Zoe and Kaito sit together at the corner, engrossed in watching Yui's captivating performance. The crowd around them stays transfixed, applauding and cheering as a few even sing along. Yui concludes her set with a mesmerizing Japanese song that Zoe doesn't recognize, but it leaves her completely spellbound, her muscles tensing up
What if nobody listens to me?
"You're making that face again," Kaito whispers as he hangs the guitar strap on his shoulder.
"What? What face?"
"That crumpled angry face," he says.
She blows out of her cheeks.
"I just thought that Yui's so good, and we're playing after her. She raised the bar. We should have performed first. It could have appeared as an opening act."
Kaito lets out a frustrated groan.
"Zoe, do you think I'm good with my music?"
"Yes, you're brilliant," she replies immediately. It is true anyway.
"Then you shouldn't worry. I got this."
She scoffs. "Are you seriously bragging right now?"
Kaito smirks. "If you don't believe in yourself, then at least believe in me."
For some unknown reason, the way his eyes glisten when he speaks calms her down.
He's happy.
And her lips break into a small smile. This is not about her. She isn't doing this just for herself, but for Kaito. He has stayed by her side since the day she arrived in Japan, and it's time to pay him back.
Her gaze sweeps across the audience, searching for familiar faces, and as Marie, Jesse, Taylor, and Naoki walk towards them, peacefulness settles in her heart. She knows that whatever happens, their friends will be there, cheering them on. Even Zhi Ming comes running from the opposite direction, waving at her happily.
Zoe looks at Kaito, and he smiles at her, his grip on the guitar tightening in excitement. His eyes speak to her in words that he doesn't need his mouth to say: You can do this.
She takes another deep breath and faces the audience, cheeks flushed.
"K-Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Zoe desu. Kore wa Kaito desu."
(Trans: Good afternoon. I am Zoe. This is Kaito.)
Her Japanese is basic, but some of the Japanese students smile. Meanwhile, Kaito chuckles in surprise. He didn't expect her to try speaking in Japanese.
Jesse gives her a thumb's up. Zoe exhales deeply and nods at Kaito as a cue. He starts to pluck his guitar beautifully to the tune of Weak by SWV. She listens as she holds the microphone, her hands wrapping around it firmly.
Her heartbeat is loud and deafening, her knees shaking. Closing her eyes, she begins to sing.
The first stanza sounds better to Zoe's ears than what she expected. She sings the words exactly as they practiced, and her knees gradually cease to tremble. She focuses on the sound of the guitar and strives to remember the right lyrics. She doesn't want to forget them like the first time. This isn't a rehearsal. This is the real deal.
It's Kaito's moment.
She opens her eyes, and to her delight, the audience is still there, fully engaged.
Listening. To her.
Okay, so far so good.
Zoe throws a look at her friends, and they smile supportively at her. Marie clasps her fingers in delight. They appear so proud.
YOU ARE READING
The Spring I Met You
Romance"Things that are special, though temporary, tend to last longer in our memories," Kaito says. Zoe recalls the Hanami party that they had and everything that has happened since she arrived. She remembers every detail perfectly. She nods slowly. "You'...
