Pseudo Shadows
03 Second of Meeting

"I feel like I'm meeting you again even with a different form."

****

It had been 3 days since Akihiko brought Aihara home, the two seemed closer than they had first met. The hours of rest that Akihiko used to spend with basketball practice and sleep, are now changing. For the past 3 days Akihiko has really been a real teacher to Aihara.

Jrengg~ Jrengg~

The sound of the guitar passages that Aihara produced sounded smooth, making the girl continue to frown. Though the guitar in his arms is Roki's guitar, but still the sound is different.

"It's good, try another tone." Akihiko's orders, he is really satisfied with the development of Aihara who can play the guitar properly. But Aihara only fell silent and sighed heavily a few times.

"You've set the tone right, haven't you?" Akihiko nodded confidently, "Then why is the sound coming out different from the voice of yours Tempo today?"

"That's because I used an amplifier. If I don't use it, the sound produced is the same as yours."

"Eong." Could Aihara have to use the Amplifier as well? "Where can I get an Amplifier?"

What the hell else is this? Akihiko massaged his forehead slowly, "Tomorrow I'll take you to my subscription store."

Hearing that Aihara was certainly very happy, "Really? Thanks Kio!"

"Okay, let's start again. Play another note." Akihiko's orders.Aihara's ring finger and index finger have been wrapped with plaster because he keeps trying to press the strings with all his strength to hurt his finger.

Jrengg~ Jrengg~

"That's great. Hoaam! This lesson is enough here. I have to see my friend." Akihiko got up from his seat as well as Aihara.

"Thank you for the time Kio-sensei." Aihara slightly bowed to Akihiko before she re-enforced her body. One hand of Akihiko landed on his head and broke his mane slowly.

"You learn by yourself after this. I'll focus on my game first, okay?" Without hearing Aihara's approval, Akihiko had walked out of there first.

Taps! Taps! Taps!

"the match? What match?" Aihara went down the stairs quickly in order to walk parallel to Akihiko.

"You can fall! Slowly go down." Akihiko commemorates and fortunately Aihara immediately complies, "Basketball game."

"Oh, then good luck!" Aihara clenched her hands in the air encouraging Akihiko.

"Thank you."

Aihara frowned, even though she had just set foot on the same steps as Akihiko, but the man had already descended again quickly. For some reason, Aihara seemed to want to continue to be beside Akihiko. Ever since she met Akihiko, Aihara has not been so lonely. He can also sleep soundly without the help of medication. He could rest his body whenever he wanted without waiting for his consciousness to be taken away. Aihara's condition improved after meeting Akihiko.

Kio, thanks.

Thank you for taking him out of a painful slump. Thank you for slightly removing the wound in Aihara's heart. Thanks though.

****

"There's a new friend coming!" Matsuo spoke loudly after his eyes caught Akihiko's presence in the meeting room.

"Sorry late." Akihiko pulled one of the chairs and settled himself there.

A girl in front of him looked at Akihiko flatly, "Based on the lazy captain! I know you're very good at getting basketballs in the ring, but at least you should keep practicing!"

"He'em, I'll go to school later I'll go to practice." Clearly Akihiko, making the girl named Hanna sigh in relief. Hanna is the head of the osis as well as a vocalist in his band.

In the meeting room there were six people, Hanna, Akihiko, Matsuo, Kekai, and two other members of the osis. Actually, the meeting was over and Hanna knew Akihiko would still come despite coming at the end of the event, so she remained there with the two members of the osis and her two male friends.

"When we have four days left. We haven't had enough preparation." Kekai.

"I know that. Please tell me the core of this meeting."

"I've prepared all your needs there, so for the selection of members who will be contested I leave it to you as the head of basketball." Hanna got up from her seat, "And the point of the discussion was that you have to win!" After that Hanna and the two members left the meeting room.

"Of course we'll win! All opponents we can defeat! Right Kio?"

Once again Akihiko yawned in response to Matsuo, he did not know if he could solve everything exactly.

"Tell all the members to gather in the practice room after school." Akihiko resurrected his body followed by Matsuo and Kekai.

They will compete against other schools that are quite famous. The match will be held in four days, but Akihiko has not had time to choose the members who will be his team. He is too busy, maybe so busy that he has trouble finding time to rest.

"It looks like your relationship with Aihara is getting better." Kekai suddenly said it made Akihiko sigh heavily. While Matsuo rolled his eyes lazy.

"It's a pity that you're Matsuo, your soul mate's stuck in the street." Matsuo tries to comfort himself, because if Akihiko and Aihara officially become lovers then only Matsuo remains alone. Kekai already had a lover first, but very rarely did Kekai bring his lover to his studio.

"Ck, if you like Aihara, take it."

"No, I don't want to take my friend's lover!" Matsuo's reply made Akihiko turn her head sharply at him.

"I told you I don't like it! She won't be my lover!" Akihiko still wants to be alone, she doesn't want to carelessly be with someone if it's going to end up breaking up. Akihiko is a type of loyal person, he will only be in a relationship with someone he will invite to live together. And even though Akihiko felt a strange feeling that was beginning to grow for Aihara, he still would not carelessly make up his mind.

****

Aihara sits alone at the bus stop with a guitar in her arms, strumming the strings of her guitar and humming softly to treat her boredom waiting for the bus to arrive. The guitar he plays is an Acoustic guitar. Roki used to always ask him to sing while he plucked a guitar for him.

The girl stopped her activities after hearing someone call her name. Aihara found Karoi in front of her, her face slightly calmer than it was that night.

"Eong."

"That's Roki's guitar?" Tanyanya and Aihara just nodded while looking down.

Karoi settled herself beside Aihara before she looked at the beautiful afternoon sky, "I'm sorry for that night." He chuckled remembering his Tempo behavior of the day.

"It's okay, I deserve it because I've done something wrong." Aihara still lowered her head, reluctant to stare at Karoi's face that was so similar to Roki's.

"I'm so upset with you, you suddenly disappeared after the funeral was over." Karoi raised the corner of her lips while still looking at the sky, "And after I found you, I found another man with you."

"He's just my friend."

"Stay, you're running away from the situation." 

No, Aihara is not running away. He was trying to heal his heart, he was looking for a way to forgive himself.

"Sorry."

"Mother told me to bring Roki's guitar. But once I know that guitar is on you, I won't bring it." Karoi got up from her seat, "Come with me to the house. I'd really like to see you." Her speech.

Hearing that, Aihara shed her tears. Is it still worth it to meet that middle-aged woman? Aihara seemed to feel shameless if she met him and cried for forgiveness.

"Do I deserve to see him?" Aihara crumpled the guitar in her arms. Honestly, Aihara felt she had no face to face. Aihara is not ready.

"If you really feel sorry, meet him and apologize!" Karoi said without looking at Aihara, she then walked ahead of Aihara who had raised her body and followed in her footsteps.

Karoi's mother and father had already approved of Aihara and her brother's relationship. Even since they were children, Roki was always forced by his mother to visit Aihara at his home. When they finally become lovers, Karoi's father and mother have dinner together so happy. Karoi's mother loved Aihara very much, as well as her father who was unceasingly said he missed Aihara.

.

.

.

.

.

"Come in." Karoi opened the door and told Aihara to come in.

His body trembled slightly from nervousness. Aihara convinced herself to calm down before she stepped in following Karoi into the house.

"Mother, Father, Aihara is here."

Aihara swallowed her hard spit, her body had even stiffened. How should he behave? Cold sweat had flooded her temple, Aihara really felt uncomfortable with the heartbeat that continued to stir behind her chest.

"really?"

Karoi's mother and father who were in the middle room immediately approached Aihara. The girl simply bowed with her two eyes already soaked by tears. Aihara flinched when a hug she found, Mother Karoi hugged her tightly while sobbing.

"Mom misses you Aihara. Why did you suddenly disappear? Hm?"

Aihara thought, she is no longer accepted in this family. But.., Aihara felt unworthy of this warm embrace. Aihara really felt shameless.

"Mother, sorry." Aihara's hands were coiled around Mother Karoi's back, returning her embrace.

"No, you're not guilty at all. It's all because of Roki's stupidity, he's really a stupid kid!" Karoi's mother grew sobbing, even though she berated her son, she was so fond of him that she even missed her son so much.

One palm landed on Aihara's head, Karoi's father damaged Aihara's mane slowly. "His departure was not your fault, I know you also felt lost. But I beg you to stop feeling sorry, and seek your new happiness."

Hearing that sentence, Aihara grew sobbing. Karoi who saw that pulled the corner of her lips, her parents did not hold a grudge against the girl. The reason Karoi could easily forgive Aihara was because the girl had once been someone her sister loved so much. Aihara is a special girl for Roki, so even Roki gives his life to prove the magnitude of his love for Aihara.

"Karoi, if I really die tomorrow. I want you to look after Aihara for me, please make her happy. Please, hm?"

That was his love for Aihara.

****

Since it was getting dark and also because both of Karoi's parents did not allow her to go home, Aihara finally decided to stay over. She had asked her mother for permission, and it was fortunate that she had allowed it. Aihara asked to sleep in Roki's room and it got the approval of the Karoi family. And this is where Aihara is now, in Roki's room, which still has the stinging scent of Roki all over the room.

Aihara stepped down every corner of the room, everything was still the same. The last time he entered this room was when Roki was lying on the floor with his mouth filled with foam. That day was the last day he saw Roki.

Buk up!

Aihara accidentally dropped Roki's notebook, until several pieces of paper in it fell scattered. Aihara immediately crouched down and collected the paper, but out of curiosity she finally read the verse stamped on the paper.

My light's.

He shut his mouth, wrapped his stuff. Those are the lyrics to the song that Roki created for her? Really? Her crying really broke when she read the last lyrics.

Aihara, Aishiteru's.

#BBC#