Hi, this is my second fanfic, inspired by Len's impending departure.

Disclaimer: Of course I do not own La Corda D'oro.

Golden Music

Len Tsukimori looked around his room and sighed. He had managed to complete almost all of the packing he had to do before leaving Japan next week for his studies abroad. It was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon and he thought he would take a break and play his violin for a while in the music room downstairs.

Half an hour later, he was so absorbed in his music that he almost did not hear a knock on the door.

"Len-kun", his mother said, "I'm sorry to disturb you dear, but there is someone who came to see you... It's Hino-san…" she added with a smile.

"Hino?..."

Images of the last time he saw Hino came flooding back.

The last selection of the concours she had entered in the hope of impressing Zaoyinu sensei…

He recalled the smile on her face as she played Greensleeves on her violin; it clearly showed how much she cherished her instrument and the joy she felt in being able to stand there on that stage.

She had done well altogether. Not enough to win a prize – it was too early for that – but much better than the critics expected.

And Zaoyinu sensei had relented… and agreed to accept her as a pupil in the next semester.

To celebrate her success Hihara and Yunoki had suggested dinner at a really nice restaurant, and he had been unable to excuse himself since Hino insisted he come too. It had been a lively party, given that some of Hino's classmates and other friends from the general education department had come along as well. Oh, and Amou-san too who had managed to snap a picture of him and Hino together, "mentor and pupil" as she called them… She had even mailed him a copy of that picture which made him blush when he innocently opened the envelope one morning at breakfast. The cheek of that girl!

"Len?...Shall I tell her to come in?"

"Er…yes, please do."

When Kahoko came in, he motioned her to one of the easy chairs.

"So what brings you here Hino?"

She opened her bag and took out a book.

"I'm sorry Tsukimori-kun, you lent this to me some months ago and I only just remembered to return it to you!"

That's your excuse for coming here… he smiled inwardly as he took the book and walked to the bookshelf next to the window. He picked another book from the collection and presented it to her.

"This should help you next year in addition to your lessons with Zaoyinu sensei…"

"Arigato Gozaimasu, Tsukimori-kun, I am really indebted to you…" she said blushing slightly.

"On one hand, I am definitely looking forward to learning from Zaoyinu sensei, but on the other hand, I'm afraid he'll be stricter than you, Tsukimori-kun." She smiled.

"No doubt", he answered while standing in front of the window.

"In that case, I'll be even sorrier to see you go!" she replied jokingly.

Slightly embarrassed, Len crossed his arms as he looked at Hino's reflection in the window. Yes, he had to admit he would miss their lessons together although there were times when she had tested his patience…

Coaching her during the last concours had been a novelty for him, whose only experience of concours up to now had been as a participant and prize winner.

He had been anxious for her, but on stage she actually looked like she was enjoying herself… just like that night when she played Ave Maria outside his window, although her music was presently not to the same level.

Ave Maria… He had often wondered about that moonlit night and the strange connection they had experienced on that occasion.

"Hino, that time when we… when you played Ave Maria at Fuyuumi's summer house… whenever I remember it, it feels just like a dream… I wonder why?"

Surprised by the unexpected twist in the conversation Hino looked down at her feet. Tsukimori-kun doesn't usually say much but when he does choose to speak his mind he can be so bluntly direct. Why is he bringing this up?

She stole a glance in his direction.

"Ano… Tsukimori-kun… do you believe in magic?"

He turned to look at her

"Magic?" he repeated. "Hino, are you going to tell me that a fairy godmother turned you into a talented violinist for a limited time only?"

Kahoko's mouth turned into a perfect O.

"A.. Actually…" (sweat drops begin to appear)

Len almost smiled.

Cinderella, huh?