The instant I saw Yuni’s shining face, I knew. It was Kazune who couldn’t play any more. It was Yuni’s piano playing that remained. But still, seeing Yuni there in front of me made me very happy. I was genuinely pleased she was doing so well. If Kazune was OK, that would be enough.

‘I’m sorry we cancelled all of a sudden the other day,’ Yuni said, bowing, a solemn look on her face.

‘Please don’t worry.’ Mirroring Yuni, I bowed my own head in response.

Smiling gently, she explained, ‘They say it’s a weird illness.’

The word ‘illness’ came so unexpectedly that I flinched.

‘There are no other symptoms. You’re just unable to move your fingers when you try to play.’

I was lost for words. I’d never heard of this condition. That must be hard. Should I say that? Or I hope she gets well soon? A little too casual. No matter what I might say, it would seem wrong.

‘Will it—’ Will it ever go away? is what I was about to say, but swallowed back the words. It was an insensitive question. And what good would asking that do? If, for some reason, Kazune would never recover, then asking her sister Yuni to respond to that was cruel.

But Yuni seemed to guess my question. ‘I don’t know if you can recover from it or not,’ she said. ‘Most of the time people don’t, but it seems the doctors can’t determine that for sure.’

Her matter-of-fact explanation sent a chill up my spine. Kazune may never play the piano again. I was utterly horrified by the prospect.

‘Please don’t look like that. I’m not that upset about it. Actually, it did really get me down to begin with, but it’s OK because there’s been a bit of improvement.’

I couldn’t find a single thing to say, and felt miserable. At times like this you find out how generous and supportive another person really is.

‘I’m so very sorry,’ I finally said. I was infuriated with myself for not being able to react appropriately or give any meaningful response. ‘Thank you for coming all this way to tell me.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Yuni smiled.

She looked as cheerful as always, but I had no clue as to what storm of emotions was swirling about inside her.

‘The reason I came today is because I wanted to ask your advice. It’s about Kazune.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Ever since the start of the illness she’s been so depressed. She doesn’t even want to go into the music room. I don’t know what to do.’

That made perfect sense. It would be strange if she wasn’t upset.

‘She’s not even sick, but she won’t play. It’s awful.’