My Lie in April

Chapter 13

There I stand, under the red and orange leaves of a tree. Kousei walks up.

"Who are you again?" I scratch my head.

"Amnesia?!"

In my famous demonic voice, I say, "I do beg your pardon, but I haven't seen you lately, you never come to visit, the callous are easily forgotten.

"Where's Watari? I'm lying in wait for him."

"Watari's... still in school," he walks passed me. I grab him.

"I shall give you a chance to make amends for not visiting me. I'm appointing you as his replacement." I grab his hand and take him to the mall, making him hold all of my bags as I buy stuff. "Oh, look at this! It's so cute! Adorable stationery! Look! It's the new autumn plushy! Oh! I forgot my backpack at school!"

We run over to the school, Kousei holding all of my bags. "Wow! It's so dark and creepy!" We walk throughout the school, the moonlight lighting our way as we walk.

"So, where's your bag?"

"Um... Over here maybe? No, maybe it's over here..." I say nervously.

"You lied? You lied to me?!"

I hide behind the curtain.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to come here because I started to forget it..."

"I should be the one that's sorry. It should have been Watari with you on your one day out, not a substitute."

"Are you going to forget?" my expression saddens as I look out the window. "The girl who explored the school grounds. The girl who snuck out of the hospital, waiting for someone." I look back at him. "Are you going to forget?"

"I won't forget. Even if I die, I won't forget."

I smile. "I'm glad it's you." I begin to fall, but I catch myself.

"Are you okay?" Kousei runs towards me.

"I'm just a little worn out, that's all."

He grabs my hand and the bags from when we went shopping, and ride a bike home.

"It isn't good riding double on a school bike, you know. Sorry about your lesson."

"It's no problem. I'm sure Hiroko will forgive me."

"It wasn't a meaningless day. It was a wonderful day. I wish time would just stop. Thank you. After shopping, and exploring the school at night, the way back as you take me home. Just look how the stars are twinkling."

I grip the back of his warm jacket. A tear running down my face, like a shooting star. Then lots, like a meteor shower. The tears hitting his jacket, making it soaking wet. There is a reason for these tears. I just want time to stop... right here. I don't want the future. Gomenasai. I'm sorry that I'm going to leave you like your mom did.

In my hospital bed, crying. It's getting harder and harder to pick up my bow and violin. Soon, I won't be able to play the violin. Soon, I won't be around anymore...

Watari told me that Kousei is teaching a girl to play the piano. He says that Hiroko is forcing him to and that he doesn't want to do it.

"You're wasting time!"

"I told you I'm practicing enough!" "There's no such thing as enough! The competition is coming up in December! Do you really think you still have time!? Before you know it..." I scream, tears rolling down my cheeks. I guess I'm mostly talking about myself, huh?

"Gomenasai. That was some crazy mode I went into. Gomenasai. Gomenasai. Gomenasai," I cry.

Everyone leaves besides Kousei. I'm just like his mom. Bursting into laughter at the smallest things, getting mad over nothing, bursting into tears out of the blue, then turning extremely gentle... someone close to him was just like that.

I quote a phrase from the book with Kousei's name in it, "'You really are a strange person... You come to the hospital to visit me, and yet all this time, you haven't said a word... Want to commit double suicide with me?'" Silence fills the room. "I was just kidding... I thought I would just say it... You see... It doesn't look good for me. I'm sorry. I made you remember something you didn't want to remember. I guess maybe we never should have met, huh?"