Yuni’s cheeks flushed as she watched Kazune from the other side of the piano. Her own capacity to play was long gone, but not Kazune’s. I wondered how Yuni was able to endure this, and was brought up short, embarrassed by my concern. More than anyone, it was Yuni who fully believed in the wellspring of her sister’s talent.

Kazune stopped playing. She got up from her seat, turned to us and bowed politely.

Instead of returning her bow, I clapped. Yuni, her mother and Mr Yanagi all joined the applause.

‘I apologize for having worried you all,’ Kazune said. I already knew what she was going to say, even as she drew breath to continue. ‘I’ve decided to start playing again.’

I think she’d already decided a long time ago, only she hadn’t noticed it herself. There was no way she could ever leave the piano.

‘I want to become a pianist.’ A quiet voice, yet one full of determination.

‘You mean, you plan to go professional?’ Mr Yanagi said.

Kazune’s expression finally relaxed and she nodded. ‘I do.’

‘Very few people make a decent living as a pianist,’ Mrs Sakura said quietly. It was obvious as soon as she said it that she hoped her words would go unnoticed. It seemed she couldn’t bring herself to say that since only a handful can make it, her daughter should give it all up, yet she couldn’t help offering her motherly concern.

‘Playing the piano is not how I’ll make a living,’ Kazune said. ‘It’s how I’ll make a life.’

Her face wore a tranquil smile and her dark eyes were glistening. She struck me then as impossibly beautiful.

I wondered when Kazune had become so strong. I gazed at her in admiration. It was likely something already within her had finally made itself known now that Yuni was no longer able to play. If that was true, then there was a silver lining after all.

Many Routes through the Forest

‘It’s like a jewel.’ I was a little embarrassed to actually put it into words. ‘Like light in a forest … I can’t really express it properly.’

Mr Yanagi was walking beside me, eyes straight ahead, having completed our tuning at the Sakuras’. ‘You’re talking about Kazune, I imagine.’

I nodded. More precisely, Kazune’s playing – and the way the notes spilled out after another, entwining around each other, generating a scintillating mosaic of sound.

‘I’m so happy for her,’ he said, and it was evident he truly was thrilled for Kazune.

‘Yes, it’s wonderful.’