Roses and Sonatas [Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns]

Chapter 10

A few days after Mikhail's arrival, Konohana held our first music festival, and everyone was excited for it. I felt nervous, however; try though I might, I just couldn't think of Mikhail as a stranger, nor could I forget that kiss in the moonlight. I arrived at the town hall shortly before the start of the performance and found Kana had saved a seat for me. Unfortunately it was front and center, where I could hardly escape Mikhail's notice.

Ina had found a suitable accompanist for Mikhail, an elderly but skillful piano teacher from a nearby community named Elaine. She introduced Mikhail to enthusiastic applause and handed the stage over to him. I felt my heart pounding when he announced that the pieces he'd selected held a deeply personal meaning to him, and that he hoped we would all enjoy them as much as he did. With that, he picked up his instrument, and began to play.

As I'd suspected, he'd chosen some of the old love songs we used to play together. I felt my cheeks grow hot; it felt as though he was playing only to me, as if there was no one but us in the room—perhaps in all the world. When he finished, there was a moment of silence as everyone awoke from their reveries, having all been enthralled by the beauty of his music. Then everyone rose to their feet as they gave him a standing ovation.

He smiled and bowed, and as he straightened up, he caught my eye and smiled. Then, in response to the audience's praise, he gave a single encore: a piece of his own composition. He explained he'd written it upon his arrival, inspired by the beauty of the village and its surroundings. It was beautiful, like a dream given the wings of a songbird, soaring higher and higher into the heavens. I felt breathless by the time he finished, and after he bowed and departed, the audience continued applauding him loudly for several minutes.

Everyone talked about the music afterwards, how wonderful it was, how lovely the selections, how talented Mikhail was, both on the violin and at composing. For my part, though, I just wanted to leave, to be alone and quiet somewhere to think and to remember the feel of the music. So I stayed only as long as good manners required, then I quietly slipped away. Once home, I grabbed my fishing gear, saddled Nimbus, and rode off towards the mountain.

I left Nimbus tied just off the path, at the head of the trail leading down to my favorite fishing spot down by the waterfall. I found the energy of the falls revitalizing, and I liked that it was secluded—even if my horse tied at the trailhead kind of gave me away, it still wasn't too easy to spot me unless someone was really looking. Plus it was the only spot in the area where one might catch a decent size cherry salmon, which were a favorite of mine. I cast my line and waited patiently, and while I waited, I thought about Mikhail.

Since that night, Mikhail had been true to his word. He'd been friendly yet reserved whenever we met in public, just as new acquaintances should be. Yet I would occasionally find him watching me with a certain look in his eyes, or catch a nuance in his words or his tone of voice, or hints in his choices of music. Little, subtle cues that no one else could possibly pick up on, let alone draw the correct conclusion from, yet the constant barrage of innuendo was beginning to exhaust me and leave my nerves frayed. Perhaps it would be better, after all, to come clean—to admit to our past history. Then at least the strain of keeping our secret would be gone. It would give fuel to the village gossips... but at this point, I felt that even having people gossip about me would be better than this.

But I wasn't sure, either, how the news would be received. Perhaps if I could talk to someone about it? Someone impartial might see more clearly, might have some ideas how to handle this situation I'd gotten myself into. But who...? My closest confidantes were Eileen and Kana. I was closer friends with Eileen, but she had the disadvantage of living in Bluebell. The long travel time made it difficult to just pop over for a quick chat. And it was too late in the day now to go so far and be home in time for bed. I'd have to wait until tomorrow at the soonest if I wanted to confide in her.