A Little Bit Of Violet

Strings and keys

 " I am so full! I did not expect Violet's cooking to be that good. Heck, I didn't even know Violet could cook!" Hideri said, rubbing his tummy, and letting out a big sigh of satisfaction afterwards. Violet closed the front door and told her dad she is walking us to the intersection point.  We walked in pairs under the dim moonlight, Miu walking behind me as Violet and Hideri walked beside each other.

" Hey, I always tell you all the recipe that I wanted to try to cook, and I finally got to try it all today. And from the looks of Miu, I think I did a pretty great job," Violet said, smiling as she looked at how full and happy we were.

" For my next birthday, I want a roast turkey and ham. Thanks," Miu say, walking groggily, putting her hands around her tummy, patting it as if she it was very fluffy to do so.

Hey is it just me or is my phone vibrating?

I just shrugged and smiled as we walked along the pathway, complimenting Violet's pork chop and also her garlic fried rice. The dinner Violet cooked for us sure was nice. She is no professional chef, but she sure is a good cook to us. Her father kept smiling at us throughout the dinner too. 

" I apologize for not preparing a gift for you sooner. I hope my daughter's splendid meal will satisfy you ," Mr. Tanabashi said.

My anxiety got the better of me and all I could do at that time was squeaked it's okay with a series of fast, unlimited bows as no adult has never treated me like this.

Unless I was in pain of , you know had lost someone. 

" Especially the sweet and sour pork man. It had the right amount of onions and green pepper. Especially the sauce man, I wish there was more. Right, Miu?" I said as I discussed with Hideri, eyeing Miu.

"Hey , don't mock me for my love for meat. Meat makes up everything!" Miu yelled as she raised her right hand in a fist with all her might. Me and Hideri tried to suppress our laughter but failed miserably and laughed out loud. Miu then proceeded to challenge us to go a day without meat, which we just brushed off as joke. But she seemed very serious about it, trying to sweet talk us into taking the challenge .

We walked along the pavement past houses, talking about our plans after our exams, where we wanted to go, what we wanted to study. I had never thought what I wanted to do after the exams. I was just so focused on the exams that I've never thought much about it. MIu and Violet wanted to go to a music school. Hideri is trying to get into an Ivy League school famous for soccer.

Guessed I've never really thought I'd lived this long to think about it, I thought to myself as the snowflakes fall on my spectacles.

" Wow. You guys all know what you guys want to do after high school. You guys sure have it together. Violet has such a great family, good grades, and a gift in music. You guys are like the most perfect person I've met so far in my life that wanted so much out of life. While I'm just here, wandering aimlessly. How I wish I had it all together like you guys,"

Those words came out of my mouth as Violet was describing how she's going to play the violin to world on the biggest stage ever one day.

" Hey, not everybody knows what they want from life. We just know what we wanted to do from the early stages of our lives. I mean come on Itsuki. You still got loads of time to think about it. Intake doesn't start until April," Hideri said.

" Yeah. It's okay Itsuki. If you want we can help you with it after the exams, you know? Li-like going on a trip to let your mind know what it really wants to do for the next 50 years. The thing that will let you finally accept it as your legacy after working hard for it for about a third of your lifetime" Miu added.

Those words made me shiver, right up to my spine. It scared me a little.

Heh? 50 years of focusing on one career? Isn't that too dangerous? I really have to think properly, don't I? I mean, a third of my life. That's only one life. No redoing it. Just one. What if I lose interest in the career halfway? What if-

" Hey. It's okay,"

Violet put her hand on my shoulder and I found myself staring into her stormy blue eyes, stirring with determination and hope. It was a different type of blue in her eyes, as if the ocean in her eyes are going through a heavy storm. The moonlight managed to escape those thick clouds and shine across the town. A streak of light reflected on Violet's blue eyes , making it stand out even more.

"Life is like the medley that consists of the piano and the violin. Your dreams do not always come right at your front door in life. You have to search for it, through the score sheet, through the music notes, until you find one that entangles both the sound of the piano and the violin together ever so beautifully. You just got to find your music notes that , through the black and white keys, through the big left hand jumps until you find the medley that magically goes well with the sound of the violin. You just have to be brave enough to hit all the wrong notes to find the right one,"

Violet smiled at me as she continued to walk along, asking Hideri whether he is picking her up from her house tomorrow.

" You're right, Violet. Thank you,"

You're just too bright for this dark and cruel world.

She looked back at me, with snows falling onto her light pink beanie, winking at me and mouthing 'you're welcome' as she grabbed onto Hideri's hand. 

We walked more until we reached the usual junction. Violet waved goodbye to us as we crossed the intersection. Miu walked the other way back to her house, and that left me and Hideri once more.

"So, you satisfied with today?" Hideri asked as he kicked the snow away from from his boots.

" Yeah. You guys really made me feel like it's my birthday. Thanks. I didn't get to say thanks to Violet and Miu,"

"It's alright. I think from the way you smiled and talked to them was already a big thank you to them,"

"Well, they are truly the best of friends I could have, including you,"

" I didn't expect for that to come out from you,"

" You heard it first , Test Subject 004," I said to him as I ignored my phone vibrating and got out my house keys.

Hey did I left the lights on this morning?

" Hey don't stay up too late studying alright?"

I just shrugged off that advice and unlocked the front door. As I opened it, I saw two luggage bags there and I knew why my phone has been vibrating this whole evening.