Even in the few days that had passed since Kousei had been retrofitted with a prosthetic foot, he still found the going pretty tough with one good foot. At times, his walking seemed kind of stilted, slowed down, even. He didn't have much time to get himself prepped for the piano again for the Maihou competition; what time he had was spent either walking and training himself to walk properly again with the new foot and play on the piano. However, it seemed like his piano playing was inconsistent.
Dammit! What the hell is wrong with me? I'm sound melodic one moment, then off-kilter the next! he thought to himself on this morning, with him being in a partial state of undress; his pants were on, but his uniform shirt was open, exposing his chest. Once again, Kousei found himself drinking two cans of UCC coffee. It was the only thing that was keeping his mind sharp, even as he felt the migraines coming in on occasion.
But try as he might, he would not give up in his quest to play perfectly, in spite of the fact that he no longer had his mother to shackle him emotionally. I'm a pianist, dammit! I'm a musician! I've devoted my life so far to perfecting myself at this art! I can't just be inconsistent- damn this stupid head injury!
Kaori knocked on Kousei's door. "Come in, please...." Kaori came on in, seeing the partially undressed Kousei. She was in her Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey, as the competition wouldn't be later in the day. She had her dress ready in a bag with her violin case in hand. The two would perform today, but not together.
"Uh, fancy meeting you here like this." Kaori said. Kousei said "Eh, never mind the fact that you can see my chest, and that I'm semi-undressed like this. I'm just in somewhat of a hurry to sharpen myself after what happened to me. But even though I feel hopeful, I'm still somewhat doubting myself right now.... Maybe it's because of the head injury I suffered that's causing me to mess up." Kaori had a little pep talk with Kousei. "OK. Having told you about Canadian football, there's a guy I want to talk about from that sport that I've read about recently. His name is Ron Lancaster, and he played for a long time as the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback. People thought he was too small to play in a big man's game like Canadian football, but he played well for over 20 years! There is a saying, Kousei: It's not about the size of the person, but the size of the heart that matters! You have a big heart, Kousei... and don't let ANYONE tell you otherwise. You have many friends here, and they'll be damned to see you give up and stop! You've given most of your life on the piano, and here you stand, about to make the biggest performance of our lives! You are my accompanist, remember that.... But, you will be by yourself today. This is your big chance. You said you were a new Kousei, right? This is where it all begins."
Kousei was reassured. "You're right. This is who I am..... and my missing foot and this blow to the head be damned..... this is our time. This is our moment. And it is now."
Kaori hugged Kousei again. "That's the spirit! Come on, let's get to the concert hall.... Our big opportunity awaits us!"
As the two made their way into the concert hall, Kousei found his two rivals, Takeshi Aiza and Emi Igawa, wanting to talk to him. The two now actually felt pity towards Kousei over the accident that happened to him recently.
Takeshi got started. "Hello, Kousei... long time, no see. I can't believe I actually hated you once.... Now I actually feel sadness. You poor thing.... Getting run over by a car? Man, that took a lot out of you." Emi concurred. "It makes me want to hug you. You know what? Let me do that..." Emi actually hugged Kousei, to which he reciprocated warm feelings towards her. "Thank you guys..... I've had moments where I freeze up, can't walk straight....." The two noticed his prosthetic foot. Emi said "So, that's what happened to you, huh? You lost your foot. That's terrible, Kousei." Kousei said "Oh, it's nothing. It's taken me a few days to get used to it... and some days I need a cane just to get around. I don't need it right now, though...."
Takeshi said, "It's hard to believe...... how one accident can change the perception of someone who was once your big rival who kept on winning years ago." He then remembered something. "But, alas, it was you who inspired us to take up music in the first place..... when people heard you.... They had nothing but praise for you. And now people are just feeling bad for you after losing your left foot.... And now I feel guilt over hating you. Emi does, too."
Emi nodded wistfully. "Yes.... You poor thing. I just hope that nothing bad happens to you, EVER AGAIN." Kousei said, "Yeah. Thank you for the kind words. I've got to get ready, you guys. I'll see you later."
As the three parted company, Kousei went into a dressing room, needing some time to get introspective about himself again.
What..... is it that I can't hear? Or is my brain just messed up now? Ever since the unfortunate accident, it seems like I'm good one moment, and then off-key the next. Is my old self coming back to haunt me? This is my first performance in a long while.... And now I'm messing up? Is this sea I'm crept up in getting deeper? Oh, jeez..... I think I might be slowing down a little. That blow to the head, I think, has messed me up. I hope it's not permanent.... Because if it is, there goes my hopes of being the best pianist out there. I am a dreamer. I am not the automatic, mechanical, robotic Kousei of the past. It's time to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and give it all that you have got. This is the chance; this is the time.... To prove that you and Kaori are like Bert and Ernie, Batman and Robin.... To prove you belong.... To prove that you are a new Kousei! Kaori is part of your future! Make her proud! Make her believe in you, even though you're performing all by yourself today!
Just then, Kaori came in. Kousei snapped out of it and stopped being introspective. "You've got to get ready, but first I need to see Emi and Takeshi's performances. I'll be performing separately from you today. Good luck."
Kousei then said "Thank you." Kaori headed into the audience with Tsubaki and watari to watch their performances.
YOU ARE READING
His Lie in April - 四月の彼の嘘 (Shigatsu no Kare no Uso) (COMPLETE)
RomansaAll of his life, Kousei Arima was a boy that was just about automatic as you could get when playing the piano. Then, one day, a free-spirited violinist comes into her life...... ....but then, Kousei finds out his fate may be in jeopardy. What will b...
