Chapter 1 “Torajiro’s Surprise Date”
Theme: Love and self-reliance. The meaning of life, the courage to take a step forward, trust, and compassion.
Characters
* Miyo (Miyoko Sakuma): 19 years old
* Kakeru (Sho Sakuma): 15 years old
* Rabbit Lala and Her Family: Emma, Lila, Vivi, Mofumofu
* Band: “Lala Mikel”
* Saki (Sakiko Ohara): 14 years old
* Tora-san (Torajiro Ohara): 39 years old (Saki’s father)
* Mother (Yoko Ohara): 38 years old (deceased 7 years ago)
* Grandmother (Namie Ohara): 65 years old
1. Saki and Torajiro
Autumn. Saki’s favorite season. This is because the cosmos flowers bloom profusely. Gazing at the delicate, pale pink petals, her mind always empties. Saki has never hated anyone since she was old enough to know better.
She has never envied or been jealous of anyone. She accepts everything in front of her as if it were a natural force. Distinctions like “good person” or “bad person” simply don’t exist in her heart. “If you’re like that, you’ll be tricked or fall into danger one day,” her grandmother (Namie) once worried. At such times, her father, Torajiro, who was nearby, would interject with a hearty laugh. “It’s fine! This child was born in the Year of the Rabbit. She’s exactly like a rabbit, a genius at sensing danger. She runs away quickly before she even thinks she’s in trouble.” Her grandmother would snort, “Hmmph,” and fall silent. Her father amusingly continued the story. “The other day, she was asked for directions by some man she didn’t know.” He paused for a moment. “Guess what Saki did?” Her grandmother’s lips formed a straight line, and she replied, “Unpredictable.” With a wry smile, Torajiro said, “She ran at full speed to the police box, yelling, ‘The lookout from the previous scam is here!’ and dragged a police officer back!” “Oh dear,” her grandmother was speechless. “And it turned out he really was the lookout,” her father laughed heartily, clearly amused. Saki’s real name is Sakiko, written with the character for “bloom.” But everyone calls her Saki-chan or Sacchan. This Saki was suddenly invited on a date by her father, Torajiro Ohara, who was busier than ever. “Saki, are you free this Sunday? If you don’t have plans, how about a date with your old man?” Saki blinked at the sudden invitation. “Sure… Do you need something?” Torajiro grinned. “I’ll take you somewhere nice. There will be rabbits, which you love, so I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
2. Is the Date Volunteer Work?
Sunday arrived in the blink of an eye. For a date, her father was completely underdressed. He was wearing his usual black turtleneck polo shirt and his favorite worn-out jeans. Saki was also told to wear clothes that she “didn’t mind getting dirty.” By no stretch of the imagination did it feel like a romantic date. “I’ll treat you to something delicious on the way back, though,” he said, sounding somewhat apologetic.
At 7 a.m., Torajiro came to wake Saki with a good-morning kiss (though it was just a nose rub).
“Come on, let’s eat breakfast and head out right away!” Breakfast was fried eggs and ham, with sliced baguette in a wicker basket. Saki also liked the Japanese-style breakfast her grandmother made, but she loved the simple Western breakfast that Torajiro would whip up quickly.
“We’re heading out as soon as we finish eating!” Saki rubbed her sleepy eyes and somehow managed to eat her breakfast, listening to her father humming while brushing his teeth. When they were ready and went outside, Torajiro had already started the car and was talking to someone on his mobile phone. “Okay, let’s go!” As soon as Saki got into the passenger seat, the car took off. It was a light one-box minivan, super convenient for carrying luggage—the car that their neighbors called “the big one.” Saki looked back from the passenger seat, finding a disorganized jumble of things. “Tora-san, what in the world is all this?” Her father glanced at her through the rearview mirror and grinned again. He kept driving without saying a word. They arrived at the destination quickly. “Alright, Saki. We’ve got work to do. You’ll be helping me with volunteer work all day today. We’re in a situation where we need all the help we can get.” With that, Torajiro opened the minivan’s door and began pulling out one piece of equipment after another. “Saki, can you get a cart for me?” “Got it, meow!” Saki immediately shifted gears. Her father often volunteered to set up events for organizations with limited budgets, like schools. He was a complete softie. But that’s why she loved him. Saki headed towards the venue, thinking this.
3. Backstage “Torajiro Magic” and “Lala Mikel” Father
Torajiro’s instructions were surprisingly precise, and the venue was set up smoothly and efficiently. No matter how much chaos surrounded him, the area around her father felt as calm as a windless lake surface. In fact, even people who had been shouting calmed down like scolded cats when they came near Torajiro. “He’s amazing,” Saki was more impressed by the sight of her father building the stage than the finished stage itself. Perhaps this is what he wanted to show me, Saki mused as she moved briskly, carrying out his orders. Thirty minutes before the scheduled time, the venue was ready, and the sound check was complete. All they had to do was wait for the audience to arrive. “Shall we take a short break?” Her father appeared out of nowhere. “Today, there’s a concert by the rabbits you love so much. I really wanted you to see it,” Torajiro smiled at Saki while putting his smartphone in his pocket. “Rabbits playing instruments?” Torajiro’s smile widened. “No, no, not that. It’s a band called Lala Mikel. They’re supposedly a big hit with a lively stage where rabbits spin and dance. I’m looking forward to it.” Lala Mikel? She had never heard of them. Were they a J-Pop band? Saki’s fatigue vanished, and she looked around with curious eyes. That’s when it happened. In front of a young girl, the band Lala Mikel—Miyo, Kakeru, and Rabbit Lala with her children Emma, Lila, Vivi, and Mofumofu—began to leap and move with a vibrancy that filled the venue. The venue, perfectly arranged thanks to Torajiro’s efforts, and the dynamic stage performance of “Lala Mikel.” Saki had never experienced anything this wonderful in her life. The excitement went beyond her body, exploding into an uncontrollable impulse. Before she knew it, Saki had rushed onto the stage. She began to dance and sing as if integrated with the rabbits—or rather, as if she were a rabbit. Kakeru on stage and Miyo on guitar welcomed Saki’s sudden participation with open arms. They linked shoulders and swayed together. Lala and the other rabbits also gave her a warm welcome. Lila, in particular, nuzzled Saki with her nose and began her adorable figure-eight dance at Saki’s feet. The highly energetic performance concluded with roaring applause and multiple encore calls, ending in a huge success.
4. The Hidden Talent The truth was,
there was a fact that was unknown even to her music-ignorant father Torajiro, her grandmother, and even Saki herself. It was that Saki possessed absolute pitch. Saki’s mother, Yoko Ohara, passed away seven years ago. Saki’s seventh birthday was celebrated with her mother in a hospital. All the young Saki remembers is the joy of eating cake together. Her mother, Yoko, desperately wanted to leave everything she had for Saki while she was alive. She seriously played the piano and practiced with Saki. This lasted for five years, from the time Saki was just two years old—a period almost identical to the time she was diagnosed with cancer and battled the disease. The result was Saki’s absolute pitch. Of course, there was also a genetic influence. Yoko’s parents and grandparents were also music lovers, and various instruments—organs, guitars, flutes, drums, and even Japanese taiko drums—were scattered all over the house. “We used to have home concerts,” her mother would occasionally say, gazing into the distance. “The reason I married late was perhaps because I worried about marrying Torajiro-san, who isn’t very connected to music.” Her mother married at 30, and her cancer was discovered at 32, right after Saki was born. “The doctor said it was an early detection, so it would be fine,” she said, before quietly falling silent. After the first surgery, her mother changed. She began teaching piano to Saki, who wasn’t even three yet. Father Torajiro objected, but Yoko simply shook her head and didn’t stop the lessons. Her teaching method was gentle, consisting of her playing for Saki, or Saki confirming the sounds, scales, and key positions. To help Saki fall in love with music, she would explain things by substituting them with something else, like: “This sound is a skylark’s cry,” or “This is the sound of meat sizzling in a frying pan.” The scale her mother, Yoko, loved the most was “La.” “La is wonderful. I love it,” Yoko said with a dreamy expression. “What’s so good about it?” Saki asked, but her mother didn’t answer right away. After a long time, she said, “It feels like my heart is beckoning ‘La.'” Saki didn’t understand her mother’s words at all. When she asked Torajiro, all he said was, “I don’t know.” Her mother would sometimes ask strange questions. “What scale would that sound be on the piano?” Saki initially answered honestly. “Doesn’t a fire truck siren have a scale?” However, the more she was asked, the more Saki started searching for an answer, saying, “Maybe…” This became a habit, and now, every time she hears a sound, she thinks, “Oh, what is this?” and converts it to a scale. It was then that she learned the sound of “La” is 442Hz. But knowing that didn’t change anything. Her mother never once used the term “absolute pitch.” “Cherish sound. It might be connected to your path in life.” That was one of the last things her mother said. In the spring when Saki was seven, her mother quietly passed away. Life with her father Torajiro began, and eventually, her father’s mother, Namie, moved in. Seven years flew by. Torajiro never had time to ask about Saki’s piano lessons or to reflect on the situation. Therefore, he had no idea about Saki’s absolute pitch and paid no attention to her performance in piano class. The lesson instructor wondered why Saki, who seemed to barely practice, could play so well. Even when told, “We’ll test this piece in a week,” Saki showed no sign of worry. A week later, she would flawlessly play the piece the instructor had used as a sample. The instructor had never played it perfectly herself and was simply astonished, only able to heap praise on Saki for practicing well.
5. The Start of a Friendship One day,
an invitation arrived at the Sakuma house. It was a cute envelope with even cuter stationery. Many heart stamps were pressed onto it, and rounded handwriting was nestled between the hearts. > An Invitation to Everyone in Lala Mikel > How are you? Thank you for the wonderful concert the other day. > To thank you, we would like to treat you to a meal at our house, so please visit us sometime. Please bring the rabbits, too! We will come to pick you up by car. > Saki got permission from her father, Torajiro, and invited the Lala Mikel band. Torajiro, of course, was the one who went to pick them up by car.
The joint dinner party between the Sakuma and Ohara families was a great success. Rabbit Lala and her family were completely at ease, as if they were in their own home. During the dinner, everyone introduced themselves. Miyo and Kakeru supporting each other after losing their parents. Lala appearing from a garbage bag. And how she was named Lala because “La” was Miyo’s favorite musical scale— At that point, only Saki interjected. “That’s the same as my mother. My mother loved ‘La,’ too.” “Oh my,” 19-year-old Miyo laughed brightly. The Ohara family’s self-introduction was longer because of Torajiro’s age. “You see, I’ve lived a life so irresponsible that even Yoko worried about me,” he said, stroking Saki’s head. “I studied frantically in high school. But as soon as I passed the university entrance exam, my desire to study suddenly vanished. On my way to the university with the enrollment fee, I changed directions.” He turned toward a design institute in Shibuya and paid the enrollment fee there instead. “I still don’t know why I did that. And I haven’t found the answer since.” He hadn’t been interested in clothes until then. Design was just something he’d learned a little of in class. He still finds it mysterious how he managed to get into such a highly competitive institute. After enrolling, his life was a mess. His grades were only good in general education subjects, and everything else was terrible. When he was sick of himself, a friend asked him to help out backstage for a play. Of course, he said yes. In short, he became a jack-of-all-trades. From making costumes to lighting and stage machinery. He earned a reputation as “Torajiro the Yes-Man, who never says no when asked.” And now, that has become his profession. He met Saki’s mother, Yoko, when she was around Miyo’s age now. She was so cute. “That cute girlfriend was crying backstage. She had torn her costume somewhere and couldn’t play the piano on stage like that.” The torn part looked to Torajiro as if it had been deliberately ripped, rather than caught on something. Torajiro at that moment became like Ultraman, a miracle worker. He took the costume and, with his skillful quick hands, revamped it into a gorgeous dress. He took lace from his ever-present bag and instantly transformed it into a magnificent gown. Yoko’s piano skills were top-notch. And the dress suited her perfectly. From then on, Yoko’s career took off. She received invitations from all over the world, but around age 30, pain began in her right thumb, and she gave up the piano. “So, I, Torajiro, sadly married her.” “Dad, Tora-san. Mom said she was really glad she married you,” Saki interjected with a smile. “Well, thank you,” Torajiro replied, also smiling. “Anyway, that’s how I got to where I am today.” “Thank you for sharing your detailed personal information,” Miyo said, smiling her thanks. “Tora-san, were you perhaps born in the Year of the Tiger?” Kakeru asked, his eyes wide. “I was. And you?” “Unexpectedly, the Year of the Tiger, 15 years old.” Miyo turned to Saki and asked, “Saki-chan, are you the Year of the Rabbit?” “Hmm. I am.” “We’re Rabbit and Tiger. That’s a pretty good combination.” From that day on, a deep friendship began between the Sakuma and Ohara families.
6. Miyo’s Deep Worry Miyo was genuinely happy to have met Saki,
but at the same time, she suffered. It might have been jealousy. Saki has talent. She can memorize any musical note just by seeing it once, and she can play any piece as her own after hearing it once. Even Rabbit Lala’s family doesn’t wrinkle their noses at Saki’s piano performance. Sometimes they do the figure-eight dance in joy. Perhaps Saki and Lala perceive the sound of “La” at 442Hz not with their ears, but with their hearts. “I envy her, I envy her. To be able to accurately recognize the scales.” “Saki-chan has absolute pitch. She’s a genius!” In comparison, she felt like a “pitiful young girl struggling to become a composer,” and her feelings of inadequacy grew. One day, on her way home from her part-time job, Miyo found herself heading to Torajiro’s house. Saki and Torajiro were already home and gave Miyo a warm welcome. But Miyo’s face remained downcast. “I’ll call Kakeru-kun, too,” Saki said, excusing herself to make a phone call. “Tora-san, please listen to my small worry.” Torajiro’s face became serious. “If you don’t mind me,” he said, urging Miyo to sit on the sofa. “Tora-san, I think Saki-chan is a genius. She was born with the talent of absolute pitch,” Miyo spoke slowly, weighing each word. “She memorizes notes instantly. She will surely enter a music university with excellent grades and become a wonderful musician. Compared to that, I…” Torajiro stared intently at Miyo, who had tears in her eyes. The journey of self-discovery. That’s the path Miyo is on right now. It is difficult and painful. But it’s also a path everyone takes. Torajiro waited for her next words. She could take her time reaching a conclusion. “Miyo-chan, that’s not true. Let’s think about it from the beginning again.” “First, I’ll bring some drinks. I want Saki to hear this, too.” Saki returned. “Kakeru-kun said he’d be right over after feeding Lala and the others.” Torajiro came from the kitchen with three servings of fruit juice in beautiful crystal glasses. The glasses sparkled, reflecting the light. Torajiro chose his words carefully and began to speak slowly, with a serious expression she had never seen before. “Honestly, I don’t know anything about music. But I listened to all of Yoko’s worries. Rather than being a counselor, I was a dustbin, a garbage can, really. This is something Yoko told me when she was in her mid-twenties. In the end, Yoko found the answer herself, though.” “The other day, Lala, Miyo, and Saki all said they loved the sound of ‘La,’ right? ‘La’ seems to have been an important note since the Greek era. It was said to be the fundamental tone. Saki probably knows this, but the person who tunes our piano every year told me that piano tuning starts with this scale. I watched the whole process the other day and understood it well.” Torajiro paused there. “I happened to talk with the tuner. He told me a very interesting story.” “He said he also studied the piano when he was young. But his hands couldn’t move as he wished. He understood it in his head, but his hands couldn’t keep up. His professor apparently told him, ‘You have absolute pitch. However, your reflexes are a bit lacking.'” He still didn’t want to give up on a career in music, so he consulted about becoming a composer. But there, too, he was told: ‘People with absolute pitch can ‘copy and paste.’ They can imitate someone else. But you can’t create truly good music that way. Only people with creativity, curiosity, and the courage to take a step forward can create truly good music. What do you say, can you do it?'” “In fact, Yoko had the same worry. Yoko also had absolute pitch. Saki has inherited that.” “That’s why Yoko entrusted her life to Saki. She wished for Saki’s future to be someone who could deeply understand the relationship between sounds, in addition to absolute pitch, and put a message into them. But Yoko gave up halfway. Saki is still incomplete.”
“However, Miyo-chan, you have already taken a step into the future Yoko dreamed of.”
“Even without absolute pitch, Rabbit Lala and her children are blocking out unpleasant sounds and creating wonderful music. That’s an incredible thing. You should be proud of yourself.” Miyo, Saki, and Kakeru, who had arrived later, all listened quietly to Torajiro’s long talk. “That’s right. There’s still a long way to go. There’s no need to rush,” Kakeru, surprisingly, concluded the conversation. “Come on, Rabbit Lala and the kids are waiting anxiously for us at home.” Still, Miyo envied Saki. She wished she had such a wonderful father. Saki, in turn, envied Miyo. She wished she had such a wonderful younger brother and the Rabbit Lala family. The two girls exchanged a small smile, as if their feelings had communicated with each other.
Now, let’s move toward the future. Connecting Hearts and the Meaning of Life Miyo listened quietly to Torajiro’s words. They penetrated her heart like warm water, dissolving the knot in her chest that had been there for years. Her tears had stopped. She realized her struggle was not jealousy over a lack of talent, but awe toward “creation.” “Tora-san, is it really okay for me to continue? Continuing to compose without absolute pitch…” Miyo’s voice was small, but the pitiful tone from before had vanished. “Miyo-chan, I’m not a qualified professional designer. But I create stages that move people’s hearts. It was the same with Yoko’s dress. It’s not about technique; it’s about love for someone else and the courage to take a step forward. You have that. Lala Mikel’s music moves the hearts of those who listen, doesn’t it?” Torajiro looked at Miyo with a strong yet gentle gaze. At that moment, Saki, who had been listening silently, spoke up. “Miyo-san. I understand the scales my mother taught me, but I don’t understand the sounds of the heart. When I listen to your music, it connects to my own memories—the sound of the wind blowing, or the sound of my mother laughing.” Saki smiled faintly and gently, like a cosmos flower. “I know the rules of sound, but I can’t create a story. But you, Miyo-san, are putting living stories into sound with Lala and the others—stories no one has ever heard before.” Kakeru nodded in agreement and continued her thought. “That’s right. Miyo-nee’s music isn’t complete without Lala and the others. Lala and her family convey the compassion that Miyo-nee wants to share with the listeners. That’s not absolute pitch; that’s the power of trust.” Trust and Compassion. Miyo realized anew that this was the core of “Lala Mikel.” The invaluable connection she, Kakeru, Lala, and her children had built together. “I…” Miyo took a deep breath. “I understand. What I wanted wasn’t Saki-chan’s absolute pitch. What I was really afraid of was not being able to find my own sound. But I have Lala and the others. I have Kakeru. And Tora-san and Saki-chan have taught me the meaning of my life.” Kakeru stood up and gently placed his hand on Miyo’s shoulder. “See, now that we’ve sorted things out, I’m hungry. Miyo-nee, you want to give Lala and the others some delicious food, right? Let’s go home.” Miyo laughed. Her younger brother’s occasional mature kindness always supported her.
The Start of a Journey, A Step Towards the Future The next day, Miyo immersed herself in composing. It was different from before. It wasn’t driven by obligation or impatience, but by the pure joy of wanting to put her overflowing emotions into sound. The theme of the song was her deceased mother Yoko’s love for “La” that Saki had told her about, Torajiro’s clumsy but deep love, and the unconditional trust that Lala and her family had given Miyo.
A few days later, they performed the new song at the Sakuma house. The usual members of Lala Mikel: Miyo on guitar, Kakeru on vocals, and the free-spirited dance of the Lala family.
And today, Saki played Yoko’s heirloom piano as a special guest. The sound of “La” spun from Saki’s fingertips transcended the physics of frequency, enveloping the entire room in compassion. Miyo’s melody, centered on that “La,” expanded freely yet without hesitation. After the performance, Lala circled Saki’s feet as if to express thanks. Saki was crying. They were tears of joy, not sadness, a realization that her mother’s love was living on within her as sound. “Saki-chan, absolute pitch is a window for you to receive love from the world. Through that window, your heart connects with our music and creates an even greater love.
That was Yoko’s wish, wasn’t it?” Torajiro said quietly. Seeing Saki’s tears, Miyo knew that the sense of inferiority she had harbored was completely gone. Saki’s absolute pitch was both a gift and the burden of her late mother’s love. Miyo’s creativity had managed to transform that burden into joy. The two girls, possessing different talents, found the meaning of their lives and took a step toward self-reliance through each other’s existence. Miyo gained the courage of creativity, and Saki gained the power of sound to connect love.
The two of them begin their journey toward their respective futures.
(End)
Copyright © 2025 painted and written by Michiko Yamada. All Rights Reserved.