Konnichiwa, minna-san!I'm just a newbie here in this site. I decided to write a fic about this interesting proposition that I have watched in my favorite series. Hopefully, I can make it a good one.

Hope you'll enjoy reading my first fic!

Standard disclaimer applied.


Strings Theory

Chapter 1: New Ice

A smile. A sweet, almost heavenly smile escaped from a distance. It was so serene and peaceful just like the breeze sweeping in, gently shaking the fiery orange leaves around the perimeter. The flowers too, seemed to be dancing to the tune and silent whispers of the wind. Sunshine-y rays beamed a wonderful spectral of colour as if autumn's not a sign of the coming harsh winter, but more likely that spring has arrived early.

Len Tsukimori jerked awake as he heard his alarm clock ring. He was vaguely wondering why he was feeling lightheaded first thing in the morning. "Great, what a nice greeting," and shook his head. Still, he couldn't abandon the happy and contented feeling that he felt as he woke up. It's been a long time since he felt that way. Well, not actually since the first semester began and met an interesting person that piqued his curiosity as well as his heart. And his mother knew it too!

However, Len pushed aside his thoughts. He knew that he wouldn't have a heart telling that person how he really cared for her. That his subtle and spontaneous ways of showing his affection were often gone unnoticed by the girl who helped him find meaning and enjoyment in his music. He even dedicated a romantic song for her in an ocean park.

I wouldn't have a chance. Not now, not ever, Len thought.

Wow, a perfectionist admitting his defeat? That must be a miracle! As if the hailstones were pouring down in the middle of a desert! He glanced at the photoframe on his bedside table. It was a happy group picture taken on the night of the summer concerto. In the picture stood five handsome men in black suits and two pretty ladies in white dresses. He stood somewhere in the middle, near to that special person. She was wearing a very bright smile which reminded him highly of dazzling flashes of cameras. He on the other hand, looks as though he was going to attend a funeral service. He winced. He didn't want to remember that embarrassing moment anymore. He got up from his bed and prepared to go school.

Second semester had begun. Noisy students barging from one room to another, sharing stories and gossips about their summer holidays. Some of the students were playing pranks and laughing at the silliest joke he had ever heard as he walked along the corridor. He shot them an icy glare and the students went silent. "There are so many immature people here," he muttered to himself.

Len managed get in track with the lessons already and didn't have the slightest difficulty. Right after his Foreign Language class, which is his last subject, he headed straight to the music practice rooms with his violin case. Len found himself staring into the familiar corridor again with its elegantly designed interiors and he seriously claimed it as a haven away from the notorious bedlams of the outside world. He discovered that most of the rooms were empty and he decided to take to the second to the last room in the left side. It was barely half an hour that Len have been practicing his violin when someone rapped on the door. He scowled. He didn't like being disturbed at the middle of his practice. As he turned around to see who it was idiotic enough to bother him, he was surprised that it was none other than the rugged and laidback music teacher, Mr. Kanazawa.

"I'm sorry to bother you Tsukimori at this point in time, but I have more important matters to discuss with you," said Kanazawa-sensei as he opened the door and let himself in.

" No, it's okay. What is it?" sounding slightly annoyed.

" I see you didn't want me to beat around the bush. Been to Antarctic again, eh?" Kanazawa-sensei teased.

"I thought you're going to say something more important, sensei?" Len pressed. He would not yield to any of his provocations.

"Well, I'll get straight to the point. You'll be flying to New York for the annual prestigious Autumn Interlude," said Kanazawa-sensei. "A music festival that's been organized by the famous school for the performing arts, Juilliard Academy. Contestants have been invited and selected from all over the world and you are chosen to be one of Japan's representatives," he added.

Pause…

" One of the representatives?" Len asked.

" Why, of course, there should have been the two of you. You're doing a solo and duet during the competition. Is there anything wrong with it?"

"No, but who is it?"

" Don't worry. You'll be able to meet her anytime during this week," the sensei prompted.

Len was pacing in his study room, holding some music scores that he just started composing. He stopped in front of a glass-cased bookshelf and saw his reflection. So she's a girl. I bet she's either a pain-in-the-neck whiner or a weirdo. Anyway I couldn't care less.

You should be by now, his brain chided him. He then remembered the conversation earlier. Kanazawa-sensei told him that the competition was due two months from now and his cooperation would be a great help to make things work out smoothly. His would-be music partner was coming from another school and she was two years his junior. Meaning she was still in middle school and he heard from the sensei that she's a prodigy like him. Needless to say, he wouldn't be bothering to adjust for her.

At least that's the positive thing about it.

Len pushed the main door to the music room and walked straight to his fave room when he heard a beautiful melody issuing from the room next to his. He knew that the door was open because all the rooms in the music hall were designed to be sound-proof and that's why he's been hearing the melody.. Len, who's not exactly the nosiest person in the world, took the doorknob and opened his room. But then…

He closed the door in front of him, stood quietly in the hall and curiously listened to the melody from the next door. Yes, the music was astounding in quality and beauty and yet Len had a feeling it was the saddest one. The person inside was playing violin. He also figured that the song was quite new and he heard it before.

Len had a little jot of surprise when someone placed a cold hand of his shoulder. He was on the verge of yelling that person when it spoke.

" I told you she's good eh?" --- It was Kanazawa-sensei

He shrugged.

"Now why is that indifference? Come on, let's go and meet her," said Kanazawa-sensei and he patted Tsukimori's back like some poor guy who just lost his cause.

As they went inside the room, Len saw that there were two ladies of different age occupying it. The older of the two was sitting on the bench in front of the piano and hitting some keys. She was about in her late twenties, had long curly brown hair and she's wearing a nice pink dress with a chocolate cardigan on top. She stopped playing the piano and smiled. The younger girl who had a blue-black locks lowered her violin.

" Good afternoon, Morita-san. This is Len Tsukimori, he's our school's representative," Kanazawa introduced. "Len Tsukimori, she is Ryuuko Morita-sensei. She's going to be your coordinator for the whole training."

Len nodded stiffly and shook hands with the female sensei.

"Tsukimori, this is Megumi Amane. She's from St. Valentine Middle School, and her instrument is cello," said Kanazawa-sensei and gestured the young lady to come over.

Len took now the proper notice of the student before him. She was wearing a knitted purple sweater, a black pleated miniskirt and a chunky black boots. She had a glossy, stick-straight blue-black hair adorned with a purple headband.

She seems normal to me.

Len met Megumi with her eyes and saw that she had cold, steely gray irises. She too, shook hands with him rather formally. He felt his spine slightly shivered.


So, there it goes. I hope you have a good time reading my fic! Please do leave a review! Arigatou!n_n