Liebestraume No.3
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I brought this piano here from my house… Would you play a duet with me?
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Didn’t I tell you that the piano already broke?
I see. Then I can play on my own for now.
*bench clattering* *chord plays*
I picked up a lot of skills when I was in college, including the piano.
You taught me this piece when we played it together as kids. I hope you’ll remember.
*piano playing*
*sigh…*
(Of course I remember. Painfully so… As much as I’d like to forget, I always remember…)
Thanks for coming here! Listening to you play really made me like the piano.
I’m super happy that I get to hear you play in my house too!
…Um, you’re welcome. Uh, thank…you.
We bought a new piano for you too. Over here!
Ah…
(My hands are special, but… He’s holding them like they’re normal…)
Let’s sit on the bench together! It’s big enough for both of us. Can I call you Kuguri?
O-Okay… What should…I call you…?
You can just call me Raito. We’re friends, right?
(Huh…?)
I bought the sheet music for this piece because it’s supposed to be for beginners, but…I can’t really play it. Can you teach it to me?
(I’ve never taught someone how to play. I don’t know if I can do it… But they told me to be nice to the Kitakatas…)
Um… So you…put your hands on the keys…
Like this?!
Um, you have to put your fingers in the right place… Your thumb goes here. Okay, you can try playing.
*piano playing*
Wow, I can actually kinda play! You’re really good!
…You’re really good too. You…learn fast.
But I can’t play the left hand at all…
…Can I…play it?
Really?! Yeah, we should play together!
*piano playing*
It’s coming together! Ah, I messed up again.
But making a mistake kinda makes it sound like a different song. That’s pretty cool!
Huh…?
(I’ve never thought about it like that… I thought you always had to play it perfectly without messing up.)
(…It’s not perfect, but it’s so nice to listen to.)
Woah! Are you playing to match my mistakes? It sounds so good!
(…I’m playing something different from the sheet music for the first time…)
Ahaha! It’s like we’re turning into one pianist!
…!
Now I get why people call you the reincarnation of Franz Liszt! You’re really good at playing!
What’s Liszt’s easiest piece?
Um… Uh… Liebestraum No. 3, I think. The name means “dream of love”.
Really? That’s cool! My parents always say that love is the most beautiful thing in the world.
They…do…?
Yeah, I don’t really get it yet… I’m gonna practice that song. We should play it together next time.
Next time…
It’s gonna be even more fun next time you come! I had a really great time today, Kuguri!
……
Yeah… I had fun…too.
(I haven’t had fun…playing the piano…in so long.)
I was really surprised at how smoothly your hands could move!
I think God decided to give you special hands when he made you.
God…?
C’mon, let’s compare our hand sizes.
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Your fingers are longer than mine… They make your hands look really pretty.
……
(The light from the setting sun is shining on his hair… It’s making him all sparkly. So pretty… He looks like a god…)
(If a god like him gave me these hands, then…would he forgive me if I played the piano however I wanted to…?)
*piano playing*
(…I’ve always wanted those memories gone, but…they’ve rooted themselves in the far corners of my mind…)
(I thought you had forgotten about them, Kitakata Raito.)
……
(His playing is still rough around the edges. Maybe I should help him…)
Ah…
(What am I thinking…? I decided to never lay my hands on a piano ever again…)
*sigh…* To think that a man clueless about love would find himself playing “dreams of love”… How ironic.
…You’re right. But I’m sure you’re aware that the poem this piece is based on is dedicated to the beauty of human love.
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“O love, as long as love you may… If someone bares his soul to you, love him back as best you can…” As written by Freiligrath.
I had a thought while I was practicing this piece. If you were to bare your soul to me… No, on the contrary, I think you’ve already been doing that this whole time.
And how on earth did you come to that conclusion?
You always reveal your goals. You never try to hide your ill intentions or your hostility. I would consider that baring your soul to me.
……
To me, love has always been out of reach, like it was covered in fog. But I’ve finally realized something.
I’m still able to be kind to people. I’m able to be considerate.
If my kindness and my consideration are considered love…then maybe it’s not as far off as I previously thought.
I’m just glad I can understand that, now that I’m playing this piece for you.
*sigh…* Don’t make me laugh. You’ve forgotten all about this piece, haven’t you? That’s just the kind of man you are.
You may be right… But I remember now, and I won’t ever forget.
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I enjoyed playing the piano with you. When I think back to our childhood together, I always hope that we’ll come to understand each other one day.
I want to know how you feel. I want to know why you’re so intent on angering me and breaking me… I want to face you. I want to accept everything you feel without running away.
…Again with the flattery. That habit of yours has always irritated me.
Maybe so. But if I want you to bare your soul to me, I have to bare mine first.
If I poured my heart out to you…it might just be love.
*sigh…* You’re very naive, Raito.
You saved Nayuki’s life, didn’t you? Tao told me that you might’ve used your arms’ power to push the assaulter back…
He mentioned how you used them while we were in Beppu too. If he’s right, then I owe Nayuki’s survival to you.
……
Kuguri, let’s do this together. You haven’t met your own goals yet, haven’t you?
Your belief in this is astounding. May I remind you that I still intend to break you? Is that what you want?
It is. I think that’s the reason why we’re “even”.
*sigh…* That little one knows you well.
Hm?
*sigh*
(I suppose I’ll have to break him in a more profound, wretched way than ever before… If I don’t then I’ll…)
Fine. I’ll go along with you, as long as you’re still worth breaking. But I’m leaving once I grow tired of you.
I see. Then I’ll have to make sure you don’t hate me!
*sigh* I’m exhausted. I’m going to my room.
Take care, Kuguri. If you ever feel like it, we should play the piano together again.
Hm… I don’t think I ever will.
But you’re free to keep your expectations high. Do as you wish.