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"Are you alright?"
"Hm- Oh, yeah! Yes, totally! W-why are you asking?" He had stopped in the middle of playing the Chopin piece and she knew that something was up.
Kaori could always tell when Kousei was lying. She could see it in his eyes, the fidgeting of his stance, the slight shake in his voice that she knows far too well herself. He always belied his emotions and problems to protect others. And himself, she thought.
"Well, since you're okay," she started, drawing out her words as she sat on the floor, "practice more! You know that you have that piano concert in a few weeks! You can't just fall behind like-"
"Yeah, I know, I know. If I don't practice, I'm a terrible pianist and I'll have no chance at the competition. Yup," he said as he slouched at the piano bench, hands clenching in his lap.
Oh, so it was that type of day. She rolled her eyes at his degrading thoughts towards himself.
She encouraged him the only way she knew how- loud and energetic words. "You know you're a competent pianist! Stop getting lost in that thick head of yours and play, goddamnit! No one's going to be there to hold your hand if you have a breakdown on stage, so get over it now. Use your skill and heart to play the freaking piece, already!"
What Kaori was expecting was a stubborn face and a complaint back, but what she got hurt her heart. He started sniffling, tears running down his face.
Was I too harsh? she questioned in her head, her face becoming soft with worry. "I-"
"No, you're right," he interrupted, wiping tears with his hands. "I'm getting too lost in my own head because I can't let go of the past. You knew that even before I knew. I just don't know how to break that habit, you know?"
Kousei's head hung low, his hands shaking. Kaori hesitated, then stood.
She walked to him and put her arms around him, embracing the pianist. He seemed to relax in her hold, and he hugged her back, a few tears still streaming down his face. They stayed like that for a few moments, listening to the sound of the wind blowing outside.
They separated slowly, almost unwillingly. Interesting, Kaori thought, as Kousei looked at her with those hopeful, blue, smiling eyes. She smiled back, her long, blond hair fluttering with the breeze in the room.
"Now," she said confidently, her smile growing into a smirk. "From the top!"