Date with Haruka Week

"How about you?" Akari felt guilty that he was being too hard on the girl, so he decided to talk to her. "What's your—"He gave her a sideward glance, only to find no one following behind him. He turned around and saw that Haruka stopped; golden eyes were staring at the place before them with a shocked expression. He turned and looked what she was looking at, only to furrow his eyebrows in puzzlement.

"Why are you looking at a construction site like it's a monster or something?"

Haruka blinked, and turned around. She realized that Akari was standing right next to her, giving her an odd look. She forced a smile, trying to remain calm. Akari continued looking at her with a face that clearly stated 'what's so amusing about it'.

'Maybe, maybe I mistook this park for that park!' She thought. 'That would have made more sense; they couldn't probably rebuild the whole park in less than a week, right?'

…Right?

"Akari-kun, d-d-do you know about the d-d-dolphin park?" She asked, just to confirm her thoughts.

He nodded.

"Yeah, it's right in front of you."

Thin red eyebrows furrowed, "Why did they remove it?"

"Remove it?" Akari repeated. "What do you mean by 'remove' if it was never there in the in the first place?" He was greeted by a blank stare, he sighed and explained. "What I meant was, they couldn't possible remove it because there was nothing on that site before."

"In other words," Haruka nodded, finally understanding his words. "They're building it."

The boy nodded. After a few minutes, he realized something.

"Wait a minute, why am I explaining this to you? What are you, four?" The rosette blushed, turning away. "And why are we stopping in front of a park? We were in one a while ago. We don't have time for this; we have to find your apartment soon."

"You're actually a kind person, Akari-kun." She smiled gently. "If only if you were more polite."

He blushed. "S-s-shut up. I'm only doing this to get rid of you."

The younger of the two mumbled curses under his breath and continued walking, Haruka giggled and followed him. Even though she kept her happy façade, inside of her was turmoil. What was going on? Things weren't making sense anymore! Why were they only 'building' it when she visited it last week and it seemed like a decade old!

I'm over thinking, Haruka said to herself.

.

.

"Why does Tokyo seem even bigger?" The rosette asked, eyes were swirling.

They have been walking for a while; they still haven't found her apartment. Akari asked her if she was sure she told him the correct address, Haruka argued that she at least knew the street where her apartment was located.

But for some reason, they couldn't find it.

"Oi."

Haruka didn't hear his warning, she accidentally bumped him. The rosette stumbled a few step backwards, rubbing her slightly red nose.

"Akari-kun," She winced. "Why did you stop—"

He suddenly turned around, face deadly serious. She was slightly taken aback, why was he looking at her like that? It was creeping her out—

"Are you sure… you're human?"

She blinked.

"Excuse me?"

Akari looked away, closing his fist. "Are you sure you're a living being and not a… ghost?"

….

"WHAT?!" Haruka shouted, crossing her arms together defensively. "A-Akari-kun, what are you t-talking about?!

"I mean, think of it!" He reasoned," You said you fell from the sky… and you're wearing a white dress! Then you said Tokyo doesn't look like what it used to be even though it seemed normal to me. Also, you're telling me to find what seemed like a non-existent address. We've been looking at the maps on each street, but we still haven't found your apartment!" He reasoned out, the rosette paled when he realized he was right.

Haruka remembered, while she was in the taxi, the driver said that an accident happened nearby. What if… the one who got caught in the accident was her?! What if she was already dead?! Was this a punishment because she didn't finish her job on time?

"So…" He crossed his arms, studying the rosette from head to toe. "My guess it you're a ghost from the Edo period that died during the war—"

"H-hang on, Akari-kun." She interrupted.

"What?"

"I… just w-w-want to say that… I believe w-w-women during the E-e-edo period weren't wearing high-heel like what I'm w-w-w-wearing." The boy looked down, indeed she was wearing heels. People in the Edo period should be wearing wooden clogs, not this. "A-a-also, I b-b-believe that it was not p-p-p-possible to build a f-f-fountain that looked like a d-d-dolphin in aerial view during that t-t-time."

Akari blushed, before turning away.

"T-t-then what are you?"

Haruka deadpanned. "I'm human."

"No, you're not!" He argued, face was red. He seriously did not want to admit that he got it wrong "Humans don't fall from the sky. Humans don't look like…" He pointed an accusing finger. "Like you!"

"S-s-so you do b-b-believe that I f-f-fell from the s-s-sky!" She clasped her hands together, a wide smile on her lips.

A moment of silence. "Well, that would explain how you appeared out of nowhere and landed on top of me…" No matter how stupid and unbelievable in sounded, he added.

"Wait a minute," The rosette pouted, face was flustered because of anger. "T-t-that was r-r-rude, Akari-kun! I-i-it's not m-m-my fault I l-l-look like this…"

"That was a rather late reaction." He deadpanned. "Also, stop talking like that!"

"L-l-like w-w-what?"

"Like that!" He shouted, fuming slightly. "Stop st-st-st-st-stuttering like that! You don't even sound like you're speaking Japanese anymore!"

"I'm sorry," Haruka looked down, frowning. "I talk like that when I'm with people I just met. I get kind of nervous."

"You get nervous?" Akari repeated, she nodded. "You get nervous even if you're only talking to a twelve year old boy?"

She blinked. "You're only twelve?"

"Got a problem with that?"

She shook her head defensively, smiling at him. "No, I was just surprised, that's all. I thought you were fifteen years old! Wow, kids these days sure grow faster!"

A nerve popped on his forehead when he heard the word 'kid'.

"How about you?" He took a step closer, eyeing her small figure. "You look like you're thirteen years old middle schooler!"

"I'm not!" She clenched her fist, scrunching her nose. "I'm actually a nineteen year old working girl!"

"'Working girl'?" He repeated mockingly. "I bet you messed up with your work quite often!"

"I do n—" Haruka stopped mid-sentence. She remembered that she got fired from work today. All her vibrant energy disappeared, what was left was a depressed shell of a girl once known as Nanami Haruka.

"O-oi." Akari sweat dropped, he couldn't believe her sudden change of attitude. "Are you alright?"

The rosette forced a smile. "Yes. I think I am."

"Did I say something?" He asked, feeling guilty after all the harsh treatment he gave her. Haruka shook her head.

"No, you just reminded me that I got kicked out of work that's all."

Moment of silence.

"So you're jobless and homeless…" Akari muttered under his breath. "Sucks to be you."

"Has anyone told your rude?"

He grinned brightly. "Every day."

They continued walking in silence. After a few more minutes, the rosette realized that there was something at what Akari said.

"And I am not homeless!" Haruka crossed her arms, correcting his sentence.

"You would be if we can't find your apartment."

That left her speechless.

.

.

They continued their search, when something caught Haruka's attention. They were forced to make a stop again.

"Whoaaa!" Haruka stared at the display, hands pressed on the glass. "I've never seen a Japanese harp before! It's so beautiful!"

"I really doubt your nineteen years old." Akari commented. The rosette only stuck her tongue out in reply. "Which reminds me, I still haven't gotten your name."

She opened her mouth and was about to say 'Nanami Haruka' when…

"Why should I give you my name when you gave me a fake name?"

Akari rolled his eyes. "Then give me a fake name. I just can't call you 'you' all the time, right?"

She closed her eyes, removing her hands on the glass. She couldn't help but smile when her words were thrown back at her.

"Well then", She turned around, hands on her back. "Please call me 'Harp'?"

He deadpanned.

"I assume it's because of the harp over there."

'Harp' nodded.

"You have stupid naming skills." He face palmed, shaking his head. "Scratch that, I pity your future children. I bet you're going to name them syringe or dextrose or something stupider."

She pouted. "That's mean, Akari-kun. For your information, my friend's mother's name has the kanji of harp in it!"

"The kanji of harp," He emphasized. "Not the English word 'harp' itself."

Harp gritted her teeth; she was trapped in a situation where a twelve year old boy is outsmarting him in retorts. To excuse herself from this embarrassing situation, she charged inside the music store.

Unknown to Akari, she actually knew about this shop. 'Harp' was happy to know that at least this shop didn't disappear or was replaced. This shop was owned by a lovely elderly couple. She found it sweet how those two still seemed so sweet even at their old age. They were especially nice to 'Harp', because they said she reminded them of their deceased daughter who died in a car accident. She wondered if every time she visited, it opened up close wounds. But the couple assured her that they loved her company dearly.

"Bunkichi-san, Mitsuko-san! It's me Ha—" 'Harp' stopped dead on her tracks when she saw an unfamiliar face standing in front of the counter.

"Irasshaimase!"

A girl with brownish-red hair that was tied in a pony-tail greeted. Haruka couldn't help but note that even if she looked simple, she looked really pretty. Even though was wearing a plain apron over her clothes, she looked… great on it. You know those types of people who make potato sacks as fashionable when they're wearing it? Haruka got to admit, she's one of them. She had headphones hanging loosely on her shoulders; she guessed it was an old model. She had a barrette on her hair that distinctively formed the Roman numerals XXII. But what caught Haruka's attention was the color of her eyes: it was red-orange. It reminded her of the sunset.

"Ara?" She blinked, looking surprised. "It's surprising for someone the same age as I to be visiting our shop!"

Harp laughed warily. "Um… I-i-if I may ask… where is Bunkichi-san and Mitsuko-san?"

"Otou-san and Okaa-san?" Golden eyes widened, her breath got caught in her throat. "They're currently away. May I ask what your business with them is?"

"Ah… nothing I particular." She shook her head, trying to remain calm.

"I see." She smiled once more. "Please enjoy your stay."

Harp nodded and started roaming around the shop. What was that? She just called the couple as 'Otou-san' and 'Okaa-san'. Could it be this is their daughter? No, that couldn't possibly be it! Mitsuko told her that her daughter died decades ago. How was it possible if she was here, alive and smiling, and not to mention cashiering the shop?

Things have been going weird since she fell off from the sky. Heck, even that sounded weird she can't believe she just said that. But it was the truth, she literally fell out of the sky and she found herself in this different but she was sure it was still the place she knew as Tokyo. Seriously, what was—

"Harp!" A voice shouted, interrupting her train of thoughts. "What the hell, why are you taking so long—"

Akari stopped mid-sentence when he saw the expression on her face. She was deathly pale; she looked like she has seen a ghost. Well, you can consider it like that. But of course, he wouldn't know anything about it.

"Ah gomen," Harp whispered, but she didn't sound so sincere. "I forgot about you."

He immediately went up to the girl and crushed her temples using his fist, Haruka shouted in pain. They only stopped with their childish interaction when the saleslady laughed.

"High school sweethearts?" She asked with a wink.

I'm not even at high school yet! Akari thought.

This seemed nostalgic. Harp looked away.

As Akari explained that it wasn't like that and the cashier kept teasing him to not be shy, the rosette continued looking around the music shop. She really wasn't planning on buying anything, but it seemed impolite to run away because she saw a ghost. She sighed and continued searching when something caught her eyes.

"Ah, you have good taste, Miss." The saleslady appeared behind her, Harp nearly had a heart attack. "But sadly, this isn't for sale."

The rosette nodded, opening the black grand piano's lid. It was old, but when she pressed a key, it was still working and finely tuned.

"Is this your personal instrument?" She couldn't help but ask.

The saleslady nodded. "Yes, this is Otou-san's first piano. He grew very sentimental with it, so he brought it with him even if he got married and all."

Harp chuckled; it was very predictable for Bunkichi to do such a thing. She remembered that they even kept the car their daughter was driving when she got in the accident.

"Hey, Miss?"

She blinked; the ghost daughter was peering at her hands.

"Do you know how to play the piano?" The rosette nodded. "Well you see, even if I'm the daughter of a music shop owner, I do not know how to play any instrument."

"N-n-nothing at a-a-all?" Harp asked.

"Nothing at all!" She confirmed with a laugh. "So every time we have a customer, I like it when they try our instruments and show me their skills. So, Houkyaku-san, would you mind playing for me?"

She shook her head. "N-n-no, not a-a-all." She sat on the chair nearby and adjusted it to a distance she's comfortable when playing the piano. "What song would you like for me to play?"

The saleslady tilted her head to the side, thinking. "Eto… Anything!"

"Anything…?" Harp repeated. Suddenly she remembered the beat she heard while they were in front of the park, slowly a tone formed in her mind. "Um… W-w-will it be a-a-alright if I play an o-o-original song? I just c-c-came up w-w-with it j-j-just now."

"Eh?" She stared at her in disbelief. "That's awesome! Sure, let me hear it!"

The rosette smiled before setting her eyes on the beautiful keys of the well-cared piano. She sighed before positioning her hand.

"A one, a two, a one two three go…"

.

.

Out of nowhere, the saleslady Akari was talking to suddenly disappeared. He wondered if she was a ninja or something. It would be more accurate to say that she was a 'something'. Now that he thought of it, Harp also disappeared. He could only guess, judging from her clumsiness, she must be lost already. He sighed, deciding to look for her when…

A beautiful sound of the piano echoed throughout the small shop. A catchy tone reverberated through his ears; a sudden gush of air blew him away. Akari fell on his knees, clutching on his chest. He turned around and saw bubbles and sparkles everywhere, he was taken aback. He did not know if this was an illusion, but he knew the song was real.

Abruptly it stopped.

Akari woke from his daze. He slowly stood up; he was still inside the music shop. He tried to find the source of the music, only to find Harp sitting on in front of the piano.

"That was you?" He asked in disbelief.

Harp blushed and looked away. The saleslady clapped her hand; she was also awed by her amazing performance.

"That was amazing, Houkyaku-san!" The rosette whispered a 'thank you'. "Are you perhaps a professional?"

Akari blinked. "Could it be… this is what you meant by your 'job'? You're a musician?"

"A composer," She politely corrected.

"And what about the song?" He couldn't help but ask. "Where's the other half?"

The composer removed her hands from the piano, looking down with a depressed look.

"I'm sorry to say," She whispered, barely looking at his face. "But there's no other half."

"You haven't finished it?"

"I'm not planning to."

"But WHY?" He shouted, surprising both the ladies in the shop. "It's a waste if you're just going to throw a good song all for nothing!"

"But Akari-kun," Harp sighed. "What about the apartment? It—"

"—won't disappear." He assured. "While inspiration does. Now come on, finish it!"

"But Akari-kun…"

"No buts!" He declared, taking her hand and forcing it on the piano. "You're going to finish the song and that's final. And if you're still going to protest," He pointed at himself. "I'm going to help you!"

Eyebrows furrowed, hands forming a fist. "But I don't have a music sheet to write the song…"

"Oh no problem!" The saleslady interrupted. "I'll give you some music sheets for free!" She winked. "It's my way of thanking you for letting me hear that splendid performance!"

Harp blinked. "Eh, s-s-saleslady-san—"

"Call me Hamuko!" She smiled.

"H-H-Hamuko-san," The rosette corrected. "W-w-will it be a-a-alright for us to use the piano?"

Hamuko nodded. "Sure! There's barely any customer during this time of the day, so go help yourself!"

Akari and Harp smiled. They looked at each other and nodded.


Author's Notes: Bunkichi, Mitsuko, and Hamuko are not original characters. I burrowed them from the game Persona 3 Portable. The elderly couples are social links while Hamuko (fan-made name because she does not have a default) is the female protagonist. I'm purposely leaving out the descriptions of Akari because just a hint of his hair color can change everything.