A/N: Helloooooooo. I have exams. Always. I shouldn't be writing lol, but today is Hibike Wednesday! I give myself a bit of leeway on these sacred days.

So here:

-SPOILER ALERT!--SPOILER ALERT!--SPOILER ALERT!-

for episode 5 of S2. I have warned you.

In other news, this will be the first of many random short one-shots (~1k words). I will, of course, still have my random long one shots and try to finish my multi-chaptered things.

I hope you enjoy it and please review if you would like to see more of these 'short' one-shots! Thank you!

"Hey, Reina…"

Mizore and Nozomi's relationship piqued Kumiko's interest. To know that the oboist could say such things so readily made Kumiko curious.

"Do you play for someone in particular or anything like that?"

Kumiko watched Reina's face for a reaction, but it was minimal.

"I've never thought about it really."

It was nothing but honest.

"If I had to choose, I would say for myself."

There was a hint of a lie in there and Kumiko could tell. Reina's deep violet eyes flickered with something...with something that told the euphonium player that maybe there was more to it.

Whether or not it was just her eyes playing tricks on her, Kumiko didn't mind. A giant smile spread across her lips. After all…

"Reina, that's so Reina of you to say!" Kumiko couldn't hide her emotions as she pounced on the shorter girl, throwing her arms around Reina's neck as she laughed. She was overjoyed. Reina wasn't like that. She lived for herself and liked to do things at her own pace.

Kumiko loved that about the trumpeter.

"W-What, are you teasing me?" Reina struggled with the sudden weight on her back, the wind knocked out of her as she supported the tall brunette with all her might. If Reina had to say, Kumiko was definitely heavier than her euphonium. She grinned at the mental comparison, a genuine smile edging onto her face as the brunette leaned back onto her feet. They stood quietly as Kumiko embraced the trumpeter from behind, letting her arms dangle from her shoulders as she toyed idly with Reina's ribbon. Reina could feel Kumiko's body warm against her back, the softness of her chest pressing up against her shoulder blades.

It made the usually stoic Reina blush, but it wasn't like the taller girl could see it from her angle.

However, as Kumiko nuzzled her cheek against Reina's, she did notice that the trumpeter was a bit warmer than usual.

Kumiko dropped her voice to a whisper, "I wasn't planning on it, but if you're going to get all embarrassed like that, l'd definitely be tempted."

Reina swallowed hard, her breathing getting erratic, her heart racing.

"Kumiko…you've been spending too much time with Asuka-senpai these days."

Kumiko laughed at that, squeezing Reina tighter.

"I wonder if that's what it is! Maybe you're just getting to know my bad side!"

Kumiko's laughter rumbled in her chest and Reina could feel the vibrations through her back. It was oddly comforting and somewhat…intimate. Reina's thoughts wandered.

It was different from holding hands or sharing a futon-well sharing was one way to put it. The euphonium player more or less invaded her futon during the training camp. Each time, she sheepishly apologized for her 'mistake', attributing it to bad sleep habits. Whatever the reason, Reina found it strange that she didn't mind waking up to Kumiko underneath her sheets, clutching her like a teddy bear. Sometimes, Kumiko would nuzzle her face against her like she did now, her arms snaked around her body, wandering and creeping under the hem of her shirt...

"I already said that that's what I like about you! Let's just…get going, okay?"

Without another word, Reina started walking, dragging Kumiko along as the brunette protested slightly.

Reina felt the heat rise to her face, painting her cheeks an indignant red. It was embarrassing to think about how she missed those early mornings with Kumiko at her side, tangled in her blankets and around her body, making her heart race like she was in love.

How absurd.

Embarrassment wasn't something the proud Kousaka Reina was familiar with.

However…it was embarrassingly effortless for Kumiko to elicit such a response.

She wondered when Kumiko started to have that effect on her. It was unnerving to say the least. Reina suddenly realized something, her thoughts going back to the question the brunette posed just minutes ago.

"Kumiko, I think I'll play for you."

Kumiko stared at Reina, blinking. She knew the trumpeter wasn't easily influenced by others, so she wondered about the sudden change of heart. She gripped her euphonium tightly, still thinking of a reply.

It was out of the blue, sudden, whimsical almost. However, it was so like Reina to decide that so nonchalantly.

She wondered if it had to do with Mizore and Nozomi, who were just meters away from them. As always, they were being nauseatingly sweet with their ridiculously obvious romantic overtones. Maybe Reina was mirroring that for some reason. It was a surreal day after all. The members of the Kitauji concert band were all huddled backstage, listening to one of the best schools in Osaka play. Myoujou was good, terrifyingly so.

If anyone said they weren't anxious, it would definitely be a lie. Was Reina anxious? Were her nerves what sparked something so sudden? It must have been. There was no other explanation for it, was there? However, Kumiko wondered if this was the case as she observed Reina. The girl seemed relaxed, holding her trumpet comfortably in her hands, a stark contrast to how Kumiko gripped her instrument with white knuckles.

Kumiko continued to stare until she furrowed her brows and reasoned away the sudden declaration. "Shouldn't you be playing for Taki-sensei instead?" Not like Kumiko wasn't flattered, but it seemed too good to be true.

Reina leaned in. She was whispering now.

"Are you sure?"

Kumiko melted at the sight of Reina's puppy dog eyes, the trumpeter being far too adorable and far too out of character.

"It'll end up a stuffy, overheated ballad." Reina cracked a grin.

Oh, so she was joking, was she?

"Ah…that would be a problem, wouldn't it?" Kumiko played along and her lips tugged up into a smile, her tension melting away.

"So I'm going to play for you, Kumiko." Reina had a similar expression on her face, an infectious grin on her slightly parted lips. "I think it's more fitting, after all."

"Oh, is that right? What kind of song would it be?" Kumiko was curious.

Reina leaned in, their brass instruments met with 'clink' as she pressed her forehead against Kumiko's. "It'd be an exciting and passionate love song of course."

Kumiko tried to stifle her laughter, wondering how Reina could have said that with a straight face. "Pfft! Reina, what's with that!"

"Just watch me. I'll make sure that none of the other solos even come close." Reina had a hard determination in her eyes as she said this, matching her confident smile.

Chuckling softly, Kumiko raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Reina's ear. "I'm looking forward to it."

"You'd better pay attention, Kumiko." Reina mirrored the euphonium player, bringing up her free hand as she ran her fingers through the tresses that framed Kumiko's face. "After all, I don't want you to miss my confession of love. We haven't had one in a while, have we?"

Kumiko felt her heart swell with joy at Reina's words. Reina was always on her mind, and no matter what, Kumiko's attention was always on the trumpeter. After all, Kumiko had already decided long ago that she would play for Reina's sake.