Bracelets and Minori

Once we arrived at the Osaka airport at about 8 am, Aki’s headphones were back on once again. Aki and I’s hands remained entwined all the way to the bus that took us to the school, then from there we all went home.

Since Tsukasa wanted to walk his new girlfriend Chisako back to her house, the group quickly split ways. Aki’s house is on the way to mine, so we got to walk together.

The walk is silent and anxious, for we had confessed and become a couple on the plane about an hour ago. But our hands never leave each other’s.

“That was a fun field trip, wasn’t it?” I sigh and look up to the morning sky satisfied. I notice Aki gaze up at me as we walk.

“It was very eventful too.” Aki pleasantly closes her eyes, and holds my hand tighter.

Once we come to the intersection where Aki and I’s houses are in different directions, we stop in the middle. We still don’t let go of each other’s hands.

“By the way… I have something…” I look at my other hand in my pocket hesitantly.

Aki’s head tilts in curiosity. “What is it?” Her other hand is also in her pocket.

A subtle smile spreads on my face, and my hand clenches in my pocket. “Close your eyes.”

Aki narrows her eyes at me playfully, then closes her eyes hesitantly. I let go of her hand for the first time since the plane, causing her eyes to jolt open.

Pouting childishly, I scold her. “Hey, no peeking.” Her eyes squeezed back together, and she grins excitedly.

I take the object from my pocket out, and I slip it over her hand and around her wrist. Aki can’t resist and she opens one eye, before realizing what the object is and she opens both eyes in surprise.

“This is–” She stuttered, snatching her hand away and examining the object around her wrist. It was unexpectedly, the silver bracelet with the pink and yellow sparkles heart pendant.

I fidget with my hands shyly. “Y- yeah, remember when we went shopping for the NewJeans album, and I found that bracelet that I said you should give to Tsukasa as a confession…? I may or may not have gotten one for you…”

Aki sticks her hand down her pocket hastily and pulls something out. I’m astonished when I see what it is.

“That day… I got you one too.” Aki grins thrillingly, as she dangles another one of the same silver bracelet right in front of my face.

My jaw drops in awe, and I extend my hand so she can drop the bracelet into it. I speed to wear it, and after putting it on, she grabs my wrist and holds it up to hers.

“Hehe, we haven’t even gone on a first date and we already have matching bracelets~” Aki giggles ecstatically. I can’t help but laugh with her.

I hold her hand once again with our matching bracelets and I grip it tightly. “I can’t believe it’s summer break now. Right after we become a couple, we won’t even be able to see each other for 5 weeks.” I chuckle lightly. Summer break officially starts tomorrow, on the first day of August.

“Well, are you free tomorrow?” She asks me eagerly. My eyes widen in shock– is this actually happening?? Is she asking me out on a date?? I mean, I guess that’s normal as a couple, but still, no one’s ever asked me on a date!!

Oh shoot, but I remember– “Oh, well, not tomorrow, my younger sister has something going on.”

Aki pouts. “Aww, ok, fine. Just text me if you wanna schedule something on a different day, ok?” I laugh at her little pout.

“I will. I’ll see you some other day, Aki-chan.” Using my bracelet hand, I wave a happy goodbye.

Aki does the same. “Bye, Katsuki-kun– or- err…” Her voice quiets. “Aoi-kun…” Her face visually heats up. I turn away, blushing at how adorable that was~, and we wave our last farewell.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

That night, I had the best sleep I had ever had. The past 3 nights were so chaotic and I probably only got like, 10 hours of sleep if you added them up. Finally away from the prison that was the boiling futon, I immediately sunk into my bed and fell asleep.

This morning, I wake up to an earthquake. Everything is rocking– but I still want to stay in bed, it’s so cozy…

“Aoi-nii! Why are you still in bed??” I slowly rub my eyes to find my sister, Minori Katsuki, who’s in her last year of middle school, shaking my bed back and forth with her whole body.

“H- huh? Why’d you wake m–” I drowsily and reluctantly sit up from my bed, when my half-closed eyes immediately jolt wide open. I look Minori up and down. She’s all dressed in her white, knee length dress. A sage green color lines the skirt’s hem, the sleeves, and the waist. Her long black hair that reaches her waist is decorated with a dainty green flower clip. The white stockings she wears compliments her short but slim legs perfectly, as she pairs them with Mary Jane shoes which complemented her brown eyes. I completely forgot about her piano performance today– glancing at the clock, I only have 10 minutes to get ready!

“Minori– I still have to change– Go ahead and get to the stage first, I’ll see you there!” I urgently pounce out of my bed, tie my hair up, and kiss her on the head hurriedly.

I sort of ruffled her hair a bit because I kissed it so quickly, so she fixes it as she complains, “But I wanted to go with you, Aoi-nii.”

“No, just go! I promise I won’t be late.” I reassure her as I shoo her out of the room and take her down the stairs to the front door. “I’ll see you at your performance, ok?”

Finally, Minori reluctantly leaves and I run back up to my room to get ready to follow her. I throw on a blue collared shirt and black trousers, redo my hair into a bun, and I sprint out the door to make it to the performance. Before I leave the house, I make sure I’ve got my watch fastened and my bracelet on.

Please don’t be late, please don’t be late… I murmur as I race to the gigantic theater, panting and glancing at my watch every few seconds; 5 minutes till 10 AM.

I manage to dodge through the crowds of people and make it in time, and I find my seat at the front row of the theater. Minori’s one of the best pianists in her age division, so she was able to talk to the higher-ups and reserve a seat in the front row for me and our mom. She isn’t able to come today, though.

I actually arrive a bit early, and I go on my phone to text Aki: Are you awake?（っ^▿^）

Only a few seconds later, Aki reads my message and answers it: Yeah, I’m here. (>‿◠)

I feel like a little puppy receiving a treat when I see her reply. I’m about to text her back and tell her about how I wish I could have gone out with her today, but that I’m at my sister’s piano performance. But before I’m able to send it, the lights in the theater go dim, indicating the show is about to start. I put away my phone and lean back to watch.

This is the junior division, so all the pianists are around Minori’s age. I take in all the performers’ beautiful music– flawless dynamics that make my heart pound. Dramatic pacing that keeps me craving for more. From sharp staccatos that pierce my stomach and satisfying slurs that slide their way into my ears, it’s amazing what immaculate magic is brought to this stage.

But the whole reason I’m here and not with Aki right now– Finally, the second to last pianist finished his piece, and the finishing act comes out. Who else but my piano prodigy, Minori. The organizers place her at the end of every performance because she’s so talented and she might overshadow the other performers. I bet she’d be able to play in the youth division, but she’s too young to join it.

Minori plays a Chopin piece she’d been practicing for months. I’ve heard it over and over at home, but hearing it finally on this dreamlike and wondrous stage, I can’t help but feel so proud of Minori.

After her piece, the show is over and I head out to the lobby to congratulate Minori. Exiting the stage room and entering the large room felt like you were crossing borders to a different world. There’s the silent but absorbing performance room, and past the doors is a vast and brightly lit lobby surrounded by glass windows.

I scan the lobby, and I see some of the pianists greeted with flowers, some of them being squished by overjoyed relatives, and some of the audience members on the side and chatting (and I bet they’re chatting about how amazing Minori’s playing was).

Eventually, I look to my right and I spot Minori, talking to the main director of the recital. The director is Dr. Sena Kumonami, a world-renowned pianist. She owns a small piano studio near our house, so Minori takes lessons from her once in a while. Based on the smile on the Kumonami-sensei’s face, I’m assuming she’s praising Minori for her beautiful piano performance~

I approach them slowly so as not to disturb them in their conversation, and after a few minutes they notice me. Kumonami-sensei walks away and Minori leaps at me and hugs me tight, spinning us in a circle of excitement.

“Did you hear me play??” She exclaims, looking up at me with shining eyes.

“Of course I did, it was the best one there~” I hug her back. We separate and I take her hand. “Want to go get boba in celebration?”

She gleefully nods yes, and we begin to skip together out the building. But right before we leave, Minori suddenly stops in her tracks, and tiptoes to whisper in my ear.

“Hey, look over there.” She nods her head subtly towards the direction that the director walked off to. “The girl that Kumonami-sensei is talking to, that’s her daughter. She’s really mysterious and hangs around here sometimes. But she’s always on her phone, so I never see her properly.”

I just give Minori a strange look. “And why are you telling me about her?”

“Kumonami-sensei said she’s a bit younger than you, Aoi-nii. And although I’ve never seen her face, I have a good feeling that she’s really pretty~” I can’t see Minori’s face as she whispers in my ear, but I can hear some mischief in her tone.

“That’s good to know.” I stand straight, causing her to lose her balance and stop tiptoeing, and I try to exit. “Now let’s get your taiyaki!!”

Minori grabs my sleeve and holds me back. “No, I’m saying, who knows, maybe she can be your future lover?” Minori grins slyly, and I try to yank my sleeve away.

“I don’t need one.” I scoff proudly. “In fact, I haven’t told you yet, Minori, but–” I start to share the news of my new girlfriend, but before I do, Minori’s got me swerving a U-turn and back to Kumonami-sensei and her daughter. The daughter was sitting at a side bench and Kumonami-sensei was standing above her in a way that, for some reason, seemed somewhat concerning.

Minori drags me to them and waves. “Kumonami-sensei, of course you know my brother. I told him about your daughter and how they’re the same age, and Aoi-nii was wondering if she wanted to go out for boba with us!! I think it would be really fun, all of us around the same age getting boba!!” Kumonami-sensei smiles and faces us, while the daughter turns away and slouches over her phone.

My face flushes with embarrassment and I bonk Minori’s head. “D- don’t say that!!” I scold her quietly, then I turn to Kumonami-sensei. “I’m so sorry for Minori, and there’s no need to feel obligated to accept her invitation for boba. Thank you so much for everything you’re helping Mino–” At that moment, I briefly glance down to see the daughter sitting on the bench behind where Kumonami-sensei was standing, and my eyes widen in awe.

Oh, God. Minori was right. She sure is really pretty.