Chapter 5.
"Kousei… Kaori?! What are you doing!?" exclaimed Watari.
"We can explain-"
"Explain what?! Huh…? Kaori you cheated on me? Couldn't you have officially broken up with me first?" he asked. He was filled with sadness and rage, though he knew this was inevitable. Thank goodness he had talked to Tsubaki earlier that day. Kousei slid off the bed.
"I'm sorry. We were going to tell you–"
"No Kousei, it's my fault. I should've broken up with Watari. Watari, I'm truly sorry. What I did was wrong, and I don't expect to be forgiven." Kaori bowed her head low. Watari's facial expression softened.
"I figured it'd happen sometime. You two are predestined by fate to be with one another. Don't think I didn't realize how you two look at one another. I just didn't think it would be this soon", explained Watari. Not knowing what to say, Kousei just looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry Watari. I'm sorry that this didn't work out. What you said is true. I like Kousei, and I've liked him for a long time. I just didn't know when to break it up, as to not hurt your feelings, but that didn't work. If you need some time, I understand", apologized Kaori. Watari looked hurt more than anything. For once, he actually was committed to a girl for the most part. However, that girl had eyes for his best friend. An eerie silence consumed the atmosphere.
"I should go…" mumbled Kousei.
"Me too." The two boys trudged out of the room together and down the steps. Outside, it was Watari who broke the awkward silence.
"Look Kousei… I knew it was going to happen, it was only a matter of time. You look at her like she's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Your eyes light up every time you hear her voice and see her. To be honest, I treated her like every other girl I've dated. I wish I was more sincere. Kaori is an amazing person, and I should've treated her differently. Later, I realized that my feelings for her were a lot more than surface level. The way she lit up the room with her presence, her strength to help others even if she herself was not doing well astonished me. If only I had seen that beauty earlier", lamented Watari. It was getting colder. The wind howled, and the branches blew. Kousei only looked down, again contemplating what Watari had just said.
"It was last spring, when I first laid eyes on her. She was wearing this pink blouse that matched the color of the cherry blossoms dancing around her as she played the mandola. She glowed and shined brighter than the sun. Suddenly my dark world was illuminated and I saw color. Then, I found out that you were her date. I would only ever be friend A. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry, but I won't let Kaori go. She's my song. Even if she goes to another guy, my heart will only be for her to break anyways. So if she wanted, she could shatter it into a million pieces, and she'd still be my world. I want her to know that", Kousei processed.
"You deserve her more than I do. You treat her like a queen, like no other girl matters. She deserved a guy like you. Tsubaki and I have gone through the same thing I guess. I still wanna be friends. I know things will never be the way they used to be, but all we can do is keep moving forward", replied Watari. "But seriously man! Sleeping together?! What were you thinking?" He had to chuckle.
"I didn't do anything! But yeah, I'd like to stay friends. I still feel bad though." After another few minutes the boys went their separate ways. Snow fell harder, and the wind raced. Kousei shivered as he entered his house. It was empty, as always. No one was ever home to welcome him. Kousei took off his shoes by the doorway to go make dinner. Stew was on the menu this evening. It was perfect for a cold day such as this one. Laughter could be heard from outside the house. Kousei looked out the window to see who it was. Tsubaki and her mother were in the kitchen cooking together. It was a picture of what a family looked like. Kousei felt a pang of sadness. It was a long time since he had a moment like that. Tsubaki had always been like a sister, but it wouldn't be the same as having a parent or a real sibling home. Dinner helped distract his mind off of his melancholy thoughts. After cleaning up, he decided to go practice the piano. He played, thinking of his mother. Of the family he would start when he got older… His life with Kaori. The thought comforted him. It was long past dark when he finally went to sleep. The next few weeks were slow and monotonous. Kaori could finally walk, Tsubaki started to return to her normal self, and there was a change in Watari. He somehow seemed more mature. Though Tsubaki gave Kousei crap when she heard what happened with him and Kaori. Days passed like the notes on the score. Kaori had been practicing too. She was a strong soul. Whenever Kousei felt lonely, he'd pay a visit to the piano. The scent of the sheets of music reminded him of his mother and all the times he and Kaori had practiced together. Kaori was going to be released from the hospital in a week. Her parents were absolutely elated. On that day, Kaori marched into school, happily as ever. Everyone was surprised and happy for her. Her therapy went faster than expected. Meanwhile, Kousei was in the music room practicing the piano. Kaori didn't bother to knock as she entered. He jolted up in surprise.
"Kaori? You're walking! This is great!" he exclaimed.
"Calm down, I've not seen you this excited. Yes, I'm walking. Yes, we will be playing in the next contest together. Class will start soon, we'd better get a move on." Other than that, the day was pretty uneventful. Kaori's parents invited Kousei to their home for supper. As they were walking to her home from school, the sun was setting. The clouds finally started to break up after a week of snow. Piles of it still lay on the grass. There had even been frozen rain. It engulfed all the branches, leaves, and fullage in a sparkling layer of ice. The sunset, along with the glittering snow and ice created a beautiful scene. However, the most beautiful in Kousei's eyes was Kaori. She outshined it all. Soon, they reached her house. The bell rang as they entered, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air.
"Hello Arima! We are happy to have you here for dinner. Kaori, help me with supper. You can take him into the living room where your father is", grinned her mother. Atlast, Kousei was left at the mercy of Kaori's father. The living room was colorful, and Mr. Miyazono was reading a book.
"Arima, good to see you. I wanted to talk to you about something." Kousei gulped. "Kaori started asking me about how I'd feel about her dating… Do you know what this is about? Afterall, you seem to visit her often", he questioned.
"Well… Did you ask her?"
"Yes, she told me to ask you about it. I can only assume that you have something to do with her questioning." Dang it Kaori! Come on…
"Kaori and I sorta like each other… as in more than friends…"
"Oh, I see. You're the boy that she wants to go out with. You're the person that is going to take my baby away from me?!" He declared sternly. Kousei was a little scared. Luickly, Mrs. Miyazono called them to the dinner table.
"Did you guys have a good chat?" chimed Mrs. Miyazono.
"Yeah…" Kaori passed the rice around the table. Kousei shot her a look pleading for help. Chicken and broccoli were also passed around.
"You went too hard on him didn't you, Dad", inferred Kaori. Her father only smiled.
"Be nice to the boy. He's a good person. Just look how happy he's made Kao", replied her mother. "Arima, you are allowed to date Kao."
"But if you hurt her in any way, you're done!" he said as he cracked his knuckles.
"Stop it, Dad! You're scaring him." She wasn't wrong there. Trying to change the subject, Mrs. Miyazono chimed in.
"I heard you two are playing at a contest? Important people will be there, some from universities?"
"Yeah, we are going to play", he stated. Dinner went on without any more hiccups. There were some awkward pauses, though. Her parents decided to clean up dinner, while her mother insisted that Kaori and I went on a walk. Her mother is a hero. It was dark exiting the shop, though the bakery lights were still on.
"There's a park close by, let's hang out there", she suggested. We eventually arrived on some swings. It was a clear night. The clouds had fleeted, and you could clearly see the stars. Kousei walked over to the bridge in the garden. The coy fish swam around gracefully in the reflection of the moonlit night. He turned to face Kaori.
"Hey" he greeted softly.
"Hey, yourself", she grinned.
"It's implied, but I thought I'd ask you formally or verbally. I don't know, it just makes it more real, if we are going to be official", he stammered.
"Well, let's hear it."
"Karoi, I know that you've heard me say it before multiple times. But you brought life back to me. You never gave up on me. Thank you. But that's not what I wanted to say… Kaori, will you allow me to stand by your side. Will you give me a chance to make you the happiest girl in the world? Can you be mine till the end of time? It would be our symphony. You could be the day, and I'll be your night. We can make memories and tell our story through the pieces we play. Will you be my girlfriend? I have full intention of taking you as my wife another day" ,he confessed. Kaori just stood there stunned, a warm smile spread across her face. The moonlight made her hair shimmer in a fantastic way. The wind stopped blowing for a second.
"Kousei, you've already made me the happiest girl in the world. I'm already yours for the end of time. I would love to continue my journey holding your hand. I'm glad you want to keep me around for so long. Forever is a long time, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Marry you? In the future, yes. I would love to be your girlfriend. Your one and only", responded Kaori. Then, the wind blew and time continued to pass. Kousei let out a breath in relief. The two migrated to a park bench in the garden. Then Kaori began to sing:
Twinkle Twinkle little star
How I wonder where you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder where you are
It was just like the old days. This was a much needed moment of peaceful bliss, enjoying each other's company.
"You know, you didn't need to say you wanted to marry me yet…" Kousei's face immediately flushed.
"I just wanted to make my intentions clear", he panicked.
"Calm down, Friend A! I was joking" she giggled.
"Kaori, you're beautiful."
"Wow, that came out of nowhere!" she blushed.
"But you are. I'll keep telling you that for the rest of eternity", he chuckled. "Let's go back inside, it's cold. I have to go back home anyways. It's another school day tomorrow." Just like that, the day was done.
Author's note: Hi guys! I need ideas for the plot. I would like some feedback on what you think. Merry Christmas. I'll see you next week!