Disclaimer:I do not own La Corda d'Oro or any of its characters.

Chapter One

The school was almost deserted at six in the evening. From the window, it could be seen that the sun was at its last minute, leaving behind traces of hazy orange lines on the darkening sky. Hino sat on the piano stool with the violin and bow on her lap while Tsukimori stood in the middle of the room.

"Wow! Tsukimori-kun is really going to perform solo in the school festival's night concert?" Hino looked at the person across the room with such amazement in her eyes.

"Yes."

"And," she pushed the question to him asking for more details, "It was a request from the director?"

"It's just," he looked down on the floor uninterestedly, "because I placed first in the concours."

"But still... if only I'm as good as you are." She patted her head in the back. A streak of sadness crossed her face.

Sensing this, the usually cold Tsukimori gently said, "Is it because you lost in that concours?" He was referring to the contest she joined to convince Saotome-sensei to teach her.

"I – I was just thinking that if I won the competition then even if you leave, someone would still be here to guide me."

Len slowly went towards the practice room window. From the glass, he could see her flustered reflection. "You would still play it, right?" he said in his unusual small voice. "The violin. Even after I leave"

"O-of course!"

"Then promise me you'll get better."

"P-promise? Well, it's kinda hard to keep without your help but I'll try."

"Then let's continue the practice. Get better Hino then maybe one day we'll get to make good music together." Tsukimori said the first with strict authority and the last almost inaudible as if just a whisper to himself.
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"Ja, Nao, Mio." Hino energetically waved goodbye to her friends as another day of classes ended.

"Ja, Kaho-chan. Don't stress yourself in the practice too much," Takato said.

"Kaji-kun, take care of Hino. Walk her home if you like. You have my permission." Kobayashi said the words in a teasing tone as she was running through the door.

"Eh!" Hino bellowed in embarrassment. Her cheeks glowed red and her eyes wandered away from the guy in question. "It's not your permission to give!"

"So can I have your permission then?" Kaji walked to her side and flashed a smile. "Can I walk you home after practice?"

"Tch, come on we'll be late." Tsuchiura suddenly appeared behind them, a bit jealous with what he heard. "Ugh, why do I have to be on this? The soccer championships are on Saturday," the green-head continued in lower voice.

"So-sorry Tsuchiura-kun, it's my fault." Hino bowed to him apologetically.

"Eh, it's not your fault. I am the one who volunteered to accompany you in the first selections." Tsuchiura felt guilty on his statement earlier. He wished he could take those back as fast as it slipped his mouth.

The practice for the night concert was held at the Orchestra club's room because the concours participants would perform with them. Kaji had volunteered to join them since Ousaki-senpai was not available to play the viola. He thought of it as extra time with Hino so he did not mind. After the rehearsal for the concours participants' number with the oke, Fuyuumi and Shimizu went home immediately. Yunoki left for an important student council meeting. Hihara was still practicing since the oke had more numbers.

"They are all great. I wish I could get better just as I promised Tsukimori-kun, but will I fulfill it when there is no one to teach me after he's gone?" Hino's thoughts wandered as she listened to the oke's music.

"Oi Hino, oi!" Tsuchiura shook Hino lightly, "You're spacing out."

"Heh, I'm sorry I was just… is there something you said?" Hino looked startled.

"Well," he combed his hair with his hand, "I was just asking you if you already want to go home. You look worried. Is there something bothering you?"

"Ahaha, no it's nothing. I was just amused by the oke's music." She tried to laugh off but Tsuchiura was not convinced. He knew something was bugging her and he knew it had something to do with Tsukimori's departure. She had been looking like that a lot since Len told her about his plans to Europe.

"You know you can always tell me that. One gen ed student to another, remember?"

That night Tsuchiura had made up his mind. "Tomorrow," he spoke to himself with determination.
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Thursday morning was a lot more stressful for Hino. Last night was a mess.

Hino remembered in her head that after avoiding more questions from Tsuchiura from the previous night, Hihara came excitedly to where the two gen ed students were.

"Ah, I'm exhausted. It's a bit late now" the music student said rather energetically while flashing a look on his digital wristwatch which says it was already seven thirty-four in the evening. "Neh, Kaho-chan, can I walk you home tonight?"

"But she already agreed to walk home with me," Kaji argued while closing the viola case he borrowed.

"It's not true. Hino didn't say yes to you," Tsuchiura butted in.

"Yes she did. I even got permission from her friends."

"Nope, I hadn't heard it," answered the soccer player, "I'm going to walk her home since my home is nearest to hers."

"Wait! I asked her first. Right Kaho-chan?" Hihara asked her with puppy eyes while stomping on the floor.

"No, I asked her earlier," defended the blonde.

"That one doesn't count since I didn't hear it." The senpai was acting very childish, going as far as sticking his tongue out.

Tsuchiura, getting annoyed by all the bickering, grabbed Hino's left wrist to try to get her out of the room but Kaji was alert so he grabbed the other wrist of the confused girl. The two tried to pull her in different directions as if fighting the game of tug of war. The child-like senpai planned to pull Hino from behind. He was about to put his arms around her when a camera flashed. All three guys let go suddenly.

"Aw, too bad I forgot to put the film in," regretted the nosy journalist, "maybe I should save up for a digital one."

"Amou-san, you're still here," Hino, snapping out of confusion, wondered.

"Oh, the student council and the journalism club agreed to have a meeting for the up coming festivals. Just one week left, you know!"

In the end, all three guys got to walk Hino home. However, everything was not as silent as it would have been. When they passed by an arcade, Hihara and Kaji agreed to have a match on a basketball shooting game. The winner would have the privilege to walk Hino home the following day. This, of course, was unknown to the redhead. Hihara won by merely one point. Tsuchiura did not join their game, perhaps thinking that joining would make him look desperate. Besides, he did not want to be more obvious in front of Hino. They also stopped by a sweets shop where the three guys bought her a cake slice each. They insisted that Hino ate everything and so she was so full she skipped dinner that night.

"Thinking about it still makes me feel so full," she whispered as she was running by the fairy's statue, late yet again for classes. She was so tired of their little adventure last night that she woke up late this morning.
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Meanwhile, at one of the practice rooms…

"Damn it! Are you really that selfish? Do you think spending time with her before you leave is enough?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me. I know you know what I'm talking about!"

"It's none of your business."

"If it's her business, it's mine too!"

"Are you really that hopeless? Trying to be a knight, creeping other people up behind her back?"

Before another word was to be uttered, a fist was put up in the air directed at the guy who spoke last.