The piano sounded natural, it might be one of the most beautiful ballads he had heard in his life.
Closing his eyes, he listened carefully.
The sound of the piano was clear and ethereal.
Haru was clearly in the bedroom, but he had an illusion that he was standing on the vast horizon.
Above his head, the Milky Way was as gorgeous as a waterfall.
Under his feet was a water which reflected the beautiful Milky Way in the sky.
Standing beside him was someone, holding hands together, watching this ethereal horizon together.
The sound of notes passing from the fingertips was like shining stars in the sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
Haru couldn't help but stretch out his hand, grabbed something, and then only realized that he was still in the bedroom.
Opening his eyes, Haru's gaze was attracted to the red-haired girl who played ecstatically.
Her ten fingers were so beautiful, each of them moved so daintily, a string of melodious notes overflowed from the piano.
The night breeze blew over her, blowing her red nightdress, floating like a fairy which stunned him for a moment.
Haru didn't know how long it had been, and with the last tap of Maki's fingertips, the song ended, but he hadn't recovered since this music was so beautiful.
"W, what are you gawking for?!" Maki's slightly embarrassed voice awakened Haru.
Maki turned to Haru sideways, with one hand on her chest and the other hand gently curling the ends of her hair. She took a peek at him and then quickly retracted her eyes. "Although it is useless to ask you, after all, it's my first time to let someone hear this song, so what do you think?"
Although, she tried to act as calm as possible and put her cool expression, it was difficult to hide the tension in her voice.
Haru took a deep breath and said, "It's magnificent work! As expected, you really have a talent in music! Do you have any lyrics for this song?"
"Wait! Wait! How can I answer so many questions at once!"
"I'm sorry. I'm a bit impatient." Haru touched his head, and smiled embrassedly. "Then first, what is the name of this song?"
"I conceived this piano piece a long time ago, but in some key points, I always hesitate."
Maki stood up from the white piano, walked to the balcony, holding the railing with both hands, and said, "Now, I finally figured it out. Regarding the name, I'm going to name it, "by your side (kimi no tonari wa)"." She looked at him and asked, "Haru-chan, what do you think?"
"Very good, it feels in line with the concept of the song, but please stop calling me Haru-chan," Haru said with a helpless expression.
Maki only laughed hearing his words.
Haru got up from the bed, walked to her side, and looked at the sky with her. He thought of something and tapped the rail slowly while closing his eyes.
Maki didn't say anything and stood by his side closely while watching the stars. She smiled and felt happy, but she felt annoyed when she thought how bastard this guy was.
"Maki, I've thought of a lyric for this song," Haru suddenly said.
"Eh?" Maki was startled, but then she stared at him. "Really?"
"Yes, you play the song and I'll sing beside you, what do you think?" Haru asked.
Maki thought for a while and nodded. "Well, you're very good at writing something, it is also one of the reasons why there are a lot of little girls who have been deceived by you."
"..."
Haru was speechless and asked, "Do you have to mention it now?"
Maki hummed and took another chair beside the white piano before sitting. She patted the free chair beside her and said, "What are you waiting for?"
"Good."
Haru sat beside Maki and prepared to sing. He was a top rocker in the world of Hundred and of course, his voice was very good.
"You're ready?" Maki looked at Haru in anticipation.
"You can start," Haru said.
Maki nodded and started to play.
The ethereal melody started to echo in this room.
(BGM: ZAQ - Kimi no Tonari wa).
"Don't say a thing as I face your back…
what should I say?
I'm in love with you… I don't really have a reason…
but I'm always making excuses and I lose my courage."
Maki felt that her face was very hot when she heard the lyrics. However, she continued to play since she was curious and loved the lyrics.
"Looking at the shooting stars,
I feel like I can hear them sparkle.
If I'm with you, I could even share my feelings with proses like that…"
Maki recalled when both of them didn't dare to look at each other and only faced each other back shyly. It was quite silly, but she thought that it was very nice.
"All these pieces of love become one…
Even if I word it with cheap words, my feelings might not reach you…
But if I don't say anything at all you might disappear…
Just like those stars…"
Maki started to let out tears when she thought that she would lose him. In her mind, he had become a star, she was a mortal that could only stare at a star in the sky longing for its warmth.
"Are you crying somewhere?
How can I make you smile?
I want to connect all the dots with my fingers and make it a constellation.
I don't want to be facing back to back… look this way and then let's walk side by side."
At the end of the song, Maki realized that he was beside him, sitting there, staying by her side, playing with her, and accompanying her when she was lonely.
When the song ended, Haru had to admit that he was quite satisfied with the lyrics that he had composed. He looked at Maki and asked, "What do you think?" He stared at Maki, but Maki also stared at him.
"...."
Both of them stared at each other for a long time.
Maki seemed very shy at that moment and her face was as red as her hair. She closed her eyes and waited for him.
As a man, of course, Haru knew what he should do at this moment. He moved closer and took her chaste lips.
It was only a moment of second, but it felt like an eternity for both of them.
When their lips parted, Maki touched her lips and didn't expect that being kissed would feel this good. It felt like her entire body was electrocuted, but at the same time, she felt that her chest was full and she wasn't sure what to do.
"Haru...."
Tears started to well up from her eyes, staring at him with her purple eyes, waiting for him to say something.
Haru hugged Maki in his arms and said, "I..." He wanted to say "I love you", but he felt that it was too cheap since he thought that he had said those words several times to various girls.
In his arms, Maki felt complete at this moment, she didn't move away, snuggling into his arms. She wanted to be as close as possible, feeling his warmth.
"I love you, Haru-chan...
My feelings have never changed and I still love you. I've always prayed every night for you to marry me..."
"I'm sorry...."
Maki's heart thumped and stopped in that moment.
"I love you too, Maki... but you should know that I already have a girlfriend, leaving them for you is..."
"Wait! Them?" Maki looked at his face and asked, "There's more than one?"
"Yes."
Haru didn't have anything to hide. He also felt that something like this should be cleared in the beginning so she wouldn't be disappointed later.
"Do you still like me?" Maki asked.
"Of course, I like you. If you ask me to marry you again then I won't hesitate to bring you to the government office to register our marriage," Haru said. He had married two times and one of them was in the modern world so he was quite knowledgeable about the process of marriage.
"M, marriage...?!" Maki blushed then hung her head down.
"Maki?"
"Let's do it!" Maki looked at him.
"Huh?"
"Let's get married!"
"....."
Haru blinked his eyes and said, "Like I've said before that I have a girlfriend."
"I don't care!" Maki had made up her mind and said, "Or what you've said is a lie?"
"...."
"Well, let's go out now," Haru said. He didn't think too much and since this girl wanted to get married then what was he afraid of?
Maki was startled, but at the same time, she was excited.
"My car is outside. Let's go to the government office now."
Maki wasn't sure how he was going to take her outside, but she was suddenly being carried in his arms. It might be her imagination, but his movement was very agile and he jumped from the rooftop to the wall before they arrived in front of his car.
"...."
Maki looked at Haru and asked, "You're a ninja?"
"Don't tell anyone, alright?" Haru made a gesture for her to be quiet.
"....."
Maki understood why this guy was able to enter her room.
---
Haru and Maki walked to the quiet park.
Haru could see that the park was empty and there was no one there. The only thing which he could hear was the sound of buzzing insects on the street lamp which was somehow quite relaxing.
"....."
Looking at quiet Maki, Haru apologized and said, "Sorry, I'm not 18 years old yet."
Maki and Haru had gone to the government office to register their marriage, but it was rejected since he hadn't reached a legal age.
"No, it is also my fault for being too hasty..." Maki was blushing and felt very embrassed since her age also hadn't reached a legal age to marry.
Neither of them had reached a legal age but it wasn't impossible for them to marry each other but it was troublesome.
To marry each other, Haru needed to be in his 18 and Maki needed to be in her 16, and they needed to have the approval of their guardian or parents.
If they wanted to marry without the approval of their guardian or parents then they needed to be at least 18 years old or else, it was impossible.
Well, Haru could use the money, but he knew that a marriage wasn't that simple and he felt that it was too hasty after he had arrived at the government office.
Maki looked at his hand which held her hand gently.
"So you're alright with it?" Haru asked. He knew that he was unfair to Maki, especially when he had a lot of lovers beside her.
"Don't ask me that question again!" Maki looked at him and said, "I've decided to marry you so I've prepared myself. Don't look down on me."
Haru smiled and said, "I know. I'm really lucky to have you."
"So you should treasure me more." Maki pouted and looked away, but then she was hugged.
"I love you."
This time it was more natural than before, Haru was wondering how there was such a cute girl in this world.
Maki also hugged him tightly and said, "I love you too, Haru-chan."
Haru was helpless and said, "Didn't I tell you not to call me, Haru-chan?"
"Noop! I'll call you that!"
Haru was speechless, but then both of them stared at each other.
"No... not here...." Maki blushed and looked away, but her cheek was being caressed gently then her chin was lifted. She closed her eyes then felt something warm on her lips. She was familiar with this feeling and she had never forgotten about it.
Unlike before, this kiss was so good that Maki felt that something would burst out from her chest.
They kissed each other for a few minutes before they parted their lips.
"Ha... Ha... Ha..." Maki breathed unevenly then stared at his eyes shyly. "T, take care of me from now on, Haru-chan."
"Of course!"
Haru felt that he was a very fortunate man.
---
Haru sent Maki back to her house again. This time, he didn't hide his acrobatic skill and jumped from roof after roof before they returned to Maki's room.
"You're not staying here?" Maki asked.
Both of them had just confirmed their relationship so she didn't want to part from him.
"Do you want me to sleep with you?" Haru asked.
Maki blushed and curled the end of her hair. "I, if you really want it then I, I don't mind."
Haru felt tempted, but he shook his head. "Let's do it next time. You still have a concert tomorrow and if we sleep together then I might not be able to stop myself."
Maki felt her face was hot, but she understood what this guy was saying. "...Pervert." With a mosquito-like voice she said, but at the same time, she knew that she needed to be prepared.
"I'll go home, but before that, can I have one more kiss?" Haru asked.
Maki was shy, but she nodded. She tiptoed and kissed his lips again.
However, at this moment the door opened so suddenly...
"Maki-chan, have you gone to sleep?"
"......"
Maki, Haru, and Nishikino Tsuki felt that the time had stopped at that moment and no one said anything.
"Cough! Cough! Sorry for bothering you..." Nishikino Tsuki quietly closed the door.
"......"
Maki hadn't woken up, but she was almost crying at that moment. She wasn't sure what to do, but then the door opened again.
"Did you bring a condom? You're still a minor so you need to be careful!"
"MOM!!!!!"
"....."
Haru was glad to know that he wasn't at a legal age to marry so Maki's mother wouldn't be able to force him to marry her daughter, knowing that he had stolen her first kiss.