I found you in April

Chapter 5

"KOUSEIIIIIIIIIIIII"

We eventually came to a halt under, yet another, gathering of cherry blossoms. Where these gonna be our symbol or something?

When I realised where we were heading my heart stopped. 

Towa Hall

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Before I knew it, I was crying. 

I pulled my hand away from Kousei's and froze.

Kousei was shocked. Hurt even. Seeing a person like him being hindered like me killed me inside. But I couldn't do it.

"Are you okay? Well you're obviously not okay. Hang on. There's a bench over here."

I reluctantly went over to the bench with the pianist and for some reason I just spilled out my heart out to him. He was so accepting of me and he didn't interrupt me once. The words he said made me lose it.

"I know what that's like. I've been through it. It mightn't be much but I'm here for you!"

He then flashed that warm grin I would soon become accustomed to.

**********

I haphazardly made my way to the hall. I had held up Kousei. I felt terrible and now he had no time to practice. I couldn't bare the thought of him not performing to his fullest potential because of useless old me who was good for nobody. Kousei didn't mean what he had said. He couldn't have. Could he?

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Kousei's POV

As we arrived at the venue, I parted ways with Tsubaki, Watari and Kaori. I was nearly late but I wouldn't have changed anything.

I'm basically a stranger to her, so what did Kaori see in me that made her trust me so quickly?

Considering it was Tsubaki I came to meet, we haven't done much talking. I'll talk to her after my performance!

All I know is Kaori was a person in need. And I felt I had to help her. So I tried my best.

I hope it worked.

**********

Tsubaki's POV

Oh my God Kousei is ADORABLE!!  He was so kind and caring and understanding to Kaori when she got emotional!! HOW COULD WATARI BE SO CRUEL AS TO HIDE HIM FROM ME FOR SO LONG?!?!?!

As the pianist went his own way to get prepared to go on stage, me, Watari, who was eyeballing ever girl he saw and repeatedly screaming "KAWAIIIIIIII", and Kaori who was remaining distant and keeping to herself, still slightly emotional from earlier, went to find our seats. 

The theater was so beautiful. It was a whole other world from the small stadiums me and Watari were accustomed to in our world. 

When the performances eventually started, Watari and Kaori were out like lights! Watari didn't surprise me but Kaori's clear show of disrespect to an art form she previously held so dear annoyed me! During the interval before Kousei was due to go on I dragged her to the ladie's room!

"Come on Kao we've been over this already! Look at Kousei. He didn't even know you for 15 minutes when you basically threw your life story at him. Any other guy would have ran away from you but he stayed! He supported you. The least you could do is show a little bit of gratitude and return that support!

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Kaori's POV

I've seen Tsubaki get passionate and fired up like this before but only ever when it came to sports. It made me ask myself; "Is it me she's trying to support, or does she just not want me upsetting and worrying Kousei?"

After the intermission, we went back to our seats. The next guy up was apparently one of the favourites to win the competition. 

"Takeshi Aiza! Him and Kousei have pretty much been each other's only competition for years! They're fierce rivals. But everyone needs a good rival. It makes sure they both perform to each other's fullest potential." 

"Wow Tsubaki. You've really done your research!" exclaimed Watari.

I had zoned out again until he came on stage. 

When Aiza started playing, everyone went silent straight away. Just from the atmosphere change alone, you could tell this guy was a big deal. However, he seemed to play with an aggression of sorts. His playing screamed it.

His piano shouted "Can you hear me?!"

It was like he was calling someone out. "Prove yourself to me!"

**********

When he finished, he received huge acclaim from the audience.

"Was that guy playing the same piano?" asked a dumbfounded Watari.

"He's a frontrunner for a reason!" Tsubaki answered.

My jaw had dropped. 

"How is anyone meant to top that?" I thought

"Earth to Kaoriiiiiiii??"

Seems I had spaced out again. I didn't know how to explain it. But for the first time in 3 years, I began thinking about music again.

A big smile grew across the faces of Watari and Tsubaki as they realised what was going on in my head.

"BINGO!" they both thought.

Little did I know...

The best was yet to come.