Day 7 – Serenade
"MOM! Shuusei's coming to Japan!" Excitedly Hotsuma stormed into the kitchen one day after school. He was now 10 years old. "And we're going to see his concert! Please! Let me go!"
"Take off your shoes, Hotsuma..." his mother stated shaking her head. This boy... really.
"Sorry..." Hotsuma hurried back to the entrance and took off his shoes, before returning to the kitchen.
"Please! I want to see the concert!" He insisted ignoring everything around him. The news their teacher had dropped on them of the concert where the young Japanese harpist Usui Shuusei would play, Hotsuma could hardly believe it. There was a chance of meeting his best friend again! If only for a short time, but he wanted – no, needed – to see it. And hear Shuusei play again!
"Does the school pay the entrance?" His mother put a plate with curry rice in front of him to eat.
Sadly Hotsuma shook his head ignoring the food for once. "No... It's 6500 Yen we have to pay", Hotsuma admitted sadly.
"You know we don't have money for things like that since your father had lost his job. We can't afford 6500 just for a concert", his mother refused.
"Please... It's not just a concert! It's Shuusei's concert. And it is the day before my birthday... I don't want any presents!" Hotsuma pleaded. "And nothing for New Year's. Please mom! I only want to see Shuusei play again!"
"Nothing more? What about that new game you desparedly wanted last week? And the other one the week before?"
"I didn't know about Shuusei coming here then. If I can see him play again I really don't want anything else. Just... please mom! I'll do anything. And I don't want anything special to eat... " Hotsuma begged. Being able to see his old friend again was so important to him.
"Anything?"
Hotsuma nodded. He was completely serious about this.
"Then eat your curry, do the dishes and clean the bathroom and your room."
And for the first time the boy did not complain, but nodded and started with the assigned tasks. He had to prove his point and show his mother that he really wanted this. Then perhaps his parents could do something for him to see his best friend ever on his harp again!
