The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 16: Pavane for a Dead Princess

Chapter 16: Pavane for a Dead Princess

――That night.

After dinner, Mizuki and I were relaxing in the living room.

“…Iori?”

“Hmm…?”

Right now, I was lying on the sofa with my head on Mizuki’s lap.

As she gently stroked my hair, I tried my best to fight off the drowsiness.

“Don’t fall asleep, okay? You won’t be able to sleep at night.”

“I’m fine…”

“You don’t look fine, though.”

Mizuki chuckled as she looked at my half-open eyes.

Even so, she didn’t stop stroking my head. She probably wasn’t actually trying to stop me from dozing off.

As I looked at her gentle expression and smile, I thought to myself—

“…You know,”

“Hmm?”

“You should smile more at school.”

She’s already beautiful no matter what expression she makes.

But still, I think she looks best when she smiles.

It felt like a waste that I was the only one who got to see it.

“…Do I not smile?”

“Not at all. You’re always super expressionless. Well, I’m sure there are people who like that too, though.”

With that cool and composed aura, some girls even treat her like a goddess.

“Hmm… I do try, though.”

“But you smile in front of me.”

“Maybe because it’s you, Iori?”

…Hearing that made me happy, but it also left me a little troubled.

I wonder how Mizuki sees other people besides me.

People always gather around her.

Drawn in by her charm. Wanting her to notice them.

But Mizuki herself is always so indifferent.

As if she only interacts with them because they come to her—like she has no other choice.

“…Iori, you have a lot of friends, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“That junior… Inoue-san? You seem close with her too.”

“Ugh.”

Crap… I stepped on a landmine.

The hand that had been stroking my hair suddenly touched my neck.

“You call each other by name, don’t you?”

“…Ugh.”

Twice in a row. Super effective.

As cold sweat dripped down my face, Mizuki peered down at me.

“Can I get jealous?”

“…I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Fufu.”

…No, seriously, is there any scarier way to threaten someone?

Isn’t jealousy something that just happens before you realize it?

If I nod and say “yes,” what’s going to happen?

Any trace of drowsiness disappeared. Actually, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all now.

“Sorry if I’m being too much.”

“…Not at all.”

Absolutely not.

If anything, I should be the one apologizing.

But man… getting Asahi to stop calling me by my name is going to be a nightmare…

“Hey, Iori.”

“Hmm?”

“What made you suddenly decide to start working out?”

She stared at me again.

…Well, I figured she’d ask.

I barely exercise at all.

If someone like me suddenly starts going to the gym, of course she’d be worried.

…Now, how should I answer?

Not that I could keep secrets from my childhood friend anyway.

I lifted my head.

And there she was, looking down at me.

A straight, elegant nose. Glossy lips.

Clear, flawless skin. A small, doll-like face.

And those big, beautiful eyes that looked like they held the entire night sky.

A beauty so captivating, it could be called enchanting.

There will only be more and more guys falling for her from now on.

“…Mizuki, you know… you’re really beautiful.”

“…? Yeah.”

But to my words of admiration, Mizuki simply nodded as if it were obvious.

“…That was fast. At least hesitate a little.”

“But it’s true.”

“I mean, yeah, but still.”

…Jeez, stop bringing your face so close.

Okay, okay, I get it. You’re beautiful. Super beautiful. But my heart can’t take it, so please stop.

Seeing me raise both hands in surrender, Mizuki giggled.

I let out a sigh.

“…Well, that’s why I thought I should try to be a little cooler too.”

“…I see.”

“Yeah.”

Mizuki gave a small nod.

Saying it out loud was embarrassing, but in the end, that’s what it was.

I wanted to be someone I wouldn’t be ashamed of standing next to the girl I liked.

That’s all.

Saying it again just made it even more embarrassing.

“…But you know, Iori,”

“Hmm?”

“No matter how you are, I’ll always be by your side.”

“…That’s exactly why I end up relying on you too much.”

“It’s fine. You can rely on me all you want.”

She smiled and gently stroked my head again.

Slowly, slowly. As if melting everything away.

I tried my best to resist the drowsiness creeping in.

Seeing me like that, Mizuki smiled softly.

“But, you know…”

She murmured.

“Iori, you’re not as hopeless as you think you are.”

Saying that, she glanced toward a corner of the living room.

Following her gaze, I looked in the same direction.

“…”

Seeing what was sitting there, I frowned.

…I kind of understood what Mizuki was trying to say.

Sure, I have something that could be considered a skill, though it’s nothing impressive.

I do have a hobby that looks somewhat cool.

But in the end, it’s just a hobby…

“I think it’s cool, though.”

She teased me as she said that.

In response, I frowned even more and glared at the corner of the living room.

Sitting there was an expensive luxury item that didn’t suit our house at all.

—A grand piano worth several million yen.

It was something my father had gone crazy and bought.

Mizuki and I stared at it in silence.

“Hey, play it. It’s been a while.”

“…I knew you’d say that.”

Ah… so this is where this was going.

I let out a sigh.

Mizuki was looking at me with eyes full of anticipation.

Since we were kids, she had always looked at me like this whenever she wanted something.

And I was always weak to those eyes.

“…Do I have to?”

“Yes. It’s a request from your beautiful girlfriend.”

“Ahh…”

When she puts it like that, I really have no choice, do I?

“…Fine.”

“Hm.”

Reluctantly, I got up and walked over to the grand piano.

Thanks to Mizuki’s regular maintenance, there wasn’t a speck of dust on it.

I opened the keyboard lid and gently ran my fingers over the contrasting black and white keys.

—It had been a long time.

The last time I played was… about two months ago, I think.

It had been quite a while.

I sat down and carefully felt the keys beneath my fingertips.

When I glanced at the living room, I saw Mizuki sitting on a chair, smiling at me.

There was only one audience member.

I was never particularly skilled.

I had no talent, and I wasn’t good enough to enter competitions.

So my audience had always been just one person.

But that was enough.

Because the only reason I ever played the piano… was for this beautiful childhood friend of mine.

Gently, I placed my fingers on the keys.

(…Yeah.)

I hadn’t forgotten.

A sheet of music formed in my mind, and I felt a sense of relief.

Then, I played the first note.

The piece I chose was “Pavane for a Dead Princess.”

A masterpiece by Ravel, one of France’s greatest composers.

This piece was special to me.

As a kid, I was average at both academics and sports.

Desperate to get Mizuki’s attention, I practiced the piano as hard as I could.

Since I wasn’t naturally gifted, I failed over and over again.

But after countless attempts, I finally got my teacher’s approval.

And the very first song I played for Mizuki was this one.

“—Iori, that was amazing. So cool.”

I still remember the feeling of achievement and excitement when she said that.

For the first time, I felt like I had been acknowledged by the unreachable flower on a high peak.

It made me so happy that I played it over and over again.

And every time I did, Mizuki always smiled.

Even as I learned how to play more difficult pieces, Mizuki always wanted to hear this one the most.

I had probably played it hundreds of times by now.

At this point, my fingers moved automatically, even without looking at the keys.

For both of us, this song was special.

“—”

Finally, I played the last note.

As the sound faded, I slowly let out a breath.

…I don’t think I made any mistakes.

Even after two months, the piece was still ingrained in me.

As I quietly lifted my fingers, I heard a soft clapping sound.

When I turned around, I saw the same audience I had always had—

The one person who had never changed.

“…Your playing is as beautiful as ever.”

Mizuki murmured as if talking to herself.

She had probably heard me play this piece a hundred times already.

And yet, she still always praised me.

Not knowing how to respond, I scratched my cheek.

Mizuki smirked mischievously.

“…See? You’re plenty cool, Iori.”

She teased.

“…Thanks.”

Feeling even more embarrassed, I stood up.

Mizuki blinked in surprise.

“Hm? You’re done already?”

“Switch. Now it’s your turn to play.”

“…I can only play simple songs, though.”

“That’s fine.”

Hearing that, Mizuki looked surprised for a moment.

Then, with a small smile, she nodded.

I gave up my seat, and this time, I became the audience.

Mizuki moved gracefully as she sat in front of the piano.

Her long black hair swayed gently, and her slender white fingers rested on the keys.

Her small, delicate face looked calm and composed as she faced the piano.

She looked just like a painting.

…And yet, the piece she played was a clumsy version of “I Stepped on the Cat.”

The absurd contrast made me laugh.

Mizuki pouted and glared at me.

“…Hey, that’s mean. You’re the one who told me to play.”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry.”

For a moment, it felt like I had slipped back in time.

Back when we were kids, Mizuki would always want to play after me, and she would sulk whenever she messed up.

That kind of interaction was something I had always cherished.

To me back then, it was like a precious jewel.

“…Iori? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… it’s just…”

I was happy to still be here with her.

Even now, I couldn’t believe that we were actually dating.

—And I wished that this everyday life would last forever.

At that moment, that was what I truly wished for.