"Arima-kun! If you let anything happ-"
"Dad! Relax! It's only high school"
It's been a year since then, the day Kousei met Kaori. And now, it's time to move past Junior High as the school year ended. Both Kaori and Kousei had been accepted into their school of choice, the Tokyo School of Music. It was a high school that had recently been constructed, being connected to the prestigious Tokyo College of Music. It was a dream come true for the now 15 year old and 14 year old to be accepted. The group were at the train station, Kousei's and Kaori's train would be leaving shortly.
"But still! It's so far! How am I meant to get my precious daughter her caneles now!?"
"It's only an hour dad!"
Kaori replies, but her dad continued to worry. He's too overprotective of his little girl.
"I'm sorry for this Arima-kun.. Please, take care of our daughter"
Mrs Miyazono sighed, pulling her husband away by the collar.
"I won't let you down!"
Kousei would respond as Kaori's parents walked away, putting a smile on Mrs Miyazono's face.
"Yeah Kousei, you don't gotta leave~"
Tsubaki and Watari chimed in, agreeing with Mr Miyazono. Of course they'd be there to send off their best friends.
"Well, I'm leaving for sure. And so is Kaori~"
This would leave his 2 childhood friends a bit sad, but they've been prepared for months by this point. But despite that, it'll always hurt to say bye.
"I'll see you guys in summer, alright?"
"Mhm, see you two lovebirds then~"
Watari replied, teasing the two. They've gotten used to it by now, it's been over a month since they began dating after all.
"Come on Kaori, let's go~"
Kaori would grab onto his hand, smiling. It was a bit tough for her to move, live in dorms and be away from her loving parents. But this was the opportunity of a lifetime for a young musician. One that she couldn't refuse.
"Alright, see you guys in summer"
The two would board the train, leaving Watari and Tsubaki alone on the platform.
"So, school starts in a couple days. We have time to spare, wanna go on a date?~"
Watari would ask, attempting to get a reaction out of Tsubaki. And that he did, Watari earned himself a kick in the shin.
"Not a date, make it a hangout session dumbass~"
Tsubaki would snap back, wearing a bittersweet smile. Even if Kousei and Kaori had left, at least she had one friend. Sure, he's a dumbass, but that's better than nothing.
"Uuuuuggghhh, I'm gonna miss dad's caneles... I wanna go home..."
Kaori pouted, slouching in her seat.
"I know you do, but you can't go back now. Come on, it's a prestigious high school. Once in a lifetime opportunity, if you transfer you're gonna regret it"
Kousei spoke calmly, putting one of his earbuds in his girlfriend's ears as he would play some music from Goose House (if the anime can do this, so can I)
"You listen to Goose House!?"
Kaori was surprised, her eyes widened with an amused smirk as she looked at her boyfriend, who was currently leaning on her shoulder.
"Hehe, Tsubaki had the exact same reaction~"
"Hmm? She did?"
"Mhm~"
Kousei answered, smiling as he looked back upon his memories.
She doesn't know why, but this bothered Kaori. She wasn't jealous, but seeing how Tsubaki has a long history with Kousei bothered her, making her insecurities act up. He loves her, she knows he does. But, they haven't even known each other for a year..while Tsubaki and Kousei have a decade of history together..
The two swiftly arrived to their new highschool, attending an assembly where quite the few people recognised Kousei, The Human Metronome. Many couldn't believe that his performances finally expressed emotions, it's him after all. He was a boy devoid of life and emotions not even 3 years ago.
Even when he returned to the stage, he struggled. What could have caused such an abrupt change in his music?
It seems as though Kousei's high school life was going to be a tough one.
After assembly, many students were assigned dorm rooms based on where they lived. So for Kousei and Kaori who were both from Nerima, they get to live next to each other for the next 3 years.
Kousei had finished unpacking quickly, not really taking much from home. The most he brought was his collection of sheet music, which took up an entire luggage. And it would only be a small portion of his overall collection.
So he began helping Kaori unpack, she took more than he did. Decorations, plushies, whatever she couldn't bear to part with, she brought.
Soon enough, the room was done, plushies adorning her desk and bed. Two in particular caught Kousei's eye.
A pink bunny and yellow bear plushy, he picked the two up, trying to remember them.
"Kousei~ Did you forget about these two?~"
Kaori snatched them from his hands, diving onto her bed as she snuggled with them, treating them as if they were extremely important.
"Uh...no?"
He lied and Kaori knew it.
"Hospital escaaapee~"
Kaori teased, giving a hint.
"Ooooooh, you made me buy these two for you when you dragged me to the mall. I remember know. Hehe, can't believe you escaped from the hospital just to see me~"
Kousei got onto her bed, laying beside her as he looked at her, admiring everything about her. Kaori's face turned slightly pink as he pointed that out, it was embarrassing to be reminded of that. She got in so much trouble.
"Can it! And who said you could lay on my bed!?~"
"It's fine, I'm your boyfriend right?~"
"Hmph, fair enough~"
The two would move their lips closer to the other's face, slowly kissing each other.
As the two kissed, the door swung wide open alerting the two, they quickly got up only for the door to be slammed shut.
"Wrong person again?"
The flustered couple could hear a female voice through the wall.
"No no, right person... caught at the wrong time.."
A male voice responded, sounding a bit flustered.
The door would open once more, revealing a spiky haired blond and a girl with straight black hair dropping down to her waist. Kousei would recognise the two, the two had self-appointed themselves as his rivals since childhood. Emi Igawa and Takeshi Aiza.
"...who's she again?..."
Takeshi asked himself, a confused look, he recognised the girl. She was a part of Kousei's group, he's seen them together before performances.
"W-What are you doing in my room!?"
Kaori shouted, her face red. She was pretty darn annoyed, she was so darn close to a makeout session with Kousei. And those are rare!
"Isn't it obvious! Looking for him! Why are you in a girls' ro- Ooooooohh, this is the girl!"
"Eh?"
Kaori was confused, they know her?
"This is her!? Really? So, Arima likes this type of girl?"
Emi asked, looking Kaori up and down as if she were examining the young blonde.
Kousei sighed, he's gonna have to explain all this, isn't he?
"Kaori, these are my self appointed rivals, Emi Igawa and Takeshi Aiza, who's also the brother of my student~"
Kousei sounded passive aggressive when he said they were his self appointed rivals, and especially with that last comment. He too, was annoyed at the interruption.
"I see that now"
Kaori looked at the two, eyeing Emi in particular. Emi has always been suspicious to Kaori, she's always looked as if she had feelings for Kousei. Kaori had to watch out for this one.
"So, we've been going door to door tr-"
"You've been slamming every door open!?"
Kaori pointed out before Takeshi could get the next word in.
"S-Shut u-"
"Don't"
Kousei spoke with an icy tone, he won't allow anyone to speak to Kaori that way if they truly mean it. If it's playful fun, it's fine. But if it's someone she just met, he'll protect her. He's been asked to do so by her parents after all.
"Hm, you sure are overprotective of your girlfriend aren't you Arima?"
Emi teased the 15 year old boy, seeing how deep his love for Kaori runs. She already knows based on his heartfelt performance. But, seeing it in person is pretty entertaining.
"Yeah yeah, now get out of my room already. Only Kousei can be in here"
Kaori shoved the two out, slamming the door behind them, she was still annoyed. She wanted that makeout session pretty badly.
"Alright alright, sorry for disturbing your lovey dovey time~"
Takeshi teased through the door, the footsteps of the two could be heard, getting quieter and quieter.
Kaori sighed, jumping onto her bed once again as she burrows her head into her pillow.
"I wanted to kiss you so badly! Goddamn them!"
Kaori shouted into her pillow, her voice being muffled.
"Well, at least they left"
Kousei turned her over, pressing his lips against hers. They tasted sweet, felt soft and moist.
Her lips felt like Heaven, and he always felt a spark when they were pressed together.
And she thought the same.