"Well, I'm heading out now. With Kazusa competing this time, I probably won't be able to guarantee a championship… but I should still achieve a decent result. Anyway—wait for my good news."
It was the morning of March 25th, right on the eve of the new school year.
Minamoto Senya bid farewell to his family, preparing to meet up with Tōma Kazusa and head to the piano competition together.
Rikka waved her little hand enthusiastically to cheer him on, then slipped a handmade good-luck charm she had made herself into the pocket of his trousers, hoping everything would go smoothly for him.
"When it's over, if you're not coming home for dinner, remember to send me a message."
As always, Toka gave him her usual reminder, then naturally stepped forward to adjust the collar of his suit jacket.
The two of them locked eyes at close range. Toka quickly looked away and took a hurried step back.
Senya responded with a dazzling smile, hiding his thoughts behind it.
"Got it. Then I'll be off."
"Do your best, Senya."
"Take care on the way."
With the gaze of both sisters on him, Senya left the house and stepped into the car already waiting outside—Kudō Miyoko's car.
Once he was gone, Rikka skipped and bounced her way back into the living room.
This spring break she had been disciplined, finishing a little homework each day. By today, it was all completed.
So, even with the new semester looming, she wasn't nearly as anxious or restless as she used to be.
All in all, today felt like another good day. Since it was still early, she decided to watch some TV first.
"Even if you've finished your homework, don't forget to review your lessons."
"I knooow, sis. I just finished breakfast, let me digest a bit and then I'll study."
Rikka felt she hadn't made any mistakes lately, so she was bold enough to sound a little cheeky and casual in her response.
But Toka didn't scold her today. Aside from the fact that her airheaded little sister had indeed been behaving better recently, Toka herself had something else weighing on her mind.
Glancing back to see Rikka hugging Kurotsubasa the cat while laughing at some slapstick comedy on TV, Toka quietly made her way upstairs.
She went straight to Senya's room.
Rikka wouldn't be coming up anytime soon, and both their mother and Senya were already out. That made this the perfect opportunity.
Toka opened the drawer by Senya's bedside and pulled out his diary.
The first time she had done this, her heart had pounded with guilt.
The second time, she had wavered, conflicted.
By the third and fourth… as the times piled up, she had become almost practiced, adapting to it.
Now, each time before opening the diary, her conscience stung only faintly. What dominated her instead was an almost irresistible urge to know what he had written most recently.
She told herself she had already lost the most basic sense of shame as a human being. And yet, she had no intention of stopping.
Some things, when done often enough, simply became routine. Acceptance followed naturally.
Much like Senya's gradual, step-by-step advances toward her.
Holding the diary, Toka didn't open it right away.
No matter how strong her anticipation, she always brought it back to her own room and locked the door first.
Only then, secure from interruption, did she let herself flip it open.
Since returning from Fukuoka, Senya had only written one new entry. That wasn't unusual.
He didn't write every day—only when something worth noting happened, or when he had thoughts he felt needed recording.
And each time she read his diary, aside from the illicit thrill of peeking into his private thoughts, she found another pleasure as well: his handwriting. Beautifully neat and refined, it was simply a joy to look at.
[March 23rd…]
The day after he came back from Fukuoka.
Toka thought for a moment, then read on.
[Yesterday, the trip to Fukuoka ended. The Jade Dragon Banner tournament finished, and I took the championship without too much difficulty. I didn't feel much myself, but everyone gathered around to celebrate, and that did make me happy.
But that wasn't the most important thing. Something truly terrifying happened during this trip.
To put it simply: on the train, there was a terrorist attempting to release poison gas. I stopped him.
Written briefly like this, it might sound trivial, almost easy—not dangerous at all.
But that wasn't the case.
For Toka and the others, I kept my words vague so they wouldn't worry.
Even now, recalling the moment, I sometimes feel my heart seize, my hands and feet trembling.
At that time, a single wrong move would have meant disaster. My life could very well have ended there…]
Toka froze, her chest tightening.
She had been too immersed, her concern for Senya so deep, that she actually stood up without realizing it.
She drew a long breath.
Calm down, calm down—he's home safe now.
Forcing herself to sit again, she read on.
[…Later, the police officer I spoke with told me the terrorist had been unemployed for years. His actions were meant as revenge against society, not a targeted murder or crime of passion. People like that are the most frightening—like time bombs, impossible to predict.
The poison he carried was tested afterward. It was sarin gas.
It's terrifying stuff. Highly volatile, it spreads quickly through the air, and once inhaled, it damages the body in moments. The risk of death is extremely high.
In that closed train car, if I hadn't noticed his suspicious behavior, if I'd been even a moment too slow, if he had succeeded in cracking open the container… the gas would have spread.
One small misstep, and I might never have returned home safely.
If I had inhaled even a little of it, I might have died. Even if I survived, there's a high chance my body would be permanently damaged—I'd be disabled, never able to live normally again.
It was terrifying. The first time in my life I felt my existence truly at risk.
Outwardly I pretended nothing had changed, but inside, I've been haunted. I've had nightmares, waking in a cold sweat more than once.
Thankfully, after coming home yesterday, seeing everyone, being back in my safe place, that unease eased a little. Last night, I finally slept without dreams…]
"—!"
Toka's jewel-like eyes widened.
She had never imagined the situation had been that dangerous!
Just as the diary said—he had downplayed it all for their sakes. He had told the truth, but omitted everything that mattered.
Liar!
You promised me—you said you wouldn't hide things like this anymore…
She bit her lip, anger rising. Yet at the same time, the fact that he was safe now mattered most.
Still, she made up her mind. Tonight, no matter how he tried to coax her into going to take a bath first, she would not give in.
As punishment, he'd get no reward tonight.
[…After this, I realized something. That what seemed like ordinary days were actually miracles strung together.
Life is long, but it can also be cut tragically short by sudden accidents.
Every day, somewhere, people die by accident—car crashes, falling objects, earthquakes, elevator malfunctions, even choking on food.
Too many.
Even close to me—besides my own encounter with that terrorist, Kazusa's mother is another example.
If her illness hadn't been caught and treated early, once it advanced this far, no treatment could save her.
I'm not God. I can never know which will come first—tomorrow or an accident.
So I've decided: I will cherish every day of my life from this moment on.
I'll work harder—whether in kendo, in piano, in studies, in writing, even in making money.
I'll improve myself in every way, become a man worthy of my ambitions.
And besides that, I'll stop running away from the truth. I'll tell Saeko how I really feel. Not just about her—I'll confess that I also like another girl. Takanashi Toka.
I don't know if she'll accept it. She'll probably be hurt. But I don't want to keep delaying anymore.
My original plan was to wait until high school to act, but that's too late. For now, I'll start dropping hints to her.
And then—when the new semester begins, on her birthday, May 8th—I'll confess everything.
The road ahead will be difficult. But after what I've survived, I don't think I have anything left to fear.
I hope it goes well. If it does, maybe I can finally tell Toka about my feelings too.
Anyway—good luck, Minamoto Senya.]
"—!!!"
At those words, Toka shot to her feet.
Her hands clenched the diary so tightly it trembled.
No, no, no! Be scared at least a little, will you!?
On Saeko's birthday of all days—you're really going to say this!? What are you thinking!?
On a day meant for celebration, you'll crush her heart to pieces. How am I supposed to face her after that? How will I ever stand before her again without guilt?
And after you confess to Saeko… you'll turn to me next!?
Toka's cheeks burned red hot.
How do you expect me to answer you!?
A few casual brushes of contact weren't enough for you anymore?
This is impossible…
What about our parents? Rikka? What will the neighbors and friends think?
But if I reject you…
The memory of Senya's crushed, lonely face the last time she had distanced herself from him stabbed at her heart.
There was no way she could do that again.
Utterly flustered, mortified, and troubled, Toka felt her head steaming as she began pacing helplessly around her room.
"Why are you smiling so much today? Ever since we met, you've been grinning nonstop. Did something happen?"
On the way to the competition, seated in the back seat with Minamoto Senya, Tōma Kazusa finally gave voice to the question that had nagged her all morning.
Senya shifted his gaze to her, the corners of his lips lifting even higher, completely unashamed.
"Nothing in particular. I just… feel good today."
Kazusa caught that smile up close, her heart giving a sudden, dangerous jolt. Words failed her.
From the driver's seat, Kudō Miyoko chuckled, joining in cheerfully.
"Looks like you're confident about today's performance, Senya."
"I do have confidence—against most of the competitors. Against Kazusa, though, I can't say I feel secure."
"Even if you say that, I'm not going to hold back for you."
"Good. I'd be upset if you did."
"…Hmph. You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Kazusa instinctively crossed her arms in her usual defensive gesture. Senya's smile only grew brighter at the sight, his eyes fixed openly on her.
Blushing, Kazusa quickly turned to stare out the window, unable to withstand the heat of his gaze.
Meanwhile, all Senya could think of was Toka—her flushed cheeks, curled up in bed hugging a pillow after reading his diary, her embarrassed little pout.
She was unbearably cute.
The Tokyo Youth SK Piano Competition was held at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.
Unlike previous contests Senya had entered, this one was different. Beyond the age requirement, applicants also needed proven past achievements in other competitions.
In short, this was a stage only for professionals in the making.
No amateurs. No weaklings.
Even so, among the talented, there were those who stood above all.
Tōma Kazusa—daughter of a world-class pianist.
Gifted, tireless, relentless. Having spent nearly all her free time on the piano since childhood, she had risen to become unmatched among her peers.
And Senya—thanks to his "bond" with her—had elevated his own skill to level six. With his spirits high today, he played better than ever.
Even so, he only managed second place.
The champion, as expected, was Kazusa.
But truthfully, Senya didn't care much about the result.
What he looked forward to most… was returning home, and seeing what kind of face Toka would greet him with after reading his latest diary entry.
It was reckless, perhaps impatient. But the timing of this incident had been too perfect. He couldn't let the opportunity slip by.
…