First Impressions

by psychoanalyst

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that belongs to Yuki Kure, so don't sue me. But personally, I would like to sue the company for releasing such slow manga updates, I've waited two weeks, by dear heavens, please update already. As if the anime waiting period wasn't dreadful enough, you're making us, loyal fans of yours, sweat in angst of Tsukimori's departure, Tsuchiura's confession, Kaji's overblown affections, Hihara's pain, Kiriya's inaction, and Yunoki's indecision. I honestly beseech them, release some new chapters already.

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"Hino!"

The girl with dangling fiery red locks turned to the direction of the voice. She smiled, "Ohayo, Tsuchiura-kun."

The morning light showered on her, her sparkling orbs stared up at him with unhidden sincerity. Regardless of how many times he has braced himself for these moments of ogling at her beauty, he was powerless in the end. Hino Kahoko noticed Tsuchiura's lack of response and looked up to meet his long stare. Her cheeks colored, "Tsuchiura-kun?"

The sound of her voice brought him out of his enchantment. He fumbled over his words, "Uh, um-sorry, yeah. I spaced out."

"Oh that's fine," Hino's eyes squinted in bewilderment, "why did you call out my name?"

"The children's orphanage volunteer event, are you going?"

"Ahh!" Hino cried, immediately gathering her materials, "I'm supposed to meet with Amou-san thirty minutes ago. She's going to be so angry!"

She picked her bag but as it left the table, a flurry of notebooks, pencils, and erasers fell from her bag. She let out another yell of panic. She quickly gathered her stuff before Tsuchiura had a chance to help her. She bolted through the door as she was done, completely forgetting Tsuchiura's presence. He looked on in amusement. Her clumsiness always made her adorable. He smiled at the thought and followed her out.

Hino darted out and crossed the school's quad area. As she arranged the materials in her bag, she collided head-on into someone's chest, hard. Hino was hit with recoil and knocked out. She braced for the impact but she felt nothing. She opened her eyes, Tsukimori Len's sapphire orbs stared back at her. Bubbles welled up in the pit of her stomach. Tsukimori immediately released her, color filled both of their cheeks.

"Watch where you're going next time," Len reprimanded with an undertone of concern.

"Gomenasai, Tsukimori-kun. I was in rush," she bowed her head repeatedly in contrition.

"Where are you going?" he asked, feigning an indifferent glance.

"Oh, there's a volunteer event at the children's orphanage today." The clock chimed, signaling 4:00 P.M. "Ahh! I have to go, bye Tsukimori-kun!" she waved to him as she rushed off.

[I was going to suggest that we go together…since I'm also teaching the children music anyway.] he sighed with disappointment.

As Hino rushed out the entrance of the Seiso Academy, a sleek black BMW rolled up in front of her. The passenger window glided downwards, Yunoki Azuma's face greeted her view.

"Yunoki-senpai!" she announced with a rush of panic, surprised by his presence.

"Hino-san," Yunoki said with a cheerful calm, "Why are you rushing so?"

"Uhm," Hino began hesitantly, she scratched the side of her head in a distracted manner, "I'm somewhat late to children's orphanage event I promised to volunteer with Amou-san."

"What a coincidence," Yunoki smiled, "I'm also en route to the same destination, perhaps, would you like a ride?"

Hino half-smiled uneasily, apprehensive of his intentions. "I sh-shouldn't bother you, Yunoki-senpai. I'll walk, actually, I'll run. Ja ne!"

As she tried to run off, his hand yanked her inside his vehicle. A few seconds after she was forcibly held prisoner inside Azuma Yunoki's car, he leaned closer to her eyes, softly whispering, "I wouldn't be a gentleman if I allowed a frail object like you walking by herself, would I?" His breathing trickled down the side of her neck, she flinched nervously. Her cheeks visibly reddened at his close proximity. Her reactions amused Yunoki, he let out a satisfied chuckle. He scooted away a considerable distance from her, finished with his task.

Hino released his sigh of relief at his distance, but the air of discomfort did not disappear. She would often glance his way and he would return it with a slight vindictive and flirtatious expression. After a grueling six minutes, they've finally arrived. [Finally!] Hino bolted out the car door as soon as she thanked Yunoki for the ride.

She drank in the sweet un-Yunoki air as she walked in a dazed manner towards the orphanage. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the fresh breeze that tickled her cheeks. Once again, she collided into a hard object. It grasped her shoulders in a muscular hold, steadying her. Hino opened her eyes and stared into Hihara Kazuki's golden orbs.

His hold remained locked her sides, as if unwilling to let her go. She was suddenly reminded of the incident of the first time the concours participants attended camp. His intense stare made her uncomfortable, Hino looked sideways, and Hihara's senses came back. His hands released her, "Uhm, gomen, Kaho-chan! I forgot I was still holding you." Realizing his use of words, he rephrased clumsily, "I mean, that is—I didn't mean to hold-hold you, just steady you so you wouldn't fall. I mean-uh, only to prevent you from falling! Gomen!"

He muttered another incoherent apology and dashed off, his face an undeniable redder shade of crimson than Hino's.

Hino winced, she laid her hand upon her chest, calming her palpitating heart. [My heart is too weak for this type of interaction, already it's beat this fast four times in one day.]

As she approached the gates of the orphanage, she saw Kaji Aoi's lean figure. He was handsomely resting on the gates, carrying his viola case in one hand and checking his watch in the other. His blonde hair shone under the evening sun. He looked up, his emerald gaze intensified tenfold, his face beautiful.

Kaji repeatedly checked the face of his watch, his anxiety increasing by the seconds. [She should be here by now. Did something happen to her?] His expression was a mix of worry and impatience. He glanced at his watch again, 4:10 P.M. Forty minutes after her supposedly appointed time with Amou-san. [Where could she be—…] His thought ended halfway as he spotted her figure on the orphange's pathway. He rushed over to her.

"Hino-san!" Kaji shouted, he jogged over to her, his tall stature loomed over her small shadow. "I was worried you might not come." His faced was lined with concern.

"Gomen, for making you worry." Once again, she scratched the side of her head. Kaji found this gesture adorable, he grinned. "I was doing some music theory and almost forgot about the volunteer. Tsuchiura-kun reminded me."

[Tsuchiura-kun was with Hino?] Kaji's eyes unnoticeably darkened. "Well since you're here, let's go inside."

"Kaji-kun, were you waiting me?" Hino queried.

"I arrived early but Amou-san said that you were late so I offered to wait for you. When you didn't come, I was concerned."

She hid her grimace; she was touched but also astonished by his apparent affections for her. "Thank you for waiting for me, Kaji-kun."

"I will wait forever for you, Hino-san." With that, Hino rushed in before he was able to take her hand and Kaji darted after her.

Five pair of eyes witnessed the entire altercation. One lilac-haired gentleman sent daggers at Kaji's fading back. A cerulean-haired student glanced at Kaji with annoyance. A jade-haircolored athlete clenched his fists while the other olive-haircolored musician stared sadly at his rival. One burgundy-haired shadow, hidden among the tresses of wisteria, smirked with vindication.

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There will be about six chapters so chill people. It's not end yet. [ smirks evilly ]