Ding dong!

Kousei was still getting dressed when his doorbell sounded throughout his entire house. He sighed as he was barely putting on his pants, he didn't want to keep the others waiting and quickly put on his pants and rushed out of his room to his living room, quickly opening the front door after unlocking it and greeting Tsubaki, Watari, and Kaori with a smile.

Tsubaki blushed but picked up her foot and took off her shoe, throwing it at Kousei's chest and having him take a step back in the house from the force. He wanted to ask Tsubaki on why she threw the shoe but he wasn't able to from the pain spreading around his chest. He blinked and his eyes slid over to Kaori, who was blushing and looked down while a little smirk came upon her face. Watari stood still and saw the commotion, snickering and then laughing so hard that he had to use Kaori as a leverage.

"Go put on a shirt, pervert!" Tsubaki yelled and got ready to throw her other shoe until Kousei held his hands and defended himself, saying, "Tsubaki, you're overreacting! What do you mean pu-"

"You're completely bare from the torso, dude!" Watari snickered, gesturing to Kaori right afterwards. "Look at your girlfriend here, she's going red!"

Kousei looked over to the blonde and noticed she was staring at the ground but her smirk was a little noticeable, he wasn't sure if she was blushing at all though. He looked down at himself and got red when he realized he, indeed, was shirtless.

"AHH!" Kousei yelped and covered his torso like a girl typically would when exposed and ran back into his house to his room, shouting, "COME IN AND WAIT!"

Tsubaki picked up her shoe and grumbled about Kousei being an irresponsible idiot and closed the door behind her as she took off her shoe with her two other friends.

"That stupid idiot," Tsubaki claimed as she, Watari, and Kaori walked over to his couch. "How can someone not notice their own shirt is off?!"

Watari shrugged and let himself fall onto the couch, having been comfortable with this home and laying down while Kaori and Tsubaki sit down on the other one. "Maybe he wasn't expecting us so he rushed down here."

Tsubaki nodded and agreed with Watari but later on scolded him. "Maybe, but can't you sit down right? This isn't your house."

Watari frowned and looked at the short-haired girl. "You're not my mom."

Tsubaki sighed but waved her hand. "Never mind, but what I am caring about right now is Kaori. Hey, you okay? You've been quiet ever since that mishap."

Kaori looked up, finally, and gave out a little smile to shrug off her fluster. "Huh? Oh no, I'm fine. It's just that...I've never actually seen Kousei shirtless and..."

Tsubaki understood and laughed, wrapping an arm around her friend. "That's okay, he's actually done this before plenty of times when we were younger so I've gotten used to it, you surely will too."

"So what'd you think?"

Kaori looked over to Watari and tilted her head, asking for what he meant.

Watari smirked and said, "You were smiling, and blushing, you surely had have thought of something."

Kaori blushed again and admitted, "I...well...I-I don't really wanna say, it's kind of embarrassing."

Watari kept pushing. "C'mon! I and Tsubaki promise not to tease." He smiled normally to reassure the tense girl and heard her say, "I...it's just that he was more...fit that I thought."

Tsubaki pursed her lips as she tried to hold in a question but wasn't able to as she inquired, "So...to give out more about your thoughts, you've imagined Kousei naked before?"

Kaori quickly defended herself and moved closer to the arm-rest and from Tsubaki as she shook her head, her face turning bright red. "N-no! I-I haven't! Just shirtless, not-" Kaori paused her words and blushed more as she pulled her knees up to her chest and hid her face between her knees. "You see, now I'm thinking about it!"

"Okay, okay," Watari laughed. "Let's leave her be, she's already broken because of us." The jock let his feet fall to the ground and stood up to shoo Tsubaki—earning a glare but she moved away anyways by sitting at the couch Watari was on—and sat down beside the red Kaori and wrapped his arm around her, bringing her into a comforting hug as if to say 'sorry' while rubbing her arm and patting it at times.

"Sorry, Kaori. Tsubaki here didn't mean to break you and make you embarrassed and such, we just wanted to tease you a little bit."

Kaori looked up and gave Watari an adorable pout. "But why are you apologizing? It's mostly my fault because of my own thoughts, actually."

"Ah...well, I started this so..."

Tsubaki nodded from the outside. "He's right."

Watari hissed and wrapped his other arm around the blonde girl beside him, bringing her into a more protective hug. He held her head like a baby and hissed to Tsubaki, "Shut up! I'm trying to make her feel better, don't make me feel bad!"

Kaori laughed at her friends' interaction and placed her hand on Watari's arm, patting it a bit. "I'm actually enjoying this, keep talking."

Tsubaki and Watari were going to question the blonde but they heard Kousei's footsteps come down the stairs, shutting them all up.

"Okay guys, I'm now read-" Kousei stopped at the last step and stared at his friends, looking very confused and lost at the way everything is positioned. "Um...what?"

Kaori blushed a fingernail as she remembered the greeting in the beginning but smiled and said "Hey, Kousei!" while Tsubaki and Watari followed after.

"Um...hi...? What...happened while I was gone?"

Tsubaki tilted her head a little and asked, "What do you mean?"

Kousei looked very lost. "Uh...Watari's holding Kaori and you're looking like you wanted to explode."

Watari noticed that he was still holding Kousei's girlfriend so he backed off while Kaori sat normally and explained with, "Oh, I was just making sure Kaori was okay because she's been silent ever since you came out without a shirt."

"Oh, okay." Kousei looked to Kaori. "Sorry for scaring you, Kaori."

Watari snickered and made eye contact with Tsubaki, who was doing the same. "I'm pretty sure you did much more than just scare her."

"Yeah," Tsubaki agreed.

Kousei wanted to ask what they meant but grew even more confused when Kaori covered Watari's mouth with her hand and shushed Tsubaki, harshly whispering, "Don't tell him!"

"It's okay," Kousei insisted, smiling awkwardly as he walked over to the entrance to go put on his shoes. "You don't have to explain."

Kaori sighed and removed her hand from Watari and stood up to walk over to Kousei. She hugged him from behind and rested her forehead on his back, saying, "Happy birthday."

"Oh yeah!" Watari and Tsubaki bolted up and ran over to the couple and tackled the two into a group hug, Watari bringing everyone closer together.

"Happy birthday!" Watari and Tsubaki cheered together while Kaori squeezed Kousei tighter and said, "Good luck being 15!"

Kousei was too overwhelmed with everyone hugging him and wasn't able to breathe very well but managed to let out, "T-thanks guys!" He kindly told everyone to give him some breathing space, to which they complied to, and put on his last shoe correctly while the others started putting on their shoes.

Watari was the first to finish so he opened the door for everyone and once they were all out he locked the door and closed it behind him. Kaori started a convo with Tsubaki but then Kousei and Watari ended up joining in the end, creating a group conversation as they walked away from Kousei's house to the park.

"Oh yeah," Kaori opened her backpack and took out a box which looks like it carried lots of stuff. "Guys, forgot to mention I brought food, woops."

Tsubaki tilted her head. "Did you make them or...?"

Kaori shook her head and carefully put the box back. "Nope, my parents did since they're better at cooking than I ever will be."

"How will you be a good housewive for Kousei then?" teased Watari.

Kaori playfully glared and said, "Shut your mouth."

Watari laughed and walked alongside Kousei, draping an arm around his best friend as he lazily strided along the sidewalk with Kaori on the other side of Kousei while Tsubaki is on Kaori's vacant side.

"I would if I could," Watari replied.

Kaori giggled and Tsubaki saw how Kousei was repeatedly looking between the blonde and brunette and started to catch up on why he hasn't said anything. She slyly grinned and turned to whisper at Kaori.

"I think Kousei's getting jealous."

Kaori looked at Tsubaki and pouted in question until she turned to slightly look at Kousei, who seemed really quiet and stared straight ahead. She tried to hold in a big grin and whispered back. "He gets jealous easily, to be honest, and I find it kind of cute."

Tsubaki nodded but didn't want to agree or disagree since she wasn't sure about how Kaori will feel considering it's her boyfriend they're talking about. "Why don't you try getting his attention?"

Kaori nodded and moved closer to Kousei, grabbing his hand and slipping her fingers through his, to which he immediately reacted to and held her hand firmly.

Kaori turned her head to Tsubaki and smirked. "Jealous alright."

"Hey," Watari moved to walk in between the couple from behind and stared at their intertwined hands. "Can I join in on the hand holding?"

Kousei gave Watari a weird look and Kaori said, "Nope, he's all mine," while Tsubaki scowled and pulled Watari's arm to bring him to her other side.

"Stop butting in their relationship, Watari."

Watari sniggered and said, "Can I hold yours?"

Tsubaki got a little red but she pushed Watari away and saw Kaori and Kousei smiling her way. She pouted and turned back to Watari. "Why are you so in need of attention today?"

Watari shrugged and said, "I dunno. I'm probably in a good mood today, to be honest."

"It's nice that you're in a good mood, makes my birthday seem like a blessing." Kousei smiled at Watari and looked back forward, allowing Kaori to swing their hands back and forth.

"Do you want me to carry your bag, Kaori?" Kousei asked.

Kaori turned to her love and shook her head with a smile. "No thanks, last time I had you carry everything."

Kousei thought back to that day, and immediately it reminded him of that question he never asked her when she cried on his back the way home. He told himself he'll ask her about it later, since everything he feared is now out of the way. "True."

"And it's also your birthday," added Kaori.

"...True again."

~0000~

The walk to the park wasn't a short one, but it wasn't a boring one either. Tsubaki and Watari mustered up a conversation, Kaori and Kousei were talking about stuff Tsubaki and Watari only knew half about, sometimes them four would also mix in their own conversation together.

"A table! Wanna race?" Kaori suggested, already getting a headstart before anyone could even answer her question.

"Yes!/Oh yeah!" Tsubaki and Watari both followed after Kaori while Kousei sighed and tried to catch up. He's not really fond of running but he knows he needs to have some fun once in awhile.

Kaori lagged a little as she ran, which gave the two athletes an invitation to go ahead of her and reach the table first together.

"I win!" the two brunettes exclaimed.

Tsubaki glared at Watari and sat down on the bench connected to the table. "No, I won."

"Obviously I won by a second, no doubt."

Kousei came in last and huffed as he was losing adrenaline. "You both win, no fighting on my birthday...please."

Watari frowned and plopped himself on the bench across the table from Tsubaki. "Fine."

Kousei smiled politely at his friends. "Thanks." Then, Kousei moved around Watari to go to the end of the table, noticing Kaori sitting at the very end on Tsubaki's bench with exhaustion clearly wearing her out.

"Phew!" Kaori laughed breathlessly as she slid off her backpack and placed it on the table before she laid back on the bench and rested her hands on her stomach, staring at the smothered clouds above them. "I'm worn out. I haven't ran like that in...ages, I think."

"Yet you still came in 3rd...?" Kousei trailed off into a question.

Kaori lightly kicked him without looking, a soft smiling only coming out of him afterward, and said, "I only let them win. Besides—" Kaori looked to Kousei and grinned—"you know I'm not the competitive type."

Kousei shrugged and nodded as he agreed with her since she's definitely shown him she's not in it to win it.

"Hey, Kaori! What'd you bring for us to eat?" Watari asked, leaning on his forearms on the table.

Kaori sat back up and moved her knees under the table and unzipped her backpack, taking out the box full of the food she's brought.

"I hope the food didn't mess up," Kaori muttered.

Kousei sat down across from Kaori and decided to let his breathing come to a decent level as Kaori was getting everything out of her bag, which wasn't much but she was checking to make sure the bag was empty.

"So...I had my mom and dad make some pastries of their own—they're really good, don't worry— and I'm pretty sure they gave me money so that we can go to the ice cream shop, or something, in the end."

"Ice cream! I'm down for that in the end," Watari said in delight.

"I haven't had ice cream in a while actually, so same." Kaori put her bag down and smiled. "So, whenever you guys wanna eat we can."

"How about now?" Tsubaki asked. "I was thinking that maybe all four of us can do something together after this, like play a game or something."

Kaori agreed. "Oh, that sounds like a good idea!" She grabbed the box full of bread and snacks and opened it, placing it in the middle of the table.

~0000~

Watari let out a breath of satisfaction when he cleaned his mouth and hands after eating what he had grabbed from the box of good Kaori brought along. "Man! Your parents really know how to bake, Kaori!"

Kaori angelically laughed. "I know right?"

Tsubaki grinned and gained everyone's attention. "So what if we play a game?"

"But we just ate..." silently whined Kousei.

"Come on! We can burn the fat we gained." Watari smirked.

"But no fat has been gained yet," Kaori says. Kousei agreed with, "She's right."

Tsubaki and Watari groaned. "You're no fun," whined Watari.

Kaori grinned and stood up. "But I never said I wouldn't tag along." She turned to Kousei. "Come on, birthday boy. It's your birthday, we should at least have a little fun while we're still young."

"But I'm too old to play games, now." Kousei sighed and decided to not argue and stood up. "But okay, I'll play."

Kaori walked up to Kousei and lightly nudged his side, making him flinch in response. "You're not a grandpa yet, Kousei. You have plenty of years till you are one. Let's have fun for the rest of them until we can't." Kaori smiled sadly. "Life is short, y'know."

Kousei stared into her eyes and hesitated until he smiled slightly and nodded his head. "You're right."

"Okay! No more PDA when we're around, you guys make me feel lonely." Watari dramatically wiped away his fake tears.

Kaori smiled and leaned on the table. "But you always have Tsubaki."

Kousei and Kaori laughed when the two athletes started spluttering. Tsubaki tried protesting but Watari kept talking over her, which didn't allow the couple to hear what they had to say.

"Please be quiet for a second, Watari!" Tsubaki yelled. She walked over to him and ruffled his hair to mess it up before grabbing the back of his shirt and leading him to the blonde and black-haired to form a group. "As I was saying, I won't go out with this womanizer for even for a day."

"Would you go out with him even if it was a dare?" Kousei pushed.

Tsubaki took a while to answer his question, which gave Kaori the impression that Tsubaki is probably having mixed emotions about the jock she used to go out with.

"No."

Kousei smiled lightly and patted Watari's shoulder. "Don't worry, dude. It's not that you're a bad guy, you're a really great guy at heart."

"Hey! I thought I told you not to tell him that!" Tsubaki fumed.

Kousei laughed. "Well sorry. It was a long time ago anyways."

Tsubaki grumbled and Kaori smiled at the trio before sitting down again and asked, "What is it that we should play though?"

Tsubaki and Kousei stopped their bickering and turned to Kaori, whom was staring at them with innocent eyes. Watari thought about it for a moment before shrugging and moving to sit beside Kaori with his arms behind him on the table and his legs outside the bench. "Maybe we can play a friendly game of tag?"

Kousei sweat dropped, as long with Kaori's, and immediately waved his hands to quickly dismiss the idea. "No thanks! I...I'd rather play something less active."

Tsubaki sighed and heavily sat down on the bench across Watari and Kaori, staring up at her 'kid brother'. "So what do you suggest, birthday boy."

Kousei swallowed but he sighed when he knew he didn't have any better ideas. "Alright, tag it is. But is it hide and seek or what?"

Watari eagerly bolted up and nodded. "Freeze tag! I'm pretty sure we all haven't played that game since we were just kids, right?"

Kaori laughed at how childish her friend was being and nodded. "I haven't. I haven't for years, actually."

Watari was super stoked. "GREAT! WHO'S IT?"

Tsubaki looked in between the three of them but her eyes locked on Kaori's before she asked, "Wait, Kaori, are you able to play? You kinda recently got out the hospital so..."

Kaori was silent for a few seconds with a blank face until it jumped to a cheery expression. "It's been a month since I've left! Of course I'm fine."

"Are you completely sure you're fine?" Kousei had a worried glint in his eyes. "We don't want you pushing yourself."

Kaori dismissed his worries with a wave of her hand and smiled. "I'm completely fine."

Kousei was reluctant to accept her words so calmly but nodded either way and decided to go along with what Kaori says. "Alright." He turned back to his friends and looked at each of them. "I'm not it."

"Alright, so Watari's it." Tsubaki pointed to her friend.

"Wha- why am I it?!" Watari baffedly looked to Tsubaki. "If anything, you should be it!"

"Wait, guys! Don't fight." Kaori stood up and stood in between Tsubaki and Watari. "Let's rock, paper, scissors."

Tsubaki and Watari huffed. "Fine."

The three held their hands out and Kaori did the countdown until their fingers flew out their fists. Kaori came up with scissors while Tsubaki with rock and Watari with scissors as well.

"Yes!" Tsubaki smugly put her hand down and smirked at her lasting friends. "Let's see who the last one standing is."

Watari shivered and said, "You make this seem like it's a life or death thing," before turning back to Kaori.

"Okay." Kaori started her countdown. When she finished, Watari was the one to hold out rock and Kaori paper, meaning Kaori had won and was not it. She let out a relieved sigh and walked over to Kousei and Tsubaki to let the soccer captain do his counting. "Alright. Let's have wonderboy do his thing. Are there any invalid areas?"

Watari grinned at the name before he opened his mouth to answer the blonde's question. "Hmm...not really, just don't leave the park."

Everyone nodded and Tsubaki asked one more question before the game had to start. "How long is the counting?"

"Uh..." Watari was thinking to himself for a while before he came up with, "50 seconds."

"Perfect," all three hiders said at the same time.

Watari sighed and folded his arms, giving his friends the sign to go and hide when he started to count.

The three all ran away from the table and went their separate ways to go find a hiding spot.

~0000~

Watari finished his counting and shouted, "READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!"

Tsubaki, Kousei, and Kaori grew tense at those words but relaxed since they're already hidden.

"I doubt he'll check inside the dome," says Tsubaki.

Kaori shrugged. "I dunno, there's holes so there's a possibility."

"True. Kousei, can you see where he is?"

The teen on the lookout slightly peeked his head out of one the holes in the dome and looked around before quickly coming back in. "Yes, and he's running around trying to find us." Kousei dared to peek out before silently gasping and standing up to quickly pull Kaori and Tsubaki along with him. "He's coming this way!"

Tsubaki jumped out of a hole and ran a separate way from Watari while Kaori slightly tripped to get out but ran another way as Kousei tripped and fell onto the ground with a groan. Watari made it to Kousei and slowed down to walk when he noticed his friend wouldn't outrun him and crouched to lightly tap his shoulder. "You're tagged, so you can't get up. You okay?"

Kousei nodded and laid on his back on the grass after he readjusted his glasses to stare at the clouds above. "I'm alright. Go tag the girls now, or else you'll lose."

"Damn you're right!" Watari stood back up and jumped over Kousei to run away and find the girls.

Kousei laughed and closed his eyes when he looked back to the sky, finding how no clouds seems to be in any shape so he should rest a bit and gain his stamina with nature around him. He opened his eyes when he heard running coming towards him and furrowed his brow when Kaori came back and hid back in the dome.

"What're you doing? Won't he catch you?"

Kaori laughed and waved Kousei off when she stood in the dome. "Nah. If he checked once and saw us run I doubt he'd come back.

"Oh."

"Yes, 'oh'. So try not to look like you're talking to someone or else Watari will suspect one of us is in here. But can you please alert me subtly that he's coming?" Kaori sat down and tiredly crossed her legs and laid back on the grass beneath her. "Actually, I doubt he'll see me if I'm laying down. I'll wait till he gives up."

Kousei laughed a little and tried to make something of the smothered clouds. "We should've done that before he got me."

"Yeah, if only you didn't check for him at the most convenient time."

Kousei was going to protest but wasn't able to come up with a reason so instead audibly sighed and said, "No arguing there."

"KAORI! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Kaori tensed at Watari's voice, hoping that her idea of laying down was decent enough.

"Hey, Kousei, have you seen Kaori?" Watari jogged up to his frozen friend.

Kousei tried his best to not give it away that Kaori was in the dome and said, "No...well, last time I saw her she was running."

"Where exactly?"

"I don't know, I fell so I wasn't able to see where she went."

"Damn! Alright, thanks for telling me, buddy." Watari started to run but abruptly stopped and turned back to Kousei, who was staring at the sky since he was 'frozen'. "Do you know where she'd likely be?"

"Uh..." Crap, I didn't think about this one. "Maybe...the slides?"

"Thanks!" Watari ran off towards the slides. Kousei tilted his head to see if Watari was far enough before looking back to the sky. "He's gone."

"For a moment I thought you'd give away my spot, Kousei."

Kousei sighed. "Nah, if I did I know you'd kick my butt."

A faint laugh from the dome was heard. "Yup. Hey, you think he got Tsubaki?"

"Possibly, if not I feel like she'd come over here too."

"Exactly what I was thinking."

Kousei stayed silent and looked up and the messy sky above. He's always wondered what Kaori thought sometimes. He shut his eyes and listened to the scenery around him, hearing Watari run back over him.

"Ya find her?" Kousei asked.

Watari shook his hand and plopped down onto the ground beside Kousei and laid on the spot next to him. "We should end the game and declare Kaori as the winner," Watari turned his head to his best friend, "don't you think?"

"Did you already catch Tsubaki?" Kousei opened his eyes and turned to look back at Watari during his question.

Watari nodded his head. "Mm-hm. She's over there at the bathrooms."

"Hm. Guess Kaori wins then." Kousei's voice went up an octave with each word purposely for Kaori to hear from the dome.

Kaori jumped up from her laying position and threw her arms up into the air. "YAY!"

Watari jumps and sits up to stare at Kaori ridiculously. "Wha- YOU WERE THERE THE ENTIRE TIME?"

Kaori laughed and looked at Watari with triumph. "Uh-huh! Kousei here knew where I was the entire time but kept it hidden. So now, I win!"

Watari groans as he helps his friend stand up. "How can you do that to me, dude? We're supposed to be best buds!"

Kousei laughed sheepishly and scratched his cheek. "I kinda wanted Kaori to win since she's not the competitive type."

Watari groaned again and walked over to Kaori to help her out the dome and shook her hand. "Well done."

Kaori grinned and shook back. "Likewise, team captain of the soccer team."

Watari grinned and turned to Kousei. "Start calling me that by now."

Kousei pretended to think about it before going with, "No thank you, wonderboy."

"Fine. Wonderboy is good as it is."

"Should we go get Tsubaki?" Kaori asked.

"Maybe we should go get the ice creams and surprise her?" Kousei suggested with a shrug.

Kaori nodded eagerly and ran off to their table after she grabbed both Kousei and Watari's hands to lead them.

~0000~

Tsubaki groaned and looked around to make sure Watari wasn't anywhere near to see her and sat down on one of the nearest benches. She looked around as she closed her eyes and listened to nature, thinking, how long is it taking Watari to find Kaori and Kousei?

She sighed, thinking it'd be best to wait until Watari comes back to tell her the game's over and laid back on the bench to try and take a light nap.

A few yards away from her, Kousei, Kaori, and Watari grabbed whatever money they had and ran to the ice cream parlor that's across the street.

"What ice cream is Tsubaki really fond of?" Kaori entered the store and Kousei and Watari did right after.

"She really likes chocolate." Kousei took out the money he had and walked over to go get ice cream for Tsubaki and him as well.

"Milk...? You really love milk." Kaori laughed as she walked over to grab her favorite ice cream along with Watari.

"Kousei here can might as well just marry milk." Watari grinned.

"But then Kaori would be heartbroken wouldn't she?" Kousei moved up to Kaori and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Kaori laughed out loud once and playfully moved Kousei away from her. "I actually think you and the milk make a great couple, Kousei."

Kousei pouted and said, "But I wanna marry you..."

Kaori smiled slightly and pinched Kousei's nose. "Don't be such an adorable baby like that, I rarely see this side of you so far and it's cute so don't bribe me with it."

Kousei internally grinned as now he knows what would break Kaori for something he really wants from her.

Watari watched the couple from the side and managed to let out a little smile. Those two really do make me feel lonely, but they're perfect for each other... He sighed and went over to grab the "flirtatious" couple's ice creams and left Kousei's money to go pay for the ice creams himself.

"Hey Watari, but I could pay for my ice cream..." Kousei stared as Watari walked over to the cashier. Kaori agreed right after.

Watari looked over his shoulder with ands grin. "Don't worry you guys, I got you all covered. And it's your birthday Kousei, expect unexpected surprises."

"Oh...okay, then."

Kaori talks next. "But why are you paying for mine?" She walks over to Watari who was already paying for the ice creams with Kousei's hand in hers.

"I like to be a gentleman." Watari genuinely smiled. He grabbed the ice creams after thanking the worker and handed everyone their ice cream while holding Tsubaki's in his other hand.

Kaori smiled and walked in between Watari and Kousei. "Guess you really are a nice guy at heart, as Kousei says." She grabs Kousei's hand and links her arm with Watari's in a friendly way. "If you and Tsubaki end up getting together, don't break her heart."

Watari laughed and Kousei nodded his head as he agreed with Kaori. "I may not seem like the type but if you hurt Tsubaki I'll personally hurt you." Kaori nodded in agreement.

Watari scoffed but said, "Same with you Kousei, hurt Kaori in any way and Tsubaki and I will personally hurt you."

"Don't worry, I won't hurt Kaori in anyway, I promise her and you and Tsubaki." Kousei smiled and kissed Kaori's cheek.

Kaori grinned and turned to Watari. "And I promise I won't ever hurt Kousei, I'm not the type at all. And I don't think Kousei is either considering how underrated he is with girls."

Kousei opened his mouth but wasn't sure if he considered it as a good or bad thing on what Kaori just said. "Y...yeah."

Watari smiled and hugged Kaori like a loving brother would do. "I know~ That's why I never said anything about hurting you if Kousei gets hurt because we can all trust your loyalty."

Kaori stuck her tongue out at Kousei when he frowned and he stuck his tongue back at her.

Watari laughed and linked his arm with Kaori again when she tried reaching for it. "You two are such children. I can see why you're perfect for each other."

"WE'RE NOT CHILDREN!" Kousei and Kaori both barked at the same time and Watari only laughed.

"Kousei isn't anymore, he's a man now." Watari winks at his best friend. "Don't make any moves on my little, innocent Kaori."

"I'm not a child though!" Kaori pouted and got right up in Watari's face as he kept grinning. "My birthday is in 5 months, I am a teenager."

Watari snickered and ruffled the blonde's hair. "Alright! You're the youngest out of everyone in this group though, my birthday's next month and Tsubaki's is in two..." Watari gasped and wrapped Kaori in a bear hug. "OHMYGOSH~ YOU'RE SO SMALL!"

Kaori frowned but held Watari to not fall onto the ground and looked to Kousei but he just kept walking and hummed as he held Tsubaki's ice cream in his hand (Watari finished his).

Kaori sighed but kept her smile for Watari and playfully pushed him away. "My jealous boyfriend just walked away."

Watari let go of Kaori and frowned when he saw Kousei walk to where Tsubaki was said to be at. He sighed and put his weight on a leg as he scratched his head and placed a hand on a hip. "When will he ever understand I only see you as a little sister nowadays...?"

Kaori sighed again but grinned and grabbed Watari by the arm and dragged him to where Kousei was heading. "Only until I tell him how much I love him plenty of times."

~0000~

Kousei wouldn't look Kaori or Tsubaki or Watari in the eye on the way back to his house, which made Kaori worry if his jealousy was really huge.

She told Tsubaki and Watari she'll stop Kousei and talk to him while they both make their way to his house and get his surprise ready.

"'Kay guys, I'll call you when I'm over there." Kaori ushered the two athletes away and stalked up behind Kousei. Until he seemed safe enough to not trip, she jumped on his back and wrapped her legs around his waist from behind. She joyfully squished her cheek up against his. "Kousei!"

He got scared and almost dropped Kaori but he held into the back of her thighs while she loosened her hold around his neck to not joke the poor boy.

"K-Kaori! Ah...hi..." Kousei awkwardly smiled and tried to look into Kaori's eyes but it deemed difficult for him.

"Kousei?" Kaori rested her chin on his shoulder as he kept slowly walking to his house, unaware of Tsubaki and Watari's absence.

"Ya?"

"Do you hate me?"

Kousei widened his eyes a little and he turned to look and Kaori. "What? No, never."

"Are you mad at me?" Kaori looked into Kousei's eyes and she was able to take in its color and details from this close.

"No! I'm not mad...just...jealous, I gue-" Kousei abruptly stopped his legs from walking when Kaori placed her lips over his to shut him up.

She pulled back and sighed afterwards. "You dummy. I know you being jealous is just you being you, and I find that really cute, but you have to understand...once again...I love you, and only you. How many times do I have to repeat myself? I underwent that surgery to be with you again."

Kousei sighed and looked down to the ground, moving his legs again. "I know that...but...I just can't help thinking...someday you'll leave me for someone better in the future, you know what they say: 'Nothing lasts forever.'"

Kaori pursed her lips and pressed her lips to Kousei's cheek. "Yes I have, but unless we want it to last forever together, we have to cooperate together for this. Love is a risky thing, but we'll risk it together. My eyes only open for you, dummy."

Kousei smiled a little bit and moved his head to press his own lips again the girl's on his back. During the kiss, he kept one thought to himself: She's really light...not as light as before but still light...is she really this small?

Kaori pulled back with a smile and spoke. "Good. Now--" she raised her arm in the sky and pointed toward they were going to--"ONWARD!"

Kousei laughed and slightly picked up his pace. "What, I'm a horse now?"

Kaori laughed and rested her chin atop his head and she squeezed his waist with her legs. "Faster, trusty stead!"

Kousei couldn't stop the big smile that came across his face as he lightly jogged to his house. He loved hearing her angelic laugh.

She's so cute...

~0000~

Kousei made it back to his house with Kaori on his back and gently put her down onto her feet. He turned to her once she was on the ground. "Now, I'm tired, but I know you're not."

Kaori laughed and nodded. "Sorry, it was just fun having to ride your back without any depressing stuff in the way."

Kousei grew a light smile and he laughed. "That's actually true...and as long as you're happy, then I'm happy."

"Great! Then that means if you're happy, then I'm happy, birthday boy." Kaori grinned and grabbed his hand. "Okay, now, we never told you this, but Tsubaki, Watari, and Hiroko and I came up with a surprise for you."

Kousei looked at kaori confusingly. "Hiroko? You know her already?"

Kaori nodded her head and slowly walked with him to his door. "Yup, and I've known her a long time ago, silly. I just never properly met her." She stops him when they're at the front of his door and takes out her phone with Kousei's hand in her other one.

"Oh...actually...I was gonna have you two meet each other today..." Kousei smiled sheepishly while Kaori called someone. "Guess I don't need to anymore."

Kaori smiled and squeezed his hand. "Shush you. I'm still expecting a proper meeting with someone today, though."

Kousei wanted to question her claim but she started to speak on the phone.

"Hey, Tsubaki! I'm outside, when do I go in?"

Kousei heard Tsubaki's incoherent wording on the other side so he didn't know what she said but it made Kaori nod and whisper something into her phone, so he obviously had no idea what the two were talking about.

When Kaori stopped talking, Kousei tried to peep in his surprise. He leaned forward and looked Kaori in the eyes. "So...what's my surprise?"

Kaori rolled her eyes and pinched his nose playfully. "You dummy," she laughed, "it's a surprise."

Kousei frowned and sighed as he waited for whatever was coming up. "Okay...so...when do we get in?"

"Oh, right now." Kaori grinned and moved behind Kousei to grab his glasses (putting them on to put them somewhere) and grabbed his hands and put them over his eyes while overlapping his hands with her own. "Okay, don't even try to peek or I won't give you any love or affection or attention until the party's over."

"Whhhyy? It's my birthday, though!"

Kaori laughed at how childish Kousei was being and kissed his cheek. "Exactly, you big baby."

He sighed and heard as Kaori opened his door and slowly walked him forward inside. He heard Watari whispering something to someone and Tsubaki saying something to another person in the room, probably Hiroko.

"Walk slowly, you cow," Kaori whispered into his ear when Kousei kept rushing forward and almost her trip.

He was tempted to remove her hands and turn to look at her to say, "Wh- cow?"

She giggled a bit and made him stop to take off his shoes while she took off hers. After, Kaori helped him up the step and walked him over to the living room, he guesses.

"Can I look now?" Kousei tried to take off his hands from his eyes but Kaori's hands kept them there.

"No. Not yet." Kaori stopped him and stayed standing there, asking someone in the room, "Guys, where's he?"

Tsubaki answered, "Oh, he went to the restroom. Since he's a guy he'll probably come back in any second. But...why are you wearing Kousei's glasses? Don't they hurt your eyesight? I tried them once, trust me."

Kaori laughed and said, "Not really, I actually wear glasses of my own, I'm wearing contacts right now, I always do. His eyesight isn't that bad for me, pretty bad but not too bad." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"I wish I can see you right now..." Kousei leaned against Kaori as he waited for whoever was here to come out. "My legs hurt."

"Kousei, you're heavy." Kaori moved back one to have him not lean on her, making him pout.

"Fine, if I'm heavy now wait till what happens later."

Kaori scrunched her brow at that claim but didn't question it further and just shrugged.

"Oh! He's coming." Watari told Kaori to turn Kousei around so that he'd have time to adjust his eyesight before looking, and Kaori did so and removed her hands from Kousei's while he removed his hands from his eyes and blinked to get rid of the fully blurry perspective.

"Glasses?" Kousei looked at kaori when he was able to see a bit now and stared at her blurred figure. He could see she is indeed wearing his glasses, he wishes he can see it perfectly. Like he said, his eyesight isn't completely bad but he wishes he can see her clearly.

When he got the glasses back he stared at Kaori and tried to imagine him in his glasses. Eh, I'll just have to take a picture.

"Can I turn now?"

Kaori placed her hands on his shoulders. "Well can you see?"

He nodded, so Kaori turned him around and Kousei almost fell to the floor when he saw who was in front of him.

"What the- Dad?!"

Kousei's dad smiled and waved his hand cheerfully. "Hey, son. Long time no see."

His dad was basically a spitting image of Kousei, but logically it should be Kousei is the spitting image of his dad. Only difference is his dad is older and more mature looking with shorter hair.

Kousei kept his brow furrowed as he tried to figure out if this was real or not. "But...you told me a long time ago you wouldn't be back for my 15th birthday..."

"Yes, I did, and that long time ago was a year ago. You're 15 now, almost two decades old, I have to be here to see my son grow old already."

"I'm not that old..." He turned to Kaori. "Am I?"

"Hey, just yesterday over the phone you were calling yourself a grandpa." She pushed her boyfriend over to his father and said, "Hug now! Hiroko did everything to try and bring him back for today."

Kousei looked behind his dad to see his guardian grin and wave. He smiled and walked to his dad to give him a hug. His dad hugged back.

"Dad...you've missed so much while you were away."

~0000~

After the reunion Kousei and his dad sat on the couch and he told his dad everything that happened ever since he met Kaori and how he's back to the piano and so on, so forth.

"Oh wow...that could be an entire novel or something right there!" Kousei's dad laughed and patted Kousei's back. "You sounded like a protagonist of a manga, to be exact. If it turned out to be an anime, I'd actually watch it."

Kaori, Watari, and Hiroko were all on the side chatting to themselves but also occasionally looking at the small family on the couch.

Kaori smiled and teared up a little, making Tsubaki notice.

"Hey. You okay, Kao?" Tsubaki walked up to her friend and wrapped an arm around her.

Kaori looked to Tsubaki and smiled more. "Oh. I'm not sad or anything...just really happy for Kousei. I've never seen him this happy before."

Hiroko cut in. "Oh no, trust me. He's been this exact way ever since you came into his life.

Watari nodded and spoke added in. "And when he found out about your surgery being a success, he was so elated, he ran all the way from the hall to the hospital."

Kaori looked shocked, to say the least. "Really? He ran all the way from there to the hospital? For me?"

Watari and Tsubaki nodded. "Yup," they both said.

Kaori smiled warmly and wrapped her arm around Tsubaki since her arm was around her anyways. "Then I guess I have to thank Kousei sometime today."

Tsubaki smiled and squeezed Kaori in a side hug, moving them to look at Kousei and his dad again.

"So...did the girl Kaori ever survive her surgery...or...?"

Kousei sighed but he smiled cheerily. "Yup! She's over there." He gestured to the blonde and smiled when she blushed and turned away while Tsubaki tried to ease her friend's blush.

Kousei's dad nodded. "Ah...she's very pretty." He turned to Kousei. "Do you still have that letter you mentioned?"

Kousei straightened himself and nodded. "Oh. Yeah. I'll be right back."

Kousei got up to go upstairs and get the letter from his piano room and while he was gone Kousei's dad stared at his friends. He smiled happily, knowing Kousei has people by his side who love him and care for him.

Kousei came back a few seconds later and the envelope Kaori had the letter in is in his hand, the letter inside. He seated himself by his father again and handed the envelope to him.

"Don't rip it, please."

Kousei's dad smiled at his son's care for the letter the girl gave him and decided to ask something before reading the letter. "Kousei, from how you described Kaori...do you, by any chance, like her...?"

Kousei stared at his father before shaking his head. "No, I don't like her."

"What? If I were you, I'd like her."

Kousei grinned. "I actually love her."

Kousei's dad grew a smile and ended up letting a laugh. "You got me there, son. I'm happy that you found yourself a girl who you love so much..."

Kousei nodded a blushed a little bit, his smile slowly going down. "Dad, did you..." Kousei swallowed before continuing, "did you really love Mom?"

His dad stared at him. "Huh? Of course. I really loved her, and still do. I...really miss her. When I met her, it was in high school...the middle of freshman year, to be exact. I wasn't talented or anything like that, I wasn't able to play the piano like your or your mom, I really loved the instrument though. But I saw your mom playing it in the music room and I...guess...I fell in love. She saw me watching and sent me this smile that was really beautiful. I thought her entire being was beautiful. Months later, we started going out after becoming friends since then. We were together ever since and I got man enough to ask her to marry me...of course she agreed. A year or two later we both committed to wanting a child, hence you are here."

Kousei was quiet the entire time his dad told his story on how he met his mom and nodded at the end, leaning against the couch. "Wow...you two really did love each other..."

His dad nodded and patted his son's knee. "Before I read what Kaori had given you, you two met this year right?"

"We met last year in spring and have been together up to now."

Kousei's dad nodded his head. "Hm. Alright." He carefully opened the envelope and took out the letter, unfolding it and looking at the neat but also scrawled handwriting.

"Should I read this out loud or to myself?"

"Yourself, I don't want Kaori hearing if she does, I'll be embarrassed."

His dad laughed and nodded, starting from the very beginning.

Dear Kousei Arima... It feels weird writing a letter to someone you were just with a few moments ago...

"Oh," Kousei's dad looked up, "when did she write this? It says you two were together and she wrote it after..."

Kousei shrugged. "It was probably after I visited her at the hospital or when she left the hospital so we could hang out, not sure."

"Ah." He went back to the letter.

You're an awful person.

Indecisive. Gullible. Dummy.

Kousei's dad laughed out loud but covered his mouth after Kousei stared at him with a minor glare, knowing exactly what part he's on.

"Sorry, sorry."

The first time I ever saw you was when I was five... It was at a recital for the piano school I was going to. This awkward, clumsy kid came onto the stage and accidentally hit the piano stool with his behind, it drove the audience to laughter. It was too funny. He turned to the piano that was way too big for him and the moment he played that first note, he became the object of my admiration. The sound was beautiful, like a 24-colour palette. The melodies danced.

"You are pretty awkward, kiddo." His dad looked up to Kousei with an innocent smile.

"I guess...?" Kousei wasn't sure what to say but goes along with it.

I was totally surprised when the kid next to me started crying.

And yet, you quit playing the piano. After influencing my life the way you did... How awful is that?

Kousei's dad looked up and tilted his head. "That's pretty mean, Kousei. You influenced her, but yet you stopped."

"It wasn't my fault, dad!"

His dad laughed.

Awful! Slowpoke! Dummy!

His dad laughed again.

When I found out we were going to the same middle school, I was elated.

How could I have found a way to talk to you? Maybe I'll go buy sandwiches everyday?

But, in the end...all I could do was watch you. After all, you guys were all too tight. There wouldn't have been any space for me to slip into.

"Wow...she must have really been passionate and determined for you."

Kousei got flustered and nodded. "Yeah..."

I had surgery as a child, and then got treated regularly as an outpatient. After I collapsed in 7th grade, I was in and out of the hospital repeatedly. I started spending more time in than out. I was hardly ever in school by then.

Kousei's dad widened his eyes a little and he put the letter down a little to look at Kousei. "Seventh grade?! She was so young! Not even your mom, she got her illness around the time you were at least 3-years-old."

Kousei nodded. "Yeah...but at least Kaori is fine and well."

Kousei's dad smiled. "Yeah."

I knew that I wasn't very well. One night...when I saw my mother and father crying in the hospital waiting room, I realized that I didn't have much time.

Kousei's dad's mouth fell open a little. This is getting sad.

That was the moment that I broke into a run.

I started doing whatever I wanted, so I wouldn't bring my regrets with me to heaven.

Kousei watched as his dad smiled and smiled a little too.

Those contact lenses that scared the heck out of me. Eating a whole cake, which I'd never done before because I worried about my weight. Even the music scores that bossed me around so haughtily...I played them my way.

"She must be one heck girl."

Kousei chuckled and nodded. "She really is."

And then...I just told a single lie.

"Eh?" Kousei's dad stared at that one sentence, but continued...wanting to know what that lie was.

Kaori Miyazono likes Ryota Watari.

Mr. Arima almost dropped the letter. "EH?!"

Everyone from the other side of the room stopped and stared at Kousei's dad, but he quickly apologized and said to carry on.

He turned back to Kousei. "What?! She lied to you about liking Watari?"

"Ah...she lied to all of us, really. But...I was really surprised...since I like her, really like her, and she would've left me with that truth being told if she didn't survive her surgery..."

Mr. Arima sadly pursed his lips and wrapped an arm around Kousei. "But she's here now, right? Right over there...having fun!"

Kousei laughed and nodded.

That was the lie I told. And that lie...would brought before me Kousei Arima. It brought you to me.

Kousei's dad smiled and squeezed Kousei. "I don't understand how you two aren't together, you two are literally perfect for each other!"

Kousei was going to confront his dad but he went back to the letter so he decided he'll tell him later.

Please tell Watari that I'm sorry. I guess it won't be long for Watari to forget all about me. As a friend, he's a great guy, but romantically, I'd rather have someone more sincere.

Mr. Arima "aawww"ed but continued.

Also...please tell Tsubaki that I'm sorry too. I'm just someone who's passing through, who'll be gone. I didn't want to leave an awkward mess behind, so I couldn't ask Tsubaki. Or rather just straight-up ask her, "Please introduce me to Arima." I don't even think Tsubaki would've been okay with that.

Mr. Arima looked confused. "Tsubaki wouldn't have like her talking to you? Why not?"

"Keep reading."

After all, Tsubaki is crazy about you! We'd all known that for a long time. The only ones who didn't know were you...and Tsubaki.

"AND ME!"

"DAD BE QUIET!"

Mr. Arima apologized once again to the everyone and harshly whispered to Kousei. "Tsubaki likes you?!"

Kousei nodded and scratched his cheek. "Well she used to."

"Well what happened?!"

Kousei gestured toward the letter. "Just keep reading, I'll tell you everything in the end."

The "you" that my underhanded lie brought to me wasn't who I'd imagined. You were more negative and passive than I thought, not to mention stubborn, relentless, and a camera voyeur.

Mr. Arima widened his eyes and stared at Kousei. "Camera voyeur? What did you do to her?"

Kousei shook his head and tried to get his dad to not scold him. "I didn't mean to take the picture at that exact time!"

"Mm-hm."

Your voice was lower than I thought, and you were more manly that I thought. And you were...just as gentle as I thought...

Kousei's dad laughed a little and said, "You got all these traits from me. Some of the gentleness is from your mother."

Kousei knew what he was talking about and laughed. "I guess so..."

The river was so cold and felt so good when we jumped off Courage Bridge, wasn't it?

The round moon peeking into the music room looked like a delicious manju bun.

When we raced that train, I really thought we could win.

It was fun singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star together under the shining stars, wasn't it? There's just something about school at night, right?

Sighing happily for his son, Mr. Arima leaned back on the couch and said, "Sounds like you and Kaori had some great adventures together. She's a violinist right?"

Kousei nodded. "Yeah. And we really did..."

Don't you think snow looks just like cherry blossom petals?

To be so consumed by everything off-stage when I'm a musician...that just doesn't make sense, does it?

Isn't it funny how the most unforgettable scenes can be so trivial?

What about you? Was I able to live inside someone's heart? Was I able to live inside your heart? Do you think you'll remember me at least a little?

You better not hit reset!

Don't forget me, okay?

Kousei's dad chuckled. I doubt he would've.

That's a promise, okay?

He wanted to ask if Kousei ever did promise her he'd never forget her, but he was so deep into the letter to stop.

I'm glad it's you, after all.

Will I reach you? I hope I can reach you.

Mr. Arima felt tears coming to his own eyes and this letter wasn't even meant for him.

Here's the truth, Kousei Arima...

I love you.

I love you.

I love you!

Kousei's dad widened his eyes and he slowly grew a smile, happiness and from the sadness of this letter. So she loves Kousei!

Sorry I didn't finish all the canelés. Sorry I hit you so much. Sorry I was such a brat.

Sorry a million times over...

Thank you.

- Kaori Miyazono

Kousei's dad finished reading the letter and a tear managed to escape his eye, but he took off his glasses when Kousei asked for he was okay and wiped it away.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. These are just manly tears." He put his glasses back on after wiping his eyes and looked to Kousei. There was a P.S note at the very end but didn't want to pester Kousei about it. "She is so deep..."

Kousei nodded and laughed at the same time, looking at the blonde from afar with a glint in his eyes. "Yeah...but she managed to drag me with her... You know...when I first started playing the piano, I didn't feel as much emotion from it until Kaori came into my life and showed me that music is more than just sound...it's a feeling..." He looked at his dad. "And that is one of the reasons I love her. She taught me how to play music again and feel...something. Nice feeling or bad feeling, it's what comes with music."

"And you're pretty deep too, Kousei. You and Kaori should just go out..." He looked at the blonde who was being squished between Watari and Tsubaki in a bear hug. "You two...are very connected with one another despite your differences...and love each other..."

Kousei didn't answer but instead just looked at his dad with a smile and a nod, staring at Kaori with a glint of admiration in his eyes. "Yeah...and the thing is...me and her are together, it was pretty bumpy on how we ended up together but it's all good now. Tsubaki used to like me, yes, but now she's moved on. Watari, I don't know if he really liked Kaori but if he did then he's moved on and only thinks of her as a little sister."

"You're whole life is a freaking drama Kousei, this is a whole story. Except you get a happy ending."

Kousei laughed and shrugged. "When you put it that way, it does seem like it."

Mr. Arima smiled and stood up, helping his son up in the process. "Now, I want to go properly meet Kaori."

~0000~

"...you're such a nice girl, Kaori." Mr. Arima smiled and placed a hand on the blonde's head and kind of ruffled it.

Kaori grinned and gave Kousei's dad a thumbs up. "So are you!"

"Kousei...take care of her and never lose her." Mr. Arima laughed and walked over to Kousei to stand beside him and look at Kaori.

"I won't." Kousei grinned at kaori and she blushed a little bit but smiled herself.

"You know, I can see where Kousei got his looks from." Kaori stared at his dad.

Mr. Arima laughed and ruffled Kousei's hair. "I really thought he'd be a mix of his mom and me but he came out to be a spitting image of myself."

Kaori laughed and walked up to Kousei to hold his hand. "I can see that."

Kousei smiled and moved to kiss her cheek but she moved away and playfully scolded him and said, "Oh no, not now. It's your birthday, we're not going to show any PDA until it's over and everyone's gone."

Kousei's mouth dropped a little. "What? Why? Like you just said, it's my birthday..."

Kaori nodded and removed her hand from his. "That is the last affection I'm going to show you for now, only friendly hugs are allowed from now on." Kaori grinned."Now, I'll be right back I'll take out the cake from parents made for you." Kaori walked away and Kousei's dad stared at Kousei.

"Friendly hug? How do you guys hug each other that's not friendly?"

Kousei blushed and look down. "I guess a hug that makes it seem like we're together?"

Kousei's dad slowly nodded. "Okay...I just hope you're not making any moves on her that make her uncomfortable. One thing you should remember, always make the girl feel like she's your only one. I did with your mom, look how well that worked. And don't treat her unfairly or anything like that. If you hurt her feelings or hurt her in any way, she's my daughter from now on."

Kousei widened his eyes a little and he waved his hands in front of him. "Nonono! I wouldn't ever...hurt her! I can't do that, and I won't do it. And if she's not okay with what I do or if she feels like she's making me uncomfortable, we usually always ask if what we're doing is okay or something..."

Kousei's dad smiled and playfully locked his son in a choke hold and ruffled his hair. "You two just need to get married!" He released Kousei. "I guarantee you that with a relationship like that you two will never be far apart and just end up loving each other more." He sighed and looked down. "Your mom...probably would've loved Kaori if she was still here and healthy..."

Kousei nodded his head. "I guess, yeah..."

"Kousei." His dad placed a hand in his shoulder. "You know your mom isn't the bad guy, right?"

Kousei slowly nodded. "Y-yeah...she was just...really deprived to have me exceed and make it overseas...Kaori had a similar way of doing that when her sickness got worse...but it didn't involve any...bruises? I guess?" Kousei sighed and stopped talking. "All in all, if Kaori died, she'd have left me just like my mom...except...this time, she was the first and only person who taught me how to also love."

Kousei's dad smiled. He gingerly ruffled Kousei's hair. "It's okay...she's here now though. And she won't go anywhere anyone's long as you take care of her and treat her right."

Kousei smiled and bobbed his head once. "Mm-hm. I promise you that I'll treat her right. You're just like her dad back at her house, maybe you two will get along someday."

"Someday, yeah." Kousei's dad sighed and walked Kousei over to the table a here the cake he has will be taking place.

~0000~

After everyone said happy birthday and he blew the candles he was given 2-3 presents.

"So...this one's mine." Kaori walked up to Kousei and handed her present to him.

Kousei shook it a little bit and opened it afterward, raising an eyebrow when realizing it was a watch.

Kaori laughed and sat beside him wrapped her arm around his shoulders as he sat on the couch. "You're bad with time, so I figured a watch would help you."

Kousei chuckled and placed the watch somewhere and hugged Kaori, trying to make it look as friendly as possible. "Thanks, Kaori. Can I say I love you or is it PDA too?"

"Nah, that one's fine."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Koharu grew large grin but gasped and ran over there to her art station, already having an idea of what to draw.

"D'awww..." Hiroko smiled and leaned on her hand. "You two are cute. Hey Kaori, do you perhaps have another present for Kousei?"

Kaori removed herself from Kousei. "Ah...no...not that I think of..."

Hiroko grinned deviously and waved her hand. "I'll tell you later in what you should give him."

"Uhm...okay."

"Me next!" Watari grinned and brought out his present, handing it over to Kousei. "Don't sweat it."

Kousei curiously shook the box and then opened the present inside, which was a very adorable picture of Kaori eating. He blushed, quickly hiding the photo from Kaoru's eyesight and quickly thanked Watari with a nod.

"Can I see it?" Kaori tried to grab Kousei's picture but he quickly stuffed it back in the box carefully and shook his head. "It's nothing important really."

Kaori stopped but she won't stop later on. "Mm-hm, okay."

"Uh...my turn." Tsubaki grinned and took out her own present. "Since you and Kaori are going to America soon, I decided to give you this." She handed Kaori her present and Kaori handed it over to Kousei beaded her.

He gently shook the preset and opened it.

"Yen?" He widened his eyes when he also saw some American money on the bottom in a separate stack. "What...? Where'd you get this?!"

"Guess you can count that as my present too, Kousei." Hiroko smiled. "I got that American money awhile ago when I was over there."

Kousei took out the dollars and looked at it. "How does...this kind of money work?"

"I forgot, actually. But Kaori can find a way to help you. I hear her occasionally speaking in English and it's really adorable."

Kaori blushed and looked down. "I-I have broken English. I can't speak it very well. But I do like that language."

Kousei stared at Kaori in shock. "I've never heard you speak in English...besides that time we sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star but...you sometimes speak it?"

Kaori nodded and Kousei grinned. "I need to hear you once everyone's gone."

"Oh you tryna kick us out already?" Watari held his hand to his chest. "That hurts."

Kaori giggled and said, "Nice knowing you, Watari."

Watari laughed and winked playfully at Kaori. "Nice getting to see you for this day."

Kousei laughed a little and almost grabbed Kaori's hand but remembered about what she said and held himself back.

"So...are those the only presents?" Kousei asked and looked around.

"Ah...oh!" His dad stood up and reached into his pocket to take out 25565 yen (around $250). "Here you go, just to add on to Tsubaki's."

"Oh," Kousei's grinned, "thanks, Dad. But hey Tsubaki, what's the yen for? You said it's for America..."

"Oh yeah, it's so that you and Kaori can learn English on that Rolling Stone thing."

"I think it's Rosetta Stone," corrected Kaori.

Tsubaki shrugged. "Close enough."

Kousei laughed and thanked Tsubaki. "Thanks Tsubaki."

"No problemo."

"So is that all?" Kousei watched as everyone looked at one another and nodded, but Koharu shouted, "NO!" and ran over to Kousei, handing him he drawing.

"For you!" She said with a cheerful grin.

Kousei's features slowly grew a smile and he laughed, taking the drawing and noticing how it consists of two stick figures. One had messy blonde hair and the other had prickly black hair and the two seemed to be getting married on the right side while on the left Kousei seemed to be proposing on his knee.

Kousei grew a little red and Kaori laughed and looked at the little girl with a grin. "Honestly, you draw better than me." She laughed and picked up Koharu and the two squeezed each other in a hug.

Hiroko leaned toward Kousei's dad and said, "I think Koharu an Kaori will hit it off well."

Kousei's dad nodded with a smile while the three on the couch communicated. "Uh-huh. And I can assume that if Kousei and Kaori do indeed get married, Kaori would be a really great mom."

Hiroko nodded. "Your boy has grown up ever since that violinist brought him back to his feet, so I'm grateful that she's here to make him happy. But then again...I thought that maybe loss...would've changed him for the better."

Mr. Arima shrugged and leaned his arm on his knee. "I don't know...but Kousei seems extremely happy with her...so I wouldn't suggest the loss...they're just a bunch of 14-15-year-olds living life...a bit early than I'd expect but...they're all...happy."

Hiroko sighed dramatically. "If only my marriage was as happy as their relationship."

"Marriage? You're married?" Kousei's dad looked at Hiroko with a shocked gaze.

"You never-...ah, well, of course you wouldn't. You're the 'free-range parent'."

Mr. Arima sighed and rubbed his face with a groan. "I know...I really wish I could just stay here with Kousei and catch up with him and his friends a lot more...but...I'm a very busy man..."

Hiroko smiled sadly and rubbed Kousei's dad's back. "It's alright, Pops. Just let Kousei know how much you love him and that you'll never neglect him no matter how far you are, I'd definitely do that if I were you when you leave."

Kousei's dad laughed. "I told you before, Hiroko, I prefer you call me my name, Takahiko. Pops makes me sound old...I'm not that old."

"Alright, Takahiko. So, when do you leave anyways?"

"Uh..." He looked up in thought. "I guess I should be leaving now...I was given a day off but by the time I get there it'll be tiring so I should leave now."

Hiroko sighed and stood up. "Okay. Go to Kousei, and do what I told you..."

When Takahiko nodded and walked over to Kousei, she whispered, "...Pops."

Takahiko walked over to Kousei and grinned when he saw his son pout when Kaori didn't let him hold her hand.

"I'll be waiting for the day Kousei proposes, I'll be there for sure."

Kousei and Kaori moved away from each other and blushed, but Kaori still managed to say, "I'm still waiting for the day Kousei gets out of his awkward shell and makes a move at least once."

Kousei looked surprised. "What? But I sometimes initiate things!"

"Yeah. But not big things like that birthday kiss I gave you yesterday. You big chicken."

"I-" Kousei used the back of his hand to cover his blush and looked away from Kaori when he remembered the kiss she had given him.

"Sh-shut up."

"Birthday kiss...?" Takahiko gasped. "Did you two-"

Kaori waved her hands in "no". She widened her eyes a little in alarm while Kousei blushed and they both shouted, "No!"

"Nothing like that! It was less, it was just a kiss, Dad." Kousei emphasized his words and blushed lots of red, but stayed calm.

Kaori laughed awkwardly and answered his unfinished question. "Ah...it wasn't like that, really."

Takahiko felt Hiroko's presence beside him and heard her ask, "But did you want to?"

"NO!"

By now, Tsubaki and Watari were watching the drama from the kitchen with Koharu drawing and eating cake.

"What...?"

Tsubaki looked at Watari. "Exactly."

Hiroko laughed and sat down beside Kaori, whispering what she wanted to tell her to give as a present to Kousei for today, but Kaori blushed like crazy and looked at Kousei before squealing and curling into a ball. "I've had enough of those thoughts today!"

Hiroko laughed and patted her bent knee. "I'm just messing with you, but really, I could care less if you give him what I suggested while I'm around."

"Hiroko, please!" Kaori wasn't able to look up as she felt her heart racing and she wouldn't glance at Kousei at all until she was able to calm down.

"Honestly, it'd be a present for both you and him, but it's just a suggestion." Hiroko smirked and patted Kaori's head. She stood up and winked at Takahiko to give him somewhat a sign of what she meant to Kaori.

Takahiko slowly got it and laughed a little bit. "That's cruel, Hiroko!"

Hiroko laughed as she walked into the kitchen and met up with Kousei's two friends and her daughter.

"It's okay Kaori, she's just messing with you."

Kaori groaned and stared at Kousei's dad. "But she doesn't know that I think about what they mention..."

Takahiko understood. "It's okay, it's normal. Want me to tell Kousei what she said to see his reaction?"

Kaori glared at the confused Kousei. "HE'S a boy. He'll get perverted thoughts."

Takahiko laughed and sat down beside Kousei. "Not all do. Hey Kousei..." He whispered into his son's ear what Hiroko told Kaori and he started to blush 10x more than Kaori.

"W-w-what?! DAD!" Kousei held his head in his hands and started turning even more red when imagining the scene itself as well.

"Oh my- I'm 14- 15-years-old! I'm not ready yet! Kaori's 14."

"Well, just know that you two are able to anytime. Just not anywhere inappropriate."

Kousei groaned and slid down the couch. "Well are adults so nasty?"

"Nasty?" His dad laughed. "Kousei, you and Kaori are legal to do this, but you guys just aren't comfortable yet, and I understand. You two wanna take it slow, right?"

Kaori nodded from the side and Kousei nodded as well. "Yes. We're both not completely broken with our barriers."

Takahiko chuckled. "That's cute. You guys have a good relationship, keep this up and you'll stay together for more than 10 years."

"You sure? What if the ends before it even really started?

Kaori spoke up. "Kousei, shut up, dummy. Don't jinx it."

Kousei looked at Kaori apologetically. "Ah, right. Sorry." He wanted to desperately at least hold her hand but what she said about no PDA is starting to make him crazy.

"Kaori...you sure I can't at least hold your hand?"

"Look, I'm suffering as much as you but I wanna how long you'll last really. In the end let's just say my present is cuddles or whatever."

"Please, thank you." Kousei grinned and turned to his dad. "So...when will you leave?"

"Oh, right now actually. That's why I came over here."

Kousei seemed a little down, but he's not depressed about it since it's practically a normal thing. "Oh. Alright then." Kousei stood and so did Takahiko and gave each other a hug.

"When will you return?" Kousei moved back from his dad.

"Uhm...maybe...in 6-8 months."

"Wow," commented Kaori from the couch.

"Ditto." Kousei sighed but smiled and said, "I'm glad you were at least able to come by for my birthday."

Takahiko smiled warmly and patted his son on the back. "I love you, kiddo. Just know that I'll always be there for you if Kaori or Hiroko or Tsubaki or Watari or anyone else isn't there for you. But everyone around you seems to be very caring and never far, so I wouldn't worry."

Kousei smiled. He feels pretty weird hearing "I love you" from another person other than Kaori but he'll used to it soon probably. "Love you too, Dad.'

~0000~

Once Takahiko left, Watari said he'd have to go home and did after wishing Kousei a best birthday and Tsubaki helped cleaned the house a bit and left.

"They leave so early..." mused Kaori. She was seated on his bed in his room while he sat on his desk chair in front of her.

Kousei shrugged. "Tsubaki and Watari still have curfews and Koharu wasn't able to handle her drowsiness, so only you stayed. Don't you have you have a curfew?"

Kaori shook her head. "Not really, as long as my parents know I'm okay and with someone they trust then they don't care how long I'm out."

"Oh wow." Kousei checked the time. "What? It's 11..."

Kaori took his phone and widened her eyes. "Wow...by now, my parents are asleep. They'd didn't call me to make sure I was okay so they probably had a busy day.c She sighed tiredly and laid back on Kousei's bed. "Oh man..."

"I wanted to ask if you want me to escort you home but it's really late..."

Kaori laid her head on his pillow and closed her eyes. "What if I stay the night?" She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Is that okay? You're always alone in the house..."

Kousei blushed a little but shrugged with a nod. "Alright. I don't really see a problem." He stood up from his chair and put it back to his desk. "Want any clothes?"

Kaori nodded and sat up before stretching and watching as Kousei rummaged through his drawers for some comfy clothes.

After he grabbed some loose shorts and some t-shirt with some English words on the front, he handed them to Kaori and told her he'll wait outside for her to change.

As he waited outside his bedroom door, he can't help but think back to what Hiroko and his dad told him and Kaori and blushed again.

Will Kaori actually...go through with it? He tried thinking about it but just couldn't see it happening so he laughed to himself quietly and shook his head. I can't see it. Not yet, at least.

Kaori opened the door and Kousei took that as a cue to walk inside and closed the door behind him as the moonlight seeped through his window.

Kaori smiled and Kousei suppressed a blushed when he saw her in his clothes. Sure, he saw her in his clothes once but they weren't together so he didn't really admire her as much as he was doing now.

"Hey hey, I didn't say I'd sleep over so you can undress me with your eyes, pervert!"

Kousei looked up to her face and looked flushed but tried to protest. "N-no! I wasn't undressing I was just looking!"

Kaori squinted her eyes and laid on one side of his bed. "And you admit it."

Kousei shuttered as he tried to deny but he wasn't able to really. "F-fine...I do admit I was looking but I wasn't undressing."

"Mm-hm. That's what they all say~" Kaori giggled and turned so that her back was to Kousei.

He stared at her for a few moments before smiling and walking up to his bed. He gently laid on the spot she had made and stared at the back of her head until he wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled the back of her neck.

Kaori flinched and tried moving away from him. "Kousei, that tickles."

Kousei laughed and kissed her cheek. "I haven't been able to hold you or anything, let me have my freedom."

Kaori laughed and turned around in his arms. She smiled and kissed him on the mouth for a few seconds and pulled back as she hugged his waist. "Don't your glasses bother you when you're laying down? Because for me they sure do."

Kousei nodded and moved a hand up to remove them and placed them on his drawer above his head. He frowned right after. "Now I can't see your face clearly..."

Kaori giggled and kissed him again. "That's okay, you'll see me clearly tomorrow. I can see you all I want, I'm not taking off my contacts since I have no others here and my glasses are at home."

Kousei sighed and had Kaori lay her head on his chest, but then he moved forward and laid on top of her.

Kaori groaned and nudged his thigh with her knee. "You're heavy, you lug!"

Kousei laughed and slightly lifted himself on with his elbows on either side of her head. "Remember when I was heavy by just leaning on you?"

Kaori let herself breathe while she can and stared into his eyes. She hasn't been able to take in its details like this up close since he had always worn his glasses.

"Yes, and now you're just really heavy."

Kousei cheekily grinned. "You're overreacting."

Kaori was silent before admitting. "Well...maybe a little."

Kousei laughed a little bit and laid back beside her. "Let's sleep now, tomorrow's the weekend so we're good."

Kaori nodded and stifled a yawn. She wrapped her arms around Kousei and had her head resting on his arm. "Night Kousei."

He smiled and kissed her head. "Night Kaori. I love you."

"I love you too... Sleep now, Grandpa."

Kousei laughed quietly and closed his eyes after Kaori did so and waited for sleep to engulf him.

Rushed ending, I think.

I'M SO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN PRACTICALLY YEARS. SCHOOL STARTED AND DURING THE SUMMER I WAS WRITING THE FANFIC BUT THEN I ALSO HAD EDITS/AMVS TO COMPLETE (still am doing one right now so I had this routine where every morning I'd wake up for school really early in the morning like an hour or two before school started and worked on the chapter and at night on the amv) I'M REALLY SORRY

Also, I'm sorry for this being so, so long ;_; 12k words, longest I've ever written. Proud but also worried that you guys will think it's too long. I was thinking in putting this in parts but I kind of already have some of the next chapter typed out so *shruggie*

School has also been pretty stressful and it's only been the 3rd week. 8th grade what you doin to me. I have two goals in my mind that had also lead me to writing more slowly: wanting to grow up and be a professional pianist and getting a scholarship for college. And have also been learning Japanese and more Spanish (Spanish is my home language so I should learn all of that first)

I also have been working on my writing skills to improve a bit and so far I feel like I've gotten better ? Not sure though. Compared to chapter one, I feel like I've changed my writing a bit, either in a good or bad way.

Riprip, I talk too much, sorry :') I missed ya'll.

Goodnight/good morning/good afternoon/good evening!

(P.S: Zen and Seven from Mystic Messenger destroy me)