Lithe fingers danced across ivory and ebony keys, filling the afternoon air with beautiful song.

Kousei’s eyes were closed, his head bowed over the piano and shoulders relaxed; he’s utterly immersed in the music, lost to the world beyond the practice room.

When the door suddenly slid open, the pianist was reluctant to lift his hands from the keys of his instrument. Alas, the peaceful reverie had drawn to a close.

He reacted like a person woken from a lovely dream. Sitting up on the bench, he casted a casual glance over his shoulder towards the intruder, “Ah, look who it is.”

The music tapered away with a flourish, an improvised cadence to neatly close the piece he’d been rehearsing.

“You were almost on time,” Kousei remarked wryly, pushing his glasses up his nose, “…For once.” He dropped his hand back into his lap, reclining on the bench and flashing the approaching violinist a smile.

Warm sunlight spilled through the open windows overlooking the courtyard, while a gentle breeze stirs the curtains and sends them aflutter; the sound of other students enjoying their break period was no more than an indistinct murmur, seemingly worlds away from the two performance partners.