Kosei Arima walked around the park slowly as he looked around, he knew Tsubaki would be pissed if she found out that he had decided to skip out on school today. To be honest he didn't know exactly why he felt the urge to leave the school, he guessed he just needed to get out and get some fresh air. Though he knew for a fact that if he had to pass by the piano room in his school again today that he would most likely lose his mind. Kosei didn't know why but ever since the day that he just snapped during the recital after his mother's death he didn't really know if he would ever be able even sit at a piano ever again with having another panic attack. While he was lost in thought he had walked into a playground area in the park where a melodica's music brought him back to the present as he found himself looking at a blonde-haired girl wearing a pink dress with what seemed to be another white long sleeve dress underneath. At the moment she seemed to be playing the melodica for the three kids that were watching her at the moment, though after a while the kids complained about the pigeons not showing up.

"Maybe they will show up if we all play together." The girl told the kids.

All the kids cheered in agreement before all three of them climbed up onto the jungle gym with the girl. As they all played the melody on their own instruments as Kosei just watched quietly in awe of how gracefully the girl was playing and just by how freely she seemed to move with the music. Kosei honestly never knew that sort of feeling with music thanks to how his mom used to ride his back about practicing every day whenever he wasn't at school or with his friends if he was able to sneak away with them, even though in the end he would end up getting in trouble. As the kids and the girl got finished with the melody the kids pointed in excitement as a few pigeons flew down and landed nearby. Kosei was surprised when he saw the girl crying slightly as he looked at her worriedly. As the girl looked over and saw Kosei she blushed slightly and he looked away slightly, feeling as if he had seen something he shouldn't have. As he rubbed the back his neck slightly, jumping slightly when he heard her clear her throat in front of her.

"Are you Kosei Arima?" The girl asked him.

Kosei felt his heart stop for a moment at the girl knowing who he was, he remember the chat he had with his friend Tsubaki yester day how when someone found the person they truly felt affection for their world seemed to be brighter and as he looked at the girl in front of his whole world seemed to do exactly that as her hair seemed to glow like golden silk and her pale eyes sparkled like none he had seen before.

"Yeah, you know who I am?" Kosei asked her slightly confused.

"Of course I do silly, you are Tsubaki and Watari's friend right?" The girl asked him.

"Oh yeah I am." Kosei replied a little downtrodden from how she may know him.

Suddenly the girl punched his arm as she giggled cutely.

"Oh come on now, I was only joking." The girl told him. "You may think that you are invisible Kosei, but for the people who know who they are looking at you can never stop shining."

Kosei was once again surprised by how kind the girl was being to him even though they had just met, though he still felt some sort of magnetic attraction to her as he smiled softly. Though yet again he was brought back down to earth as he heard a familiar voice from behind him and he looked behind him to se Tsubaki glaring at him slightly.

"Kosei, is this were you snuck off to instead of coming to school today?" Tsubaki asked him as she walked over before smiling softly to the other girl. "Oh hey there Kaori, I see you two have already met."

Kaori smiled softly as she glanced at Kosei for a moment before raising an eyebrow at Tsubaki.

"Wheres Watari, Tsubaki?" Kaori asked her.

Tsubaki put her hands up slightly before rubbed her face slightly.

"I swore he said that he would meet us here." Tsubaki replied. "I am sure he is on his way here."

Kaori looked down at her phone before she sighed softly.

"Uh, Tsubaki I kind of lost track time but when he does get here why don't you two come to Towa Hall?" Kaori asked her. "I'm in the violin competition and I want all of you to come watch."

Tsubaki nodded before she looked at Kosei who seemed slightly less than enthused at the idea of going anywhere near the music hall, but before either of them could say anything Tsubaki watched as Kaori grabbed Kosei's hand. She continued to watch as Kaori dragged Kosei towards the music hall as the teen did his best to keep up with her and as they ran Kaori grabbed her leggings and shoes from the tree they had been in.

Once Kaori and Kosei got to the music hall Kaori looked back at Kosei to see that he was a ghostly pale color as if all the life had drained out of him.

"Kosei are you alright?" Kaori asked him, worried now.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine…I just haven't been here in a long time…" Kosei replied quietly.

Kaori looked down at her feet, feeling bad about dragging him back here as she remembered the news about when he was younger.

"Look, I'm sorry…" Kaori told him. "I just got caught up in everything and I forgot to think about how you might feel being here again."

This time Kaori felt him squeeze her shoulder as he did his best to smile for her.

"No need to feel bad Kaori…" Kosei told her as he focused on her. "If it means that you have someone in the audience who is there for you…I can handle it."

Kaori teared up slightly as she looked at Kosei, hugging him tightly before the two of them went into the music and even though she did her best to hide it Kosei could feel her hand trembling slightly in his own though he couldn't really figure out why.

"Don't worry about the competition Kaori, I am sure you will do great…" Kosei told her.

"Thank you Kosei…I just hope Tsubaki and Watari get here to see it." Kaori replied as she smiled softly back at him.

Kaori hugged Kosei again before she left to get ready for the competition and he went to find a few seats for himself, Tsubaki, and Watari. Though as the preliminaries started Kosei was shocked to only see Tsubaki making her way over to where he was seated.

"Where's Watari?" Kosei asked her, slightly annoyed that he hadn't shown up yet.

"I don't know, maybe he got caught up at soccer practice at school but he hasn't messaged me." Tsubaki replied. "What about you?"

Kosei checked his phone and shook his head as he sighed softly, looking at towards the stage at the violinist currently performing with their accompanying pianist.

"I thought competitions where supposed to done solo, whats up with the pianist?" Tsubaki asked him.

"Certain competitions allow for an accompanying pianist of the violinist's choice." Kosei replied as he continued to the watch the performances.

"How did Kaori seem before she went to get ready?" Tsuaki asked him.

"She had the usual preperformance jitters and was hoping that the both of you would be able to get here, though I am sure she will be happy to see that you made it in time." Kosei replied as he glanced at her.

"Also is it normal for everyone to play the same piece of music." Tsubaki asked him.

"Yeah, these competitions are based a lot on accuracy and how well the person can play it." Kosei replied.

Tsubaki nodded as she started to watch the performances as well as one by one it a was soon Kaori turn to perform. Tsubaki sighed softly as she watched Kosei seemingly become even more interested in the competition as Kaori walked onto the stage with her current accompanying pianist. Though she saw his eye widen in surprise as Kaori started to play.

"Is everything alright Kosei?" Tsubaki asked him.

"Yeah…Kaori is playing the same piece of music but its like she taking it and making it her own…" Kosei replied.

"Is that bad?" Tsubaki asked.

"I mean she is playing it amazingly, but it won't help her earn points with some of the judges." Kosei replied as he gestures towards a judge who seemed to be completely irate at her playing. "Though it seems that from how entranced she has the audience that she has a good chance of winning Audience's Favorite…then again her pianist seems to be having issues keeping up with her."

"Audience's Favorite?" Tsubaki asked him

"It's given to the performer who the audience likes the best, so basically she would be able to still go onto the next round even if the judges didn't particularly like them." Kosei replied.

Tsubaki smiled softly as she went back to watching Kaori until she was finished though when she looked at Kosei.

"What's wrong Kosei…?" Tsubaki asked him.

"Something seems off with Kaori…she seems sad." Kosei replied.

Tsubaki looked off to the stage where Kaori was standing and she nodded, looking at Kaori's changed body language. As she started to go off the stage Kosei got up and Tsubaki followed him, but as they got to the area leading to the backstage area they were stopped.

"No one other than the contestants are allowed past this point." The bouncer told them.

"We understand that sir, but we need to check on our friend that just performed." Kosei told him.

The bouncer looked at Kosei before he nodded slightly.

"You are Kosei Arima, correct?" The bouncer asked him.

"Yes I am." Kosei replied.

The bouncer thought about for a moment but before he needed to let them past Kaori came out of the back area, hugging the two of them as she smiled softly.

"How are you feeling Kaori?" Tsubaki asked her.

"I'm fine." Kaori replied as she stepped back. "Just a little shaken up from the nerves."

Kosei and Tsubaki nodded even though Kosei had a hard time believing her after what he had experienced with his own mother, though he wasn't going to call her out about it if she wasn't feeling like talking about it if there was really something bigger going on. The three of them just walked over to a bench, sitting down together as a couple of young girls ran up to Kaori before offering her a small bouqitue of assorted flowers before Kaori happily accepted them. As the two girls ran off Kaori smelled the flower and Kosei and Tsubaki smiled at her. After that the last few performances went on the scores were posted and after most people had checked their scores Kaori, Kosei, and Tsubaki went up to check her place.

"I was able to get by as the Audience's Favorite." Kaori replied as she smiled softly.

"Those judges don't know what they are doing!" Tsubaki huffed slightly. "You were amazing."

"Well, the judges do look for adherence to the music's original play style." Kosei told her.

"It doesn't matter, I had fun while I was up there it looks like I was able to make an impression on the audience." Kaori replied happily.

Tsubaki and Kosei both nodded before the three friends made their way out of the music hall.

"It stinks that Watari couldn't make it." Kaori sighed as they walked towards their houses.

"Oh don't worry, I will be sure to have a word with him about this." Tsubaki told her as she tightened a fist.

"Its not a big deal Tsubaki, it really isn't." Kaori replied as she looked at the two of them. "I'm more than glad that you two were able to make it."

"I mean you were the one wanting to meet him Kaori and he just stood you up!" Tsubaki told her.

Kosei sighed softly as he felt a little pain thinking that Kaori was interested in his best friend, though she only shrugged at Tsubaki's statement.

"Well, my house is down this way." Kaori told them as she gestured down one of the roads opposite of Tsubaki's and Kosei's houses. "I guess I will see the two of you at school tomorrow?"

Kosei and Tsubaki both nodded before Kosei stepped forward.

"Uh, Kaori…do you mind if I walk you home?" Kosei asked her. "I want to make sure you get home safe."

Kaori smiled softly as she nodded. "I don't see why not Kosei."

Tsubaki sighed softly and did her best to smile as she waved to her two friends as they walked off. She could see that Kosei was interested in Kaori but she couldn't exactly tell why it hurt her so much to see it, she was happy for him that he seemed happy but it still hurt.

As Kosei and Kaori walked she gently grabbed his arm as she looked up at blooming night sky.

"I wish there weren't so many lights on at night, I like being able to see the stars at night." Kaori whispered.

Kosei nodded as he gently wrapped his arm around hers as he looked at her.

"You really did amazing today Kaori…" Kosei told her.

"Thank you Kosei, though I am sure you are wondering why I wasn't too worried about the judges?" Kaori asked him as she stopped and looked at him.

Kosei only nodded as he looked back at her, feeling his breath catch slightly as he looked at the beautiful girl in front of him.

"Well, its pretty simple to me." Kaori replied as she smiled softly. "Why play music if you can't enjoy it while you play, and why play for a few select people when there is a whole audience there watching you? Besides, my goal is to live in the heart of those who listen to me play, whether I win or lose if even one person remembers my performance then I have succeeded."

Kosei nodded as he looked at Kaori smile, eventually she turned and started running towards her house dragging him along behind her. Once they were at her house Kosei doubled over slightly to catch his breath before he glanced up at Kaori.

"Warn me next time you are going to do that…" Kosei told her as he regained his composure.

"Oh live a little Kosei." Kaori replied as she patted his should gently.

As Kosei stood back up he looked at Kaori smile and decided that his question about what was really going on could wait. He didn't want to ruin the moment as he smiled back at her, he was surprised as Kaori hugged him tightly though he quickly hugged her back.

"Thank you for walking me home Kosei…" Kaori told him.

Kosei only nodded as Kaori's mom opened the door, smiling at the both of them. Before Kosei could do anything Kaori kissed his cheek quickly and ran inside, giggling softly to herself as he was left there with a smile on his face. After a while he went back to his house to fix something for dinner before he went to bed.