Chapter 9

The Perfect Evening

You think that Kousei and Kaori would be tired of running through the town with the condition they have, but they don't really care at this point. Love is the most powerful thing in this world we live in, and it could be used in a good or a bad way.

Kousei and Kaori both stopped running once they reached the intersection. Kousei shirt was surprisingly still clean with a few wrinkles on his sleeves and Kaori summer dress was holding up with some dirt on the lower half of her shirt. The met up and laughed at each other.

"You're not a bad runner, and you said that you were losing feeling on your leg," Kousei teased her as they started to walk across the sidewalk.

"You're not a bad runner either for a person that locks yourself up in your room playing piano for 3 years, " she joked back as she pushed him a little.

"I don't always lock myself in my room; I have a life outside of the piano."

"I bet you do, you walk to school and then take a 6 hour nap at your house. You sure have a wonderful life outside the piano."

"Hey at least I don't have to go to the hospital every month just to check up on my legs," they both laughed, seamlessly forgetting what happen a couple of minutes ago.

"So where do you want to eat, and don't say at your cafe. I don't eat to be mean, but I don't want your parents to be the same place as your parents. It's going to be awkward talking about us in front of them."

"I see what you mean, plus that is not where I want to eat. Did you see the new place that opened up? It's near here and I want to go to there. Do you think we can go?"

"You mean Rio Nido? Yeah, I want to go there to actually, but I heard it is a bit expensive."

"We can split up the bill if you want in less you want to pay for your dish and I can pay for my dish."

"Sounds like a great idea." So they started hustling towards the restaurant, trying not to get their clothes wet or dirty. The restaurant was almost packed and there were a few people in line.

"Hurry before the line gets to long!" Kaori shouted as moved by people with ease. Kousei rushed by, pushing some people lightly to get to the restaurant. Finally, after sprinting 1 block from where they were, they made it to the restaurant.

Panting Kaori managed to say out this word. "We...made...it..."

"Yeah... We... Did it. There is...not... A lot of people... So we can take a break...," Kousei started wheezing and panting down to his knees.

They look like that they just ran a marathon and the people around them were taking notice and helped them get them back into shape either if it is from giving them water or giving them a pat on the back. Soon enough, they were doing fairly well.

"Thank you good sir. We thought we were going to be here when there would be a long line." Kaori praised as she handed back the plastic water bottle to him.

"No problem little girl. I know that this restaurant is really popular, so I can see why you ran here. Beside, you being 14 or 15, you've seem really mature for your age." The middle age man replied as he smiled back.

The line moved slowly, but in 15 minutes they were able to get a table of two near the window side of the restaurant. The two of them sat in their chairs as the waiter gave them two glasses of water.

The waiter then passes them the menu and headed off serving other people food. They were amazed on how fancy and elegant a restaurant can be that is near their house.

"This looks really fancy. The silk cloth they have on the table, classical music playing in the background, and we have the view of the people walking past by. Isn't it so romantic?" She said with a glow in her eyes.

"It truly is. I can't wait for our food is ready. I just hope it is not too expensive."

"Oh don't worry about the food. This date is about just you and me silly! So tell me, what been going on with you lately."

"Nothing really special has really come up lately. Since the concert is coming up I have to practice on my piece. Yet spending time me with you, and with piano, I didn't really spend time with Tsubaki and Watari today. Maybe if I see them try to start a conversation. So what about you?"

"Well nothing much other than school and helping out with the cafe a bit giving old people tea and coffee in the morning. Our life is so mundane. There is nothing to do other than play with our instruments and practice them."

"Yeah. I think we played so much of our instrument that it became part of our bodies and in our lives. We can't stop thinking and we stop playing it, with the exception of you not playing for two years due to personal condition... That you won't talk to me about."

"Yeah it was really a rough year when that happened. I just felt a hopeless and lonely when... That happened. I still don't want to talk about it and I know you will do everything to tell me it, but I won't. You'll have to ask someone else to tell you the story. I won't tell who though..." Kousei promptly replied.

"So why don't you want to tell me? Is it that bad that you had to block it from your memories?"

"Even talking about it would trigger something in my had to remember everything in the past, and I don't want that happen for your sake and mine. Anyways, is there anything you want to talk about before we take our order?"

She stood silent and put up a crooked smile on her face to hide her disappointment.

Wow is that bad I guess. I kind of feel bad that I asked then, but that doesn't stop the fact that I will try to find out what happened to you. He said that there were other people that might know what would happen to you, I just have to find them.

"Hello, my name is Lawrence, I am going to be your waiter for the day, how may I take your order?" He said interrupting the thinking of Kaori.

"Um… can i have a steak and the side of a salad? Medium Rare please."

"Yes, can i have the pumpkin soup?"

"Alright your order will be here in 15 minutes. I think you are the most mature kids i meet in a long time. There are not a lot of people like you." He said with a smile and happily went to the kitchen, leaving the two blushing and giggling.

"So…..umm… what can we talk about?" Kousei spoke as he tried to find a way to spark up the conversation.

"Have you been with Watari or Tsubaki or at least talk to them lately?"

"Well other than the incident with Tsubaki and me changing, I haven't really got into contact with them since they are doing baseball and soccer."

"Yeah same here, every time I tried to call them they will always go to voicemail or when i see them, they are always in their friends."

"I'll try to talk to them at a later time, but right now we should worry about yourself and let them live their lives. Beside, we have other friends... Right?"

"Yeah, I sometimes hang out with people other classes. They met me through the performance which is something I expected. A lot of my friends found me through that performance. Yet they still treat me like a regular person."

"Same here... I see them in the hallway and say hi to them and we would have a conversation, but since they are on teams, we don't really have time to hang out after I school."

"I see, that's really sad to hear. I would you let you hang out with my friends, but you would become the third wheel."

"Yeah I know same with me too. It would be awkward being one of the girls in the group."

"Hey are you still going to do the upcoming concert?"

"Maybe, I don't know for sure. I'm planning to do so, but do a less intense song than I did than last time."

The waiter came by with their meals, quicker than they anticipated since they thought that it would take half the time that they expected to wait.

"Here is the steak for the man and the salad for the lady. I hope you have a great dinner."

The waiter promptly said as he put down their plates.

"Thank you very much and can we please get some more water?" Kaori asked the waiter kindly.

"With pleasure," he replied and soon goes off seeing other people's food. The look at thier food with delight, pick up thier spoon and fork and start eating.

The bite of the steak that Kousei had was tended to the bone and very juicy to eat. If was flavorful and there was so much of it. It was the best thing he had in the last 2 years. It almost questioned why he stopped eating this kind of food .

Kaori on the other hand was very delighted with the salad she had. The crunch of the lettuce along with the creamy ranch dressing and the croutons were a party in her mouth. She knew that she doesn't have enough time if they don't find a cure, so she have to love her life as much as possible.

After surprisingly finishing thier food and stuffing the self with the dinner, they waited for the waiter to get the check.

"Man the food was really good," Kousei proudly said as he rubbed his stomach," havn't ate that good in 2 years. Well other than Watari taking me out to eat.

"Same here. I was so sick of eating my parent's food. I wanted to eat out somewhere and I'm glad it was this place."

"So I'm guessing that you don't want the canelè too?"

"Shut up. You still have to get me those at least once a week. This date isn't excuse to stop what you normally do for me."

The waiter walked by with the check. "I hope you have a great time at Rio Nido. Please come back." He laid the check down. Kousei & Kaori then paid their money with cash and left it on the table. Kousei paid a ¥2000 and they left the restaurant satisfied and happy.

"Man, I haven't had that kind of meal for a long time," Kousei started as he rubbed his belly with satisfaction.

"Same here. Hey it's getting dark out, do want to go to my house now?" Kaori asked. Kousei then nodded his head and they started walking. They talked endlessly about the food they had and how much they love it. Recapping the same what happened today, they laughed and talked on what they like and what they don't want to talk about. Finally after 20 minutes of walking, they were in front of the cafe where Kaori wanted Kousei to drop her off.

"Hey, look. I had a lot of fun together. Do you want to do this tomorrow in the afternoon? We don't have to go to eat anywhere, just talk about anything."

"Sure why not? I am down with that. I see you at the park then." Kousei replied as he waved goodbye at her and headed in the darkness.

Kaori went inside and instantly went to her room as she saw that her parents were checking up on the money and the bills. Fortunately, her parents didn't see her to ask her some question..

In her room, she was screaming on her first date and was so happy that she actually went on the perfect date, but one thing was sticking out of her head. Kousei's past.

Damn, I actually thought he would tell me about his past. It is so mysterious about what he did when he was the child. I mean the only reason why I'm asking is because of the 2 year gap of him not playing piano. There must be something devastation that must've happen in those 2 years. Well, he did say that there are other people that know about it, I just have to find them. Watari and Tsubaki would not tell me a damn thing about tit that's for sure. But for now, let's just enjoy what Kousei gave me and hope for the best tomorrow.

I AM NOT DEAD. WOOO! Now I just have to find time during school to do it. Right now don't have a set schedule like a had last time, but just like Podtaku, I might of just upload more frequently. But I hope you like it and expect more.