Len and Kaho were holding hands in the park where Kahoko went to practice occasionally. As he was about to lean in and kiss her he murmured "Happy Birthday, Kahoko."

"Len…" she replied, leaning in to receive the kiss.

"Len…" mumbled a sleeping Kahoko.

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* "Aaaah!" Kahoko yelled, flailing out of bed and trying desperately to stay on. What kind of dream was that?! I mean, I called him Len! Not Tsukimori-Kun, or even, Len-Kun! Just Len! "….Oh, right! Today's my birthday! How could I forget that?" sighed Kahoko, forgetting all about the dream.

"Ohayo, Oka-san!" Kaho greeted entering the kitchen where her mother was making breakfast.

"Ohayo Kaho! Happy Birthday, honey!" Her mother replied while placing a plate of Omuraisu in front of Kaho as she sat at the table.

"Aw! Mom, you made my favorite! Thanks!" Kaho said, genuinely surprised and delighted as she began eating. Her mother just smiled. "Oh, eat fast, or you'll be late!" she added tapping Kaho on the shoulder.

" No… Worries…!" Kaho mumbled between bites. She was already three fourths of the way done, and was eating like there was no tomorrow. She pushed her chair back and hastily dumped her dish in the sink. "Bye Mom!" Kahoko yelled back before she grabbed her school bag and ran out the door and fumbled with the front gate's lock. "See you after school!" She yelled back as she locked the gate behind her and ran down the street towards Seiso Acadamey.

"Hey, Kaho-chan!" Nao yelled to Kaho from across the street.

"Oi, Nao, calm down!" Mio gasped, running to catch up to Nao.

"Ha ha! Sorry Mio-chan." Nao laughed, and the two finally caught up to Kahoko.

"Ohayo, Mio, Nao!" Kaho exclaimed as she saw her two friends slow from a sprint to a jog, and finally a walk as they came up along side of her.

"Happy birthday Kaho-chan!" Nao exclaimed happily, and began to jump up and down as soon as she recovered from running, holding a little wrapped box in her hands.

"Nao! You're going to break it." Mio scolded, swiping the box from Nao and handing it to Kahoko, "Happy birthday Kaho." She added, smiling warmly.

"Thanks Mio, Nao!" Kaho gasped, surprised they had remembered her birthday, since she hadn't mentioned it recently. I wonder what it is… She giggled as she unwrapped it.

"Arigatou, Mio, Nao!" Kaho repeated as she hugged both of them. Under the wrapping paper was a little cerulean heart shaped music box.

"Play it Kaho-chan." Nao encouraged.

"We think you'll like it." Mio added. Kaho quickly turned the peg so that the music would play. Out came a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria, delicately floating through the air.

"Kaho-chan?! What's wrong? You're crying!" Nao exclaimed while a worried Mio looked on.

I'm crying? Kaho thought while putting a hand to her face. Why, yes I am… "Dajoobu. Its… It's just allergies." She smiled weakly at the pair of worried friends.

"Are you sure Kaho?" Mio asked, not believing her friend.

"Hai! I'm fine." Kahoko replied while wiping away the tears. "It just… reminded me of someone." She added to her prior statement.

Mio and Nao looked at each other. They knew the real reason… Fuyuumi-chan had told them about the Ave Maria duet between Kaho-senpai and Tsukimori-senpai that had so much feeling. And, that most likely reminded Kaho that Tsukimori-kun was leaving to study abroad. Soon. Very soon.

"What are you two thinking about over there?" Kaho teased as she noticed the pair spacing out.

"Ano… Nothng!" They answered simultaneously. Kaho sighed and looked up.

"Ah! Hihara-Senpai?!" Kahoko exclaimed as the threesome saw Kazuki jog towards them with one hand behind his back, the other waving ecstatically.

"Kaho-chan!!" Kazuki yelled to Kahoko.

"Hihara-senpai, did you need something?" Kaho inquired, trying to look around him and peek at what he was holding behind his back, but to no avail.

"Happy birthday, Kaho-chan!" Kazuki said as he handed her a bouquet of flowers that he handpicked.

Kahoko gasped. "They're beautiful, Hihara-senpai! Arigatou." Kahoko thanked him, with a slight blush beginning to tinge her cheeks and a smile dancing upon her lips. Nao and Mio just giggled.

"Of course, Kaho-chan." Kazuki replied happily, glad he was able to make Kaho blush and smile like that.

What's that sound? Kaho wondered as she heard a violin pierce the air. Ah, It's Tsukimori-kun… He's playing Canon. She closed her eyes and swayed to the music slowly, letting it dance in and out of her ears and flow like water around her.

"Kaho-chan?!" Kazuki brought Kahoko back to reality as he shook her shoulders.

"Hm?" Kaho replied dreamily.

"You're spacing out… and, now you're crying!" Kazuki exclaimed.

"Oh, did you hear it? Tsukimori-Kun…" Kaho replied, and violent sobs began to shake her.

Kazuki wore a hurt expression and backed away slowly. "I'll see you later Kaho-chan. Happy birthday." He started out walking, but she saw him break out into a run, wanting so badly to get away from her.