Chapter 10: Love's Joy
Kaori is finally going home. She made a lot of progress these past few days. I saw her improve day by day. Eventually she was walking around her room without any difficulty. We went to the roof together one day, she asked me to play the melodica for her. I couldn't help but notice how much she's changed. She was once again full of life. I could see sparkles in her eyes every time I looked at her.
Now I'm waiting outside the hospital to see her before her parents take her home. I was expecting her father to help her, but the girl in front of me was walking on her own.
"Kousei!" She shouted happily when she saw him. Without any hesitation she started jogging towards him.
When Kousei saw her move so fast his heart skipped a beat. He was afraid she'll fall.
The girl stopped in front of him.
"I'm happy to see you" she said.
"I'm glad to see you. Are you sure you should move so fast?
"It's okay. I'm stronger than I look now!" She said proudly. "Wanna come with us?" She asked him.
"No need, I just wanted to see you" he replied "Besides I don't think Yoshiyuki-san would like having me over now" she whispered to her.
She gave a chuckle. "Dad's just having fun. He really likes you, actually." She told him.
"Eh?" He said surprised.
"Yeah! He always says stuff like "That Kousei is a good kid." she gave her best impression of Mr. Miyazono.
Does he?
"Hey, Kousei. Would you like to join us for lunch?" Mr. Miyazono asked him once they got closer.
"I don't want to bother you" Kousei replied.
"There's no bother. We're celebrating! Come, today you two can eat for free."
Once they reached the bakery, Kaori's parents started their regular work while Kousei and Kaori sat together at a table, trying to decide what they'd like to eat.
"Hey, Kousei. I got it!" She told him.
"Let me guess, canelés?" he asked her.
"Yup!" she replied with her trademark smile.
The two of them started eating, although Kaori had a bigger appetite than Kousei. They spoke about the usual things. School, friends, music and so on.
I can't ask her now, not with her parents here...
Eventually Kousei had to leave.
"Hey, Kaori. Remember, tomorrow we're going out." he told her before leaving.
"Yeah, I look forward to it!"
He couldn't fall asleep... He couldn't stop thinking that something's not right. That she's keeping something from him...
The beautiful blonde violinist that stole my breath the first time I saw her. Everything about her was beautiful, from the way she laughed, the way she smiled, the way her eyes were sparkling, everything. But she's missing something... she wouldn't tell me, and I wouldn't ask...
I couldn't really push it, not with her in the hospital. I'll ask her tomorrow...
Weather's getting warmer... Kousei noticed. The snow that a few weeks ago covered everything was now melting, and the grey clouds that kept the sun away were now gone. I remember the day I met you, I remember the wind, the sun, everything. Spring will come again soon...
He found himself in front of the Miyazono bakery and he could the Kaori's parents working inside. He stood outside for a few seconds, thinking wether he should wait for Kaori here or go inside. He decided going inside was the better option. After all, he's the one taking their daughter on a date.
"Morning, Yoshiyuki-san!" He said as he entered.
"Kousei! Kaori will be here in a moment. Do you want something to eat?"
"No, thank you."
He never noticed before, but the Miyazono family bakery was a truly peaceful place. He could see how Kaori grew up to be the person she is, it was all due to her family and how much they loved her...
A sound of steps was coming from the back of the bakery, before he knew it Kaori was standing in front of him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Kousei!" she said, same smile as always.
She's wearing the same outfit like the day we met... Even her hair is the same. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
"Alright, I'll be going now. Bye, dad! Tell mom I'll be back soon!" she told her father.
"Take care, you two." he told the two.
"So, where are you taking me?" she asked Kousei once they were outside.
"I, uh, was thinking we could go to the park. There's something I wanted to show you." he replied.
"Alright, let's go!" she was obviously excited to be outside after spending so much time in that hospital.
I pray you'll never have to go there again...
As they arrived to the place of their first meeting Kousei looked at her.
"So, uh... do you want to, like, hold hands?"
She was taken by surprise.
"You don't have to ask" she replied as she took his hand. Kousei was expecting her to be more reluctant, he was blushing more than she was.
They walked by the fountain and were heading towards the playground.
"Do you remember the day we fist met?" he asked her.
"Huh?" The question took her aback. "Of course!" She replied.
"I was waiting for Tsubaki and Watari, they were meeting a friend here. That friend asked Tsubaki to introduce her to Watari, she said she liked him. While waiting I heard a sound, and after walking a little more I found the source of that sound."
They were getting closer to the playground.
"It was a beautiful girl playing a melodica on top of the dome"
Kaori was surprised by his compliment.
"A few kids joined her, they made such a pretty picture together. So I took a picture of them with my phone. Sadly my timing was horrible"
Kaori started laughing.
"So this girl started beating me." he continued. "I tried to explain it was an accident, but she wouldn't listen..."
"Finally my friends arrived. Then I realized that the girl who took my breath away was the same girl we were supposed to meet. Miyazono Kaori."
She didn't want to interrupt him, so she listened to his every word.
"When I realized she liked Watari I was a little disappointed." Those words made Kaori feel sorry. "Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse she said she played the violin. At the time I didn't want to hear anything about playing an instrument. To make matters even worse she was supposed to perform at the Towa Hall that day. So she asked us to come with her. I didn't want to go..."
They were still holding hands, but now their fingers were entwined together.
"But she took my hand..." he stopped walking "she looked me in the eyes" he brought his face closer to hers "she had the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. They were sparkling. And then she told me to come with her."
"A friend told me that when you're in love with somebody, everything looks colorful... And the moment I met her, my life changed. Everything I saw... everything I heard... everything I felt. All the scenery around me started to take on colour."
"I love you, Miyazono Kaori."
He brought his face even closer to hers. Their lips met. A first kiss is supposed to be special, and for Kousei and Kaori it was more than that. It was the highest declaration of love that someone could make. As their lips slowly parted he looked into her eyes again.
"Even when I'm down, you always put a smile on my face. The time we spend together breathes life into my world. I treasure the days, the moments we spent together. I want this to last forever, so I'll look into your eyes and tell you."
He took her hand and placed it on his chest, o she could feel his heart. And suddenly time was frozen in place. Nothing else mattered in that moment, nothing and no one except the two of them.
"Above all, it was your voice that I wanted to hear. No one else, it couldn't be anyone else, it had to be you. You're the one I want to be with... forever."
He placed another kiss on her lips.
The words he said to her had a magical feel. In that moment she could feel his passion, his joy and his sorrow. But above all, she knew his words were honest. Once he broke their kiss he smiled at her, but she felt something was different. His usual smile was a warm one, a smile that made her remember the day she first laid eyes on him almost 10 years ago. But this time it wasn't the same. This time his smile was shining brighter than the sun.
"I'll do my best to make you happy... Miyazono Kaori!"
"Arima Kousei..." she started. Despite his words, tears started flowing down her face.
"I don't want to leave you. I'll stay by your side forever. Whatever tomorrow might bring, whatever obstacle you'll face... I will always be with you!" Her trademark smile showed up once again.
"W-which is why..." she was struggling, and failing, to maintain her smile. "Which is why I have to tell you the truth!" Her voice was shivering. Kousei realized that she was terrified of what she was going to say. These were tears of sorrow, not joy.
"I don't know if I'll be able to play a violin again!" She told him, unable to look him in the eyes.
No... Kousei was remembering the last time they saw each other before her operation. "Don't leave me alone!" He remembered her saying. That was the only time that the girl in front of him has shown fear in front of someone.
"I can't control my hands properly!" she continued while crying.
The scenery surrounding them was starting to change. The radiant colors from earlier were fading.
No...
"I'm sorry I couldn't keep our promise!" this time her crying was even louder than before.
No! He embraced her. The colors that were slowly fading started shining again. This is why she was acting weird... Her happiness was a facade...
"I'm sorry..." she kept saying.
What can I tell her? That everything will be alright? That she should've told me sooner? That I'll always love her no matter what? No... I promised I'll make her happy. Whatever it takes, I don't want her to be scared anymore. She's not alone anymore...
"Crying doesn't suit you..." he told her. "I promised I'll make you happy, didn't I?"
The light can pierce through even the darkest depths of the ocean.
"And here I am, making you cry on our very first date. I'm a horrible boyfriend..."
A few minutes after he helped her calm down, she decide to tell him everything.
"Doctor Miura told me that, while the operation was a great success, my... my hands didn't recover the way they should have. I can still use them, but playing a violin requires perfect movement. He said they might heal in time, but..." She was visibly shaken just by thinking about the possibility of never being able to play again.
"I'm sorry I kept this from you..."
He embraced her again.
"Look at me" he said as he brought his face closer to hers once again.
"Whatever happens, I'm here for you. I don't want to see you cry, so I'll do everything I can to make you happy! If you can't play now then just wait, I'm sure you'll be back on the stage in no time. Maybe there's only a dark road ahead. But you still have to believe and keep going. Believe that the stars will light your path, even a little bit. And you won't be alone... I will always be with you".
She gave a chuckle "Using my own words to make me feel better..." The smile was back on her face. "I love you, Arima Kousei!"
"And I love you, Miyazono Kaori!" he said.
"Our journey has just begun!"
This is chapter 10. Hope you enjoyed it!
Also, thank you, gpianist for your review.