Mama and Papa watched from behind — quiet and smiling.
Papa leaned toward Mama and whispered with a chuckle,
"I think I just saw our future daughter-in-law."
Mama giggled softly, eyes still on us.
"They're so beautiful... both of them. Like two little angels."
I didn't really understand what they meant.
I was too busy running toward them — full of sunshine and frosting and excitement.
I threw my arms around them for a big group hug.
They both knelt down and wrapped me tight in their arms.
"Papa, Mama — look!" I said, holding up my wrist.
The bracelet sparkled a little in the light. Yui's gift. My treasure.
Mama cupped my hand gently.
"Oooh, it's beautiful," she said.
"I bet she made it all by herself."
Papa smiled and ruffled my hair.
"Do you like it, buddy?"
I nodded so hard that my head got a little dizzy.
"Yeeaaah!! I like it! I like Yui's gift... and I like her!"
They looked at each other for a second.
Then both of them started laughing — the big, warm kind of laugh that fills a whole room.
I didn't really know why they laughed,
but what I did know was the feeling that filled the space between us.
Warmth.
Kindness.
Something soft and glowing — like we were all wrapped in a blanket made of love.
Then I tugged on Papa's hand.
"Papa, Papa... Hideki wants to sing."
He tilted his head.
"Sing?"
"I want the world to hear it," I said. "What Hideki's feeling right now."
Papa looked at me for a moment, then scooped me up with a smile and sat me on his shoulders.
"Well then," he said. "Let's go, buddy."
"To the piano. Let's write this moment with music."
Papa sat down on the piano bench.
I climbed onto his lap, legs dangling, full of excitement.
He opened the lid, then dragged his fingers from one end of the keys to the other—
a loooong silly sweep of sound.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-DONG!
He ended with a playful thump!
I giggled so hard I almost fell backward.
Papa looked proud of his silly masterpiece.
Then he smiled down at me and said,
"Okay, buddy. Ready when you are."
Mama, standing nearby, lifted her phone and hit record.
She gave me a warm wink.
Papa pressed the first key — soft, like a whisper.
Then the rhythm started to grow... bounce... play.
I rocked my head gently to the beat.
Up and down. Left and right.
I closed my eyes and felt it —
everything from today.
Yui's smile.
Her bunny.
Our matching bracelets.
The promise we made.
I opened my mouth, and let the words come out like a song:
To-day.
So happy.
Yui came.
Saw Hideki.
Don't forget, her Bunny.
Tama-chan and Shiba plushie.
I bounced my head, following Papa's rhythm. The melody was sweet and playful —like Papa had somehow read my heart. I sang louder:
Cup-caaakes.
Tasted so sweet.
This day too... feels so sweet.
Hideki grows and gets so big!
Don't forget for this moment...
Mama clapped softly to the beat, joining in.
Her smile made my voice feel braver.
I turned toward them both and sang from my heart:
Maaama... and Papaaa...
Theeeeey're so precious.
Yuuuui, Hideki...
Our name, in bracelets.
Both of us play together.
Both of us like each other...
Both of uuuusssss...
Papa's fingers moved faster —
a bright ending, like a jazz finale swirling into the sky.
And I finished:
FRRRRIIENDS... FOREEEEVER...
Ting ting... tut tut... THUMP!
Papa hit the last note with flair.
Like jazz fireworks.
Mama clapped big, her eyes shining.
"Yaaay Hideki!! That was amazing!!" she cheered.
I looked down shyly, cheeks warm.
It felt too big, too happy.
Papa laughed and ruffled my hair into a wild mess.
"That's a real song, little buddy," he said.
"Like something a pro jazz musician would write."
I blinked at him.
I didn't know what pro jazz meant...
But I nodded anyway —
feeling proud, even if I didn't fully understand.
Because in that moment, with Mama's claps, Papa's music, and the bracelet still warm on my wrist...
I knew what I had written.
It was a song made of a feeling.
A memory.
A wish.
A friendship.
And love.
It made me so happy — the way Papa's piano matched my singing like magic.
So I asked him,
"Papa... Papa... can you teach me how to play this song?"
He smiled and nodded,
"Of course, buddy."
And just like that... he began to guide my fingers, one note at a time.
The days continued, like before — filled with games, drawings, and hugs.
But from that moment on, something new was added.
Every day, I sat with Papa at the piano.
And little by little, I began learning how to play our song.
I didn't know it back then...
But that moment — that tiny spark —
would start to change everything.
It was the beginning of something bigger than I could imagine.
The beginning of my love for music.
Not just any music...
But music that feels true.
Music that can hold a memory.
Music that can connect hearts.