"Tsukimori-kun?"
Len stopped outside the music room and turned around.
"Hino," he said blandly.
"I was wondering if I could hear you practice…" it sounded more like a question than a statement.
He stared at her for a moment.
"Ah! If you don't want to, it's okay," she said quickly.
He turned back and turned the doorknob then pushed the door open. "Whatever."
"Thank you!" She smiled brightly as she followed him inside.
She watched him take his violin out of his case and place it comfortably on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Music came out from the violin, filling the music room with a soothing and breathtaking melody.
She gleamed with excitement; it was beyond her talent; with or without magic.
She stared at him and noticed his style had changed. His body moved together with the melody, his mouth opened slightly as there was a crescendo and closed as the music diminished.
She never took her eyes of him until the end. After a while, the music slowly softened and came to an end.
"Tsukimori-kun…" She said quietly, looking at him from a distance.
"Hn?"
"You've…" She struggled to find the word. "Changed," she finally said.
He raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"Well," she looked down. "I thought that… you… Sigh… Never mind…"
I thought that you were as emotionless as you seem.
She smiled at the thought. That's good… I'd better go now…
"Bye, Tsukimori-kun! And thank you!" she waved as she went out the music room.
"Hn," he said quietly as he watched her walk out.
As soon as she was gone, he turned his gaze towards the violin. Was she right? He wondered, staring at his violin. Did I really…. Change?
--
Gently, Hino placed her violin on the bench. She wiggled her feet out of her school shoes and carefully set foot on the beach. The soft sand tickled her bare feet and she giggled softly.
She sat near the ocean, hugging her legs to her chest as the warm breeze swept on her face.
She closed her eyes and listened to the music of the sea, the calm waves touching the tip of her toes.
Suddenly, she heard someone playing the violin. The melody seemed familiar to her, but somehow, she couldn't remember. Then, it snapped: it was the same song Tsukimori had practiced earlier.
She turned back and saw Tsukimori at the other side of the beach, but not too far away. He seemed to be engulfed by his own music.
She couldn't take her eyes of him.
Suddenly, he was looking back at her too. Although distances apart, Hino still could see a soft smile on his lips.
She was right about him all along, he did change.
She waved to him, smiling. As expected, he smiled back.