Act III: In the car
Kahoko had arrived at the airport twenty minutes earlier. Having parked her car and locked it, she proceeded towards the building. Once inside she scanned the big screens for all the flights from London and was happy to see that flight number 61 had already landed. She would soon see him! Dressed in a smart suit and carrying his violin case as usual…
When she did see him though, she gasped. Was that Tsukimori-kun walking with a girl? A girl who was laughing and smiling at him? A girl who looked more and more like… Nami?! She waved at them. Eventually he noticed her.
Nami followed Len's gaze. "Kahoko?" she said sofly.
"Kahoko!!" This time she shrieked and pushed her trolley forward as she half-ran towards the smiling redhead.
She gave Kahoko a bear hug. "I missed you girl! … But… you're probably not here for me, are you?"
Len answered for her:
"She came to pick me up."
Nami looked from one to the other.
"Ohayo Tsukimori-kun! I got your message yesterday and I called the airport this morning to find out the time your plane would be landing. I hope you weren't disturbed by the delay?"
"It couldn't be helped."
Nami's brain was working fast to process the information.
So Len was actually texting Kahoko yesterday from London… to tell her about the flight delay. Today she came to pick him up, so that can only mean one thing: that the violin romance has blossomed… ah ha!
"Nami, you were also in London? Was it for work?"
"No, I was on holiday actually."
"I see… you'll have to tell me all about it! But how are you getting home, would you like a lift or is someone picking you up?"
Nami flashed a smile instantly as her reporter's instincts took over.
"I intended to take a taxi but if you insist…"
I know that three's a crowd, and that Len will probably hate me more for intruding on his reunion with Kaho, but I can't help it…
The three of them made their way to the car park.
"Is that car yours, Kaho?"
"My sister and I bought it together; it's second hand, but it's pretty neat isn't it?"
"Ah, I'm so envious…" she sighed.
Len got his and her luggage into the boot and closed it. He sat in front while Nami positioned herself in the middle of the backseat, so that she could have a good view of the two violinists.
She couldn't help teasing Kahoko a little.
"So, do you really pick Len up from the airport every time he's in Japan?" she asked slyly.
"Iie… it's not like that! When I heard that Tsukimori-kun was coming, I offered to pick him up because I wanted to show him my car…"
"Is that so? Well then, perhaps you can teach Len how to drive while he's here! What do you say Len?!"
There she goes, interfering again! How irritating!
Kahoko was looking at him with a surprised look. "I didn't know you wanted to learn driving Tsukimori-kun," she began "but I'll be really glad to help you… in exchange for all the violin lessons you gave me years ago."
"That's okay…" he said quietly.
If it wasn't for Hino's enthusiasm he would just have ignored Nami's taunts.
As she drove, Kahoko asked lots of questions, especially to Nami. They had not seen each other much recently, since Nami worked in Tokyo for a year and had then taken a holiday abroad. "So you're not going back to work in Tokyo?" she asked.
"No, I miss this old town too much, so I'll be on the look-out for a job here! Oh, by the way, how long are you here for, Len?"
Kahoko smiled: "Tsukimori-kun doesn't usually stay for more than two weeks when he comes home!"
"… I might stay longer…"
He's trying to sound casual, but it's suspicious! Is he planning to confess and ask Kahoko to marry him? And she looked so happy when he said it… Or maybe I'm getting carried away!
She noticed some classical music magazines and score sheets lying on the backseat.
"How's your violin Kaho?"
"Ah… it's still the most irreplaceable thing for me... I did tell you about the amateur orchestra I joined last year, didn't I? Well, I'm having so much fun! We currently meet twice a week to practise and we plan to have a series of concerts at Christmas. I really hope it will be successful."
Nami could feel Kahoko's excitement and she could also tell from the way Len was looking at her that he was really happy for her. Kahoko might not have become a professional violinist like him, but there was no doubt that her enjoyment of music was genuine, and she also inspired many other people to discover and appreciate music along with her.
"Len, you'll have to be here for Kahoko's concerts this Christmas!"
Nami leaned forward excitedly, placing an elbow on each front seat.
He hesitated. Two pairs of eyes were on him.
"I'll try…"
"Arigato Tsukimori-kun, I know you have a busy schedule!"
They had reached Nami's house. Kahoko stopped the car and got out to open the boot. Nami retrieved her things then gave Kahoko another bear hug. "Thanks for the lift Kaho, I'll be in touch."
"See you around Len! Have fun! ^-^"
"… ~_~ … "
She watched them drive off and sighed in uncharacteristic fashion.
Somehow, she felt a little wistful… a little… blue. She couldn't understand why.
Was she envious of Kahoko's and Len's relationship? She frowned. Nah, it's probably jetlag, that's all!
In any case, Nami Amou never stayed down for very long. The world was too interesting, right?!
She rolled her luggage towards her house.
"I guess I'll give them some privacy for a while… One week should be enough…"
Kahoko smiled at him.
"Did you two get along during the flight?"
He frowned.
"Not exactly… She's so fast, it's annoying. And she'll willfully set everyone up for trouble… I'm amazed that you can be friends with her."
"I sort of see what you mean… she does have a quick tempo! She usually can't stand things to be slow and boring… and when she feels this irresistible urge to liven things up, who knows what may happen!" She laughed. "Demo… she's a loyal friend… like you."
He looked at her and felt grateful that Kahoko's rhythm was slow and steady. And if she did sometimes get others into trouble, it was never on purpose. That's why he trusted her and could relax around her.
"In any case, I always thought that you could handle any kind of rhythm, Tsukimori-kun, especially a fast one... I can never play Caprice No. 24 like you do!" she continued cheerfully.
Len was surprised.
"…But you play Cannon better than me…"
She blushed a little but smiled at his praise.
He looked out at the familiar scenery outside the window. They would soon reach the Tsukimori residence.
"How's Ousaki senpai?"
Her face brightened.
"He's out of town this week, working on some background music for a famous theatre group. In fact, he asked me to take over some of his philanthropic activities until he comes back and I have to teach a violin class for eight to ten-year-olds on Saturday. Ano… would you like to help me? The kids would love it, plus it would be a chance for us to play together… after all, I can't invite you to join me for a duet in the park now, you're too famous!"
He frowned, remembering Nami's attempt to raise his profile at the airport.
"Hino, I'm not too famous…"
She only laughed but he didn't mind.
To be continued (end of October)