He found the whole concept odd.

Holidays aren't anything special.

To him, it was just another day of practice and maintenance for his beloved violin. After all, the colour and shine needed to be exactly right and the strings precisely tight enough for him to play as well as he did.

Tsukimori Len knew that much about them.

So when a certain red-head female comes by and wonders how he spends them, he tells her that he spends them the same way he does everyday – on his violin.

She issues him an invitation for a Christmas get-together at Shoko's holiday mansion.

The same mansion where I was allured to that Ave Maria, played so soulfully that it captivated every ounce of –

He shakes his head. There are better things to do than socialise with others.

After all, what he aims for is perfection. Perfection in his violin playing - so that no one can catch up to him. Everyone has to recognise Tsukimori Len as the star that he is, thus being worthy enough to carry the Tsukimori name.

But... at that one time, he nearly thought he understood what perfection is. Even though there wasn't an audience to hear it, it had felt different. He had played it by impulse – after those words that she had said – and for some reason, it felt like some huge pressure had been lifted off of him.

-- FLASHBACK –

Being locked in a cupboard in the contestants' room wasn't precisely what I had in mind, but as long as no one looked for me there wouldn't be any problems, right?

That was, until I heard her voice and made an accidental movement. She heard, and instantly came straight across, trying on the doors. The concern was clear in her voice why she couldn't get me out, but I had thought of everyone there – including her – as rivals. If there was one less rival to worry about, isn't that a good thing?

"Going back there to play after this has no meaning."

She takes a moment to consider, before slamming her hand on the cupboard door.

"No meaning, you say... I was looking forward to your performance... playing like that is enjoyable... I was always jealous of you! And yet... saying that your performance has no meaning... don't ever talk like that!"

I realised soon enough that she was telling the truth when she said that.

Meaning had never been a thing for me until then.

-- END FLASHBACK –

That one day... had paved the way for many like it. He slowly began to understand the meaning of every single day – every single day with her – and found himself irritated.

Why did I need someone else to come along to show me something like this? I could've taught it to myself...

But that's where he realises he's wrong. He hates himself for it – and for her, even more, to show him that he doesn't know enough.

So when she issues the invitation, he figures he can take it up, and wipe the smiles off all those other guys. Even though he has shaken his head, which she takes as a no, he walks fast and reaches his hand out to hold onto her slender arm.

She turns around, calling him by name, surprised. He keeps his face composed.

"I want to spend Christmas with you."

As she turns red and stammers, he lets go of her arm, and walks away.