My hands brush past the dusty keys. The dust must have come through the small holes in the silk, showing how neglected it is. Why now of all times, do I decide to come in here? My fingertips are itching to play, but I cannot bring myself to. I have no motivation to play music anymore, there is no point. As I fold over the fabric protector, a flashback hits me. I remember the time I forgot to do this and mum was so mad, I had to sit and play for five hours straight to make it up to her. This sudden memory creates a butterfly effect within my mind, other bits of my past come back to me, one after the other.

I remember my mother lecturing about looking after the piano.

I remember her showing how to clean the keys properly.

I even remember yelling at me to get Chelsea off the piano.

Overwhelmed with all these visualisations in front of me, I stumble back and knock some books of their shelves. The window is open and music sheets fly throughout the room like innocent white doves. It's almost as if the notes are forming a melody with the wind, not that I can hear them. This is so inspiring that my previous anguish is forgotten. Maybe this is a sign, should I play the piano once again?

After having a shower to wash all the grime off from that room, I flop on my bed. My phone on my bedside table vibrates and I pick it up so that I hold it above my face as I lie down. It's a text from Watari.

Hey! I hope you're still alive :P I just want to let you know that a new girl will be hanging out with us after school tomorrow, she'd better be super cute! Anyways night and see you tomorrow! ♪('ε｀ )

Jeez he is so obnoxious. He already has enough girls going after him. I don't reply, he can assume that I'm 'not alive' in his terms. I wonder who this girl is? Probably a friend of Tsubaki's that I am yet to meet. I turn off the light in my room and lie on top of the doona, I always sleep like this, and it is a warm Spring night. Unable to fall asleep, I stare at the dark ceiling.

I recall that I did this often when I was younger, at the end of each day, piano practice had me so beat that I couldn't cope with my thoughts so I stared into blank space often. My whole life is like this now, though I have no reason to be so down. It's as if something is missing from my life, every day seems to drag on without any excitement or genuine feeling of fulfilment. In fact, ever since I disconnected with the musical world, I have lost my sense of identity, I have nothing that really makes me individual. I'm just the boring Kousei Arima who spends most of his days doing nothing, minus school. I turn over to one side and close my eyes, attempting to wash away my thoughts.

The next day is like any other. I get to school just on time, Tsubaki complains as I walk through the classroom door.
"Wow, late again piano prodigy". She likes to use these jokes even if they aren't even relevant anymore.
"Yeah, I slept in again", I mumble as I yawn in tiredness. The lesson starts and we aren't even that far in when I find myself gazing out the window in boredom. As my teacher rambles on about the Pythagoras theorem, I watch cherry blossoms fall of the trees, like how a little kid watches raindrops fall down the glass. Some are carried off by the wind and form interesting swirls around the school yard. Most school days are like this, I do not pay much attention in class. The environment outside isn't much more motivating either.

However on this particular day, as my eyes follow the path of some of the petals, they find themselves looking at a slim, feminine figure walking past the trees. She is wearing our school uniform, so she must go here. Her sunshine hair falls down her back as she waltzes gracefully further into the school. She comes into view and the first thing I notice are her sapphire blue eyes. Her face is glowing in the daylight and a smile of hope emerges on her face. Strangely, she starts to kick up some of the petals off the ground. They circle around her, bathing her in pink sparkles. For some reason, I long to be out there with her. She doesn't have a care in the world.
"And Kousei, what is the answer to this?", a stern voice brings me back to reality. My teacher has her arms crossed and is hinting to the problem on the board.
"I....." I look out the window again but the girl is gone, "I don't know, sorry".

The rest of the class I don't dare look out the window again, but I can't seem to stop thinking about that girl. She was so beautiful, how have I not noticed her before?
At lunch time, I decide to play some tunes while I eat. I plug headphones into my ears and play some new hit singles. Not taking any notice, Tsubaki plonks down in front of me.
"Hey, whatcha listening to?" She yanks one out and puts it in her ear.
"Ohhh! This is Goosehouse's new single! I haven't heard it yet." She keeps it in her ear for the remainder of the song, not noticing my discontent.
"There happy?" I gladly put it back in my own ear. Tsubaki has been my friend for so long and knows I like to listen to songs on my own, yet she annoys me anyway. I don't mind that much, it just ruins the quality of my 'meant to be' peaceful lunch.

As planned, I wait at the school gates for Tsubaki, Watari and this so called new girl. I check my watch, they're late. As I look up I see three figures walking in my direction.

Then I see the golden hair.

It's her.

The girl blessed by the cherry blossoms.

Holding my best friend's hand.

♪ ........