Azuma,

I know you've only been gone a few weeks, but I hope you're enjoying yourself. It's been boring here without you. I've been playing a lot of compositions that remind me of all the fun we had during the competition. Lately I can't seem to put down my trumpet. I wish I could play for everyone, but I feel like these compositions are too precious for me to share with just anyone right now. Are you settled in? How's the school? Have you made any friends? What is it like over there?

Will you be coming back over the summer and holidays?

Sincerely,
Kazuki

Azuma quickly turned the paper over and placed it down on the pristine marble surface of his new coffee table. He took note of his shaking hands as he lifted a cup of tea to his lips, but couldn't imagine the cause for the tremors. The letter seemed normal enough to him.

Didn't it?

He placed the cup back down onto its saucer. It resonated with a mild clang and he winced uncomfortably at the sound. The apartment felt so empty. Azuma didn't need to lift his head to know that the apartment simply was empty. He hadn't bothered unpacking a single box. The furniture was arranged as it had been when he arrived. Delicate paintings lined the walls, but nothing hung from them. This way, he thought, it didn't have to feel so permanent.

Could this actually be permanent?

He turned the paper over to read its contents again. The sheet had smudges all over, as if a worn eraser had been taken to the page and wiped over it in various spots. Some of the words were blotched and clearly written over previous content. A sigh escaped his parted lips as his thoughts drifted to the possibilities of the previous content. He wasn't quite sure what he was expecting. Well, the letter had certainly been expected. The supposed content of said letter to come had remained a mystery in Azuma's waking dreams until now. He knew something was coming, but hadn't known what.

Kazuki sounded like his pleasant, cheerful self. But was there something else there?

There was always that possibility. The possibility that Kazuki had hit it off with Kahoko after Azuma had left. He realized this. He was almost certain that Kazuki would opt this information out, as well. These types of secrets were kept before, so why not now?

When did it become difficult to be honest with each other?

Azuma shook his head and turned the letter over once more. He would write back eventually. Something vague, something warm. Something Kazuki would expect from his friend. When he could bring himself to write a letter filled with his own secrets, he would.

Dear Azuma,

Kazuki quickly scribbled out the word "Dear" until it looked as though it were just a stain on the paper. He rubbed his forehead, brushing back his bangs until they were let loose again, falling into place as his hand drifted down toward the letter in progress.

I know you've only been gone a few weeks, but I miss you more than you'd think.

Letting out a soft hiss through gritted teeth, Kazuki went to work to erase his feelings – mistakes, he considered them – once again. He shook his head all the while, a frown permanently set onto his otherwise flawless features. Once the pink pearl eraser had done its job, he quickly corrected himself.

It's been lonelyhere without you.

He dropped his pencil to the table. This was not working out at all the way he had planned it. With an exasperated sigh, he lifted the pencil back into his grasp and worked to alter his letter once again.

I've been playing a lot of compositions that remind me of how much I enjoyed our time spent together.

The mistakes were conscious ones at this point, but he couldn't stop himself. It was as if writing out this real letter relieved the tightness in his chest. The only problem was erasing it; that just brought it all back. Kazuki pursed his quavering lips and wrote on.

Lately I can't seem to put down my trumpet. I wish I could play for you,

He bit down on his tongue, as if to stop himself from shouting out loud. "This won't even make sense..." He mumbled softly to himself as he made the necessary corrections and wrote on.

but I feel like these compositions are too precious for me to share with just anyone right now. Are you settled in? How's the school? Have you met anyone special?

This time he bit down on his lip, chewing on it as if he were chewing on his own words. This question seemed too obvious to him. Maybe it wasn't as obvious as he thought. But it seemed to be. He quickly altered the question and added in another to cover it up.

What is it like over there?


Truly yours,
Kazuki

The young musician sat back into his cozy armchair, his eyes boring into the sheet of paper. He knew the conclusion was just a play on a traditional 'yours truly', but it seemed so fitting to him. Too fitting. Something he obviously couldn't leave in. He held his breath as he took his eraser to the page one final time and corrected himself. He read it over, his frown defined even further as he noted all the smudge marks. He hoped Azuma wouldn't care.

"But what does it matter if he's never coming back..?" Kazuki asked himself in an almost timid tone. He tried to smile, but the expression wouldn't come to him. Mulling this over, he quickly added in:

Will you be coming back over the summer and holidays?

He bit at his lip as he folded the paper into three even parts and slid it into an envelope.

Notes: This story is going to be one out of one hundred, hopefully. I may not post them all on because it's such a pain to get them posted. If I see people are actually reading them here, then maybe I will. If not, I'll just confine them to my journal.

Disclaimer: Oh God. Can I own them? ...No? .. Bah. Alright. I don't.