I open my eyes slowly, and stretch.
No noise? Perfect.
I step out onto the balcony and contemplate the dawn.
This was my first vacation outside my sanctuary.
Finally, I was able to fit in with a group of high school students in 3D.
Is this really what I want?
I don't fucking know…
The fireworks, the courage test. Through all of this, I've discovered a side of myself that I didn't know I had…
I'm freaking myself out.
By the way, Chizu made new friends. They should take good care of her.
I smile.
Footsteps interrupt my thoughts.
I turn around and watch Aneko walking towards me.
—When we leave here, we'll stay together, right?
—Yeah, Aneko.
Her cheekbones turn red.
Damn, you're cute from morning to night, you. I can't believe it!
—Will you … take me out this weekend for sneakers?
—Walk you to sneakers?
She shakes her head a few times, concentrates, then does it again.
—Will you go with me this weekend to buy sneakers?
—Yeah, yeah.
Even her stuttering is to die for, seriously.
—Thanks! It's for the sports festival on Monday.
The sports festival … what a drag…
A few minutes later, Masuko came out of her room and approached us.
—Hi darling.
Darling…
—Hi, Masuko.
—Can you go shake the others? We'll be leaving soon, folks.
She's cute too… I was sent to the kingdom of beauty, it's hell to see such pretty girls so early…
Our comrades wake up.
Do not make this face, we will have others, vacations.
Noon.
The train stops in front of me.
Trains… I hate these things.
Fucking shitty destiny.
—Don't worry Big Brother, this one is coming for you.
—Yeah.
Aneko walks up to me and asks.
—Can you give me your LINE ID so we can meet tomorrow?
I show her my phone screen, and answer her.
—Yeah, here.
Fifteen o'clock.
I kneel down in front of my apartment door and shout.
—Don't worry, I'm back.
—You're really stupid when you do it, big brother.
You don't understand, Sis.
I fall into bed and take advantage of my day of rest to read the few manga that are lying around in my library.
My phone vibrates.
Damn, who comes to disturb me during my reading!
Aneko? At this hour?
—Hello?
—Yeah, Aneko?
—Kinira!
She reversed the syllables of my name … damn it, make an effort…
—Aneko?
—Your voice was killing me, it felt good to hold you.
Damn, because of her Hokkaidō accent, I can only catch every other word.
—Did you want something?
—Can you … wish…
—Make a wish?
What the hell is she talking about?
—Vow … to come to my house tonight?
—You want me to come to your house?
Is she crazy?
—Yes… I have something to tell you.
Alert, alert, Kinari in love has collapsed to the ground.
I understand him, my heart is beating at a crazy speed.
—Oh, yeah … yeah… Send me your address, I'll be right there.
—He said yes!
Hang up before you say that…
Wait, but why did I agree to this? I'm even crazier than her… I didn't even think for a second!
—Chizu, I'm going to sleep at Aneko's!
She laughs out loud, and confides.
—Don't scare her away, you idiot. Oh! And good luck, big brother!
I need more than courage, Sis.
I ride my bike and pedal to my appointment.
I'm freaking out.
On my way, a scream interrupts me.
Did I hear my name?
I look for where the sound was coming from, and discover Anzu, under a bus stop.
The heroine of the normies? What the hell is she doing here?
—What are you doing out here, Kinari?
Telling the truth would be like writing your will. I don't want everyone to know, and I don't want it to create unnecessary rumours.
Sorry, Anzu.
—I'm training for the sports festival.
It was stupid.
—I see, I'm going home. See you later, Kinari!
Did I do the right thing by lying?
My regrets began as I watched him walk away.
One problem after another, I have to go to Aneko.
Twenty-one o'clock.
I walk up to her front door and inhale all available air before ringing the bell.
I'll be fine.
The door opens slowly.
—Hi!
It's not okay.
My heart raced at the mere appearance of his face. Her smile instantly cut off my breath. Her long hair, tied up in a bun, matched her lacy black dress perfectly.
How sweet!
This is the chapter of an eroge what I am experiencing, for sure.
A wonder for the eyes, dreams Kinari in love.
—Come in, come in, Kinari.
What should I tell him?
—My parents aren't here today, they'll be back tomorrow.
Her legs are so thin, it's impressive. And her stammering makes me cringe…
—Kirina?
And her chest, what is its size?
His slap interrupts my thoughts.
—Stop looking at me like that, you idiot!
You deserved it, you were worse than Issei Hyoudou,* Kinari sighed jaggedly.
—Sorry, Aneko!
—It doesn't matter.
English, what's she talking about?
She hides her expression, and asks me.
—Are you … hungry?
She's even more confused than I am.
—Nope.
—I haven't eaten. We can cook something together, if you want.
My skills are probably as bad as Shion's…
Don't make a fool of yourself…
You're right, I'll give it my all!
—I'd love to!
—Have you ever made okonomiyaki?
Okonomiyaki? My mum used to make it.
—No, not really.
She hands me some eggs and offers.
—Here, take these and break them into the bowl next to you.
I look absurd next to her talent. She is amazing, quick, neat and organized. The ingredients fly over my face, and spread to perfection in the pan.
A trip through an episode of Food Wars.
I barely had time to rave before the meal was already served.
We sat down at the table.
—Will you feed me?
What is she talking about? I've never heard of this kind of activity in 3D relationships.
—I announce assembly number 3, entitled 'Kinari is a fool' open, take your seats, exclaims Kinari as chairman.
—What are we discussing?
—We have to stop Kinari's dreams, that's the main thing.
—Personally, I like what's going on lately, dreams Kinari in love.
—Let's recap what we know. Aneko has fallen in love with us at first sight and may even be in love with us. Masuko called us 'darling' and shouted in front of everybody that she is in love with us. Anzu, on the other hand, is very careful with us.
—Three at a time, I'm a real king, dreams Kinari in love.
—You're infuriating me.
—Kinari, I don't want to hurt you, but remember Sakai.
Sa… Sakai…
—You have to come down to earth, remember that train that was speeding away?
The … the train…
—That kid's gonna start crying too.
You're right, enough with the scenario, I'll stop the illusions.
—Kinari seems to have come to his senses!
—You … are you sure we did the right thing by revoking all this?
—Shut up, shy guy.
—I'll tell you what, we'll pretend to have to go to the bathroom to avoid feeding him, then we'll run away.
—The debate is over.
He taps two hammer blows and then judges.
—We put our tactics in place and we let Kinari make.
Back to reality, I discover Aneko, eyes closed, waiting for her bite.
Disgusting.
—Can I go to the bathroom?
—Yes, yes. They are over there, she answers me by pointing to one of the doors of the house.
I took refuge there for a good fifteen minutes, the time she finished eating.
Damn, she hypnotised me this heroine of the eroge. I should never have let my guard down! My sister never explained to me that teenagers do such bad things.
It must have been twenty minutes, I had to get out of there.
I came out of my hiding place and noticed that Aneko was waiting for me.
I analyse her plate.
Not a crumb left, perfect.
She walks towards me and whispers.
—Will you follow me?
My legs, paralysed by fear, refuse to take any step.
—Don't worry, I won't eat you
Fucking accent too crisp.
She grabs my arm and drags me upstairs. She opens the door to her room and suggests.
—Can you sit here? I come back.
I look around.
This is the first time I've entered a girl's privacy. It's quite cute this corner.
Hearts, stuffed animals and a … piano!
What's that?
I'm getting closer.
A large frame?
I move forward and observe it.
Is that me, in the middle? What the hell am I doing on his frame?
—Can you close your eyes, Kinari?
A game? It might take my mind off things.
—Yeah, if you want.
The sound of the piano? Damn, it's so shivery.
I've been in love with this instrument for years, in fact, ever since I heard Arima Kôsei* play it.
She gives me a seductive look, and goes on sensually tapping each note.
This harmony in the melody, these emotions that she transmits to me, what this thing! I understand better why she is judged as an idol at school.
She shifts from her bench, and taps it.
—Come on!
I settle down, and hear her breathing become as harmonious as her music.
I inhale the air.
Is that her perfume?
The smell of roses wafts through my nostrils.
I love it.
—You know, when I have dark thoughts, I play the piano, and all my problems become solutions. It is the instrument with the widest range, you can play very low, as well as very high. Every melody, every note takes you on a lunar journey. It's like releasing my chains. Dad always told me that playing duets is much more than a journey, that you can achieve things you never imagined!
His … his dream.
She grabs my wrist, and puts it over the piano.
—Press here, here, and here.
I obey.
What … what the hell? Is the piano so simple?
She smiles and says.
—Let's go, Kinari, you'd better follow!
It's her dream, I'd better not do anything.
The melody of the piano was so elegant, so simple, everything was of a pleasant fluidity. As if I were the master of music.
—Stop, she whispers.
Three seconds pass, during which she delicately raises her arms before confiding in me.
—We start again.
Damn, she goes twice as fast, and in spite of this speed the melody is like bewitched, as if she was the goddess of the music.
I must hold its rhythm, I must hold its rhythm!
My fingers tap the notes one by one, without leaving the slightest chance for a potential stop.
I'll make it, I'll make it.
She turns up the beat, again, and again.
Damn, it's not Aneko Inoue who is next to me, but Arima Kôsei!
My finger slips, and distorts the note, leaving a horrible sound to the ear.
Shit.
She interrupts herself, stands up, and confides to me.
—I love you.
Do you?
I turn my face, and watch her resume her piano playing.
You're right, Aneko, it's a real trip. Your made-up cheeks and your hazel-coloured almond eyes, since when I'm such a fan?
She shakes her head, letting her silky hair float in the air.
Damn, she's way too cute, I'm going to faint.
All her movements are so sensual, even her eyes are!
My phone rings.
Anzu?
—I'm in front of Aneko's house!
I am dead.
I interrupt the call instantly and explain the situation to Aneko.
She crosses her arms and plays a false note. Her eyebrows frown, then she looks away.
Sorry.
We went down to greet Anzu, and noticed her furious expression.
She slaps me with a phenomenal power, then screams her dismay.
—You lied to me, Kinari!
I am dead.
She catches her breath and adds.
—You never worried me so much. I had to call your sister, you left her no news!
Apologise, you fool,' Kinari sighs in jest.
I kneel down in front of her, my face at five centimetres from the ground.
I'm really bad at everything.
—Sorry, sorry, sorry!
Aneko, spectators of the scene remains silent.
The pained girl turns around and mumbles.
—I don't worry as much as today, I thought that the misfortune had fallen on you.
I'm such a jerk.
I turn to Aneko, then apologise for this disastrous evening.
—Why are you apologising?
—Because I've done anything!
—You know, it's been a long time since someone played a duet with me and held my rhythm for so long, you went crazy for me, you went crazy to make me happy. And I have to tell you that my heart beats at full speed when you are there! So thank you so much!
I'll have a heart attack if I stay here.
I'll grab my bike.
—We'll see about that tomorrow!
I pedal at full speed.
I'm tired of running away.
Issei Hyoudou: Perverted main character. (Highschool DxD)
Shion : Character who loves to cook but has a terrible talent. (Slime Datta Ken)
Food Wars: Japanese work about cooking.
Arima Kôsei: Main character pianist. (Your lie in April.)