His Lie in April - 四月の彼の嘘 (Shigatsu no Kare no Uso) (COMPLETE)

Showtime/It All Comes Down To This

Once again, Towa Hall would be site of the biggest competition of Kaori and Keiko's lives. The Annual Japan Young Musician's Holiday Roundup was now here on December 10. Many young musicians from across the country had come, hoping to wow a judge of five people for this holiday competition. Would Kaori and Keiko finally reach the next level, and mesh well together and make Kousei proud, or would they fall flat and disappoint him from above? Two months of preparation after his death had come down to this for both Kaori Miyazono and Keiko Tamura.

Kaori was in her white dress, waiting for Keiko. She wondered to herself, with Hiroko by her side "Crap, where is Keiko?" Sure enough, the short-haired glasses wearing pianist ran over to Hiroko and Kaori. She was somewhat late, but she was ready with her score for Dvorak - Sonatina Op.100 1st movement ready to go. 

"Sorry I'm late, you two. The trains here were rather slow today, for some reason. Please forgive me." Kaori was more understanding than Kousei when he showed up late to the Gala. "It's alright, Keiko. You got the score in your hands?" Keiko said, "Yes. I do. We've prepared two months for this. Can we have a talk together? You know, when I first met you, Kaori Miyazono, two months ago, we were both lost souls who were grieving for the loss of a loved one. Then we tried to end our lives, and we crossed paths at a mental hospital. And then we realized..... we have to live. For us, two young musicians, ending our lives.... by our own hand, at that.... would have been a cowardly way for both of us to go out. We also found out.... we had something special together. Your violin playing.... is like mine. I'm not too rigid, I'm very loose, free-flowing, free-spirited.... just like you. And that's what made me realize we complete each other. Kaori.... I am glad to have met you, and your friend Hiroko. It's been a couple months, but whatever happens today..... I'm going to be very proud of you, and Kousei would be too." 

Kaori said "Keiko.... you're right. Kousei would not wanted to have had it any other way..... you do complete me too. It's amazing that just two months ago, we were a mess. Now, we are on the brink of something amazing.... and I could not have gotten back on my feet on the violin without you, and Hiroko. Hiroko is something like a big sister to me, and you are a worthy successor for Kousei to me. It is on both of us to make him proud now.... we both also have to live, for our sake, and for Kousei's. He would want to see us succeed now, and in the future." Hiroko had something to say to the two. "Kaori, Keiko.... I'm really impressed in how far you have come in these two months. I never thought that either of you would even get your musical skills back, but once you realized the power of love and friendship between each other, it all started to meld together. I am proud of you two in enduring through adversity, and I will be pulling for you today. No matter what happens, Keiko, Kaori..... I'm forever proud of the both of you."

Keiko then smiled. "Alright, Kaori, let's do this. It's showtime. It all comes down to this.... all for one, and one for all. Ready, Kaori?!" Kaori got out her fist, as did Keiko. "ALL FOR ONE, AND ONE FOR ALL!" they both said. They were soon going to be up, but before that, there would be a little moment of silence as a tribute to Kousei Arima.

Just before the two took the stage, an announcement on the P.A. system came over the auditorium. "Our next performers Annual Japan Young Musician's Holiday Roundup for this will be Kaori Miyazono on the violin, and Keiko Tamura on the piano performing Dvorak - Sonatina Op.100 1st movement. Before this performance begins, we would like to observe a 15-second moment of silence, in memory of Kousei Arima, whose life was cut short on September 10."

A 15-second moment of silence was observed. After that was over, Watari and Tsubaki, who were slowly beginning to move on from Kousei after his death, were in the audience. Watari said "Wow.... Kaori has come so far in two months. I never thought that she'd finally get back on the violin.... but thanks to Hiroko, and this new girl Keiko..... she's back. From the depths of hell and back again..... I'm proud of her." Tsubaki beamed with pride "Indeed. Even though we have lost Kousei, life still has to go on. He'll always be looking at as from above, forever..... I'm glad Kaori has come through in spite of this emotional trauma."

Just then, Keiko Tamura and Kaori Miyazono took their places. It was the first time Kaori had ever been seen with her violin in public since May. For Keiko, since the memorial concert, it was her first time at the piano in front of a large crowd. They knew that Kousei loved performing in front of large crowds, which was his dream, and Keiko looked at the piano bench. She then pointed and looked skyward. Kaori then looked skyward, and pointed her violin bow skyward, as if she were looking up at Kousei. Kousei, I hope looking towards me from above, and I know you'll help me here.

Keiko and Kaori started playing Dvorak - Sonatina Op.100 1st movement. Everything around them.... it sounded lovely. They were fantasizing that Kousei was looking at them both, and he was feeling proud of the two.

~FANTASY SEQUENCE~
The spirit of Kousei then looked at Keiko "Keiko..... you are making me feel wonderful. I know that we didn't meet much, but you have really impressed me. Look at Kaori, as well!" The spirit of Kousei smiled at the both of them, and even though he wasn't really around, he felt a feeling of pride, joy and excitement over Keiko and Kaori's playing together. It was really making the spirit of Kousei feel warm and happy. He wanted to tell them something. But he couldn't, because the two were playing the piece together. But even at that, he knew that his spirit was living on.... In both Kaori and Keiko. It was the last dream that Kousei wanted..... and it was being fulfilled in a large way. Keiko was performing magnificently, with her piano playing meshing in well with that of Kaori's violin playing. Kousei was now beaming with pride at the two. "Kaori..... please.... don't feel too melancholy about me. You are what you are.... and don't EVER change." Kaori smiled at Kousei's spirit. "Kousei, silly..... you know I live in you." Kousei smiled "Yes, you do." The spirit went over to Keiko. "And you, new girl.... erm, Keiko.... you're like Kaori if she played the piano..... it feels so wonderful!" Keiko said, "Yes, it does! I'm alive!" The spirit of Kousei then said "Wow..... I am alive! I feel alive! You two are making me come alive....! It feels so great! You are making me proud! Go, Keiko and Kaori!!"

~END FANTASY SEQUENCE~

Four minutes later, the piece ended. The crowd cheered loudly for Kaori and Keiko. The two girls looked at each other with pride. They were filled with joy for each other. From the depths of emotional hell two months ago after Kousei's death, to putting on the best performance of their young lives, they had finally gone from hell.... to heaven. And the audience reaction was a huge indication of what they had accomplished.

A bit later, when it was revealed that Kaori and Keiko had won the first prize for the competition, the two then hugged each other, with tears of joy streaming down their faces.

"Kaori.... thank you for helping me heal. Music can heal even the biggest emotional wounds, and you have accomplished this for me, and Kousei. I think you have a bright future ahead of you." Kaori said "Same here, Keiko.... you rescued me from my darkest emotional hour, and we rescued each other. Where would I be without you?" Hiroko shed some tears of joy, looking at the two, saying to herself "I've done my job.... Kousei, you may be gone, but you are beaming down with pride and joy at these two girls you've brought together... you truly have inspired many to take up their dreams."

The next day, on this somewhat cold December day, Kaori saw Kousei's grave. It was right by his mother Saki's, and she thought to herself Kousei..... I've made you proud. This girl Keiko, she rescued me from emotional hell.... and here I am, having won the Holiday Music contest with her..... feeling happy and looking up at you..... I'm glad I've made a difference in your life.