CHAPTER ONE|| Heartbreaking Overture

Wait for me… because I'll come back to you… I promise.

This was Len Tsukimori's last words to Kahoko Hino before leaving for Vienna. This vow made in the Fuyuumi summer mansion's garden was very unforgettable for Kahoko. She couldn't forget how earnestly Len confessed to her and stared deeply into her eyes just to tell her how much he cherishes her. She couldn't neglect the overflowing feelings she felt that entirely engulfed her heart, the sweetest smile that ever escaped Len's lips that were only for her, and Len's tender voice that spoke to her at that moment. She couldn't forget them all… because Len was special to her. However, her great happiness back then in Len's confession is now equal to the pain she's feeling right now. She couldn't manage to be cheerful when she's seeing her boyfriend's name on the showbiz section of the newspaper. And it sure isn't good news for her.

"The Legendary Len Tsukimori gets engaged…" Naoh Ayase softly reads in front of her crying friend. Finally digesting what the newspaper said, all of a sudden, her eyes widened in shock. "What? This can't be true!" she reacted in disbelief.

"How could Tsukimori-kun do this to you? And I thought that he was a gentle and honest person towards you, Kaho-chan," Mio sobbed while comforting her friend.

"Kaho, I can't believe that jerk did this! Once he gets back here, you better chain me, coz if you don't…" Naoh said, her voice full of irritation. Kahoko could only weep upon the news. She was happy that Len had finally reached his ambition to be at the same level as his parents and be famous, but she was so depressed when she found out about Len's sudden engagement.

"Kaho-chan, what if you're this girl on the newspaper? Her name wasn't mentioned, but it did say that she was a skillful musician like him, too," Mio said, trying to comfort her miserable best friend.

"But if it was her, why would he hide Kaho from the public? Shouldn't he be proud? And if it really was her, shouldn't she have already received an engagement ring from him?" Naoh rants. She, too, found it hard to believe on Len's sudden action. "I never should've trusted that person."

Kahoko finally wiped her tears off, recovering her head that sank in her arms. "That's enough…" she said softly. "I know for sure that he has… for sure he has…" Kahoko's voice faltered before she could continue. She buried her head in her hands once again, not being able to bear the news that just broke in. Naoh and Mio quickly patted her back, trying to calm Kahoko down. "This is just too sudden…" Kahoko's weak voice said.

Kahoko couldn't stop the tears that flowed continuously down her cheeks. No matter how hard she tried to prevent them, they just kept on falling. The pain was too unbearable for her. She loved Len so much that she found it impossible to let go. Although she and Len had only been together for a short time after his confession, she knew that the love Len had for her was real, their love for each other wasn't imaginary. Somehow, even though she was hurting, a part of her still believed in Len… that Len wouldn't do anything that would upset her.

"No wonder he hasn't been returning your texts or e-mails… he's being with another girl these past six years!" Naoh adds, unknowingly stepping on the little hope Kahoko has left in herself. "He better not show his face to me when he comes back! I'll surely…" her voice faltered when she saw her friend stood up with obviously low spirits and suddenly walks away with her saggy shoulders.

"Kaho…-chan?" Mio called out.

Kahoko looks back at them and squeezed out a smile to show them that she's okay. Still with the remnants of tears in her eyes, she replies in a soft voice. "It's okay guys… for sure he has a reason behind this… I'll talk to him when he comes back… if ever he comes back." She turns her back around and leaves her two best friends feeling unhappy for her.

She pushes the glass door of the café they're in and steps out into the falling rain. 'The legendary Len Tsukimori gets engaged…'she recalls in her mind. The agony deep inside Kahoko worsens as her tears start to fall once more, disguising itself on the droplets of water on her face. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and holds on to the railings as Naoh's voice echoes in her mind. 'No wonder he hasn't been returning your texts or e-mails, he's being with another girl these past six years!'Kahoko's tears gush out of her eyes and clings on to her shirt.

Kahoko rushed away from the café, wishing that the pain she felt would be left behind in that place where she discovered the news that pierced her heart. She didn't care about the rain, about her being drenched under it and getting sick. All she ever cared about at that moment was escaping from the seemingly endless torture tormenting her innermost part. Just when she was reaching the climax of her action, she bumps into a guy with apple green hair. Because of the impact, both of them fell to the ground, along with the umbrella that the guy was holding to.

Kahoko remained still on the ground, with her head sinking on her hands. Meanwhile, the guy she stumbled upon stood up and took his umbrella. He stared at the weeping girl for a few minutes and finally recognized her. "Kaho-chan?"

Slowly, Kahoko looked up at the source of the familiar voice. In front of her, she saw her senpai back at Seiso Gakuen, her cheerful… "Hihara… -senpai?" she said softly.

-Chapter One||END-