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“NEWS-san, otsukare,”
“Arigatou gozaimashita,” Koyama Keiichiro walked briskly towards the NHK dressing room. NEWS had just finished the taping for Songs of Tokyo performance.
Adrenaline was still coursing in his veins, he felt so elated. Today’s performance had run so well and his voice was so much better this time.
He knew that he still had to go a long way towards recovery, but he knew that he had made a lot of improvements. The hard works of therapy had finally shown their result.
Smiling, he caught Massu and Shige chatting one to another while laughing. Massu was still laughing and joking about his win as the member that is still most loved in the future.
Opening the door towards the dressing room, Koyama walked inside and his smile widened. In his side of the dressing room, a small figure stood. Clad in black from top to toe as always, the figure turned as she heard the door opened and smiled too,
“Kei, otsukare…. That was a splendid performance.”
“Hontou? Ai-chan, did you watch the performance?” he asked, pulling her near.
From the other side of the room, Shige handed his outfit towards Hina-chan, his stylist (that Koyama knew Shige actually fell in love with her) and looked at them, smiling knowingly.
She nodded, pointing towards the TV unit in the room,
“Un, I watched it from here. Kei, you were amazing,” she smiled while catching her hair tie that slipped while she nodded. Locks of long reddish pink hair fell from the loose bun on the top of her head.
Koyama smiled, remembering the day where both of them dyed their hair in the same reddish pink color together. He dyed it back to brownish blonde 3 days later while she had been keeping that reddish pink color until now.
Ah, they would be together for 4 years tomorrow, and numerous times Koyama thought that he had found the one.
Their love language might be different. She was not a woman of many words, but she showed her love and support through her actions, and her music too sometimes.
He remembered days through his recovery, with her always staying by his side, giving him a strong presence of support, telling him to keep on going. Always counting each and every improvement as an achievement.
Often at night, when they laid together in their bed, her head on his shoulder, his arms around her waist, they talked about their days and she would pinpoint another achievement that he made. Reassuring him that everything is well.
“Kei…. Kei…..,” she called softly. Laughing as Koyama jumped a little, somewhat surprised as he was suddenly pulled out from his wandering mind.
She extended her hand, asking to take the red and purple kimono outfit that he was wearing. She was here today to help his team since there were a sudden staff shortage at the very last minute.
Koyama took his kimono off, leaving him in white t-shirt and black pants. He was about to hand the kimono to her when suddenly….
His hands caressing the kimono, he draped it around his Ai’s shoulder, gesturing her to put her arms in the kimono sleeves.
“Eehh? Kei?” her eyes widen surprisingly.
Koyama nodded, gesturing once again. Ai put her hands in the kimono sleeves and Koyama draped the red and purple kimono over her shoulders.
Their height difference made the length of the kimono reached the floor. Creating a sea of red and purple fabric around her legs like an Uchikake, a wedding kimono.
She pulled the front parts of the kimono close. The fabric still bearing Koyama’s scent. She inhaled his sweet and soothing scent, closing her eyes, her face suddenly softened, a smile appeared in her lips.
Koyama was mesmerized by the view in front of his eyes. He really couldn’t believe what he saw. His mind went blank, his heart beating fast. In that moment, there was nothing else more meaningful to him than the view in front of him.
Shige’s camera shutter click brought him towards reality. Quickly he reached for his phone, taking as many pictures as possible of the beauty in front of him.
Ai opened her eyes, smiling widely until she realized what Koyama was doing,
“Kei, what are you doing!” she blushed furiously and took the kimono off, placing it carefully in the hanger behind her, then bringing it to the rack in the middle of the room.
They wrapped their job and leave the NHK studio soon after that. Ai had to work that night.
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Shige showed him the photos that he took in the dressing room on their way back to the agency, and Koyama made Shige promise to send him those photos. He wanted to treasure that moment the best he could.
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Koyama walked into his apartment, humming to the ‘Ai Kotoba’ melody along the way. He greeted Milk-chan with a pat on the head and went straight to his bedroom.
Rummaging through his closet, he found a box filled with some treasures that he kept. He took the Quartetto music box out of the box. Turning on the knob, the music box played the tunes of Ai Kotoba. Koyama smiled. He put the rest of the treasure box back into his closet.
Opening his phone gallery, he saw the photos that he took earlier. His Ai in that red and purple Uchikake-like kimono. Koyama smiled.
He then opened another drawer and took another box out. A small black box that had been sitting in his drawer for several months. He smiled wider. His heart filled with joy, despite a tiny bit of uncertainty and nervousness. Tomorrow night, at anniversary dinner time, he will do that.
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Ai went home from work in the morning to an empty apartment. Koyama must’ve left for work already as he had to get out of town today.
But tonight, they planned to have dinner together to celebrate their 4 years anniversary.
She bent down to pick Milk-chan up and walked to the kitchen. There, a thermos of hot tea was sitting on the kitchen counter, next to a wrapped box. A washed coffee mug perched in the dish rack. Koyama must’ve had his coffee before he left.
She sipped her tea, embracing the warmth of it in the cold morning and opened the present.
Inside was a beautiful music box, back from the day of the 2016 Quartetto tour. As she turned the knob, the music box played the Ai Kotoba song and she smiled.
A piece of paper fell from the box, she opened it,
My beloved Mirei-chan; my Ai-chan,
Gomen ne, I have to leave for work early.
Anyway, happy anniversary. Thank you for these 4 years of togetherness.
Ai-chan, thank you for staying with this imperfect man. Without you by my side, I wouldn’t be who I am now. Without you by my side, I wouldn’t be where I am now.
Ai-chan, there is only one hope that this man has. That is, to be able to have the honor to always be with you, to spend my lifetime with you until the end of my time.
Ai-chan, I hope you will allow me that honor and make me the happiest man alive.
Till dinner time tonight…
Love you,
Keiichiro
Tears filled her eyes; she carried the music box to their bedroom. Changing to Koyama’s Quartetto t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, she yawned loudly. Long working hours took effect on her.
Plopping down to bed, Milk-chan snuggled close to her. She turned the knob of the music box and let the soft music filled her ears. Sleepily, she pulled out her phone and typed a message
Kei, I will
Then, sleep took her in with a smile on her lips. She will tell Kei more at dinner tonight.
終わり