Chapter Three: You Remembered (March)

Kousei Perspective

Setting: Arima Residence

Bzzzz-bzzzz

As my eyes lazily slid open, I saw my phone vibrating on the floor next to me. Wiping a bit of drool off the side of my mouth, I lifted my body up…

DONG "GAHHH!" I hit my head on the bottom of my piano.

Rubbing my scalp, I picked up the phone. No sooner had I accepted the call when I heard the sweetest voice say:

"WAKE UP BAKA!"

Ears ringing from my girlfriend's yell, I moved the phone away from my face and put her on speaker:

"You know, you don't have to be so loud in the morning."

"It's 9:45 am, Kousei. Maybe if you actually got some sleep, I wouldn't have to wake you up half the time."

"Warui warui. Do you need something?"

"As a matter of fact I do. I need you to go pick me up some eggs."

"Kaori, your family runs a bakery. Don't you..."

"Kousei…"

"Ok ok, I'll bring them over."

"Thanks, baka." She hung up the phone.

I sighed as I leaned up against the wall and inhaled deeply. Ever since Kaori had gotten out of the hospital, we had started dating. Of course, I couldn't have anyone better in the world. But, I could certainly do without these early morning wake-up calls on the weekends.

Since I'm soon to be a student at Okutsu College of Music Affiliated High School, I decided last week to begin practicing for hours every day and night, in hopes of impressing my teachers. Usually, these sessions would entail me playing first with Nagi at Hiroko's house, and then practicing into the night at home. Needless to say, that resulted in me waking up late every morning. Kaori, being the busybody she is, has become my personal alarm clock.

She's going to Okutsu as well, since the school was moved by both her musical prowess and her story. She's been practicing as well, but you know her. Loud. Full of energy. Indefatigable. The total opposite of me. So, even though she's been having similar practice sessions, she seems to need much less sleep than I do.

Anyway, back to why she asked me to buy her eggs: Kaori's been adjusting to life in her wheelchair. She's still same old Kaori, but it's harder for her to leave her house and get around. Usually, if she goes out, I'm her personal chauffeur. I don't mind it, but lately I've been more of a bellboy. She'll call me and tell me to buy something or get something, and of course, I'll do it. Someone times when I give it to her, I swear I hear an evil cackle emanating from her throat. Well, what's a guy gonna do?

After I threw on some clothes and grabbed a box of Moo Moo Milk, I opened the door and hopped on my bike. As I pedaled along, a cool breeze blew through my hair. Houses whizzed past. A couple blocks down, I heard the bellow of a train's horn. I looked up at the sky and saw an azure sky, splattered with an occasional plump, cloud. Everything was the same as it had been a year ago, except for one thing: Kaori. She's a total hardass. She grinds my gears everyday. And, she still thinks I'm some sort of pervert for some reason.

Yet, no one challenges me like she does. No one motivates me like she does. And no one inspires me more than she does. This past year with her in my life has easily been the hardest. But, she's pushed me past my limits to places I never thought I'd be.

I skidded to a halt in front of the grocery store. Strolling in, I heard the unsatisfying suction of an empty milk box. I gave the box a light squeeze before tossing it into the trash. I sauntered over to the dairy section and picked up a small carton of eggs. Walking over to the cash register, I came to a halt at the end of the checkout line. As I waited for my turn, I checked my phone to see if Kaori needed anything else. Opening my phone, I checked the time: 3/28/16 10:15 am

March 28th. There's something special about that day isn't there? Isn't there? ….

As I began to pay for the eggs, it hit me. It's my birthday. I was fifteen today.

I headed out back to my bike. I hopped on and began to pedal towards Ma Fille. I wonder if Kaori knows it's my birthday. I've never been one to get too excited about my birthdays. It was just… something we never celebrated in our house. Dad was always gone on business. And since Mom got sick, she wasn't able to spend time with me unless it was for piano. Sometimes, Tsubaki and Watari came over, but it didn't happen last year because they were both so busy with sports. So, I don't really expect anything this year.

After a brisk ride (I didn't want to incur Kaori's wrath), I came to a stop right in front of Ma Fille.

"Yo, Kousei!"

As I swung my legs off my bike, I saw Watari walking towards me. His bike was laid against the brick wall of the bakery, and he was clad in casual attire, donning his goofy, trademark smile.

"Hey, Watari. What are you doing here?"

"Not sure. Kaori asked me to come over."

"She got you too, huh?"

"Yeah, but I least I don't have to be her sweet little errand boy." He laughed back, noticing the eggs I was carrying.

"Haha…" I replied, scratching my head.

I opened the door for us. A bell dinged overhead as we trudged into the bakery.

"Ah, Kousei and Watari!" Kaori's mom was putting some fresh pastries on display.

"Hey, boys. Mind helping me carry some of these bags?" I put down my eggs, and Watari and I rushed over to help Mr. Miyazono. We transferred some heavy bags of flour to the back.

Coming back out to the shop, Watari wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and put his hands on his hips. I plopped down on a chair to catch my breath. No sooner had I exhaled when I heard the rumble of wheels roll into the room.

"Good morning, boys!" Kaori wheeled in giving Watari a smile. She immediately came to my side. I felt a playful slap on the back of my head.

"You seem to have taken you sweet time, you laggard." Kaori smirked.

"Well, I just woke up. I didn't have any time to warm up." I sighed.

"Thank you," she giggled, giving me a radiant smile. She grabbed the eggs and put her on her lap.

"Hey Kaori," Watari piped up. "So, what did you call me over here for?"

"Oh, actually I had a task for the two of you. Tsubaki's out buying something for me. I think she'll need your male expertise to help her pick out what she needs. So, if you could meet her at the mall, that would be much appreciated."

"You don't want to come?" I asked. I know she loves the mall.

"No, I have something to do over here at the shop," she replied, motioning back at her parents. "Don't worry, it should be quick. Watari, make sure Kousei doesn't get away."

Watari threw his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in. "You got it Kaori-sama!" he exclaimed with a wink, as Kaori laughed and her parents bade us goodbye. He dragged me out the door, and plopped me down on my bike.

Watari whipped out his phone and dialed for Tsubaki.

"Mhm… mhm… OK… Yeah yeah, see you there." He closed his phone, and pocketed it. "Let's go over to the mall, Kousei."

When we got to the mall, Watari called Tsubaki again; she said she was in an arts and crafts store. Odd, I didn't know Kaori was into arts & crafts. Well, if there was anyone who would be open to trying new things, it would be her.

"Watari, are either Tsubaki or Kaori into arts & crafts?" I piped up, as we were walking.

"Hmm, I don't know. But, if there's anything I learned, it's to not question a girl, especially if she's beautiful… LIKE THAT TOTAL HOTTIE OVER THERE! AND THERE! Oh, I love the mall."

If teleportation really existed, Watari would be a certain culprit of using it. As we walked, he seemed to ask me a question one moment and greet a girl a couple meters away the next. As I walked into the arts & crafts store, I scanned the room for any sign of Tsubaki.

"Kousei!"

Tsubaki ran over to me, carrying rolls of something in her arms.

"Hmm, I thought Watari was supposed to be with you." She said as she craned her neck over my shoulder. I did a double take. Wow, I lost him.

"He's somewhat occupied by his lifelong endeavor of courtship." I groaned.

"Well, that's him, I guess," Tsubaki laughed. "Oh, so this is why you're here." She thrusted the contents of her arms into my own. Attempting to balance them all, she explained:

"Kaori wanted to buy ribbons. I don't know for what, but I'm trying to decide on a color. What do you think she'll like, Kousei?"

I thought for a moment and realized I might be between a rock and a hard-place right now. If I got something I think she'd like (which would probably be a bright pink), she might berate me for thinking too childishly of her. On the other hand, if I got something to counter that, perhaps a darker color, she'd blame me for being too dreary.

"Uhhh, I really don't know." Tsubaki's face contorted into a pout.

"Kousei, come on. Be a man here. A man has to know what he wants, and what his woman wants."

"Yeah, listen to King Kong. She has a point." Watari strutted over, waving to me and Tsubaki, who looked like an erupting volcano at the moment.

"What did you say, Watari?" Tsubaki sneered, cracking her knuckles.

Watari put his hands up in hopes of appeasing her. "I'm just saying that I think Kousei really knows Kaori best. So, whatever he chooses she'll like."

Watari's ploy didn't get him anywhere, as Tsubaki still lunged at him for his insult. As he tried to escape her wrath, I thought about what he said. He definitely did have a point. Other than when Kaori explicitly specified what she wanted, she typically liked what I got her.

"Let's go with lavender ribbons."

My two friends stopped their tussle immediately. Tsubaki had Watari in a headlock, while Watari's arms were mid-flail.

"Why that color, Kousei?" Watari inquired.

"Well, it's the same color as that dress she wore during our first performance together. So, she must like it, and I definitely like it."

Truth be told, lavender had actually become my favorite color. It reminded me of Kaori, and it had a unique manly quality to it. I don't know how, but it definitely resonated with me.

"I like that, Kousei." Tsubaki replied, releasing Watari from her snare of death. Watari meekly nodded, massaging the sides of his neck. Tsubaki ran back over to the ribbon section. When she returned seconds later, she carried a neat stack of lavender ribbons. We paid for them, and left the store.

As we walked back towards the entrance, Tsubaki said:

"Jeez, I feel like we haven't had anything to celebrate lately. I mean, after Kaori's recovery party, there hasn't been much going on."

"Yeah, I could certainly use some excitement." Watari replied. "I wish there was something to celebrate, don't you, Kousei?"

"Huh, yeah, mhm," I replied. I didn't want to say that it was my birthday today. Of course, I enjoyed celebrating with my friends. But, I always found it somewhat self-centered for someone to remind others that it's his or her birthday. And, since everyone's been so busy, I don't blame them.

Sadly, neither of them realized what day it was as we walked out of the mall. As we all got on to our bikes, my cell phone rang:

Kaori Miyazono

I picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hiya. Did you all pick up the ribbons?" Kaori's voice rang out from my phone.

"Of course. I don't think I'd be allowed back if we didn't, right?"

"Wow, smart guy," Kaori giggled. "I need you to do one more big favor for me, please."

"Mhm, yeah, what is it?"

"My family ordered a package for me to pick up at the glass shop. May you pick it up for me, please?"

"This is the last one, right?" I questioned half-heartedly.

"Mhm, should be! But, I need the ribbons ASAP. So, tell Watari and Tsubaki to come on over, ok?"

"Gotcha, see you soon."

"Bye bye!" Kaori hung up the phone. I looked over my shoulder to relay the message to an antsy Watari & Tsubaki.

"Hey you guys, I have to pick something up, so you two can…"

"OK," they said in unison. Within a blink of an eye, they sped away towards Ma Fille. Meanwhile, I turned the other way to pedal to pick up the glass ware.

To say I was crushed would be an overstatement. Sure, I really wanted to spend time with my friends. But, they live their own lives, so I don't expect them to hover around me and serve me every desire. But, today was my birthday. And, the fact that Watari, Tsubaki, and Kaori all seemed to not notice that stung a little bit.

I came to my penultimate stop, and I walked into the glass ware store towards the front desk. All around me, I saw beautiful works of art. A peerless dove in flight. An alert glass reindeer seemingly watching for any danger. A proud dog puffing its transparent chest out to the admirer. Though I found the most beauty and fulfillment in music, I do really enjoy seeing these types of art.

Seeing myself face to face with the owner, a spindly, wizened old man, I greeted, "Hello, I'm here to pick up an order for Miyazono."

"Ah yes," he replied in a scratchy yet gentle tone. He slowly trudged back behind a multitude of shelves, and returned with a small box. "I have that right here. And, it's been prepaid for sir, so no worries there. Thank you for your order."

"Thank you, sir," I replied, bowing.

Finally, I could stop running errands. Even though it had just turned to early afternoon, I was absolutely beat. Birthday or not, I was ready to just spend the rest of my day on my own. I don't know if it was the fatigue or even a little bit of hurt at the ignorance of my friends towards me. Regardless, I just needed a break from all this on my birthday.

As I whizzed past homes, I studied the box Kaori had requested from the bottom of my eyes. Lying in a basket on the front of my bike, whatever was inside it seemed so small and fragile (which it probably was). My curiosity began itching me as I became more and more anxious to know what was in the box.

Pulling up in front of Ma Fille, I leaned my bike up against the side of the shop and picked up the box. Peering inside, the windows were all closed. That's weird. I craned my neck to look at the door. The "Closed" sign was open, but the door was ajar.

Stepping in, the lights were off.

"SURPRISE!"

Wha-

I look around. There's a huge banner adorning the wall. All of my friends are here, elated with party favors. It's like there's a birthday party or something…

Wait, is this for me?

I feel something crash onto my side. I turn my head, and see big radiant blue eyes beaming at me under a crown of golden hair from her makeshift throne.

"Surprise, do you like it?" my princess asked.

I didn't know what to say. I hadn't had a birthday celebration in years, so this was a surprise to say the least. Looking around, I saw them all. Tsubaki. Watari. Nagi. Emi. Takeshi. Everyone. Kaori had done this all for my birthday. She remembered. Looking at the elation and hope in Kaori's eyes made me start to tear up.

She wrapped her arms around me, seeing that the waterworks were about to burst.

"I didn't throw this for you so that you'd cry, baka! Here, open your present." she exclaimed, letting me go and pointing at the box.

Holding back a snivel, I leaned down so that I was level with Kaori on her wheelchair and stared at the little box. I carefully lifted the top off.

Inside was a little glass star. I picked it up and held it up to the light.

"It's a star. I couldn't think of what to get you, but then I remembered that night I rode on the back of your bike. When we looked up at the stars, ya know. So, I just wanted to remember it. I know it's kind of silly, but…"

I interrupted her with the tightest hug I could muster.

"This is better than I could've imagined. Thank you so much, Kaori" I choked out into her ear.

I felt her smile against my neck. She had won me over again.

"OIII, lets break up this hugging and start the cake."

We broke apart and saw Mr. Miyazono bringing in a cake, with a vein popping at the top of his head.

Kaori and I both looked at each other, laughed, and went over to the party that she had organized for me.