— — — — — —
Volume 1 of Your Lie in April was healing.
Volume 2 was pure emotional devastation. Something that might take weeks just to learn how to read Kaori's letter without breaking down.
Kagurazaka could already imagine the storm that would erupt once it released.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
Oikawa replied, chatted a bit more, then hung up.
Of course he was ready. He'd been preparing ever since Volume 1 came out.
But he also knew that what would happen next was exactly what he wanted.
...
..
Finally, October 6 had come at last.
Oikawa felt like he couldn't wait anymore.
That afternoon, Oikawa arrived at the café where he tutored Kawasaki. He was carrying a lunchbox in one hand.
When he entered, Kawasaki was already studying with her head down.
After sitting across from her, he asked, "It's finally break. Why not rest for a few days?"
"No time to rest. The school festival already wasted a lot of my time. And winter break's coming up soon too."
Kawasaki didn't even look up.
Japan really did have a lot of holidays. After autumn break ended, it would already be mid-October. Then two months of school, and winter break would arrive.
...
Before long, Oikawa had tutored Kawasaki until evening.
A little after five, the two walked out of the café together.
With October approaching, the temperature in Chiba had dropped again. Going out in short sleeves was already a bit chilly.
They walked side by side along the street.
When the two of them were together, they rarely talked. Most of the time, it was just silence.
"By the way, this book is really good."
Oikawa suddenly pulled out a copy of Your Lie in April Volume 1 from his bag and handed it to Kawasaki, speaking with unusual seriousness. "Kawasaki, make sure you read it carefully. Then tell me what you think."
Kawasaki didn't quite understand why, but she nodded anyway.
After taking the book, she glanced at it briefly, then carefully placed it into her backpack.
"It's cold, huh…"
Oikawa tried to start a conversation, but Kawasaki still didn't respond.
…Awkward.
The road in front of the café seemed strangely long. They walked for quite a while without reaching the end.
Kawasaki kept her head lowered, as if lost in thought.
But no matter how long a road is, it always ends eventually. Ahead was a Y-shaped fork. One path led to Oikawa's house, the other to Kawasaki's.
"See you tomorrow."
Oikawa waved and prepared to head home for a nap. He hadn't slept well in the morning, and after tutoring all afternoon, he finally had time to rest.
"Hm? Why are you going this way? Buying something?"
He suddenly noticed Kawasaki following behind him and asked in surprise.
"I'm going to your house. To cook for you."
Her voice was calm, but only she knew how embarrassed she felt inside.
A girl going to a guy's house on her own initiative… it made her shy.
She had gone before, but asking to go herself was a first.
"Whoa, Kawasaki… are you an angel? Did you come down from heaven just for me?"
Oikawa froze for a moment, then his face lit up with excitement.
Kawasaki's cooking was seriously amazing.
"Kawasaki, be honest. Are you already hopelessly in love with me?"
Kawasaki froze on the spot.
She instinctively raised her hand to hit him, but before she could, Oikawa grabbed it midair.
"I saw that coming, you know."
He grinned teasingly. "I'm not the same guy I used to be. I run five kilometers every morning now. Even during the school festival, I didn't skip a day."
"Just wait. Once I turn into a muscle-bound beast, I'll challenge you to a decisive battle."
"To tell you the truth, Kawasaki. I...."
"….."
Oikawa rambled on, but Kawasaki didn't hear a word.
Her eyes were fixed on the bite mark on his hand. A deep, unmistakable bite mark.
Painful memories flooded her mind, along with a wave of shame.
But after the brief embarrassment faded, what she felt instead was heartache. Just looking at that bite was enough to make her imagine how much it must have hurt.
"That must've hurt… right?"
Her sudden question caught Oikawa off guard.
"Huh? Hurt? What are you talking about?"
"Running doesn't hurt. It's just tiring."
He looked confused.
"It must have hurt… being with me must have hurt."
Two lines of tears suddenly slipped down Kawasaki's face. One drop after another fell to the ground.
"W-why are you crying all of a sudden?"
"Kawasaki, did I say something wrong? Did I make you uncomfortable? Please don't cry, okay? Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll fix it."
This was the second time Oikawa had seen her cry.
The first time was in the infirmary. Burning with fever, she had seemed like a little girl, crying because she didn't want him to leave.
But this time… he genuinely didn't understand why.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry!"
Kawasaki suddenly grabbed his hand. Looking at the bite mark, her tears fell even faster, tapping onto the back of his hand.
"It's… it's my fault. You've been… you've been so good to me, and I…"
Oikawa suddenly understood.
So that's why she was crying. Because of the bite mark.
These days, he had deliberately hidden it whenever he was with her, so she wouldn't feel burdened.
He hadn't expected her to notice it by accident.
"It's nothing. I'm a guy. A scar like this won't stop me from finding a wife."
"Besides, don't I still have you?"
Oikawa smiled lightly, then pulled her into his arms and patted her back to comfort her.
"So, Miss Saki Kawasaki… want to consider becoming my wife someday? I'd be the happiest man in the world."
"I'll earn the money, and you can just stay pretty for your husband and do whatever makes you happy."
Kawasaki's face turned bright red.
She didn't answer, but her heart pounded wildly.
It only lasted a few seconds.
Because Oikawa's hands had started wandering.
Kawasaki bit her lip, pretending not to notice.
But then his hands became more and more shameless, slowly moving around to the front. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple.
The next second, she shoved him away.
Glared fiercely at him.
Then turned and walked off.
Oikawa called after her, "Hey, weren't you going to cook at my place?"
"As if I'd cook for you, you lecherous bastard!"
.
.
.