along the sidewalk. In one hand he is clutching his favourite sandwich and in the other a Chopin Prelude op28 No.4 piano book. He takes a bite out of the sandwich and his eyes follow the notes in the book, memorising them, visualising them.
A pink sakura petal falls as delicately and swiftly on the book as the spring breeze blows by. The lithe petal surprises him and his eyes snap to look at it. He tilts his head up and the sight of a tight row of sakura tree greets him. The pink, bright and vibrant as children hops along the sidewalk laughing, giggling and playing with the fallen petals.
But for him, the world is colourless.
Without you, I'm colourless.
Even with you gone, life continues on. You were able to bring life into my monotonous life, able to bring back the melody of the piano back into my ears. You were my source of happiness. But even you left me. But I thank you for bringing back the meaning of life and the urge to press on the keys. Thank you for making me play again.
He takes the small petal in his hand and squeezes it hard. It pains him so much to think back the spring he met her. It was years ago but for him it feels like yesterday. She bursts into his world in a flurry of colours and she left him while he played his heart out to let his performance reach her. He can still remember her long blond hair and her blue eyes and the way she says his name.
Unknowingly he arrives to his destination. He looks up. He still cannot grasp the fact that he has been acknowledged as one of the best, the youngest pianist in the history of musicians.
Arima Kousei, the young musician that caught the eyes of many foreign colleges in the world but finally end up taking the scholarship that UK's Royal Academy of Art offered.
Now 4 years later, he is back and better than ever. But for him, there's only one person that can make his black and white world colourful.