Chapter 6: The future lies within us

Spring has arrived, it was time for us to start our new high school life, the Sakura trees has started to blossom after the winter wind ended, birds were chirping happily and the wind blew calmly and gently. Kaori was waiting outside my house to leave for school together, while Watari was waiting for Tsubaki, every day we all would walk together to school since they were opposite of each other, we would go our own separate ways with me and Kaori to Othsu Music High school , Tsubaki and Watari to Kaijin Highschool a well-known sports academy.

By luck, me and Kaori are in the same class 1-A and our seats were beside each other, we could hear other people whispering about us, the bell rang and the teacher entered the classroom and to my surprise, it was Hiroko-san. "Hiroko-san?! What are you doing here?" I asked, She threw a chalk in my face and reprimanded me "It's Hiroko-sensei!" She took a big sigh and carried on with her introduction, I turned to look at Kaori and saw the expression of disbelief who turned to look at me as well and we stared at the unexpected teacher of ours.

"Anyways, as Kousei has mentioned, I am your homeroom teacher, Seto Hiroko, I am a renowned pianist representing Japan, I recently just earned my Teaching license so I am very new to this, I hope that we will have a good year together."

The room became silent and after a few moments, the class screamed in excitement and happiness.
"WOAH, IT IS SETO HIROKO IN THE FLESH!"
"I AM YOUR FAN!"
"WHY ARE YOU TEACHING US SETO-SAN ?"

"OMG!"

"Silence!" , everyone became quiet instantly when Hiroko-san scolded them, she began to take attendance before heading to the hall for the open ceremony.

"Fujino Kanade."
"Here!"

We turned to look at the person and were shocked, Fujino-san was with us in this class and beside her was Takemaru, today was just full of surprises, Our homeroom teacher was Hiroko-san and Kaori's rival was with us. The door then opened and two students entered the classroom, It was Takeshi and Emi, why was everyone we know in this class? I wondered as Takeshi noticed me and called out to me "ARIMA?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?" I responded in kind and wonder "I applied for this school what about you?" "What!?". Hiroko-san reprimanded us once again and continued on to take attendance as the last person was done, Ding dong ding dong, the bell rang and it was time to head to the hall. We stood up and pushed our chairs in and headed to the hall, along the way Takeshi, Emi, Kaori, Fujino-san, Takemaru and I talked about our reasons in this school, Takemaru and Fujino said they aimed to be in this school since they were kids while Takeshi and Emi reason was because it was close to their homes and it was a renowned music room, leaving me and Kaori's reason to be one we aimed for it last year.

We sat down on the chairs once we reached the hall and the principal went on stage to make his speech.

The speech which lasted for over an hour finally ended has the so proclaimed man of few words left the stage, The vice-principal took the stage and called out my name "Arima Kousei please come on stage."

I was afraid at that time, I had no idea what was going on when the vice-principal called me on stage, I nervously walked up the stage and the VP asked me to sit on the piano and play a piece to start off the entrance ceremony, I panicked, I had not practice a single song during the holidays and was just training my fingers to prevent them from getting cold as well as tutoring Nagi, but Kaori calmed me down
"KOUSEI! RELAX JUST PLAY WHATEVER SOUNDS NICE!" It was easier said than done, but I gained my confidence and started to play a song which I was very familiar, Love's sorrow, it was me and my mom's favorite song as well as my melody, I Immediately lost my hearing but was calm as I gotten used to losing my hearing, I started out really joyful and my notes were skipping in the ever wind, my notes felt so calming and touching as they let out a sense of happiness and springiness.

I reached my Climax of my playing, the sorrow from my life and playing has started to overflow the room and some of the students have started to cry, I suddenly played happily and as if spring has come after the ending of an eternal winter, my notes bloomed like sunflowers in the flower garden and a imagery of me playing the piano in a garden of nature beauty. I slowly ended my song with bounciness and springiness and held my last note for a while.

The hall became very still, no noise could be heard, but like a sudden signal occurred, everyone stood up and cheered for me, applauds echoed throughout the room, claps resounded to the stage and I stood up and took a bow before heading off the stage I was meant to be on, awaiting my next performance with anxiety and excitement, the curtain closed, leaving behind only the memories of the performace.

"You were great Kousei!"
Kaori complimented me as I walked towards the gang. I smiled back at her as I said my thanks.

"Damn Arima you became better… But next time I will beat you to a pulp"
Takeshi unwilling to admit defeat to me but praised my playing, Emi said with a straight and collected face, "It was good Arima, your notes were as pure as crystals and pretty like snowflakes."

"Thanks? Oh by the way guys, you can just call me Kousei, You all have known me since we were kids right? So I may not have remembered you guys but we are considered friends so just Kousei will be good."

They looked stunned but happy, they synchronized themselves and called me by my first name "Ok, sure Kousei." I smiled at them and Kaori hugged my arm, she was grinning happily and pulled me out of the group, she looks like she has something to say.

When we were outside of the hall and suddenly Kaori gave me a small peck on the cheek, I backed away flustered, suddenly she started to tear up

"Kousei… I'm… so…happy…"
"Huh? Why are you crying then?"
"I am happy that you can make friends so easily…"
"… Do I really have so little friends?"
"NO… That's not it… But I want to you have friends whom you can trust."
"Oh I see… you must have been worried right? Thanks."
"But still you were getting so cozy with Fujino-chan, remember Kousei, NO CHEATING."
"OK! I swear I won't !"

We laughed at our skit and headed to class. After going through a long and fun orientation until evening, It was time to head home and since we were tired after all the introduction and free clothes from the orientation, me and Kaori went to the nearby park for a small stroll, Trees were swishing in the air as the gentle wind assist, the flower smells rosy, perfect for a small date in the evening, we sat down on the bench and talked a bit on music related stuff and coincidentally, Tsubaki and Watari was spotted in the distance, playing badminton. We walked up to them and called them

"Oi Tsubaki Watari!"
They turned to look at us and Watari replied back with a surprised yet smiling look "Yo Kousei Kaori-chan whats up?"
"Hey Watari-kun, we are just here to relax after the first day of school."
"Really Kao-chan? We were here for the same reason, Kashiwagi was also here earlier but left with her new boyfriend."
"Wha… Kashiwagi-san got a boyfriend? It hasn't even been a day yet in our new highschool life!" I asked in shocked at how fast Kashiwagi can make a man propose to her.

"Yeah… But listen to this! She was already meeting with that boyfriend secretly for a year now! How mean right? She never even told us about it Kao-chan!"

"No way! Why did she not tell us?"
Then we suddenly realized the reason, We had never even considered Kashiwagi was going out with someone… An Awkward silence lingered in the air but was replaced with a group laughter by all of us after we realized it. We played in the park for a while until our clothes got messed up and by then it was 7pm, Watari headed home, while Kaori and I as well as Tsubaki(She lives beside me, we are neighbours) headed to the same district, Tsubaki went home after her stop and Kaori stopped by to take a bath(She had spare clothes from the orientation we had as stated before), We had dinner and it was 7.45 pm.

"Hey Kousei?"

Kaori suddenly called me, I was startled for a while but quickly regained my composure, I asked back with a smile

"Yeah what is it Kaori?"
Kaori pondered over for a while and was deep in thought, afterwards, she asked me "Kousei I wanna hear you play the piano okay?"
I couldn't refuse my beautiful and lovely girlfriend when she asked me so politely and cutely which almost made my heart stop.

"Sure."
We headed to my piano room and I sat down looking for some scores to play when Kaori told me she wanted to hear Pachelbel Canon in D. It was an easy yet melodically beautiful song, but It was so simple which made me frown, I wanted to show off a little to my girlfriend, as if she could read my mind, Kaori asked me with a mischievous smile on her face, "Ah! Kousei did you wanted to show off?"
I rebutted quickly whilst blushing in embarrassment "No! I didn't…!" I But I knew I couldn't hide it from her, it was the truth, I was still a man after all, I wanted to look good in front of my beloved and special person, the only thing I was good at was the piano after all.

"Hahahaha! Kousei you're so cute!" She gave me a peck on the cheek which made me blush even harder, but I touched the piano and was fully focused.

I started… Pachelbel Canon in D major, I was in my focus mode, the notes I play were responding and resounding in my heart, 24 pallets of colors dyed the scene and chords seemingly boring began to skip and flop, the notes around me began to flutter and soar free… Butterflies in the flower patch fluttering around with nature in their lightest color, rainbows made up of every color in the world dashed across the azure blue sky, my music expressed more than what it seemed, such a simple song, yet its potential of being a high class music was being brought out through my playing, it was happy and joyful, I started playing in broken chords to make the song even more springier and bouncy as I reached the end of the song, I held the last few notes and released my hands from the keys gently raising my fingers above my head and I opened my eyes, back into the real world.

Kaori stood there amazed and hugged me tightly before releasing me and bringing me into a deep kiss. We stopped to grasp for air before Kaori told me. "Kousei, it was amazing… Thank you." "No problem." I was about to leave the house with Kaori to send her home, the doorbell suddenly rang and I opened it to see a surprising person at my doorbell.

He had the dark blue hair which I had and the same eyes, but he was much bigger than me and looked older… I recognized that body and face any day, his face glared at me sternly, I wondered why was he here as I called out to ask.

"Dad?! Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be overseas?"

Kaori was shocked and surprised, she has not seen my father before and since this was the first time, she actually seen him, she became as polite as possible.

"Good afternoon Mr Arima… I am Miyazono Kaori, Kousei's girlfriend."

My dad widen his eyes and stared at my blonde girlfriend for seconds and laughed, he exclaimed "Haha! You must be joking, My failure of a son could not possibly has a girlfriend like you. Kousei what did you do to this girl to brainwash her?" My dad said as evil as the witch, Kaori blared up in rage and retorted back in anger and disbelief.
"Mr Arima, Kousei did not brainwash me! I fell in love with him on my own accord, don't you dare say that to Kousei… He saved my life when I was about to die and how can you call him a failure when he save a person, On the record! I did not fall in love with him since he saved me! It was a long time ago!"

Me and my dad was shocked, I released manly and happy tears from the bottom of my heart while on the other hand, my dad laughed in happiness, something I had not seen in a while since mom died.

"GREAT!" My dad exclaimed

"Kousei you got yourself a good women! You better take care of her okay?"
"Yeah I will dad."
Kaori was clueless as to what was going on as my dad explained it to her. Our family has a tradition to test the partner of their child, of course I knew about it, knowing Kaori would pass it with an ace, it was to prevent the next child from being misused by his or her partner, When Kaori learnt it, she blushed heavily and apologized to dad, which was obviously forgiven easily.

We had a good time before, Kaori's phone rang with Mr Miyazono on the line telling Kaori to come home, we looked at the time and it was 9pm, We panicked but was relieved to hear dad willing to drive us there. We reached the bakery shop faster than we expected, Mr Miyazono saw my dad and broke the ice.

"Takumi? Is that you?"
"Yeah Mi-chan! Long time no see since middle school?"

Me and Kaori were speechless, we did not know that Our parents were friends from middle school.

"Takumi… How is Saki?"
We all began silent, since Miyazono-san had not yet realized about the truth… only when he realized the meaning of silence then he replied "She died?"
"Yeah… from an illness. Bone marrow I think it was called?"
"What a surprise… I didn't know, I am sorry…"
"No problem, it was a few years ago, now we are living fine so it is alright."
"I see, well come in, lets catch up on the past!"
"Yeah! You got beer?"
"Hell yeah!"

The adults went in for a chat as we stood outside waiting for something to happen, We turned to each other after moments of silence and stared in each other's eyes,

"Kouse…"

"Kaor…"

We spoke at the same time but I let her go first

"Who knew about our parents right?"
"Yeah you are right, life is unpredictable sometimes… just like mom"
"Kousei!"
I turned to look at her but was brought into a kiss, My heart started pounding and her eyes welled with tears. Her kiss felt so gentle and sweet, it felt like it was finding places inside me to warm me up.

I placed my hand to touch Kaori's cheek, it was as light as a feather.

A finger grazing her lips. Now the touch began radiating more widely, running through her whole body. Deep in her heart and lower. Her lips were the most beautiful lips I ever seen and it was softer than anything I touched, her neck was unbelievably beautiful. And the way her neck and shoulders meet. Her collarbone was that of a bird's wing, ready to soar into the dazzling night sky.

Her breathing had sped up, she was astonished by how perfectly tender my hand was and her desire moved in sync. My touch filled her with ecstasy, compulsive and almost animal need. She was beautiful to someone. Anyone who saw her before would think she was someone different, it felt so good to feel pain, the pain of losing my mother dissolved into thin air, never appearing before me ever again. We released our kiss after a mere 20 second had passed us, yet it felt like several years' worth of time were used up, But it was alright. As long as I was with her, I would willing sacrifice my time for her.

"Kousei… Think only about the current okay?"
"Yeah I will thank you Kaori."
We smiled and headed in to the sweet aroma filled bakery to see our parents drinking their head off as if there was no tomorrow. We laughed and join them with juice and water, Our parents began drunk after drinking 10 cans of North star beer each. The night was closed with me sleeping in Kaori's room with her, Miyazono-san allowed it after we began to date for 2 months since I had not harm her daughter, so it was okay. We chatted throughout the night and headed off to the world of dreams to enjoy myself indulging in excitement. We had not realized that the next day would be one of the most tiring and troublesome day ever… But now it was the present so I let my future me to take care of it, knowing it would always be a happy ending. We had promised to create our own conclusion to our own story so I knew it would not stop me…

Hey Guys AndyNnimeFreak here, It has arrived, my new chapter which I managed to finish during this hectic period, just for your information, The reason why chapters are coming slowly and would bound to be 1 chapter a week is due me in exam and studies are important, but I have not given up on this yet, I had added some sentence I learnt in while reading up stories on love to improve this and I have to say it was pretty beautiful so yeah I hope you all are still enjoying this series, I hope after the exam is over, I would have more reviews and favorites on this series, it truly makes it worth my time to make this and when a specific chapter is out, I would put a new story with it regarding about some things these two lovebirds will do in the night R18 OKAY? It is for adults ONLY, children DO NOT READ IT. Minds will not be tainted :D So anyways hope you all enjoyed this chapter and favorite or leave a review to make this series better Thank You For The Patience I hope u all would forgive me on this and bye!