Kaho knelt on the carpet and reached for a rectangular box in the bottom row of shelves. She lifted the lid carefully and smiled at a pair of heels with bows at the back. She hadn't worn these shoes in years.
"It's time to make another appearance."
"Ooh," Miyabi said, popping up from behind Kaho's shoulder. "I've never seen that pair before."
"It's because I've been saving them for a special occasion," Kaho replied.
"Meeting your future mother-in-law?" Miyabi asked. "Don't blush so hard, Kaho. I'm sure Tsukimori is thinking the same thing."
"Do you really think so?" Kaho asked, unable to resist.
Miyabi chuckled. "It's likely. You are highschool sweethearts."
"I don't think you can call us that if we weren't together in high school."
"It applies," Miyabi insisted, waving a hand in the air.
Kaho stood up and faced Miyabi, "How are you and Yul?"
Miyabi's lips thinned. "Our relationship is still on hold. He and I have talked about Ha Seul. I've considered meeting her, but...I don't think I'm ready yet."
Kaho looked away. She hadn't been ready when she had met Ha Seul, either. She belatedly realized she could have asked Ha Seul to try and get to know Miyabi. Miyabi tended to flirt, but she wasn't the type to cheat on someone.
"Is your darling boyfriend going to pick you up?" Miyabi teased.
My darling boyfriend...
"Thanks for giving me time off, Miyabi," Kaho said.
Miyabi flipped her hair. "Don't mention it. At least one of us should have a thrilling love life," she said. When Len arrived, Miyabi waved goodbye to them and said, "I've got lines to practice. Maybe I can live vicariously through Ayane and Saiki's romance."
.
.
.
It was as if Kaho had been the one performing on stage –in front of a panel of judges who would determine her fate. Would she go through the next round or not? Would she get a golden buzzer? Golden ticket? Would she get a chair to turn for her, or would a gong signal the end of the line?
Gah. Enough reality tv contests...
I want her to like me.
They were backstage and Len had walked up to Kaho and taken both her hands in his. The theme for his mother's concert was "A Night At The Movies" and Len had played a version of the theme from "Only You" by Rachel Portman. The instant their eyes met, she wanted to wrap her arms around him.
"I love hearing you play," she said, trying not to sound too breathless. She'd always wanted this, to be the first to greet him after a performance.
Hamai Misa walked up to them and stood beside her tall son. She still wore her hair in a pixie cut and was effortlessly elegant in her long, midnight blue gown. Len's mother's eyes lit up when she saw Kaho. She seemed as kind as Kaho remembered.
"Okaasan," Len said, "this is Hino Kahoko."
"Good evening, Mrs. Tsukimori," Kaho said. The voice in her congratulated her for being able to keep words steady. Her nerves were making her throat dry.
To Kaho's surprise, Len's mother claimed to already know her. "I've met her before Len, do you remember? You were also a participant in the Seisou concours. Ryotaro told me about you as well."
Based on Hamai Misa's fond account, Tsuchiura had become a close friend of the family. Hamai Misa smiled at her son. "Ms. Hino and I have a secret concerning you."
Both Len's and Kaho's eyes widened. "What secret is that?"
"Don't you remember?" Hamai Misa asked Kaho, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
It could only be that one time, Kaho thought. She and Hamai Misa had seen Len perform alone on a dark stage during the second selection. It was one of many memories that stood out in her history with Len.
"Shall we keep him in suspense until dinner?" Hamai Misa asked.
"How about until we get in the car?" Len bargained.
Hamai Misa looped her arm around Kaho's. "What do you say, dear?"
"Dinner," Kaho answered.
Len's mother's casual playfulness had surprised Kaho. She glanced at Len who was puzzling over the two of them. Len sighed and let his mother lead them out of the building.
"Dinner then," he complied reluctantly.
Dinner was at the five star hotel where Len's mother stayed. The restaurant his mother had chosen served Korean and Japanese dishes. It was delightful really, Kaho couldn't remember the last time she had sushi as perfect as the pieces on her plate.
They talked about Len's family. His grandparents, his father, and an upcoming family reunion. They talked at length about their friends - Miyabi and Kaji and the movie they were going to headline, Shimizu who had done a first-rate job with his new compositions, and Tsuchiura, who was getting married soon.
Hamai Misa wiped her mouth on her napkin. "You will be attending the wedding won't you?"
Kaho nodded. "Manami wants me to be one of bridesmaids."
"That's perfect, don't you think, Len?"
Based on his expression, Len was just as curious about why his mother thought Kaho being a bridesmaid was perfect. Len said, "Kaho and I have known our friends since high school, okaasan. It's not unexpected. We've become a close knit group."
Hamai Misa patted her son's hand. "I meant that it'd be nice if she caught the bouquet." Then, without missing a beat, she added, "These modern weddings do have some fun games. I recently went to one abroad where the bridesmaids were blindfolded and had to search for safety pins on the lucky groomsman's clothes. It was a race – if you couldn't find a pin, you'd have to participate in another game."
Blindfolded? Kaho imagined blindfolded women in color-coordinated silk dresses giving a guy in a three piece suit a friendzied pat down in the name of finding a thin safety pin.
"I think Tsuchiura and Mori will be a little more traditional," Len commented. He exchanged a glance with Kaho. "I'm sure they won't be adding games like that."
"But it's quite entertaining," Hamai Misa said, grinning at her son. "Perhaps someone should suggest it to them."
"What was the punishment for losing?" Kaho asked.
"Ah well, the bridesmaid who lost and that same groomsman had to play a "mirror game" with the bride and groom."
"Mirror game?" Len echoed.
"Whatever the MC told the bride and groom to do, the groomsman and the bridesmaid had to imitate it. If he told the bride to kiss her groom on the forehead, well, the other couple had to copy them."
"The only purpose of these games is to push unwilling singles to interact." Len concluded correctly.
"Weddings are supposed to bring people together, Len," his mother said. "It would be remiss not to take advantage of the opportunity."
Kaho hid a smile behind her napkin. Her amused eyes studied Len's scowling face. Kaho imagined Tsuchiura kissing Mori on the cheek. And the losing couple, now given the identity of herself and Len, copying them.
"Okaasan, do you plan to tell me the secret you and Kaho shared?" Len said, not forgetting the pair had promised to enlighten him during dinner. "Was this during the concours?"
Hamai Misa smiled and said, "Would you like to tell him the story or shall I?"
Kaho bit her lip. She remembered the last time she'd shared what it had been like to see Len on that dark stage: she was in one of the music rooms in Seisou and her confidant had been Tsuchiura who had asked her, more or less, if she not only liked Len's music but Len as well. Her eyes crept towards Len. It was as if the more she examined her high school years through the lens of someone who was now fully aware of what she felt, the more she thought she had been on a long journey to accepting the strength and permanence of her feelings.
I love you, Len. Those words stood still on her tongue. She wanted to whisper them in his ear while he held her.
She realized she'd been staring at him. "Ah, well...I'm not sure where I should begin..."
Should she start with what he'd made her feel?
Ah.
"It was almost as if I was in a dream," Kaho said. "I felt..."
She'd been drawn to him. Drawn to his world. "There were so many things that went through my mind." Feelings that she couldn't adequately define. "It was like I'd witnessed something important, something that would change me. I felt new, like I didn't have any more excuses or alibis. For an instant, I was sure of what I wanted. I wanted to face music head on...I realized there was so much more that I wanted to give of myself."
Len had been an example for her. He still was. He made her want to give more, be more. She wanted to be fully part of the world he inhabited.
And yes...she wanted him, too. He was part of the dream.
She blushed at her candidness. I guess that goes to show how impressionable I am, she almost said. But no, she would in no way dampen her feelings. Len's expression when she lifted her eyes had shifted from surprise to one of steady concentration. His mind was busy, she could tell.
Hamai Misa smiled at them both.
When dinner was over, Len's mother took her leave in a round of hugs. She looked at both Len and Kaho with pride in her eyes and encouraged them to have a fun night. Having fun, she told them, was the thing to do when you were young.
"It's the hallmark of youth," Hamai Misa said grandly.
After she left, Len and Kaho strolled through the city. Kaho had linked her arm with Len's but eventually he'd slid his hand in hers and entwined their fingers. They'd ended up in sitting on the swings in a nearby children's park.
"I don't think your mother had this in mind when she'd said we should claim our youth," Kaho said.
Len sat on her right. He leaned towards her and brushed his lips over hers. She parted her lips and met his gaze. The look in his half-lidded eyes made her want to draw him closer.
"I wish you'd told me sooner," he said.
"Hm?"
"About that night."
"Oh..."
He cupped her cheek and her face felt instantly warm. "I want to tell you something too," he said.
"Oh..."
She was an inarticulate mess whose vocabulary had melted into nothing. Why did he have to look at her that way? Why couldn't she reduce him to monosyllables? The world was unfair.
"Do you remember the training camp during the concours?" he asked.
Len waited for Kaho to speak. Her response had been a nervous nod.
He had been forced to go to the camp because Kanazawa-sensei threatened not to tell him the theme of the second selection if he didn't participate. They'd stayed at the Fuyumi family villa, which had several sound proof rooms for their use; and he'd spent a total of one night as Tsuchiura's roommate before he and Tsuchiura had gone from civil enmity to an almost full-on throw down. He remembered studying Kaho when she wasn't looking and, unable to resist, he'd asked her if she was "real or not" –if she was or wasn't serious about music.
His encounters with Kaho had always been somewhat...distracting. Something would happen that would take him aback, and the following hours would be spent reliving the memory of what she'd said or done. Or something she'd done that made me react differently than I normally do...
"I thought about you often," he admitted. "I didn't realize that soon enough. Do you remember our duet that night?"
That duet –their first –held a special place in his heart. He wanted to explain to her why.
"My earliest memory of when I was a child was of my parents performing together. When they were both home, they would play duets all the time. My father would play his violin and my mother would accompany him. That night, when you were on the lawn in front of the Fuyumi villa, your violin awakened me from a dream. It was a dream about my parents...I was seven or eight and I was watching them play. Their music had always affected me. To me, their sound had always been heartwarming." He took both her hands, "That dream had been a subconscious reminder that performing with skill wasn't as all-encompassing as I'd made it out to be."
He touched her fingertips, which were as callused as his own. Skill wasn't everything and becoming the best wasn't the only dream that mattered. "I could tell that my parents loved music. They're passionate about it. When I heard your Ave Maria that night I recognized something of them in you. You had what I'd tried to look for in myself. I'd wanted...I wanted what you had."
I wanted what my parents had with each other as well...
He'd told her that while he was abroad he'd started looking for her. Whenever he got off a plane, whenever he was in a new country, he dreamt that would be the place where he'd see her. "It's always been this way, even before I met you, you were someone I'd been waiting to find."
Even before I knew it, you were the person I wanted to meet.
He'd been captivated by her longer than he'd realized. "I was serious when I said you bring out the best version of me that I know. When I perform and I think about you, I feel free. I like that there are things about myself that I've discovered because of you. I can do more. I can be more than what I'd previously imagined."
My music isn't just about skill...
.
.
.
She saw it in his eyes: You are the most important person...
You, Kaho, only you.
Kaho thought her heart had stopped. She didn't know what to say. She knew he loved her; she knew he did.
She was secure in their relationship because she felt his affection each moment they were together. But to hear him say that she'd also influenced him...her heart swelled with emotion; a wave of tenderness swept through her.
He feels the same about me...
It took mere seconds to decide; but in those short seconds, she had worried she'd lose her balance and fall off the swing if she tried to kiss him.
Nevermind. She had to go for it. She wanted to pour out her love, so the only course of action was to press her lips to his.
He helped her up and they stood from the swings with lips still locked. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and he placed his hands on her waist. She then lifted her arms and laced them around his shoulders. His lips were warm and soft, his breath minty and his scent...it made her want to live in his sheets.
Gah...she felt warmth rise from her neck and broke the kiss.
"What's wrong?" Len asked.
Kaho's ears were warm and red. "I just...I think I...I like the way you kiss."
Yes, that's the explanation she used. It didn't make sense to say she enjoyed his kiss when she'd just separated herself from him, but it was the first excuse that came to mind.
She was a more than a little flustered and she couldn't admit she'd imagined burrowing into his warmth and thinking of his sheets...and lying next to him...
"You smell good," she blurted. Yes, stick to facts Kaho. Just go ahead and say whatever observation comes to mind –just don't fantasize.
He smiled and brushed his nose over her hairline. When he lifted his head, his eyes were half-lidded still. "You smell good, too."
Kaho's hands trembled and she clenched them at her side before she could pull him to her and kiss him impulsively again. Did he notice she was trying to restrain herself? When she met his gaze, he looked amused instead of...
Kaho blushed harder. She wanted to hold him and never let go. "I think I should go home."
They promised to arrange their schedules and rehearse their duet for Shimizu's charity effort.
When they arrived at the door of Miyabi's apartment, Len said: "I look forward to the day when we won't have to go to home to separate living spaces."
She blinked rapidly. That sounded...wonderful...ideal...exciting. She wanted to grab him again but refrained. Taking a shy peek at him, she bit her lip, stood on her tip toes and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
You don't know how much I want that.
"Good night, Len," she said.
Tonight, there would only be dreams of their shared future.
.
.
.
The day of Shimizu's Event
The basketball court next to the building was their slated venue. Shimizu, together with his sister Tomomi, who was visiting from Japan, had organized the event together in a few short weeks. It was mostly Shimizu's sister, of course, but Shimizu's supervision wasn't lax. He'd personally reminded all the performers to come on time and be prepared. They'd sold tickets to friends, friends of friends, and the local neighborhood.
Even Kaji had said he would contribute; he couldn't perform due to restrictions inked in his contract, he had asked his bandmates to buy tickets. They, Kaji's bandmates, had gone above and beyond and donated a substantial sum via cheque. Yul was the representative (since Kaji couldn't make it) and had given the cheque personally to Shimizu. The generous donation was met with profuse thanks from both Kaho and Tomomi since Shimizu's perpetually sleepy state wouldn't allow for his gratitude to come out full force.
"I heard Miyabi is going to perform," Yul said to Kaho. They were backstage, watching Tomomi arrange the skirts of an outfit she'd made for one of the other performers. Kaho hadn't seen Miyabi since after the stage had been set-up.
"I know it's none of my business, but have you and Miyabi patched things up?"
"I was hoping you'd give me the inside scoop," Yul said, leaning against the wall behind them. Kaho pursed her lips together and admitted that she didn't know much about Miyabi's thought process. Was Miyabi still making up her mind or had she already decided to move on?
"Is she going to sing?" Yul asked.
"Yes, she is," Kaho said. She'd been surprised when Miyabi had decided to volunteer when one of the other acts had backed out. She'd said she wanted to join in on the fun.
"That's new for her," Yul said. "I know she likes karaoke but she's not used to performing in front of people she doesn't know. I told her that she shouldn't be nervous because she's actually very good but –" Yul cut himself off and shrugged. "I wonder what changed her mind."
"This is for a good cause," Kaho said, attempting to explain. "She probably just needed extra motivation to sing in front of a crowd."
"Are she and Shimizu close?" Yul asked.
Kaho glanced over at Tomomi who was now helping her brother into a bright red coat. "As close as Shimizu is to me," Kaho said, smiling at Yul. He met her gaze and said, "So it's platonic?"
"Definitely," Kaho answered, amused.
They shared small talk after that. Yul had come from a photoshoot for the cover of magazine and had to leave soon for another appointment.
"Will you be watching Miyabi?" Kaho asked.
"I want to," he answered.
She'd got the impression that Miyabi wasn't at all expecting Yul. Kaji, maybe. But not Yul.
"It's not like she'll be looking for you in the audience, you know," Kaho said.
He smirked. "You're right, why would she?"
"She's going to sing after the opening dance number," Kaho informed him encouragingly.
Yul smiled and re-affixed his face mask. He fished a pair of aviator glasses from his jacket and said, "I'm going to go try and blend in with the crowd."
When it was Miyabi's turn to perform, Kaho scanned the audience for Yul. He was sitting near the back in his dark clothes and ballcap. The aviator glasses and facemask obscured his face effectively.
Miyabi greeted the crowd with enthusiasm. She grinned and waved as the the previous performers made their exit. "Weren't they awesome?" she asked the audience. They welcomed Miyabi onto the stage with loud cheers.
"As you know, this concert-for-a-cause is the brainchild of Shimizu Keiichi," Miyabi said. "That's him over there – the cute, sleepy looking one in red. Say 'hi' Shimizu. See what I mean guys, cute, right?" She laughed. "This show wouldn't be possible without him and his sister." Tomomi grinned.
Miyabi waved at Tomomi then gave a short intro about the song she was about to peform; there was a special mention to the couples who were going through a rough patch. "This song is dedicated to you," Miyabi had said.
Kaho glanced back at Yul in the audience. No, she was sure Miyabi wasn't aware her ex was in the crowd. She was about to approach Yul when the music bounced out of the speakers and made her halt. She recognized the song in an instant. She was hearing her violin in the intro.
"It's 'I Want Your Love'," she said, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.
Miyabi sang like she'd done in the recording studio, with complete conviction in her abilities. She was confident. She had stage presence. Kaho's eyes darted back to Yul; she wished she could see his face. She wanted to know what was going through his head.
The lyrics could have mirrored a complaint Miyabi had aired to him months ago:
You weren't like that before
You were busy looking at me
Your eyes were filled with me
Now you don't even smile
Only silence fills the room
Do you even love me?
And now, Yul could also find something to relate to...
I wanna be loved
Like before
When I used to overflow in your eyes
I long for those times
I'm trying to turn away from our break up
Applause greeted Miyabi when she finished. "That song is called 'I Want Love'. It was written by my friend, Hino Kahoko who's an amazing multilingual lyricist and composer. Look out for songs, ok?" She waved again and Kaho half expected the audience to throw long-stemmed roses at Miyabi's feet.
Kaho met Miyabi backstage. "You sang it. You sang 'I Want Love'..."
"Well, I did record it originally. Anyway, I sounded great, right?"
"Yeah, you did." Kaho said. She snuck a peek at Yul but he was no longer in his spot.
She almost wanted to make Miyabi find and talk to her ex.
"I just can't believe it," Kaho said, chewing her lip. "Those people...the audience, they heard my song."
"Your beau suggested I sing one of your songs, by the way."
That caught her attention. Her beau. Len?
Kaho raised her brows, "He told you to sing my song?"
"I was the singer on the demo wasn't I? Shimizu agreed it was a good idea."
"But...why my song?"
Miyabi grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kahoko, the audience liked it. This is what you want, isn't it? For more people to hear your compostions? This is just the first step, you'll see."
Kaho's brows pulled together. What do you mean by first step?
Miyabi brought her in for a hug, "I'm not sure how I should begin, but I just want you to know that I'm sorry I got you into trouble before. I'm sorry I was a handful. I just hope I can make up for it by being a better friend. I'm sorry I was selfish."
"You're not selfish," Kaho said automatically.
Miyabi held Kaho at arm's length. "I know I can be," she said. "You're just too nice and too patient to admit it."
Kaho huffed. "I'm not that nice. If I were then I would have –" she paused.
Maybe she would have let herself believe it was Ok for Miyabi to go after Len. Thankfully, Miyabi hadn't decided to "make it real" and dive into a possible relationship with Len after the incident at the club. Just the thought of Miyabi with Len caused her stomach to twist into painful knots.
"No," Kaho said, "I definitely wouldn't have let you do your worst with Len."
Miyabi laughed. "I would have been gentle," she said. "Oh no, Kaho, don't give me that face. Len is off-limits. Actually, I've decided all your guy friends are off limits."
"Have you ever considered Shimizu?" she asked, remembering Yul and his question from earlier.
Miyabi pouted and made a face that said, 'I-may-have.'
"Geez Miyabi," Kaho sighed.
"I'm kidding," Miyabi said. But her expression turned serious in seconds, "I'm going to work on myself for a while," she said, looking a little pensive. "I guess...be my lonesome for a , maybe that's what I should do."
Kaho wanted to know Yul's opinion on Miyabi's statement. Miyabi gave her a small smile. "Anyway, I think you'd better go find Len," she said.
Kaho ran into Len as he entered backstage. When she asked him about Miyabi's song choice, Len said, "Your songs deserve an audience."
He told her that she needed more exposure and Kaho went back to the moment when the she'd recognized the music. She'd been nervous and her heart had stuttered, but that hadn't stopped her from looking at the faces of the people in the audience. There were quite a few who were instantly taken by the intro. Towards the middle of the song, some audience members looked thoughtful, some grinned, while others wore wistful smiles. There were a variety of reactions. It was bound to be that way, she thought, since she'd written an upbeat song with a sad theme. If the audience had liked her song, then maybe they'd like to hear it again. Download a copy of their own...
"She added her own rap part," Kaho said. "That was new." Kaho wondered if KZ had inspired Miyabi.
"Is rap something Miyabi's interested in?" Len asked.
"I'm not sure. Miyabi's always been a good singer though."
"She could pursue singing if she wants to, I think. She's quite good at it."
Kaho knew there were many actors and actresses who were given albums by virtue of their popularity.
But Miyabi was more than competent.
"I think that album would be deserved," Kaho said.
Len agreed. "You could write songs for her," he said. "That's an option for you too."
"If Azuma allows it...that would be..." she trailed off. A miracle?
"Has Yunoki-senpai ever heard one of your songs?"
"No," Kaho answered quickly. She'd never considered sharing her songs with Yunoki. She'd be too nervous to even attempt it.
"He has a good ear. I think you can also rely on his opinion."
If Miyabi were to get a record deal, it'd be huge. Len was right, a singing career could be an option for Miyabi. It wouldn't replace Miyabi's acting career but it could be another creative outlet.
Could I actually write her songs?
"We're allowed to do more than one thing," Len said. "We can explore all we want."
"Speaking of exploring...what do you think of your journey into Kpop?"
He smiled. "Since it's a journey I'm taking with you, it's almost like a dream."
"Is it?" Not a nightmare, then. Good.
"Yes," Len answered. "I'm going to perform a violin cover of Kpop song aren't I?"
She bumped his shoulder. "A duet to boot."
"My solo is also a Kpop song."
"Daebak!" Kaho shouted. "That's great!"
"You haven't heard me play yet," he said.
Was it premature to praise him? The glint in his eye made Kaho blush.
"All right lovebirds," Miyabi shouted, clapping them both on the shoulders. "It's your turn to face hair and make-up. She saw the soft looks Kaho and Len exchanged and said, "I ought to find my next boyfriend."
Kaho sighed. She's joking right? Didn't she just say...Well, she doesn't have to be single to work on her self...
Miyabi caught Kaho's eye and grinned. "Don't worry, Kaho, if I get used to being a party of one, I might realize that it's not so bad after all. I'm still waiting on what Yul plans to do about my being single, but I'm content not to hurry anymore. Though, I gotta' say, I'm not waiting nine years for –"
Kaho placed a hand over Miyabi's mouth. "That's enough"
Miyabi took Kaho's other hand and joined it with Len's. "I'm happy for you two," she said. "You guys have my blessing, even if you don't need my permission. And no, Len," she gave him an eye-roll, "that isn't the same thing."
.
.
Len had arrived wearing a suit; he hadn't expected to be told he'd have to change but he complied nonetheless and let himself be dressed up in an outfit worthy of Alice in Wonderland. Kaho supressed a laugh as she surveyed his reflection in the mirror.
"I can't believe you agreed to this!" Kaho said.
She was wearing a red dress with a mass of ruffles and rosettes for the skirt. Her sleeves were puffy and left the shoulders bare. The dress's bodice was black. Len said, "Are you supposed to be the Red Queen?"
She giggled."Yeah, and I think you're supposed to be Alice."
The style of his outfit was more reminiscent of the Mad Hatter: he had long coat tails, a frilly shirt and he even had a top hat. However, the colors reminded him of Alice from the animated movie. Blue and white with a checkered black and white bow tie.
"I'm Alice and the Mad Hatter," Len said, tugging on his new bow tie; it was askew and he wanted to fix it. Kaho took a few steps closer and assigned herself the task of righting it for him. She looked into his eyes while performing her task.
"I think you look good whatever you wear," she said.
Len was used to compliments. He was often told he was good-looking and prodigiously talented. Still, hearing Kaho comment on his appearance, and knowing the way she felt about his music, it made his palms tingle and his chest tighten, though not in an uncomfortable way. He wanted to pull her to him.
She was lovely and he wanted to soak up all that loveliness. "You look beautiful today," he said. Then he amended, "You're beautiful everyday."
He wasn't the most charming guy around, but he no longer believed he was the clumsiest. He was straightforward and sincere, that counted for something, right? He was sometimes unsure of himself when it came to her and he almost wanted to ask her if he was doing a good job of making her feel special...
But he had told himself –no, he'd promised himself that she would be secure in his feelings for her. For Kaho, he would push himself to be kinder, more considerate, more...relaxed.
"You look tense," Kaho said.
So much for being relaxed. Len placed his hands on Kaho's shoulders and said, "It must be performance anxiety," he lied. Or maybe he wasn't lying...
He was going to do something that was out of his comfort zone...while dressed as a lunatic.
We're all mad here...
But he had prepared himself for this (not the outfit, but I digress...). He'd wanted to show her that the things that were important to her, mattered to him too.
Kaho laced her fingers behind Len's head and placed a kiss near his jaw. "Does that help?"
"Yes, it does," he answered. The loving look in her eyes made his heart leap. He wanted to be alone with her. After Shimizu's event, they were going on a date. He asked her if there was a specific place she wanted to go.
"In these outfits?"
"Hmmm..."
"I'm kidding," she said. "Relax."
Relax. Right.
Kaho grinned. "On second thought, it might be fun. I think Shimizu's sister wouldn't mind if we borrowed them," she said.
Another voice joined their conversation: "My sister likes to sew," Shimizu said.
Len and Kaho jumped apart. Shimizu turned to Len, "Onesan saw your picture, Senpai. She said she had to design an outfit for you so I promised her that you would wear it."
Shimizu spoke in his usual sleepy cadence, but Len imagined that he'd just been told that he was obligated to wear the Mad Hatter ensemble Shimizu's sister had made. Well, no convincing was necessary. He was going to wear the outfit no matter what his feelings about it.
"How long have you been standing there, Shimizu?" Kaho asked.
Shimizu checked the pocket watch that dangled from his coat. His White Rabbit costume was completed by a pair of bunny ears that flopped in whatever direction Shimizu tipped his head. At Kaho's question, Shimizu cocked his head to the left; the bunny ears pointed in the same direction. "Ah," Shimizu began groggily. "I didn't know what time it was when I came up to you..."
Kaho gave Shimizu an indulgent half smile. "You've been standing there for a while now, haven't you?"
He nodded. "It's your turn to perform, Senpai," Shimizu said.
She and Len would follow after Mori and Tsuchiura who were, to Len's confusion, dressed up in normal clothing. Kaho shook her head and corrected him: the pair were cosplaying a couple from a popular manga.
"Mori peformed Rhapsody in Blue on a Pianika," Kaho said. She looked hopefully at Len whose face was devoid of recognition. "They also did a piano duet," she added.
Len simply blinked. His face remained blank.
"You don't recognize them?" Kaho asked.
Len raised an eyebrow. "Should I know who they are?"
Do you expect me to know?
Kaho caught the fist of one hand in the palm of the other; her eyes widened with the birth of an idea,"We should watch the anime...or the live action version. Ah, maybe the live action version first, it's only twelve episodes."
"Only twelve episodes?"
"You'll enjoy it," Kaho promised, tucking herself next to him.
Their performance, like Mori's and Tsuchiura's, was also well-received. He'd heard a few of the audience members name Kaji's band and a few more who sang along to the songs they'd chosen for the medley they performed.
Len had covered another group for his solo. With Tsuchiura and Mori's help, he had picked a song that was surprising even for him – the piece he'd performed was lively and had some interesting chord changes. He could admit that he had fun, even if he thought he looked ridiculous.
That evening, Kaho and Len started the first episode of the live action music-themed Jdrama she promised to share with Len.
"So, they're both pianists," Len said.
"At the beginning, yes," Kaho answered. She swatted his arm. "Hey, don't make me give spoilers."
They were at his house this time. Kaho snuggled next to him while they ate popcorn on his couch. It was comfortable and yes, it was domestic (like their previous house-bound dates) and, of course, it was nearly perfect. He'd told her last night that he looked forward to going home with her to the same place and he'd meant it. He didn't want to be separated from her. And,he knew, she didn't want to part from him either. It made him happy that he had the freedom to think of their future together.
We want the same things...
After finishing the first two episodes of the series, Len asked Kaho: "If I were a brilliant but eccentric musician would you have tolerated me?"
Kaho tried to suppress a giggle but failed. "What?" Len asked, his brows drawing together.
Kaho shook her head vigorously and tried to swallow another laugh. "Tell me," Len said. He'd leaned further into the couch to get a better look at Kaho.
"It's just," Kaho said, catching her breath, "you are kind of...well...um..." She gave him a half-amused, half-apologetic look and said, "You're not exactly eccentric like Shimizu is...and I was able to take care of him pretty well so..." She placed her hand over his thigh,"I'm not going to 'tolerate' you, Len. I'll let you know if you upset me and if you're making a mess of things and," she paused to give him a mischievous smile, "I'll take care of you. Better than anyone."
He felt that she had, to a certain degree, evaded his question. In the end, however, it didn't matter. He was satisfied with how she'd concluded her response.
"Yes, you will take care of me," he said.
She draped her arms around his neck and he smiled as he leaned forward. He kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose and then lingered over her lips.
"You're so warm," he said, dropping a kiss between her collarbones.
Their knees bumped as Kaho tried to embrace him more closely. "I want to stay here forever," she breathed, cradling his head to her chest.
Caught up as they were in adjusting their limbs, neither of them noticed that they had an audience. Tsuchiura cleared his throat and said, "Yeah, this is awkward."
For the second time that day, Kaho and Len broke apart abruptly.
"I guess you guys forgot that I live here, too," Tsuchiura said. He waved a hand in the air, sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was with a mildly chastising look that he said, "I should have gone to the movies..."
"Uh...And I guess should go back to the apartment," Kaho said, averting her gaze.
Len helped Kaho off the couch. "I'll take you home," he said, threading his fingers through hers. Kaho chewed on her lower lip and threw a sidelong glance at Tsuchiura. Len tried not to look at her too fondly and told himself he probably shouldn't be too pleased to see the blush on her cheeks.
Tsuchiura held up his hand to signal a goodbye. Kaho nodded in response before Len walked her to the door.
"Well, are you going to kick me out?" Tsuchiura prodded when Len had returned. He sat on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. "How was the drive back to her apartment?"
"You didn't have to wait up," Len answered, ignoring Tsuchiura's knowing smile. He dropped his keys in a bowl near the door and joined Tsuchiura in the living room.
"Tell me if I have to move out," Tsuchiura said, determined to have this conversation with Len.
Len sighed. "I'm not kicking you out."
"Maybe you should," Tsuchiura suggested.
"Not yet," Len said.
Tsuchiura smirked. "Hey, if you do evict me, there'll be no hard feelings on my part." He poured Len a drink and said, "To Kaho."
Len clinked glasses with Tsuchiura. "I think you should toast yourself and Mori first."
"I like to pass the good vibes."
Good vibes, huh?
"For the future," Tsuchiura said, lifting his glass again.
"For the future," Len repeated. He thought about Kaho, about the hopes he had for their relationship, and prayed everything would turn out for the best.
.
.
.
Recommended listening:
When EXO's "Love Shot" was released back in 2018, I thought to myself: "Hmmm...I think this chorus would sound awesome on violin...hmmm..." Although piano covers are more common, I was so happy when, lo and behold, someone posted their violin cover on YT. Jenny Yun's cover of EXO's "Love Shot" has gained a lot of views since then and is actually the first result that appears when you search "kpop violin cover" on Youtube.