The city of Chōfu is an average-sized city, but quaint for my liking. Not what I'm used to in Nerima whose population is almost three times more than Chōfu's. 

My name's Kousei Arima. I'm nineteen years old and, starting tomorrow, will be a first-year at the Toho Gakuen School of Music. These weren't my original plans, though. I thought I could manage a peaceful gap year after high school. Tsubaki wouldn't let that happen.

"'A gap year'?! What do you plan to do?! If you're going to play piano for a whole year, you may as well do it in school!" 

I guess she had a point. She referred me to a music school here in Chōfu about 15 minutes away from the women's university she plans on attending in the fall, which is now the reason why I'm here.

What a coincidence. 

"Hey, is that you Kousei?!" 

"Shh!!" I instinctively held my finger in front of my lips and shushed my excited friend. As excited as I was, I couldn't help it, "don't say my name out loud like that." 

"What's the big idea, you dummy?" 

I sighed, "sorry, Tsubaki." I gave my close friend a hug, "it's good to see you." 

"Yeah, you too." She patted my back and crossed her arms, "anyways, what's up with you? Are you on the 'Wanted' list or something?" 

"No, it's nothing like that. It's just... I don't want people knowing I'm here." 

She burst out laughing, "yeah, well, they're gonna find out one way or another that the infamous kid piano prodigy is going to Toho!" 

"Shh!" I slapped my hand over her mouth, "cut it out!" 

"Whatever." Tsubaki smiled, "so what do you think? Nice place, huh?" 

"Oh yeah." 

"Let me show you around will ya? Then we can go get a bite to eat! I'm starving!"

Some things never change. Even if it really has been almost five years since middle school, Tsubaki's always been energetic and fun. I've always missed seeing this side of her ever since she left for Chōfu a few months ago. Watari and Nao felt the same way, but I never realized I'd miss her as much as I did.

"It's getting late. Think we could eat at the café near your apartment?" 

"Sure, I don't mind." 

We found the café, sat down, and placed our orders.

"So, classes. What does one take at a prestigious music school? I can imagine you just play piano all day, but..." 

"We need to know basic music theory and music history. Our exams are basically just concert performances and writing music, I guess." 

"That sounds like fun for someone like you, huh?" 

"Yeah." I looked up at the waitress as she brought the tray of food to our table, "thank you." 

"The first day of classes is tomorrow." Tsubaki sighed, "I can't believe how fast break's gone." 

"Me too. At the same time, though, I'm excited." I picked up the fork by my plate, "this is like... A new start for me." 

"I bet." She laughed and smiled at me, "you'll fit in perfectly. Trust me. And before you know it, there'll be a group of violinists waiting to perform with you."

"Yeah." 

When I was younger, I played solos on the piano. However, I was told that there was a time in middle school in which I actually accompanied a violinist. And sometimes, I think...

How can that be? 

I don't remember any of it from an accident I got into a year after middle school. No one else seems to remember anything after that either, so I lived on imagining that nothing significant happened to me in that gap year. And in the end, I had no problem not knowing.

"Bye! I'll see you later! Good luck in school!" 

"Thanks."

After parting ways with Tsubaki for the night, I took it upon myself to greet my new next-door neighbor. Patiently at their front door, I checked my watch and waited until a girl no taller than me and about my age quietly answered. 

"Y-yes?" 

"Hi, I'm your new neighbor. I just thought I'd stop by and meet you." 

"Yeah..." She adjusted her glasses and looked me up and down, "do I know you?" 

"Well... I have one of those familiar faces, I guess." 

Crap... She probably recognizes me.

"You're Kousei Arima, aren't you?"

"Heh... Caught red-handed, huh?" 

She looked at me and smiled, "I'm Aika Haruka. It's nice to finally meet you." 

"'Finally'?" 

"Yeah." She opened the door a little bit more and stepped aside, "I'm a bit of a music prodigy myself." 

The moment my eyes scanned the room, I heard the serenade of a violin concerto on the radio and spotted music stands of sheet music. What really caught my eye was a blue case laying open on the couch. In it laid a beautiful violin. 

I had no idea what I just got myself into, here. School hasn't even started and I've already found something to look forward to this year.

Aika Haruka. 

❉❉❉