A/N- just a few minor adjustments to the first part; thanks to AnimeViolinist for critiquing this chapter!
It was a cold, crisp night at the ski lodge. Soft, twinkling lights illuminated the windows of the snow-covered cabins, the warm glow spilling out of the glass panes. Tonight would be their first performance as an ensemble, and anticipation and excitement hung in the air as everyone was busy getting dressed and practicing a few parts at the last minute. Hino was feeling nervous and excited at the same time. She had practiced very hard, afraid of letting down her friends and fellow performers. She didn't want to disappoint anyone, especially not Tsukimori. It was hard to explain, but for some reason, she really wanted him to hear her music tonight. She wanted him to feel…proud? Amazed? Yes, it was probably all of those things.
The sound of a violin could be heard from one of the rooms in the cabin. Anyone could tell that the person playing was a skilled violinist. The notes were accurate, the tempo precise, and the emotions of the player could be heard through the music. It was Tsukimori.
He had dressed simply, wearing a classic black suit and tie. As he practiced the song again, thoughts of Hino-san flitted across his mind. He was nervous for her. Ever since her performance during the third selection, her playing seemed like that of an amateur, so different from her playing during the previous selections. Yes, it still conveyed all her heart's emotions, and it never failed to captivate him, but he still wanted her to succeed. It irritated him a bit that he was losing his focus on music because of her, but at the same time, a part of him he never knew exsisted was…what? What was this feeling that he had every time he saw her? Every time he heard her music? What was it?
"Oi! You guys get ready! We're expected at the main lodge in less than 20 minutes!" shouted Kanazawa, cutting short Tsukimori's last minute practice. He carefully put his violin back in its case, checked his appearance in the mirror one last time, and turned off the lights in the room and headed downstairs.
Kanazawa-sensei sighed. "Where is that Hino? Why is she always the one we're waiting for? If she isn't down in a minute, I swear, we are going to leave without her."
As though on cue, the redhead chose that moment to appear.
She hurriedly went down the stairs and said, "Gomen, everyone, I lost track of time."
Tsukimori blushed. She looked beautiful, almost… ethereal. The red-haired violinist wore an eggshell white, spaghetti-strapped dress with ruffles at the hem. Small silver sequins twinkled as she walked towards them, the soft material of her dress swishing to and fro. Her bright glossy hair was pulled back in a chignon with a simple silver comb, her bangs framing her face beautifully. He wasn't the only guy to be rendered speechless by her. Hihara, Tsuchiura and Yunoki were also dumbstruck, although Yunoki did a better job of hiding it.
"Y-you look great, Kaho-chan!" Hihara finally said. Tsuchiura nodded.
Hino blushed. "Arigato, Hihara-senpai, Tsuchiura-kun,"
Kanazawa sighed loudly to get their attention. "Oi, I know you guys might be hoping for some romance during winter break, but now at least focus on the performance. We'll be needed at the lodge at around now…so if you guys would be so considerate as to get out of this cabin and get into the car…" he trailed off, staring at them.
The three students, embarrassed, looked down and shuffled off to the car like little children who had been scolded and ordered a "time-out", and the rest of them followed suit.
A polite round of applause was heard in the grand ballroom of the main lodge as the concourse participants finished playing Salut d'Amour. They bowed and went backstage. As soon as they were out of sight, Hihara burst out, unable to control his cheerfulness any longer.
"That was AMAZING! Who knew performing as an ensemble could be so much FUN!" he exclaimed.
Hino giggled as Kanazawa glared at him, saying, "Hihara! Calm down! Just because they can't see you doesn't mean they can't hear you! Shut up!"
Hihara pouted, and Hino smiled and said, "I think your playing was wonderful, Hihara-senpai."
He grinned and said, "You too, Kaho-chan!"
Hino suddenly felt thirsty, and went out to look for the water dispenser. She found Tsukimori standing by the window, staring out at the bright, scattered lights surrounding the area.
She got herself a cup of cold water and went over to Tsukimori.
"Ne, Tsukimori…"
"Oh, Hino-san," he said. Tsukimori had been staring at the landscape with so much concentration that he had not heard her approach.
"I, uh, I really liked the way you played tonight…it seemed to be softer, more tender…like you seemed to be playing from the heart."
Because of you, Kaho… "Arigato, Hino."
A cold breeze wafted in from a small crack from one of the glass panes, making the red-haired beauty shiver a little. Tsukimori noticed, of course; nothing escaped his sharp sense of hearing. Immediately, he shrugged off his black jacket and thrust it in Hino's direction a bit gruffly.
"Here. You might catch a cold. I don't want it to affect the quality of the ensemble's performances the following days."
"A-arigato, Tsukimori-kun,"
Hino blushed prettily, taking the jacket and putting it around her shoulders, her heartbeat going faster.
Tsukimori looked away and gave a small, dry cough to hide his blush.
Hino, naturally, didn't understand that the cough was meant to hide his awkwardness, and said, "Are you thirsty, Tsukimori-kun? I'll get you some water," all the while walking towards the dispenser.
Hino failed to notice a puddle of water near the floor, water she accidentally spilled when she got herself a cup, and she slipped and fell, falling on her backside.
The blue haired violinist immediately rushed to her side and offered her a hand, saying, "Are you all right?" Hino couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, even through her pain. This was a lot like the time she fell and cut her fingers on the shards of a broken flower vase. She took hold of Tsukimori's hand and tried to pull herself up, but as she tried to stand, a sharp pain in her right ankle made her wince and fall back on the floor, letting out a soft "Ah"
Tsukimori was feeling very stupid. He always acted differently around Hino, and he didn't like it. Just now, when she shivered, he was supposed to put it AROUND her shoulders FOR her, not give it to her and tell her to put it on herself. If his parents found out, they would surely chastise him for his un-gentlemanliness. It wasn't just that. Why did he have to blush?? And what was the cough for?? And why did he always have to get into these uncomfortable situations WITH HER??
He could hear her asking him if he wanted a cup of water, but it didn't matter because she was already walking towards the water dispenser…and fell.
So clumsy… he thought as he speed walked towards her and offered her a hand.
"Are you all right?"
Tsukimori wanted to take back the words as soon as they left his mouth.
Baka! Of course she isn't all right! You could've said something like, "Can you stand?" or, "Need some help"—no, wait, that's stupid too—of course she needs help!—or does she? I mean, if she can stand on her own, what am I supposed to do to help her? Wait, no, she CAN'T stand on her own. There must be something wrong with her leg or something. Duh, Len, you idiot—she's in pain, look at her!! She can't stand, she's grimacing—now what? Should I carry her? Like, the bridal kind of carry?
At this point, he didn't really know what he was doing. It was like an out of body experience, picking the redhead up, despite her protests. It felt nice, carrying her like that.
Whoa. What is Tsukimori-kun doing? Hino thought as she was swiftly lifted up by the handsome violinist.
"Uh, Tsukimori-kun, there's no need to carry me! Really!"
He isn't listening to me. This is kind of…comfortable, but uncomfortable at the same time. Does he think I'm heavy? Is my butt to big? Where are my arms supposed to be? Around his neck? Aaaaa!!
"She has a minor sprain in the right ankle, which isn't that serious, but it might take around a week or two to heal," the doctor said.
Tsukimori had carried Hino to the clinic they had at the lodge, where the phycisian examined Hino's ankle.
Now, the doctor turned to Hino and said, "You'll need a pair of crutches to walk around. It's a good thing you guys will be here for a week, around the same time it takes your sprain to heal, so you don't have to buy them; just borrow a pair from the clinic then return them when you're okay. You might have some difficulty going up and down stairs with them, but that won't be a problem, since your boyfriend here could carry you, ne, Hino-san?"
The doctor gestured to Len and winked at the two of them. Obviously, they both turned red and simultaneous cries of "I-ie, sensei!" and "Hino and I aren't like that" could be heard from even outside the clinic.
"O-oh, gomen, gomen," said the doctor, embarrassed. "I'm really sorry. I just assumed since he came in here carrying you… and besides, you two look really good together," she said to Hino. Len couldn't help but feel annoyed at the doctor for making these baseless assumptions; after all, an educated and scientific woman like her—she was, after all, a doctor—shouldn't just jump to conclusions without facts, but, at the same time, Len felt a little elated at her comment that they looked good together. Take that, Tsuchiura!