NOMURA AND FUYUKO were chatting backstage, it’s been a long while since I last saw the two together. A refreshing scene, really. Morita and Kashimoto were being goofy together as usual. LuNA seemed drained and was downing the good booze, next to her sat Katou, snacking away. Mom already went home with dad in his wheelchair.

The concert was over, and it was a great success. I couldn’t have asked for more out of today, nor would I have any clue how today could possibly get any better.

While everyone was decompressing from the concert, I was talking to my producer.

“Koji, little man, you’ve been the highlight of my career as a producer. Thank you… for everything.”

“You’re making this sound like a goodbye! I’ve got to a lot to thank you for, too, you know? Let’s keep working to reach new heights together.”

He shook my hand, “Of course, glad to have you on my team. Oh, I almost forgot, Miss Sakura is probably waiting somewhere, she got special backstage privileges thanks to your request.”

“Oh, great. I’ll be right back then.”

I left the others to go find her. It didn’t take long before I saw her.

“Good evening,” I said. “Did you enjoy the concert?”

“Oh my, Koji… Of course I did. I was really surprised when I heard I got a free ticket from you!”

“I can imagine,” I smiled. “I remembered your name from when you helped me out back in Shizuoka. You were the first person ever to ask for a signature in public, unfortunately I couldn't give it back then, but now I’ve got plenty of time to sign whatever you want.”

“I would love to get your signature on this CD case, please.”

I did as she asked and grabbed a pen to sign it. As I was doing so, she said, “You know, I really resonate with some of your music. Especially mister throwaway child.”

“That’s one of my favourites, too,” I said. “Have you had a similar experience growing up?”

“Not exactly.” She put the signed CD case in her bag. “I have an older sister who left her child at the hospital. I was too young to take care of the little baby myself, so I just let it happen. Sometimes when the little baby pops up in my mind, I can’t help but hope they’re doing something great with their lives like you are doing.”

“I hope so, too.”

“Thank you for inviting me here. I won’t keep you any longer, you should be celebrating with your friends.”

“Alright. Thank you for coming, oh and also thanks for the water bottle back then.”

We both slightly bowed and I returned to my friends, wondering where the familiar air around the lady came from.

“Ah, Koji, you’re back!” Nomura cheered. “Fuyuko is staying the night at my place, isn’t that awesome?!”

“Uh… yeah, I guess… Have fun.”

She smiled and left with her. Morita and Kashimoto also said their goodbyes and left. LuNA was drunk and couldn’t drive herself home.

“I’ll take her home,” my producer said. “You bring Katou to the train station, alright?”

“I was already planning to. Anyway, see you.”

We waved our goodbyes and headed out for a chilly winter walk to the train station. During our walk, Katou was surprisingly quiet.

“Is something wrong?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “Not really…”

Something was definitely wrong.

In attempt to cast away the silence, I asked her, “Did you enjoy today?”

She inched a little closer, delicately bumping her shoulder against my upper arm. “I think this might’ve been the best day of my life…”

I felt like there was a ‘but’ coming. “…But?”

She looked at me with troubled eyes, “But there’s been something on my mind for a while. I didn’t bring it up earlier, so we could all focus on the concert… but why did you go on a Valentine’s date with Fuyuko?”

I wanted to tell her that I didn’t even realise it was Valentine’s Day until she gave me chocolates, but that would sound a little too cold.

“It was not a date,” I said instead. “We only met to make up and be friends again.”

She didn’t reply and walked at her distance from earlier for the rest of the walk. Even for me, it was apparent to see that she was very upset.

In front of the station, I asked her, “Don’t you think you’re spoiling the ‘best day of your life’ if you keep brooding over this?”

She turned around, her body facing me, while intensely gazing into my eyes. “Then do something to make me feel better.”

I scratched the back of my neck. “…What do you want me to do?”

Her intense gaze lasted long, feeling even longer as she didn’t say a word. Suddenly, she grabbed my by my collar, pulled me closer, closed her eyes and pressed her lips against mine.

A soft touch expressing the feelings she can’t put into words, quickly erasing our surroundings; no street below our feet, no staring eyes from the nocturnal passer-by’s, nothing. I lost all feeling over my senses, all but the sweet caress against my lips.

At the release of her lips, I tried to say something, “Katou—” but she instantly shut me up again by pressing her lips against mine once more. Much shorter this time, getting all red from embarrassment when she let go.

I opened my mouth, trying to say something again, but before I could, she was already dashing away into the train station.

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Staring at her taking off, I knew that I would never forget this sensation of our kiss. Brushing my finger over my lip, I could tell that this might’ve been our first, but I wouldn’t let this be our last.

When I got home, the lights were still on in the living room and I saw mom waiting for me in the sofa.

“Koji!” She loudly cheered. “What an amazing concert! I loved every single song you performed! Oh and the last one was sooo good! I didn’t expect a song with every single one of you! You sure kept us in the dark about all of this!”

She was overcome with joy, very eagerly expressed in the way she spoke, but I was really happy that she enjoyed it as much as she did.

“Oh, by the way,” she said while looking at my face, “why is your face all red? It’s been like that since you walked in.”

I touched my cheeks, which still felt warm, and hadn’t cooled off ever since Katou left.

“I think I’ll be heading to bed.” I retreated to safety.

* * *

I sent her a text around midnight before I went to bed, “Let me know when you’ve arrived home.”

To which she, quite a bit later, replied “A” and nothing else.

It was Sunday and I wasn’t sure if she had anything planned to do, but I couldn’t suppress this feeling of really wanting to see her. That’s why I asked mom during breakfast if it was okay if I went to Shizuoka that day.

“Hm? Sure. Are you visiting Hibino again?”

“…No.”

Her entire facial expression changed. A curl of her lips, turning it into a mischievous smile, paired with an amused, “Hmmmm~” sound.

“…What?”

“Is it Katou?”

“It’s okay if I go, right?”

She made the “Hmmmm~” sound again.

“…Right?”

“Sure. Don’t be late, alright?” She teased.

I grabbed my guitar and left the house.

Once I was sitting on the train with my guitar in between my legs, I started wondering why I even took it with me in the first place. Normally, when people recognise me, it’s a subtle nod or wave to show me that they know me. But when I’m sitting on a train on the back of a massive concert with my guitar in between my legs, I’m simply asking for it. A lot more people than usual recognized me, and some even asked for signatures or pictures.

When I finally arrived in Shizuoka, I had something completely different to worry about. How will I act when I’m facing her? What will I even say? What are we even going to do when I’m there?

Many questions like these were swirling around in my mind. To distract myself from all these thoughts, I started playing the guitar while I was walking down the street, under the winter sun. I played some random pop song and then trailed off into random melodies inspired by it.

Somehow during my walk, people started following my music. I was playing with a lot of effort after all, otherwise I’d be overthinking about all those questions again.

When I had gathered quite the crowd behind me, I turned around and asked, “Which song should I play next?”

Playing every song I knew, I felt very at ease playing for such an enthusiastic little crowd. Some people even came looking out of their windows to see what was going on. I gradually forgot everything I was worrying about until I made it to Katou’s street.

The moment I stood in front of her house, I knew I didn’t need to knock, the sound of my guitar was enough. She waved at me, standing in the door opening. Her eyes failing to meet mine for longer than a second.

The little crowd I had gathered stood still as well. I stopped playing with my right hand and waved back at her, continuing playing right after.

She turned around and went back inside. The people behind me started wondering where she went. I turned towards them with a warm smile, knowing exactly what she went back inside for.

Not long after, she returned with her own guitar in hand.

“H-hello, Koji.”

She seemed to hesitant in the way she walked up to us. Seeing her all nervous, I stretched my arm out and held her by her hand.

“Let’s go!”

The two of us lead the way to a local park. Losing some of our troupe along the way, all the while gathering new people as we walked.

Once we arrived at the park, we played some more while sitting on benches. Taking a glance at her face, I saw the jovial smile she often carried when playing the guitar. I couldn’t help but think just how wonderful all of this is.

Not how quickly I fell in love with my guitar, nor how quickly I got good with it. Not the success I found early on in my career either. But the real wonder. The wonder that lies in the like-minded friends I made along the way. Without them pushing me to my limits, no one would’ve ever heard of Kuruno Koji. Neither would I be sitting here right now next to Katou, playing with our trusty guitars, enjoying the apricity nearing the end of winter.

The warmth the sun radiates, despite the cold scenery, reminded me of myself. Throughout my life I’ve learned that the sun will always prevail, even on the most niveous days. My biggest ray of sunshine might just be the person sitting right next to me.

The End