Love So Sweet [an Ohno Satoshi love story] - Chapter 31
They’d spent several weeks preparing. Since there weren’t specific classes like in grade school where people were placed, the college students chose their own groups. Rina teamed up with Michiyo, Aichi and the rest of the quintet, and a few people from the Principal Piano class including Manako Maki. This united ToGeiDa trio (Rina, Aichi and Manako) was great for the show.
The university’s large iron gates were strung with streamers and paper flowers and a huge greeting sign. Upon entering, there were welcoming students handing out flyers and maps of the numerous booths. Art students were offering highly skilled caricatures and face painting. Sculpture and craft majors made play-dough and other projects like origami and calligraphy with little kids who came. There was an open air theater showing the film and new media students’ best short videos made throughout the year. Of course, there was music. On a big stage, the different departments rotated. Soloists, chamber orchestras, choirs, and self-formed rock bands all played. Rina and her quintet played a list of fun ragtime pieces like Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” which certainly entertained the crowds immensely. When their turn was done, they rejoined the rest of the group at their stand.
They had decided to provide food. Their colorful stall had dough-related goods like pretzels and doughnuts all made fresh right in front of you. They wore aprons and bandannas and rolled up their sleeves. Everyone somehow became covered in flour or splattered with eggs. In the frenzy of taking orders, preparing and cooking and chatting with festival-goers, Rina and her friends were all having incredible fun.
Michiyo was manning the cash register. A man with a trucker hat and little girl balanced on his shoulders walked up. Michiyo’s eyes grew wide - she recognized him right away.
“Oh-Ohno-san!” she squealed most enthusiastically. “Irasshaimase!” She gave a darting glance over in the makeshift kitchen area - it was too noisy for them to hear her from there. “Ahno, what would you like? We have all sorts of delicious treats today.” She pointed to the menu sign.
The child sitting on his shoulders pointed to the young woman working on the side that she recognized. “What’s Rina onee-san making?”
“Rina-chan, what are you making right now?” Michiyo called sideways.
“Chichi dango!” Rina yelled back, not looking up from her work.
“We’ll take three of those, please.” Ohno smiled. He handed a giddy Michiyo the money, and went to the end of the counter to wait for the food to be done.
There, Rina was multitasking - kneading together the last of the dough on the floury surface and fishing out the balls that had already been boiling in the large steaming pot. Ohno and Youko watched her movements with fascination. Some hair had escaped underneath her bandanna and fell in front of her eyes; she brushed the strands away with the back of her hand. She completed the order, placing three of the sweet, chewy dumplings in a plastic container. She finally lifted her gaze up to hand the order to the customer.
“Hai, here’s your fresh-- Eh? Ohno-kun, Youko-chan?” she exclaimed. “This is a surprise!” She was a little embarrassed for him to see her so sweaty and messy, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Youko lives close by!” the niece explained. “We come to the bunkasai every year, ne. Obaa-chan told ji-chan to take me, since okaa-chan and otou-chan are busy working.”
“Sou ka? Ii desu, ne. That’s rare that oji-san has time off.” Her quiet eyes met with Ohno’s - they couldn’t risk giving anything away in this public arena.
He chose to ignore this anyway. “Can you take a break and join us?” he asked hopefully. His smile was melting. “That is, if you’re not too busy.”
“No, she’s not too busy!” Michiyo, who had been eavesdropping, quickly butt in. “The cameras are busy with Manako right now. Go on, I’ll cover for you.”
With thanks and a mischievous smirk, Rina folded up her apron, traded her bandanna for a baseball cap, and walked away with Ohno and little Youko, who handed her the third dango. Aichi turned to talk to Rina, but instead saw her leaving with a mysterious guy; he frowned with disappointment. Once realizing Rina’s absence, the ToGeiDa cameras asked him where she’d gone, but he shook his head - he didn’t know, although he wished he did.
Exploring the fair together made everything seem more fun and vibrant. It excited Ohno to be in such an artsy atmosphere, to be amidst such creative people. Rina was glad he enjoyed himself so much in her own territory. She didn’t admit it, but she was amazed at how doting he was upon Youko. He picked the child up to show her all the coolest performances, and won her prizes at the game booths. Youko dragged him this and that way, but he just followed in his half-exhausted, indulgent way. The girl absolutely adored her cool uncle. Despite what Rina had told Michiyo, she couldn’t help but imagine how fine of a father Ohno would make. Perhaps a little bumbling and confused sometimes, but nonetheless charming…
Soon before they realized, the trimester finally was coming to an end for the students at the music school. The next big event they were all anticipating with nervousness and exhilaration - the big finale concert, which would mark the official start of summer.
Katsumi Rina, age 20, was born and raised in New York, USA, to Japanese parents. Since a young age she has been deeply involved in the arts, starting from dance at age four and piano at age six. She is in her third year studying piano and composition at the prestigious Juilliard School, but is currently near the end of her seven month long exchange student program here at Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku. Kazuno Yu is her primary professor. “She has made remarkable progress since coming to our school, not just in technical skill but artistic expression as well.” Kazuno says. “I hope you will pay attention to the sincerity in her playing that makes her music her own.”
Katsumi has won awards including first place at the National Chopin Piano Competition of the US in 2006, and second place at the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation’s New York International Piano Competition in 2008. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling.
This was Rina’s little biography printed in the End of Trimester concert pamphlet. She would be playing Tchaikovsky’s famous Piano Concerto No. 1, first movement. This was, as she called it, her ‘going out with a bang’ performance.
Six hundred people in the audience applauded and watched in anticipation as a young woman in a beautiful blue Grecian dress glided onto the stage. She first bowed to the orchestra, the conductor, and then the stands, before sitting down at the gorgeous grand piano. She nodded at the conductor. He raised his baton, and the orchestra was at attention.
With a swift downstroke of the wand, the piece began with a grand entrance of the brass section, next the sweeping strings, and then Rina came in and completed the gorgeous repertoire with powerful chords bursting forth from the piano keys. Torturous, struggling yet smooth and spellbinding sounds gave way to glorious clarity. The piano was never drowned out by the orchestra. Rather, it was the center of it all, blending in at times and then gorgeously bursting forth and uniting all the sounds.
The myriad of strings of powerful notes flowed. Each and every one was played with meaning. She struck the last beat with all her strength. And - it was done. As the crowd clapped and cheered and stood up in ovation, as she bowed deeply and exited the stage, it was a sweeping release. She felt like she’d been through a beautiful whirlwind. To think that this was her last mark on these people here, this place that had been good to her and taught her so much.
The reception was full of families congratulating their sons and daughters on another superb performance, on their hard work. People’s arms were full of flowers and balloons, and cameras flashed merrily. There, countless people told Rina how much they’d enjoyed her piece. Michiyo was there naturally.
“You did amazing! I’ve never heard the concerto played so - freshly! Is that even a word?” she exclaimed avidly. “I bet the teachers are rallying for you to stay another few months, ne!”
Rina chuckled. “That would be nice.”
Someone approached Rina - a young man dressed in a khaki worker uniform.
“Ahno, Katsumi-san? This is a delivery for you.” He handed her a little bouquet and a small rectangular box, and departed again.
“Oh, those are pretty!” Michiyo admired. “I think the person even took the time to pick those specifically.”
“Eh?”
“Each flower has a meaning. It’s hanakotoba.” she explained. “Those pink roses mean ‘trust and confidence,’ and lotus flowers mean ‘far away from the one you love.’ How romantic, ne~”
This made Rina blush.
Rina smiled to herself as she smelled the lovely flowers. There was no note, but she knew that it was from Ohno, who hadn’t been able to attend the performance because of Arashi engagements. Although she wished he could have been there (and in general that he had more time to spare), she understood completely and took it in stride when his work life took first priority. He was supporting her in his own way even if he couldn’t always show it. She too, hoped he was doing well in whatever activity he was up to at that moment. Surely it was something exciting. It was a wonder that he did for a living what she’d experienced a fleeting moment of - putting on a wondrous show, having people be moved by it.
“Is there something going on that we missed, Rina-san?” one of the cameramen asked, confused.
She smiled mischievously. “I’m sorry, but no. Nothing I can tell you legally, anyway.”
Then, she opened the little box. Inside was a shimmery silver chain, and on it dangled a dainty bird charm. It was just like his own necklace but personalized for her. Rina immediately clasped it around her neck. The tiny bird charm delicately hung at the graceful hollow in her neck. She seemed to glow even more. A little piece of Ohno was there with her, telling her to shine.
The next day, Rina arrived on short-notice to the location for another Johnny’s booking in Miss Magazine. When she arrived at the studio, she received a curious job. The photographer brought his shiba inu called Sho-pon (she snorted at this name) to the studio, and needed it to be taken care of while he worked. However, one of the staff was allergic and another was scared of animals, so Rina was charged with the fox-like, curly tailed dog. She brushed its short orangey fur and it licked her with a sloppy pink tongue, making her wrinkle her nose.
“Sho-pon, you seem antsy.” she laughed. “Let’s go for a little walk.”
Rina led the dog on its leash to the area where flashes of light went off nonstop. Her smile twitched when she saw that the subject was Ohno. Although he looked very handsome in a grey suit, he seemed a little uncomfortable. For some reason after all these years, getting his picture taken still embarrassed him a little.
“Please wait there a moment, Ohno-san!” the photographer implored. He went behind to the computer screen to see how the pictures were turning out. Rina saw him frown. Under his breath he muttered in frustration to the computer tech, “He’s not giving me anything different… The same bored look. I’m trying to prompt him, but I just can’t get it out of him.” This was too quiet for Ohno to hear, but it worried Rina.
She maneuvered around so that she was standing in his line of vision. He noticed her then, and his face brightened. He glimpsed the silvery charm around her pretty neck and beamed. Rina held her fists up and mouthed Ganbatte~
When the photographer returned to his camera, he was surprised to find the idol’s sudden change in manner. He smiled and laughed genuinely, and even started jumping out in silly poses for Rina’s amusement. The photographer loved it and snapped away - this was what he’d been searching for.
The dog yapped happily at the strange man, ran out of Rina’s grasp and up to Ohno. It scuttled around his feet, wanting to be picked up. Ohno chuckled, and took the fuzzball in his arms. This was a golden moment for the photographer, who didn’t lose a frame of this precious sight. Little Sho-pon grinned at the camera over Ohno’s shoulder.
credit: shokim
The university’s large iron gates were strung with streamers and paper flowers and a huge greeting sign. Upon entering, there were welcoming students handing out flyers and maps of the numerous booths. Art students were offering highly skilled caricatures and face painting. Sculpture and craft majors made play-dough and other projects like origami and calligraphy with little kids who came. There was an open air theater showing the film and new media students’ best short videos made throughout the year. Of course, there was music. On a big stage, the different departments rotated. Soloists, chamber orchestras, choirs, and self-formed rock bands all played. Rina and her quintet played a list of fun ragtime pieces like Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” which certainly entertained the crowds immensely. When their turn was done, they rejoined the rest of the group at their stand.
They had decided to provide food. Their colorful stall had dough-related goods like pretzels and doughnuts all made fresh right in front of you. They wore aprons and bandannas and rolled up their sleeves. Everyone somehow became covered in flour or splattered with eggs. In the frenzy of taking orders, preparing and cooking and chatting with festival-goers, Rina and her friends were all having incredible fun.
Michiyo was manning the cash register. A man with a trucker hat and little girl balanced on his shoulders walked up. Michiyo’s eyes grew wide - she recognized him right away.
“Oh-Ohno-san!” she squealed most enthusiastically. “Irasshaimase!” She gave a darting glance over in the makeshift kitchen area - it was too noisy for them to hear her from there. “Ahno, what would you like? We have all sorts of delicious treats today.” She pointed to the menu sign.
The child sitting on his shoulders pointed to the young woman working on the side that she recognized. “What’s Rina onee-san making?”
“Rina-chan, what are you making right now?” Michiyo called sideways.
“Chichi dango!” Rina yelled back, not looking up from her work.
“We’ll take three of those, please.” Ohno smiled. He handed a giddy Michiyo the money, and went to the end of the counter to wait for the food to be done.
There, Rina was multitasking - kneading together the last of the dough on the floury surface and fishing out the balls that had already been boiling in the large steaming pot. Ohno and Youko watched her movements with fascination. Some hair had escaped underneath her bandanna and fell in front of her eyes; she brushed the strands away with the back of her hand. She completed the order, placing three of the sweet, chewy dumplings in a plastic container. She finally lifted her gaze up to hand the order to the customer.
“Hai, here’s your fresh-- Eh? Ohno-kun, Youko-chan?” she exclaimed. “This is a surprise!” She was a little embarrassed for him to see her so sweaty and messy, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Youko lives close by!” the niece explained. “We come to the bunkasai every year, ne. Obaa-chan told ji-chan to take me, since okaa-chan and otou-chan are busy working.”
“Sou ka? Ii desu, ne. That’s rare that oji-san has time off.” Her quiet eyes met with Ohno’s - they couldn’t risk giving anything away in this public arena.
He chose to ignore this anyway. “Can you take a break and join us?” he asked hopefully. His smile was melting. “That is, if you’re not too busy.”
“No, she’s not too busy!” Michiyo, who had been eavesdropping, quickly butt in. “The cameras are busy with Manako right now. Go on, I’ll cover for you.”
With thanks and a mischievous smirk, Rina folded up her apron, traded her bandanna for a baseball cap, and walked away with Ohno and little Youko, who handed her the third dango. Aichi turned to talk to Rina, but instead saw her leaving with a mysterious guy; he frowned with disappointment. Once realizing Rina’s absence, the ToGeiDa cameras asked him where she’d gone, but he shook his head - he didn’t know, although he wished he did.
Exploring the fair together made everything seem more fun and vibrant. It excited Ohno to be in such an artsy atmosphere, to be amidst such creative people. Rina was glad he enjoyed himself so much in her own territory. She didn’t admit it, but she was amazed at how doting he was upon Youko. He picked the child up to show her all the coolest performances, and won her prizes at the game booths. Youko dragged him this and that way, but he just followed in his half-exhausted, indulgent way. The girl absolutely adored her cool uncle. Despite what Rina had told Michiyo, she couldn’t help but imagine how fine of a father Ohno would make. Perhaps a little bumbling and confused sometimes, but nonetheless charming…
Soon before they realized, the trimester finally was coming to an end for the students at the music school. The next big event they were all anticipating with nervousness and exhilaration - the big finale concert, which would mark the official start of summer.
Katsumi Rina, age 20, was born and raised in New York, USA, to Japanese parents. Since a young age she has been deeply involved in the arts, starting from dance at age four and piano at age six. She is in her third year studying piano and composition at the prestigious Juilliard School, but is currently near the end of her seven month long exchange student program here at Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku. Kazuno Yu is her primary professor. “She has made remarkable progress since coming to our school, not just in technical skill but artistic expression as well.” Kazuno says. “I hope you will pay attention to the sincerity in her playing that makes her music her own.”
Katsumi has won awards including first place at the National Chopin Piano Competition of the US in 2006, and second place at the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation’s New York International Piano Competition in 2008. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling.
This was Rina’s little biography printed in the End of Trimester concert pamphlet. She would be playing Tchaikovsky’s famous Piano Concerto No. 1, first movement. This was, as she called it, her ‘going out with a bang’ performance.
Six hundred people in the audience applauded and watched in anticipation as a young woman in a beautiful blue Grecian dress glided onto the stage. She first bowed to the orchestra, the conductor, and then the stands, before sitting down at the gorgeous grand piano. She nodded at the conductor. He raised his baton, and the orchestra was at attention.
With a swift downstroke of the wand, the piece began with a grand entrance of the brass section, next the sweeping strings, and then Rina came in and completed the gorgeous repertoire with powerful chords bursting forth from the piano keys. Torturous, struggling yet smooth and spellbinding sounds gave way to glorious clarity. The piano was never drowned out by the orchestra. Rather, it was the center of it all, blending in at times and then gorgeously bursting forth and uniting all the sounds.
The myriad of strings of powerful notes flowed. Each and every one was played with meaning. She struck the last beat with all her strength. And - it was done. As the crowd clapped and cheered and stood up in ovation, as she bowed deeply and exited the stage, it was a sweeping release. She felt like she’d been through a beautiful whirlwind. To think that this was her last mark on these people here, this place that had been good to her and taught her so much.
The reception was full of families congratulating their sons and daughters on another superb performance, on their hard work. People’s arms were full of flowers and balloons, and cameras flashed merrily. There, countless people told Rina how much they’d enjoyed her piece. Michiyo was there naturally.
“You did amazing! I’ve never heard the concerto played so - freshly! Is that even a word?” she exclaimed avidly. “I bet the teachers are rallying for you to stay another few months, ne!”
Rina chuckled. “That would be nice.”
Someone approached Rina - a young man dressed in a khaki worker uniform.
“Ahno, Katsumi-san? This is a delivery for you.” He handed her a little bouquet and a small rectangular box, and departed again.
“Oh, those are pretty!” Michiyo admired. “I think the person even took the time to pick those specifically.”
“Eh?”
“Each flower has a meaning. It’s hanakotoba.” she explained. “Those pink roses mean ‘trust and confidence,’ and lotus flowers mean ‘far away from the one you love.’ How romantic, ne~”
This made Rina blush.
Rina smiled to herself as she smelled the lovely flowers. There was no note, but she knew that it was from Ohno, who hadn’t been able to attend the performance because of Arashi engagements. Although she wished he could have been there (and in general that he had more time to spare), she understood completely and took it in stride when his work life took first priority. He was supporting her in his own way even if he couldn’t always show it. She too, hoped he was doing well in whatever activity he was up to at that moment. Surely it was something exciting. It was a wonder that he did for a living what she’d experienced a fleeting moment of - putting on a wondrous show, having people be moved by it.
“Is there something going on that we missed, Rina-san?” one of the cameramen asked, confused.
She smiled mischievously. “I’m sorry, but no. Nothing I can tell you legally, anyway.”
Then, she opened the little box. Inside was a shimmery silver chain, and on it dangled a dainty bird charm. It was just like his own necklace but personalized for her. Rina immediately clasped it around her neck. The tiny bird charm delicately hung at the graceful hollow in her neck. She seemed to glow even more. A little piece of Ohno was there with her, telling her to shine.
The next day, Rina arrived on short-notice to the location for another Johnny’s booking in Miss Magazine. When she arrived at the studio, she received a curious job. The photographer brought his shiba inu called Sho-pon (she snorted at this name) to the studio, and needed it to be taken care of while he worked. However, one of the staff was allergic and another was scared of animals, so Rina was charged with the fox-like, curly tailed dog. She brushed its short orangey fur and it licked her with a sloppy pink tongue, making her wrinkle her nose.
“Sho-pon, you seem antsy.” she laughed. “Let’s go for a little walk.”
Rina led the dog on its leash to the area where flashes of light went off nonstop. Her smile twitched when she saw that the subject was Ohno. Although he looked very handsome in a grey suit, he seemed a little uncomfortable. For some reason after all these years, getting his picture taken still embarrassed him a little.
“Please wait there a moment, Ohno-san!” the photographer implored. He went behind to the computer screen to see how the pictures were turning out. Rina saw him frown. Under his breath he muttered in frustration to the computer tech, “He’s not giving me anything different… The same bored look. I’m trying to prompt him, but I just can’t get it out of him.” This was too quiet for Ohno to hear, but it worried Rina.
She maneuvered around so that she was standing in his line of vision. He noticed her then, and his face brightened. He glimpsed the silvery charm around her pretty neck and beamed. Rina held her fists up and mouthed Ganbatte~
When the photographer returned to his camera, he was surprised to find the idol’s sudden change in manner. He smiled and laughed genuinely, and even started jumping out in silly poses for Rina’s amusement. The photographer loved it and snapped away - this was what he’d been searching for.
The dog yapped happily at the strange man, ran out of Rina’s grasp and up to Ohno. It scuttled around his feet, wanting to be picked up. Ohno chuckled, and took the fuzzball in his arms. This was a golden moment for the photographer, who didn’t lose a frame of this precious sight. Little Sho-pon grinned at the camera over Ohno’s shoulder.
credit: shokim