1 Death Piano

My name is Furutaka Kaori, I am a Japanese student that lives in the Okinawa sector at Uruma in Japan, I study in the Maehara High School over there, and I part time as a barista on one of the coffee shops there.

I wake up in the morning, get dressed, go to school, go to work, go back home, repeat. There's nothing exciting in my life, I don't have a relationship, I don't have a useful talent I can use to get money for myself. My parents are stingy about my allowance, so I just work for mine as a barista, and I was praised

There are people that are even better than me, and tagging me as better is an insult. I keep myself at an average standard, I can go higher, but I see no use to it, I won't land a proper job anyways when I graduate. I don't have the need to go that far.

[A soft chime of a piano can be heard, it's loud, yet echo-y]

Mmm..

Maehara Highschool | 8:30AM

My name is Furutaka Kaori, this is my school, Maehara High. I enrolled myself here after scraping enough to get by, working at three jobs at once before, I'm thankful at my current work, they were kind enough to give me enough money to get into my school. My parents are nonetheless gambling addicts, so I stay clear away from them, my manager agrees, and has given me an apartment address I could live in while studying here.

[The same chime follows, it fills most of the sound Kaori hears. He soon absorbs it all in as he closes his eyes, and let's go of the tensions filled in his body]

Mmmm…

The school's chimes its bells to notify the students that class is beginning, he soon settled on his room as he had kept his outside shoes to his shoe-locker, he soon made his way to his classroom. Literature class was his first period, and so he prepared his materials and proceeded to listen at the professor.

My life isn't exactly normal, I can hear something no one can, and I think it's special only to me. I don't know how or when I got this but I do, and it's just there, and I don't know how to turn it off. [A soft series of chimes and melodic passes play, a sweet piano with a masterful player danced its fingers across the ivory as it played a wonderful piece] Before, it was playing at random intervals, seemingly synchronized to the event that's happening in front of me, and it's all it was, and it'll be gone until the next time.

It's become louder and plays out longer, I don't know why but it helps me think, I feel like I can focus more with this music. I feel like I can do more while this is playing in the background, I can feel like I'm free to do whatever I want. My parents never got well with me, I'm the eldest and I have a younger brother they took with them, they were basically everything you don't want in a parent, treating me like I'm sort of a retirement plan after they get kicked out of their jobs, or treating my hobby, painting as unimportant to me as it doesn't feeds them.

[The lively piece slowly dipped and became sadness, playing a melancholic tune that was louder, engulfing the whole of the space around him.]

I don't feel like family to them, I feel disconnected to everything else and it's hard to conform to them.. Not because I'm a schmuck who can't follow rules but.. Can you really follow a gambler? My mom is the one that commonly berates me about these things, saying that I am practically useless to her and that I was just a waste of her money. She spoiled me you see, thinking that she can control me by giving me a lot of things and in return would favour them back with… I don't know something.

Kaori turns the corner and bumps into a girl, they were both out of balance and fell on their bottoms, their stuff now messy in the hallway as the students passed by.

"Ah, sorry I didn't see you there"

"I'm sorry I didn't see you! Sorry!" She bows before helping Kaori.

"It's fine, let me help you" He started to pick up the notebooks and pens scattered around and handed them over to her. She smiled sweetly, Kaori blushed and from melancholy the piano's spirit was lively, even teasingly to say the least.

He smiled back, residing his blush and helped her stand up, offering his hand. The girl reached out and got up, she brushed her blouse and skirt before bowing down and running away, seemingly embarrassed.

"What's up with her?" He asked himself. He thought of her for a bit before walking to his next class.

The piano has been lively and was painting such a beautiful scene, of pink petals from the Sakura, flowing in the wind as it flows through the lives of those who fall in love.

The classes ended and it was lunch time. He proceeds to the cafeteria to eat, he placed his bento on one of the empty benches and glanced around, he spotted his friends hanging with other people and sighed.

[The piano plays playfully, it's lonely yet cheery tune flowing around like a paper boat on a stream, bobbing and dancing gently in smooth rhythmic waves]

I'm friendly as they say, but I want to deny so because I can't really talk to people well. I am shy when it comes to talking to people, and I just listen to not bother them, and when they ask me question I'm just honest as I can be without hurting them. I don't know how to.. treat people as human per say, and it's hard for me to interact with anyone because I really can't relate to anything. Oddly enough, I have more girls talking to me rather than boys or.. they prefer to talk to me than anyone else, I don't really know exactly why, but whatever. As long as I can talk to someone.

The boys say I have a harem. That's bullshit, I just treat them my normal way of doing so, I don't think anyone likes me romantically, neither do I think that they're interested in me because of anything really, I don't have any remarkable traits, and neither do I have remarkable skills that I can show to. I don't have much friends with the boys, mostly because I can't relate to whatever they do, and I rather be left alone than be incurred to join whatever shit they have.

[The piano peeks in a playful note, before downing into a slow, calmed pace]

The class ended, and Kaori followed through with his new school year and his orientations for the different subjects. After which, the rest of the afternoon was then spent looking for clubs that were providing advertisements and explanations on their booths in the gymnasium.

I have a taste in literature and science, and have been writing thesis papers for theories about.. anything really. I was looking around, and I found the astrology club, to the science club to the newspaper club. I'll be honest that these peaked my interest, and for a moment I fantasized what my skill in writing could garner when I present them to discussions. I kept looking as I roamed around, finding and glancing through the booths around the gym, and I spotted.. the literature club.

[A playful chime echoed as Kaori stared at the club sign, stirring the emotion of interest in the sound of small bells ringing]

I approached the booth, and without question signed my name on the clipboard and stayed by to listen to the announcements the president, I so assume, was saying. It was quite informative, as I see it anyways, they were basically explaining what they do, and hint at a probable event we can join in, just hearing that there's an event I have already started to think what my entry could be.

I was excited, and paid close attention to what was being said, and to be frank I probably had remembered in my head all that time, it was exciting, and I can't say anything higher than that. I felt a slight nudging as the audience was moving around for someone, and to my right, was a girl that looked familiar to me. She went over the clipboard to sign her name as well, and receded back. I caught her name, it was Kiryou Hannah. What a beautiful name..

[The melody began to transition to a romantic piece, playing in a soft waving melody that was enticing for anyone beside a girl, to hold their hands and kiss them]

What am I thinking.. Oh, she's the same girl as before.. Huh. She looks quite attractive… But I know my boundaries, and this isn't something I'll be able to succeed in.. love is a difficulty to me, maybe because of my history.. but whatever. That doesn't matter now… Does it?

My heart can't stop beating fast… She's too close, I can practically smell the shampoo and perfume she uses. I can't stop glancing at her, nor can't I stop noticing her. She's too close to me…

[The piano starts to rise into a climactic piece, bringing the tension higher]

She looked at me! I turned away as she did, I gave a short glance at her, and noticed immediately that she was looking at me too, we both turned away then. I kept myself calm, and listened to the announcer, but this piano has been teasing me all the way.. I couldn't concentrate well…

The session ended shortly afterwards, and after garnering at least 10 people in the club and that everyone has understood the rules and regulations of the club, we dispersed away as they thanked and dismissed us. I lost my thoughts on the girl soon enough and was swallowed by my thoughts on my event entry, I reached the shoe lockers and changed footwear, before proceeding towards my job just some blocks away. I kept thinking all this time, not being aware of a lot of things that happened around me.

[The piano had transitioned earlier from its teasing melody to its calming tune, a wave of comfort and relaxation on Kaori, who took his time fervently to think about his work]

Yukari Café and Resto

I reached my workplace and swung open the door, ringing the bells placed by the entrance. I still wore my uniform but I can switch at the back since I always bring my work uniform, and after I do I take charge of the counter until 1:00AM the next morning. I asked for the time so I can earn more, my boss was reluctant to give me so but he gave in in the end, telling me that he reminds me of his daughter who never took no for an answer.

[The whole night was a breeze, it was quiet, windy, and cold. The night was especially calming as there was nothing else that broke the silence, nothing else broke the sweet ensemble that played around Kaori]

This particular day was calming, very calming. I was in a good mood, and I served the orders on time and well brewed with a smile to the customers, I was, quite happy. I don't know whether it was because of the girl, Kiryou-san, or the event but regardless I was in a happy disposition. Until they came in.

[The philharmonic dropped into its heavy and booming ivory, the low toned octaves echoed accompanied by hair raising dings from the higher toned octaves as his heart started to ache and beat in a decently fast pace]

Kiryou-san entered the café with her boyfriend, he was clingy, he was inappropriate for her. It boiled my insides knowing she was partnered to this… failed human offspring, nothing can convince me otherwise that this wasn't a troglodyte in a human skin. He looked dumb, he looked retarded, I can go as far as to say he has autism but I'll hold my tongue.

He looked like his parents were disgraced by this child's birth. I don't know why I'm this mad, I've only met Kiryou for just a few minutes, and I'm already this mad knowing her boyfriend is someone this… filthy. She walked up to me, seemingly annoyed by whatever the shitpig told her, and ordered some beverages.

"One Cappuccino, and a cold coffee classic please.."

"One Cappuccino and a CCC, got it" I said sternly, trying to keep in my anger.

I took the payment and changed her, giving the extras in coins. I went ahead and told her to sit and wait until the order is finished. She nodded, and went back as I went behind and started to make their orders simultaneously, something I've gotten adept at working here. I pondered a bit about that interaction, and noticed that she looked irritated and angry when she came in, but was calm and collected when she interacted to me. I shook my head and told myself that I might've been imagining that, there was no way I could've observed all of that right? I mean I love observing things and have come close to describing my "subjects" with distinct accuracy, something I learned when interacting with people.

I couldn't have, could I?

[The ensemble kept its pace and tone, transitioning slowly to a slightly calm wave, with a bit of still aggressiveness]

"Order for Ms Kiryou" I announced, as I placed the drinks on the counter, and once again, Kiryou stood up and took the drinks.

She was visibly more annoyed, and I noticed her boyfriend going beside you, changing seats. He became clingy it was disgusting, not like being clingy was a problem, it's just that this fuck acted like a child. It was infuriating to watch, that my coworker Yuri Juno was gave me a disgusted glance as she turned to me after looking at the couple. To keep me from breaking I went to the backrooms, Juno-san was patting my back as she knew I had most of the anger within the employees present.

It was disgusting, and everyone whispered about it in the backrooms with us, I kept my mouth shut, and they know why. I might just insult the guy and we might break the thing into a fight.

They soon left, to which I greeted them as customers goodbye, as the bells chimed everyone sighed and shouted after a few minutes, sharing to each other their frustration towards the guy. I couldn't hold myself and started to throw my opinion in the matter, everyone looked at me weirdly and chuckled, they then started to tease me about Kiryou and I found myself blushing and flustered, stammering as I defended myself in utter failure.

We had a laugh afterwards, chuckling and making jokes about the guy. We had a bit of fun as we served the next customers, chuckling as we wait for them to finish. The night turned out well, and quite amusing in the end.

Four months later

[The philharmonic played it's usual cheery and calming tune, sounding everywhere and anywhere around Kaori as he walked down the street to the school]

The event was getting closer, and the Club Prez. chose me to be one of the people to join the event. I was partnered with Kiryou, who I still have feelings for.. as my cover artist, as it turns out, Kiryou-san is a digital artist, and was great at it too, better than anything I could draw to be honest.

We agreed to come to my house, as apparently hers is small for the two of us, I didn't have a problem with it, nothing was going to happen between us, considering she has a boyfriend already. She agreed to stay in the weekends and told me that she was bringing her stuff with her for three days, I said sure, and the project was on.

As Friday came, I prepared the house to hold my visitor. I hear my doorbell ring and welcomed her, as I did I was surprised and speechless. Kiryou-san was beautiful… She was about as tall as me, although she looks like a tomboy, her dress, sunhat, and bag all in pink and white said otherwise. She held her small backpack in front of her, a bit shy, I snapped back to reality, ushering her inside and closing the door behind me.

[The ensemble was very lively and romantic, it was as if a grand orchestra was playing complete with the sounds of violin, violas and everything else.]

Shit, she's scared, and so am I. We were both nervous, and my God… my legs are shaking. But, as I listened to the orchestra I sighed and composed myself, I approached a still Kiryou and held her back softly, the softest I can get. She was startled like a kid, and I can't help but blush and smile warmly, I then invited her to my room and led her upstairs. I then held her hand like a princess and led her up to my room.

I opened my door and ushered her in gently, she walked inside first and rapidly walked towards the kotatsu I placed in the middle of my room and sat by it, she took her sun off and covered her face for a bit, before she looked at me as I closed the door. I caught her face as she looked at me, it was beet red, and I was a bit confused before blushing faintly, I sighed and came close to her.

"Um.. your hat… I'll hang it by the door" I said as I looked away trying not to look at her eyes directly.

I glanced at her and she was offering her hat silently, I gently took it and hung it by the hanger on the door. I came back and sat by the computer, I turned the swivel chair and looked at her.

"Kiryou-san.. Are you okay on the floor like that?" I asked still blushing.

"M-mhm…" She replied "D-do y-you have a stand..?"

Her voice was adorable, I was basically trying to not 'hngghh' in front of her at this point, and I nodded, giving her a tablet stand, placing it in front of her.

"There we go.. You need anything else??" I asked.

"N-not at the moment nothing.." She said, as she took out her tablet and set it up with my stand.

"Tell me if you need anything, I'll make us snacks later"

"S-sure.."

[The tone was cheery and romantic, upbeat as Kaori's heart's fast pace, trying not to say something weird to Kiryou, who was doing exactly the same.]

I've calmed down, though, this cheery music is just making me depressed to be honest. I booted my computer, and continued to write my novel entry in docs as I listened to music, I took occasional glances at her to check up on her, and it seems that she was doing fine. I continued on and didn't really think much of it, and up to this point I've reached 15 pages of the novel in rapid succession, I took a stretch and did a short exercise. I was refreshed as I had apparently sat down without flinching and needing to eat, I glanced at Kiryou who was still drawing, yawning and stretching as well.

It was starting to get to noon when I glanced at the windows, I decided to take something out from my minifridge I placed beside my table, and got her cold coffee and some ice cream which I placed on her kotatsu. I then walked out, going to the kitchen to cook some snacks and dinner.

[Cheery and playful were the notes of the ensemble, creative, and motivating as it is as Kaori started to work in the kitchen]

I went on to the fridge, and scanned the contents, finding some frozen bacon as well as some noodles and beef. I went ahead and cooked the bacons first, as well as the rice. When it was finished I plated them with a neatly shaped rice beside it, I decided to make some eggs as well and so I did and went on to make some sunnysides, I also plated them on the bacons, putting them on top of the rice neatly, letting the yolk seep into the rice.

I followed with a noodle side dish, making some nice soba with bean sprouts and some toyomansi, a sauce of some kind in the Philippines, and I learned it when I was living on my own for the first time. Makes the soba really tasty too, I also made a small beansprout dish doused in spicy oyster sauce too.

I went ahead and placed them neatly on a tray and slowly went up to the second floor and once I did I placed it on a small table by the hallway, using my free hand to open it. I announced my arrival to my visitor, and as I went in, I noticed that she was staring at me. She was blushing, and quite frankly, was enjoying the ice cream so much her reaction was that of a cute child. She stared at me as she had bitten the spoon in her mouth before quickly fixing herself and acting maturely.

I didn't mind it, and entered, placing the tray on her table, then putting mine on mine.

"Go ahead and eat, let's take a break" I said softly as I prayed first, before digging into my meal.

I glanced at her, as I ate, watching her reaction to my cooking… [Soft, gentle romantic was the ensemble's words as it played around Kaori, who looked intensely at Kiryou] She was very mature looking, Kiryou-san was the type of girl you'd normally pass off as a tomboy, but if you look at her more closely, and she's very clearly the opposite. She's very ladylike, mature although quite playful and adorable, not only that her mannerisms are that of someone who holds a mansion, and I won't be surprised to see that that 's the case with her.

She's still as beautiful as the day I first met her, clear as day that my heart still beats a special song for her even after all of that. I think that's why I'm calm right now.. I know for myself that if I confessed now.. I'd get rejected. I won't be surprised if she heard that rumor too…

I proceeded to eat my meal before it got cold, and as I finished, waited for Kiryou-san to finish hers. When she did I went ahead and collected the plates, she was looking away from me when I did, and I just simply thought I was disgusting, not in par with her taste.

"Th-Thank you… I love your cooking…" She whispered softly, embarrassed.

"It's nothing.. Glad you enjoyed my cooking" I replied, calmly.

I went ahead and got the dishes cleaned on the sink, and putting them on the dish racks before drying my hands with a towel hung by the refrigerator handle. I went back up and noticed that Kiryou-san wasn't continuing her work, I sat by my desk and started to type away, striking a.. normal.. conversation.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm.. fine.."

"Why the long face? Something troubling you?"

"Mmm.. sort off…"

There was silence in between us, but the orchestra was still lively and were playing a soft tenor that presented an ambience of calmness and ambiguity.

"How's your relationship?" I asked all of a sudden, I glanced at her as my heart ached but, was confused as Kiryou-san was looking away, quite.. disliking the question.

"I broke up with him…" She replied "I can't take his immaturity anymore"

"I see…"

"It's been going for a while… And when it spread out to his friends they started to blame me for things I didn't do.."

"I know that feeling yeah.."

"You do?"

"Yeah"

"How so?"

"My ex framed me, but it didn't get to the police. Just dirtied my name"

"Oh…"

"Yeap. I won't be surprised if you heard of it"

"Yeah.. I kinda see who you're talking about too…"

"Friends?"

"Former…"

"Mm"

" Well.. she was partly the reason too.. why I broke up with him"

"I'm not surprised"

"She was flirting around him, and I couldn't stand it anymore… He wasn't doing anything to stop it he just let it be"

"That's disgusting"

"It was… It really was…"

There was silence between us again. And I glanced at her, she was drawing but her hand.. It was shaking.

[A somber mood echoed upon the walls of Kaori, filling him with confusing dread and weight]

"Sorry if I asked"

"No no.. It's fine.."

"…"

"…"

"I believe you.. Kaori… That you didn't do what she said you did…"

"… Is that so? Thank you.."

"Can you tell me how it went..?"

My heart froze and there was a moment where the piano's had seemingly missed the wrong keys, ending the somber tone in an abrupt and disheartening broken tune. Each note was broken, it was seemingly out of concentration, and the notes were all over the place, with the common sound being a low sharp note that pierces my ears..

"Mm.. well… It was last year when we got together, the relationship only lasted four months.. four months and a half.."

"Mmm mm.."

"It was going well at first.. and we were having fun.. you know.. doing couple stuffs"

"Mhm.."

"Then one day she just started to get distant from me.."

"I see.."

"And when the fourth month came we just broke up.. I never had an explanation as to why.. but, I just went with it…"

"I'm sorry.."

"It's fine.. It's something I gotten away from.."

There was silence again, and I can hear Kiryou's stylus patting the tablet softly. I glanced and she seemed to be warm, somber after I had talked about my history.

[The broken philharmonic soon resumed its natural melodic form, returning to its romantic, and cheery rhythm]

"Mm.."

"Yes?" I looked back at her, she had a cute expression of embarrassment on her mature figure.

"I never enjoyed my time with… you know who.."

"Mhm.. I can guess why"

"He's clingy.. even though he's older than me.. he always acted like a kid… It's disgusting.. and to be frank with you… I hated it…"

'Why is she telling this to me?'

"I had enough of it.. so I left.. but he's still trying to get me.. "

"You have no interest in doing so I guess.."

"Mm-mm"

"Yeah.. I understand.."

I kept on typing away as Kiryou was drawing, and as I did, I felt a bit more comfortable around her, nervous still, but regardless I was still comfortable to an extent. I smiled softly as I wrote my novel, with Kiryou drawing in her tablet. I've never felt like this before.. even when I was with her in that relationship. It feels good to feel that I have a heart for once.

[The melody was soft and strong, relaxing, and soft. It was comfortable, it was okay, and everything was fine]

I've reached about 30 chapters already in five hours, and I am almost done finishing up with the ending of novel. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this novel, I feel like it sums up everything I feel, and whatever I wanted to portray. I glanced to Kiryou, who had fallen asleep on the kotatsu, I went to get some blankets from my wardrobe and gently wrapped it around her.

"Thank you.. for listeninggggg…" She muttered as she drowsily slept on the kotatsu.

"Your welcome…" I replied as I stroked her head softly.

I retracted myself and went down, I got into the kitchen and took a coupon and a menu placed on the door of the fridge. I read it away and decided on what to order for the two of us, I went to the phone and started to order. I placed the phone back on the wall mount, and waited on the couch for the food to arrive, and as I waited I was filled with a sudden warmth and excitement, I took it upon myself to keep me in order, which resulted with me flushing bright red. I can't hear anything but teasingly romantic music in my ears and I can't do anything about it anyways, I smiled unconsciously, I didn't knew it until a few minutes, I was just.. warmly smiling at.. something.

Well.. It can't be helped then…

The doorbell rang and I answered it, it was just the delivery guy. I paid the food and plated them as I went inside and arranged them along the plates and placed them on a tray before going up again to the room. As I went up the staircase I was thinking, pondering, thinking about Kiryou.. and what if we had been together instead of him… Did I just think of that..? I… Mmm…

[The ensemble peaked, before dropping low once more. It soon rose slightly into a melody of soft happiness and love]

I entered the room, and Kiryou-san was where I had left her, but… She looked beautiful, not that I looked at her.. she felt like my wife when I saw her… I'm not supposed to say that but… That's how it felt… That's how I looked at her in that small moment, in that spot.. My trust with human beings have gone so far down that I can't see the bottom of the hole where it felt, I doubt I can trust someone or get it out of that hole again… Anyways, I went inside and fixed her portion of the food into her table, before setting up mine and once again closing the door. I went to my ac and turned it on so it'll be relaxing later at night, I took a short glance at Kiryou who had been sleeping the entire time, and chuckled.

I went ahead and started to finish the chapters, typing away in my computer's keyboard as I heard yawning behind me, I yawned a bit too and stretched a bit before looking at Kiryou-san, who had woken up. She looked like a small girl who had woken up from her afternoon nap, she rubbed her eyes like how kids would when they sit up and surveyed the area.

She looked at me and slowly blushed, covering her face, she turned her head away and kept mumbling something incoherent to me. I was confused, and watched her reaction, she really looked like a kid, she was looking everywhere, still a bit sleepy before noticing the food I ordered and placed on her table. She blushed a lot before looking at me.

"Th-Th-Thank you…" She stuttered, embarrassed.

"Mm? No problem, eat up, you've been asleep for quite a while"

"H-How L-long…?"

"About 3-4 hours"

"Hh-hhhh…"

"It's fine, at least you recharged your energy"

She opened the food as I turned to my work and started to write more, ending the novel and starting to proofread everything.. I somehow managed 24 chapters.. I have a problem… I looked back to see Kiryou-san enjoying her meal, eating the food cheerily like a little girl being given her fave food, I can't otherwise explain it other than it's the most adorable thing I've ever seen.

[The melody was a playful and childish, giving a very warm and comforting]

I chuckled a bit as I watch her, she was very cute and childish, but mature and elegant as well, she was perfect. I can say nothing else but she's very perfect. We started to go back to work, I was halfway through with the proofreading process and she was almost done with the book cover's base design before we colour it.

We started to chat more, and laugh more making jokes to each other, telling stories to each other, and enjoying each other's company. We soon started to learn more about each other, what media we watch, what music we play when we're in emotional distress, and whatever games we love to play. We were surprised, I have never seen or have been with someone that was very similar to me.. this feeling.. to meet your second half was.. amazing.

We had a good time talking to each other, and soon we had finished our work whilst we were tasked with, and prepared for dinner. I had ordered more fast food, both of which we liked and once it came, we started to play our games in co-op, and had a blast with each other, laughing around and enjoying our game session.

[The ensemble was warm and beautiful, it was a mix of playfulness and hope, a sinking desire to be one, a soft melody to the twain who found comfort within each other]

"You're really good huh"

"Yeppp, I react quicker when I don't know the game, I'm a quick learner when it comes to these"

"Same here, though I run off in trial and error"

"Yeah I noticed, you're really good with the snipers too in CoD"

"You're a great mage in Toram not gonna lie"

We both laughed, I looked at her and smiled warmly. We both went silent, blushing slightly.

"I've noticed that you aren't like this with anyone, do you have friends Kaori?"

"Mmm.. no, not really, there's Lux but he's busy most of the time"

"You know Lux too huh?"

"Yeah, we're friends"

"So am I!"

"Hahaha~ What a small world we live in"

"I'm glad.."

"Mm?"

"To meet you, you're actually fun to be with.."

"Oh..?"

"Yeah, you're very different from what she told you you were"

"What did she tell you..?"

"She told me that you were a bad person.. sex addicted and all that.."

"I'm not surprised.."

"I see…"

"But I know you didn't though, just now I know you're not the type of person to do something like that"

"You're too friendly.. too caring…"

"Too loving…"

"Mm? What's that?"

"Mmm.. Nothing"

There was an awkward silence between us, though, it wasn't dividing, if anything it wanted me to be closer with her.

"You know Kiryou-san.. Thanks.. I never thought would believe anything I said, I never thought I'd be able to find someone who believes in me.."

"E-Ehhh.."

"Hah.. Thanks for believing in me Kiryou-san, I'm really happy that you do~"

"I-It's n-nothing… R-really.. it's nothing.."

"Thank you for trusting me too.. For telling all of your secrets too earlier.. I appreciate that.. a lot"

Kiryou-san was silent, blushing and embarrassed, she was twiddling her thumbs and was quite flustered about my remark and compliments.

"Thank you.. I… Thank you for listening to me…"

"It's nothing.. it was fun getting to know you, you're an interesting person.. and I want to get to know more about you.. y'know..?"

Kiryou pursed her lips, blushing red at this point. I never took notice of these as my mind flew somewhere else, thinking about bliss, feeling about bliss with Kiryou-san.

"M-me… T-too…"

"I-I want to get to know you better… Kaori…"

"Heh.."

I reached out to her and patted her head, she hid her face in her hands and was making cute and adorable noises.

"To be honest…"

"M-Mm?"

"I don't really care what you did back then.. what you deserved to get all those times.."

"…"

"You're special on your own.. but you're more special with someone else that you deserve.. Y'know…"

"….."

"You're a great person.. It's just that.. what you went through twisted you.. you were never you because of everything that happened.."

"…."

"I'm here now.. okay?"

"… I-"

"Ah…"

We both moved a bit away from each other, taking my hand off her hair as I looked away blushing, just now knowing what I had said.

"Th-th-thank… you…"

"I-it's not a problem…"

"I'm grateful… To know that.."

"M-mhmm.."

"Same here okay..? Same here.."

"Kiryou-san.."

"Stop calling me that… Call me Kiryou…"

"Ah- Ehm- Kiryou.."

"Kaori…"

There was a long pause, and tensions were rising. I never thought I'd say those things.. I'm such an idiot.

"Thank you… for saying those to me… I…"

"M-Mm?"

"I really needed them.. thanks for comforting me.. I appreciate it lot.."

"N-no problems really.. it's fine Kiryou.."

I stood up soon enough to stretch, before packing the plates and the boxes of food we'd had for dinner, as I finished up I looked at her and gave her a warm smile, which she looked away from embarrassment.

"You should change clothes, that dress must be a hassle to wear at the moment, go change into your casuals, I'll just throw this out"

"S-Sure"

"Okay then, good~"

"Hhh.."

I went away, walking downstairs and throwing the trash away. As I did I washed my face for a bit, before pondering for a moment. Those reactions.. those expressions.. it can't be right..? Right..? It's just a fantasy of mine of being with her messing with me right? I don't know anymore.. what she'd done to me was that fatal I can't discern what's what anymore..? What's happened to me?

I don't know.. what I've become really..

2 Years Ago

"YOU WORTHLESS SON OF A BITCH"

"WHY ARE YOU SO SELFISH?"

"WHY ARE YOU BORN LIKE THIS? CAN'T YOU FUCKING FOLLOW WHAT I SAY?"

"IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER IF YOU'RE 17 OR FUCKING NOT YOU'RE JUST A KID UNDER MY FUCKING ROOF"

I listened, bowing my head down as I take in the brunt of my mother's sermon, what I've always done was wrong to her, and not a single of what I do, was right to her.

"YOU CAN'T FOLLOW SIMPLE FUCKING INSTRUCTIONS AND YOU EXPECT ME TO FUCKING BELIEVE YOU'RE MATURE? WELL REAL FUCKING MATURE MISTER"

"YOU HAVEN'T EVEN PROVEN YOURSELF HERE YOU DUMB FUCK WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO FUCKING DO OUTSIDE????"

"I DON'T FUCKING SUPPOSE I NEED YOU TO FUCKING REMIND YOU WHO YOU'RE FUCKING MOTHER IS?"

"I BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD YOU DUMB FUCK, YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL I DIDN'T FUCKING ABORT YOU"6

I never once asked to be born, never did I ask, never did I think of living. I never looked life as this beautiful utopia of freedom, it was a prison that forced me to do whatever the warden wanted me to do. They were never parents, thinking that showering me with items and toys would make me follow them without a question, I was an animal being trained, I was nothing to them but a servant to abuse because I am their offspring.

I wish I didn't live.

I wish I was never born.

I wish I never brought into life at all.

Not a decision I made for myself was not selfish, nothing to them is not selfish nothing is not a mistake when I do it alone. ALL OF IT, is a mistake, ALL OF WHAT I DO IS A MISTAKE. NOTHING was enough NOTHING will be enough, THIS IS MY LIFE AND I CHOOSE TO STAND ALONE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. I AM ME, NOT WHAT YOU WISHED I WAS.

[The music was low and dire, slow and sorrow, it was heavy octaves that echoed through the walls of my small room, writing in front of my computer, the bed to my side, the night to my left and the window that peered outside the apartment complex, and the time limit I cannot break]

"What they said was true. You never get what you want"

My mother left, and I was alone in my seat. I wanted to break something, I wanted to break my neck, I want to break my arms, I want to break, I want to finally break I cannot do this anymore, I can't live another second another hour another day another week another month another year another decade under this house I can't anymore, I FUCKING CAN'T I'M BREAKING APART FUCK WHY DID I HAVE TO LIVE IN THIS FUCKING FAMILY I AM NOT A FUCKING OBJECT YOU FUCKING ANIMALS I AM NOT A SERVANT I AM NOT YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN I HAVE MY LIFE AND WHEN I GO I FUCKING GO.

I refuse to break down, I refuse to lay a knee on the ground. Parents or not, I have no control over my life, it was always them and when I make a mistake the blame gets thrown to me of course who else? My brother? My brother she had groomed to make him hate me whenever I do something she dislikes to do? Hahahahaha, that's right. You heard me right.

I can't say anything, because I myself have made mistakes, things I didn't need help doing but was scolded when I didn't do it right. I am not perfect, I am not a machine. But I was never a person I was supposed to be when I was born, never. I was always a puppet they controlled and all of this, this isn't me. The moment I was born I wasn't me to begin with.

I'm tired.

I've gotten so far.

I don't want to go further if this is what will happen to me.

They expect me to fail when I go out, and seek their help.

…

Why did I even live?

Why was I given this hell of a life?

I never asked to be born, you forcefully brought me into this world and I was supposed to answer the question I would've said kill me the moment I got out of the womb.

But no.

Here I am, your broken king, thrown into a kingdom I never wanted to serve.

Here be me, a servant I never wanted to be.

Present day | Literary Event

"We are now moving to Contestant 7 and 8 from Maehara High!"

The announcer bellowed as the judges started to read the printed novel, the book was carefully opened, and the judges started to read them. I was fidgety, not going to lie I felt like I was about to melt into a pile of embarrassment, they skimmed through, as they had said they were already read the moment they were passed into the panel. Though one of the judges were taking their time slowly, reading through the novel page by page.

He was that one judge among them that read all of the participant's novels again for another full pass, we caught him smiling, even laughing as he read and showing it to his fellow panel men, who showed no less than an interest of what he had for the novels. He was the leading judge of them all, although he seemed to be quite the playful kind.

He finished later on as the announcer announced the next school, then the next, then the next, until they were finished. The judge thoroughly enjoyed reading the novels, as evident with his expressions as he read them. It was obvious that there were ones he liked and those he didn't, the fact that he reread the novel front to back again was concerning to me, but if we lost it's fine. It's not like we'll win anyways-

"The novels have been reread, the panels will now discuss the outcome of the competition!"

Murmurs filled with the venue, worried talks, and sombered walks filled and echoed faintly for every person, they were anxious, they were scared about the outcome, I won't lie, I am too, but it feels like I don't care anymore. I don't care whether I win or not, I'll just wing it if I can.

I went somewhere to get some chairs for Kiryou and me, and when I got back she thanked me and sat, she was excited but scared too. I just nodded, my voice box was locked, I can't say much. Either I'm that scared or I'm just hurt with that memory. I don't know anymore.. I don't care anymore.

"The panel has decided, and there are 3 winners chosen from the 20 schools that had joined this wonderful event"

Here it is.

"Second Runner Up is… Musashi Junior and Senior Highscool Team B!"

An applaud erupted from there team, they were on the far end of the venue from me and Kiryou.

"First Runner Up is… Keion Shonan-Fujisawa Junior and Senior High School Team A!"

Another applause, from the entrance side. All of them have been private schools. They're probably seniors just like us. Well, we lost. That's okay, I just need to do well I guess.. do I want to? What to do…

"For first place, and takes home the literary award…."

A drum roll was done, and I wasn't expecting much, just a little. It's my first event, I won't win the first-

"Maehara Senior High Team A!"

What..

Wait..

What..

"Kaori!! We did ittt~!!"

Wait..

"Kaori! Kaori did you hear?!"

That's wrong.. right?

"H-Huh?"

"We won first place!"

Impossible..

"W-Won?"

That's a lie.. right?

"YEAH YEAH!"

"Huh.."

They'll announce the mistake later.. they just got it wrong.

After a few minutes, they let us eat after the event, the judges soon discussed why we won, and it was apparently due to the feelings embedded and written along the dialogue and how the storyline flowed so well with everything else. It was great, and it was phenomenal he said, he remarked how it was nowhere near the level of the other candidate's stories, that out of the twenty that joined us, Maehara Team One, have taken aback the judges, who agreed with the notion of their head panel member.

They looked at us, and smiled as they clapped, the rest of the participants also did, some cheering even. I hid myself, bowing down my head and silently contemplating what I had just done, what I had just heard, what I had just done.

The event continued for more, with Kiryou being a bit shy because of the award. We both held our small trophy as we went back to my home, and once we did I slumped down into the bed lifeless with Kiryou quietly looking at her trophy.

"We won Kaori…"

"Mhm.. We did" I smiled as I looked at her from the bed.

[The music was calmly triumphant, calming and a bit alert in its melodic nature, with a faint double in the background as it played all the night]

"You okay Kaori?"

"Yeah.. Just tired"

"I see.. Wanna play?"

"Mmm?"

"Mmmmmm~ Play Genshin or like CoD"

"Sure, I'm up to grind"

"Yayyy~!"

We soon got to playing our game, spending most of our night grinding and upgrading ourselves. It was fun, and enjoyable to say the least, we were conversing through it too, more things about what happened to us, more things that were beginning to commonly staple itself as "Similar".

The more we knew about each other, the more it felt that we both had similar experiences and problems, with the only difference being the destination there, but even then, it was mostly similar. A lot of things were, no matter what we talk about, it was the same, with different people, in different times, and sometimes, although rarely, different circumstances.

We bonded over our similarities and started to grow comfortable with each other, as for the passing weeks we were quite happy to be acquainted with each other, although, I think there's something more brewing to that, but I didn't know it. Regardless, we've become really comfortable with each other, and so, have bonded a lot to the point that I chaperone her to her house.

We'd always do that now, for the next two weeks, chaperoning Kiryou to her house then leaving to mine. We'd have more talks, sometimes go shopping for anime figurines and model kits, or books and manga, sometimes even eat some restos and cafes here and there if we have more time, or just go anywhere even at night.

We've very much grown to like each other more and more, and we're gotten close to one another we're practically inseparable, contrasting well to the days before this event, or anything really. This is… The first time I welcomed something new…

[The octaves were tickling and cheery, blooming into happiness as both Kaori and Kiryou were beside each other, with another set of octaves slowly entering the stage…]

2 Weeks after Literary Event, Friday | Kiryou Hannah's Residence.

Hannah was hopping happily after a trip with Kaori to the mall district, and had brought with her some figurines and model kits Kaori bought for her.

As she gets close to her house, she slowly stops her hopping and notices a boy standing, waiting for someone to come out from the house. The boy turns back and runs at her worriedly, about to embrace her he was shocked with a pocket stun gun, immediately stunning him.

"Why are you here?!"

"Ugh… ahhh.."

"I thought I told you to stop chasing after me?!"

"B-but Kiryou… I love you.."

"WELL I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE"

"I-"

"JUST STOP IT! I HATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME! I HATE HOW YOU TREATED ME!"

"YOU'RE FRIENDS ARE FORCING ME TO BE WITH YOU?! CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I'M GETTING HURT HERE?"

"Kiryou-"

"No more… I don't need you in my life if all you'll do in our relationship is to be babied"

"…"

"You knew what I hated the most"

"But you still continued, and I can't take your bullshit anymore, forcing me to be with you, your friends pressuring me to stay with you"

"Don't you dare fucking say that you didn't cheat on me, whatever you fucking did with that bitch of yours in that hotel for three fucking days… I won't forget that you dirty pig"

"…"

"I hate you… You didn't even try to change"

"Not"

"Once"

She fled off, running where she had come from, crying as her heart trembled, fearing of breakage, she rushed towards the transit and went towards Kaori's house.

Why am I going to him..?

Is it because he accepted me?

I… Maybe it is…

He's accepted me… He was so kind… He was…

She smiled as her heart relaxed, she was smiling more as she kept reminiscing their trips together for only about two weeks. It was fun, it was enjoyable, more so than any with him.. he was perverted.. always touching me.. always embarrassing me… He doesn't understand what to do… He doesn't want to stop. I'm glad I'm out of that relationship… I'm really glad.. I can be with Kaori…

She blushed and hopped of the next stop, she rushed to Kaori's home immediately, running as fast as she can in his quite urban neighborhood.

Friday, Kaori's Home | Afternoon

"Mom…?"

"Your teacher sent me that message, you won that competition?"

"Yeah, I have the trophy right there"

"It's still useless, you don't have time for your family, disgraceful fuck"

"It still doesn't help with us getting food, you aren't getting anything from it to feed us"

"You're still a fucking kid, don't you dare fucking tell me about your age and your hobbies, because that's all they are"

"H-O-B-B-I-E-S"

"You aren't gaining a fucking income yet, you call working in that café a living? Pathetic"

"I didn't raise a kid that didn't follow what their mother says"

The phone was left in a ring. Kaori stood there silent, he doesn't know how to act, he doesn't know what to say. He put the phone down on the dock and breathed heavily. As he did, a soft melody of octaves filled his ears to the brim that he can't hear anything anymore, it was a soft bliss, it was wonderful.

He glanced at the door, and noticed that Kiryou had been there for a while now, looking at a now tear dripping Kaori.

"A-ahh…"

"Kaori-kun.. are you okay..?"

"M-mhm.. *Sniffles*"

"I heard everything.."

"Y-yeah.."

Kaori held his warm smile as he looked down, before walking up to Kiryou, he then held her shoulder and smiled even more before embracing her tightly, she reciprocates, hugging him too as they soon slowly bonded over the entrance of Kaori's house.

"Kiryou.."

"Kaori.."

"I love you"

They were both silent as they looked at each other longingly, they proceeded to hug more and cuddle afterwards, before laying down on the bed to try and sleep.

"Can you be my… Girlfriend.. Kiryou..?"

"O-Of course.."

There was an awkward silence between them as they then chuckled and laughed. Kaori kissed her forehead, before hugging her tightly.

"You're going to stay here..?"

"Yeah… Someone's stalking me… So I want to stay here for a while.. maybe move in…"

"I see, want me to help you with your stuff?"

"S-Sure.. if that's okay with you.."

"Okay then.. Let's get your stuff tomorrow"

"Oki oki…"

"Thank you… Kaori… For accepting me…"

"Thank you too.. for believing in me"

They chuckled and made out for a bit, before snuggling together until they sleep.

For the following months to come they'd learn more about each other, about their deepest secrets, and things they haven't said to anyone before, but now had the courage to say. As time went on and Kaori became closer with Kiryou in their relationship, they slowly merged together, their souls melding in one filling the missing pieces of the puzzle with their own, becoming one in the process as both had now understood each other, both knew what they wanted in life, and in this relationship.

As all of this unfolded, the second set of octaves slowly became in-sync with the first, the small ensemble of pianos slowly filled around them, life went forward and ensemble of two pianos slowly weaving notes from its ivory, time blessing it's run as it jogged and walked among the symphony of Kaori and Kiryou's hearts, it slid high and low, left and right as the days past by and their relation become stronger, defending each other, helping each other grow.

It was a magnificent experience from both of them, learning new things to do with each other, doing more things, taking more trips, more time spent with each other. A change of pace from where they'd come from, a change of scenery from whatever slum they've come from, a different world with a different person. Away from what haunted them, away from what brought them into an abyss and into a never ending Ouroboros of pain and emotional breakage, partaken by people who were the closest to them before they had united.

As time went on, they became more inseparable, problems showed but they were always simmered down to small things, properly maintained like a garden in the front porch, they loved each other dearly, showing them through acts of thoughtfulness and deep love as their hearts beat like the hammers to the strings echoing the octave that enveloped them, their ivory heartstrings strung in a melodic matter as the two professed their undying love for each other, under the low lying sun in the sunsets, under the star filled sky of midnight, and a promise everlasting, of revival and loving each other once more in the time they are born in another world.

A promise brought to light into another world. A promise fulfilled until the very end.

10 Years Later | Furutaka Residence, Furutaka Writing and Arts Studio.

"Honeyy~!"

"Yes dad~?"

"What do you want for dinner?"

"Mmmmmm~"

"Can we have Mcdonaldsss?"

"Hahahaha~ Sure then~"

"Yayyy~!!"

Kaori, 27, kisses Kiryou, 28, on her forehead before heading upstairs to continue her artwork, Kaori smiled and held his chest, reminiscing about the past, reminiscing about the history that interwoven their loves together, the melody that solidified into a duet of wonderfully played pianos in a loud melodic ensemble of love and care. The world progressed quickly, time flew past like a bullet, age soon futurized into something amazing, with the society gradually declining into division, and the world starting to get more divided.

Despite this, there were those who kept to themselves, holding among to those who made their heart beat in music close to their lives, close to their love. The world was changing, and so did they but they were never led astray, and as the world past and societies closed off to their own divisions, life itself had changed. Yet the music, the ensemble of lovely and caring pianos, echoed throughout the world in relative scarcity, yet despite the small number, its music perseveres.

The world soon devolved into largely divided into societal groups, there was no unity, there was no love. It was just an unsynchronized philharmonic of noise and dissolutions of ideas and philosophies that rivaled those who dared to do so, there was no unity, none more left to remark, not anymore to see, to feel, to love.

For a while the world was filled with angry melodies, of different orchestras, of different worlds, of different minds, no hearts. Only words, only noise. There was no harmony that filled the collective, but chaotic unison that scarred the world into horror, despite this, there were some, a few handful of those who played an ensemble of sweetness were present, yet small, and inaudible.

The Future, The Melody | Of Fading Harmony.

Kaori and Kiryou were together for a decade and a half, staying healthy, growing a family, a family who in tradition learned to love fully without payment, who only asked to love each other, and love everyone without anything back. Their family grew to generations and generations more, keeping their traditions strong and powerful among them. It was a family that grew from the seeds of the bad, that learned to grow a sprout of good, a well-mannered, well-learnt musician, who played a music unbeknownst to many, a small ensemble of one. An ensemble who grew into the heart of another, and bloomed a love that wilted in the past of the dystopia that left her crumbling.

A harmony of a broken individual had hung over and brought a utopia to the other. The blessings of an infective emotion, the planted seed of purpose, a blooming rose flower, the intricate eccentricities of a musician who's emotion's uncontrollable to whatever extent, unprecedented, uncommon even to the weary, a wild form of feeling that could never be understood, broken and bashed open by the family that grew the offspring, a never ending rhapsody of pain and tolerance, the entitlement of giving birth to enslave over, the payment of being born over of pain and suffering. A musician who bowed endlessly to the creator of its life, it was never free of mind nor spirit but locked in an endless superiority complex of never-ending shackles that tore open a gaping hole of insecurities and doubt, digging through his heart, through his mind rendering him a zombie that played a monotone life on the ivory, resonating in the octaves as a symbol that he had never once held his life in his hands until the moment he budged himself free of the shackles his mother has bestowed upon him.

A dominating musical that crushed the young man into submission, a melody that forced its way into the liking of the individual, unwanted, unwavering of his stance. And of the songs and novels he wrote, the heart of his lover became his masterpiece, irreplaceable, beautiful to every angle, the heart of his lover whom he struggled, fought for, won over through his own charm without the help of the shackles that bound him. A masterpiece irreversible, unchanging, unmoving. The heart that had opened his for her, to play a wild musical of emotions that portrayed love and affection to the highest order of ecstasy and eccentricity, portraying the orchestral piece that was his life in such a short summary, a novel woven to be a journal and a music sheet of emotion, plastered among the pages of stained white, written in crude and messy handwriting to portray a son who's mind has become his own prison, the corners and the nooks and crannies of his mind devolving into insanity, confusing what's the reality of things to the world around him.

Was he right? To leave his parents? Was his parents right? For saying and doing such terrible things? A question that lingered around him, the equation that ultimately broke the man he was, sending him back into centuries of ingrained code to learn how to be a human through his own. To struggle on his own, to call his life, his own regardless of his age and history. Devolving then evolving into something much greater, the musician he was now, the musician he had become as the plot thickened lightly among special events that occurred to him. The recollection of special events that deemed important to his mind even how complacently plain and unexciting they were.

That is life, unexciting, boring. The thrill was his to control and so he did. Unpleasing to the eye, but the nature of life was always ugly and unpleasing, not unlike in the tv shows and the dramas. The life of the eccentric musician that catered to everyone, failing, punished, then left to find his own. To find his own success, to which he had managed, to win a job beside his school, and to love a woman who had loved him so dearly back. The musician who's important memories, as such, plastered on paper in the language of musical notes, to be played without an audience around the world filling the stages with the bottled eccentricity of his own prison. Played among audiences who never cared for music, to those that never batted an eye to catch anyone's attention, attracting the eyes of a café owner, catching the heart of the lover he settled in with. Rejected from his family and the society that outgrown him, left to his own accord to find what he truly needs, finding them amongst people who never knew him but gave him a chance.

The musician who continued to love his new family, despite not knowing how to when he was brought out into the world, when he grew up under the wings of many, when he started to see the wrongs of the family he was born into. A musician, who played the ivories of his piano beating heart without time to spare, without rest, without receding into his corner of the unconscious to reflect death bestowed him by his own hands that played the piano that led him.

From life to death did he play the instrument without haste nor linear pace. Played the instrument like the time of the day and the hour of the day and the second of the hour, to which pace was unpredictable yet was calm and eccentric in nature, a music not understood by many but by few who chose to listen and understand, a music so different that his people of origin never understood his emotions and reactions, and out of fear that he might turn into an unwieldy danger towards them, to never repeat a mistake that they themselves failed to do in their sibling family. Held, tightly his neck strewn by barbed dog leash to strangle and tighten upon to follow orders to the tee like a soldier with a gun pointed to his head.

A musician, who played an endless piece that mirrored his emotions through music from his heart, never-ending, never boring. An ensemble of eccentricity and uniqueness baffling those who came across it. A magical symphony of emotion flamboyantly portrayed by nonetheless the most imperfect, the Mistake of birth, the unlucky roll of the dice that his mother so lost in a gamble in pregnancy.

A melodic praise, of duet pianos echoed amongst the halls of a Japanese household, a family born from imperfections, a family who knew and sang the music as it played. The melody was playful and reminiscing, a wonderful blend of sorrow, hardship, then free will breaking free into a wonderful ensemble of music that filled beautifully, the ears of the audience made from their now blood and flesh. A family who knew love, and never knew need. The song that had played inside the hearts of Furutaka Kaori, and Furutaka Kiryou, slowly faded, slowly, fading. But never forgotten, as the orchestra, Love Harmonic.

Death Piano | End