Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda or any of its characters and settings
Author's Note 1: Hi There, thank you for reading my fic. As this is the first time I've ever written a fanfic, I apologize in advance for any rookie mistake. Your reviews and feedback, be it positive or negative, are always my source of motivation and guide for improvement, so do keep them coming. Arigatou ne.
Author's Note 2: If you ask me whether it would be LenxKaho or AzumaxKaho ending, I honestly cannot answer now. This fanfic is about an intense love triangle, and not just any triangle, it is an isosceles triangle, i.e. you would see in later chapters that both male leads have almost the same amount of "screen time" with Kaho. I like both Len and Azuma equally, really, so I guess I will let character development takes its course and decides the Canon couple.
If by the end I still cannot decide, please don't throw tomatoes at me, I will write multiple endings for both, cool?.
Author's Note 3: I do make use of scenes from manga or anime occasionally, when I do, I will try to note them so you can go and read/watch for yourself, make reading more interesting that way
Chap 1:
Drifting through the afternoon languid air, a beautiful and melancholic violin sound filled the air. Kahoko perked up immediately, she would recognize that sound any where, " Tsukimori-kun's practicing...". As the elegant notes surrounded her, Kahoko's mind drifted to their first meeting, and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. That for sure was not a pleasant encounter, despite that, Kahoko could not help but being drawn to Len's beautiful sound, nor could she resisted being attracted to the creator the beautiful sound himself.
Beneath all that icy pretense lies a sensitive soul, so she had discovered during the concours.
"Len..." she whispered privately, his name music to her ears. Kahoko had more than once being labelled " dense as a block of wood" by her friends when it comes to romance. Yet, the attraction she habored towards Len was too glaring she could not deny it further. And if she might fancy herself, she could sense that Len felt somewhat the same way. If not, how could he gaze at her so tenderly when he thought she was not looking, or how, like now, just when she was thinking of him, as if they had been connected by a mysterious force, he opened the window where she was sitting under.
"Hino...that's you, isnt it?"
i" What are you doing there, why dont you come in". He paused, and smiled shyly as he added " I dont mind your presence while I'm practicing..."
Kahoko tried to hide her furious blush by pretending to move her finger along the window pane, bowing her head low. Len stilled her hand with his. Startled, Kahoko lifted her head, just to be greeted by a deep pair of amber eyes, eyes that seemsed so cold when they just met, now full of tender affection. " I could lose myself in his eyes" –Kahoko thought inwardly.
Len gazed at Kahoko adoringly, though none of them said a single word, Len had a feeling that Kahoko understood perfectly what his heart was whispering, as he did hers. Len preferred to let their relationship stay that way, as long as they were sure of the other's feelings, that was good enough for him.
However, Len was not oblivious to other guys' affection toward Kahoko, even if she was, and that unsettled him. Especially that perfect prince of their school, Yunoki-senpai. Though Yunoki-senpai always maintained a perfect facade and would not so much even let on a hint that he was interested in Kahoko, the fact that Kahoko seemed to fluster and could not behave like her normal self around Yunoki, was enough to convince Len that he could not judge a book by its cover, and that one way to chase this uneasiness away is to confess to her soon, making them the official couple.
Len gave Kahoko's small hand a little squeeze " Hino, I would say this only once, so listen close..." His voice betrayed a slightest trembling, yet his gaze on her remained steady " This Christmas Eve, 8.00 pm, at the Christmas tree in front of the City Hall, wait for me, I have something to tell you".
Kahoko tried to reply, but so swarmed with emotions was she, no word could come out. Instead, she held up her pinky finger " Alright, I would not go home until I get to hear what you have to say. iiYubikiri…if you tell a lie, you shall be made to swallow a balloon fish…Yubikitta (fingers hooked)"
"Huh..that stuff is for kids" – Len scowled
"Whatever Tsukimori-kun, we made a promise" – Kahoko stucked out her tongue at him.
Len chuckled and playfully butted his forehead against Kahoko's, they remained together that way as the gentle sun glow enveloped them both, lending them the radiance that could rival their bliss.
Len and Kahoko were walking side by side to return home together, suddenly as they passed by the school gate, a female voice called out to Len " Hi, Tsukimori-kun". Kahoko's eyes went wide as recognition dawned on her; the pretty, petite girl standing in front of them was none other than iiiMiyaji Yuuka, a talented violinist whose skills could rival that of Len's, Kahoko had a chance encounter with her during Len and Shimizu's training camp and managed to totally make a mess of herself in front of Yuuka in the process.
"Miyaji-san, what a surprise, what brought you here" – Len asked
"Tsukimori-kun, can you spare me a few minutes, I need to discuss with you regarding the scholar…"
"Hino" – Len abruptly called out before Yuuka could finish her sentence – " you can go ahead first, I need to discuss something with Miyaji-san privately"
Kahoko was stunned for a few awkward seconds, she wanted to ask more, but Len's grim set jaw line pretty much told her that was the end of the conversion. She bowed to excused herself and ran home, hoping like hell she would not do something so embarrassing then like shedding tears.
"Kahoko, you idiot" – she silently scolded herself –" what's there to feel sad about, don't you already know Tsukimori-kun's cold personality", yet, no matter how many times Len aloofness hurt her, as long as he showed sign of his affection, she would continue to come back later. Unbeknown to Len, the wide gap in their violin's skills really bothered Kahoko, there was this vague sense of inferior complex Kahoko had always tried hard to fight, but it was a rather an uphill battle and Len's unintentional blunt, cold words had not helped.
Watching Kahoko's lonely back, Len heaved a huge sigh, he knew he had inadvertently hurt her again, the fool that he was, and made a mental note to make up to her on Christmas Eve. He was just so scared that Kahoko would find out about…
iv"Right, Vienna scholarship, is that what you want to talk to me about, Miyaji-san?"
"Uhm…did I say something wrong?" Yuuka asked tentatively, she had a feeling she was intruding on something intimate earlier.
"No" – came Len's curt reply
"So, Tsukimori-kun, have you decided to accept the offer?"
" No, in fact, I will officially reject the offer tomorrow. I want to stay in Japan to further my music study, for now"
"But why?" Yuuka could not help but challenging Len out loud – " trust me Tsukimori-run, my grandfather is the sponsor of this scholarship, so I know first hand how competitive it is, you are among the favourite contenders to win, are you willing to throw that chance away just like that"
"I know, but I have made my decision" – Len said in an absolute tone.
"But you are aware that in the world of music, talent alone is not sufficient, you need to expand your network and connection" – Yuuka argued fervently. She was so sure that Len would accept the scholarship offer, and she would be lying if she said she had not, in her many dreams, seen herself right next to Len in Vienna, both of them set out to conquer to music world together, not as friends, but as a couple.
The first time Yuuka heard Len play violin was also the first time she fell in love. She was entranced, watching him perform in a music competition. His eyes were slightly closed, a faint scowl of concentration between his eyes brows only served to accentuate his austere handsomeness further.
And then, there was this wonderful sound he made. Yuuka knew for a fact that she was a highly accomplished violinist herself, as expected no less from the grand daughter of Miyaji-maestro, the most famous orchestra conductor in Japan. However, Len's skills was on another level, it was the fruit of hard labour combined with prodigious talent.
It pained her greatly to see him willing to throw all that away, and for what?. Her feminine instinct told her that had got to do with the red-haired girl walking side by side Len earlier. Len was not known to look at anyone with such tender affection after all.
Yuuka asked bitterly" It was because of the girl earlier, wasn't it". Len kept silent, neither admitting nor denying.
"You would come to regret it, Tsukimori-kun" – she said fiercely.
Len's eye brows twitched in obvious annoyance, he certainly did not appreciate being cornered by anyone.
"That's none of your business, isn't it" – came one of his infamous signature lines
"But…"
"Enough!" Len help up one hand to stop Yuuka, effectively ending all further conversation. He added, in a little kinder tone this time " Miyaji-san, I really appreciate your and your grand father's high regard of me. Maybe I would come to regret my decision later, like you said. But I know for a fact that if I decide to go now, I would regret it even more"
Before Yuuka could say anything else, Len already slightly bowed to say goodbye " I need to get going. See you later, Miyaji-san", leaving Yuuka seething in anger.
"Tsukimori-kun, I will not give up, just you wait" – after all, what Miyaji Yuuka wanted, Miyaji Yuuka would always get.
On the day of Christmas Eve
Kahoko took a last glance at herself in the mirror. A big-eyed pretty girl stared back at her, with a blush on her cheeks that had nothing to do with the light make-up she had put on earlier, but more because of a particular blue-haired tsundere.
"Aa mou…I just cannot calm down" – She muttered to herself, squeezing the small present in her hands to give herself more courage "I hope he would like this" – She smiled, then headed towards the door for their rendezvous.
"Hey Kaho-chan, put on something warmer, the weather forecast said it would snow heavily tonight" – Kahoko's mom called after her. However, Kahoko could not catch that, as she already had her mind fully occupied with her date.
Somewhere nearby, Len was running at full speed "Excuse me…kindly let me pass". He nearly bumped into one man in his haste. He must make sure he arrived on time, else he would be subjected to Kahoko's interrogation as to why he was late for sure, and that would lead to why he over-slept; which meant that he would have to confess he could not get a wink of sleep the night before because he was too anxious, or too happy, or both.
Never once in his life had he experienced the ups-and-downs of falling in love, all the while thinking he was above such useless sentiments, yet he was at its mercy now.
Suddenly a hand reached out to grab Len's arm "Tsukimori-kun, hold on"
Len turned around to face a petite, pretty short hair girl. True to her words, Miyaji Yuuka did not give up so easily.
"You still have enough time to change your mind about the scholarship, Tsukimori-kun"
"Miyaji-san, I believe I did give you a reply on that, but now is not a good time, I am in a rush"
"Tsukimori-kun, my grandfather is already running out of patience waiting, if you don't answer him today, the chance would go to someone else. He still considers you the best choice, but he cannot wait forever"
"Then he can go ahead to offer it to someone else. Didn't we go through this conversation before"
"Why, because of a mere girl? So the rumours I have heard about is true then?" – Miyaji Yuuka was clearly taken aback, her crackling voice could not hide an obvious tremor.
Len's brows twitched in annoyance "If you know anything about her at all, you would not refer to her as "mere". Now if you will excuse me, I really need to get going"
"Wait Tsukimori-kun.." – though Yuuka herself knew that what she was doing was shameless, and if her grand father could see her right now, he would probably be disappointed, the prideful Miyaji young lady had been reduced to clinging onto a guy who obviously only had eyes for another woman, but she could not help it.
Yuuka's sudden movement startled Len, he swung his arm as a reflex, dropping a small bag he had been carrying onto the street. Yuuka quickly apologized" Gomen, it was my fault, let me pick it up for you"
"There's no need to.." Len immediately refused. However, Yuuka already reached her arm out in order to retrieve the item. She squinted her eyes as a ray of bright light suddenly drawing too near.
"Miyaji-san…watch out!".
Yuuka heard Tsukimori's panicked voice in the split second before she was hit by a car coming at full force.
Amidst the curious and worried stares of bystanders, the ambulance quickly arrived. A young man was seen carrying the limp body of a young lady in his arms into the vehicle, her white sundress was horridly stained with scarlet blood.
The ambulance urgently charged forward, its wheels mercilessly ran over a small bag left lying on the street, crushing the gift box inside. What could had been a beautiful necklace now was just a shamble of broken crystals.
To be continued…
i This is a real scene from Len and Kaho's Anime special ending, you can find an eng-subbed clip from Youtube.
ii This is a scene from the manga, one of those chapters near the end, its quite cute.
iii For Kahoko and Miyaji's encounter in the manga, please refer to Len's training camp arc, somewhere from chap 47 to chap 50, only I'm not sure of her first name, so I assign "Yuuka" randomly.
iv Len's going to Vienna plot line is showned in both manga, starting chapter 53-ish I think, and the game.
