Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda d'oro!! ^^

Trip to New York

Chapter One

International Music Ensemble Competition

"Oh no! Don't tell me I'm late again!" I told myself the obvious. Nice weather, but I wonder of the day would be good. I arrived at Seiso Academy, no students visible. Damn, no matter what I do, I'm always late! I'm catching my breath to keep up, leaning on Lily's fountain. Please don't beat me up, Mana-sensei. . . . .

"You're late again!" Mana-sensei said loudly in the classroom when I arrived. She had a long brown hair and hazel eyes. She's a brunette. Her hair is in a jinky, and she looks beautiful. Well, too bad she's so strict.

"Gomen," I replied nervously, grinning and scratching the back of my head.

Sensei sighed, and said, "What am I going to do to you?" more to herself than to me. Please...Don't beat me up... I said to myself. "Okay, I'm not going to beat you up today," Sensei said as if to answer my prayers.

"Arigatou gozaimasu!" I said, bowing. Nice! I have a feeling this day would be good.

At lunch break, I went to the roof and practiced a piece in violin. My playing is nice, but when I played the last part, boing! What was that? I sighed. "I can't really get that part," I said to myself, sighing again.

"Hino-chan!" a familiar cheerful voice said. I turned.

"Hihara-sempai?" I said as I saw the usual cheerful green haired boy, holding two colas.

"I told myself that you're here, and you're here," he said as he threw one cola to me, grinning.

"Oh, thanks, let's sit down," I invited, pointing at the cement bench near me.

"Sure!"

"So, still practicing even after the concours?" he asked when we had settled. I nodded.

"I just want to show everyone that I can do it, especially now that I'm not in the same level as you guys," I said. He shook his head.

"Of course you can do it!" he said, turning to look at me, holding my hands, his eyes sparkling. I sweat dropped.

"Ahehehe…..Thanks," I said.

When Hihara-sempai is back on earth, he immediately removed his hands away from mine, rubbing the back of his head. Am I seeing him blushing? Anyway, after that, the school bell rang and he immediately ran, saying, "See you around, Hino-chan!" huh? That was weird.

After class on my way home, Tsuchiura-kun ran to me, catching his breath.

"Tsuchiura-kun? What's up?" I asked.

"Kanayan-sensei said he'll talk to us about something," he replied.

"Oh, okay." We walked together towards the music room.

"Okay, now that everybody's here," Kanayan-sensei started, looking around, seeing that Tsukimori-kun, Yunoki-sempai, Hihara-sempai, Shimizu-kun, Fuyuumi-chan, Tsuchiura-kun, and I are here. "I told you to meet me because we just received an invitation from IMEC in New York," he continued.

"IMEC? What's that?" Hihara-sempai asked.

"International Music Ensemble Competition," Kanayan-sensei replied.

"So that means?" Tsuchiura-kun said. Kanayan-sensei nodded.

"We're gonna participate in that competition,"

"R-really?" I stammered.

"Yes, but the competitors would be a team, each having six members,"

"Six? But we're seven," Yunoki-sempai said.

"That's why I'm meeting you here. To know who'll be eliminated,"

"Oh, that'll be me. So, I'm going home, good luck everyone," I said weakly, going out of the room.

"W-wait! Hino-chan!" Hihara-sempai's concerned voice said, running and blocking my way.

"Kahoko-sempai," Fuyuumi said.

"Okay, you'll be the one eliminated," Kanayan-sensei said flatly. I heard gasps.

"Kanayan!" Tsuchiura exclaimed.

"Why so harsh?" Yunoki-sempai said.

"Well, that's for the good," Tsukimori-kun added.

I saw Hihara throw a look at him.

"Kaho-sempai, daijyoubou?" Shimizu's very slow yet concerned voice asked.

"Yeah, of course," I replied, proud of myself for stabling my voice.

"Everyone, I'm not yet done here," Kanayan-sensei said. "She'll be the one eliminated, but she'll be the substitute," he continued. That made me look up, but still facing the door and Hihara-sempai. Hihara-sempai is also looking at Kanayan-sensei.

"So, she's also coming?" Yunoki-sempai asked. Kanayan-sensei nodded.

"Yay! Hino-chan!" Hihara-sempai exclaimed. I turned. I saw everyone's smiling face, except Tsukimori-kun. Does he really hate me that much?

"Okay, so, the competition would be next month. We'll stay there for two weeks. The competition would be participated by musicians all over the world. The first day is used to settle down. The second day would be the opening ceremony; each team should play one piece. The third day would be the competition proper, but the results for who will be the part of the semi-finals would be told the next day. In the fifth day, the semi-finalists would be given a chance to practice. The sixth day is the playing of pieces of the semi-finalists, announcing the finalists the next day. In the eighth day, another practice day. The ninth would be the finals, announcing the winners on the tenth day. The eleventh day is a celebration—eating, talking, etc. the twelfth day is a closing ceremony—each team playing one piece again, and the last two days are free days!" Kanayan-sensei explained.

"Ooohhh…" Hihara reacted.

"How about the fare? The meals?" Yunoki-sempai asked.

"That all would be free—fare for the six competitors only, meal for all the competitors every day, including mentors and substitute. Kanayan-sensei replied, winking at me.

"Nice," Yunoki-sempai said.

"So, it's getting dark, I'm just telling you to practice at least five pieces, including you, Kahoko-chan," Kanayan-sensei informed.

"Hai….." we all said.

"Okay, dismissed," Kanayan-sensei ended.

A/N: so? Is it nice? Please! I would highly appreciate reviews, since it's my first time writing fanfic! XD