Episode 11: Restored Honor

"You may not want to admit it, you may even try to pretend it never happened!" Hiroko had screamed. "But on the altar of your successful career, you sacrificed something SO PRECIOUS! A treasure that you knew was finite, yet chose to toss it aside!"

Takahiko's mind still replayed the heated conversation he'd had with Hiroko Seto the night before. Despite having been over the phone, the brutal words of his late wife's best friend still stung like the venom from a dozen snakes. He sat in the cafe with a solemn demeanor, picking at his pancakes and lightly sipping his coffee. Despite the generous heaping of whipped cream and maple syrup, his taste buds refused to register the savory, sugary flavor.

Takahiko had wanted to snap back, explain to her the thankless circumstances that had been a large factor in his actions. And yet, as Hiroko had delivered that painful truth to him, the once esteemed businessman could only angrily hang up the phone and weep in his prestigious hotel room. Not that such trivial luxuries mattered to Takahiko anymore.

"How can I possibly go home and face my son like this?" He thought with a pang of guilt. "Is there even a chance he'd accept me?"

Takahiko was well aware the ultra-slim chance of his son being transferred here across the multiverse following his untimely "death" had also happened. So perhaps there was a chance he could make amends with his son.

Even so, the weary executive had much doubt about that happening. For some odd reason, comparing the two scenarios didn't feel the same.

"Having trouble with your meal?" A soft, female voice asked him.

Takahiko looked up in surprise.

"Akari Hagimoto?"

The tall, slender woman with long brown hair and piercing blue eyes smiled at her high school friend, her red lipstick—that matched her red skirt—suddenly looking very inviting to Takahiko's eyes.

"Hello, Takahiko Arima," she greeted, sitting down across from him. "Its been quite a while."

Takahiko chuckled. "Yes, it has. How have things been?"

"Oh, the usual," Akari shrugged. "Being a designer for a big-name brand of ladies shoes has it's perks, though my manager could stand to lighten up quite a bit."

"Ah. I'm guessing her strictness must keep you on your toes all day. Oh wait."

Akari rolled her eyes. "Still with the witty jests I see."

"Not that much has changed since graduation, Akari." Takahiko replied.

"I can see that," Akari said in a soothing tone. As she gazed at him, Takahiko felt his skin begin to crawl. And that's when he began to think.

It wasn't the fact she'd been in the same place as him at the same time. Coincidences happen. That much Takahiko could excuse.

But the way she'd approached him and the tone with which she currently addressed him?

Something wasn't right.

Takahiko began to recall numerous occasions where Akari had made coy, flirtatious remarks to him, mostly in their junior and senior year of high school. Most times, he had simply just smiled back and disregarded her, as Akari had been dating someone else at that time.

Takahiko did take note of the shiny silver ring on Akari's finger as those memories came back. Seemed she was still with that same man.

Even so, Takahiko was beginning to feel apprehensive about the situation. Yes, he was a widower, so no disgrace should come upon his name from just enjoying some coffee with an old friend.

Then, Takahiko's blood ran cold as the next words that came from Akari's mouth reached his ears.

"Why don't we go catch up in my apartment?" Akari asked in an undeniably seductive tone. The mischievous glimmer in her eye said the rest of the unspoken offer.

Takahiko had only seen that look once before, back during a business trip to Mumbai five years ago. A receptionist at his hotel had extended a similar offer, which he'd promptly and firmly rejected. Not only because that woman was most likely married, but Saki had still been alive at the time.

Despite the latter no longer being true, Takahiko felt a disdainful disgust arise in his chest, and it would've made him physically hurl had he finished his pancakes. There was no mistaking it; Akari was trying to lure him into making the biggest mistake of his life. Takahiko clenched his knuckles on the white tablecloth; he had to get out of here!

Takahiko stood up from the table, straight and tall, and narrowed his eyes at his now former high school friend.

"No thank you," he said firmly.

Akari gasped in mock horror, clasping her hand over her heart. "Why I never, Takahiko! Surely you were taught manners!"

"I was. And I think you'd be better off talking to a man who was not taught how to properly respond to your frankly revolting advances. Good day, Akari."

..........................................

"Hm. So in this old timeline of yours, Ultron was victorious?" Thor said, stroking his beard.

"Yes, sir," Kousei replied. "And from there, everything I knew and loved was razed to the ground."

There was a long pause as Thor and Haru mulled this over. The Asgardian protector had seen his fair share of losses on the battlefield, but Thor could still sense the trauma weighing down the pianist must be much heavier than his treasured Stormbreaker axe.

"How long were you trapped underneath that rubble?" Haru asked, sipping his tea.

"Around two weeks. And just when I thought I had no way out, that was when Black Widow and Arnim Zola dug me out. The Black Widow of that timeline, that is."

Haru and Thor spent the next half hour listening to Kousei recount the wild details of his transfer, from meeting an alternate version of T'Challa to bringing about peace to a timeline wrought with war and strife via his musical expertise. The entire time, the mighty thunder god just maintained a patient smile on his face and listened to Arima's story with an empathetic heart. At one point, Kousei thought to check the time on his phone, his face flushing red with embarrassment as he saw just how long he'd been talking.

"The appointment is to help you, young Arima!" Mr. Hayashi assured him with a twinkle in his eye. "Do not worry, please!"

"So, how does all of this make you feel when you remember it?" Thor asked Kousei. "When you recount it to us, do you feel the burden you bear getting lighter or heavier?"

Kousei thought about it for a moment, and then answered.

"If I'm being completely honest, it's hard to tell," he replied. "I've acted happy around my girlfriend, Hiroko, my other friends, and I'd like to think it was genuine! But after what I said to Kaori, after that fight with my dad, it seems I'm still on the verge of losing everything. If not in a fire of nuclear missiles, then in a fire of my own stupidity."

Kousei felt a firm hand grip his shoulder, and turned to see Thor smiling at him.

"I know what it's like to lose everything, young musician," Thor said with sincerity.

Kousei was puzzled. "What? You? But you're an Avenger!"

"You'd be surprised what hidden scars the strongest soldiers carry beneath their armor, Arima," Haru responded. "Thor?"

"I'm 1500 years old, young musician," Thor told Kousei. "My mother was slain by Malekith the Dark Elf many years ago, and from there I've lost my brother, my father, my sister, and most loyal friend Heimdall. Many of my people were lost in Ragnarok, and our remnant here on Earth has only just begun to reach its former glory."

Kousei was stunned. "How, then? How do you do it? How do you keep going against the river when it's trying to drown you every second?"

Thor chuckled. "That's the beauty of it, my friend. You don't stand in the river alone."

Thor paused to let that sink in.

"We may give each other some grief from time to time, but I am grateful for every one of my fellow Avengers. My friends Korg and Mink help me remember to laugh, and it is with all of them I am able to, as you say, go against the river."

"We all have fought our own, incredible battles and lost a great many things, Arima," Haru added. "Everyone carries their wounds, inside and out. But that is not what life is about now, is it?"

In that moment, Kousei recalled something Kaori had told him in his old timeline, which was now even more profound when considered in this new context.

"Even if you're sad, even if you're hurt beyond what you can take—you have to keep playing! As musicians, we can never afford to stop doing what we love!"

"You cannot let your mistakes define you, young one," Haru continued in a kind voice. "Of course you must acknowledge that you've been hurt instead of trying to bury it. But when that is all you focus on, you bring pain to not only yourself, but those around you."

Kousei nodded. "Yeah, that's definitely true. Guess I had to learn the hard way, huh?"

Thor laughed. "If what you've told us about this girl you love is true, I'm sure you'll be able to win her heart back, young man. It will just take some effort. What did you say her name was again?"

"Kaori. Kaori Miyazono."

"Ah yes, that name rings a bell! I believe I met her father once, some time ago! Please give him my regards!"

Kousei nearly jumped out of his skin. The father of his girlfriend had this guy on call?

"Boy, do I feel really lucky now!"

"And what about my dad? What do I say to him?"

Thor grinned. "Well, a simple 'I'm ready to put the past behind us' never fails."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Kousei smiled. "By the way, if I may ask, how do you two know each other?"

"Ah!" Haru said. "Back when the Ultron of this world was trying to take over, Thor and his compatriots saved my life as well as the lives of many others. During the cleanup I extended my services to one of their newer members...what was her name?"

"Wanda Maximoff." Thor reminded him.

"Ah, yes. And since then, I've maintained good standing with the Avengers ever since!"

"Wow. Small world I see!" Kousei said. Then, he stood and bowed to both of the older men. "Thank you, Mr. Hayashi and Thor Odinson, sir. I'm truly grateful for your advice, and will keep all of this in mind."

"Of course, Arima!" Thor said, firmly shaking the pianist's hand. "Now I can make Hulk angry by bragging about how I was the first one to meet you!"

"Wouldn't that destroy most of New York City?"

Again, a hearty laugh escaped Thor's throat. "Not anymore, actually! The big green fellow has actually figured out how to put his brains and brawn together! It's quite a sight to see, really!"

As Thor disappeared into the sky via the Bifrost, Kousei dusted off his school uniform and thanked Mr. Hayashi once again.

"I'm always happy to help, Arima," the old man smiled back. "Do not forget your follow up appointments, same time next week! Mr. Miyazono covered this one of course, but we can discuss further payments later. I will let him know you came today!"

By the time Kousei got home, Hiroko had just finished cleaning up a small—but still awfully stenched—accident Koharu had had in the bathroom.

"I'm sowwy Mommy," Koharu was crying.

"Don't stress it, dear," Hiroko comforted. "Let's try to avoid it in the future though."

Hiroko asked Kousei how his appointment had gone, to which Kousei gave her a very positive report. When he told her how he'd met Thor due to Mr. Hayashi's chance connection, Hiroko just shook her head in amusement.

"Better not tell Takeshi that, or he'll find a reason to call himself your rival again."

Later that evening, as the three of them were enjoying desert, the house phone rang and Hiroko volunteered to answer it. After a few seconds, she came back into the dining room, holding the phone out for Kousei.

"It's your dad," she said simply.

.................................

The next morning, Kousei and Hiroko sat in the living room with a contrite Takahiko whilst Koharu amused herself outside in the backyard. They'd eaten a hefty brunch, and Takahiko wasn't sure how to begin what was sure to be a very heavy conversation. So instead of opening up with a lengthy apology, Takahiko simply took out a folder packed with dozens of papers. Spreading it out on the table, he pointed to certain numbers and figures he'd highlighted on the trip home.

"I don't get it," Kousei said as he skimmed the jam-packed papers. "What is all this?"

"Old calculations I ran with my accountant regarding my income, mortgage payments, and medical expenses back when your mother was still alive."

Hiroko's eyes became misty at the mention of her friend's name. She'd known Saki had been desperately battling her illness for quite some time, but as she saw just how much Takahiko had been pulling from his paychecks to keep her well, the ugly reality began to set in.

"Kousei, my son—please listen to me," Takahiko pleaded. "When I had to return home for your mother's funeral, I was devastated beyond words. There was not a day that went by where I did not think of you and the unbearable pain you were having to suffer being alone!"

Takahiko wiped away his tears.

"But as her sickness worsened and the cost of her medicine rose, I had no choice but to work harder lest I miss the promotion that helped me make those very payments!"

Even if Kousei had wanted to accuse his father of making excuses, he could see by now that the figures outlined on the paper were not falsified. They had both his father's and his accountant's neat signature on the bottom left corner. The young pianist nodded at his father in a solemn manner.

"I understand what you're saying, dad."

"My son, I wished for nothing more than to be able to be here and help you in the wake of your mother's demise!" Takahiko sniffed. "I tried my best to plead with my boss for more time off, but I can see it was not enough! If you do not forgive me, Kousei, I won't force you to. But please my son, at least tell me you understand! That's all I ask!"

Now Kousei was beginning to cry, and without thinking, he leaned forward and embraced his father with authentic forgiveness. The two men sobbed on each other's shoulders for some time, and Hiroko shed a good number of tears as well. Though she still felt a hint of anger towards the man who'd abandoned his wife and son, some of that ice that she'd kept inside her heart since Saki's death had now thawed.

"I forgive you, dad!" Kousei finally said. "I'm sorry for everything I said to you when you got home!"

"No no, my son!" Takahiko insisted. "I'm sorry! I will not leave you alone again, I promise!"

Once everyone had dried their tears, Takahiko followed up his apology with some very much needed good news.

"While I was away, I put in my two-weeks-notice to my boss. I'll be working from here for that time, and then I'm planning to take a job locally. It'll probably be a step down in pay, but by now there's no need to worry about that."

Hiroko smiled. "Well, it was getting kinda boring with just Kousei and I around here. Your office might need some tidying up though."

"I can help with that!" Kousei volunteered. "Let's get started!

As Kousei and his father dusted, swept, and swabbed his father's dilapidated office room, Takahiko asked his son about his relationship with Kaori. Kousei's face lit up with a mixed expression of happiness and guilt as he told his father about the current break they'd been taking upon Kaori's request.

"I'm paying her a visit tomorrow, and hopefully we can move past this whole thing by then."

Takahiko chuckled. "Relationships are rarely ever smooth sailing, my son. Chin up. I'm sure you will be alright."

"Is this what it was like when you fell in love with mom?" Kousei asked, putting a pile of crumpled papers in the recycling bin. "Did she steal your heart with just one look from her eyes?"

"She most certainly did!" Takahiko laughed.

When Kousei described his need for assistance paying for future appointments at Haru Hayashi's office, Takahiko offered his support without hesitation.

"I'll reach out to Kaori's father and let him know I can take it from here."

The rest of the day was spent with the forgiven father and strengthened son bonding over various activities. From digging weeds in the yard to showing his father the piano portion of the next piece had and Kaori were going to perform, the two men laughed and joked together, dissolving the bitterness of the past one smile at a time. Hiroko looked on fondly as she played with her daughter, glad to see that Kousei's relationship with his dad had been restored.

Family, music, love, laughter...all the small things that made life that much more colorful.

..........................................

The next morning, Kousei couldn't help but shudder yet again as he knocked on the door of Ma Fille. This time though, Kaori's father came to the door with a more welcoming disposition, and shook Kousei's hand with a respectable demeanor. Inviting the pianist inside, Yoshiyuki told him to sit down as he called his daughter downstairs. Kousei's face flushed bright red as his precious violinist descended the small flight of stairs in a blue skirt, purple t-shirt, and her hair down. He could've sworn he caught a whiff of strawberry scented shampoo; she must've just finished up showering a while ago.

"Oh stop swooning you idiot," Kaori laughed as she sat in the seat across from him.

"Can't be helped," Kousei shrugged.

Unlike previous times, it was Kaori who initiated an apology first.

"I'm sorry for wanting to rush into this relationship when you first got here, Kousei," she said sorrowfully.

"Hey, I'm the one who asked, remember?"

"Yes Kousei, but I pushed too much, too fast!" Kaori insisted. "After Tsubaki and I resolved things, and you were back when I thought I'd never see you again—I just—I just wanted to show you how much I love you, but I never stopped to think how you were feeling!"

Kousei held Kaori's hand, and looked at her with a kind, understanding gaze.

"And I'm the one who didn't bother telling you," Kousei said. "It's not only your fault, Kaori. I messed up to. I wanted being with you to "fix" me. And that's not how I should treat you. You're the girl who stole my heart with just one look, and helped me climb out of my dark past. Not a magical, imperfect angel that needs to be without flaw."

Kaori stroked Kousei's hair in a gentle manner. "It's okay, Kousei. I understand why it wasn't easy for you to talk about your troubles with your dad at first. And I'll admit it's hard for me to understand, as my parents have basically been cheering me on my whole life."

"Can't blame em, can you?" Kousei said. "You play the violin in a way no one else can. When you play your bow across those strings, you tug on my heartstrings."

Kaori rolled her eyes. "Your compliments are cheesier than Watari's."

"Ouch!" Kousei joked. "And just when I was gonna play you a love song on the piano, too!"

There was a slight pause before Kousei asked another question.

"In my old universe, you played the violin so unconventionally because of your illness. What's your reason for playing it that way here?"

Kaori was somewhat caught off guard by this question, but was more than happy to answer.

"When I was six, my parents and I got into a bad car accident on the way home from visiting some relatives," Kaori explained. "We ended up being fine, but my dad needed to have surgery for his injuries. After that close brush with death, I never wanted to take another moment for granted again."

"And so you decided to play the violin like a maniac," Kousei teased.

"Hey, better than playing like a soulless robot!"

The two exchanged a cheerful laugh before Kaori took Kousei's face between her palms.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Kousei answered.

After their kiss, the two promised one another to always be upfront about what they were feeling.

"If you feel like you maybe need some space on a given day, just say so, okay?" Kaori told her boyfriend.

"And same to you, Kaori," Kousei said, running his fingers through her hair.

Kaori's parents, who'd been upstairs so as to give the two some privacy, were grateful to hear of their reconciliation once they arrived at the lobby. Kousei thanked Kaori's father for resisting the temptation to bring Thor's axe upon his head, to which Mr. Miyazono was confused.

"Huh? How would I be able to do that?"

"What?" Kousei said. "But, at the appointment, he told me he'd met you and..."

Kousei's voice trailed off, and he buried his face in his hands, flustered beyond comprehension as he realized just how badly he'd been trolled.

"BWAAAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Yoshiyuki's laughter bellowed throughout the meager dwelling. He clutched his side as he fell to the floor, and Kaori got a good laugh at her boyfriend's expense as well.

"You actually thought my dad knew THOR?!" she giggled as her face turned red from laughter.

"Ohhhh-hoho, ohhhhh-hoho, oh Arima!" Mr. Miyazono said, wiping away his tears. "Just for that, you got a fifty percent discount at this store for life!"

"How was I supposed to know he was lying?!" Kousei protested, but to no avail.

Later that day, Kousei and Kaori were sharing a walk on the beach as they made their way to the school to practice their next duet.

"Are you sure we have time for this?" Kousei asked with a nervous tone. "We've missed a whole week of practicing together."

"A little fun isn't gonna hurt!" Kaori said with her usual cheerful disposition. She spun around in the sand, kicking some if it up as the waves washed over her bare feet. "Besides, after we practice, I can help you select your next piece for the summer piano competition!"

The rest of the day was spent just the way Kousei liked: practicing with Kaori, occasionally arguing with her over some trivial musical matter, conceding defeat when her adamant personality inevitably refused to yield, and constantly giving her cute-yet-cheesy compliments that made her blush.

"So, the fourth movement of Franck's violin sonata," Kousei said as he walked her home. "How you feeling so far?"

"I think the audience will love it!" Kaori beamed, swinging her violin case back and forth. "Think you'll be able to keep up with me when I go allegretto?"

"Do your worst, my dear," Kousei dared her. "I may be from another universe, but I'm still able to hold my own."

...................................

Re MI, Do Ti La Sooooo!

Re MI, Do Ti La Soooo!

Mi-Fi-So, La-Ti-Do, Ti-La Sooo!

Mi-Fi-So, La-Ti-Do, Ti-La Soooo!

With those opening phrases alone, the duet began to cast their spell upon the crowd as the quiet, graceful beginning of the piece lilted across the concert hall. And then, as Kousei and Kaori had rehearsed, Kaori began to play the piece as she wanted, increasing the tempo and flying through every single embellishing tone, chromatic ascension, and fermata with unhinged expertise. Kousei did not fail to keep up, mesmerizing the audience with his on-point accompaniment that was just as emotional as his girlfriend's.

"Play with all your heart, Kousei!" Kaori thought with triumph welling up inside her as her fingers guided the bow across the strings. "Just like you were meant to do! We are here, making music together, and I hope we continue to do just that in the years to come!"

"Don't count me out just yet, my dear virtuoso," Kousei thought with a competitive smile coming across his face. "I'll help you play this song and many more as time goes by."

Kousei and Kaori's love for music was undoubtedly a large part of how they were able to play the way they did. But now, after being reunited across the multiverse, something more was powering their duet.

Something that not even an army of one thousand Ultrons could quench.

Their love for each other.

The two musicians played. And played. Rendering the audience helpless with every note, and leaving even the most stoic music professors aghast. Before the pair knew it, Kaori's turn was over, and the audience was silent with reverence before bursting into thunderous cheers and applause.

Kaori probably wouldn't take first place in this competition for ignoring the score, as per usual. But she did not care for such trivial matters.

This duet with Kousei had been one of their best yet, and there would be many more to come.

After connecting with Watari, Tsubaki, Takeshi and Emi in the lobby, the couple accepted many gifts from their elated friends as they departed for home with their parents. On the drive home, Takahiko congratulated his son on an amazing performance, and then remembered something.

"I have a gift for you when we get home, son," Takahiko said. "Don't let me forget."

Kousei was expecting either some money, a gift card, or potentially some supplies for high school in the fall.

Instead of those things, Kousei received something much more fitting. His face lit up with joy as his father plopped down a heaping pile of American piano repertoire on the table in the living room.

"Scott Joplin?! Thelonious Monk?! Eubie Blake?!" Kousei exclaimed. "Dad, seriously?!"

"Some stuff I managed to pick up during my business trips to the US," Takahiko smiled. "Figured you'd find a good use for them, son."