He leaned back on the couch, swirling the drink in his left hand ever so gently. This was the fifth night in a row he was sitting here, waiting for the performance on stage. He usually didn't like to frequent these places, but somehow, the performance had an illogical hold on him. 'More like the performer,' he thought wryly, shifting his position impatiently. Squinting in the dark to see the hands on his wristwatch, he noted with mild surprise how late the performance tonight was.

Just then, the house lights dimmed and a spotlight appeared on the stage, focused on where the piano was. As he watched, the performer walked out and sat down at the piano. Smiling to himself, he ran his hands over the piano keys and with a flourish, started playing.

Mitsui smiled and leaned back against the couch, enjoying the music flowing over him. He noted with mild amusement that most of the couples on the dance floor who had been dancing energetically had now either left the dance flow or switched to slow, sensuous dancing. He closed his eyes and drifted off in his own fantasy world where he and the performer were dancing slowly, their bodies close and moving in sync.

Moments later, when the slow ballad stopped, Mitsui opened his eyes and looked towards the stage. To his surprise, the performer had picked up the microphone.

"Good evening minna. Welcome to Kokeui. On behalf of the management, I thank you." His voice was smooth as silk, with a husky edge to it. "I, too, thank you for listening to my performance and I hope you enjoyed it. Now, I have an announcement to make."

He smiled a sad, wistful smile. "I am leaving the Kokeui soon. In fact, tomorrow night will be my last performance here. I understand from the management that they do not wish let me go and that my audience would be upset. For that, I apologize. But everyone has to make choices in various stages of their life, and I have chosen to take another path. I will not be performing anywhere else. If I do perform again, it should be for myself and those I love. I hope minna will understand this choice of mine and continue to frequent Kokeui. Kokeui will of course, invite somebody else to perform and I believe the atmosphere in Kokeui will not change. Once more, gomen nasai."

With that, he bowed and once again sat down at the piano to play again, this time a sad, wrenching song filled with suppressed emotions. Mitsui buried his face in his hands, shocked and regretful at the same time. This meant that he can only sit here and watch the performer one more time. The one last time. He was sure he would not miss it for sure.

The next night, Mitsui once again was sitting in Kokeui, waiting for the performance to start. He had came earlier, anticipating the crowd that would be here when the news spread. 'And that was a wise decision,' he thought as he surveyed the crowded place. Coming earlier had meant better service and a single table that was closer to the stage. To him, the later was more important. He wanted to enjoy this last performance and cherish the memory of it, retain it for the beauty that it meant.

As the performer walked onstage, he was greeted cheers and applause from the audience. Smiling shyly at them, he sat down and the piano and proceeded to play. This performance was the best Mitsui had ever attended.

The cheerful songs it started out with had been lively and full of joy, creating a light-hearted atmosphere in the nightclub. It was like a gurgling brook, running lightly and happily over the smooth stones. But slowly the atmosphere changed. It became heavier, sadder, as if lamenting the choices that were left behind. The songs were full of emotions, hurting and soothing at the same time. It reached out to the audience, as if reminding them that they too would have to make choices in their life and like him, there would be times when one would be torn apart by choices. Mitsui leaned forward, letting the music wash over him, absorbing all.

Then it stopped. The performer once again took the microphone. “Good evening minna, thank you for being here for my last performance. I hope that this would be the most memorable performance I can give you.”

He smiled wistfully again, “I would like to perform a song for you. This song was written not long ago and the inspiration came from an ardent audience of mine. This would be the last song tonight, and I truly hope minna will go away, remembering me always.”

He sat down at the piano and started playing with his right hand, a simple yet touching melody. The left hand still held the microphone and he started singing softly into it. “Whenever sang my songs, on this stage, on my own, whenever said my words, wishing they would be heard. I saw you smiling at me, was it real or just my fantasy? You’d always be there in the corner, of this tiny little bar. My last night here for you, same old songs, just once more. My last night here with you? Maybe yes, maybe no. I kind of liked it your way, how you shyly placed your eyes on me. Oh~ did you ever know I had mine on you?”

Mitsui sat up straighter, listening intently to the lyrics of the song. His heart was pounding, and intuition told him the song was for him, but his mind was insisting ‘Don’t be foolish. It can’t be for you.’

“Darling~ so there you are, with that look on your face, as if you’re never hurt, as if you’re never down. Shall I be the one for you? Who pinches you softly, but sure? If frown is shown, then I will know that you are no dreamer.”

His heart was protesting against his mind. This song had to be for him! It fitted him perfectly! But his mind was still saying, ‘There are a lot of other people here that fit this song too. It can’t be for you. Not now, not ever.’

The performer’s voice was filled with emotion, soaring and twisting the emotions of the audience. The atmosphere was no longer the sorrowful, somber air it had been. It was now filled with love, longing and hope. Many couples were now cuddled together, smiling into each other’s eyes.

“So let me come to you, close, as I want to be, close enough for me to feel your heart beating fast. And stay there as I whisper, how I loved your peaceful eyes on me. Did you ever know that I had mine on you?”

“Excuse me sir?” a voice came from behind Mitsui, distracting him from the beautiful song on stage. “This note is for you.”

Mitsui shot him a puzzled glance and opened the folded note. It read, “Dear sir, I’ve noticed you always sitting among the audience. I believe that we would have a common interest. Would you like to meet me for a drink after the performance? Yours truly, Kogure. P/S how do you like the song I’m singing now for you?”

Mitsui looked up at the stage. The performer was now staring right at him, smiling as if there was a secret between them. Mitsui smiled back, listening to the rest of the song even as his heart was gloating over his mind.

“Darling~ so share with me, your love if you have enough. Your tears if you’re holding back, of pain if that’s what it is, how can I let you know, I’m more than the songs and the voice. Just reach me out then, you will know that you’re not dreaming.”

As the stage dimmed and the performer retreated backstage, Mitsui waited for ten minutes before leaving the nightclub, with anticipation and nervousness coursing through his veins. True enough, the performer was standing next to the exit waiting for him. When Mitsui appeared, he looked up and smiled. “Let me introduce myself. I am Kiminobu Kogure.”

“I’m Hisashi Mitsui. Do you mean what the song says?”

Kogure smiled, “Hai. I never lie.”

“Then I think we should get to know each other very well.”