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PROLOGUE //The fire ravaged. Flames engulfed the Hino home.
"Oh my god! Mom!" cried Kahoko as she watched her mom being carried away on a stretcher.
"Stay back, miss, you might get hurt." Shouted a firefighter.
"While the causes are unknown, a house has caught fire. There are no casualties, while one woman is being sent to the emergency room for treatment of burns." Began the reporter.
"Oh my," said Hamai Misa, staring at her TV screen. "That's just horrible."
"Yes, quite. I hope no one was hurt." Replied her husband.
"Len, isn't that your classmate from the concours? You know, the one on the violin?" Hamai Misa continued. "I wonder if she's okay."
"Hino?" said Tsukimori as he looked at the screen.
It was true. Kahoko sat on the street crying at the remains of her house, while firefighters rushed to get out hoses. The screen then returned to the broadcasting station before moving on to another story about a minor earthquake about a hundred kilometers south of where they were.
"Len, why don't you invite her to stay here while things settle down for her?" began Hamai Misa.
"Yes Len, it must be so hard on her." Continued his father.
"I understand. I will do so." Replied the ever-filial Tsukimori. Great, just great. He thought. Inviting people was never his thing. And now he had to invite her. His mother was just too fond of her while his father was convinced (after hearing all the good things Hamai Misa says about Kaho) that the redhead was his girlfriend. Yes, his father was sure the change in his music was because of love. Nonsense.
Right?
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Kaho sat in the waiting room. She anxiously awaited the light saying "surgery in progress" to turn off. Suddenly, a nurse came out and looked at Kaho.
"Are you the party for a Mrs. Hino?" she asked.
"Yes, is she alright?" Kaho replied.
The nurse took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, but Mrs. Hino apparently suffered a heart attack before the house caught fire. Aside from that, she has severe burns. I'm afraid she….she…."
"She what?" asked Kaho nervously."
"She might not make it." Said the nurse quickly. "She's being put on life support. I'm sorry."
Kaho just drew a blank. She felt numb. Her mother, gone? No, she couldn't think about it. Besides, there were more pressing matters.
"A-Alright. I'll be l-leaving now." She managed to say between sobs. No way she could miss her exams.
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By the time Kaho made her way to school, she was already late four hours. It was lunchtime. She felt so alone, watching everyone pass by with their friends. Where were Mio and Nao when she needed them? Oh, right, off in Hawaii, a trip Kahoko refused because of her duties to the violin.
"Hino," a cold voice said. Kaho turned to look.
"Ah, Tsukimori-kun," she began.
"Um," continued Tsukimori. "Uh, my mother, she um," How can this be so hard? I sound like Fuyumi.
"Yes?" Said Kaho.
"She invited you to stay over at our place." He quickly finished. "Until things settle."
"Oh, why, um…" Kaho began.
"KAHO-CHAN!" Yelled a nervous Hihara. As he ran over. "ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU NEED SOMEWHERE TO STAY? YOU CAN STAY AT MY PLACE! MY PARENTS WON'T MIND." Kaho thought about Hihara's brother and his friends. She remembered the time they tried to hit on her at the basketball courts…
"You can stay at my house if you'd like." Said Yunoki, who followed Hihara. Images of his grandmother flashed through Kaho's mind. No way could I stay there. His grandmother would definitely kill both of us.
"Hino! There you are! Are you okay?" said Tsuchiura, who came after hearing Hihara screaming.
"Ano, I'm fine. And it's okay, Tsukimori-kun already offered." Kaho said.
"Are you sure you're okay with that ice berg?" Tsuchiura began
"And just whom, may I ask, is the ice berg?" asked Tsukimori.
"Yes it's fine really. I just need some time alone." Kaho continued.
"OH YES OF COURSE!" said Hihara as everyone left to give her some space. This would be a long day for Kaho.
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A/N: I'm sorry for such an uneventful prologue. I just thought you should know what was going on so you wouldn't be confused. Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW and do tell me if you see any mistakes, have any suggestions/ constructive criticism, or just plain want to say hi. Thanks!
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