Chapter 18 – Your Lie in April

'Dear Arima Kousei,

It feels weird writing a letter to someone you were just with…

You're the worst.

Indecisive. Gullible. Twit.

The first time I ever saw you perform, I was 5 years old. It was at a recital for the piano school I was going to.

This awkward, clumsy kid came onto the stage and accidentally hit the piano stool with his butt.

It was too funny..'

"Elohim, Essaim…Elohim, Essaim…I implore you…"

'He turned to the piano that was way too big for him and the moment he played that first note,

I was drawn in...'

Your Lie in April by Kousei Arima and Miyazono Kaori. It was the song that was both the beginning and the end. Ballade No.1 in G Minor, Op. 23 – Chopin. It was the end of a lie and the beginning of an undeniable truth. The end of a disease and the beginning of a new life.

"Drawing from the same inspiration he had back then, huh?" said Nash as he recognized the song that first drew him to the pianist known as Arima Kousei.

"Is this where you evolve further, Arima Kousei?" said Shusui as he unintentionally leaned in closer and focused all his attention on the performance.

He channeled all the emotions he felt that day into the performance; all of the pain, fear, and anxiety he felt. There was a matureness to it, the play was dark yet it was beautiful at the same time. He remembered feeling lost that day like his whole world was falling apart once again. Once again he was going to lose someone he loved. His play was a plea, and the piano was his voice. To anyone, anything, anywhere, 'Please let her live…Please let her live.'

'The sound was beautiful, like a 24-colour palette. The melodies danced. The girl next to me started crying. I wasn't expecting that at all.

And even so, you gave up the piano. Even though it totally changed other people's lives.

You're the worst. Indecisive. Gullible. Twit…'

Just as Chopin's sad ballade was about to pull Kousei into the deep sea of loss and despair, a single vibrant violin chord soared in and pulled him out. It was the first song that they had played together, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso – Saint-Saëns. A performance he wanted no part in, a performance that showed him that there was a big world outside of the sea he felt trapped in. A performance that made him fall in love with the girl known as Miyazono Kaori. It was a thunderous dance, two soloists coming together perfectly for the first time. The human metronome and the free violinist, an unsteady order and a free chaos.

"A medley," said Takeshi. "So this is how he plans to surpass Nash and Shusui."

"It's not about that," said Emi.

"What do you mean?"

"Listen carefully, they are telling their own story."

'When I found out we were in the same middle school, I was ecstatic. But how would I ever come to talk to you?

Maybe I'd hang out at the lunch concession. Instead, I just watched you from afar.

I mean. After all. You all seemed to get along so well. There wasn't really any space in there for someone like me…'

The medley moved on as they traveled a bit further back in time, to a quiet and peaceful melody. The setting changed, they were no longer on a stage in suit and dress, they were on their school rooftop in their school uniforms. The piano painted a clear spring day and the violin added in a gentle breeze. However, even though the melody from the piano was peaceful, there was an underlying sadness that came out of the violin.

'When I was a kid, I had to have an operation and I started having to be at the hospital for regular check-ups.

In the first year of middle school, I collapsed and I was admitted over and over.

With every visit, I was there for longer and longer.

Really, I didn't get to class much in middle school, I spent more time at the hospital.

And I knew something was wrong with my body.

One night, I saw my parents crying in the waiting room and I knew that my time was running out…'

At its lowest and saddest point, the violin turned around and sprung back with energy. It elevated the mood and even brought the piano along with it, or more like dragged it along. Kaori couldn't help but smile, when she turned to look back at her partner, she found that he too was smiling.

'That's when I ran away.

I didn't want to bring my regrets with me to heaven, so I stopped holding back from the things I always wanted to do.

I wasn't scared anymore to get contact lenses.

I ate what I wanted instead of always worrying about my weight.

And I took music with all its high and mighty directives and played it the way I wanted.

And then I told a lie. Just one…'

The scene changed once again as they moved to the park where the heroine first met with her knight in shining armor. Under the cherry blossoms, where the heroine metwith her love rival. In tears, when the heroine first met with Friend A.

'I lied and said that I, Miyazono Kaori, liked Watari Ryouta.

And that lie brought you to me.

Please apologize to Watari for me…though I'm sure he's forgotten me by now.

I think I need someone more wholehearted and earnest than him.

I think we'd be fine as friends though.

And please apologize to Tsubaki for me too.

I want there to be no hard feelings.

And there was one thing I could never ask of her, to ask her directly to introduce the two of us.

I don't think she would've had an answer for me.

After all, she was in love with you…'

The scenes flew by one by one as Kousei and Kaori took the audience through all that they had gone through. They told them about a story of a girl who told a lie in April. About how that girl chose to live out her last days. About the ride under the stars, the leap of faith off the bridge, the race with the train and the field of fireflies.

'We all knew that.

I think the only people who didn't know were you and her.

That underhanded lie brought me to you didn't work out the way I had imagined.

It was darker.

And meaner.

And denser.

And more stubborn.

And more perverted.

And softer.

And more masculine.

And sweet.

Remember that bridge we jumped off? The water was so cool and refreshing.

Racing each other alongside the train. I really thought I could win.

The moon we saw from the music room that night, like a delicious-looking bun.

Singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with you as we rode on that bike together.

Then falling out of tune. We're awful singers.

At the school at night. I'm still sure there was something there.

The falling snow, just like cherry blossoms.

It's strange to be a musician, but then to have your heart so filled with something that comes from off-stage.

They're unforgettable scenes to me. But they're such little things. It's weird, isn't it?

What do you think?'

Tears began to roll down Kousei's cheeks as he continued to play, trying his best to keep his composure and quiet his sobs. Hearing the cry of her partner, tears began to flow out of Kaori's eyes as well. Yet, there was not a single note missed, a single beat skipped, a single detail overlooked. Their medley continued, the happy melody that was coming to an end all too soon.

'Do you think I made it into anyone's heart like that? I wonder if I made it into yours. I wonder if you'll still remember me. If you forget me, I'll just come back and… No, I don't want to start over. Please don't forget me. Promise me you won't forget me. I'm glad it was you. I hope this reaches you, Arima Kousei. I love you. I love you. I love you...'

"Kousei…Kaori…" said Tsubaki as she began to cry along with the rest of the audience members. It was a song that inspired them, a performance that reached them, and a story that touched their hearts. Tears swelled up in Takeshi and Emi's eyes as they saw the true depths of darkness that their rival had to go through.

'I'm sorry we couldn't eat all those canelés.

I'm sorry I hit you so much. I'm sorry I was so selfish.

I'm so, so, so, so sorry.

Thank you for everything.

Miyazono Kaori.'

The medley concluded with the same song it had started with, as Kousei played the last descending chords and finished the performance alone as if there was no violin there at all. One by one the audience members all stood up and gave their applause. Among them stood their competitors; Aurora, Nash, Takeshi, Emi and even Aika. The two performers kept up appearances till the very end as they stood in front of their viewers and bowed.

"Damn…it happened again," said Aurora to herself.

As soon as the two stepped off of the stage, Kousei immediately reached out and brought Kaori into a tight embrace. "I love you. I will always love you."

"I know….I know," said Kaori as she leaned into the warm embrace.

*Author's Note: Two chapters remaining! It was an absolute blast to write when I finally found the perfect song for their performance. For those wondering, it's a Your Lie in April Medley by sleightlymusical ft. LilyPichu. In all my life I've cried twice when writing, the first time was when I wrote Graceful Ghost Rag and the second time was when I was writing this chapter. I'm not sure how many of my readers are left at this point but I truly hope that all of you enjoyed this chapter. For me, it brought back all of the feelings I felt when I watched the last episode of the anime and when I read the last chapter of the manga and I hope I was able to bring a piece of that back to your guys as well!

darkmagician751: Thanks for the support once again!

dubstep96: Thanks for leaving a comment, hope you enjoyed the rest of the story!

GoHaNViDeLSoN: Thank you so much for the encouragement, glad I was able to make your prestigious favorite list! Hope you enjoyed the rest of the story as well!