"That's Kousei Arima up there! What's wrong with him? He stopped in the middle of his performance His whole career led up to this?" The bewilderment echoed through the hall, a collective confusion that hung in the air.
Since The Autumn When I was Eleven, I Haven't Been able to play The Piano…..
(The tranquil ambiance of the schoolyard was filled with the harmonious symphony of nature. The gentle breeze carried the sweet melodies of chirping birds, while streaks of red clouds painted the sky as the sun began its descent. The air was warm, and a sense of calm enveloped the scene. Students are playing baseball on school grounds. )
I was sitting in a music room In front of the piano listening to songs with earphones plugged in. Lost in the private reverie of my tune, I was a world apart, swaying gently with the rhythm. The world beyond the music seemed to fade into insignificance, and I closed my eyes, allowing the harmony to consume me. I was trying to figure out the notes of the songs. Suddenly the window crashed and something hit my face. I was losing consciousness ....
"AAHHHH He's dead. I gotta get out of here …", the panicked cries of someone pierced the air. I struggled to rise, grasping my shattered glass. As I turned, a familiar figure appeared – Tsubaki.
"Kousei, it's you. Thank goodness it's not someone important," Tsubaki's voice exhaled relief.
"Huh? when did you enter the music room, Tsubaki?" I inquired, my mind still muddled. My gaze drifted towards the window, now shattered. "The window's broken?! And everything's tinged red!" I exclaimed, my voice betraying my panic and confusion.
"You did it again, Tsubaki?! I finally convinced them to fix it!" My words were charged with frustration.
"A heavy hitter measures her honor by the number of broken windows she's caused," Tsubaki declared proudly. "And you've managed quite a collection. Cool it!" I retorted with exasperation.
"This summer marks the end of our school years. I'm aiming for the triple crown!" Tsubaki asserted.
"Well, I suppose I should clean up this mess and draft another apology letter for the damages," I sighed.
"No! Your fingers!" Tsubaki's voice was a mix of concern and annoyance as she grabbed my hand. "You need to be careful. What if you injure your fingers?" Her words carried both care and irritation.
"Who cares?" I replied dismissively.
KACHAK! The click of a camera reached my ears, and I turned to the window, finding Watari on the other side.
"Next-door neighbors and childhood friends, they seek each other out, regardless of time or place. What a Precious lovebird!" Watari mused with a smile.
"WE AIN"T LOVEBIRDS!!" Our voices merged in a vehement outcry.
"What are you doing with your phone? Aren't you in the middle of football practice? Take your filthy shoes off! "My rebuke resounded.
Later, I found myself summoned to the principal's office, presenting my written apology letter and damage report. It had become a familiar ritual, almost eight times now that I'd penned these apologies. The Vice-Principal's anger was palpable, manifesting in a swift slap across my face. Dismissed from the office, I made my way home, where Watari and Tsubaki awaited me at the school gate.
"Stupid Vice-principal baldly. Slapping the kid in the face over a little broken glass. For one thing that building is in the stupidest location. It's standing right where all balls are gonna go" Tsubaki grumbled, annoyance lacing her voice.
"I quite like it. All the girls can watch from the windows and cheer for me," Watari chimed in. As the school's football team captain, he had his fair share of admirers. His charm and football skills were undeniable.
"And I'm the one paying the price," I retorted, my frustration evident.
"This ice cream is incredible!" Tsubaki attempted to divert the conversation, savoring the moment.
"Unlucky for you, Kousei. Getting in trouble when it wasn't even your fault. Did you have to draft a two-page apology letter?" Watari teased, his smile directed at me.
"That's child's play. Two pages are a breeze. I've practically been babysitting her since birth," I replied, a smile tugging at my lips.
She once managed to break a suspension bridge on a school trip. Another time, she shoved me off a ten-meter diving board.
"Hahaha, that was in third grade, right?" Watari recalled.
"I genuinely believed I was going to meet my end," I chuckled.
"Even though I'm an only child, it feels like I've always had a big sister to look after," I mused, a gentle smile gracing my face.
"You're such a nice guy, kousei"
"You call him nice?!" Tsubaki's voice rose to a shrill pitch
"But Kousei, you might want to tone it down. Nice guys often finish last," Watari quipped with a playful expression.
"Wow, got a text from Keiko. I better get going!" With a flush on his face, Watari dashed off.
"That makes it his third one, right?" I commented."
"I have no idea what they see in him," Tsubaki said, annoyance etching her features
"AW, don't say that. Watari's a good guy"," I defended, a smile gracing my lips.
"He's an enemy to womankind. What about you kosei hm? Are there any girls you like?"
"Miwa was telling me, 'When you're in love, everything becomes more colorful,'" she admitted, her face tinged with a shy blush.
I couldn't help but smile, though my response carried a tinge of melancholy, "Maybe that's not how my life is defined." no one would ever fall in love with me." I glanced downward, lost in my thoughts.
"GLOOMY!!" Her exclamation was a sharp contrast to my subdued mood. "There's no twinkle in your eyes!"
"My eyes are black. Naturally, they don't twinkle," I retorted, a touch of my logical self coming to the forefront.
"there you go again with your logic! You know what I mean! There's no sparkle! We're young! They should be like zapping with energy. ZAPPPP!! ZAP!!" She animatedly emphasized, trying to infuse some enthusiasm into me.
I smiled looking into her eyes, "Your eyes are sparkling, Tsubaki ".
Through Tsubaki's eyes, I'm sure the world is full of brilliant colors but through mine, it's NOT.
The scene shifted, a flashback bringing back memories of Tsubaki's words: "Miwa was saying... My whole life changed. Everything I saw, everything I heard, Everything I felt, Everything around me started to fill with glorious colors"…
But to me …..IT S ALL MONOTONE
Like a sheet of music or the keys of a piano.