The Heart that gives

Once upon a time, there was a boy, named Kanashii. He was a fit man, and a smart kid, making his parents proud, and being in a school band. He was a boy who would sing his songs by the window in his room, guitar at hand, the windows open as the Saturday's morning breeze would cool him off.

One day, a girl would throw a small pebble at him, and laugh at him for his funny songs. He would always catch the pebbles and throw it back, but not at her, but only on the floor. He would then smile at her, not even mad at her for  throwing pebbles. Well, he'd laugh at her every time she'd slip and fall before she threw the pebbles.

He'd hop down from the window, and pick up the pebbles from the ground and bring it back to her. She would only pout and blush, looking away at him. She would then take the pebbles and leave, leaving only a feeling of anger and embarassment at him.

The next day, he would ride his motorcycle on the way to school. He would then see her walking to school, with the weight of her books tiring her. He would slow down to a stop as he'd stopped beside her

"Need a ride?" He would ask.

"Oh, go away, would ya? I don't need some knight in shining armor to help me!"  She would snarl back at him.

"C'mon, you know you need a ride. You trust me?" He would ask her again with a smile, as he offered her a hand.

"Fine, but it's not because I like you!" She takes his hand, and hops onto his motorcycle.

"I never knew your name. What's your name, and what's the deal with the rock throwing?" He'd ask as he fits her a spare helmet, and clips it on.

"I'm Akira, and I had every right to throw rocks because your songs suck!" She would say as she looks away from him.

"To each to their own opinion, as they say." He would reply to her as he'd smile, not feeling mad at her reasoning. They would then ride to school, and he would lock his motorcyle on the parking lot.

They would both go to school, as he'd go along with his classes, and went seperate ways with her. As the afternoon rose over the school, he would see her walking back home. This time, she agreed.

It was always like this every single day. Every weekdays he would pick her up, spend time with her at lunch, and then bring her back to her home. Then, at Saturdays and Sundays, they would both spend time at his garden. They became friends. Even more, as they developed more and more to each other.

One day, he would wait for her, and as he did, he would see her holding a letter and a rose, as he sees her approach him, blushing and all.

"T-this is for you. It's just only because we're friends! I don't like you, or anything!" She says to him, as she hides the feelings she feels for him.

"Sure you do. Sure you do." He would laugh at her as he would pat her head.

They would then again go to his garden, as he would sing her a song. He believed that even the grass and the birds were listening, so he would sing to her, and as he did, she would always listen, as she feels comfortable around him. The birds would always chirp and the breeze would keep them cool, while the grass was soft for them to sit on. This was already paradise for him. He knew that Akira liked him, but he would always respect her feelings. Besides, he also liked her as well. He always felt like he was always liked, but never loved. And this was a nice feeling for him. Akira would then place her head on his shoulder, while he kept singing songs to her. And she loved every second of it, though she did not want to show it to Kanashii, because she felt like she needs to be strong and tough, or else the world would take advantage of her love. But this was not the case. Kanashii was willing to give her love to make her open up again. And in return, in every moment that she was there with him, he felt loved and happy.

But a fateful night, when he was bringing her home, Akira was coughing and she was on the verge of tears, because of how painful it felt. She felt it on her chest, where she had a hard time breathing. He then started to worry, and with his quick thinking, he would drive her to the hospital. These moments were faster than time, as if the only thing he wanted was to save her. Just a bit more time, he wished on the heavens.

As they reached the hospital, with all his strength he carried her to the emergency room and the doctors started to take her, while he looks at Akira, all worried and in tears.

Kanashii would then contact Akira's father, Mr. Hayashi, and as soon as he arrived, they both spent their time waiting for Akira to recover. As they did, Kanashii would always smile while Mr. Hayashi was there, just for comfort. He would then tell all of his stories to him, and in turn, it comforted Mr. Hayashi.

The doctors came back with the diagnosis, and the bad news. Akira had an infection in her heart, and that she only had a few days to live, unless a new heart was available. Kanashii would ask the doctor when the heart would come, and the doctor sadly said that the heart would take three months to arrive.

While Mr. Hayashi and Kanashii would take in the news from the doctors, Akira was stuck on the bed, watching the window, as the rain poured hard. The door opened, and in came Kanashii, a guitar at hand.

"Hey, where's that smile, Kanashii?" She would smile at him, and that made him smile, as his tears would fall onto the floor.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry that this song we have could never be happy. I'm sorry. I wish that our song would be happier than this." He would say, hugging her softly, crying on her shoulder.

"This song we have... this is the best song you sang to me. The way you made me feel loved and feel more alive, if I were to live again, I would always live this life again. I would always live a life with you in it." Akira would then put her fingers on the side of Kanashii's mouth, poking his cheeks and then bringing the sides of his mouth up, making him smile

"You look so handsome when you smile, my moonlight. I will always love you, even if my heart is sick." She would say, as she lies down again.

"I love you too. I will sing my songs, even if it rains. Can I sing you one last song, my sunshine?" With shaky hands, he would grab the guitar and start playing a lullaby to her. She nods, as she held his hand for one last time. As he sang his song to her, her heart was so peaceful, as it reached its final moments, where the line on the monitor that tracked her heart activity started to fall on a flat line. The rain poured, as he stopped playing, and he would pour his sorrows, holding his lover's hand, as Akira's love-filled heart started to stop beating.

Akira would then wake up in the recovery room, looking around. She would look at her hands, and then the guitar by her side, as Mr. Hayashi was on the right side of the bed, sitting down on a chair.

"I'm glad you're awake." Akira's father, Mr. Hayashi, would say gratefully, as he held his daughter's hand.

"Dad! I thought I would never get to see you again! Look, my heart is working!" She pointed to the monitor, where it showed her heart activity, as lines went up and down.

"I know, my daughter. And I will cherish this blessing." Mr. Hayashi would say in between tears.

"Where is... where is Kanashii, Dad?"

Mr. Hayashi would then freeze at these words, as he would wipe his tears away.

"My daughter. Have you wondered how you were alive? Your heart was never working anymore, and so we needed a heart." He would then hold her hand, and look down, a sunflower in a pot beside her bed and a yellow letter for Akira, from Kanashii.

"You mean..." her hands would freeze, as she looked at her father with eyes of despair.

"His final words were "I would trade anything for her. I want to live in a song where we live together in happiness. So I'll trade my heart, and give her the best song, a song where she gets to live, and I get to watch her from the stars.". He was more than willing, Akira."

Akira would then take Kanashii's guitar and she held it close to her, while she weeps. The rain would then pour again, and the sound of Akira crying is muffled by the rain.