The Piano Bar - Chapter 8
Title: The Piano Bar
Pairing: ohmiya
Rating: PG
Chapter: 8/?
Genre: Drama, mild-angst and romance
Disclaimer: Fiction! :)
Summary: The piano bar was not the most trendy place in Tokyo. It was not even clearly visible from the street. But it was exactly what they had needed, exactly when they had needed it.
“Ninomiya?” Aiba’s loud voice surprised both Ohno and Nino.
There were just rushing to the underground station, and they’d walked past Nino’s colleague without realizing it.
“Oh, hey Aiba. Just finished your shift?”
“Yup. Ohno! I see you found him!” the tall man grinned.
Ohno smiled. “Yes, thanks again.”
“No problem! Let’s get drinks sometime!”
The older man smiled, nodded hurriedly and jogged to catch up with Nino who had kept on walking quickly.
*
When they finally reached the hospital, Nino paused just in front of the revolving front door. The building looked very imposing from this angle, and he could feel Nino’s will wavering.
“You can do this.” Ohno said to him quietly.
Nino nodded and they walked in together.
Once they were in the lobby however, Nino paused again.
He lightly touched his lips with the tips of his fingers.
“About the... kiss...” he murmured barely over a whisper
Ohno smiled.
“Don’t think about that now. Go and see your father. I’ll wait here.” He said gesturing to the waiting room.
Nino nodded and walked over to the reception desk.
*
When the young pianist walked into the small hospital bedroom, he was taken aback by what he saw. The scene looked so peaceful...
His father sat in a neat white bed reading a newspaper. He was just as Nino remembered him, even if he looked more tired and worn. The same short hair, bushy eyebrows, contemplative expression...
“Kazunari?” he suddenly turned to see his son and looked bewildered.
It was Nino’s own feelings which surprised him. The last time he’d seen his father, he’d felt so angry; wanting to argue and shout at him...
But that was all gone.
Maybe it was because he was sitting in a hospital bed, but Nino felt like it was something more...
He’d felt enough anger for a lifetime. No more. Instead he was filled with an incredible certainty he knew what to say.
“I didn’t expect to see you,” the father murmured, almost to himself.
Nino took a deep breath and started speaking.
“Please let me talk first. You treated me unfairly. I know it was hard for you, but it was just as hard for me! I worked so hard to make you happy, but it was never enough, and in the end it made angry towards you,” he said very quickly.
There was a small pause.
Nino’s father coughed nervously. “Sorry I was hard on you. I just...”
“I know father. You really loved her. But I can’t stay away from the piano because she played, or because it might not make me rich.”
There was another pause and Nino sighed.
“You know... she might have left even if you were as rich as the other guy...”
His father looked down at his knees. “Yes... I realized that after a while. But I was trying to find reasons why...”
Nino took a step forward.
“You know, I still feel sad when I play... I think of her. But I’ve started feeling recently that... the sadness can pass. That it will pass... if we let her go.” He said, hesitating a little as the memories of his mother resurfaced.
His father nodded. For a moment he seemed lost in thought, trying to figure something out. He frowned, closing his eyes and massaged his temples.
Finally, his face relaxed and he sighed.
“Will it really make you happy?”
Nino smiled.
“Yes. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
His father seemed to be having difficulty accepting this. But after a moment he nodded.
“Alright.”
This was the nod that Nino had waited for so long, and he was so happy to see it, he felt tears coming to his eyes.
“I... thank you...” he murmured.
He knew he would still have played the piano anyway, but having his father’s approval was a wonderful feeling.
He turned and was about to leave when he had an idea.
“Father?” he let out still facing the door. “Would you... come and listen to me once? I’ll... send you the address. Only if you feel like it...” he said quietly, before walking out.
Nino didn’t know if his father would come. He hadn’t replied and Nino had not looked back to see his expression. It was probably still painful for him.
But at least Nino had said everything he’d been holding back. It had been such a long time since they’d talked openly like this... His shoulders felt lighter somehow.
Though he didn’t expect them to become close in an instant, something had changed between them. They’d somehow found a kind of reconciliation in that room... A ceasefire with which something new could be built.
He walked quickly along the corridor, down the stairs, to the waiting room. As he saw Ohno sitting in a corner, he smiled shyly.
He felt like he owed so much to him... Suddenly he knew what he could do to help Ohno in return.
He went to sit by the older man.
“Ninomiya! How was it?” he asked curiously.
“Well... It went quite well actually.” He chuckled. “There was no shouting, which is a huge improvement for us! And... he’s accepted I’m going to play the piano.”
Ohno grinned and Nino swallowed nervously at this lovely sight.
“Don’t get too excited...” the pianist mumbled. “We haven’t said we love each other or anything like that...”
This did not deter the older man. “Still, it’s a big step! I’m really happy for you!”
“Oh... well... thanks. I wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t for you...”
Then, Nino remembered his idea.
“You know, I was thinking about you and your father.” Ohno frowned a little at this, apparently not very happy about this change of subject.
“Hear me out. I think you also care more about your parents’ opinions than you realize. I think you’re more scared of disappointing them by failing at opening another bakery, than actually failing. And also you’re worried about not going back to take care of them. I think you do want to try again and again until you get it right. But it’s your worry for your parents that stops you.”
Ohno stayed silent. Pondering this.
“I think you should call your father.” Nino grinned. “You know... some wise guy told me communication solves problems, or something like that...”
Ohno chuckled. “Well if you put it that way... I can’t go against those wise words can I...”
Nino grinned. “Nope.”
As they walked out of the hospital, a light night breeze blew over Nino’s face. The air tasted sweeter somehow... As he looked at Ohno yawning, he smiled, feeling inspiration coming back to him... A future full of possibilities...
“See you at the bar tomorrow?” Nino asked.
Ohno grinned. “I’m surprised you even have to ask.”
*********************************
***********************
**************
******
*
So there was finally a part from Nino’s POV! My next fic will definitely have more of this, I feel more comfortable writing him. Maybe it’s because he’s my ichiban... X3
Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. The end is very very soon now!
Comments are <3ed!
<3
Pairing: ohmiya
Rating: PG
Chapter: 8/?
Genre: Drama, mild-angst and romance
Disclaimer: Fiction! :)
Summary: The piano bar was not the most trendy place in Tokyo. It was not even clearly visible from the street. But it was exactly what they had needed, exactly when they had needed it.
“Ninomiya?” Aiba’s loud voice surprised both Ohno and Nino.
There were just rushing to the underground station, and they’d walked past Nino’s colleague without realizing it.
“Oh, hey Aiba. Just finished your shift?”
“Yup. Ohno! I see you found him!” the tall man grinned.
Ohno smiled. “Yes, thanks again.”
“No problem! Let’s get drinks sometime!”
The older man smiled, nodded hurriedly and jogged to catch up with Nino who had kept on walking quickly.
*
When they finally reached the hospital, Nino paused just in front of the revolving front door. The building looked very imposing from this angle, and he could feel Nino’s will wavering.
“You can do this.” Ohno said to him quietly.
Nino nodded and they walked in together.
Once they were in the lobby however, Nino paused again.
He lightly touched his lips with the tips of his fingers.
“About the... kiss...” he murmured barely over a whisper
Ohno smiled.
“Don’t think about that now. Go and see your father. I’ll wait here.” He said gesturing to the waiting room.
Nino nodded and walked over to the reception desk.
*
When the young pianist walked into the small hospital bedroom, he was taken aback by what he saw. The scene looked so peaceful...
His father sat in a neat white bed reading a newspaper. He was just as Nino remembered him, even if he looked more tired and worn. The same short hair, bushy eyebrows, contemplative expression...
“Kazunari?” he suddenly turned to see his son and looked bewildered.
It was Nino’s own feelings which surprised him. The last time he’d seen his father, he’d felt so angry; wanting to argue and shout at him...
But that was all gone.
Maybe it was because he was sitting in a hospital bed, but Nino felt like it was something more...
He’d felt enough anger for a lifetime. No more. Instead he was filled with an incredible certainty he knew what to say.
“I didn’t expect to see you,” the father murmured, almost to himself.
Nino took a deep breath and started speaking.
“Please let me talk first. You treated me unfairly. I know it was hard for you, but it was just as hard for me! I worked so hard to make you happy, but it was never enough, and in the end it made angry towards you,” he said very quickly.
There was a small pause.
Nino’s father coughed nervously. “Sorry I was hard on you. I just...”
“I know father. You really loved her. But I can’t stay away from the piano because she played, or because it might not make me rich.”
There was another pause and Nino sighed.
“You know... she might have left even if you were as rich as the other guy...”
His father looked down at his knees. “Yes... I realized that after a while. But I was trying to find reasons why...”
Nino took a step forward.
“You know, I still feel sad when I play... I think of her. But I’ve started feeling recently that... the sadness can pass. That it will pass... if we let her go.” He said, hesitating a little as the memories of his mother resurfaced.
His father nodded. For a moment he seemed lost in thought, trying to figure something out. He frowned, closing his eyes and massaged his temples.
Finally, his face relaxed and he sighed.
“Will it really make you happy?”
Nino smiled.
“Yes. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
His father seemed to be having difficulty accepting this. But after a moment he nodded.
“Alright.”
This was the nod that Nino had waited for so long, and he was so happy to see it, he felt tears coming to his eyes.
“I... thank you...” he murmured.
He knew he would still have played the piano anyway, but having his father’s approval was a wonderful feeling.
He turned and was about to leave when he had an idea.
“Father?” he let out still facing the door. “Would you... come and listen to me once? I’ll... send you the address. Only if you feel like it...” he said quietly, before walking out.
Nino didn’t know if his father would come. He hadn’t replied and Nino had not looked back to see his expression. It was probably still painful for him.
But at least Nino had said everything he’d been holding back. It had been such a long time since they’d talked openly like this... His shoulders felt lighter somehow.
Though he didn’t expect them to become close in an instant, something had changed between them. They’d somehow found a kind of reconciliation in that room... A ceasefire with which something new could be built.
He walked quickly along the corridor, down the stairs, to the waiting room. As he saw Ohno sitting in a corner, he smiled shyly.
He felt like he owed so much to him... Suddenly he knew what he could do to help Ohno in return.
He went to sit by the older man.
“Ninomiya! How was it?” he asked curiously.
“Well... It went quite well actually.” He chuckled. “There was no shouting, which is a huge improvement for us! And... he’s accepted I’m going to play the piano.”
Ohno grinned and Nino swallowed nervously at this lovely sight.
“Don’t get too excited...” the pianist mumbled. “We haven’t said we love each other or anything like that...”
This did not deter the older man. “Still, it’s a big step! I’m really happy for you!”
“Oh... well... thanks. I wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t for you...”
Then, Nino remembered his idea.
“You know, I was thinking about you and your father.” Ohno frowned a little at this, apparently not very happy about this change of subject.
“Hear me out. I think you also care more about your parents’ opinions than you realize. I think you’re more scared of disappointing them by failing at opening another bakery, than actually failing. And also you’re worried about not going back to take care of them. I think you do want to try again and again until you get it right. But it’s your worry for your parents that stops you.”
Ohno stayed silent. Pondering this.
“I think you should call your father.” Nino grinned. “You know... some wise guy told me communication solves problems, or something like that...”
Ohno chuckled. “Well if you put it that way... I can’t go against those wise words can I...”
Nino grinned. “Nope.”
As they walked out of the hospital, a light night breeze blew over Nino’s face. The air tasted sweeter somehow... As he looked at Ohno yawning, he smiled, feeling inspiration coming back to him... A future full of possibilities...
“See you at the bar tomorrow?” Nino asked.
Ohno grinned. “I’m surprised you even have to ask.”
*********************************
***********************
**************
******
*
So there was finally a part from Nino’s POV! My next fic will definitely have more of this, I feel more comfortable writing him. Maybe it’s because he’s my ichiban... X3
Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. The end is very very soon now!
Comments are <3ed!
<3