Disclaimer: petiamo-chan does not, in any way, own La Corda d'Oro or any of its characters.

And, now, petiamo-chan presents to you…

Chapter Two

"Are you really that hopeless? Trying to be a knight, creeping other people up behind her back?" Tsukimori asked the raging Tsuchiura.

The latter could no longer contain his anger and posed as if going to punch the violinist. Before his anger got the better of him, however, the morning bells signaling the start of classes rang. Tsuchiura left without any more words.
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Hino was late again so their homeroom teacher asked her to do some errands before taking her afternoon break. When she reached their classroom to get her stuff, it was empty. Everyone was spending their lunch outside to admire the beautiful weather.

"Kaho-chan!" boomed a voice.

Hino jumped in surprise. For a while she stood frozen in shock. Upon recovering, she turned around towards the door. "Oh, Hihara-senpai. Please don't scare me like that."

"Hehehe, sorry Kaho-chan. I guess I got too excited 'cause I get to walk you home tonight!" Hihara said, scratching his head.

"About that senpai. I'm sorry but I forgot to tell you that I have practice with Tsukimori-kun since we don't have practice with the oke."

Her senpai's face fell in disappointment but this would not go on for long.

"Excuse me, Hino. About tonight," started Tsukimori, emerging from a corner of the hall, "I'm sorry but I have to do something important. I have to cancel our practice."

"Is that so? Well, if it's really important for Tsukimori-kun, I don't mind. I'm already taking too much of your time so I could not ask for more," she told him, a smile on her face.

Suddenly, Hihara jumped up and down, just like a child, rejoicing. "You heard that Kaho-chan? Now you're free! Yay! Thank you Tsukimori-kun."

Without a word Len turned his back and walked away. "Hino, you really are selfless," he thought as Hino's words resounded in his mind.
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After Hihara left, Hino decided to skip lunch and went to practice at the rooftop. She tried to play the piece she and Len was currently practicing. She tried to play those parts which Tsukimori had commented that need improvement. She was so deep in concentration that she did not notice someone enter the rooftop.

"Very impressive, Kahoko. You are so hard working."

"Yu-yunoki-senpai!" Hino blurted his name out of surprise.

"How lovely. You never fail to amuse me Kahoko," he teased, an evil smile playing on his face.

Words failed Hino. She knew something was coming but before she realized it, she was already leaning on the wall. There was no more room to move. Yunoki already had his hands stretched out with his palms on the wall on either side of her head. His face was only inches away from hers.

"Do you think skipping lunch and practicing would do you any good?"

No response.

"You even enlisted Tsukimori to help you."

Still, silence from the girl.

"Your trying hard really annoys me." Slowly, he moved his head towards her as if to kiss her.

Near.

Nearer.

Almost there.

BAM!

The door opened and a blonde emerged.

"Yunoki-senpai, I didn't expect you to be here." Kaji walked to Hino's side, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"Kaji, you're here for Hino?" Yunoki asked, flashing his princely smile. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to leave now. I have some things to do. See you around." Yunoki left in a calm, graceful manner.

"Ne, Kaho, are you alright?"

Hino was still in shock but was able to answer feebly. "I, I'm fine Kaji-kun."

"Thought I'd find you here. Glad just to be in time," comforted Kaji as he flashed his smile to the girl. "You should not skip lunch you know. Here, Mio wants you to have this onigiri she made," he said while giving her the food.

"Thank you."

"Why don't you play me a good music after you eat that? I want to hear you play." His emerald eyes followed her movements. From lifting the onigiri to her mouth to take a bite up to swallowing it, he paid the highest attention.

"Ah, Kaji-kun, could you please stop staring. I can't eat well with you like that," said Hino, blushing to the darkest shade of red.

"Sorry. Can't control it. You look so beautiful when you eat." Kaji's cheeks glowed red in embarrassment.
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The rest of the classes for the day ended uneventful. Hihara waited for Hino by the school gates. He was restless, walking back and forth in such a short distance. Once Hino was in sight, he relaxed.

"Kaho-chan, how about visiting a new cake shop at the shopping district before going home? My treat," Hihara asked while on their way home.

"O-okay."

They passed by rows of different shops. Hihara was in the lead while Hino silently followed. After a while, they reached the area of restaurants and food specialty shops.

"Kaho, Kaho-chan?" Hihara softly shook Hino.

"Ah, senpai!" reacted Hino, surprised.

"You've been spacing out a lot lately, you know," he told Hino as they were entering the shop.

It was just a small store, barely five meters in width. The counter was at the farthest end from the door. There were no more than ten tables with either two or four cozy chairs. Each table was with a small vase with flowers which gave an air of freshness. The walls were painted with a pale shade of yellow which complemented the vibrant paintings in dark-varnished wooden frames.

They seated themselves in the table near the counter. When their orders arrive, a choco-strawberry cake for Hino and a walnut-bavarian cake for Hihara, they started eating silently. Hihara was getting uncomfortable with the lack of interaction so he thought of breaking the silence. He looked at the girl across him then noticed it.

"Hey, Kaho-chan don't move. You have icing on your face." He reached across the table to wipe the girl's face. Much to his surprise, she laughed when he was finished. "Eh, why are you laughing at me?"

"You – you have icing – on your – nose, Hihara-senpai!" She struggled uttering the words between breaths.

He immediately wiped his nose, a bit embarrassed. "Glad I made you laugh, Kaho-chan. You look worried these past few days. Is there something bothering you?" he inquired.

Hino suddenly got stiff and said, "No senpai, I'm fine. I may be stressed because of the preparation for the festival." She gave him a weak smile as she finished.

They continued their meal talking about different things, mostly music, but he never touched the 'what worried her' topic again.
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At the Tsukimori mansion…

"I'll be leaving now. Don't forget the meeting with the school representative tomorrow, Len-kun. Remember, it's at 8 pm sharp. We'll pick you up here," Miyaji said as she was going out of the front door. Miyaji had been helping him with his papers regarding his studies in Europe because her family had good relationship with the family who owns the school which awarded Tsukimori a scholarship.

"Done filling-up the forms, Len?" Hamai Misa emerged from the adjacent room.

"Yes. Can I please be excused from dinner?" Len asked but was already making his way to the stairs which led to the bedrooms on the upper floor.

"Oh, you're skipping dinner? Is there a problem?" she asked, concerned.

"No. I need to practice" he answered in a respectful tone.

They rarely eat dinner together but she did not want to push it so she let him go. She noticed that when he got home this afternoon, her son was deep in thought. "If you need help, we'll always be here, Len," she called to him before he disappeared from her view.
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Are you really that selfish? Tsuchiura's words rang in his head.

Well, if it's really important for Tsukimori-kun, I don't mind. I'm already taking too much of your time so I could not ask for more. He recalled Hino's words. It's kinda hard to keep without your help but I'll try. With that an idea struck him.

"I may be selfish, very much unlike her, but I'll try," he thought, hoping it will work.

"Maybe, just maybe…" he whispered to himself as he put his violin on his shoulder and gently pulled the bow over the string. It started the melody of the song which reminded him of that night where he first made music with much emotions, picturing in his mind the girl he made it with.

Ave Maria, the notes sung through the silent, chilly night.
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Yup! Some scenes in the first chapter are from and inspired by the manga, actually lots of it. Petiamo-chan is trying to create the mood for the story by using them. But she promises to deviate from it once everything is in place.

There. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Comments, suggestions, violent reactions, you are very much welcome.

Domo! [bows]

Gotta run!

And cut.