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It was a normal quiet morning, which meant Arisa woke up to the sound of the piano.
She turned onto her back and went through her usual worrying process. She shouldn’t, she knew by this point it was okay, but that niggling doubt in the back of her mind insisted she always woke up alone because no one really wanted to be there. So many people would argue that - Arisa would argue that - but arguing didn’t do much to smother the feeling, so she let herself feel it and buried the emotion deep down.
The smoothness of the quiet piano continued as Arisa dressed and went to water her plants. Her mood went from fretful to complete peace. This almost made it all worth it. She would deal with the stupid doubt if she was always allowed to have the music swelling behind her when she did the first thing in the morning.
Had breakfast been made? Arisa didn’t smell anything. Either it was her turn or someone wanted to make something together. Arisa was not against either of those options.
She finally entered the room with the grand piano to water the trees set there. It was covered with a thick duvet, keeping the sounds of it from pushing out the window and bothering the neighbors so early in the morning. Not that anyone had ever complained. And a piano like this didn’t belong in the basement, if they could have even gotten it there. Which they probably couldn’t have, even if they wanted to.
How Rinko could so easily get ready for the day and look like this was beyond her. Arisa gazed on the long hair at her back, wondering how long she had been up for. She wanted to reach out, but wouldn’t while Rinko was in the middle of playing.
What Arisa would do was sit down on the available end of the bench.
Rinko did not look at her, but she smiled. The song changed.
Arisa put her fingers on the keys.
A part of her always felt her playing was inferior to Rinko’s, but it wasn’t a bad feeling. It was one thing wanting to do better and another to always have something to strive toward. Arisa’s style wasn’t anything like Rinko’s. But Rinko slid to one side of the piano bench one day and asked if Arisa would play with her.
This morning was better than it had been before. Arisa didn’t find herself falling off tempo and the occasional moment their elbows brushed together didn’t startle either of them. She had even gotten better at managing the dynamics with keys that weren’t just weighted, but attached to an entire system of instrument and not electronics. Arisa wondered for the hundredth time why she played the melody in this piece for the majority, but didn’t mention it. Not even when the piano finally faded from quiet notes into silence.
Arisa leaned into Rinko’s side. “I wish waking up was as easy for me as it is for you.”
“You’re up right on time today,” Rinko replied.
Oh. Rinko was right. “I… Is that why you’ve been playing in the morning?”
Rinko looked askance, blushing. “Is it… better than the alarm?”
Arisa bit her lower lip and nodded. “Yes. Much better.”
Rinko rested her head against the top of Arisa’s, running her fingers over the back of Arisa’s hand. “I’m… glad. The alarm… stresses you out.”
It sure did. Arisa absently went for her phone with her free hand to turn it off, so it wouldn’t startle her. “I hope you aren’t making yourself get up early on my account.”
“I’m… doing it because I want to.”
Arisa leaned more heavily into Rinko, turning one hand to intertwine her fingers with Rinko’s. Palm against palm, she squeezed.
“What did I do to deserve you?” Arisa wondered aloud.
“You… asked.”
Sometimes things were that simple. Arisa kissed her. She tasted of the chocolate milk she must have drank before beginning to play. Arisa loved it when Rinko tasted subtly of chocolate.
“Well then, if I’m asking, what do you want for breakfast?”
“Shall we try to not… deflate the pancakes this time?”
Rinko looking down into her eyes was the most perfect sight in the world. Arisa knew with this, one day, she would stop waking up with doubts. One day, she would wake up to the piano and not question anything. How could she, when she had this?
“No promises, but I’m sure it will be delicious either way.”