His Lie in April - 四月の彼の嘘 (Shigatsu no Kare no Uso) (COMPLETE)

Love Lives On

On September 19, a shrine in Nerima, Tokyo, was the site of the open casket viewing of Kousei Arima, whose life was cut short because of a suicide via overdose triggered on by his hereditary disease, exacerbated by three accidents that also produced tepisodes of head trauma.

It was 75 degrees F/24 degrees C, near the end of summer, but still fairly warm for this time of year. Many of the mourners that had gathered to see Kousei were many of his friends from within Japan; namely, Kaori Miyazono, Hiroko Seto, Takeshi and Nagi Aiza, Emi Igawa, to name a few.

Kousei's body was dressed in that blue suit he wore at the Gala in May. His head had been shaved off, completely, because the bald patches from the hair loss after his operation made his hair uneven. One could see the scars and dents from all the head trauma he had went through.

Surrounding the casket were a floral arrangement, and a picture of Kousei framed on a fancy frame, with his name in kanji going diagonally on the right side.

Many of the people at the shrine paying their final respects to Kousei Arima, once one of Japan's, and if not the world's brightest young musicians, were crying a lot, as such a bright star had fallen down to Earth, in a dramatic way.

Kaori, in her school uniform, gazed at the lifeless Kousei. She could NOT bear seeing the once-vibrant boy with his life having ended so abruptly. She was crying constantly. "Where's his damn glasses? He can't see without those damn glasses!" She then stopped being hysterical and had some words for him. "I'm sorry, Kousei, that you were going through so much hell. I can't believe I have failed you, and so have many of your friends. You meant so much to us, and me. I just can't bear to see your face like this.... it's just tearing me apart! But, yet, we hope that you may rest in peace..... I hope so, too....." 

Hiroko then spotted the sobbing Kaori. "We should probably go, burn some incense for him though. Kaori, dear, I know how heartbroken you are......" The two females momentarily left the area of the casket.

Next, one of Tsubaki's best friends, Nao Kashiwagi and her friend Keiko (not Keiko Tamura, whom Kousei had run into during his last-ever public performance) wept as they saw Kousei's bald head. "Tragic, beyond tragic...... all of these accidents that led to this really became too much for Kousei....." Nao said as she sobbed. "We can't believe it either....." Nao said "Please rest in peace, Kousei..... you are now in a better place...."

Then, Takeshi Aiza and Emi Igawa, Kousei's two former rivals, came up to the casket. As expected, the two were also shedding tears; they were just heartbroken that their former rival had ended his life in a very tragic way. Emi said "Takeshi... I never knew that such a great talented pianist was going through so much.... he has now left us.... all of us young musicians feel a lot of pain today." 

Takeshi said "It's just sad seeing him like this. I can't believe he went through those accidents..... it seemed like the gods were against him....." Nagi, Takeshi's little sister was sobbing. She was unable to form sentences, and seeing Kousei in that state was just too gut-wrenching for her as well. Takeshi, Nagi's older brother, just hugged and embraced each other. Emi said "Thank you for everything, Kousei." Takeshi then followed with "I hope you rest in peace, Kousei..... you're no longer suffering, and you're now among one with the stars now....." At that time, the three left, and as they left, Kousei's father, Takahiko, walked over to Kousei's casket; as his father, he was understandably the most devastated over Kousei's death (and the way that it occurred).

Takahiko was just sobbing, and he took off his glasses as his tears were drenching his glasses, as he said to the deceased Kousei, "My dear boy, I always wanted you to bury me, NOT the other way around. I wanted you to have a full life, and give me grandkids, oh, how I will miss you so much... after all you are my son, but first losing your mother and now you has been a bitter pill to swallow for me..... fate is such a cruel mistress. You didn't deserve all these damn accidents to your head and having your mom's disease. Please say hi to Saki for me. This is really heartbreaking..... I love you forever, Kousei......" 

Just then, Ryoko and Yoshiyuki Miyazono, Kaori's parents, then comforted the sobbing Takahiko. Ryoko said to Kousei's father "It is very sad to see such a young boy, who had his whole life ahead of him, just disappear quietly into the night. Mr. Arima, our hearts, and Kaori's, our daughter.... they do weep for you. As a mother, it is just shocking to see what your son went through, and why he ended his life......" 

Yoshiyuki said to Takahiko "We can't even fathom the extreme pain you are going through..... my daughter is just as devastated as you are over all this.... it's really hard to swallow. But remember this, Mr. Arima: Love lives on. He may be gone, but the love for him will live on forever. I speak as a father." Takahiko, Ryoko and Yoshiyuki left the casket and Kaori's mother and father continued to console and comfort Kousei's grieving father, who having lost his wife to an incurable disease, had now seen his own son go her same way.

Hiroko then briefly went back to Kousei's casket. His mentor had some words for his fallen friend, she wasn't sobbing, but was shedding a few tears as she spoke.

"Oh, you poor guy with such great prodigal talent, you left us much too soon, Kousei. When I first saw you, you were a bright young boy, who had his whole life ahead of him.... now your flame has been extinguished... snuffed out in an instant. All I can say is that, well.... if it is any consolation, you have been reunited with your mother. I hope that you can find comfort in the fact that you are no longer suffering." Hiroko then paused momentarily, then said her final words to Kousei. 

"Until we meet again, Kousei......" Hiroko said in a very wistful tone as she left Kousei's casket.

For the rest of this day, so many of Kousei's fellow musicians from across Japan would pay their final respects. It was a very solemn day, indeed. While Kousei himself felt feelings of being unloved due to his clinical depression in his later months after the third accident, a memorial concert at Towa Hall the following week would show how there was much love for him, not just in Japan, but around the world, as well.