Warning: This chapter contains an act of suicide. Please proceed with caution.
The sunlight shone through the foliage of wild trees as the sounds of crickets and streaming water resonated beautifully throughout the wonderful scene of nature.
A boy and a girl older than her were crouching beside a river, enjoying the peace and silence as they looked at the fishes swimming in the river. Their silver scales reflected the sunlight towards the both of them.
Hime was wearing a yellow dress with flower patterns on the skirt. She wore a small cute straw hat along with her favorite princess flower hairpin. She was sipping on a lemonade she brought with a straw.
"Hey, they kind of look like airplanes in the sky," Hiko commented.
"Hm… shiny UFOs perhaps?" Hime looked at Hiko with a big smile.
"What about… space dragons?" Hiko also looked at Hime, smiling freely.
The both of them giggled.
It had been ten months since Hiko had opened up to Hime. The more Hiko spent his time with Hime, the more his personality had changed. Hiko was originally very quiet and reserved, but Hime had influenced him to be more like a child. Speaking of Hime, Hiko had noticed that Hime's true personality was less of an elegant lady and more of a child; doing random stupid things and laughing about it.
For example, Hiko noticed that when they took a walk on a rainy day, Hime would jump on every puddle she saw. Or, there was that other time when Hime randomly laid on the grass at the garden and motioned like she was making a snow angel.
Nevertheless, Hiko still loved Hime like a big sister he never had. Rather, he really liked this part of Hime.
Hime and Hiko had sneaked out of the house early in the morning for a picnic in the woods behind the complex and had chosen to set up their picnic next to a river. The picnic cloth wasn't big; it could only fit three people, picnic box included. The cloth, which Hime had knitted herself, had a purple and white checkered pattern. The picnic box contained a carton of lemonade, sandwiches from a convenience store, and chips. Hime couldn't cook for life.
Hime stared at the water and looked at the empty glass she had. More specifically, she was looking at the straw. She took the straw out and put it on the river, then she put her mouth on the other end and made bubbles on the river. Hiko noticed what she was doing, and took out the straw from his empty glass and did the same thing. While Hiko was doing it, he wondered what river water tasted like, and tried to taste the water.
… It wasn't Hiko's brightest idea.
"Blegh!" Hiko suddenly spit out the water from his mouth and nostrils, disgusted by whatever he tasted.
Hime had started laughing at what Hiko just did. Hiko looked at her and joined in her laughter.
…
…
After fooling around a bit, the both of them took a rest on their picnic cloth. Hiko was laying on the picnic cloth, his arms spread out. Hime was next to him, sitting. Her eyes were closed as she enjoyed the sounds of the forest.
"Hey, Hiko. I got something for you."
"Mmm?" Hiko opened his eyes and looked at Hime.
Hime took out a piece of paper and handed it to Hiko. It was a ticket.
"What's this?" Hiko asked.
"I'm having a performance tomorrow. I have one more free ticket from the staff, so I thought I should give it to you."
"I'd really like to, but… I got chores."
"Ah… there's that. Maybe… I should secretly ask your mother to let you go this once," Hime smiled.
"... I don't know…" Hiko looked sad. He wanted to go, but being a branch family member wasn't easy.
"We'll never know, okay? Let's just try first," Hime brushed Hiko's hair. It was one of Hiko's favorite things.
"... Okay" Hiko smiled as he enjoyed Hime's hair brushing.
Hime kept brushing his hair for some time before they closed up shop and went back to the complex.
The house complex was surrounded by quite tall wooden fences. However, it was still possible to jump over if you had something to act as a stool to boost you up.
A head with short spiky hair popped out behind the wooden fence. He looked around, trying to see if the coast was clear. After he had confirmed it, he slowly vaulted over the fence and safely landed on the other side.
"Welcome home, dear."
Hiko jolted as he slowly looked back. It was his mother. Hiko nervously looked away as he showered on his own cold sweat.
"I… I…"
"You were with Hime, right?"
Hiko froze in silence.
Hiko's mother had known Hiko and Hime's sneaking around for quite a while, but decided to leave it be, including not telling him.
"It's okay, I'm not mad at you. In fact, I'm glad you're spending time with her," Hiko's mother said as she smiled as she looked away. Hiko looked too much like his father, and that was unbearable for her.
"O…kay?" Hiko was a bit suspicious, "W… why?"
"Why? Because it's good for our family to bond together. I agree with Hime, this 'branch and main' thing should stop and make changes for the better," Hiko's mother still kept her smile.
"Wait… you heard us, back then?"
"Why yes, dear. I like what she wants to do, however. Besides, Hime is good influence on you. You're now much more cheerful, and I'm happy for that," Hiko's mother still kept her smile.
Hiko stayed silent, looking at her suspiciously. Why did she start talking to me again after all those years? He thought.
"Why now…? After all those years, why are you talking to me now?"
Hiko's mother's eyes widened. She looked at Hiko, then looked away again.
"... You looked like your father. That alone makes it painful to look at you," Hiko's mother's smile had turned sad.
Hiko's eyes widened, "I… see."
Hearing what his mother said, Hiko's anger towards his mother's abandonment partially disappeared. True, he was still angry, but he had decided to let it go, considering his mother's reasoning and the fact she was his mother.
"I… I'm just here to tell you that I support you spending time with Hime. The more you get along with her, the sooner this family can change for the better."
The both of them stayed silent.
Hiko never really knew her mother, but he had glimpses from his childhood that his mother was a warm and happy person. He had shards where he was taken care of and loved.
From this information and her reaction towards him sneaking out with Hime, Hiko decided to trust his mother.
"Uh… Mom."
"Yes, dear?"
"So… Hime invited me to watch her performance, but…"
"Oh? Once or twice should be fine then. Go and enjoy yourself, dear."
Hiko stayed silent, something seemed off from that answer. It was… too lenient in branch family standards.
"But… what about my chores?"
"Ah, someone else could take care of it for a bit, I'll tell them."
Hiko was silent again, weirded out by this treatment. However, she was his mother, and he decided to trust her.
"Okay then… Thanks, Mom!" Hiko ran into the house, passing his mother.
The next day…
Hiko was sitting in a crowded theater in the seat area. He wore a white shirt with a black sleeveless coat over it which his mother had given him. Hiko thought back to his mother's behavior, something seemed off. However, Hiko let it pass because she was his mother.
Hiko waited in anticipation as he looked at the stage. The theater darkened except for the stage lights.
A girl wearing a purple dress walked onto the stage. Her long hair was beautifully styled into an elaborate bun and pinned with one of her favorite princess flower pins. On one hand, she had a black violin. It had a glossy look to it. On the other, was a bow. She walked to the center of the stage and took a bow.
Hiko's eyes gleamed as he skooched to the edge of the seat.
She started playing her piece. It was a violin arrangement of a popular piano piece called A Home For Flowers that was composed by Pedro Silva. A very calm and soothing song resonated throughout the theater. Hiko's eyes gleamed as he watched his beloved 'big sister' play.
After the concert had finished, Hiko and Hime went back home separately. After all, Hiko came in secret, without the main family knowing.
Hiko was waiting at the place he first met Hime; the corridor in front of the right house's pond. He waved his legs impatiently, waiting for a certain someone.
Hiko felt a literal chill behind his neck. Startled, he shriveled up. He heard a giggle from behind him.
"Hello, little prince," Hime smiled as Hiko turned back. She was still wearing the same purple dress, except her hair was now let down. He noticed that her hands were still wet, probably from washing her hands.
"You don't have to startle me like that…" Hiko scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry, but I can't help it," Hime giggled.
She walked to Hiko's side and sat down, "So, do you like my performance?"
"Yes!" Hiko nodded a few times invigoratingly, his eyes shining, "It was really good!"
"I see, I'm glad, then!" Hime smiled.
The both of them went silent for a little bit. The sound of crickets and the sound of water filled the air, creating a very peaceful vibe.
Hiko then looked at Hime, "I want to play."
"Play? Hmm, maybe tomorrow! It's already late and I'm tire-"
"That's not what I meant!"
Hime's eyes widened, as she realized what he meant.
"I… I want to play with you! Like… play music!"
Hime gave him a big smile, "Okay! Well then, what instrument do you want to play?"
"I… whatever you're playing!"
"The violin? Hm… Do we have another violin we can borrow… No… she's still using it… Oh! You could play that !"
Hime grabbed his hand, "Follow me!"
…
Hime led Hiko into her room, sneaking around so nobody (especially Hime's family) wouldn't see them. Hime slowly closed the door behind her and locked it.
"Wait a minute, Hiko."
Hime ran towards a big closet that was on the left side of the room. She opened the closet, revealing her clothes that were neatly arranged, but most of all, a big black cello case below.
Hime took the black cello case and opened it, revealing a white-bodied cello. Hiko's eyes shined when he saw it.
"... Do you want to try it?"
Hiko nodded energetically, as he slowly took the cello out.
It's like a violin… but bigger! He thought to himself.
Hiko thought that the cello is played like the violin, so he struggled to bring the cello up to his neck.
"Oh!" Hime giggled, "That's not how you do it, here…"
Hime grabbed the cello from Hiko and positioned him to a playing position for cello. He was sitting on Hime's desk chair.
"... There you go. Now… you play it like… this!" Hime played an imaginary cello to show Hiko how to play the instrument.
Hiko blinked and looked towards the cello. He moved the bow.
Hymmmmnnnn…
The cello made a mediocre sound that had a heavier tone than a violin. Nevertheless, Hiko fell in love with the instrument. Hiko looked happily at Hime with a big smile that disappeared as he thought of something.
"But… who's going to teach me?"
"That's true… if we get you a teacher… Oh! I could teach you! I'm not the best but… It'll do!" Hime clapped her hands together as she smiled widely towards Hiko.
"You? You can play this well, too?"
"Kind of! I used to learn a little bit of cello before the violin!" Hime smiled. She was gifted in a lot of things, including cello, so she was able to play the cello well in a short time.
"Are… you sure you're good enough to teach me?" Hiko asked innocently.
"How rude!" Hime puffed her cheeks.
In contrast to Hiko's suspicion, Hime was good enough to teach Hiko, being the prodigy she was.
Screech!
"Darn it!" Hiko cried.
It had been two weeks since Hime had started teaching Hiko the cello, but Hiko still can't play it very well.
The place where Hiko usually learns and gets taught on how to play the cello was an empty room in the right-sided house. Hiko would practice in his break times and Hime would come by if she had the time.
"It's alright, Hiko. Enjoy the process, don't mind the mistakes!" Hime smiled.
"But… I want to play with you…" Hiko mumbled the words as he looked away, however, Hime still caught what he was saying.
Hime giggled, "One day, Hiko. You have to be patient. Besides, look how far you've come! Your playing has improved. I can play a simple song with you, though. Do you want to try?"
"L-let's do it!" Hiko's eyes shone.
"Alright, then! Then… maybe this one…" Hime shuffled through her music sheet folder and took out a two paged score, "then… you'll play this…" Hime took an empty paper and started to make a cello accompaniment score for the song at a tremendous rate. Hiko doesn't know anything about music, but he was already amazed at what Hime was doing. Writing arrangements was one of Hime's talents.
"Here you go! This is what you'll be playing!" Hime gave Hiko a score she wrote herself. On the top part of the score was written the title, which was 'See You Tomorrow' by Pedro Silva. It seemed that Hime was a fan of Pedro Silva's works. Hiko had learned a little bit of score reading from Hime, so he knew which strings he had to play.
"Like… this?" Hiko started playing the simple arrangement Hime had made for him. His sound quality had noticeably improved compared to when he first started.
"Yes! Very good!"
She rested her head on her hands as she kept looking at Hiko while he was playing through her score. Her eyes held an adoring look towards Hiko, one that a girl like her would give to a little brother.
"W-what's wrong?" Hiko noticed Hime was staring at him.
"Nothing!" Hime smiled.
Hiko tilted his head, but shrugged at the matter.
"Well then, should we try playing a little bit together?" Hime clasped her hands.
"... Sure," Hiko was insecure, afraid to fail.
"Great! Now…" Hime opened her violin case and took out her violin. After that, Hime dragged a taller table near Hiko and put the original score there.
"So… I start first, and then on this note you play, okay?"
Hiko nodded, and then…
They played.
A nostalgic sound resonated from Hime's violin, giving the sense of coming back home after a fun day with friends. Hiko joined in soon after, following the arrangement Hime had written. They continued playing…
…
Screech!
"S-sorry…"
It had been a while since Hiko and Hime started playing. Hiko had kept on messing his part up due to being nervous and because of his lack of skill with the cello. This resulted in them starting all over again and again. Hiko looked down, feeling bad for Hime having to keep stopping due to his mistakes.
Hime put down her violin and approached Hiko, putting one of her hands to his cheek.
"Hiko, calm down," Hime smiled gently, one of her hands reached for his hair and brushed it, "I get that you're frustrated and nervous. So, just play as if you're having fun, okay? Don't stop if you make a mistake. I won't be mad."
"Okay…"
Hime walked backwards, and got into a playing position in front of Hiko, facing him.
"Hiko."
"Yeah?"
"Don't focus on your mistakes, and just focus on me," Hime smiled.
Hiko returned the smile and nodded. Hime started playing, and then Hiko started playing.
So far, so good…
screech!
Uh oh…
Hiko winced, and stopped playing. However, Hime didn't stop playing. Hiko looked at Hime. She smiled at him, signaling him to keep playing.
It's okay, keep playing! Just focus on me.
That's what she seemed to be saying.
Affirmed by Hime, Hiko joined in Hime's play again. Slowly, the mistakes started to fade away. They were still there, but it wasn't as disruptive. The longer he played, the more he started to enjoy the sounds he and Hime were making. The both of them then played happily, mistakes and all.
…
Hime sounded the last note peacefully, ending the song.
"Well, that was good, don't you think?" Hime rested herself from her playing position.
Hiko's eyes gleamed. He had just finished playing a song with Hime, albeit his arrangement was very simple. He stared at his hand as he curled it into a fist and uncurled it a few times. The feeling of playing a song well with beautiful sounds was a wonderful one.
"But…" Hiko looked at Hime, his eyes no longer had the shine from before, "I messed up here and there…"
Hime walked towards Hiko and crouched a little bit to his level, "Don't worry! You'll get better the more you play. Besides, I don't really mind little mistakes here and there. That's what makes a play authentic and beautiful!"
"But… you played perfectly that time…" He was referring to her performance he watched.
"Well… some people just don't agree with me, I guess. But one day, I hope I'll be able to play freely!"
Hiko looked down, feeling insecure about his play.
"... Well, I've messed up on the stage, too! I'd play the wrong note, I'd play a note too long, or I'd screech the note!" Hime said happily, trying to cheer Hiko up, "What's important is to recover and keep playing!"
Hiko looked at Hime with an amused look, "Really?"
"Really!"
The both of them went silent for a little bit, with Hime starting to puff her cheeks.
"... You don't believe me, do you?"
"I… I do…" Hiko lied as he laughed nervously, looking away from her eyes.
Hime put down her instrument, and pinched both of Hiko's cheeks.
"Ouch!"
"Listen! It's okay to make mistakes! We're human, you know! Mistakes are our trademark!"
"Okay! Okay! I believe you!" Hiko struggled trying to get Hime to stop pinching his cheeks. He held Hime's small and soft hands by the arms, as they locked into each other's eyes for a while. Hiko started to giggle, with Hime following him. The little giggles turned into light-hearted laughter.
"... Let's try that again, okay?"
"Yeah!"
The both of them had big smiles on their faces as they started playing again.
"Play with you in that competition?"
Hiko was brooming the right house's lawn while Hime was writing a new arrangement.
"Yeah! You've improved very well! Besides, I really want to play together with you on stage some day!"
It had been four months since Hiko had played together with Hime for the very first time. Hiko had a gift for playing the cello, so he was improving quite quickly. It was probably his father's blood in him, being a music composer.
"I'd… love too. But… are you sure? That competition is important for you."
The competition Hiko was referring to was a regional competition that was basically a ticket to international fame. Winning said competition would give the winner the opportunity to take on the national competition, and then an international one.
"It is, but you're also important to me, too, and I'd love to play and win with you."
Hiko felt a warm and fuzzy feeling hearing what Hime had said. However, Hiko then had the same reaction as he did four months ago; he was insecure of his playing.
"... I'm… not very good. I still mess things up…"
"No, you play very well! You play with heart, and that's what matters. Who cares about little mistakes? As long as you play well and with the right emotions, you'll be fine!"
"Really…? Thanks, I guess," Hiko smiled.
"Oh! I almost forgot. I have something for you," Hime ruffled through her tote bag filled with sewing supplies. Hime looked at Hiko once again, giving a gesture telling him to come closer, "Come here!"
Hiko wiped his sweat, and walked up to Hime.
"Now, crouch down."
"Like… this?" Hiko crouched to Hime's eye level.
"Yup! Now… Ta-da!" Hime quickly put something on Hiko's head. It was a red hair band, with a small stitch-on of The Little Prince.
Hime took out an ornate handheld mirror and brought it towards Hiko.
"How do you like it?"
"It looks… girly," Hiko blushed as he twiddled with one of his hair strands.
"Does it? I think it looks cute!"
"Hime… I'm a boy… I have to look cool!"
"Pshaw, you're still at the age to look cute! You can think about that later!"
Hiko sighed, "Alright then…"
Hiko looked away, blushing slightly. The truth is, girly or not, he really liked that Hime gave him something.
"Oh, oh. By the way, I want us to play this!" Hime showed the arrangement she was working on. She looked giddy like a child. It was a very adorable sight.
"Huh… it's the same person as the last one we played."
"Yeah! I really love his songs. They're very beautiful and happy!"
"... 'By Your Side', huh?"
The both of them fell silent for a bit.
"... I chose this song because of you."
"Huh?"
"It's a reminder! For the both of us. No matter where you go, no matter where I go, we'll always be at each other's side. Physically, or by heart."
Hiko stayed silent for a while, a small smile had formed. And then…
… he was pulled gently into a hug, his head on her chest.
"H-Hime!?" Hiko was startled, "W-why are you hugging me?"
"No particular reason, little brother. "
Hiko's eyes widened, hearing what she had said made his heart flutter. Hiko hugged Hime back by the waist, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the loving embrace.
"Okay then, big sister. "
Hime smiled gently, and closed her eyes as she stroked Hiko's hair, albeit sweaty.
"... Ugh, you smell."
"Why did you even hug me in the first place then?"
The both of them laughed. They wished this moment stayed forever.
The day of the competition.
After three months of practicing together with Hime, the time had finally come.
Hiko was beyond amazed that Hime was able to get him to play with her, considering his position in the family. However, Hiko felt more pressure than ever due to that. He knew that for him to be allowed to play together with Hime like this was not easy, and yet Hime was able to convince her father to allow him. He didn't want to ruin her performance. After all, this performance was one of the two reasons why the main family had come to America.
Hiko was a nervous wreck backstage. His hands kept trembling, no matter how much he tried to calm down.
I don't want to mess up.
I'm afraid.
I don't want to let Hime down.
Those were the thoughts that swirled in his mind.
Calm down!
Hiko punched himself on his legs, hoping the pain would snap him out from his nervous episode.
"Hiko? Are you okay?"
Hime had just entered the backstage from the dressing room. She wore a beautiful yet simple white dress, with a white variation of a princess flower-based ornament put on the back of her head. Most of her hair was let down. She was very beautiful.
Hiko, on the other hand, was wearing black shirt and long black pants. His hair was neatly combed to the back by Hime beforehand.
"I… I'm okay," Hiko's eyes had spirals in them.
Hime sighed as she softly grabbed both of his hands, "Take a deep breath."
Hiko took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Good, now remember Hiko," Hime smiled, "It's okay to make mistakes, what matters is that you keep moving forward."
"But… What if I can't? And then… your performance will…"
" Our performance, Hiko. It will be fine! Enjoy the music, let it flow!" Hime tried to not continue Hiko's last statement, "Remember, if everything fails… focus on me."
"... Okay," Hiko had started to calm down.
"Alright!"
"Next contestant, get ready!" The person-in-charge called out.
This gave Hiko a wave of nervousness just after he had calmed down.
Hime grabbed his hand and squeezed it, "Everything will be okay," Hime gave him a smile.
Hiko stared at her and then nodded.
They walked out to the stage.
"Hiko and Yukihiro Hime, playing an original arrangement of Pedro Silva's 'By Your Side'!"
Hiko and Hime walked onto the stage. One was obviously confident, having a lot of experience performing, and the other was stiff and nervous.
Hiko sat on the provided seat and positioned himself to play the cello. Beside him was Hime, ready to go.
Hime looked at Hiko and nodded, signaling she's going to play.
Hime let out the first note..
Hime started with a very soft and high pitched of By Your Side's motif, phrasing it expressively. It sounded very peaceful.
After Hime played the entire melody, Hiko started his part as an accompaniment of the main melody. His sound quality had improved and he had learned how to play the cello expressively. He played softly, as if it was like a wind brushing your face softly.
Alright, I can do this, Hiko thought.
The original By Your Side was actually a simple piano composition. However, Hime had arranged it into a more complex Ghibli-esque piece for herself and Hiko. On the other hand, Hime had also arranged their parts to each other's strengths. Even so, it was still a challenging feat for Hiko to learn this piece.
screech.
Oh no. Don't worry, just keep moving forward. Focus on the song, focus on Hime… Hiko thought to himself as he made a small mistake. However… he started making more mistakes, bigger and bigger, which had cumulatively hurt the piece.
Oh no! What should I do!?
Hiko started panicking, when…
Hime strongly sounded the first note of the song's melody. She looked at him with a smile.
Don't worry, focus on me. Enjoy the song!
That was what her glance had seemed to tell him.
Calmed by Hime, Hiko stopped playing briefly and reentered the song. Little by little, he started to immerse himself into the song.
Hiko closed his eyes.
He remembered all the times he had spent with Hime.
The times he had grudgingly played games with Hime.
The time when he had accepted Hime.
The times he had enjoyed spending with Hime, playing and doing really stupid things.
The times they both hugged.
The times they just did nothing, enjoying each other's presence.
He remembered them, and treasured those memories.
He opened his eyes, as he enjoyingly played for himself and Hime.
Their feelings intertwined and flew in the air as it resonated with the audience, their sounds beautifully reverberating throughout the theater, despite the small mistakes Hiko made occasionally.
Finally, the song slowly ended with a fading solo from Hime after a climactic play.
The both of them took a bow, as the theater was filled with applause.
The both of them waited in anticipation.
It was time for the announcement of winners. Since this was a competition for the entry of the regional competition, they would pick three winners to represent their multistate. The catch was that they would announce the winners with placements from the worst to the best like a normal 3-winner contest would.
Hiko nervously waited backstage with Hime.
"Don't worry Hiko, we'll be fine," Hime gave him a smile.
"I screwed up the first part, Hime," Hiko looked away, feeling too guilty to look at her.
"Look, even if we didn't win, I'm still happy we're able to play together," Hime still kept her smile, but something seemed off. Hiko seemed to notice, but thought it was just his imagination.
"... Okay," Hiko smiled, "Well, I truly hope you'll win."
"It's we , Hiko."
"Okay, okay…"
"... and now, we shall announce the winners!" The MC announced after some afterword.
The both of them tensed up in anticipation.
"Coming in third place is…"
"... Hiko and Hime Yukihiro!"
Hiko felt his heart sink a little bit. The Yukihiro family is known to produce first place winning prodigies, so it came as a shock to him. However…
"We got in!" Hime hugged Hiko, she seemed relieved. Even if she did want to play with Hiko, it was true that this competition was also important for her. She also needed to win for the sake of her family. She didn't seem to care about first place, however.
"But… we got third place…"
"Don't worry, we can get better while we compete! Practice, remember? Besides, I'm really happy that we're able to win together!"
Hiko wasn't sure whether to be happy or not, but so that he doesn't dampen Hime's current happiness, he decided to go along with it.
"... Okay," he forced a smile.
When he thought about it, getting 3rd place despite his mistake was a miracle. He should be glad that his mistake didn't get Hime out of the picture. From then on, he vowed to himself that he had to become perfect, just like Hime was.
As the both of them got on stage after being called, there was a set of eyes that weren't too happy about the results.
The sun had risen, painting the world yellow with the beautiful blue colored ambience.
A boy was practicing a score in an empty Japanese-styled room.
… No, he was trying to perfect it.
Hiko already knew how to play the song, it's just that he was never able to play through it perfectly. Everytime he did well on one part, he would mess up on another part. If he focuses on what he messed up on the next run, the part he did well before would get messed up instead. Such was the dilemma.
Strange… Hime should be here, now.
During days where they had no school, Hime would come by to the empty room where they usually practice. However, Hime didn't come by. Curious as to what had happened, Hiko stood up and walked towards the house she lived in.
Hiko walked by the bridge that connects the right-sided house and the Western house. The scenery on his left and right were beautiful; filled with neatly arranged patches of white gravel and grass. On the grass were decorative plants and flowers that were beautifully set up.
He walked towards the Western house's side door when he was blocked by someone.
The dark red yukata , the balding hair… it was the head, Yaguchi Yukihiro.
"E… Excuse me, Mister Yaguchi. I noticed Hime hasn't come to practice with me, yet. Do you know what happened?" Hiko asked nervously, trying to be polite. After all, he still disliked the main family.
"Yes, I do. And she'll not be seeing you again."
"... What?" Hiko was in shock.
"My daughter will proceed throughout the competition without you."
"But… Why!?"
"Why? Why!? Do you even need to ask? Do you know that you have sullied the Yukihiro name!? Yukihiro Hime, third place!? Do you know the shame you have brought to this family!? No, young man. You will not meet my daughter again. Ever."
"But… I can do better! I…!"
"ENOUGH! Normally, the branch family isn't even given a chance. I was merciful enough to allow you to perform because Hime had begged me for it, telling me you were a gifted musician. How disappointed I am to know that you aren't. Now, stay away from Hime, or face the consequences."
Hiko just stood there in shock. He couldn't process what he had just listened to as the head turned his back on him and went back inside the house.
Soon after that, Hiko silently walked back to his home, thinking he would have the peace and quiet to cry and accept what had happened. But that did not happen.
"All you had to do was to play that song perfectly! Look what have you done! We could be having better lives! And you blew that chance! YOU FAILURE!" Hiko's mother angrily berated Hiko as he sat down on his knees silently.
The person Hiko had wanted comfort from, and trusts despite thinking that his mother didn't love him, was scolding him over something that wasn't really her issue.
Then… what was that all about? What she said before, 'this family needs to change for the better'? What… was that? Hiko thought.
Hiko had come to a conclusion.
His mother lied.
Knowing this family's old traditions, she must've wanted him to marry Hime and become the next head. After all, the family was a patriarch in the first place. It didn't matter who was on top, as long as the head was a male and was related to the family by blood or by marriage. If he married Hime, his mother would be at the very top. That was the conclusion he had.
When his mother had started talking to him again, he genuinely thought that his mother did actually love him, which was partially true. However, with nothing left and presented with an opportunity, his mother greeded for a higher status and a better living situation. Now that the opportunity was gone, she blamed Hiko. Her anger overtook her love.
"... Why aren't you saying something? Why aren't you sorry? SAY SOMETHING, YOU FAILURE OF A SON! APOLOGIZE!" Hiko's mother started throwing things at him, to which Hiko had reflexively guarded with his arms as he turtled himself towards a wall.
"I'm… sorry… I'm sorry…" Not thinking straight and wanting all of this to stop, Hiko chanted the two magic words.
His mother kept throwing things and hitting him while insulting him for hours, until she was tired and left him be.
Hiko, alone in the room, curled up on the edge of the room and started crying over everything that had happened that day.
Ah, the monotone hell.
Hiko thought to himself as he was cleaning the floor.
It had been a few days since he last met Hime. Ever since that day, Hiko's days had reversed back into the gray hell he was in.
Chores, chores, chores.
At the very least, it helped him occupy his mind and think less of Hime.
He had less chores to do when he became Hime's personal servant, remembering that all she called him for is to play with her. He didn't mind doing all the chores he had now, but not seeing Hime was borderline unbearable for him.
Hiko had missed Hime dearly.
Hiko kept on mopping the last patch of the floor he had to clean.
… I'm done.
Hiko brought himself up after zooming around with a piece of cloth. He stretched his body as he enjoyed the soreness. Hiko then walked out of the house.
"Oh is that so?" A girl giggled.
"Yeah! And…"
The garden where Hiko used to play with Hime.
Hime was talking to a boy of her age. He was casually yet fancily dressed, giving the impression that he was from a prestigious family. They were sitting on a table with cakes and drinks, shaded from the sunlight by an umbrella.
From afar, a pair of eyes spied on the both of them from the bush walls.
"... She seemed happy. That's good…"
For the past month, Hiko would sometimes check on Hime. He didn't really care about his well-being anymore, and cared more about Hime's happiness. If Hime is happy, then so am I, is what he had thought.
Were there times Hiko tried to call out to Hime? There were. Everytime Hime came back to school, every time he saw her from her window, every chance he got, he tried. However, Hime seemed to ignore him as if he was a ghost. He didn't know why, and assumed…
she was no longer the big sister that cared for him. After that assumption, he no longer tried to reach out to her.
Nevertheless, Hiko never stopped caring about her. He knew that he would be in pain for whatever he was doing, but he would even be more distressed if something happened to her.
"... no. This is…"
Hiko had noticed something about Hime's smile. It seemed… off. It felt like the smile he was given before they performed. No, thinking back about it, Hiko had realized her smiles had been off for a while. Upon this discovery, Hiko was filled with concern. But…
What could he do for Hime? He's nobody to her now.
Surely… someone could help her.
He got out of the bush he was in and walked away, still worried.
A week later…
It was another normal day for Hiko.
He woke up when the sun hadn't risen, and changed his clothes. He started his first chore of the day; preparing breakfast for the entire complex. He and other branch family members were in the kitchen busily preparing their breakfast; curry and rice. It was an unusual breakfast, but a welcome one nonetheless. His task was to cut vegetables and throw them into a big boiling pot of water. This was one of the chores he least hated.
He quietly chopped the vegetables as his mind drifted away.
…
After he finished that chore, the next thing he had to do was to take everyone's laundry to the washing room, and everyone means everyone .
Hiko would take the baskets filled with dirty clothes from the right house, the back house, and the Western house. For the Western house, their clothes were already put together in a basket just outside the house.
Hiko took the fifth basket of dirty clothing; it was the basket outside the Western house. Hiko looked up at Hime's window sadly and walked back to the right-sided house.
…
His next chore was to sweep the lawn surrounding the right-sided house. He silently sweeped the leaves on the lawn, starting at one side of the bridge connecting to the Western house. His mind replayed the day he made his mistakes.
If only I did better.
He was silently sweeping, when he heard a commotion from the Western house. Curious, he walked towards the commotion.
"Someone! I need someone to open Hime's door! She hasn't gone out of her room, and she never wakes up past 8!" It was Hime's mother, "something's wrong!"
"... Isn't there a key to her room, mistress?"
"There was… but… it's not where we put it… either way, I need someone to open her door!"
Worried that something had happened to Hime, Hiko sprinted inside the house, passing by the small crowd and Hime's mother.
"Huh? H-Hey!" Hime's mother was startled, and called out to him.
Hiko didn't bother to listen however, as he ran up the flight of stairs and to the front of Hime's room.
He tried to open the door by the doorknob.
Klek.
She's right… it's locked.
Hiko moved away from the door, and started bashing the door.
"What's all this noise about!?" A heavy voice resounded from downstairs; it was the head.
Hiko didn't even care, and kept forcing Hime's door open.
Thud.
Thud.
THUD!
Hiko had successfully broken open the door and went in.
"Hime!" Hiko called out to her.
It was quiet, with the room being badly lit since the sky was cloudy, not allowing any sunlight to shine through.
He scanned the room, and saw something .
He grew pale the moment he saw it.
No… it wasn't something. It was someone.
Hiko walked up to that someone, his expression was in shock, not wanting to process what was in front of him.
"Hime… HIME!"
Hiko quickly walked towards Hime, who was suspended in the air with her neck wrapped with a jump rope. Hiko quickly searched for Hime's sewing scissors and cut the rope, to which he gently laid Hime down after. He tried to check for a pulse, and quickly backed his hand away from her neck once he had confirmed that there was no pulse. Her body was cold.
His hands trembled, his vision blurred.
"No… No… I… Hime…"
Hiko slowly hugged her lifeless body, as he started sobbing.
"No… this can't be happening…"
His sobs grew louder and louder, as he tightly hugged Hime's lifeless husk.
The day after Hime hanged herself.
A funeral for her was being held today, with only the head family and other big families close to the Yukihiro family attending. Due to that, the Western house where the head family lived in was empty.
Well, it wasn't fully empty.
A boy was sitting down alone in the room of the deceased one, his back turned towards the door.
His eyes were hollow, as his nose and cheeks were red and his eyebags were apparent, telling that he had cried all night long. His heart still hurt, but he no longer had the tears to cry.
Hiko never felt more lost in life than now. He had lost the most important person in his life. His life's biggest happiness came only from one person and that was Hime. His life that was his had centered around Hime and her happiness. But now…
… she was gone.
Hiko took out something from his pocket. It was the red hair band with The Little Prince stitched onto it. It was one of his most treasured things as Hime gave it to him. When he was no longer seeing Hime, this very hair band had caused him to feel sad and miss the times he had spent with her. It was still important to him, however, so he kept it around. Now, it was too painful to look at the hair band, as he was reminded of the fact that its maker was no longer in this world.
Hiko winced, and threw the hair band as far and as hardly as he could to his left.
The hair band flew at incredible speeds, hitting the top part of a black violin case that rested on the closet door. The hair band and its force moved the violin case a little bit, causing it to slowly fall to the ground.
Thud!
Hiko was startled, and hurriedly walked towards the violin case, standing it up again.
"Sorry… I'm sorry…" Hiko apologized to the owner of this violin.
"... Huh?" Hiko noticed something that was sticking out from the violin case.
Hiko slowly took it out. It was a piece of messily folded paper.
He opened it and was greeted with a wall of text, neatly written at first but the more he looked lower, the writing got messier and messier, a few spots blurred by specks of water that had already dried.
It was apparently a letter, and Hiko was surprised on who the letter was for.
Hiko started reading the letter.
Dear Hiko,
If you're reading this, well, if by any chance you found this letter, then I'm probably already dead.
It's ironic to you, isn't it? I was born in a better situation than you and 'had everything', but I'm choosing to end my life. But… like I said before Hiko… the truth is, I don't have everything. I was missing the most important thing in life.
I was missing something called love.
My father never saw me as a beloved daughter; I was just an exhibit so the Yukihiro family stands strong. My mother did love me, but she was too busy keeping up appearances over trying to understand and giving time for me. My siblings… saw me as an obstacle. They thought that Father loved me, and tried to compete against me. They never listened to me, thinking that if they became the star of the family, Father would love them.
What about my friends? The truth is, being someone very famous has its vices. What they wanted wasn't a bond of friendship with me; it was my fame and background. The bond I had with my friends was never real. It felt… empty.
Losing hope in finding love within my own family and friends… I looked at the whole family.
However, everyone in the branch family I talked to would always wear a mask in front of me, saying sweet words to me and avoiding me as much as possible.
And then, I met you, a little boy who was honest about his feelings.
It was true that you hated me, but I accepted that, and tried to reconcile with you, to reach out to you. At times, I felt hopeless. I felt like I just wanted to end everything. I felt like I couldn't go on anymore. But then… you opened up to me. I was very happy you did.
That's right Hiko, the real reason why I wanted to befriend you wasn't because I wanted to amend family bonds, although that was what I was trying to do, too.
The real reason was that I wanted to find someone that would love me as I would love them. I was driven by my own selfish reason. And I… I'm sorry if you didn't like that.
But, I was genuinely happy every time I was with you. I loved every moment when I was with you. Only with you I smiled for real, unlike every other time.
And when you wanted to play music with me, I was happier beyond belief. I was overjoyed. And when the competition was coming up, I didn't want to play alone; I wanted to play with you. I want us to go together. Although it was true I am worried that we wouldn't win, considering I have to win. But, even if we did lose, I would still be happy that we played together. Either way, I'll have another chance next year to go at it with you again.
That was where I was wrong.
I thought my father would see the talent and hardwork within you, but I was wrong; my father never saw your shine as a musician as I did. I thought that considering the fact that you were a newcomer, my father would be lenient with a 3rd place. I have never been more wrong in my life.
And so, I wasn't allowed to see you anymore.
At first, I thought I would be able to meet you secretly, until he threatened me that if I did that, or even interact with you the slightest bit, he would ruin you for life. I didn't want that. I didn't want to risk your happiness for the sake of mine.
I asked him to promise me that I would be able to meet you again, and he did. He said he would let me meet you again after I win first place in the competition. And so, I worked hard.
While I worked hard, I was somehow introduced to suitors that came from big families. I never understood it, maybe it was for my future? Either way, I never found love from them; they were only out for the position I bring, becoming the head of this family or… my body. Still, I was willing to bear with it if I could meet you again one day.
And then… I overheard the truth.
He was never going to let me meet you. The promise was just so that I would work hard to gain the prestige of 1st place for the family and… himself. He planned that once the competition was over, the family would return to our homeland and never return here.
I was heartbroken. I lost hope.
I couldn't live this life any longer. I just can't.
… I'm sorry, Hiko, but… your big sister isn't strong enough.
I wish I could see you again. I wish I could hold you tight and never let go. I wished that… before I go, I could see your face again.
The letters were blurred, with signs of dried tears.
Goodbye, my little brother and little prince. I wish for you to live happily.
I love you, with all my heart.
… I'm sorry.
Hime
Hiko's eyes blurred the more he read the letter.
"No… this is my fault…"
His hand trembled, as he hugged the letter.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm… sorry… I should've been there for you…"
He started to sob harder, even though he thought he had emptied his tear glands.
I killed her.
"Hime… I'm sorry…"
Through my ignorance and imperfection, I killed her.
"If only I played perfectly… If only I tried to meet her again…"
I loved her, and I killed her.
Hiko cried, and cried, and cried…
… alone, with no one by his side.