Episode 6: The Hardest Thing To Say

The Watcher smiled as he witnessed the events of each universe from which he had picked his esteemed Guardians.

He saw he had not been wrong in his choices. From Omni Man continuing to help Earth find allies against Viltrum to Avatar Korra rebelling against her Red Lotus mentors, the selected Guardians were doing even better in their respective timelines than before. 

As for Kousei...

"So, how is our musical friend doing in his new universe?" Strange Supreme asked as he walked up behind the Watcher.

The Watcher chuckled. "Well, let's just say it may take him a while to get used to."

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

Kousei Arima fidgeted nervously in his chair. He'd never expected to be sitting in the Sanctum Sanctorum of New York, let alone for there to be other universes beyond his own. But he indeed could not deny the new reality he had been put into, and did his best to calmly answer the questions of this universe's Doctor Strange.

"So," the Doctor Strange of Arima's new timeline recounted. "Upon completion of your mission, my other self plus the Watcher sent you here because your old universe was devoid of all life anyways?"

"That...would be a correct assertion, sir," Kousei replied. "I believe the woman—what was her name—yes, Black Widow was put elsewhere as well. She and I were both taken from that timeline for the mission."

"I see," Doctor Strange said. "Well, the version of myself that sent you here has millennia more experience than I, so I won't question his judgment let alone the Watcher's. He and I have had some...disagreements, to say the least. But you clearly are not some new supervillain who got past him, so I think we'll be fine."

"Oh for Heaven's sake, Stephen," Wong interjected. "He's a fourteen-year-old boy with a passion for piano playing! What's he gonna do, play the world into oblivion by performing Lacrimossa the wrong way?"

"Well, if what my other self told me is any indication, you do indeed have a special power to your playing," Doctor Strange smiled. "Specifically, a power that brought peace to a world wrought with generation-deep prejudice. And, apparently, won the heart of your current girlfriend when she was only five."

Kousei grinned sheepishly. "Oh, it's nothing really. My mom and her friend just taught me really well, that's all." Doctor Strange smiled warmly. He wasn't all business and rules after all. On the contrary, he was relieved to finally have a guest that was just a simple everyday citizen as opposed to someone like Loki.

"So...how many frantic news outlets will I have to put up with over the next few days?" Kousei asked nervously, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer. 

"As of now, most of the world's digital eyes are on Peter Parker, whose nemesis Mysterio revealed him to be Spider-Man with his dying breath," Doctor Strange informed the pianist. "You may have to deal with a few local newspapers and TV stations, but nothing major unless of course, someone from Tokyo comes knocking at your door."

Kousei breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that's good. I'm more worried about what Kaori would do to them if anything. She can be quite, well...tempestuous at times." Doctor Strange laughed, fondly recalling his time together with Christine. Granted, it had only been for a while before they'd mutually ended things. Still, Stephen couldn't help but feel glad when he saw others being blessed with the gift of a loving relationship.

"I'll find a way to address the whole confusion with your grave being around at the same time as you," Doctor Strange promised him. "That won't be for a while though, as I have some other matters to attend to first."

"No worries at all, sir," Kousei said. "Thank you."

"Well, I think we're all good here, Arima," Strange said. "Basically, just don't ever become a psycho supervillain hell-bent on conquering the world. Or I will have no choice but to cut your arms off like what I did to Thanos when he tried to erase half of all life in this universe."

Kousei gulped. "Um...I don't think I'll be doing that."

"As you can see, the Sorcerer Supreme is as skilled at making new friends as he is at magic," Wong said sarcastically.

"Just doing my job, gentlemen," Strange answered. "Nothing personal."

"Let's get you home, Arima," Wong said, and moved his sling ring to open a portal right outside the front door of Ma Fille Pâtisserie. Kousei smiled as the scents from the bakery owned by Kaori's parents wafted through the air and filled his nose.

"Welcome to your new timeline, Kousei," Doctor Strange said with a slight bow. "Enjoy your new life."

Kousei laughed and shook his head as he walked through the orange portal, returning to the familiar street of his hometown instantaneously. As the portal sparked closed behind him, Kaori waved to him excitedly from inside the bakery and ran out to give him a big hug.

"Took you long enough, you idiot!" she laughed as she and Kousei squeezed each other tightly.

"Hey, come on, Doctor Strange wanted to be thorough, that's all!" Kousei grinned.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Kaori said, finally letting go. "Now come on! My parents almost have almost finished making brunch, and you're gonna love what they've cooked up!"

The tiny little bell above the door dinged delightfully as Kaori escorted her accompanist-turned-boyfriend through the door. Kousei's ears detected the bell ringing in the key of A-major.

And then his eyes spotted something...no, someone...quite a bit bigger and more terrifying looking than the bell.

"You've given my daughter A KISS ALREADY?!" Kaori's dad roared as he stomped up to Kousei's skinny torso. Kousei's body quivered in fright as Mr. Miyazono's hulking, muscular frame loomed over him.

"You break my daughter's heart even a tiny bit and I'LL CHASE YOU OUT OF THIS TOWN!" he bellowed again.

Kousei could feel his hands shaking and his teeth chattering, despite the bakery being more than warm enough. "I'm really sorry, really..." he squeaked.

Mr. Miyazono raised his right hand, and Kousei winced, expecting a solid punch to the gut for daring to voice his affections to his daughter. Granted, Kousei had already witnessed an inter-dimensional battle with a crazed dictator and survived a shower of nuclear missiles...

But not even those could not compare to the wrath of an angry father.

"For a baker living a peaceful life, he takes his family as seriously as he does his cooking!" Kousei thought, his body overcome with dread.

But then, just as Kousei's life was about to flash before his eyes, he felt two strong arms wrap him in a big bear hug as Mr. Miyazono's jolly chortle filled the room.

"Take it easy now, Kousei!" he said happily. "Just messing around, that's all!"

"Daaaaaaaad!" Kaori whined. "That was mean!"

"Really, dear?" Kousei heard the mother's voice scold playfully.

"Oh come on!" Mr. Miyazono defended himself, releasing Kousei from his affectionate—but suffocating—bear hug. "You didn't actually think I was mad did you?"

"You got me good, sir," Kousei laughed.

"Well, you're just in time for breakfast!" Mrs. Miyazono said cheerfully. "Gather round the table everyone!"

As Kousei's plate loaded with a generous amount of rice, miso soup, ohitashi, and grilled fish was set before him, the pianist's mouth watered as the heavenly scent of his first home-cooked meal in weeks overtook his senses. After Kaori's dad prayed a blessing, the four of them began tucking away at their meals, with both Kaori and her parents asking Kousei many questions about his old universe plus this grand mission he'd spoken of to Kaori.

Kousei's face turned slightly red. It had only been one day since he'd gotten here, and already he was feeling like a celebrity! 

"According to Kaori, Ultron won in your old universe and you lost—well—everybody, right?" Mr. Miyazono asked with visible concern.

"Yes, sir," Kousei said, hanging his head at a slight angle. He could feel the energy at the table shift. Mealtime didn't exactly feel like the best time for sharing tragedies.

"We extend our deepest, sincere apologies to you for all you endured, Arima," Mrs. Miyazono said empathetically. "We're sorry you had to go through such horrors, but we are glad you're safe."

"Thank you, ma'am." Kousei smiled.

"Was the Totsuhara Hospital of that universe augmented by Stark technology?" Mr. Miyazono spoke up, shifting the subject to something a bit more casual.

Kousei was puzzled. "Um...I don't believe so?"

"Aw, that's boring!" Kaori complained. "The hospital of this universe has new updated monitors, medical tech, and more! There are some Iron Legion drones that help out with hospital duties as well. Some are even in the nursery!"

Kousei was amazed. "That sounds awesome!" he exclaimed. "How exactly did they end up there?"

Mr. and Mrs. Miyazono exchanged an eager glance. Now it was their turn to explain the events of their timeline to Kousei.

"Well, for starters, in this timeline Ultron didn't win," Kaori's dad began. "But he did cause quite a bit of damage before the Avengers took him down. One of their battles with him happened in this city, as well as Seoul and Sokovia."

"As an apology to those places, Tony Stark and his wife donated generous shares of their tech to hospitals, schools, and more!" Kaori's mom said with an excited shine in her eye.

"Wow!" Kousei said as he swallowed his bit of rice and grilled fish. "That's so cool!"

As he looked around the bakery, he noticed a picture on the wall behind the cash register of what appeared to be a military unit of Japan's Self-Defense Force. A glass case of medals and rank insignia of a Sergeant First Class hung to the right of it. Kousei asked where that was from, his body slightly tensing up when he received his answer.

"Why, it's my former unit from when I served in the Self-Defense Force!" Mr. Miyazono said, a proud smile beaming across his face. "I was in the 5th Brigade for quite a while before I met my wife!"

Kousei bowed his head. "Thank you for your service to the nation, sir." The pianist also noticed a Cross hanging on the wall beside the military memorabilia. It seemed Kaori's family still had the same faith in this timeline.

"Watari is gonna pick me up this afternoon," Kousei informed them in an upbeat tone. "I called both him and Tsubaki last night after catching up with Hiroko, but Tsubaki didn't respond."

Kaori and her parents exchanged a melancholy glance. Kousei sensed there was something he must've missed, and gingerly asked what had happened. 

"I already told you Tsubaki also had a thing for you in this universe," Kaori said, her expression somewhat guilty. "But, well...I forgot to mention just how angry she was at me when you passed away in this timeline. She sort of, well—blamed me for "taking you away from her" and didn't even speak to me at your—er, the other you's—funeral."

"She currently has both Kaori's phone number and social media blocked," Kaori's mother added. "Tsubaki's mother bears us no malice of course, but it stung quite a bit to hear of Kaori's classmate becoming so callous to her."

"I see," Kousei nodded in understanding. "Thanks for letting me know."

"Hey, did you also get to look at pictures of Kaori in grade school in your old timeline?" Kaori's dad piped up with a glint in his eye.

"Dad, NO!" Kaori contested. Kousei smiled mischievously, sensing an opportunity to get the upper hand on his usually victorious girlfriend.

"Well yes," Kousei shrugged. "But hey, maybe in this timeline they look different!"

"Say no more!" Mr. Miyazono replied, rising from the table in an exaggerated manner and marching off dramatically to the storage closet that housed the source of Kaori's humiliation.

"NOOOOOO!!!" Kaori wailed in defeat, burying her face in her hands. Then she glared over at her not-so-slick boyfriend. "I'll get you for this."

Kousei grinned. "I've survived a nuclear apocalypse, fought alongside the Avengers, Omni Man, and Titan shifters against an infinity-stone powered Dr. Doom. Do your worst, my dear."

Mrs. Miyazono laughed with a slightly devilish tone as she sipped her tea, her husband returning to the table with the photo album containing what Kousei had requested.

"Don't underestimate my daughter too much now, dear pianist," she wagged a finger. "She can be quite overbearing when she enacts her vengeance, and I won't come to save you!"

Kousei got a good laugh at the photos at Kaori's expense. In the back of his mind, Kousei knew another trip to the shopping mall with him as the carrier of her frivolous spending was coming up. But he didn't care.

"I'll savor the victory just this once," he thought as he gazed upon a picture of fourth-grade Kaori adamantly practicing her violin.

Just a few minutes later, there was yet another knock at the door, and Kousei's face lit up as he saw the familiar appearance of his friend Ryota Watari standing at the door with his soccer captain uniform on.

"Hey hey hey, what's up, resurrected piano man!" Watari announced, giving Kousei a big, brotherly hug. Kousei joyfully returned the embrace, patting Watari firmly on his toned back.

"Transferred, but yeah, sure! Whatever works for you!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Miyazono!" Watari bowed. "And to you, Kaori! I hope I didn't barge in at a bad time!"

"Not at all, Watari!" Mrs. Miyazono said. "Glad you and Kousei could catch up today!"

As Watari and Kousei departed the bakery with a bag of snack pastries, Kousei bowed and thanked Kaori's parents for their hospitality.

"Anytime, Arima!" Mr. Miyazono waved. "Also, you can call us Mr. Yoshiyuki and Mrs. Ryouko from now on!"

Kousei and Watari walked about their hometown for hours, Watari asking Kousei similar questions and Kousei answering them happily. Watari reeled back in shock upon hearing how the Kaori in Kousei's old timeline had perished due to her terminal illness, and consoled his friend for the devastating loss. Kousei smiled back, grateful to have the daring soccer captain as a friend. Kousei and Watari went about visiting various bookstores, an arcade, and even the park where Kousei and Watari had both met Kaori. 

"The place where she won your heart, my friend," Watari said in remembrance. "And mine, though only one of us got lucky enough to become her boyfriend of course."

"At least you didn't get beaten into oblivion by a melodica," Kousei joked back.

Then, Kousei got an idea.

"Take me to the cemetery, Watari."

Watari stopped in his tracks. "Wait...seriously?"

"Yes," Kousei confirmed, realizing how crazy it must sound. "I want to see it for myself. Take it in for myself. Otherwise, it'll be a lot more difficult to appreciate just how lucky I am to even be here!"

Watari smiled. "Sure thing, piano man."

Fifteen minutes later, the two friends stood in the cemetery at a particular grave with a name inscribed on it that made Kousei a bit uneasy.

But sure enough, the name was there, clear as day.

Kousei Arima

March 28th, 2010-February 18th, 2024

Talented Student; Caring Friend,

Devoted Musician

Your playing can never be replaced. And your kind heart coupled,

By your loving words, shall always be remembered with fondness.

And apparently, they'd buried him next to his mother, for her grave was the one on the very left of his other self's. Normally, Kousei would become queasy at such an awkward sight. It was a lot to take in after all—just six feet underneath this gravestone lay the body of his other self from this universe. Cold, pale, lifeless, and probably severely battered due to having been hit by a car.

But this time, Kousei just stood there reflectively, letting the cost and impact of this newfound blessing of a new universe really sink in. He remembered how much he'd moaned and groaned in his old timeline when Kaori would berate him after hearing him play the piano robotically. Then, everything had been stripped away from him, starting with his mother, then Kaori, then everyone in Ultron's fanatical cleansing of the world. Kousei had always been unsure as to whether or not his playing had any impact at all to those around him.

But clearly, it did. And instead of hurling, turning chicken and running away, or making some awkward remark, Kousei just smiled.

"You taught me well, mom," he thought, wishing she were here to hear it. "Thank you."

"What was it like...seeing me die?" Kousei suddenly asked Watari. Watari was somewhat taken aback at first, not quite sure how to respond. Eventually, Watari formed a reply, doing his best to not trip over his words as he stared at the other Kousei's grave.

"Horrible," the soccer captain said. "Absolutely horrible. Kaori wasn't the only one who was devastated. Tsubaki may not admit this, but she took it just as hard. Seeing that news headline on our phones, seeing your bruised and battered body in the hospital bed as the doctors rushed you to the operating room..."

Watari's voice cracked as tears started to flow from his eyes. Kousei put a consoling arm on his friend's shoulder, reassuring him.

"It was awful man! Just awful!"

Kousei emphasized greatly with his friend's pain. After all, he had felt the same way watching the Kaori in his old universe go from a joyous, carefree violinist to a withering, dying husk fading away more and more as her condition worsened. Kousei and Watari stood in silence for quite some time, continuing to stare at the grave's inscription. Then Watari turned to his friend who'd cheated fate and returned from beyond his universe.

"Even in your old universe, even in this one, even in death...you're the only one that truly had Kaori's heart all along, my man."

Kousei laughed. "Here's hoping I don't break it, lest her dad introduces me to all his veteran friends."

"A nuclear apocalypse couldn't keep you down," Watari said, clapping Kousei on the back. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Thanks, Watari. Now, let's get going. The cemetery isn't exactly the first choice for a sunny day like this."

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

"Hey Tsubaki...um...how do I say this...it's Kousei! Yup, you heard that right! I'm here from another universe believe it or not. Yeah yeah, I know, that sounds dorky, But seriously! After going on a special mission with some heroes from other timelines...I got put here! Man do I have a lot to tell you! Call me back when you get a chance!"

Tsubaki curtly hung up her phone, slamming it into the soft blankets on her bed. She must've listened to that bonehead's voicemail from last night at least a dozen times by now. She hated it. All of it. How in the hell could he be so casual and friendly?! Had the drama that had happened in this timeline not occurred in his supposed other universe?!

At first, she'd denied it was Kousei, lying to herself that it must be Watari playing some sick joke. However, after seeing the lights on in his room, hearing Ms. Hiroko Seto's rambunctious laughter as she caught up with Kousei, plus Kousei's short prelude on the piano before he went to bed, she couldn't maintain that foolish attempt at self-deception.

Kousei was back alright. And judging by the annoying "just a friend" tone he'd used in the voicemail, things must've gone the same in his old timeline the way they did here. Subtract his death of course.

Tsubaki's rage and bitterness at the whole situation had been festering for a while now. Just because of that stupid, blasted music, Kousei had fallen for Kaori in an instant over her, the girl who'd been by his side since day one?!

The logical part of Tsubaki's mind nagged her again: was it really Kaori's fault that Kousei didn't feel the same way about her, the bossy neighbor girl next door?

Tsubaki shut that thought down with more mental gymnastics and self-justification. Of course it was! Tsubaki had been nothing but a loyal friend, companion, and supporter of Kousei from the first time his mother had struck him to the day she had tragically passed away. And how did Kousei repay her? By falling for her classmate who had lied through her teeth.  And all he'd planned to do was give Kaori—not her—a letter when he left for Europe? 

What gave him the right?

As Tsubaki grumbled and fumed over these various things, she tried to divert her mental energy away from these thoughts by studying for an upcoming test the next week. For a while, it worked, until she heard a knock at the door which her mom announced was Kousei. Tsubaki didn't answer.

"Even in his old universe he couldn't take a hint!" she thought angrily. "Dummy!"

She heard the front door shut after a while, and her mother beckoned her to come down. Knowing she couldn't keep up the silent treatment for much longer, Tsubaki exited her bedroom and stomped down the stairs.

"What is it, mom?" Tsubaki asked with a hint of defiance in her tone.

"First off, change your tone when speaking to me!" her mother corrected. "And secondly, your friend came by to see you. Said he wanted to speak to you about something urgent."

"Really? Who was it?" Tsubaki asked, already knowing the answer.

"Kousei Arima."

Silence.

"Oh, really?" Tsubaki said nonchalantly, avoiding eye contact with her mom. "I guess miracles can happen."

Tsubaki's mother, Yua Sawabe, knew something was wrong. No, scratch that. She'd had known something was wrong for quite a while. A mother's intuition was rarely wrong. But over the past couple of months, her daughter had only given her a bad attitude and a sulky demeanor.

Tsubaki's mother had had enough.

"No daughter of mine is going to go about life this way," Mrs. Sawabe thought with firm parental resolve. "Let alone try and hide it from me of all people."

"Out with it," Yua suddenly said bluntly. "Why are you so jealous of the love Kousei shared with Kaori before he passed away?"

Tsubaki's eyes went wide in shock. Exactly as her mother expected.

"What?!" Tsubaki said in alarm, raising her voice. "It's nothing like that! I just—!"

"Do you take me for a fool, daughter?" Mrs. Sawabe said, cutting Tsubaki off. "It's been written all over your face, voice, and even your posture ever since Kousei and Kaori's performance of Love's Sorrow at the Gala concert last year! Kousei falling for your classmate due to their common interest has made you bitter, but you've denied it to your friends, family, and even me!"

Tsubaki was stunned. The last time her mother had spoken to her like this was when Tsubaki got caught cheating on a test in fifth grade. This offense that her mother confronted her with now, however, was obviously much more abominable than that stupid little test had been.

"I have known this for the past few months, Tsubaki!" her mother revealed. "I've had to reluctantly watch as you begged for permission to date that freshman Saito as a shallow cover-up for your true feelings! As you met loving counsel from both myself and your friend Nao, with blatant disregard and scorn!"

Tsubaki felt a lump forming in her throat, and her face flushed red with shame as her mother continued on.

"You thought that by repeatedly denying your longtime feelings for Arima, you could convince yourself and everyone else!" Yua said, her voice now raised. "But you didn't even convince the former, let alone the latter, did you?"

Tsubaki could no longer hold back the tears of anger and guilt that had been forming on her eyes, and she tasted the saltiness of one of the tears as it fell into the corner of her quivering lips.

"That's—that's not—!" Tsubaki stammered.

"Yes it is, and you know it!" her mother hollered. Tsubaki was defenseless by now. Unlike previous conversations on this subject where her mother had approached the topic gingerly, Tsubaki had no way to dismissively blow it off and walk up to her room. Her stocking feet were glued to the green carpeted living room floor, and her eyes were shut tight as her drooping face allowed her tears to fall. Tsubaki opened her mouth to reply, but she was so choked up that her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. And even if it wasn't, what was Tsubaki to say?

Her mother was right, after all.

Mrs. Sawabe saw that her holler had been unnecessary, and walked over to her grieving daughter. Tsubaki was expecting her mother's rigid arms to grab her and force her to straighten up. But instead, Tsubaki felt her mother's shoulder press against her chin as her mother hugged her in a compassionate, caring embrace.

"How can you hug me and be angry with me at the same time?!" Tsubaki finally spoke.

"Because I'm your mother, dear," Yua answered softly. "It's what I do."

Tsubaki found that there was nothing else she could do except return her mother's warm, forgiving embrace, and sobbed a great many tears as her mother comforted her. After a few minutes, Tsubaki finally plucked up the courage to tell her mother what had really been on her mind the past few months as she'd watched the boy she loved be suddenly snatched away by his own selflessness.

"It's not fair!" Tsubaki stamped her foot. "Why did Kousei never notice me?! Why was I never anything more than a bossy big sister to him despite all I've done?! Why was it the only thing I needed to win his bleeding heart was music?! Why?! Why?! WHHHHYYYYYY!!!"

Yua Sawabe looked her daughter in the eye, and gently raised her hand to Tsubaki's crying face.

"But dear daughter," Yua said sadly. "Did you ever convey your feelings to him yourself? Did you give him any indication you had a desire to know him better and be by his side as a girlfriend, not simply a school friend?"

"No," Tsubaki sniffed.

"And why is that?"

Tsubaki was still crying, breathing in and out heavily as she tried to form her words.

"BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE'D JUST ALWAYS BE HERE!" she finally cried, releasing her formerly well-kept secret. 

"You took him for granted, sweetheart," Mrs. Sawabe said, her voice wrought with pity and love for her daughter. "Does that seem right to you?"

Tsubaki buried her face in her mother's shoulder yet again.

"No, it's not!" Tsubaki said, her muffled sobs reverberating against her mother's collarbone. "You're right...I was wrong! And it's no one's fault but my own!"

Tsubaki continued to weep for some time, her pent-up guilt overwhelming her entire body. And yet, at the same time, Tsubaki felt an odd sense of relief now that she had finally admitted her wrongs.

"You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free," she remembered overhearing an elderly man in the park say as he read from an odd black book with a Cross on it.

Tsubaki felt her mother's arms straighten her shoulders, and the contrite softball player looked her mother in the eye. Tsubaki had a hunch she knew what was next, and readied herself for what her mother had to say.

"Tsubaki, listen to me," her mother instructed firmly. "I want you to walk down to the bakery of Kaori's parents. You know where it is, and on a weekend I'm sure all of them will be home. You will apologize to all of them directly, face to face, with full sincerity. If you still don't want to follow Kaori's social media, that's fine. But you will give them the respect they deserve and fulfill any requests they may ask of you—within reason. Do you understand?"

Tsubaki wiped away her tears. "Yes mom, I understand."

Yua smiled. "That's my big girl. Now clean yourself up and get it done. As for Kousei, I want you to talk to him at some point as well, but that can wait for a time."

Tsubaki felt a nervous tingle and confident resolve fill her body simultaneously as she donned casual clothes for a walk in the sun and adjusted her hair in the upstairs bathroom. Checking to make sure she had her phone, house keys, and wallet, Tsubaki bade her mother farewell as she strode out onto the front porch with her head held high. She shut the door behind her, making sure it was locked, before beginning her pilgrimage to Ma Fille.

She had to take ownership of this situation.

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

"Yay! Arima's back!" Koharu said excitedly as she hugged Arima's right leg tightly. Kousei chuckled as he brushed the four-year-old's frizzy blonde hair.

"I brought you some treats!" Kousei said, taking some lollipops out of a small gift bag. Koharu, easily overjoyed at the slightest offer of treats, was more than grateful. Ravenously ripping open one of the small lollipops immediately, she began gnawing on it like a bunny to a carrot.

"Well well well, look at you, Mr. Music Superhero," Hiroko said, playfully punching Arima in the shoulder. "Only been a day since you're back and you're already the talk of almost the entire town."

"Oh lay off, Ms. Seto," Kousei laughed as he plopped down on the light blue sofa. "I'm just another crazy pianist."

"Excuse me?!" Hiroko protested, giving Arima a brain noogie. "You win a secret admirer at only five, leave a posthumous confession for her to find after your untimely death, and then come here from another universe still swinging?!"

"Another yoo-nee-vewse?" Koharu's baby voice asked curiously between bites. "Where?"

Kousei chuckled. "You'll understand when you're older, Koharu."

Hiroko hugged Kousei from behind as he relaxed on the sofa. Kousei didn't blame her...she was basically his adoptive mother after all, taking him fully under her wing after his mother's death.

"Kaori better watch out now, bud. She'll have to deal with all the girls swooning over you when you go back to school."

"Oh stop it already!" Kousei said. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Speak of the devil," Hiroko smiled coyly. "Better go shoo em off, Multiversal Musician!"

Kousei shook his head as he walked to the door, unlocking the bolt and opening it slowly. But it wasn't a mob of fangirls, papa-razzi news outlets, or anything of that nature.

It was Tsubaki.

"Oh...um...hey Tsubaki!" Kousei said awkwardly. "How are you doing?"

"Hey Kousei," Tsubaki said meekly, looking to the side.

The two were silent for a moment. Then Kousei offered her to come inside.

"Do you need any food or water, or—?"

Tsubaki held up her hand. "It's fine. I came here because I—I wanted to say that—."

She paused.

"Yeah?" Kousei asked, slightly tensed up.

Tsubaki took a deep breath.

"I want to say I'm sorry."

Kousei froze. Sorry? For what? But as he was about to ask, Tsubaki elaborated.

"I'm sorry for getting so jealous of you when you fell in love with Kaori, Kousei," Tsubaki said, her voice starting to quake as the tears came to her eyes. "I'm sorry for taking you for granted and blaming you for my inability to be honest. I was angry with myself for not telling you the truth first...and I unfairly pushed it onto you!"

Tsubaki caught her breath and then finished her apology.

"I know this doesn't change any of what I already did, but please—just let me be a friend to you and Kaori! That's all I ask! But if you don't want that, I understand!"

Kousei was amazed, and felt a great mercy stir inside his heart for his friend who'd been by his side faithfully here and in his old universe. For the first time he'd known her, Kousei had seen Tsubaki truly step out of her comfort zone. Yes, she was a mighty softball player, a deadly pitcher when at the plate.

But this repentance and asking for forgiveness took a new level of brave vulnerability.

He smiled at her kindly.

"It's okay, Tsubaki," he assured her. "Thank you for saying this. I know it took a lot for you to do that, and you are always welcome to hang out with Kaori, Watari, and I."

Tsubaki's expression shifted into a relieved smile. At least this other Kousei that stood before her now was just as understanding as he'd been in this universe.

"And in all fairness...maybe I did ignore some hints you threw my way," Kousei admitted. "But I just didn't feel the same way about you. Not because you're ugly, or even because you're a "bossy big sister". I just didn't feel the same way. That's all."

Kousei paused.

"But regardless...I'm sorry if I hurt you, Tsubaki."

Tsubaki's tears were now tears of happiness and alleviated guilt. Once again, her mother had been right. Honest contrition and ownership were the best routes.

"Don't worry about me, Kousei," Tsubaki said, looking him in the eye. "It may sting a little, yes...but I'll be glad to see you happy with Kaori! Honestly! She gave you new life, Kousei! Filled all our worlds with color when she pulled you out of your comfort zone and back to the piano! Why should I be angry at her for that?"

Kousei chuckled. Tsubaki did have a point. And clearly, her quiet strength had prevailed over her petty jealousy. The two neighbors shared one last friendly hug, sealing the apology and closing the door on all future drama.

"Go and get her, you big dummy," Tsubaki teased her friend.

Kousei released his hug. "Thanks, Tsubaki. See you around."

"You too! But a friendly reminder, Kaori probably would've knocked you out cold if she'd caught you inviting another girl into your house," Tsubaki winked.

Kousei facepalmed. "Oh, right, sorry!"

"No worries, just for future reference Kousei," Tsubaki giggled. "Goodnight!"

As Tsubaki re-entered her home, she let out a big sigh of relief as she collapsed against the now-closed front door. The apologies to Kaori and Kousei had hurt, yes. But now, she had come to terms with the monster she'd been wrestling with for too long. Mrs. Sawabe entered the room, an "I-told-you-so" smile spread across her face.

"Yes mom, I know," Tsubaki chuckled. "Thank you."

Later that evening, as Tsubaki and her mother ate their dinner, Tsubaki remembered an idea she'd stored way in the back of her brain a while ago, and asked her mom about it.

"Mom?" Tsubaki asked, the spoon midway to her mouth.

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you think I could be signed up for voice lessons?"