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The moment i met her, my whole life changed. Everything i saw, everything i felt, everything i heard, all the scenery around me.. started to take on color.
—Kousei reffering to Kaori

Kaosei is the het ship between Kaori Miyazono and Kousei Arima from the Your Lie in April fandom.

Canon[]

Kaori met Kousei when they were smaller and Kousei played a concert, inspiring her and decided herself she wanted to play violin so they could play together. Kaori took up playing the violin hoping to perform with Kousei one day, and throughout their time together, they had many instances in which Kousei slowly gained feelings for Kaori. Each encounter had Kousei realize the importance of himself as a musician, as well as learn more about Kaori and become closer to her, something which eventually flourished into romantic feelings. However, Kousei refused to confess as he was misled to believe that Kaori was in love with Watari.

When finally both met at the park, Kousei pulled up his phone to take her a photo, but on that moment the wind blows hardly making Kaori’s skirt to blow and showing her underwear, making Kaori enraged thinking Kousei is a pervert and going straight to kick him. After clearing the misunderstanding, Kaori get’s friendly with him and calls him “friend A”, much of Kousei’s annoy but still goes along with it because he kind of liked it.

Kaori was a free-spirited girl who always tried her best to have fun and to see the beautiful side in everything. She often kicks Kousei due his negativity, for being so indecisive, and for often rejecting playing the piano and not wanting to give it a shot. After many times of trying to force him to play, he finally does it, but at the middle of playing he stops, so she sadly notices he’s actually trying but he really can’t hear the notes, so she put herself the goal to make him play piano again like he used to play before.

Both spent wonderful times going out, practicing musical pieces and eating all kind of sweets. Mostly the fun was on Kaori’s side since she enjoyed the environment and almost every little detail of everything, while Kousei was mostly admiring and feeling relieved on how Kaori was such an energetic, positive and beautiful girl.

Kaori and Kousei planned up to play together, but when they arrived Kousei panicked so Kaori headbutted him and told him to watch her in the eyes. This calmed him and both played together preciously. Moments after finishing, Kaori collapsed due to the sudden paralysis of her legs and received a concussion. Kousei started to doubt himself, seeing his mother in Kaori, as both of them had made a huge impact on Kousei's life, and the both of them were the reason that he played the piano.

Kousei started to give up on music once again as he felt that music was the one who took away everything that was precious to him. However, after talking to Kaori about not giving up hope at the hospital, Kousei was touched by her words and decided to persevere once more in his last piano competition while Kaori was undergoing surgery. Unfortunately, Kaori was unable to pull through the surgery which led to her death, with her presumably dying on the operating table. Kousei received a letter from Kaori's parents which was written by Kaori before she underwent surgery. In the letter, Kaori expressed her love and gratitude towards Kousei and thanked him for bringing joy and meaning to her life. At the end, Kaori wrote Kousei a letter:

Kaori’s letter to Kousei[]

Dear Arima Kousei…

It feels weird writing a letter to someone you were just with…

The first time I ever saw you perform, I was 5 years old. It was at a recital for the piano school I was going to. This awkward, clumsy kid came onto the stage and accidentally hit the piano stool with his butt. It was too funny. He turned to the piano that was way too big for him and the moment he played that first note, I was drawn in.

The sound was beautiful, like a 24-colour palette. The melodies danced. The girl next to me started crying. I wasn’t expecting that at all. And even so, you gave up the piano. Even though it totally changed other people’s lives.

You’re the worst.

Indecisive.

Gullible.

Twit.

When I found out we were in the same middle school, I was ecstatic. But how would I ever come to talk to you? Maybe I’d hang out at the lunch concession. Instead, I just watched you from afar. I mean. After all. You all seemed to get along so well. There wasn’t really any space in there for someone like me. When I was a kid, I had to have an operation and I started having to be at the hospital for regular check-ups. In the first year of middle school, I collapsed and I was admitted over and over. With every visit, I was there for longer and longer. Really, I didn’t get to class much in middle school, I spent more time at the hospital. And I knew something was wrong with my body.

One night, I saw my parents crying in the waiting room and I knew that my time was running out. That’s when I ran away. Ididn’t want to bring my regrets with me to heaven, so I stopped holding back from what the things I always wanted to do.

I wasn’t scared anymore to get contact lenses. I ate what I wanted instead of always worrying about my weight. And I took the music with all its high and mighty directives and played it the way I wanted.

And then I told a lie. Just one. I lied and said that I, Miyazono Kaori, liked Watari Ryouta. And that lie brought you to me.

Please apologize to Watari for me… though I’m sure he’s forgotten me by now. I think I need someone more wholehearted and earnest than him. I think we’d be fine as friends though. And please apologize to Tsubaki for me too. I want for there to be no hard feelings. And there was one thing I could never ask of her, to ask her directly to introduce the two of us. I don’t think she would’ve had an answer for me. After all, she was in love with you. We all knew that. I think the only people who didn’t know were you and her.

That underhanded lie brought me to you didn’t work out the way I had imagined.

It was darker.

And meaner.

And denser.

And more stubborn.

And more perverted.

And softer.

And more masculine.

And sweet.

Kaosei 23

Remember that bridge we jumped off? The water was so cool and refreshing. Racing each other alongside the train. I really thought I could win. The moon was saw from the music room that night, like a delicious-looking bun.

Singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with you as we rode on that bike together. Then falling out time. We’re awful singers.

At the school at night. I’m still sure there was something there.

The falling snow, just like cherry blossoms.

It’s strange to be a musician, but then to have your heart so filled by something that comes from off-stage They’re unforgettable scenes to me. But they’re such little things. It’s weird, isn’t it?

What do you think? Do you think I made it into anyone’s heart like that? I wonder if I made it into yours. I wonder if you’ll still remember me.

If you forget me, I’ll just come back and.. No, I don’t want to start over. Please don’t forget me. Promise me you won’t forget me. I’m glad it was you.

I hope this reaches you, Arima Kousei.

Kaori’s confession

Kousei cries after knowing Kaori loved him

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I’m sorry we couldn’t eat all those canelés. I’m sorry I hit you so much. I’m sorry I was so selfish. I’m sorry a million times over.

Thank you for everything.


Quotes[]

“Everything you say and do... it all sparkles so brightly. It's too blinding for me, and I end up closing my eyes. But I can't help aspiring to be like you”
— Kousei’s monologue about Kaori
“This silence belongs to us...and every single person out there is waiting for us to fill it with something”
— Kousei referring to Kaori and himself
“Maybe there's only a dark road ahead. But you still have to believe and keep going. Believe that the stars will light your path, even a little bit. Come on... Let's go on a journey!”
— Kaori cheering up Kousei
“I… really like Kaori”
— Kousei talking to Watari
“Will it reach her? I hope it reaches her”
— Kousei referring to Kaori
“Will I reach you? I hope it will reach you”
— Kaori referring to Kousei
“You exist inside me, Kousei Arima. You like egg sandwiches. You like Moo Moo Brand milk. What else do you like? What are your favorite insects? What kind of stuff do you collect? What anime shows do you like? There’s so much that I don’t know. I envy Taubaki for knowing everything. I want to know so many things about you.. so… I’m scared. I’m so scared. Don’t leave me all alone!”
— Kaori to Kousei
“Spring will be here soon. Spring, the season I met you, is coming. A spring without you... is coming”
— Kousei about Kaori

Fanon[]

Kaosei is the most popular within the fandom, as is the ship the anime has been focused on. Many fans felt quite depressed after knowing Kaori’s fate. It has very popular fanart and works of both of them living their lives normally as if Kaori survived, as it became very popular in Wattpad storied of both of them getting to reunite after Kousei’s presentation and Kaori’s surgery, and sometimes they include Watari Ryota and Tsubaki Sawabe. At the beginning, some fans disliked the ship due to Kaori always abusing him and taking advantage of Kousei so he could buy her expensive items, but after knowing her reasons, some fans forgave her and started seeing the positive things of the couple, as Kaori helped a lot Kousei to finally hear the sound of the piano again, to finally do concerta again, to have the fun he couldn’t have when he was smaller, to see the positive things of life, to appreciate the little things and moments you get, and to “always remember those people who were always with you”.

Fandom[]

FAN FICTION

Arima Kousei/Miyazono Kaori tag on AO3
Arima Kousei & Miyazono Kaori tag on AO3

FAN ART

Kaosei search results on DeviantArt
Kaori Kousei search results on DeviantArt
Kaori x Kousei search results on DeviantArt

TUMBLR

Kaosei tag on Tumblr
Miyarima tag on Tumblr
Kousei x Kaori posts on Tumblr

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Kaori was one of the kids who got inspired by Kousei’s music, the other ones being Takeshi Aiza and Emi Igawa.