Dear beloved readersss . I'm so sooorrrryyyyyyyyy I didn't update for quite a long time...
Simply because I've forgotten that I HAVE A STORY IN THIS !
Oh no...please forget my stupidity.
Actually, I've wrote far ahead than what I've posted, but it's not done yet.
Enjoy
Chapter 3
The Next Day
Hino went home rather early that day because she didn't go practicing at the music room. If you want to think about it, she'd never bring her violin when she goes to school ever since the concour ended. The lobby was filled with many Gen-Ed and Music students, but the majority is the Gen Ed ones because Music students had been dismissed about an hour ago.
When she was walking down from the building, someone called her.
"Hino-senpai.."
She turned back and smiled at the caller.
"Fuyuumi-chan!"
The girl jogged down the stairs to reach her beloved senpai. It's been a while since they've last met. After the concour, they've never talked officially, just saying hello or greeted each other briefly.
"Fuyuumi-chan, don't you go practicing at the music room?"
She shook her head meekly, "I always pr-practice at home.."
"Ah I see.." Hino smirked and circled her hand on her shoulders, making her kouhai blushed even more.
"Anyway," she took back her hand, "Are you waiting to be fetched?"
She shook her head, "My driver has waited for me at the parking ground."
"Okay then," she said, "Bye Fuyuumi-chan!"
"Bye senpai."
Soon, she was already hitting the road, walking home by herself. The day was as sunny as ever, no signs of upcoming rain, let alone storm.
Not long, she finally reached her home. Fishing the key in her pocket, she unlocked the fence door and stepped inside. She kicked her shoes free, and stepped into the living room. Surprise to her that Nee-chan has already home and she was chatting on the phone.
When Hino came in, she quietly turned back and talked in a softer voice.
Usually Nee-chan is still in the campus at this time. Did she escape? Hino thought.
That's the most plausible excuse.
"..yes, actually the rings must be sent to our house today, but...yes..next week?"
Ah..she's obviously talking to her boyfriend..no..Soon-to-be-fiancee. Recently, she's been ranting all day about her engagement day. But she's never shown Hino any photo about this boyfriend. Their parents had already met this man and talked business with his parents but Hino do never knew his appearance. Nee-chan said that this man is a teacher but she didn't want to tell her any further.
Glancing at the standing Hino, she batted her free hand in a gesture for the teen to go away. But Hino remained there to listen at the young woman's conversation.
"I hope Swarovski won't postpone our engagement ring anymore." she said in a sad tone. After a few minutes the phone were turned off.
It appears that they were talking about the engagement rings. Looks like the rings wouldn't be sent on time.
"Your boyfriend?"
She nodded sadly. Hino sighed and sat next to his sister on the couch. "It's not like the big day cancelled, right?"
"No, but it feels like," she put her head on her palm, which elbow resting on the fluffy armrest, "..feels like there's so many hurdles holding this event."
"First, he told me that he must train his student on the engagement day."
"Train his.."
Oh yeah, Nee-chan has ever said that his boyfriend is a teacher..
"And now the engagement ring problem."
She nodded miserably.
Hino put her hand over her sister's shoulders in an attempt of consolation. "It's not like you break up with him, right?"
The woman slumped further into the couch, "But still.."
"Nee-chan," Hino assured. "I'm sure he'll understand."
Yeah, she thought, I don't even know him and I've talked big like that.
The older sister smiled at her for her words sounded like an adult's.
"Okay then Nee-chan," she said, standing up.
"I'm going to practice at my room."
Hino carried her bag to her room and put the thing on the bed. She picked a music folder from a nearby rack. The violinist sat back on her bed and opened it.
Oh no..
The moment she read the Clair de Lune piece, her mind started to go crazy..
Oh God…
What's this piece? Sooo many flats! Oh nooo! What should I do? I can't play it! Should I tell Hihara-senpai's team to retranspose it? But I'll be a burden. Delaying everything just because of my incompetency..
No..
A very crazy idea struck like tons of ice hitting her head. Her eyes widened as she tried to disengage the idea.
What if I asked his help?
Ask Tsukimori-kun's help
But..no..no..Tsukimori-kun's still sick, she batted. I didn't see him today, did I?
Also he'll rebuke me for being so inadequate. No, I can't call him.
And now I wish Tsuchiura-kun is the violinist..
But, there's no other choice. I really have to ask his help.
If he refuses, well, I'll ask Hihara-senpai to transpose the piece. Or Hey! Maybe I could call that female teacher What's her name? Yeah, Yukimura sensei! She's a mentor the school provided for me and Tsukimori-kun, I guess it's fine to consult my difficulties with her.
The auburn head took back her thrown bag and and searched the note Yukimura sensei gave her yesterday.
Yesterday? Yeah, it feels like happened a long time ago..
When the careless girl finally found the crumpled paper, she quickly got out of her room and approached the phone in the living room. Her sister wasn't there anymore; maybe she's gone to her room.
She grabbed the phone Nee-chan used previously and start dialing for the number. But just before she pressed the 'call' button, a pang of uncomfortable feeling attacked her.
It feels like.., she thought, I don't want to call and ask her help. Why?
I don't know, just couldn't shake this feeling off.
Nonetheless, she dialed and soon after, the phone was picked.
"Hello?" came a voice of a little kid.
"Hello boy, may I speak to your moth um..Yukimura sensei?
"Oh, okaa-san's out. Who are you?" the kid asked bluntly.
"I'm Hino." she said. "Please tell okaa-san I called, ok? Bye."
"Bye..Onee-chan."
And the line went dead. Onee-chan? Wow, I'm an Onee-chan now? That's awfully cool, she smiled happily.
A part of her silently glad that her teacher was unavailable, although now she must face a greater risk; asking help from the great-arrogant-prodigy Tsukimori Len.
Even so, she didn't understand why but it feels like the burden in her chest was suddenly taken away.
And now she dialed the Tsukimori Mansion's home number.
"Hello." came the deep tenor voice of the Tsukimori Len.
Oh no, what should I say? Knowing that the caller is me, he'll surely snap right away or shut the line. Heee...
"Hello?" he repeated, this time sterner and..Angrier? He was surely in a bad mood right now..
"Um..Tsukimori-kun..um..can you help me?"
"Hino?"
"Um..Yeah it's Hey h-how are you? Are you feeling better?"
For a moment, the boy didn't say anything until he found a decent, yet curt answer, "Yes, I'm fine."
Silence. The situation became really awkward until Hino decided to react, "Umm..were you absent today? At school?"
"Yeah. Mother wouldn't let me in. Why did you call?" Len said, apparently tried to drop the subject and went straight to the point.
"Umm, Tsukimori-kun, actually A-are you feeling okay right now-you know just to be su-"
"Hino, I'm fine!" He said impatiently.
"Alright, alright I'm sorry Tsukimori-kun. I-I was just going to ask your help if you're feeling up to it.."
She expected him to reply something but he didn't give any response so she continued her request.
"Um, When I checked the piece this afternoon I found out that the song contains so many flats.."
"It's played in d-flat." Tsukimori-kun corrected.
Yeah, she grimaced; I'm very stupid about music. But it's not wrong..
"So?" he strained. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat.
"I can't play it. At all."
She distanced the phone from her ear and braced herself for the sarcastic comment to sound.
"Oh, as expected."
Hino who heard the comment (although vaguely) quickly set back the phone on her ear.
"..so now, what do you want?" he asked.
"Can you teach me to play it? Please.."
No response.
Okay he's definitely closing the phone. He won't help such an idiot like me..
"Okay," he finally said. Hino almost jumped hearing it. "You go here or I go there?"
She thought for a while. If he's still recovering, it's better if I go there. Besides, I'm the one who needed him. But what about his mother? Is she home? I'll be screwed if she's home..If it's in my place, I really don't want to know if my sister (deliberately) misunderstands about me and Tsukimori-kun. She could make my life a hell lot worse than before..
"Hello?" he pressed
"Ah Ah yeah, sorry, Um..but I think I'll..go there.."
Oh no damnit! Why did I make such a haste decision?
"Okay then. When?"
"Um..to-today..Today! At..5 pm. Yeah. Can you?"
"It's fine."
"Ok then.." she trailed, "Bye! See you."
Shortly after she closed the phone, she went back to her room and took a shower.
Once she has done stripping, she walked inside the sliding square and turned the shower on. The water fell unto her auburn hair and trickling downwards to her neck and body. As the liquid ran freely, and so did her thoughts.
I don't think he's well enough, she mused. Somehow after yesterday's event I don't want to see him so miserable like that. Like I'm.. It's like I feel his suffering..or..
What's this? Why am I feeling like this?
She sighed. The action of rubbing the soap over her arm became distinct in her brain as this train of unsolved feeling filled her mind.
I can't explain it.
She turned the tap off and reached for the towel. Soon enough she'd dressed in a red T-shirt and jeans shorts. Glancing at the clock, it was already 4.30 in the evening.
Hino quickly grabbed her violin and folder and headed outside the house.
She jogged down the sloping road to reach her destination. His house wasn't that far ahead but she got no time to slow down. Soon, she turned into the corner and the house was already inside her peripheral vision. Closing the distance, she rang the bell and the violinist came out. She couldn't see his face clearly because of the fence but he didn't seem to be pale like yesterday. She threw him a cheery smile and he replied with a small one.
But when he walked, his movements were a bit sluggish. Hino's smile changed into a slight frown. He shouldn't approve my request..He's not well enough..
"Come in" he said, breaking her mulling. She masked a smile and went inside the yard.
The boy locked back the fence and turned.
"Um, have you seen the piece, Tsukimori-kun?" Hino tried to start a conversation.
"No. But I've played once before."
"Ah, I see..."
The boy gestured the girl to follow him. Hino shook away her sandals before she stepped into the mansion. They walked inside the living room and Tsukimori sat on the couch, followed by Hino. They sat face to face, separated by a coffee table. There was no significant change for living room eversince Hino, Tsuchiura, and Hihara visited him. The chest filled with trophies and photos was still there, the pictures on the wall remained unmoved and the formation of the couches was still the same.
"Let's start now." Hino said. When Tsukimori nodded slightly, she opened her folder and found the first page of the piece.
"I'm playing the second part of the duet." she explained to him.
"I know."
She drag her folder before him so he could easily look at it.
"The main problem is I can't play in d-flat because the..um..flats were too many."
"How many flats you've played before?"
"Umm.." she mulled over and finally said, "Two, I guess."
His face quickly turned into scowl and before he sighed, she quickly added, "B-But I've once played in E Major. You know, the song on the first round of concour…"
"Tristesse?"
"Yeah! It had four.. um.. squares that functions like flats-"
"Sharps."
"Yeah.." she cringed. She got no knowledge on music, yet she has to be a single stage with the genius who sat beside her.
"Do you think I won't do it?"
He sighed and rubbed his temple. Hino frowned and they fell into a deep silent.
Suddenly a resolution lit in his eyes and he turned to her, "There's one way left."
"Really?" she said excitedly.
"I've never attempted before, but let's try." He quickly took out the paper from the folder and asked her pencil.
"This way you have to change your perspective. Here, give me your violin."
She obediently took her violin case and opened the zipper. She unstrapped her violin and gave it to him.
"Normally C-note is in here, right?" he pointed a particular part on the G string.
"Yeah."
"Now we have to shift it here." He moved his pointing finger a little downward, "You have to shift all of them semitone."
"What's semitone?" She asked bluntly.
He sighed and scowled once again. Really, this girl is so helpless..
"It's when you move a note a half higher."
"Oh! I see.."
"Then all you have to do is transpose this partiture into a numeric one."
"Okay, let me try." She reached for the pencil in his right hand but he pulled it away.
"Can you?" he doubted.
"Of course. Why not?" she swiftly took the pencil and started scribbling down on the paper. Tsukimori peered on the side to see her work. Surprisingly she was able to make it right albeit slowly. Tsukimori drew a small smile of satisfaction before he took the second page of the piece and helped her to finish.
After for about ten minutes, they finally finished transposing the whole piece. During that time, a servant came from the kitchen and brought out some drinks for them.
"Let's start." Hino commenced. She lifted her violin up and started to try the piece.
Twenty minutes afterwards…
"You need to be slower, Hino." Tsukimori said for the umpteenth time.
"I've tried, Tsukimori-kun but.." She trailed off, frustrated over her sense of music. They've been practicing for an hour now but her performance was still awful. Her syncope, beats and rhythm has never been right.
"Yes, there is Tempo Rubato on the note, but it doesn't mean you can play it like that"
He didn't want to snap his frustration right unto her face. Scolding at her just like yesterday really made him feel guilty.
Without saying anything, she lifted her violin and bow and prepared herself ready to try once again.
"..don't." she heard Tsukimori said.
"Excuse me?"
"I said don't." He continued." Let's take a break before we start all over."
"Okay.." She lowered her violin and put it on the case. The shoulder rest was still attached, thus making it impossible to close the lid off.
"Would you like something to eat?" Tsukimori asked. He had already standing near the freezer and opened it.
"That would be nice." She turned towards him and replied.
Hino turned back and started to stretch her tight muscles loose. She massaged the skin around her neck and leaned against the couch.
As soon as her back hit the cushion, her cellphone rang. A phone call, apparently. She reached for it instantly and flipped the lid open.
"Moshi-moshi?"
"Kaho-chan"
"Nao-chan?"
"Hino, where are you?"
"Um...I'm away right now" She tried not to lie to her friend.
"Oh I see.." The short haired girl on the other line muttered. She seemed to buy Hino's vague answer. Deep inside, Hino sighed in relief.
"Um, are you busy?" She started to reveal her intention.
"Ano..." Hino trailed off. Tsukimori had already finished preparing some cakes and tea for both of them. He's now holding a tray and walked towards the coffee table in front of her.
Their eyes met as he passed by and instantly she pointed her cellphone as a silent gesture of permission for him.
"Um, I'm sorry but I'm away right now, Nao-chan." She turned away slightly from Tsukimori. "Later at home, okay? I'm sorry."
"Oh." Nao said. A hint of disappointment was audible enough to be heard.
"Look, I'm sorry, Nao-chan, I promise I'll be home soon and call you back. Okay?"
"Okay. Bye."
She muttered a quick goodbye and quickly close the line.
"You want to go home?" He offered.
Hearing the plain question she looked up to meet the standing host's bullion eyes.
"Yes." She hesitated before answered slowly. But she quickly regretted it and continued resolutely, "But I'll be home a half hour later."
To make her excuse more convincing, she added, "Nao had probably asked help from Mio by now."
Despite this, Hino was still feeling uneasy towards her best friend. It looked like she was abandoning her because of this.
Sometimes she mulled over her two groups of friends she has.
Her classmate ones befriend her longer than the concour ones but now the latter has also climbed its position equal inside her heart.
She hated the fact that in a condition like now, when those two needed her at the same time, she has to divide her attention without disregarding any of them.
Sensing that Tsukimori was looking at her and knew something was going on inside her mind, she quickly find something to divert his attention into.
True, she doesn't want him to blame himself for anything that was bothering her. He, despite his haughtiness and arrogance, is still one of her closest friends and she'd never want a friend to be troubled because of her.
She finally chose the cake as her victim.
"Wow! It looks delicious!" Hino quickly dismiss the awkward tension and slid down to the floor to start eating the cake.
Tsukimori did likewise and together they consumed it.
"Ne, Tsukimori-kun, Have you played this piece before?"
He answered it with a quick shake of his head and looked down, unable to meet her eyes.
Now it's clear that he felt guilty towards her.
Maybe, Hino thought, he positioned himself as the one who hindered me from going home. Eventhough I've said that I chose to stay here by myself, he's still taking the blame on himself.
This thing, added with his stress from the days before was finally taking its toll on him. He looked so down and...and..pathetic..
"Tsukimori-kun," She called slowly while searching his face. As soon as he looked up, she continued.
"It's okay. It's not your fault." The red-haired said reassuring.
"It's not a big deal and I can manage it. We've through worse." Her mind drifted into a squabble she had with Nao and Mio just because she wanted to concentrate on the concour.
Hearing her bleak confession, he felt slightly relieved and nodded solemnly.
"What if you played it once after this?" Hino quickly changed the idle subject. "So I could get a visualisation on what I'm playing at."
"Okay." He agreed. "But yours is not the main part of the may not sounds good."
"Hey, it's not like I only listen to a good piece." she grumbled slowly in reply.
Soon enough, their cakes were finished and they were enjoying the warm tea.
"Don't forget to practice at home, Hino. As soon as Tsuchiura and I start practicing together, you are supposed to be in as well."
"Okay." she agreed and plastered a sincere smile. "Now that we've transposed the whole piece, it would be much easier to practice on my own. It's also a good thing that I don't get to play the main melody. I'm afraid I could go off-tone. Besides.."
Tsukimori sipped the glass contained tea calmly as she talked on and on about her own interpretation for the piece, her worry had long forgotten since Tsukimori lightened up a little after her reassurement.
The prodigy smiled inwardly, what a little light she'd brought into his gloomy life.
"Has your tea done?" He asked not long after she stopped talking.
"Uh, yeah" She handed the empty glass to him. After he collected the the chinawares, he put it on the sink and went back to the guest.
"Play it now, please?" Hino looked up to meet the walking boy's eyes.
"Okay." He agreed before getting his violin ready into his shoulder. Hino took the folder on her lap and set it open in front of Tsukimori. Soon he started to play it.
True, that the melody it produces wasn't so good. In fact, if you listened to it, it feels like you don't know whether Tsukimori was playing it right or not. But she believed he wouldn't give wrong example to her.
His beats, dynamics, syncopes, and rhythym was very exact, just like the one who'd practiced for months and ready for performing tonight. What a good sight-reading he got there.
Then the overtone. The way he played the bridge is very significant and when he finally reached the the overtoned part, he played it gracefully, beautifully.
Not so long, he turned back into the d-flat key but the air of his graceful performance still remained.
Suddenly he stopped and peered at the folder closely.
"What's up, Tsukimori-kun?" Hino asked curiously.
"Looks like starting from this part, you're finally playing the main melody."
"Playing the main melody?" she repeated, before realizing something. Playing the main melody means...
"...taking your role, Tsukimori-kun?"
Hahahhaa..that's it for this chapter.
Decided to end it here, since it's 3500+ words already
Please if you have something to say, don't bother to review or pm me.
Your assertion matters greatly, greater than you could ever ponder