Your Lie In April

Memories

(Quick thank you to AinaTsuchimikado for supporting me!! You have no idea how much it means to me that you like it. I'm very unconfident towards this story so far. Please continue to support me through my chapters!! ^-^)

"Wha-?" Kaori perked her head up. I saw the many emotions spread across her face when she recognized her friends.

Happiness.

Sadness.

Confusion.

Kaori and I just stood there in silence. Tsubaki, oblivious to our presence, stood up and smacked Watari in the head, "Moron!! I told you to be stealthy!!"

Watari sat up and patted the bump forming in his head, "I tripped on a root..."

Once they recovered they looked around and spotted me. Not just me, but Kaori, their dead friend. Their facial expressions were almost comical, eyes wide, jaws dropped. But the atmosphere was thick and sad. Watari and Tsubaki were stuttering, trying to find anything to say. Any word that would fit all of the questions and emotions wandering through the air.

Watari slowly smiled and his face brightened as if he finally took in that she was there. He took off in Kaori's direction and almost threw her on the ground when he collided into her. I recalled when Kaori told me it wouldn't take Watari long to forget about her, but she was wrong. We were all deeply affected by Kaori, and her loss. Watari let out deep, relieved laughs and stepped back to look at Kaori again. "I missed you so much, I missed you so much," he said while wiping his face.

Kaori smiled, looking as relieved as he did, "I've missed you too."

Watari angled himself so Tsubaki could hug her as well, but she didn't. She didn't move. "How could you just leave like that... Come into our lives and just leave.. You hurt everyone and now you're here.." Tsubaki hissed, her face stricken with tears.

Tsubaki stepped forward and for a moment I was scared of what she'd do. She had that intimidating look she wore often, her sharp orange pools unwavering. But this was different. She didn't have the confidence she always wore; she seemed uncertain or scared. Kaori looked taken aback when Tsubaki threw her arms around her tightly. Tsubaki sobbed loudly as Kaori whispered, "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I caused you so much pain... That's why I didn't want you guys to get involved."

Kaori cried guiltily and now Tsubaki was soothing her, "No stupid. We are all happy to see you again, we love you... But I guess that's why it's so hard, you know?"

Watari put his hand on her shoulder and asked, "You're not really back right?"

Tsubaki carefully pushed Kaori's strands of hair from her face. I thought about how weird girls were. One moment Tsubaki looked like she was going to slap Kaori, now she's hugging her. Kaori sighed and nodded. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy.

"I leave in a week or so. I think I have something to do before I can go. But let's talk about that later," she piped up and removed herself from her solemn friends.

Kaori went over to the picnic she'd put together and shouted, "Let's eat!"

I thought about her quick transition off of the subject that made her so uncomfortable. I new she didn't want to make everyone even more sad than they already were. She wanted to see her friends, I was sure, but it was just a reminder they have to say goodbye again. Kaori hated sadness and fought it with all her strength. She wanted to help people, to be that light at the end of the dark tunnel. To reach into people's hearts through music. After all, that's how she saved me. My heart suddenly ached for her and all she's done for me. I wondered so often why she even bothered with me but now that I knew, it made it more difficult.