A/N: This series is going to be a series of one shots, related to the canon story of Nodame Cantabile. Not all chapters will be 'in order', there will be skips in time from anything from Pre-Cantabile to After Opera-Hen. I will say what time frame manga wise each chapter takes place, just in case. I will also put a maturity warning for each chapter that involves sexual matters, just in case you dislike it. Some of these chapters will be extremely short, and others will be long, so don't think this is the 'average'. I try my best to check my stories before I post them but I DO make mistakes and this is the first story I've written in years, so please be patient. Feel free to message me at any time!
Disclaimer: I don't own Nodame Cantabile nor anything mentioned in this series related to any other manga.
Point in Time: Pre-Canon
Chapter One: Before they can meet
"So wait, Nodame you seriously dumped Kei just like that?" Tomoyo Ichiya asked her long time friend, disbelief heavy in her voice.
Her closest friend had been dating Kei since sophomore year, and the two had never seemed to have problems before. The last time they had all met, the two seemed just as they always were, as happy and crazy as normal. It just didn't add up, especially since Nodame seemed…well, fine. It was Nodame, she wasn't exactly known for her subtlety.
"Yeah, to be honest I don't understand it either. He's a really nice guy," Sakura Tachibana added in, throwing her bag over her shoulder as the trio continued to walk down the streets of Tokyo.
The three of them had joined some of their fellow seniors on a journey to scout out colleges during winter break. Soon they'd all have to split up, even the three of them. Together as they had been all their lives, they'd have to move on. After all they had all chosen separate schools, Sakura to a beauty school, Tomoyo was going to help with her family's bakery, and Nodame was going to a music academy. Out of all of them, Nodame was the only one who'd actually be in Tokyo(if everything worked out alright).
"Nodame didn't love Kei, and Kei didn't love Nodame." Nodame explained in her usual way, as if commenting on the weather. She twirled a finger around her hair, and noted that it was getting quite long. Soon it would be hard for her to play piano without it getting in her way; she'd have to cut it before she left for college.
"You guys were together for almost three years, what do you mean you 'didn't love each other'?" Tomoyo exclaimed, and Nodame made an unintelligible noise, obviously becoming irritated by the conversation. When Nodame was done talking about something, she was done. Returning to the same thing would just bring out a tantrum, but Tomoyo couldn't help it. This situation truly didn't make sense to her.
"Why does that matter?" Nodame breathed out, before continuing, "Kei and I knew it wasn't working. Besides, I stopped loving him a while ago, I've decided that next time I'll wait for my true love." There wasn't an ounce of doubt in her voice, as a matter of fact she seemed quite proud of the idea! Tomoyo and Sakura shared an exasperated glance knowing that what Nodame wanted wasn't quite that easy.
"It sounds like you're going to end up an old maid with that attitude, Nodame." Sakura commented, holding no ire but plenty of concern for the friend she knew was actually quite a romantic despite her strangeness. Nodame ending up alone just didn't sit right with her. Sakura swung her arm over Nodame's shoulder and gave her a smile.
"How about you fish around a bit first, that's the best way to find your true love, y'know." Sakura tried to convince her, but Nodame looked less than impressed.
"I don't want to fish around," she returned, the words sounding foreign in her mouth. "Nodame would rather play piano and watch Puri Gorota, her true love will find her, she knows it." She slipped into third person as she was prone to do once more.
"But Nodame-" Tomoyo cut in, but was immediately shot down by Nodame.
"I don't want to waste my time on someone I don't love!" the two girls realized that they had just unleashed the monster, along with the rare 'serious' side of Noda Megumi. Nodame was about to continue on her tirade, obviously upset at this point, when someone in their senior group called out to them from ahead.
"I found Karaoke guys! Let's have some fun!"
Nodame's eyes lit up, instantly dropping the heavy conversation. She had been hoping for Karaoke since they came to Tokyo, and only because of one thing. Nodame grabbed Tomoyo's arm and ran ahead, screaming out to the group ahead of her intentions.
"I'm going to sing Puri Gorota! Mukya!" Her excitement got ahead of her as she dragged Tomoyo across the street with her, completely unaware that she was about to run over the man in front of her. Tomoyo was too busy trying to break free and keep up with Nodame's insane pace that she didn't see it coming either. By the time she looked up from her trapped arm, it was too late. Nodame had gotten by okay, but Tomoyo would have no time to stop herself. She bumped into the man with such a force it sent them both crashing to the concrete, Nodame having let her go the minute she realized Tomoyo was no longer keeping up. The contents of the man's bag went flying everything, and Tomoyo realized with a start they were music sheets.
"Are you okay?" Sakura asked the man, having run over the moment she saw that Nodame, as per usual had caused trouble. The man brushed himself off and took the hand Sakura offered as Tomoyo gathered his fallen things. It was only when he was standing that Sakura could reach the conclusion that this man was extremely attractive, causing her to be momentarily star struck.
"Sorry about that," Tomoyo apologized, "My friend was a little excited about Karaoke and didn't pay attention to where she was taking me." She bowed low, and the woman standing next to the man let out a laugh, having seen the entire thing. She debated on being a silent observer but the look on her boyfriend's face was too good to pass up.
"Shinichi, play nice. It was obviously an accident." She tried to assuage his anger, but was laughing in between her words which only seemed to irritate him further. Tomoyo and Sakura finally got a chance to look at the woman who had been there the entire time, just to realize that she was just as beautiful as the man she was with.
"It's not like I was mad," he almost mumbled, before accepting the girl's apologies. "Don't worry about it, obviously the urge to sing was just…too much," he cracked a small smile, and the two girls had to stop themselves from swooning. This man was too hot for words.
"Anyways," the woman interjected, wrapping her arm around his, "Etoh-sensei is waiting on you, we need to get going." The four of them said their brief goodbyes and the beautiful young couple walked away. Just as they had gotten out of Sakura's vision, Nodame came crashing out of the Karaoke doors.
"Tomoyo-chan, Sakura-chan, come on! Let's go! Puri Gorota!" her voice was a mixture of a whine and anticipation, something only Nodame could pull off. The girl's laughed as her lips pouted, knowing by this point what her habits were.
As they followed their friend inside, Sakura glanced at Tomoyo and struck up a conversation.
"Do you think she even realized how hot the man she ran into was?" she asked, and Tomoyo rolled her eyes.
"Of course not, it's Nodame. " She didn't need to explain any further than that, both knowing exactly how Nodame's nature was.
They didn't bother informing Nodame of the man she had side swept, or bothered asking if she cared. Considering that none of them would be meeting him again, anyways, it seemed sort of pointless. Just another attractive stranger in the crowd of Tokyo, here today and gone tomorrow.
If only they knew how wrong they were.
A/N: And that's the end of the first chapter. it's always confused me that people would think that Nodame was completely devoid of men before she met chiaki. Although she is a bit strange at times, she doesn't seem very 'inexperienced' in the manga, even when he kisses her or when it goes farther. Regardless, she's a woman who knows what she wants, and I respect that.