Chapter 3

Few days had come to pass and the cherry blossom viewing festival came closer and closer bringing the excitement amongst the people of Termachi, even Niimura-san, who hardly ever seemed happy. Ever since that I day met him and the rest of his family my life changed drastically both in the good and bad. First off, my father didn't exactly approve of me associating myself with Mrs. Niimura-san children, especially Niimura-san. His only answer to my question was that he was nothing but trouble to that family, and one he was going bring a great shame upon them and their family owned business. I didn't understand what he meant until a couple of years later. But somehow my mother finally convinced him to allow me to wall home with them under the condition that I was not to associate myself any further with him. It sadden me that my father would make such a condition against my free will in whom I became friends with; the barrier he created between me and him made my desire even more powerful in its attempt to close the gap between us. But even so there would soon be more barriers to replace of my father's in the later years of my life.

My father was hardly ever home yet he ensure that his iron rule was to be followed. I couldn't understand why my father acted so cruel against me and my mother for no reason at all. Where and when did the love of my father gone into the four winds of the Earth? It wouldn't be till days later that my world came crashing down when I discover where the love of my father had gone and his wrath of violence against my family and hate against the one I love…to this day my father would truly be a man of mystery, even on the day that I no longer looked upon as a father very much less then as a man. But the girl I was then did know the secrets that crept in the shadows I obeyed the laws amongst children and their parents I respected his decision.

Since I saw Niimura-san sparingly, for he only walked us to and from school most of the time without saying much as a word to us. I often searched for him amongst the crowds of older children but most of time I found my gaze only meeting the passing by glances. Thought I would catch a glimpse of him at lunch time, but he would soon disappear amongst his classmates or just completely vanish. Meeting him at his locker would be something far too risky- he would probably just send me away to wait on his sister while he caught up with us, maybe he just feel embarrassed by having us around him when the older children were watching-no, I didn't want to bother him any more then what he had to put up with. So meeting him at his locker was something out of the question-isn't not like he actually cared about me-maybe he would never care. But even with this dark sad thought I treasured every moment with him-almost everything he did I treasured it deep within my heart. His simple body movement became like works of art moving in unison-such as the massive body movement amongst the members of a grand symphony all composing a piece so beautiful and marvelous. I bet Niimura-san would never have considered himself as an artisan.

Yet there was some else who viewed Niimura-san in the same light as I, Honda Zakura. Honda is said to be the most popular girl in my grade level as well as my class. Boys from the second grade have asked to arrange play dates with her-but were rejected for Honda-san had only eyes for one boy-Niimura-san. It was Honda-san, who made herself my enemy, my intentions were pure but she thought otherwise. The minute she found out I was Niimura-san neighbor and friends with his sister- she considered it a threat against her, in trying to take him away from her. She made it her mission to destroy me utterly. But to my understanding, she barely even knew me and rejected the whole concept of being friends; she said she knew him but I believe that Niimura-san wasn't the type to associate with girls-he just wasn't interest in those types of things yet. Niimura-san would rather spend time to himself then talk to her. It was probably some lie she told to increase her popularity said Kuernai-chan. Niimura-san practically hates her she also told me when I asked her about it; my brother just can't stand her, "…she talks to much and she looks at me with those ridiculous contact "moony" eyes and bats her fake eye lashes-she makes me sick just by looking at her I just wish she would leave me alone…" she quoted from him. When she told me this I could help but feel sorry for her- she was just trying so hard and Niimura-san only got annoyed and didn't see the emotion she might have truly felt about him. Like me her love would go unnoticed. But even so it didn't slow her down from destroying me by making sure Niimura-san never notice me and what she called my "pathetic" love. But like her I didn't give up either I just kept on hoping and wishing in silence that someday Niimura-san would take notice of me and my love.

That came closer than I thought after I spent a night pondering on events of that day-it would be on the day of the cherry blossom viewing festival that I would get my chance. I hoped that today I would capture Niimura-san during my performance at the festival-which was both an entry for an extend-afterschool programs as well an examination in obtaining a scholarship from Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Honda also entered for the scholarship, she was 1st violin player in the orchestra as well as singer in the choir- I was as well but I maintain focused on my cello- she hardly ever attended practice after school for she said she a "private" tutor. My father had given some thought to concept of giving me a chance to practice with a private tutor if only I obtain the scholarship. My mother told if I didn't get the scholarship that I wasn't to be disappointed that there were many more opportunities out there for me and even so she said she'll try to get in contact with one of her old acquaintances from Tokyo who could help me. My mother told me she would try her best to make it at the ceremony today at the park where the festival was to be held if her appointment permitted it as well as her job-but in my mind I also considered the issue of traffic. She left me all dressed up for the occasion in the hallway leading out the door with a kiss to my forehead, a nice quick warm hug and smile, and gave me her blessing of good luck and was out the door. Yet with the happiness she left somehow didn't exactly transfer over to me- is was not because I was nervous it was because I felt something that I didn't know what it was-and it gave me a negative outlook on the day ahead. And as I read my daily horoscope in my zodiacal almanac before I left home it only reassured the feeling I felt deep down inside.

"Both fortune and misfortune shall guide you on your path of life today but do not despair life is always full of ups and downs-yet at the end of every journey the rightful ones shall always see light."

I jumped out of my seat at the sound of the alarm, telling me it was time to head on over to Niimura's house. Even though I arrived earlier than usual to distract myself of my determined fate I found myself not waiting long at all for Niimura-san and Kuernai-chan's arrival. For once again Kuernai-chan was having difficulty with her sleepy older brother- for the argument they against each other couldn't be simply muffled by a simple curtain door.

"Tooru-kun, will you please hurry up were going to be late for school and today is not the day I want to be late for school. Besides you'll have plenty of time for napping today, for today is Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival!), remember," she said pressuring him.

"Yeah, yeah I remember, everyone talking about it, now will please stopping yelling your hurting my ears," he replied, facing my direction, as he pushed away the curtain door.

"Ohayo, Niimura-san did you sleep well," I asked while bowing respectfully in greeting. That way I couldn't be bombarded by the emotion inside me if our eyes were too met instantly.

"Fine I guess," he said reply after a short pause after I had risen up from my bow. He must have noticed my awkwardness around him I thought.

"Ah, Ohayo Kyoko-chan, would you mind coming over and help me straighten him out," she said pulling him by the collar toward the lifting counter to where I was standing.

"But-I really think I shouldn't," trying to back myself away from another embarrassing moment with him. Plus I didn't want Niimura-san to become angry- he was easily agitated in the morning or feel more awkward around me as I was with him.

"Please, come and help me, I can't do it by myself, I promise I'll make sure he doesn't bite you-though he hasn't bitten any one, he just looks mean but he's true harmless like a puppy," she said laughing.

Niimura-san made a face at the comment his sister made about him and harden the gaze in his eyes yet he did nothing I as I slowly approached him, "May I asked-," I asked in small quiet voice as I began to worked in straightening his cuff links of his uniform. I felt my mouth become dry as I tried my best not to touch him as I worked around his wrist- the fact that I was so close to him I could almost feel another blush creeping up on me until his mother came and interrupted us in our work.

"Hold it right there girls! Tooru-kun, you simply can't keeping going through the morning like this, these girl can't continue this type of behavior in order for you to be on time. You being the eldest of them both you have to set a proper example for them to follow. I'm sorry but that's the truth and it must be followed, you must play the part you are given whether you like it or not. And for goodness sake's how many times do I have to tell you? If I tell you once I told you a million times, boy, to please tuck in your under shirt and button up your uniform jacket correctly. Here Kuernai-chan, take his glasses while I straighten him out as quickly as I possibly can," she said and instantly grabbed a hold of Niimura-san before he could react. As she pulled him closer to get a good look at him to figure out what need to done she gasped in surprised, "Where on earth is your collar shirt?"

"I don't remember…" Niimura said replied, shrugging under his mother's iron grip.

"What do you mean you don't remember? Well there one thing you don't forget about sleep- what am I going to with you, boy, I'm going to have to tell your father now. I swear your head would be rolling around if it weren't attached," she replied with a sigh. Clearly she wasn't in the mood of raising her voice so early in the morning.

"Here it is mom," Kuernai-chan after popping up so suddenly I jumped-she must have went into the back room and got it.

"Where was it," I asked curiously.

"On coat rack next the side entrance door leading to the apartments," she said handing it to her mother, who was wrestling with Niimura-san in trying to get his jacket off to put on the collared shirt.

"Thank you Kuernai-chan. There now you look descent enough, a quick comb here and there," she said straightening out his clothing one final time and quickly began coming down his hair.

"Ow, mom, stop your hurting me-do you have to embarrass me," Niimura-san cried as he tried to regain his harden image under his mother's iron grip.

"Well you forced me to it, young man, you could at least be a little more responsible otherwise you won't be in this position again," she finally putting final touches regarding his hair and backed away from him.

"Whatever-I don't time for this, come on now Kuernai, goodbye mother, you coming, Murasaki," he asked quickly leaving his mother side to the front door of the bakery grabbing his school bag that was one the floor.

"Goodbye Tooru-kun, now you have a good day at school girls, and Tooru-kun one more thing before you go-are you wearing your belt," she asked him.

"Yes, mother…" he replied clearly irritated by the question and left out the door before his mother could continue questioning him.

"Don't worry about a thing, mother, he has everything he needs in his backpack, which I prepared for him last night," said Kuernai taking up her things and walked out the door with me.

"That was close for a minute I seriously thought we were going to be late for school," I replied walking as fast as I could to catch up with Niimura-san who was already half way down the street.

"That would never happen, even with a sleepy head of a brother- we never got to school late. But speaking of which for a person who just woke up fifteen minutes before pick up time, he sure can walk fast," she said while making a teasing face in his direction.

"Sh! Kuernai-chan he'll hear, I just know it, and it's not nice to tease your brother like, he just not a morning person," I said pulling her back in fear he would notice.

"Relax I was just having some fun but you're right I shouldn't have been teasing him," and she instantly dropped her teasing and came to a peaceful stride with my step in tune.

Suddenly, a voice broke the common silence, "Yo, Murasaki, why aren't you in your uniform," Niimura-san asked, turning his head slightly to project his voice my direction. He had his hands in his pockets, his back pack slung on one shoulder, and his body was slightly leaning back on his slender frame.

I said I silent for awhile registering what had just happen, he turned slightly more just enough for me to see a glimpse of his eyes watching me as I walked. Then I knew he had truly spoken, so slowly I began to reply back in fear of his anger for the wait in my reply. "I'm performing today during the festival for everyone and for a scholarship from Tokyo Symphony," I replied shyly glancing down at my shoes and the sidewalk to cover up the blush that spread across my face at the notice of his gaze upon me. I tried really hard to keep my gaze down even though his movements were so mesmerizing.

"She's performing in the choir too, along with the rest of girls in our grade level. I have to say you have a beautiful singing voice Kyoko-chan, just like your mother's. And the way you play the cello is simply amazing," added Kuernai-chan, clinging to her brother arm try to get him to slow down so he could full notice me.

"I don't think-my singing is that good as my mother's or anyone else in particular but as for my cello I've only gotten such skill is with practice and my mother's help," I finished with my gaze holding still.

"So you play classical music, right, but what traditional? Do you play a traditional instruments," Niimura-san said from what it sounded I found it to have a tone of interest. I quite surprised at Niimura-san interest in music, I was completely marveled at the thought of sharing something in common with him.

"Yes, I play traditional as well…I can play other instruments but I prefer to play on the samisen. I often practice with one of your classmates Machiko-san," I said with a little more confidence in my voice. I practically felt a smile forming on my face, as I kept pondering on the thought of interesting him on a topic that it sent my heart pounding away in my chest sounding off loudly in my ears.

"Maybe I'll come to see you practice…some time…that is," he replied and suddenly turning away and pulling out of Kuernai's grasp regaining his original stance and return to walk in silence. I marveled once more at his reply, why did he sound so unsure, so confused at his own response. Why did have change so suddenly cold again? The hope of a chance of actually meeting up with him, a chance to where we could finally get to know each other, left butterflies fluttering around inside my stomach.

"Kyoko-chan, I have something for you," she said stopping in the side walk to search for it in her bag.

"You have a present for me, why it's not even my birthday," I asked stopping and glanced up to see in Niimura-san had notice; he did not for he kept on walking ahead.

"Well actually it was my mother who wanted me to give this to you, and of course I know it's not your birthday silly! This black sash ribbon is for good luck on today-to the scholarship you shall win! Do you want me to go ahead and fix it on you," she asked.

"I suppose, I guess a change of hair styles would be alright today, let just hope my father doesn't say anything about it," I replied removing the glasses from my nose.

"You can see without your glasses," asked Kuernai, as she took my hair down from the pony tail my mother made for me this morning and steady inserted the ribbon in my hair like a head band; she gracefully let my hair down to the sides of my face yet at the same time pulled most of it out of my eyes.

"Yes, I only need them for read. The doctor says I may not have to wear glasses when I get if my vision ever improves. Is Niimura-san the same way," I asked.

"Yeah, he uses them to read, but always losing them somewhere in his room. That way I always have to carry them with me so there's no excuse to why he did bring them to class, plus the teacher has a secret pair for him if he loses those. But don't tell him I told you that; now let me look at those very pretty eyes of yours. Kyah! You look so cute with the makeup your mother put on you, it's so well done it hardly looks like you have any on! Tooru-kun what do you think," Kuernai-chan asked turning around in search of her brother. But her brother was too far away to hear and was waiting for us to join him.

I wondered at the thought if Niimura-san would consider me as "cute." Yet once again I was left only to wonder at the possibilities for Niimura-san was truly a mystery. "Thank you, Kuernai-chan but I believe we should get to your brother for it won't be long before the bus arrives."

"No, problem that's what friends are for, well we better fun for it now, cause the bus is here," and with that she pulling on my arm and together we ran passed Niimura-san.