I AM BACK! The revival is here! Words of apology cannot explain how sorry I am for not updating for SO LONG! Anyways, I am back so please enjoy the story, I will explain at the end why I was late and thus cue the story!
Chapter 8: Resolution
March 28, today will be the start of the Huji Festa. I had been practicing all month preparing for this day, my school had decided that I would be playing the set piece for Dvorak Romance for piano and violin op 11. A rather simple yet sorrowful song. I wore my newly bought suit , it was grey on the outside while white on the inside, made of cotton and wool which is very comfortable to wear and had a small breast pocket to carry my handkerchief around. I checked my attire out through the mirror and once I acknowledge it looked good though I feel like today was supposed to be a special occasion I just ignored it, took my scores and bag before heading to the school where a bus would be picking us up. I met up with Kaori first who was always waiting for me at the front gates of my house and we chatted along the way before reaching the school.
All the violin contestant looked really tensed, I don't blame them. This was a very important competition with famous violinist from all around the world competing in it. I looked around to see Fujino-san and Takemaru talking to each other, when Fujino-san saw me, she quickly turned red and walked away from me making Takemaru confused. We boarded the bus and left for the competition venue. On the bus, things were very awkward between me and Fujino-san, every time I look at her to try to find a way to talk to her about my reply, She would look away and pretend she did not see me. I couldn't help but sigh, at this rate I would not be able to look at her, let alone talk to her. We reached our destination in 20 minutes. When we boarded down from the bus, We were amazed at the view we saw of the contest all. It was as big as the Koushien field and that is ridiculously big, it had 15 floors, which each floor being a contest hall holding 4000 people per floor. While still in a daze at such a huge hall, Kaori called out to me as I noticed that the class was entering the hall and quickly I tried to catch up with the class.
Now, the festa was about to begin. The bright lights in the hall highlighted the specks of dusk and the audience slowly walked in to grab their seats as they took the fliers on their seats to look at the contestants. The announcer called out famous pianist even I had heard of before from magazines and they began to perform on stage, I was busy trying to do some last minute practicing before the people performing finished. "Now for the last group of performers, they represent the best of japan's Musicians they are all from the same school, We have a prodigy pianist who is going to be the accompanist for all of the students in his school, here is Arima Kousei." Cheers reverberated and I knew it was my time to walk on the stage. Slowly I ascended the stairs and made my way to the piano, adjusting the chairs. Students from my school started to play the set piece but none of them were at the level of Kaori nor Fujino-san, I waited anxiously for the person I was excited to perform with. The announcer slowly called out the name "Number 24 Miyazono Kaori." On cue, Kaori walked up the huge stage which emitted a lot of pressure with ease , I grinned before placing my fingers on the keyboard ready to start our symphony.
"Elohim essaim… Elohim essaim I implore you…" We whispered together and started to play. Slow and easy we played. The music sounded joyful as if it was a playful kid dancing on an endless field of sunflowers, so bright like Kaori. I was once again enticed by her playing. When we were reaching the climax of the playing we were both so concentrated in the playing that it was as though we were in our own blue world, our playing could make the audience visualize the music as if they were living in our world.
We slowly ended the song with a joyful touch before graciously bowing down to the unaware audience who just realized that the song was over. Moments of silence was broken by the cheers and claps by the audiences who enjoyed indulging themselves in the beautiful music. The audience looked ready to head off but when the announcer had called upon the last number , they decided to listen to the last performer anticipating her to play at the level of Kaori or better.
"Number 25 Fujino Kanade." Fujino-san walked up to the stage and bowed towards the audience. She looked at me telling me to get ready before we played the last song. It had the same feelings we played during the practice, though it was good, it seemed to be lacking in emotions and I could feel a slight hint of sadness in it. The climax arrived before I was shocked at her performance, It became so random yet so well prepared, so strong yet so weak. Emotions kept bursting through her playing and we slowly arrived at the end of the music, playing it so gently as if she were caressing a baby's head. Audience enjoyed her performance and gave her applauses before she bowed towards the them to end the festa.
It was 8pm in the night and we reached the school,
"Good job everyone, especially Kaori-chan and Kanade-chan you two were good."
Kaori and Fujino-san responded simultaneously "Thank you!."
"Results will be out in a week so if anyone are going to be winners, the announcement will be made by our school principal. Get a good rest now. Dismissed!"
"Thank you very much sensei!"
We all headed back home after a long and difficult battle against the judges. Me and Kaori walked back together and saw Watari along with Tsubaki who was talking with Kashiwagi.
"Watari-kun, Tsubaki-chan, Kashiwagi-san whats everyone doing here?"
They all grinned gleefully at us except Kashiwagi and suddenly, they said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY KOUSEI!"
"Huh?"
It was until then I realized the date, March 28 my birthday. "EH?! Kousei? Today is your birthday?! Why didn't you tell me about it!"
"Sorry I forgot about it…"
"HUH?! How can you forget your birthday?!"
"It was just…. I was so focused on the performance that I forgot that today was my birthday."
"That's just impossible… how can anyone forget their birthday so easily?"
"Well on my birthdays, all I did was just practice for competitions…"
The air was silent and a dry wind blew by, Kaori realized that I had never properly celebrated a birthday due to my mom. A tear of sadness dripped off Kaori face, she quickly wiped it out before dragging me away to somewhere. She brought me to a hotel and finally stopped dragging me.
"Happy birthday Kousei!"
"Huh? Uh thanks I guess…"
" Since Mr blurry face didn't tell me about his birthday, I went ahead and brought him to see my secret and precious spot."
"Secret and precious spot?"
"Yeah! Go to that window now!"
" What are you going to show me."
"Just move!"
She pushed me from behind telling me to hurry up, but as if we were in a manga or something Kaori tripped over her own leg, I tried to catch her, but I failed and we both went down together, Kaori was on top of me.
"Ow…. Ouch"
We both noticed that we were so close to each other, our faces, our body, everything was so close.
"Uwah! Sorry Kousei!" she quickly got off me
"Anyways… Look over there! The view of the beach and stars are amazing from here!"
She pointed at the glass window at the entrance of the hotel, I walked up to it and looked through it, only to have my breath taken away by the beautiful scene. The waters were shining bright and the stars were lighting up the dark night, each illuminating its' own and unique way, be it diamonds or rectangles., each and every stars were beautiful. Suddenly. Flashes of light appeared in the sky.
"AH! Shooting Stars… how pretty I wish I could be one!"
I looked towards Kaori and smiled at her. This girl would forever be the shooting star in my heart, I thought that to myself. Kaori suddenly turned towards me and held my hand,
"Kousei! Lets make a wish!"
"Wish?"
"Yeah… since today is your birthday after all!"
A wish huh? I thought about my wish long and hard, but there was only one wish I had, and that was to be with this oppressive yet bright girl forever throughout my entire life. I held my two hands closely together and closed my eyes. Praying from the deep of my heart, Kaori follow suit and as we both slowly opened our eyes to see each other. Our eyes met and so was our breathing, we were one. My lips touched Kaori's and we gave the other a small kiss to end the night.
The next day, I was determined to find fujino-san and reject her confession with seriousness. I left the house early and told Kaori that I will not meet up with her in the morning as I will be busy due to "something". I rode my bike and speeded my way to the schools, as I was cycling, the trees began to drop sakura petals on me, as if to say good luck to me.
I reached the school and saw fujino-san walking in. I called out to her to get her attention and surely enough she looked at me before blushing and walked away. I reached to grab her hand
"Wait Fujino-san. I've got something to say."
"Ehh?! W-What is it?"
"Not now, meet me at the music room after school. I will reply to your confession there."
"HUH?! O-okay."
She shook my hand off and ran nervously to the classroom, bumping into other students and even walls on accident, one would say she was really clumsy or was feeling unwell. During class was a mess, we both could not really focus on the lessons, even when the teacher called our names, we didn't even realized until someone managed to catch our attention. It made us so embarrassed that we were red faced the entire time. We heaved a sigh of relieve when the last bell rang, everyone packed their bags busily, greeted the teacher and left the school in a hurry to indulge in their most yearned for after school time. I on the other hand, hurriedly prepared my bag and walked towards the music room.
I stood at the door with my heart pounding nervously. My hands were a little sweaty as I tried to muster enough courage to open the door. Sliding the door, I noticed Fujino-san by the window, her hair gently wavering in the air as she was sitting on the chair watching the enthusiastic students playing a friendly game of soocer. She turned to look at me, standing up gracefully, trying not to damage her cool personality. I waved my hands as I began to speak.
"Hi… Fujino-san."
"Hello Arima-kun." She replied with a voice as seemingly as if she is not as nervous as I am, making me a little red for being so timid.
"I am here to respond to your confession. I am sorry."
"Sorry? I see so you picked Miyazono-san after all"
I felt truly sorry to Fujino-san but I needed to reply to her now. I knew that any moments of delay would only hurt us even more. So I gathered my courage and continued to speak, trying not to show tears.
"Yes, I truly love Kaori from the bottom of my heart. Even though she is a violent, oppressive, selfish person."
"Huh?"
Fujino-san seemed shocked as I called my girlfriends name not befitting her title. She then asked me a question.
"Then why are you with her?"
It did not take me long to think about this question, I knew from the bottom of my heart the answer to this.
"Kaori suddenly appeared in my life, at first when I met her. She was such a handful, turning oppressive against me while changing into a different personality with my best friend."
*chuck* Fujino-san giggled a bit.
"But when I listened to her playing, I began to admire her. Her freestyle of playing just seemed so bright, scores and accompanist are unable to tie her down as she played so freely and melodically."
"That I can agree, when I first listened to her playing, I marked her down as my rival." She agreed whole heartedly.
"Ever since, we had been through thick and thin, Kaori's cancer caught up with her and endangered her life."
"Wait Cancer?! Miyazono-san is ill?!"
"Well lots of things happened and she was forced to do operation, it had a success rate of 0.01%"
"0.01%?!" Shocking Fujino-san when she heard the ridiculously low chances of survival.
"She pulled through… and now we are here. After being through so much, we cried and had out hearts shattered so many times, making me lose count. I had fallen so deeply in love with Kaori, I can't live without her anymore. So I am really sorry about this…"
Fujino-san had a look of satisfaction on her face, she smiled at me and spoke.
"I see… But if I were the one instead of Miyazono-san, you think you would fall in love with me?"
I had no doubt in my mind as I replied.
"Most likely not, because it was Kaori, that is why I fell in love with her."
"Mhm. But you must take care of Miyazono-san for me okay?"
"Sure."
She walked out of the room and I sat at the piano chair, sighing as I was relieved that it was all over. Though someone stepped into the room surprising me with her presence.
"Kousei… I heard everything."
"Kaori?! You heard everything?" (Crap she will kill me as I called her all those names!) But instead, she hugged me tightly and whispered into my ear.
"Though you did call me names, but your reply and the rest of the things you said made me forgive you okay?! So you better accept my forgiveness with gratitude!"
I embraced her back, as I used my fingers to caress her long and beautiful blonde hair.
"Okay…"
We headed home after a long day of events happened, Kaori and I held hands and she pecked my cheek before she entered her house after I escorted her back. I smiled back and left for home to finish my homework up and sleep.
Takemaru POV
I saw Kanade ran off to the supermarket she always go to and chased after her, worrying about her.
"Kanade! Whats wrong?!"
"Don't chase after me!"
"Kanade!"
She ran so quickly that I almost lost her so many times, but I knew she would head to her favorite spot if she was sad or angry. And surely enough, I found her on the river side seating on hill side. I walked silently and carefully to prevent her from noticing me. I managed to get behind her and I touched her shoulders. She turned back to look at me and got a shock.
"Takemaru? Why are you here?"
"I knew you were here, every time you were sad or frustrated about something you would always come here to look at the river."
"Baka! I told you not to follow me!"
"And you think I would listen? Fat chance!"
"Ugh…."
We became silent for a while and I took a seat beside her. We stared into the beautiful river and I broke the silence with words of reminiscence.
"You remember us playing catching once and you fell into the lake?"
"Yeah I do… such a fond memory."
"Well I couldn't swim back then and you almost drowned, I wanted to apologize for so long but I didn't so I will say it here now. Sorry I couldn't help you Kanade."
"Something from so long ago doesn't matter… But why did you hesitate to say it until now?"
"Well…" I looked around to consider awhile, but I saw a bicycle crashing straight into our direction. I quickly reacted by shouting \.
"KANADE RUN NOW!"
"Huh?".
"HELP!"
"KANADE!"
I took off my neck tie and jumped into the river to save Kanade. I managed to get to her in time and lifted her up, bringing her back to dry land. I noticed that Kanade was not breathing well and I called out to her.
"OI KANADE! GET A GRIP KANADE. KANADE!"
I knew some first aid as I learnt them. I measured her pulse and it was weak. Kanade needed CPR. Without hesitation, I started to blow air into her and continued to keep her pulse going. Kanade coughed out water and regain conscious.
"Take…maru?"
"Yeah it is me! You recognize me?"
"Yeah… did you do CPR on me?"
I blushed a bit as I remembered her soft lips touching my own.
"I see… you pervert…"
"HUH? I SAVED YOUR LIFE!"
Suddenly, Kanade hugged me and brought me to a kiss.
"I want you to take responsibility for that okay?"
"Gwah waha wsahhndsih"
I stuttered so many times and I finally agreed.
"Okay then… I will take responsibility for your first kiss."
"mhmm. Please try to make me fall in love with you and forget arima kousei…"
Afterwards she was brought to the hospital and Takemaru followed her along.
Hey guys… AndyNnimeFreak here. A few notes to say.
1: I am injured so I am going through rehab for my leg thus I missed 2 weeks.
2: I had a slump and so I missed 3 days
3: I was busy with school work and finally I finished this chapter
Next chapter will come up within 10 days I promise you that. So hope you all enjoy and leave a review or favorite this. If you want to be notified of when I update a chapter be sure to follow share this with your friends, it seriously means a lot and ill see you all next time.
