A/N: It's been...so long... I've been busy with school. To be honest, I actually lost interest in writing for a while. Then I rediscovered the joys of manga and La Corda D'oro, specifically, and quickly got back to updating this. I know it's about a couple of years late now, but forgive me. I didn't forget about anyone.

Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'oro, its characters, and/or plot. All rights belong to Kure Yuki. Thank you and enjoy!

Not gonna lie, guys: I'm not an outstanding guy. Sure, I was selected to perform in the concours, and yeah, maybe I've heard that people think I'm pretty attractive, too (they must be blind). It's true I even starred in a commercial. But let's face it: it's pretty tough to stand out when everyone around you seems to be so much more exceptional than you are. What I mean to say is, I wish I were smart. I wish I could talk to girls as easily as Kaji-kun, could practice trumpet as diligently and patiently as Tsukimori-san does violin. I wish I were as quietly observant as Shimizu-kun, as multi-talented and masculine as Tsuchiura-kun. I wish I possessed the confidence, talent, charm, and intelligence Yunoki so casually flaunted before me each and every day of our friendship.

But then there's Hino Kahoko, the girl who makes me forget all of my selfish desires and jealous thoughts, whose smile can just melt all of my worries away. When I'm with her, I feel like I can relax and be truly happy. I want to make her as happy as she makes me. When she's in pain, I want to be there for her, to collect her into my arms and stroke her hair and be able to tell her everything will be fine because we're together. I want her to know how much she means to me, but how will she recognize my feelings for her when I'm surrounded by inhumanly perfect guys? Inhumanly perfect guys who could so easily sweep her off of her feet like characters straight out of a manga? I can't do something like that. I'm Hihara Kazuki. I'm not an outstanding guy.

"Hey, Hihara-senpai! Wait up!" A voice called from behind me. Loud, mildly obnoxious—it was obvious to whom it belonged: Amou. She's the type of person who enjoys digging around for drama. I suppose that's a good hobby for journalists to have. She particularly enjoyed pestering me about my "new fame" after I appeared in a commercial. She's not a bad person (actually, she's kind of fun because she's got so much enthusiasm), but we don't talk much. And when we do, well…

I inhaled, preparing myself for an interrogation. "Hi Amou-san," I said, stopping and turning to face her. "What's up? Do you need to talk to me about something?"

"As a matter of fact, I do!" She beamed, stopping quickly to pull up her sock before approaching me. "You know how you like Kahoko, right? Well, I was just thinking that it seems—"

"I…I what?" I stammered. Am I that obvious?

"Oh, come on, Hihara-senpai," Amou snarled. I was really liking her less and less. "You'd have to be blind or dumb not to realize!" She cackled. Maybe it wasn't a cackle, but I kind of think she's a witch. Suddenly, a more thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Then again…Kahoko doesn't seem to realize it…."

"Amou! Why are you talking so loudly? Quiet down a bit!" I whined. I lowered my voice to barely a whisper. "Listen, it's not something I want getting around."

"Oh, right! Of course not!" She tilted her head back in roaring laughter. Give me a break… "But I mean, I just figured that you'd like to know how Yunoki-senpai gets around. I'd sure be curious if I were you."

I paused. What is she talking about? Yunoki has nothing to do with Kaho-chan…I collected my thoughts. Right, I guess some people don't like how Yunoki seems to flirt with all girls in existence… "Amou, I know that sometimes Yunoki seams a little sleazy with all of his fangirls, but he's really not like that at all. He isn't really interested in relationships or anything right now."

Amou smiled her sneaky, wry smile. To this day, I still cringe whenever I think of it. "Hihara-senpai, please. You mean you didn't know that your best friend is fooling around with your crush?"

Blood rushed to my face in an instant. "Wh-What?! Azuma doesn't do that!"

Amou giggled to herself. Oh yeah, no big deal. To Amou, nothing was ever really a big deal until it was a scoop. "I don't know, he and Kahoko were getting pretty close after the dance last night. Out on the rooftop. I saw them," she smirked.

"What are you doing out here, Yunoki-senpai?" Kahoko asked innocently as she stepped out of the stairwell and onto the rooftop. "You didn't go to the dance, right?"

Azuma turned to face her, seeming unsurprised. Cool. Calm. As always. "No, I didn't. Such events are not…my cup of tea, shall we say." The corners of his lips turned upwards into his signature polite smile. "And you? Is the dance over yet?"

Kaho-chan nodded meekly. "Yep, but I thought I'd like to get some practicing done before I went home." She paused, then added quickly, "I suppose you didn't get to dance with anyone, huh?"

Azuma chuckled to himself and took a step forward. "Would you care to dance with me now, Kahoko? It's a beautiful night. There's no one around." He grinned encouragingly.

Kahoko blushed, her adorable features contorting into an expression of confusion. It's true that it's much more romantic out here than it was at the dance…she thought to herself. The view from the rooftop was fantastic – the city seemed so small beneath the sparkling stars above. After considering Yunoki's offer, Kahoko consented. "I'd love to."

To dance with Yunoki-senpai…it had been her secret desire all along. His delicate, flawless features enchanted her. She loved the eloquence of his speech, the politeness of his behavior. Just as every girl did.

Yunoki placed his delicate hand on her shoulder, drawing her near to him. He had always observed Kahoko from afar, clandestinely yearning for her touch, eagerly awaiting her smile each time he saw her. He combed his fingertips through her soft, beautiful red hair and rested his forehead against hers. Their noses were so close to touching. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt his warm breath mingle with hers in the cool night air…

No, I thought. No, that can't possibly have happened! It had to have been just my overactive imagination again. They wouldn't…They didn't…My heart thudded in my ears, and I felt myself growing truly angry for the first time in a long while. "Amou, keep out of other people's business for once in your life," I hissed, the ferocity in my voice surprising even myself.

I took a deep breath, gently pressed the back of my hand against my cheek in hopes of cooling my face down. I wasn't sure when I'd last lost my composure to this extent…

Amou, on the other hand, was fine and dandy. She shrugged nonchalantly, reached into her bag, and casually tossed an envelope at my face. "You know, Hihara-senpai, it would be a good idea for you to do some investigating before pointing the blame on others." And with that, she turned on her heels, tossing her golden locks over one shoulder as she strode off.

In my confusion and distress, I fumbled with the envelope, struggling to find the opening. I accidentally let its contents fall to the floor – a collection of photographs, scattered on the concrete pavement. I bent over to collect them before anyone else had a chance to see them.

I almost didn't want to look at them. How could I? How could I look at photographs that would confirm my new suspicions of Kahoko and Azuma? My beloved Kaho-chan with my best friend in the world…There was no way I was ready to face so cruel a truth.

Ready or not, the truth slapped me in the face. I took one look at the pictures, and there it was: Kahoko and Azuma dancing, embracing on the rooftop of the music building. This can't be… I thought furiously. And yet, there it was. The proof was in my hands. In one of the photos, Azuma was caressing Kahoko's cheek…

I decided to give the whole thing some thought. I calmly slipped the photos back into the envelope, which I slid into my back pocket. I headed off to class.

The entire way there, I couldn't help but continue to imagine Azuma and Kahoko, together on the rooftop the previous evening.

"I love you, Kahoko. I always have," Yunoki confessed. "Since the moment you arrived at the music academy, I knew it was you whom I loved." He trailed his fingertips over her cheek.

"Oh, Yunoki-senpai…" Kahoko responded, her voice barely a whisper. "I love you, too." Azuma leaned in towards her, their faces getting ever closer together. She closed her eyes bashfully, her cheeks pink and burning and beautiful in the moonlight. Their noses brushed. Azuma pulled her towards him, slowly closing the distance between their lips…

I didn't let my imagination go any further than that. I couldn't. In that moment, I thought I would die if I did.

A/N: Even though Hihara is my favorite character, it seems that I can't master his tone of voice...Do forgive me. I think I'm more cut out for writing from Tsuchiura's or Yunoki's perspectives. Hahahaa...Alright, please review! My writing's a little rusty...