Chapter 22: Old Competition

"Of course I've been practicing, Emi. I was just kidding. After all, I'm pretty sure you're well prepared", Kousei said to Emi the other day at the roof deck of their school. "Don't wanna get my butt kicked by my girlfriend in front of everyone.."

'What did they usually say again?', thought Kousei. 'Right. Jokes are half meant..'

"I'm not your girlfriend..", Emi replied with a poker face, making him imagine that he almost leapt off the roof.

'That hurt like a dagger to the chest.'

However, he knew she secretly liked it whenever he got possessive of her. It was very evident that she was trying to suppress the blood from going up her face. But she was slowly turning as red as her blazer.

"You will be.."

"Wow. Where is this confidence coming from?"

The sounds of the third movement of Kousei's chosen piece, "Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576", by Mozart, echoed throughout Okutsu's main theater. Its playfulness and upbeat tempo told stories of joy depending on one's impression. It was a total contradiction with the first two movements. But for Kousei it was simple.

'It's our story, Emi.'

He made sure she sat at the far right area near the exit, where his line of vision could see. His mother used to take up that position before. But during the competition, Kousei wanted to be able to see Emi everytime he glanced towards the audience.

'So that my thoughts don't drift away from you..'

Miyazono Kaori taught him one thing during the winter break. It wasn't that she did not remember her past life or she decided to play the piano instead. But it was the ability to just laugh it all off despite what life brought upon her. 

'To be honest, I couldn't even see anything negative in what happened to her anymore since her quirky but bubbly personality was all over the place.. 

'It was more of she was living a different life already, a life where she is happy, healthy, and most importantly, alive..'

It was one bittersweet reminder of how three years could change everything in one's life. 'Sure she suffered from memory loss and changed, but I should've done the same with my life.. minus the brain damage, of course..' 

Instead, Kousei got stuck in the past. And here she was again pushing him to move forward in this journey. 'I was such a dumbass. I finally got why everyone called me stupid. It took me so long to realize that I was already living a different life..

'Thank you, Miyazono Kaori.. I can finally go on.'

The third movement indicated a fairly brisk pace. It was more of a celebration even if the hunt was yet to be concluded. Boldness was the name of this part if it had to be given a title. Failure was not an option because it would make Kousei look like he celebrated prematurely.

He was done pursuing Emi. He did this to answer her usual question. This was where he got his confidence. He only needed to glance at her once to see tears flowing from her eyes. That was his answer. He knew at that moment she was finally his.

The applause was overwhelming, another standing ovation. Kousei had reached all of them again. The memories of a distant and quiet audience watching him seemed so lost long ago. He could really get used to this. However, he only wanted one person to hear him out that day. 

He bowed to acknowledge everyone, but not once did he break his gaze upon Igawa Emi. 'That smile is priceless..'

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"Three years in Europe. Useless..", Aiza Takeshi said while applauding Kousei as he entered the backstage. "I hate to admit it, but I'm still catching up", he added as he shook his rival's hand.

"Thank you, T-Takeshi-san..", acknowledged Kousei, not really knowing how to properly address him after so many years. 'But I guess I got it right this time since he smiled at me with all of that teeth.. Right.. I was watching Emi on a small television screen backstage when Takeshi appeared out of nowhere..' 

Kousei really couldn't say he wasn't surprised at all. Last he saw Takeshi was in Italy when he was about to go back to Japan three years ago.

Literally and figuratively, it was the longest plane ride of Kousei's life. He really did have to go to Italy that day, and it just so happened that it was the same day Miyazono Kaori supposedly died. 

He had second thoughts about pushing through with the trip, but he guessed if she had the power to speak to him from the other side, she would tell him to go on.

Good thing Takeshi was there with him to make the trip easier. He was one of the few people outside Kousei and Kaori's circle who knew what happened. 

'I guess he became part of that special group from that point on..', thought Kousei as he smiled at Takeshi. 

Takeshi did a pretty good job of consoling Kousei and getting his mind off of it though. His personality actually closely resembled his best friend, Watari. It was thanks to him that he somehow enjoyed his brief stay in Milan.

'And then, I ditched him and went back to Japan..' 

Kousei had always set his sights on Okutsu anyway. It just so happened that it took time before they released the admission results. Hiroko did not take any chances and sent him to Milan immediately just in case he did not make the cut in his target school. But since he made it, he went back to Japan.

It was fortunate Takeshi understood Kousei's situation even if he got the hang of him being with him all the time in their supposedly new school in Italy. He even accompanied him to the airport when he went back.

"You sure you're gonna be fine on your own, Arima?", Takeshi asked right before Kousei entered the airport lobby from three years back.

"Technically, I've been living on my own for quite a long time already. Guess I'll be okay, Aiza..", Kousei answered.

"Takeshi! It's Takeshi!", he exclaimed, obviously really upset that Kousei didn't address him with his first name.

'Come to think of it.. he really never called me by my name..', thought Kousei with an uncomfortable smirk.

Takeshi just sighed and waved goodbye as he walked away. "Don't go killing yourself on the way back..", he added.

"I won't, Takeshi-san. Besides, it's spring time in Tokyo..", Kousei replied, thinking of all the joyously precious memories he had the previous spring. And at the same time, he was hoping that new good things would happen along with the cherry blossoms.

"The hell does that mean?", Takeshi shouted back as he continued to walk away.

That was the last conversation Kousei had with Takeshi. He never thought that the next one would be during Emi's performance almost three years later.

It was an ordinary control room somewhere in the backstage. All three of them, Takeshi, Emi and Kousei, used to hang out in a place like this while waiting for their turns during competitions. 

Kousei was watching Emi, and this time, he was alone, or so he thought.

"After all this time, she's still rejecting you..", Takeshi interrupted moments before Kousei's turn on the stage, startling him and reverting his rival's attention towards him from Emi's performance. The glasses-wearing prodigy looked at him in surprise. He looked the same with that black suit he was wearing. He was just a little taller. "Been a while, Arima.."

"A-Aiza.. how did you..?", Kousei asked him, not knowing how to respond since Takeshi surprised him.

"Takeshi! It's Takeshi!", he exclaimed. He looked at Kousei with a little bit of disappointment since he always forgot his first name. 

Kousei just chuckled awkwardly. And then, they put their attention back to the small screen. Emi was still in the middle of her performance. 

"Oh yeah.. she's definitely in the mood today. But really, really upset..", Takeshi added.

"That's the point of her chosen piece. Can't say I'm not worried. She's sending me a message", Kousei answered as her playing intensified.

"What happened? Love quarrel?"

Kousei flushed a little bit with Takeshi's question. He was really hoping that was the case, but it wasn't. "Funny how you put it that way.. wish it was that simple.."

"Figures.."

"What do you mean?"

Takeshi closed his eyes and sighed as if Kousei was the one oblivious to what was going on. "Simple doesn't exist in Emi's vocabulary", he said. "The way she handles things.. it completely depends on her mood.. and her mood is a result of many different factors interacting with each other within a given day.. sometimes, even further into the past..", he continued. "But I guess you already know that by now.."

Kousei just nodded while he looked at Emi on the small TV. She was crying, but he did not think she was aware. The performance engulfed even herself. "Still.. it amazes me how she can really be dangerous, and then suddenly.. nice the next moment.."

Takeshi smirked before he chuckled a little. "She can really be rude and nasty sometimes.. but only if it's about something she's passionate about.. or someone in your case.."

"I envy you, Takeshi-san. I wish I could've known a lot of things about Emi as much as you do.."

"Well it's your fault, Arima. I've been friends with her since we were kids. If only you've recognized us both earlier, you would've known a lot about Emi..", Takeshi had a point since Kousei only really started reaching out to his rivals during middle school. He actually looked a bit upset while he said it.

"I do actually remember her as the scary girl with the popsicle..", Kousei uttered, trying to recall memories of his childhood during competitions. "Nothing's really changed.. I'm still scared of her..", he jested, causing both of them to laugh a little.

"Arima.. don't worry about it too much. One thing that I'm sure of is.. whenever she's in the mood to play the piano.. good or not.. it was always for you.."