Volume 1: A New Tune
Rain tapped gently against the windows of the small Tokyo apartment, a soft rhythm that echoed the quiet loneliness of Haruki Sato's life. Eighteen, aloof, and a little too independent for his own good, Haruki preferred solitude, his only companion being the soothing chords of his guitar.
That changed the day a new neighbor moved into the apartment next door.
She arrived with the scent of spring, despite the drizzle—Himari Tachibana, radiant and refined, like a song you never forget. Haruki first saw her struggling with a box at the elevator. Against his instincts, he offered help. Her voice, when she thanked him, was like a soft piano key—unexpectedly beautiful.
Over the next few days, Haruki noticed her often: on the balcony tending to a line of potted herbs, humming while hanging laundry, always with a gentle smile. He kept his distance, but one night, after a long study session, he found a small container of homemade curry on his doorstep. A note was attached: "You looked tired yesterday. Hope this helps."
That was the first crack in Haruki's walls.
They began exchanging little things. Her meals, his music. She would leave snacks, he would play her favorite songs when she sat outside. Neither spoke much at first, but every note and bite carried more warmth than words ever could.
Himari had a past filled with expectations—once a piano prodigy, now trying to live simply and happily. Haruki had scars of abandonment, covered by self-reliance. Yet slowly, she brought light to his shadows, and he reminded her that she could choose her own melody.
One evening, Himari asked him to play for her.
Under the stars, on the quiet rooftop, he strummed a song he wrote—"The Melody of You." She cried, then smiled, and kissed his cheek.
That night, Tokyo didn't feel so lonely anymore.