Fantasie Impromtu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66. Chopin. It was something extrodinary, something out of this world, something that sung of a new essence. Hino Kahoko stared blankly at the scene in front of her. Fingers danced across the keyboard; body swaying to the melody. Tsuchiura was clearly in his element.
It was startling that what Hino felt was pure emotion.
She remembered back to what started it all - a fata named Lily. She was entrusted the magic violin, forced to join the concurs with zero music experience. She found herself competing none the less... then her violin string snapped on stage. Clearly, it was overflowing with her emotions that day, and the violin could not take it.
But Tsuchiura's expression of emotions were in a different category.
Hers had been raw, sharp and cutting. His was calm, content and she found herself getting lost into it. She thought of Yunoki-senpai, one with an angelic demeanor yet a devil in disguise, she thought of Hihara-senpai who taught her the happiness of music, she thought of Fuyumi-chan that created sweet muisc, she thought of Shimizu-kun that showed her how music was his life. She thought back to Tsuchiura-kun and his ultimate passion for piano.
But no one had passion like Tsukimori-kun.
It was pretty amazing how he dedicated his entire life to his violin. In a way, she guessed that dedication did pay off - he was definitely the most talented violinist of the school. But what was paid off was his cold indifferent attitude.
Throughout the concurs, she knew he had changed. He giving less monosyllabic answers, he was expressing more emotion in his usually poker face, and did the world just end but he did allow himself to smile, albeit rarely. She knew did down inside he already had these feelings, just that somehow it was slowly brought up to surface.
"Hino-chan! Hino-chan, are you alright?" Tsuchiura shook her slightly.
Snapping out of her daydream, she smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I got lost into your music."
"But my piece was done five minutes ago and I was just talking to you while marking my scores when I realised you weren't responding..." Like she wasn't now. Tsuchiura fell silent as he picked up a tune from the background. A violin's tune.
Sault D'amour. Elgar.
Tsuchiura knew. He knew. He wasn't stupid; granted he was a footballer, a jock, but that didn't mean he was as dense as the girl in front of him. He wondered why he chose to continue liking her when it was so obvious to everyone but her and the person himself.
Hino liked the ice cube, aka Tsukimori Len.
He knew how his music affected her - his muisc affected everyone but Hino especially. He had seen several times the way his music impacted the girl, and this was probably the nth time. He fumbled for his handkerchief when he noticed that she was ready to cry any moment.
Polonaise Brillante No.1 Op4, Wieniawski.
However, with the new song the violinist had started, he realised he wasn't really needed after all. Hino had already perked up, tapping her fingers along to the familar tune.
Sighing, he turned back to his scores. Sometimes, he wondered if the sole reason Hino accompanied him to practice was to listen to Tsukimori Len's violin.