The Book Of Letters 2 Aoko And The Pianis

My name is Aoko Ito, a Special Task Postwoman Rank 2 from Lavender City. Though we had only been dating for ten months now, I still haven't gotten used to Kurai's absence. The thing is, I was overprotective of him. Ever since he was young, he shunned himself from the outside world. That was until one major incident happened to us that I made me insist he should go out and discover the city life. I helped him pa.s.sed the Special Task Post Officer examination. So when I heard that he became one at Gloxinia Town, I was worried. I probably sounded like a doting parent when I asked him questions in my letters, but I was glad to know he was alright after the first day on the job. He even told me about his bickering housemates which I grew jealous because we used to be housemates as well, along with two other people.

After Kurai left, a new housemate took his room. I felt frustrated that there was a replacement, because it felt like Kurai won't be coming back. I tried my best to get over that feeling but, recently, my housemates noticed that I've avoided talking to the new guy.

"Aoko, it's been few days since he left," said one of my housemates, Midori, as she placed rolled omelets on the dining table. She noticed me sighing all morning. "And you should really start talking to Hibiki. I think he is feeling guilty over taking your boyfriend's room."

"You don't have to remind me," I said. "Just wait until I stop feeling sad."

Midori untied her long sea green hair and took off her ap.r.o.n. "Well, you better be quick because I am not going to be responsible if Hibiki decides to move out."

"I don't mind being ignored," said the man at the stairs. Sure enough, it was Hibiki. He had nicely trimmed black hair, good looks but no match to my Kurai, and an athlete's physique. Following him from behind was another male housemate named Esuke, who was shortest among us, has a baby face look and also forgotten to comb his sand-coloured hair. Both were Standard Postmen, or should I say, the ordinary postmen.

"Have anyone seen my co-"

"On the table next to your bed, Esuke," Midori interrupted him. We couldn't blame him for being forgetful, because we all knew the reason. Esuke thanked Midori and ran back to his room and returned with a slightly less tousled hair.

"Anyway Aoko, I heard that another painting for Uta is about to come in today," said Midori.

"Must be nice to make deliveries to a celebrity," Hibiki commented.

"Any Special Task Post Officer can make deliveries to her," I said. "But this one is pushed onto me, and you know why?"

"Is it because of the recent news?" Esuke asked. "I heard that her childhood lover came back to the city, and reporters are camping outside to get the latest scoop."

"The thing is, this painter didn't put a return address," I said. "You don't know how hard it is to travel through the forest just to enter from the back garden. I wish I could send it back and say 'Uta doesn't want you anymore'."

The first time I went to Uta's house was when I had to carry a large painting. I went to the front gate and got surrounded by reporters who asked me whether I knew Uta's personal life. Took me half an hour to get out of the crowd and scaled over the gates to deliver it. The reporters tried to do the same thing, although it didn't go the way they wanted. Uta casted an electrifying spell on the gates after I climbed down, and told me to go through the back if I had to do another delivery for her. Uta was weak at magic, but the spell left a warning to reporters not to attempt to climb over.

I was totally in a bad mood that I made noises when I tried to get ready, like throwing my boots on the floor after polis.h.i.+ng them before putting them on, slammed my bedroom door and heavy steps down the stairs.

Midori was getting very annoyed. "You know what? Why not you stick around at Uta's house for the day?"

"Why?" I asked, slowly realizing my tone was rude.

"You might not realize it, but you and Uta have something in common," she said. "If you listen to her side of her story, you'll learn something about yourself as well."

Midori was eldest among us. Sometimes I would get jealous of her cool-headedness whenever there is trouble. After all, she's my supervisor at work, and a mother-figure at home.

Hibiki and Esuke ran down to join us. Both of their uniforms were standard black double-breasted blazer with square neckline to expose the overlapping collar of their white garment and a stiff hat with flat top. Theirs were much more different than Midori's and mine. Both of us wore the ordinary double-breasted blazer over our white dress s.h.i.+rt and different coloured hats. Mine was cobalt blue and Midori's navy blue, which showed that Midori was a Special Task Postwoman Rank 1 and I was Rank 2.

Skipping the scene right into the mail warehouse at Lavender City Postal Headquarters, I pulled out a flying carriage out of the building. This pedal-powered carriage could be used by non-magic users since its flying capability depended on specially-concocted fuels. They're usually used to carry multiple heavy loads, which in this case, the painting I was told to deliver was actually 2 meters long and a meter wide. I had to carefully tie it down so the ropes won't damage the wrapping paper.

Uta's home was a large mansion resided at the edge of the city, near to the forest. When I flew there with a flying carriage, reporters were already waiting outside the gates, expecting her to come out. I flew further away from them, out of their line of sight. After landing at the usual place, I pedaled my way through the thick gra.s.s, avoiding the rabbit hole and the tree that had imps living inside (I learnt from my mistakes). Finally, I reached Uta's back garden, where she sat at the porch waiting for me.

Uta has a beautiful yet pale complexion. Her black hair was tied into a messy bun and she wore a white one-piece dress most of the time. Every time I came by, she looked at me with a big smile on her face.

"Thank you for the painting," she said, signing on the recipient slip. "If you're not busy, would you like to stay for tea?"

I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but I accepted the offer. I entered her simple, yet elegant open kitchen. The kitchen was connected to the living room, where her white grand piano stood at the center, waiting for her to play. She served me tea and pound cake at the counter as I carefully brought the painting into the living room.

"I wonder how he is doing," she said as she unwrapped the painting. Behind the canvas, I saw a letter stuck behind it. There was the sender's name written behind it.

Tanka

"So Tanka is your lover?" I asked.

Uta nodded. "My childhood friend finally returned to Lavender City after twelve years. Even though I preferred him to write something, I am happy that he took the time to paint these."

She showed me the small painting hanging on her wall. There was a piano, and a girl playing it, and a boy painting at the right side of the piano. Uta took my hand and brought me to her piano. On the right side of the piano was a childish drawing of the same girl and boy.

"Tanka still remembers the drawing on the piano," she smiled. "My late mother used to get mad at him, but she didn't try to clean it off. Instead, she gave him a canvas and paints."

"You have a supportive mother," I said. "But why did he leave?"

"He was a prodigy in art that he was offered to further his skills outside the country," Uta replied. "I stayed here, playing piano at concerts as a part of an orchestra. Few months ago, there was a newcomer pianist compet.i.tion. I joined, but the rules said I had to compose an original song. My mind was blocked as I tried to compose that my rubbish bin was filled up to the brim with my bad songs."

"But the original song you played at the compet.i.tion, 'Garden above Us', was the best song everyone ever heard that even the critics cried," I reminded her.

She laughed. "Art critics are just art nerds to me. Though, that song was inspired by Tanka's first painting that he sent. Both painting and the song meant a lot to me."

She brought me to her bedroom. It was clean and tidy except the walls were covered with handprints and paint splatters. They were the remains of her childhood memories with Tanka. Uta then showed me the painting beside her bed. There were thousands of potted flowers hanging from the ceilings inside a greenhouse. The floor was clear of plants, and the only thing left was a man, facing away from us, holding a pot of lavenders. It was a beautiful drawing. The green was vibrant, the gla.s.s walls in the background appeared so realistic that I felt like I want to walk into the canvas.

"Have you ever been there before?" I asked.

Uta shook her head. "I did wonder why he painted this, because after this one, he send me paintings of our childhood moments. This painting is still a mystery to me. Ah, I just remembered! I didn't get your name. How rude of me."

"That's okay. My name is Aoko," I told her.

"So Aoko, why not tell about yourself?" she asked. "I'm sure you have a love story to tell."

I sighed and sat on her bed. "Unlike you, he and I have been dating for ten months now, and he got transferred to another place few days ago and I still couldn't get over this feeling."

She sat down next to me. "I think it is a little like me. I couldn't get over the feeling of missing him when he left, but time is always by side. I know both of us have to adapt in the changes that happen in our lives, but it helps us grow stronger and wise. I trust him that he would return soon."

"Your 'soon' took twelve years," I said.

Uta nodded. "Tanka and I have established trust since young. You must always have a positive outlook on things, Aoko, even if you have taken account on the worst possible scenarios yet. Love isn't always about holding hands and be together forever, but the feelings poured into every possible way to communicate, to show the love. He painted his feelings onto canvases, and I played mine on piano. He was there at the concert, and I was happy to know that the song finally reached him."

"But it also made the reporters waiting for you outside," I reminded.

The pianist looked at the painting of her on stage, from the perspective of an audience. "Even so, my song rea.s.sured him that I still love him".

This may be the reason why Midori wanted me to talk to her. Uta haven't met Tanka for twelve years, whilst I haven't seen Kurai for few days. Even though they were in the same city now, there were still barriers that kept them apart, and yet that didn't stop Tanka from sending his feelings to Uta. Midori didn't want me to take sympathy on Uta's love life, but to understand that everything would be alright even when we were apart. If I had been more patient, then maybe one day, I'll be able to meet Kurai again.

However, Uta waited for too long.

"Uta," I called. "I know this is kind of rude, but the ocean is no longer the boundary. Tanka is now back and doesn't it feel painful to know that he is near but you can't contact him face-to-face after a long separation? You don't even know how he looks like now."

She nodded her head. "But what do you expect me to do? I don't know where he lives and the reporters are still out there."

"You said it yourself; love always find a way," I quoted. "And love did find a way. I am a postwoman and it is my job to deliver. I can deliver you to Tanka! Consider this as my token of grat.i.tude for the advice you give."

She was surprised and happy to hear that, but she became uncertain. "How are you going to take me without being noticed?"

I smirked. "It's going to be a b.u.mpy ride."

☆

"Are you sure about this?" she asked as she crouch at the back of the carriage. I put the cloth over her.

"I carried a lot heavier parcels than you," I told her. "Just make sure you hold on tight."

I hooked the cloth around the sides of the back carriage. The cloth is usually used to make sure parcels don't fly out, but in this case, I had to hide Uta from being seen by other post carriers. I returned to my seat and began to start up the fuel. The carriage's framework was made by alchemists and engineers so that the magic fuel flows throughout the carriage. As soon as I started it, the carriage began to hover till it reached above the trees, I unfolded the wings at the sides and began to pedal. The pedal part was unlike a bicycle's; instead of steering the gears, I had to swing my right foot to the front while my left at the back, and vice versa.

After getting out of the reporters' line of sight and returned to the city, Uta popped out of the back carriage. "Do you have any idea where he lives?"

I shook my head. "Do you know where he lives before he left?"

"No," she admitted. "Now we both don't know where he lives."

I thought about it for a while. I may not be a theorist like Kurai, but I had a hunch he left a hint. Then I remembered the first painting he gave to Uta.

Why would he painted a hanging garden even though Uta never been there? Maybe it was to tell her that he currently live in a greenhouse, or he has a greenhouse.

I looked around the city from above to find a greenhouse, but Lavender City was too big for a flying carriage to find a gla.s.s building. Not only that, my city was famous for tall and modern buildings and flying Special Task Post Officers. A co-worker of mine on a broomstick pa.s.sed by and I managed to make him stop for questions.

"A greenhouse?" he was puzzled. "There's a botanical center, but if you're thinking of a personal greenhouse, why not check the outskirts of the city or the new housing area? I remember seeing one of houses has one."

He flew away before I could ask him again. I continued on pedaling forward to find the new housing area. In Lavender City, there is a special housing scheme where they would give houses to people who are recognized for their contributions to the city. That includes those who return from scholars.h.i.+ps. If that was the case, then Tanka must be living at one of the houses.

When we finally reached the housing area, I gave Uta a spygla.s.s, telling her that she should try to find a greenhouse. I continued on pedaling until finally she yelled that she spotted it, and pointed at the house right below us. I began to fly downwards. Just when we had our hopes up, the carriage began to shake.

"I knew I should have checked the fuel tank," I said. The carriage dropped and I held onto the wheel with my feet were high up in the air, while Uta screamed underneath the hooked cloth.

"What are we going to do?" Uta panicked.

"Don't worry," I said to her. "This happens all the time, well, to me of course. I just have to change the tank mid-air, that's all."

I struggled to not let go of the carriage. It was unfortunate for me because the tank was placed under the carriage, and judging by the distance between us and the ground, I wouldn't have enough time to change it.

Then, an idea sparked. "Uta, can you make it hover for a while?"

Uta popped her head out. "I-I'll try. Um... sky is the ocean and carriage is my boat. Hear me now o wind spirits and make this float!"

The carriage stopped all of the sudden that my hands slipped off the wheels and I almost fell off the carriage before I gripped onto the sides.

"I didn't know you can do that," I commented.

"It's the only air-related spells that I can remember," said Uta. "But hurry. Couplet spells don't last long."

Putting my acrobatic skills to use, I carefully grabbed the front wheel with my hands and my feet placed at the back. I held the carriage's middle frame and found where the tank was. I slowly released my other hand from the wheel and put my foot on the front wheel. With my one hand, I took off the empty tank and put it inside my satchel, and took out the extra tank. I managed to put it back before Uta's magic ran off. The carriage continued to fall, and I took the advantage to climb back up and regain control of the carriage.

"So this is how Special Task Post Officers works," said Uta, feeling relief.

"Usually it is just me who gets to do all of this," I told her. "I'm not a magic user, so I have to learn martial arts and gymnastics to make up for it."

Uta pointed the right direction to the house and I safely landed the carriage in front of it. I didn't expect the whole second floor and the roof would be made of gla.s.s, but it appeared to be the only house that looked like that. I wondered if these gifted people get to design their own houses.

"This is it!" said Uta, pointing at the name plaque on the door. "This is Tanka's house! I can't believe we found it!"

I couldn't believe it too. I felt like I wanted to brag Kurai that my guessing were right, like he always did. Uta rang the door, hoping that Tanka would be at home. There was no answer, but at the corner of my eye I saw something ran to the back of the house. I quickly chased it and pounced on it. As it turned out, it was a man. He struggled as he turned around and exposed his face.

It was horrible. Even though bandages covered most of his face, I could still see the burned marks. Uta came and was surprised to see the injured man.

"Tanka? Is that you?" Uta ran towards him, but he pushed me away and ran behind the tree.

"Get away Uta!" he shouted. "I don't want you to see me like this."

That must had been the reason why he didn't put a return address. He was afraid that Uta might find him and see his current state. Uta was persistent. She slowly approached Tanka but he kept stepping away from her.

"Tanka, you know I wouldn't hate you because of your state," said Uta. "In fact, just being able to find you again is enough to make me happy. After all, you're still Tanka that I know."

Tanka stepped in closer. "are you sure that you are fine with this look?"

I was getting annoyed by his pessimism. "You said you didn't want her to see you like this, and yet you painted your hanging garden. By that logic, you actually wanted her to see you."

He laughed nervously. "I really wanted to show it to you without letting you know where I live, that's all."

"You do know you're the only resident with a greenhouse," I commented.

Uta chuckled and took Tanka's hands. "I've been away from you for twelve years, and now, I want to stay beside you for the rest of my life."

Tanka's hands trembled. He sobbed and sniffled under his bandages. "Thank you, for waiting for me."

Later on, he guided us to the second floor of his house, where he kept his collection of plants. It was different than the one in the painting, but that was because he added lavenders, beautiful wicker furniture and a tea set prepared on the table. The whole place was even better than the painting.

"Would you like to stay for tea?" Tanka asked.

She nodded her head and turned to me. "What about you Aoko?"

"My job here is done," I said. "Besides, you two have a lot to catch up."

I walked out of the house and sat on the carriage for a long time. Seeing them together made me happy and it gave me hope. I thought about how joyful we would be if Kurai and I finally reunited. Although the future is uncertain, but with a little patience, the time would come.

❤︎

「I almost forgot! The reporters finally left Uta's house after they found out she was missing. I believed that Uta decided to stay at Tanka's and never to come back again. Even though her house was full of their childhood memories, but it is time to move on and create new ones, and so as I.

I tried talking to Hibiki during dinner. It felt kind of awkward at first, but I'll get used to it. I expect a new adventure from you, Kurai.

From your wonderful girl,

Aoko.」