Chapter Text
They walked up to the gate as usual where kohane was waiting for them,
“Everyone, and tenma? What took you all so-”
She cut herself off after sensing the tense mood
“Is…everything okay?”
Everybody had gloomy expressions. But akitos expression was different in a way. If was emotionless but still full of fear.
“I’ll explain everything along the way, I’m sure everybody wants an explanation”
They all slowly begun to walk to weekend garage and akito started explaining everything. From the moment he and arata met to the boy pushing him out the tree. To him being the final reason he never wanted to play violin again. He even included some parts about his dad but left most of it out as he would rather not bring up those memories. The part that hurt him the most was to talk about when he was in the hospital. He could vividly remember the smell, the sound of the videos being played to him repeatedly as he could do nothing but sit there. How he even pleaded to his dad to take him anywhere but there. He ended his story with just before he met Toya.
“That little piece of shit!”
An felt enraged now. She couldn’t hide the anger in her voice her her face. In fact, none of them could. They all looked livid. Akito wanted to tell them it’s fine since it’s in the past, but the truth was it was far from fine. The memories still haunt him every day. They had finally reached weekend garage but nobody stepped in for a moment. They felt like if they did, time would fly by too fast, that akito would leave them too soon. Shockingly, it was akito who walked forward first
“Lets go in”
The others all followed behind him. Once they stepped in, they were all greeted by ken,
“Hey everyone, why’s everyone so gloom?”
“You guys sit first. I’ll join you guys in a second”
They nodded at akitos request and went to go find somewhere to sit
“Kid what’s going on? You’re really scaring me now”
“Todays my last day coming here.”
Ken’s jaw dropped at this sentence
“I thought your old man still let you come here? What’s the problem now?”
“I’m picking up violin again. And he’s sending me abroad”
“Do you want to do that?”
“No…but I don’t have a choice”
Akito stared blankly at the floor. You couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all. He only looked up when he heard ken writing something.
“Legally, I can’t do anything. But please, and I mean it, if you need any sort of help call me. I’ll gladly go to the other side of the world to help you kid.”
Akito gave a small yet warming smile to ken after hearing his reply.
“Thanks Ken. I will”
“Good, now you get over there with the others and I’ll whip you guys up your usuals”
He nodded and then started walking over to the others. He decided to sit next to tsukasa. Everyone was still silent as they didn’t know what to do in this situation.
“I didn’t know how to lighten the mood so I may have invited two certain people. She’s should be here soon.”
Just as An finished her sentence, the two in question walked in
“we have arrived!”
Rui and mizuki walked through the door of the cafe and started walking over to the others.
“You called the correct people here…maybe”
Mizuki started their sentence off confident but trailed it off towards the end.
“Surely all akito needs is some carrots in his life!”
“No way. Anything but carrots”
Everyone laughed at his reply. It was the reply of the akito that they all know and love. Not the robotic personality he’s had recently. Even akito smiled slightly at this. Kohane then did a small gasp before speaking
“How about we perform a song you you guys? You weren’t ever able to watch our lives”
Rui hummed in agreement
“Good idea, I’d love to see a performance”
Akito nodded at the idea
“Akito, you can pick the song”
Toya looked to akito and suggested this. The rest of them nodded eagerly. He pondered for a few seconds. His eyes then brightened up at the thought of one song
“Cinema”
“Well cinema it is then guys!”
The four of them stood up and walked over to the stage in the cafe. As they sung over the backing track, you could tell they really did love to do this. The song was sung with true passion. Like they truly wanted to be there. Even akito looked more lively. He was smiling whilst performing. Although it was nothing compared to the smiles he used to have when singing before, just this was enough to put everyone back into a good mood. It felt like they were truly vbs again.
Tsukasa, Rui and mizuki were cheering them on from their seats as they performed. Once the song had ended, tsukasa was the first one to voice his opinion
“That was…so good! I loved every moment of it. Amazing!”
Tsukasa could tell that it was an important song to akito and was glad to see that even now he enjoyed performing it. At the same time, all their orders had been prepared and were now on the table. Akito instantly dug into his pancakes and you could see him melt into his chair with each bite.
“Pancake fanatic”
“Kohane fanatic”
“Hey!”
Akito continued to eat his pancakes as An continued to shout at the boy, in a playful manner. The others were laughing whilst kohane was slightly embarrassed. It was then Rui that spoke this time.
“Akito, tsukasa, could we all see that song that you performed at that competition again?”
“Sure! I don’t mind as long as akito doesn’t mind, do you?”
“No, ken has guitars lying about here anyways.”
Akito left the room to go get the guitars from the storage and mizuki instantly turned to the others.
“Guys, not to be a party pooper or anything but you need to see this”
They held up their phone screen which read
‘Legendary musical duo Tsuki and Taiyo due to make comeback at competition this Friday!”
“Eh!? They’re doing a competition here? That explains why his moods even worse”
An continued to stare at the screen and then Toya spoke
“I think we should go see it.”
“Huh but-”
“I know what you’re thinking, but when will we ever get to see akito again after this?”
The others didn’t reply as they knew he had a good point.
“Alright we’re going then”
Rui confirmed it from everyone and then akito entered the room again.
“I got the guitars, you ready?”
“…yeah I am”
Tsukasa gently took the guitar and walked up to the small stage alongside akito. They both took a deep breath and akito lightly tapped his guitar twice. As they begun to sing the others listened in awe. Even though they had all heard it before, they couldn’t help but be drawn in. Their first performance of it was amazing but this one felt even more heartfelt. It even had some of the regulars in the cafe loudly cheering them on. But there was hurt in both of the boys voices. Like a voice of longing for something. They finished the song and everybody cheered loudly for them.
“That was amazing guys”
Ken shouted over from the counter in which the two boys replied saying thank you.
“Akito, let me come with you to put these away”
“Sure?”
He was confused but agreed nonetheless. The two of them walked into the storage room as the rest of the table watched.
“They’re gonna kiss aren’t they?”
“Definitely”
As they got to where the other guitars were, akito took the one from tsukasas hand and placed it on the shelf.
“Akito”
He turned to face tsukasa and was instantly pulled in
“Huh?”
Tsukasa gently cupped his face and kissed him. Akito couldn’t help but blush
“Why so suddenly?”
“Well…I don’t know when I’ll next see you again”
Akitos face darkened at this reminder. He was having so much fun with everyone that he nearly forgot about him leaving. He pulled tsukasa into a tight hug and didn’t let go. He felt tsukasa hug him back and relaxed in his embrace. They stayed silent for a moment, until shaky breaths were heard from akito.
“Akito?”
Tsukasa didn’t receive a reply but it was clear to tell that he was crying. He heard the quiet sniffles and small breaths in that he took
“I don’t want to go. What the fuck did I do to deserve this? I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to go with him”
He was trembling in tsukasas arms. The blonde boy couldn’t do anything but hold akito and try to console him.
“No matter where you are or how long it takes, I will find you. You can trust me on that one right? Even if I have to become the best pianist in the world to find you”
He felt akito nod and his crying had subdued. They stayed hugging like that for a little longer before letting go of each other
“You okay to go back to the others now?”
“Mm…I think so”
Akito rubbed his eyes to get rid of any stray tears and then followed tsukasa out of the storage room. As they walked out, An looked at them
“Look who’s finally…ah”
She looked at akitos slightly puffy red eyes and decided it was best for her to stay silent. Instead, she ran up to akito and gave him a big hug. It initially surprised him but he hugged her back. Before he knew it, kohane and Toya and joined in the hug and the three started crying. Akito would’ve too but he had probably used up all his tears. He just continued to hug them all whilst Rui, mizuki and tsukasa watched from the table. It was sad for Ken to watch this all happen, as akito leaving was like him losing a kid of his own. Luckily the cafe was empty since it was late, so the kids had the whole shop to themselves.
“I don’t want otoutou kun to leave. I don’t even know how his big sister will handle it”
Mizuki said this sentence whilst fiddling with the straw of their drink. They know ena is usually quite emotional when it comes to things they consider close to them, one being her brother. They assumed it’s a high chance that akito is the exact same. As much as they fight, separating these two is like ridding a tree of its roots. Rui made an attempt to console them.
“It’s far too blown out of proportion for us to meddle. Anyways I’m sure our star here will do anything to see akito again”
The three of them sadly smiled at this sentence. The atmosphere in the cafe was broken by the bell on the front door ringing
“Well hello everyone!”
Rui turned to mizuki and tsukasa to whisper to them
“Is that the arata in question?”
They both slightly nodded as they watched An walk in front of akito
“You bastard!!”
“Ah. You went and told them akito? I’m telling you, I did that all for your sake”
“His sake my ass! It was you being selfish!”
Arata laughed quietly at Ans reaction. He looked over to akito. He saw how dull the boys eyes looked and smiled slightly,
“We need to go, his dads expecting him soon after all”
Anyone in the cafe could tell that arata was enjoying himself. An couldn’t even call her dad a he went out to buy stuff. Arata walked over to akito and harshly grabbed his arm. He begun to tug him along again but was stopped by An
“Could you not drag him like that?!”
“Now why should I listen to you?”
He shoved an to the side which caused her to fall on the floor. This made the others even more enraged and the seniors were about to stand up. Toya and kohane went to check on an. Just as the three seniors were going to confront arata, akito spoke up.
“That’s enough. Leave my friends alone, there’s no need to harm them”
He scoffed at akitos reply but still listened to him. He continued to hold akitos arm as they walked out the cafe, even as tsukasa called out his name. As he walked, akito turned his head towards tsukasa. There was a glimpse of light in his eyes as he mouthed the next words,
‘I love you’
The door slammed shut and the cafe went silent once again. An kept repeatedly punching the floor.
“Shit shit shit shit!”
Akito got into the passengers seat of the car and buckled his belt. As he looked in the mirror he saw kens figure slowly walking up the street. He quickly peeped his head out and did a small wave. He saw the man’s surprise of seeing him in the car and he picked up his pace. But it was too late. Arata was already driving away. Ken was just becoming a blur. Vivid street and all his memories there were becoming blurs.
“Now you’re gonna be practicing with me till Friday!”
Arata hummed whilst driving, like he’d just won the lottery. Akito hadn’t even left Japan yet and was already feeling isolated.
-
-
Friday came and akito and arata were currently backstage. Toyas dad was there to give akito one final practice on his violin. Once he confirmed it was okay, he left the backstage area. Akitos dad walked up to him and akito felt small. It felt like all the competitions he was in as a kid. All of the expectations continuously piling on top of one another.
“You better play perfectly”
“Yes dad”
He felt his dads hand swipe across his face
“Look at me when I’m talking to you. Now, how will you play?”
Akito blankly looked up at his dad
“Perfectly”
His dad walked away without saying another word. The silence was quickly filled in by arata appearing. He draped his arm around akito and slightly squeezed his arm
“Yknow akito, I heard a funny thing when you were in hospital”
Akito flinched at the mention of a hospital
“I remember hearing that one of your arms would only be able to handle light pressure. Any more and you’ll feel immense pain. Nothing serious, just an effect of it healing slightly wrong”
Akito slightly tilted his head
“You knew? That’s why you kept squeezing my arm”
Arata answered with a sly smile
“It’s our turn, let’s go”
The two of them walked on stage as they were being announced
“Contestants Tsuki and Taiyo. Performing Sonata No. 9 in A Major”
Arata quietly walked over to the piano and seated himself. Akito help up his violin and positioned his bow, ready to start. The two of them simultaneously tapped their instruments twice before beginning the piece. It was like seeing half of the fold in rainfall and the other enjoying sunshine. One was brimming with joy and the other had lost hope. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the audience. He had become what he tried to run from
He was now nothing more than a puppet once again and played the violin, with such elegance and beauty. He played the violin with such sadness and pain in each note. It struck your heart. Yet it only pierced and cracked his
He played the piano with such joy and elegance. He played as if he was performing with the gods. His fingers were as light as feathers and his smile as sweet as sugar.he glanced up at akito and all he could think was
‘You’re finally within reach of me’
She watched her brother go back to what he was before. She cursed their dad for making him this way. The boy who had finally found his light but lost it so soon. He lost his true partner. These two weren’t the sun and moon together. It was meant to be Akito and Tsukasa. Tsukasa was meant to save her baby brother.
He watched from the audience, wishing to save the poor violinist, wishing to save his love. He felt so far away, yet so close. He watched the performance with tears in his eyes and his fists clenched. He couldn’t keep his promise with her, he couldn’t keep him happy at all..
A lone theatre in a land between worlds holding only people of our imagination. They sat there as they listened to the piece. This wasn’t how it was meant to be. This world was made to help them. They sat as the faint violin played. One couldn’t help but punch her seat lightly.
“I was meant to do anything to keep them happy…”