Yuzuru yawned as he fumbled with the key to the door to his shop. He had stayed up much longer than expected listening to Kanade's story, but he wasn't about to let that interfere with his work.
He had snuck out so he didn't disturb her sleep, but not before making breakfast for himself (and her) and leaving a note.
As he entered the café and allowed his body to fall into the ingrained routine involved in setting up the shop, he allowed his thoughts to drift back to the conversation last night.
She spent most of her childhood hospitalized, then she had to deal with the hardships of her parents' deaths and being sent to an orphanage. And just when it seemed like her life was taking a turn for the better, it all falls apart again thanks to a man who cared more about his own goals than the girl he adopted.
No wonder she seemed so lonely when I first saw her.
He knew what it felt like to be alone. After he lost his sister, nothing else seemed to matter in the world.
There was no one left who cared for him.
There was no one left who he cared for.
He might as well have disappeared, running away from the painful reality that threatened to engulf him.
He pulled himself together eventually, but it had been touch and go there for a while. Even so, the process hadn't truly healed the wound in his heart.
It was impossible to forget, to let go of those cherished memories even if they only pointed out what was missing in his current life.
But after spending so much time with Kanade, his heart didn't throb so painfully anymore when he reminisced about the past.
Because he was making new memories with someone he cherished, someone he could relate to and connect with.
He couldn't claim to know what Kanade had gone through. Their lives were far too different for him to truly understand her.
Kanade had spent most of her life following the path laid down by her adoptive guardian, a path that did not end in happiness for her.
He would not let it end like that. She had gone to him for help, entrusted him with her heart and all the woes it carried . . .
It made him happy. To know that he was needed. To know that someone out there relied on him to this extent.
The very thought of it made his own heart soar.
With such trust placed in him, he knew he couldn't let her down. He wanted her to see her smile, to achieve the happiness that everyone sought after.
He had asked her if she wanted to quit the music industry altogether, but she had quietly affirmed that she enjoyed making music.
So, what other path could a piano prodigy pursue besides that of a concert pianist? A piano teacher perhaps. She had taught the other kids at the orphanage well enough if her story was anything to go by. Perhaps she could try composing: he had no doubt that anything she created would be breathtakingly beautiful.
Or maybe . . .
His thoughts drifted back to the video of Kanade's performance he had seen on Yuri's phone. Kanade was uneasy about performing in front of large audiences, but what if there was a certain separation between the performer and the audience?
He had it. A way for Kanade to continue to perform without suffering anxiety.
Now, he just needed to ask for a few more favors . . .
With a start, he realized that he was standing behind his counter. Everything was in place: the pastries were properly displayed, the machines had all been checked, and the utensils were all clean.
He hadn't even noticed himself move.
He wondered if he was spending too much time doing this job.
xxx
"Hit me up with more of those discounted drinks, booya!"
"M – more?! How the heck do you keep it all down? I can already feel the coffee sloshing around in my stomach . . ."
Yuzuru chuckled as he brewed another drink for Yui. Hinata sat next to her at the counter, his head nestled amidst his arms on the wooden surface.
"Is it possible to overdose on coffee? Because if I drink any more, I'm pretty sure I'll reach that limit," Hinata said with a groan.
"Hah! You admit defeat, then? Victory is mine!" Yui said with a triumphant grin.
Yuzuru's gaze darted between the two of them. "So, what was this drinking contest about, anyway?"
The couple had walked into his shop in the afternoon.
Or, more accurately, Yui had dragged Hinata into his shop in the afternoon.
They had plopped down at the counter and proceeded to order "as much coffee as they could drink."
Yui had gulped down her share of the coffee with gusto while Hinata tried to keep pace, although he noticed that his friend was always one or two cups behind her.
Even when Yui had taken a brief break after her seventh cup to gasp for breath, Hinata didn't take the opportunity to close the gap. Instead, he slowed down his pace even more, taking only small sips from his cup until Yui had recovered.
Eventually, Hinata threw in the towel and Yui declared herself the victor.
But just what had sparked this competition in the first place?
At his question, Hinata looked like he was doing his best to not meet his gaze while Yui smirked mischievously.
"This fellow here," Yui said as she nudged Hinata with her elbow, "was talking smack about how guys could drink more than girls. I thought I should teach him a lesson not to underestimate girls!"
She basked in the glory of her win for a few moments longer, until her expression collapsed into a pained grimace.
"Ahhh gotta run to the lady's room!"
She sped off, leaving behind an amused barista and an embarrassed boyfriend.
Yuzuru looked at his friend with a raised eyebrow. "Was that really the full story? I noticed that you didn't seem to be trying all that hard to win."
Hinata chuckled weakly. "Remember how I told you she wanted to do all those crazy feats a while back? Well . . . one of those was winning a drinking contest. And . . . today is the anniversary of the formation of her band, so I wanted to do something nice for her."
"So, you decided to fulfill one of her wishes, although not in an entirely honest manner," he said with a playful glare.
"Yeah. Well, she looked thrilled when she won. So, I'm content with my decision," Hinata said with a smile. "Besides, a little white lie never hurt anyone, did it?"
Yuzuru hummed thoughtfully. "No, I suppose not."
A silence fell over the two of them as they lost themselves in thought.
"You know," Hinata said absentmindedly. "Yui wanted to do it with real liquor initially. But I didn't want to risk both of us getting drunk and doing something we might regret later, which is why I suggested coffee instead."
Yuzuru nodded in approval. "A good choice. You two have something special between the two of you, and it would be a shame if it were ruined by a careless decision."
A loud flush interrupted their conversation, followed by Yui strolling back towards the counter with a wide grin.
"All that caffeine is making me so excited! I feel like I could pump out a dozen lightning-fast guitar riffs, no sweat!"
Yuzuru smiled wryly at her declaration. "Don't push yourself too hard, now. Anyway, I wanted to ask you something . . ." He met her eyes. "Do you have any recording equipment?"
Yui tilted her head at him. "Recording equipment? You mean, cameras and mics and stuff? Yeah, we got those."
"I need another favor; I would like to borrow some of them."
Yui gazed at him with a curious expression. "Oh?" She grinned widely. "Is it for your 'mysterious friend'?" she asked with a knowing look.
Yuzuru nodded sheepishly. "Yeah. Sorry for the trouble."
She waved off his apology. "Oh, no it's fine. We had too much spare stuff lying around anyway. It'll be nice to put some of it to use. When do you need it by?"
"Can you bring it by in the evening?"
"Sure thing!"
He smiled. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
Yui smiled back. "No problem!" She plopped down at the counter and swung an arm around Hinata. "Let's go another round! Now that my stomach is swirling with coffee, maybe you'll stand a chance this time!"
"Wha – I really don't think this is a good idea –" Hinata sputtered.
Yuzuru watched the scene unfold with an amused expression. He was glad he hadn't given up back then, that he hadn't succumbed to the despair that threatened to engulf him when his sister passed away.
Because if he had, he wouldn't have been able to meet so many wonderful people.
And he wouldn't be able to have these scenes in his shop, laughing and poking fun with his customers-turned-friends.
He hoped that this wouldn't change, that he could cling to this happiness for a while longer.
But for now, he had a job to do.
"Coming right up!"
xxx
Kanade showed up at the usual time, as she always did.
Even when she had done something as drastic as inviting someone to live at her place for the time being the day before, she stalwartly stuck to her routine.
Of course, he was glad she had come. It would have been awkward if he had asked Yui to bring the equipment only for the person who was meant to utilize them to not show up.
Speaking of Yui . . .
"Heya! Kanade, right? Nice to meet ya!"
Kanade stared blankly at the girl she didn't know who was shaking her hand.
"Do I know you?"
Yui blinked, then chuckled in embarrassment as she realized her error. "Silly me, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Yui; I'm part of a band, so from one musician to another, I think you're amazing!"
"I see," Kanade said. "Thank you."
"Anyway, I brought the recording equipment for you!"
She was confused. "Recording equipment?"
"I asked her to bring it, Kanade," Yuzuru cut in. "I thought it might help with that problem of yours."
Now Yui was the one who looked confused. "What problem?"
He didn't answer; instead, he looked meaningfully at Kanade.
After a few moments, Kanade connected the dots. "Oh. That is a clever solution."
Before Yui could ask them about the subject they were dancing around, a loud banging noise came from the door.
"Hey! Wanna open up? My arms are killing me here!"
"He's finally here! Geez, I thought I told him to come sooner!" Yui said exasperatedly as she opened the door.
Hinata stumbled inside, his arms laden with a pair of box-shaped equipment with several circular shapes and buttons on their front. They were old, but they should work well enough for what Yuzuru had in mind.
The baseball player rushed over to where the other equipment was and quickly set down his own load before doubling over, panting for breath.
"Ugh, I thought my arms were gonna fall off from carrying those speakers around. Why did I get roped into doing this again?" he moaned.
"They're not speakers! They're studio monitors! And it's because the other band members were busy, and you wouldn't let your cute girlfriend move all this heavy equipment all by her lonesome now, would you?" Yui replied.
Yuzuru watched with amusement as the couple bickered with each other once again. Kanade stood next to him, her own eyes watching the scene unfold as well.
"Don't mind them. They're always like that," he said, answering her unspoken question.
She nodded. "I see."
Although the couple was entertaining to watch, it wouldn't do to be distracted from the real purpose of their meeting here.
He sighed and approached the pile of equipment, cables and wires entangled during their haphazard placement. It would take a while if he tried to sort this out on his own.
"Mind giving me a hand here, Kanade?"
Her approach was indicative enough of her agreement. As they sorted through the equipment and set up, a loud crash briefly interrupted their work.
Glancing behind him, he noticed that Yui had Hinata in yet another wrestling hold, and the two of them had tumbled into one of the chairs. "Don't rough around too much, okay? You might end up breaking something."
"Don't worry, Yuzuru! This sucker ain't going anywhere!"
"He – hey Yuzuru! Don't encourage her! ARGHHHHH!"
As he turned back around, he saw that Kanade's attention had also been drawn to the ruckus nearby.
"Just ignore them. Let's focus on getting this up and running, yeah?" he said.
She glanced at him, a certain thoughtfulness in her eyes lingering for a moment before dissipating.
"Okay."
xxx
"Phew! That wasn't so bad," Yuzuru said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Besides him, Kanade remained silent, although he could tell from her expression she was satisfied with their success as well.
He wasn't an expert on musical equipment, so he had little idea what many of the items were for or how to set them up, but Yui had been happy to answer their questions while she tried different methods to pin her boyfriend in place.
"Hey, what's this long rod?"
"Oh, that's the microphone stand! Make sure it's stable so the mic doesn't fall off, because if it does, then Hisako will kill me for wasting equipment!"
"Oi, can you get off me already?! I think I'm losing feeling in my arm . . ."
"Hey, what's this box with all these sockets?"
"Oh, that's the audio interface! Just plug the USB cord on it into the laptop and plug the studio monitors and the mic into it as well and it should be good to go!"
"Oi, are you even listening to me?! If I mess up at practice tomorrow because my arm is numb, Coach is gonna tan my hide!"
Eventually, everything was set up correctly, and Hinata even managed to get out from under Yui at some point (he was now sulking at the counter, nursing a drink that Yuzuru had whipped up for him out of pity).
"Alright!" Yui flexed her fingers as she sat behind the laptop and pulled up various programs. "Let me just configure the Digital Audio Workstation real quick, then we can get recording!"
Kanade moved to sit at the piano, looking curiously at all the cables and equipment that now surrounded her. As she almost stumbled over one particularly hidden cable, Yuzuru made a mental note to organize the equipment in a less . . . hazardous manner.
"Do you want the camera to capture full-body, or should it be closer and focus on, say, her hands?" Yui asked.
Yuzuru and Kanade shared a glance. Neither was sure of the pros and cons of each, but for now, Yuzuru would err on the side of caution and preserve Kanade's anonymity in the video.
"Just the hands for now," he said.
"Gotcha. Woo! Now, I'm ready when you are," Yui said with a smile.
Kanade looked at them hesitantly, still uncertain of what she was supposed to do.
"Just play a song," Yuzuru said. "If you can't decide, then just play whatever you played most recently."
"I've already started recording, so just begin whenever you're ready," Yui added.
Kanade nodded and settled her hands over the keys. She took a deep breath . . .
And a melody flowed out, as clear as water.
He had heard her play many times now, but he was still somewhat awed by the sheer grace of her performances. Every note was struck with utmost confidence; every beat was precisely followed.
Yui seemed just as mesmerized as he had been when he first saw Kanade play on TV, and even Hinata had broken out of his funk long enough to witness the performance.
And with a resounding climax, the song was over.
Yui stood up and applauded enthusiastically. "That was amazing! I think I've gotten a new idea for a song from that . . ."
Yuzuru and Hinata followed the cheerful girl's lead and clapped, although in a more moderate fashion.
"Fantastic as usual, Kanade."
"Man, you get to listen to this every night? I'm actually kind of jealous, Yuzuru."
As Yuzuru tried to ignore the sideways glare from Hinata boring into him, he looked at Yui and asked, "So, how's the recording? Did it come out alright?"
"Yea, yea, just gimme a second. I'm cropping out the beginning where we were all blabbering."
A few clicks of the mouse later, she swung back around with a flourish. "And, done! Now, let's give it a listen, shall we?"
They huddled around the laptop as Yui hit the play button. Immediately, that same, familiar melody played again, although the quality was somewhat worse than that of the live performance.
"Well, this equipment isn't top-of-the-line, but it gets the job done," she said.
With the camera's zoom, they could get a much better look at the leaps and jumps Kanade's hands were making at dazzling speed. Not a single finger was still for even a moment; they were all caught up in the same frenzied pace that the piece demanded of them.
The video ended, leaving the shop quiet once more.
"Well, I think it turned out alright," Yui said.
"I think so too. What about you, Kanade?" Yuzuru asked.
Kanade nodded quietly in agreement.
"Great! Now, what do you want me to do with the video anyway? I can just save it for later, unless you have something in mind . . . ?" Yui asked.
"Well . . ." Yuzuru's mind flashed back to what Yuri had shown him yesterday. "I have an idea, but I want to run it by Kanade first. It'll take a few minutes."
"Hmm? Oh, sure. Go ahead," Yui replied indifferently.
Yuzuru stepped into the hallway leading to his office and gestured for Kanade to follow. She stopped next to him and looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"I was thinking . . ." he said. "That maybe we should upload the video."
"Upload?"
"Yeah. You know, put it on the internet for everyone to see."
"Oh." She paused. "But why?"
"Well, I've heard that there are people who can make a living posting videos to the web. You said you didn't like performing at concerts, right?"
She nodded.
"But," he said, "you still enjoy playing the piano, don't you?"
She nodded again.
"So instead of being a concert pianist, you could just make music videos for a living instead. No one will even have to know it's you in particular; there are plenty of artists that remain anonymous. How does that sound?"
She glanced downwards, her brows furrowed in thought as she pondered his suggestion.
"I like the idea." She decided at last.
He smiled. "Great! Let's go tell Yui."
As they walked back into the main room together, Yui turned to them expectantly. "Well? What's the decision?"
"Why don't we upload the video?" he suggested.
Yui raised an eyebrow. "Upload it? Sure thing, if Kanade's cool with it." She looked at the pianist with a questioning look.
"I don't mind."
"Great! I'll just get this sucker cleaned up with a few edits, then it'll be ready for the world wide web!" Yui exclaimed. "But first . . ." She shot Yuzuru a look. "Another drink! You can't expect me to work on an empty stomach, can you?"
"I don't think that's what drinks are for . . ." Hinata protested.
"Shut it, you!"
xxx
"Ah, what a long day."
Yuzuru sighed as he followed Kanade back into her home. Yui had demanded several free drinks as payment for lending him her band's equipment (he wouldn't have minded as much if each successive drink didn't seem to make her work more slowly on the video edits).
Eventually, Yui declared that she had finished, which he had taken as his own cue to begin closing the shop. However, she had noticed that Kanade hadn't left yet and thus began talking with her about music and . . . whatever else girls talked about with each other.
Hinata had left some time ago, stating that he needed to turn in early so he would be well-rested for practice tomorrow.
After Yuzuru had finished with his preparations, Yui had taken it as her cue to leave, waving at Kanade while shouting that, "they really needed to do this again sometime!"
Kanade had waved back with her usual stoic expression, but Yui had been excited by the response all the same.
Afterward, they had walked back home together (he still felt it was strange for them to be living together, but she didn't seem bothered at all).
"If you're feeling hungry, I'll be making those sandwiches again. In the meantime, feel free to make yourself comfort –"
But Kanade had already strode past him and into the living room.
He blinked, then laughed softly.
"Guess she's already used to it."
He entered the kitchen and got to work. Once he finished, he went to the living room and found Kanade sitting on the couch and watching TV (he couldn't help but notice that her TV and couch were of far higher quality than the ones he had owned).
He stepped next to the couch and peered at the screen out of curiosity.
"A gardening show? I would never have thought you liked something like that."
"I enjoy watching them grow."
"Huh . . . well, whatever suits you, I guess. Anyway, the food is ready."
"I see."
As he turned around and walked away, he felt a sudden weight around his neck, causing him to stumble backward.
"WOAH!"
Whump.
Yuzuru could see that he had fallen onto the couch, but whatever he was lying on certainly didn't feel like a couch.
He twisted his head around to see Kanade with her arms wrapped around his neck, looking at him impassively as if they weren't currently in a compromising position.
"Um . . . what is this supposed to be?"
"This is the second time you've made food for me, so I thought I would express my gratitude."
"And just how is grabbing onto my neck a show of gratitude?"
"Yui said this is how I should do it."
"JUST WHAT HAS SHE BEEN FILLING YOUR EARS WITH?"
After untangling themselves from each other, they reconvened in the kitchen, a plate with a sandwich in front of each of them.
He tore into his food eagerly, the taste of tomatoes and mayonnaise filling his mouth.
"Hunger makes food taste much better, doesn't it?" he said lightheartedly.
"Hmm."
After her lackluster response, he noticed that Kanade was simply picking at her sandwich as if she weren't hungry at all.
He frowned. "You should eat. I'm sure you can't perform well on an empty stomach, right?"
She glanced up and blinked. "Huh? Oh, right." She began taking small bites out of her food.
Seeing her behavior, he was reminded of another topic that he had been meaning to discuss with her. But he didn't want to potentially sour the dinner's atmosphere, so he waited until they were both finished eating.
"Well, did you like it?" he asked.
She nodded. "It was good," she said softly.
He smiled. "I'm glad to hear that." He folded his arms and leaned forward. "I've been meaning to ask, but how long do you plan on letting me stay here?"
She paused in the midst of wiping her lips with a napkin. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you said you were fine with me staying for a while. But I can't just keep on taking advantage of your hospitality forever, right?"
She tilted her head. "So, you want to leave?"
He waved his hands frantically. "No, no! I just meant that I wouldn't be living here forever, that's all."
". . ."
Her silence wasn't exactly . . . reassuring.
"I have not thought about it," she finally said.
"Well, think about it while I go wash the dishes, alright?"
He stood up and walked to the kitchen, but just before he got out of earshot, he heard a faint string of words, barely audible.
"But . . . what if I don't want you to?"
He almost stumbled as he grasped her meaning.
She . . . wants me to stay here?
With her?
Indefinitely?
His heart was pounding. He found that part of himself was oddly pleased with the idea, but another part, the cynical aspect, whispered to him that it would never work out, that they weren't at all compatible.
He had never truly faced his feelings on the matter, but now he finally realized that after spending so much time with her in his shop, he had grown to like her.
No, that wasn't quite right.
He loved her.
The way her slim fingers danced across the keys, releasing a soothing lullaby.
The way her golden eyes shone, almost as if they possessed their own light.
The way she behaved just a little naively, a trait that he found endearing.
Truly, a perfect angel.
But did she feel the same way? Did she find him, a mere barista, to be worthy?
Some jaded part of him told him 'no,' that there was no way a famous pianist like her could possibly deign to be with him, and that he should forget that he heard anything and just move on.
But he couldn't ignore it. He couldn't ignore the fact that he had a chance.
A chance.
For happiness.
He looked down and realized that he had finished the dishes during his little internal monologue.
Now, all he had to do was walk back into the dining room and face her.
Kanade. The woman he loved.
Suddenly, he regretted telling her to think about giving him a deadline for moving out.
Then again, he supposed it could be considered a test. After all, if that was all it took to shake her, then a relationship never would have worked out anyway.
That's what he kept on telling himself as he strode back in, looking for all the world like he was full of confidence even as he tried to hide the fact that his whole body was trembling.
He must not have been successful, for Kanade looked at him with a concerned expression as he drew near.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"It's nothing," he said. "Anyway, have you thought about what I said?"
I hope you didn't, a small part of him whispered in his mind.
She remained silent for a long time. As every second passed, he could feel himself sweating profusely, the tension rising to nerve-wracking amounts.
"I did," she answered at last.
"Oh," he said with a tired expression. The knot in his gut that had been building loosened, a feeling of dejection spreading through him. "Well, when have you decided?"
"I want you to stay."
He couldn't have heard right. "Pardon?"
"I want you to stay here." She pointed at him. "With me."
He stared at her incomprehensibly. There was no way this was true. That this beautiful, wonderful girl would pick him of all people.
Yet . . . she already had, didn't she?
"You said an anchor is someone I could confide in."
"And that is what I am doing right now."
That's right, she had already picked him to be her 'anchor.'
How had he forgotten? He had been so happy about it at that moment, but he hadn't known just how much value she had placed in his position as her confidante.
Of course, this didn't confirm it. He had to know for sure.
He managed to barely open his mouth to utter the crucial question.
"Why?"
She looked at him long and hard. Every moment felt as if his heart might burst from the sheer pressure.
"Because I need you."
His heart skipped a beat.
"What do you . . . mean by that?" he stuttered.
Her fingers tapped the table as she organized her thoughts, creating a steady rhythm like a metronome.
"You're the only one . . . who talks to me like this. Someone who doesn't care about my fame and listens to my personal worries. And . . . whenever I'm around you, I get this strange feeling in my heart, like I don't want to ever let you go."
Kanade had her hopes dashed before.
Being adopted by that man had been a mistake, one that had condemned her to years of loneliness.
But if that was what led her to meet Yuzuru, then perhaps it was all worth it . . .
The two of them stared at each other, their hearts racing with both hope and trepidation.
"Kanade . . ." he said slowly. "When you say 'strange feeling' . . . do you mean . . . love?"
She blinked at him.
Love?
Love was something unfamiliar to her.
She couldn't remember her parents' love for her (if there had been any, at all).
Her adopted father was no better.
But . . . as she scrutinized this deep attachment in her heart that made her want to stay with Yuzuru . . . she felt it might be love after all.
She liked him. That was for sure.
His earnest desire to help others . . .
The many ways he had helped her in particular . . .
But really, at the end of the day . . .
It was just nice to have someone to talk to.
Someone who would listen to her and not judge her.
Someone who would hear her worries and lend a helping hand.
Someone who she could trust with her secrets and be trusted in return.
If this someone was a person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with . . .
Then surely, that must be love?
She looked at him, that face she had so seen so often.
She wanted to see him every day, to comfort and support each other as they have so far for all eternity.
So really, there was only one answer to his question.
She nodded.
"I love you."
Yuzuru's heart stopped. In that instant, nothing else seemed to matter. Nothing except the girl in front of him, and the words he had always wanted to hear from her mouth.
He closed his eyes and breathed out softly. It wouldn't be fair to her if he didn't return the favor now, was it?
"I love you too."
Her eyes widened. As if she hadn't thought he would reciprocate her feelings.
Well, he had thought the same just a few moments prior. But now was the time for actions to take the forefront.
He stood up and walked over to her. Her golden eyes tracked him as he approached, dazzling him with their beauty.
He reached out and pulled her into a hug.
Her arms snaked out and looped around his neck, a near imitation of when she had grabbed him in the living room.
But this time, he made no move to shake her off.
Now, he wanted to hold onto her for all eternity.
Forever and ever.