Your Lie In April - Kousei - Part Two - Birthday Tears
I walk down the same path as I did in my dream. This time though, when I turned the corner, neither my mom or Kaori, were there. All I saw was the sunken face Tsubaki I have grown used to. Before Kaori died, she was always so cheerful, I thought almost disappointed. She's always there to comfort everybody. Even now. But who will comfort her if we can't do it ourselves?
As she raises her head and see's me, a sad smile spreads across her face. "Hi, Kousei," she says, still trying to hold a smile on her face.
She looks behind me. "Oh look, Watari is here too." I turn around to greet my friend, but all I see is him walking towards us, eyes red and swollen.
"Mornin'" he says.
"Watari, what's wro-?" Tsubaki starts but Watari just raises a hand as if to silence her. "I'm fine. Let's leave it at that." he said directly.
"I-I'm sorry, that was a stupid question." She mutters, her voice raspy from crying.
"Come on. Let's get going." This time, as a group we go down a different path. We break out of the tree's, into a field of flowers. As you look straight ahead, you can see a large stone at the end of a dirt path, with doves everywhere.
As I look at my friends, I just notice that Tsubaki has a picnic basket. Oh, I think sadly. That must be her gift. We walk straight towards the stone. As you get closer, you can make out the words, "Here lies a dove in an endless sky. Rest in Peace, Kaori Miyazono. We'll miss you."
Tsubaki kneels down and opens the basket to reveal 4 canelles, only one with a small candle. She positions the canneles having the one with the candle in the middle of all. She pulls out a lighter and lights that candle which burns a beautiful golden flame.
Our light in the dark, I think, starting to choke up.
Tsubaki takes a deep breath.
"Happy birthday to you," she begins to sing. "Happy birthday to you."
Watari and I finally join in. "Happy birthday, dear Kaori."
Tsubaki's voice cracks and she bursts out in tears, resting her head against Watari's shoulder, shaking non-stop.
"Happy birthday to you." Watari and I finish quietly. I can't help but wonder, did it reach her?
While Watari soothes the sobbing Tsubaki, I pull out a bunch of flowers we collected out on the field. I place them right next to the stone and start crying my self. Tsubaki throws herself on me and we both begin crying hard.
Watari has a single tear run down his cheek before he joins in the hug. We stay there for hours just resting on one another and crying in long periods of time. The sun starts to set and we finally get up and head home.
Your Lie In April - Kaori - Part Two - Departed Souls
I wake up in floating in a never ending mass of water.
The first thing I see when I open my eyes is a perfect blue sky with only a few clouds. I stand up and surprisingly, I don't fall in the water. I can feel it under my feet but it seems to never cover any part of my body.
Where am I? I ask.
Memories of hospital beds and medicines rush back. I died! So, this is heaven?
I look around and see only the sky and this sea of water. As I continue to look around I see something floating in the water. I pick it up and realize it's a picture.
I think that's me! I say inside my head as I examine the person in the middle. But then, who are these other people.
A cool looking, brown haired boy on my left. A nervous, black haired boy on my right. And right next to that black haired boy is a cheerful, brown haired girl. Though my eyes linger on that brown haired boy, they turn right back to the black haired boy. I study this boy trying to trigger memories of who they might be, but I end up with nothing. Then I see the music sheets in his right hand. And the clear title "Chopin Etude No. 24." With those words, everything comes back at once causing me to collapse. My eyes tear up.
I remember… I think, astonished. I remember!
I look at the three people from left to right.
Arima, Kosei; Miyazono, Kaori; Sawabe, Tsubaki; and Ryoto, Watari. I think happily. My friends! I can't wait till I see them ag-. I stop short of my thought. I-I'm dead. They'll never see me again!
Tears are collecting in my eyes. I'll never see my friends! I'll laugh with them again! I'll never cry with them again!
Tears start to fall thick, and fast. They probably don't even remember me! I'm probably some lost memory in their heads never to be dug out again! Even if I do see them they won't see me!
My tears fall faster. I'm sobbing harder. I gasp and immediately stop. Kousei… probably doesn't even care that I'm gone. He's probably glad I'm not there to boss him around anymore! "KOUSEI NO!" I scream aloud,. "I LOVE YOU! DON'T FORGET ME! PLEASE! Don't forget me… I love you… Please… I want to be with you..." My voice cracks
"Please! I don't want to leave! I-I want to go back." I take a deep breath "I have to kiss Kousei Arima, I have to go home, I have-" I'm cut off as a panel appears in front of me.
"Huh?" I asked confused. "W-w-what do I do?" I touched the screen warily and a keyboard appeared along with the question "Who would you like to see this instant?"
Almost immediately I typed in Arima, Kousei. Another question appeared. "This person in currently with other people. Is that ok with you?" It said. I clicked yes quickly, my heart beating faster and faster.
I see him, walking home. With Tsubaki and Watari. Ok, that's good, I think a happier. They haven't split up. That's good. Very good. Watari has a sleeping Tsubaki on his back, while Kousei walks, staring at the ground, tears silently streaming down his face.
"Do you ever wish you could just join her?" asked Kousei, breaking the deafening silence.
"What do you mean?" Watari replied. "Like do you mean… Kousei, you aren't thinking about suicide are you?!" He said in disbelief.
No, Kousei, I thought, raising a hand to my mouth. No. None of you need to join me just yet. I want you to live on. Stop him guys! I started praying Watari would kick him and talk him out of it. You have a long life ahead of you Kousei. Don't end it so fast.
Kousei smiled sadly. "If I could see her again, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad id-"
Kousei was knocked back by the force of the slap. However, Watari didn't cause it. It was Tsubaki.
"No! KOUSEI, NO!" she started yelling, tears starting to stream down her face. "WE ALREADY LOST KAORI! I DON'T NEED TO LOSE YOU TOO!"
Kousei looked at the ground, rubbing where her hand made contact with his face. "Tsubaki, I'm sorry. I miss her more than you can realize. I'd do anything for her. If it let her live another day, I would take a bullet for her. I-I love her."
I put a hand to my mouth, tears starting to stream from my own eyes. Kousei, really? Why didn't you say something you great fool? I thought smiling sadly. Maybe if you told me sooner I would've had the strength to go on. For your sake.
I was leaning to close to the screen and fell face forward onto it. I braced for the impact but I fell right through onto what felt like cold cement. I got up and looked around. I was in the the panel. I'm in the real world.
Which means.. I thought hopefully.
I turned around and there they were. My friends. "Kousei! Watari! Tsubaki!" I yelled tears flying off my face as a sprinted towards them. "Guys! I'm right here!" I ran in front of them and held my arms out. They just kept walking. "Guys..?" I asked once more. I went up to Kousei and tried to grab his face in my hands but they passed right through.
No. I thought, tears coming down again. No, this is torture! No!
"Tsubaki! Watari! Kousei, I'm right here!" I yelled. "No… guys… It's me-" I fall to the ground, sobbing, accepting defeat.
I realized they can't see me and never will. I stayed though.
This is as close I can get to them, I thought. I'm not leaving ever again.
Instead I just watched. Tsubaki got off Watari's back and headed over to Kousei.
"I know", Tsubaki said calmly. "But you think she would want you to die? For her sake? Remember, she loved you too. You would just hurt her more if you went off and killed yourself."
Kousei's eyes teared up. "I'm so sorry!" He said as he collapsed into her arms. "I don't know what I'm thinking! I - I-!" Tsubaki grabbed his face with her hands. "It's alright. Just remember. We are here for you. Whenever you need it, ok?" Kousei freed himself from her hands.
"Got it." He said smiling a little and wiping tears off his face. "I'll wait till the time comes. Then I'll tell her!"
Oh, Kousei, I thought happily yet with a hint of sadness, I already know.