Remembering Yesterday

Kaho was thinking. Remembering. Their words. Their playing. And then that mysterious smile.

Unexpectedly, she feels herself blush. Why?

Because she wanted to know. What was he smiling about? Why did seeing it give her pause?

*

Kaho was by the walkway when she heard Tsuichura's voice coming close. She turned and saw her concours companions.

"Hey guys."

Hihara and Azuma were with him. "Hey. Right on time. Kanazawa wanted to know if you've some free time later. Something about a get together for something."

"Oh. Well. I haven't really got anything planned later."

"Right. Well, I guess that just leaves talking to Shimizu and Fuyuumi."

"Did Kanazawa say anything?"

"Hmm. Kana-yan wasn't really forthcoming. Was he, Yunoki?"

"Hmm. No, he wasn't."

"I wonder what…" Kaho trailed off and grew quiet. The boys notice this and turn to see Len coming.

Len saw them from before they turned to him. Seeing Kaho among them, he turns away. After having an emotional revelation pushed on oneself so suddenly and so quietly, he was at a loss. But he couldn't exactly ignore them.

Sighing, Len faced them and continued down the walkway.

Kaho felt somehow irritated by that sigh. "What was that for?" she asked as soon as he came within hearing and stood beside her. Len made a noncommittal sound. And then continued to leave.

Kaho couldn't help but hmph. "And after yesterday too."

Len heard her and falters for a few seconds. Shaking his head, he mutters walking away, "Maybe I shouldn't give it."

Kaho pouted at Len's retreating form. The guys weren't deaf so they'd heard her. "Kaho-chan, what did you mean?"

Oh. Feeling like she'd been caught doing something, she babbled and told them about the rain, a dictionary, a magazine…She was clearly not making any sense. The lost looks of her listeners confirmed it. Kaho stopped and gave a shrug. Better to keep it simple, she supposed. "We went shopping."

"Huh?" Remembering the gift she'd bought, she said, "Tsukimori-kun needed something and I accompanied him. And then I needed to buy something so he accompanied me. And…" She stopped again. Somehow, she wanted to keep their duet a secret. "That's about it." With her mind on their duet and that smile of his, Kaho gave an unconscious smile. "It was fun."

The guys are surprised (that Len accompanied her), annoyed (that it was Len who accompanied her) and disappointed (that it was Len and not them who accompanied her). And lastly, they felt jealous. Len the lucky bastard.

The bell rang and Kaho waved her goodbye to the music students. Tsuichura walked her to her class, lost in thought. Kaho didn't mind as she herself was thinking about what Len meant earlier. Give what?

Her question was answered later on after Len picked her up from her class to have their lessons. His casualness about it made Kaho not think about it looking like a boyfriend picking up his girl. Dense as she was, she was ignorant of the rumors their being together was stirring up. Although in all honesty, her friends helped her maintain that ignorance by saying nothing about it. Whether Kaho thought it or not, Tsukimori's presence influenced her. Just hearing their friend talk about her lessons and, in particular, her "teacher", she unconsciously lit up and talked animatedly.

In the practice room, Len handed her a paper bag. "Eh? Tsukimori-kun?"

"As thanks for yesterday," came his explanation. His back was to her so he missed seeing her surprised look. But he didn't miss her gasp of delight nor could he avoid hearing the delight in her enthusiastic thanks.

Kaho was smiling widely as Len finally turned to her and said, "You're welcome. Now bring out your violin."

It was just like him to get down to business. Giggling, Kaho did as she was told and put aside the magazine.

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a/n: nyaha. Just a scene that came to mind that ended up this long when I started typing and editing it. 64! I WANT YOU NOW. o why can't I read Chinese?! _