Dispirited Sonata

SUMMARY: "With this series of calamitous events, it turned my life upside down, tossed and turned me, creating a whirling storm in me, and made me fall into ruins."

Of all the ordinary days, Hino Kahoko's life as a common General Education student turned into a life she didn't expected and didn't even bother considering. Living inside a very big and vast villa, wearing extravagant clothes and high heeled shoes, learning etiquette when eating at a five-star restaurant and what the hell? An engagement!

And where are the guys, anyway?

DISCLAIMER: I don't own La Corda D'oro and the characters.

Chapter 1-

Kaho's POV

"And so, the law of motion..." Sensei blabbered endlessly.

And so, I kept on daydreaming, unfortunately. It actually came into my mind that Physics is practically more important than my useless gestures such as staring blankly on the window, with the hot, bright sun shining. The fact that the quarterly exams is exactly two weeks from now, I expect that I will be failing once again, even with Kaji-kun's unending tutoring and kind support.

"Hino-san, do you mind?"

My mind suddenly drifted from daydream land to the classroom when Sensei faced me with a disappointing look, his book landed on my table noisily. "Uhm. I apologize, Sensei!" I shouted involuntarily, immediately standing up from my chair and bowing lowly.

"It couldn't be help. The concours ended recently, and I believe you still have some kind of—anyway. Someone asked for you. The director would like to talk to you immediately. Urgent matters." He said, taking his book from my table, which he recently slammed on the surface of half-empty table. I stepped away from my desk and slightly smiled towards Kaji-kun, though he's giving me a disturbed expression.

"Right away, sir." I replied.

"And by the way, Hino-san. If you plan on daydreaming during physics class, make sure you will have an A+ grade in my subject. If you like your grades hitting the floor, then daydream for I like."

Being slightly embarrassed, my face turned red and gradually covered my face with my hands as I walk out of the door. For an information, I have humiliated a lot of times, so it's like I am used to it already. But being selfishly humiliated in front of the class doesn't make me feel any better.

It's quite tiring to run towards Akihiko Kira's, the director, office under the blistering sunlight. It is far from the General Education Department. I mean, it's meaningless to say that these matters are very much urgent if I am walking leisurely. It could have been an emergency that I must know.

Arriving by the door of the director's office, I felt tired and sweaty. I once felt that I need to fix myself before entering his office since I really left an impression to him that I am a useless violinist who can't meet the expectations and the level of the concours I recently joined. Fixing the last strands of my hair, the door suddenly opened.

"I thought we have to wait the whole day for you." His secretary apparently said. I was a bit shocked to hear what she said, since she looks very kind. But then she gave me a quick smile. "Don't worry. It didn't came from me. It came from Director Kira."

I heaved a sigh, managing to run from the Gen. Ed Building and to fix myself is quite a relief. I didn't quite expect to see myself inside his large office, Director Kira sitting comfortably on his chair behind his table, with another red headed man sitting on the sofa beside a coffee table. "I thought we have to wait the whole day for you." He repeated sternly.

Embarrassed yet again, my first turned red and I bowed lowly. "I apologize, Director." I whispered tiredly and reluctantly. "We don't have all day. Sit." He instantly commanded with his cold voice. Pausing for a moment, I walked hurriedly towards the sofa across the red-headed man. His eyes are golden like mine, and to be honest, based on his appearance, I kind of look like him. Eerie coincidence? Or just a distant relative I am mandated to meet? He smiled at me, his smile very eager.

Director Kira returned to his seat behind the table and placed his hands on his chin, resting his arms on the wooden table. "This man. Perhaps, you haven't met him based on your clueless expression. This man is Hino Taiki." Director said.

With the surname Hino, he must be related to me. And I am rather shocked to see a family relative visiting me during class hours, and definitely in the Director's office. He eagerly smiled at me warmly when I looked at him, his smile actually compliments his business clothes, coat and tie. He stood up and extended his hand towards me, giving me a signal to shake hands with him, like a businessman meeting an associate.

And I did.

"Uhm. Nice to meet you, Hino Taiki-san." I said politely and timidly.

"About the issue you are to talk about, Director Kira. Please move on to it." He said with his deep voice, settling himself once again on the other sofa across me.

"I'll be telling it you directly. Your father has filed a lawsuit against your mother about your custody." Director announced directly, which made my idiocy react. I stood up from the sofa and reacted rudely towards Akihiko-san. "That's impossible." I argued rudely. "How can it be? I mean, my mom said that my father was dead even before I was born."

"Quite a story, Hino-san." Hino Taiki-san muttered, standing from the sofa, having the same reaction as I did, except the rudeness, of course. "How can your father be dead when I am supposedly your father?"

With that, I dropped to my knees, causing a loud thump to echo in the room. My mouth fell open and my trembling hand pointed to the man who revealed himself as my father. "Impossible." I trembled. "I believe my mother. You could be just a fake." I stared at his perfect face, his golden eyes staring back at me with awe. Needless to say, I felt like I am traveling in warped time and space and someone needs to slap me continuously to bring me back to reality.

Director sighed. "Hino-san, do you mind checking these documents and that you will believe your father?" He stood up from his comfy chair and handed me envelopes filled with organized papers. Before even taking a single look at the papers, I looked at Hino Taiki. He has this calmed and determined expression painted on his face, quietly walking to me and pulled me up from the floor into the sofa. He sat beside me.

I took a handful of documents in my hand, and to be exact, my efforts of proving he isn't went down the drainage since the first page revealed my birth certificate, indicating my mother's and father's name. The father's name is clearly spelled as Hino Taiki. I face him slowly, tears began to pool around my eyes. "Dad?" I whispered hoarsely extending my arms towards him, almost like throwing him a hug for the very first time.

He took me in his arms, my tears sliding along my cheeks.

"Since your father took you into custody, you're attendance in this school is pending. Whether or not your mother will win this case, there is still uncertainty about your stay in this school, Hino-san. But if the case is like that, you may still attend your daily classes." Director explained coldly.

Father distanced himself from me and looked at me in the eye. "You better return to your class." He said. "I'll explain everything later."

I wiped my tears away and took the initiative to leave. I bowed lowly towards Director and my father, Hino Taiki, and stepped out of the office.

His secretary managed to notice my swelling eyes as she stepped towards me. "Dear. I was informed about this since I am the secretary." She said. "And I thought about it, the part of you crying is inevitable." She offered me tissue paper and hugged me consolingly.

My relationship with everyone here is in jeopardy. My relationship with Mio and Nao, Amou-san and Kaji-kun, and with the concours participants, Fuyuumi-chan, Shimizu-kun, Tsukimori-kun, Yunoki-senpai and Hihara-senpai, Tsuchiura-kun, Ousaki-senpai and Kanazawa-sensei. And everyone else. It's like I am having this feeling that I will never ever see them again.

"Damn. Paper cut." I whispered hoarsely. Blood started to trickle down my index finer, deeply hurt by the paper cut from my music sheets when I am settling it on the music stand. Truthfully, paper cut are small but they are practically evil and it hurts. For a small cut like this to be this painful. This really made my day. Taking my violin from its red case, I slowly contemplated my position and chuckled painfully. "This might be one of the last days I will be playing this violin in this place." I trailed into a quiet whisper. To be honest, I really feel a sensation inside me, a sensation that's telling me that I will never ever return to this place ever again.

What does my father want from our family? What does he want from me?

I stroked the first note, and that damn paper cut definitely hurt. But just for the last time, I want to have a loving memory on this rooftop. The music of the notes awfully changed, and I presume the music was affected with the wound earlier.

"Did you change your violin?" A stern and cold voice asked. From this proximity, I could assume it is someone I particularly know. Tsukimori-kun. "No." I answered timidly, bringing my hands down. He walked towards me and took my arm, firmly imprisoning my wrists in his grasp. He seemed to have seen the paper cut earlier, as he sighed annoyingly.

"I told you to take care of your hands, idiot." He said, his voice hinted concern and worry, at the same time, disappointment and annoyance. "How many times do I have to remind you about it?"

"It's not as serious as you think, Tsukimori-kun." I answered back. "Besides, it's only a paper cut. It will heal fast, probably." He started to loosen his hands around my wrists and started to back a few steps behind. "Idiot." He mouthed. Tsukimori-kun fixed his poise then suddenly retrieved something from the pocket of his blazer, which appears to be an envelope.

"Here. Take it." He mumbled coldly, stretching his hand to me, handing me the white envelope. "What this?" I asked, clueless, as I take it from his hand.

"An invitation for another charity concert my mother will be having." He explained, turning his back towards me and started walking to the door. "I'll be playing a piece and I want you to see it."

"Oh. Right. Thanks. I'll surely come."

"It's two weeks from now, I don't expect you to be that busy."

"I'll surely come, Tsukimori-kun. Don't worry."

Then, Tsukimori-kun disappeared through the door with a clicking sound with a hint of crooked smile painted on his face. What a rare sight to see, coming from the coldest person I know.

The paper cut started to ache again, touching the surface of the envelope I held tightly in the grasp of my fingers. Tears pooled once again in my eyes, threatening to slide against my cheeks. I wonder if sooner or later, I would suddenly disappear from their sight, like thin air. If that time comes, I probably will lose my sanity and go bursting mad and crazy.

I walked slowly towards my classroom's door, the darkness started to descend on the hallways as the sunset draw nears it's setting. Yes, apparently, I lost track of time, played continuously the piece I was supposed to perform in a recital. Although, it was quite unusual for the lights in the classroom to be on around this time. I quickly took my pace and opened the slide door.

"Ah. Hino-san!"

"Kaji-kun?"

He walked towards me and took my arms. "Where have you been?" He asked desperately, his voice urged a tone of worry. I chuckled softly and slid his hands off my shoulders in the best, polite manner I can think of. "I'm sorry." I answered. "I didn't realize the time."

"That's glad to hear. I was so worried about you." Then slowly, Kaji-kun walked away from me, towards the chairs and tables, taking all my stuff and his own stuff. "I was so worried, I couldn't even go home myself." He added. I smiled curtly.

"I'm so sorry for making you worry." I apologized softly, taking my bag and a neatly organized folder of papers, which I presume are homework and assignments which Kaji-kun specially organized and fixed for me. He walked by my side, and he seem to study my face as we talk awkwardly.

"Hino-san." He broke the awkward silence.

"Hm?"

"Did you cry?" He asked straightforwardly. To be honest, Kaji-kun is quite and observant guy, even the slightest "wrongness" on a person, he can easily notice it with curiosity hinting on his voice. "You noticed it?" I answered with a question. Quite extraordinarily, he stopped walking, which made me, too, stop. "Hino-san, if there is any problem and I could be of help, needless to say, please, tell me." He proposed, or suggested would be more appropriate.

"I'm sure you're eager to know what's wrong with me, but it will come in a right time." I replied timidly. "It's something, I hope, you will understand."

He sighed. "I wish I could extend a hand to you."

"You always do." I answered, smiling at him wistfully. "You always pull me out of troubles, you always extend a hand for me. So it's like, I owe so much stuff to you, it's countless, infinite, whatever."

"I don't really mind. Especially, since it's you." Kaji-kun argued politely. "I will understand whatever problem you have." He held my shoulders lightly and faced me with determined face. Quite shocking, he frowned in front of me. "It's so hard to see the person who means so much to me feels problematic, pained and troubled." He mouthed.

His hands slowly slid off my shoulders and walked slowly. "Come on. It's getting late." He said.

The cold breeze passed me as I shivered in the cold. What really hurts is the fact that even the people whom I cared for is being affected. It feels so wrong, very wrong. Life is really unfair, that can make you mad and crazy, taking every important thing away from you in a blink of an eye.

First chapter is done. Actually, this story just came out of the blue. Anyway. :DD