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Okay, sorry for taking so long to update XD
Now please enjoy chapter 3, which takes place around chapter 49 in the manga.
Tsukimori Len
Chapter 3: The End Of My Mission Is...?
I feel my body stiffen; I can't move it no matter how hard I try. I battle the heavy lids on my eyes, but it's useless. The pain in my head invites me to sleep, although I don't understand why I feel the pain. Groaning under my breath, I finally manage to open my eyes, and find nothing but darkness.
"What happened to me..?"
Urging myself to stand up, I frown when I realize that not even a finger I succeed to move. It's just like my entire body has turned into a stone. Seriously, what has happened to me? I certainly remember that I was talking to Hino, praising her, and that grass-haired fool came out of nowhere, and then…
I got Hino's left hand's purity.
I snap my eyes wide open and a hot sensation ramps my cheeks, spreading to my ears.
"…It makes me even with Kaji," I state while blushing, then an interesting line pops within my head.
"And it makes me win over the grasshopper-headed pianist."
Well, I practically always win over him, in concourse and everything. Beside cooking. Yes, I hate to admit it, but he is far better than me at cooking. And I start to think that he may make a good wife…
Ehm, erase that. Back to Hino.
Smiling inwardly, I really, really want to touch my lips, my lucky lips which have tasted Hino's smooth hand, Hino's flawless knuckle. But my body really doesn't obey me, and that makes me really irritated.
I glance around at my surrounding, knowing the darkness very much. This must be a dream. A bad dream just like the one I usually have… The one where I'm always alone in the dark, searching for my parents but what I find are only blackness and voices. Yes, voices of those people who praise me to the highes, but only because of my parents' fame.
My heart twists and my breathing becomes heavy. I really hate this dream. I have enough suffering in my real life… Why do I need to hear them even in a dream?
"Tsukimori-kun!"
My eyes widen. The voice seems different from my usual dream. Was that…
Hino's voice?
I blink several times to collect myself. And yes... That was truly Hino's voice. Her enchanting voice, which can make everything melt. The voice of a goddess. The beautiful voice which has saved me in this dream, which has gradually cured my pained heart and normalized my breathing… Hino…
"Oi, Tsukimori!"
Now my eyes narrow.
That was the voice of the annoying green-headed pianist. What is he doing in my dream? Ruining my moments again?
"Let's bring him inside, Tsuchiura-kun."
And… that was Hino's voice again.
Alright, what has happened actually? What are the two of them doing in here, in my dream? Bring who inside? Bring me? Inside where?
"Duh, this will be difficult, Tsuchiura-kun. He's unconscious and won't walk."
Who's unconscious? Me?
"How about you lift him in your arms..."
Wait.
Hino, did you just say... 'Lift him in your arms'?
"... Or piggy-back him?"
Piggy-back?
I stay still, eyes open wide, dumbfounded. I know,... it's a shame, but I have to acknowledge that I'm totally bewildered at the situation. What exactly are they talking about?
"Tsuchiura-kun, I know Tsukimori-kun and yourself aren't very fond of each other. But there's no other way now, or is there?"
Yes, we're NOT fond of each other very much, Hino. But what's actually your point here?
"Alright..."
The moment when Tsuchiura's mutter could be heard, I feel my body like floating in the air. And that makes me notice what they're debating just now.
"Great…..," I comment to my own self sarcastically. "Now I'm being piggybacked by him. What a nice dream."
"If we put him in his room, we'd cause a fuss, right?"
And there Tsuchiura said a nonsense again… He doesn't want to take me to my room? Then where does he want to take me? What else does he want to do in my dream after piggybacking me? I mean, what can be worse than being piggybacked by him? This is surely a nightmare... Its' not just a normal bad dream, it's a goose-bump!
"I guess you're right. How about we lay him in your room first, on your bed?"
I need to correct my statement above. There is something worse than being piggybacked by him. And Hino has just pointed it out.
"My... bed?" Tsuchiura echoes.
"His… bed?" I parrot in my dream.
"Yeah. My room will cause a fuss, too. And we don't know where Kaji-kun is."
Wait, wait Hino... I don't mind to be laid in your bed, really. Leave Kaji's room alone, but I prefer to be sent to my own room! Please don't make me….
"Alright, off to my room then...."
Stupid Tsuchiura!! I growl in despair. This is surely the worst dream I ever had!
Subsequently, my body feels like floating again in the air, and that was the last thing I know before drifting to the deep darkness again and the voices become nasal. I could tell that there are more people talking, though I fail to recognize whose voices those are. They are shouting, making a fuss, very, very galling for me. And in a moment, the voices are gone, leaving me alone again. And truthfully, I prefer this silence. Very much.
But then, looks like this dream is really my worst nightmare. I couldn't get a little peace even for awhile... Now the voices from earlier are replaced by someone's crying. High pitch tones are throbbing around my ears, really a bothersome.
I never like to hear someone weeping. Not only that I can't do anything but glaring to the crying person and causing the person to sob even more, but also because I hate weak people. Those who can easily show their tears to other people are fools. But I make an exception for Hino, of course. Her tears are admirable. Maybe I should make her cry more often... Oh, no, no, Len! You're not a sadist! Stop thinking like one!
The cries seem to become louder. Honestly, really infuriating.
"...Stop it…," I mumble lowly while opening my eyes.
To my surprise, now everything is bright and I can see the ceiling above me. Does that mean I've finally woken up from that dream? I pinch my own cheek, and yes it hurts... Means I've woken up. But... where am I…?
I try to sit once I find that I'm lying on a bed. Flipping down the comforter, I scan the room only to find Tsuchiura sitting on a chair, backing me. His head leaning to his folded arm on the desk, letting out his sobs.
"Why are you crying?" I wrinkle my brows, feeling sick to the fact that a big, big guy like Tsuchiura's crying.
"Huh?" he snaps his head to me. "So, you're awake?"
"Yes, thanks to your weeping," I mutter heartlessly.
He stares at me with his mouth wide open. Honestly, he looks very stupid.
"… Huh??" is all he could utter from his gaping mouth
Sighing, I massage my hurting head. "What happened to me actually?"
He stands up and shrugs his shoulder. "You fainted. Your head hit the wall. I carried you to my room."
I frown. I feel like I've known the story somehow. Don't tell me that the dream...
"Did you….. Piggyback me?"
The sound of his clearing throat is the only answer I get. Seeing his awkward expression, I could sense my heart jump around my chest and my stomach builds something to force me spit up.
The dream… So that wasn't a dream at all.
"You know, you have to work out since I didn't feel a muscle on you," he commented after coughing.
"…What?" locking my glare to him, I furrow my brows in disgust. "Unbelievable. I never knew you're such a pervert. Don't tell me you groped around my body while piggybacking me."
"Hey!" he raises his hands up, "Great, I was being accused as a stalker and now I'm a pervert? I don't have any interest in men, especially you!"
"Good to hear," I reply sarcastically to be followed by his tweaking brows.
Sighing again, I shake my head. I feel wholly devastated now that the revelation has become clear in my mind. I fainted, and then he piggybacked me, then to add my agony, I slept on his bed.
Sigh. Nightmare comes true. God, are You punishing me?
"You're really pestering... You don't even say your thanks!" he scratches his head, howling in annoyance. Really, what a noisy person.
"You're the one who caused me to faint. I don't owe you anything."
You need a hundred years more to make me say thanks to you, I add inwardly.
Besides, I'm right. He's the cause. If he didn't come out and call Hino, I won't collapse. And I won't have to be touched by him.
"What do you mean, accusing me like that? Stubborn iceberg, can't even say the simplest thing like thanks. You really have zero communication skills!"
"My communication skills are none of your business," I state firmly, sending a glare again. Who does he think he is?
Without waiting any longer, I fix my shirt and walk forward to the door. I don't want to waste any more time in this place. And moreover, with him. There are so many better things to do than spending time in his bedroom, all alone with him. Thinking about it is enough to urge myself into vomiting.
"...Ah," turning my face to him again, I stop exactly at the door as my mind recalls something that annoyed me earlier.
"What?" he snorts, mimicking something between confusion and revolt.
"You were crying weren't you? Big guys shouldn't cry. You should just say so if you don't want me sleeping on your bed. Grow up!" I give my wise advice to him – which he really needs, before walking out of the door and close it again.
Once outside, I run my fingers through my hair. I may need to take a bath again. After all, I don't want the pianist's germs to stick up to my skin. I must clean myself before his virus contaminates me and resulting in degradation of brilliancy. I feel my body start to shudder, imagining that my shooting cerulean hair will be covered by thick repelling moss like his green foolish head.
With the thought, I quickly head to my room with the intention to wash my hair with the strongest shampoo, and clean my body with antiseptic. And I have just taken two steps away when I hear the green-haired pianist's scream from behind the door.
"I was singing!! Tsukimori, you jerk!!!"
Hino, Hino, Hino…
My mind is full with her face. One day has been wasted because of Tsuchiura. He made me unconscious and I couldn't finish my attempt of getting Hino last night. Today, I must make a different move, and that means I have to come out for different ideas of chasing-a-girl technique.
But... What do girls usually like except for being praised anyway? I know, I've decided not to follow other people's advice. But now I don't have any better ideas, do I? Well, I believe you've known already that me – Tsukimori Len, is a complete beginner in romance.
Sigh. It's a shame, but... I really need other people's advices.
"So you asked him to give you flowers?"
I trail my eyes to find two girls, not far from my position. They are squealing at each other, gossiping about something I'm not interested in. Remember my statement in the previous chapter? Tsukimori Len never gossips.
"Of course. All girls love to receive flowers from their boyfriends!"
Or that's what I thought before hearing that girl's answer. Now I think I like to hear gossips. But I still don't like to eavesdrop, I must remind you.
"You're so lucky! What flower he will give you, can't wait until afternoon!" the other girl yells enthusiastically.
"Sure, I'll let you know later," comes her reply, and then they continue chattering as they walk to their classroom.
I stare at them until they disappear. I don't know who they are, and I don't want to know. But whoever they are, I thank them for giving me what I currently need: the next step for getting a girl. Not that I have intention for thanking them in reality though, because no one will ever imagine that Tsukimori Len eavesdro... ehm, listens to their talk for getting an advice in pursuing a girl.
I know, she said that every girl love to receive flowers from their boyfriends. And I know that I'm not yet Hino's boyfriend. But if I succeed, I will be, right? In short, now I'm her soon-to-be-boyfriend.
Smiling secretly, I walk towards my classroom for the morning session. I really can't wait to get a flower for Hino.
The class ended satisfyingly. Today's lesson could be considered as a private lesson, since I was the only student in class. I played a piece emotionally – something I've learned from yesterday's performance, and the instructor said that my playing was great. I thought about Hino along the music, and since I could see her face from the window, it helped very much. Well, for your information, she peeked me again this morning. The good news is, she wasn't with Tsuchiura. But the bad news is that she was with the one who loves to pursue her everywhere – Kaji.
Still, I can't say that I'm devastated, because I'm quite contented with the result of today's class. Not only I was praised by the German instructor, Hino was also astounded by my outstanding German skills. Thanks to her high-pitched voice, I could hear clearly that she talked to Kaji about my ability to speak German. She glorified me, saying that I was awesome to be able to speak foreign language fluently. Of course it makes my level one more point higher than Tsuchiura, right? But candidly, I was a bit surprised to know that Kaji can actually speak German too. He translated my speech to Hino, and that caused Hino to be amazed by him too. Tsk. Does that mean that I'm still even with him? But his German was not as fluent as me, so... I'm not even with him anymore, I can regard myself as better than him, I suppose.
Alright, enough talking about Kaji. I don't need him to ruin my day. Yesterday Tsuchiura has wrecked my night, and now I won't let anyone blocking my way to Hino again.
Right, now is the time to think about my project. First, what kind of flower should I give her? And how should I get the flower?
Walking around the garden, I see wild flowers grow along the grass. But I can't give a girl whom I love some wild flowers, can I? What I need is a beautiful flower to represent my feelings to her. But I think I can't just go outside this place to buy flowers. First, I have to pass the guard at the gate, and there's no way I can let him know that I'm buying flowers for a girl. Second, I don't know this place very much, and it really is not funny if I get lost because of buying flowers. So, my left choice is actually only taking wild flowers from the ground.
Sigh.
I am about to crouch and pick the wild flowers when a woman's voice calls me from behind. Straightening my body again, I turn to face her and see that she hugs a big bouquet of flower – pink flowers to be exact – in her hands.
"Young man, you can't pick those innocent flowers. Here, if you want some, take this," the woman whom I guess as the lady in charge of the building, hands me two flowers she plucked from the bouquet.
"Ah, well, sorry..," stammering, I feel my face warms up a little.
"Sorry is not the right word! Say thanks!" she laughs as she forces my hand to grip the flowers. "These are Azaleas. Very pretty, aren't they?"
"Yes. Very... Thank you," gazing at the flowers in my hand, I mentally admit that the flowers are indeed pretty. With soft pink petals, they will be a great match with Hino's beauty.
"My, my. Flowers really suit you! What a handsome face you have there," she chuckles as my face becomes hotter. "Oh well, no time to chit-chat again, I must put these flowers into a vase. Well then, excuse me."
"Ah, thank you very much," I repeat my thanks and bow slightly to her, accompanying her walking towards the building with my eyes. Well, now I'm ready to accomplish my mission.
Glancing at the flowers again, my eyebrows furrow as I remember something. I have never done something as cheesy as giving flowers to a girl! Sure, I've given flowers several times to my mother every time she finished her concerts. But giving flowers to your mother is a completely different case with giving flowers to your crush. And I'm wholly sure, that I will act foolishly again like last night.
Shaking my head to overcome my embarrassment, I sigh again. Hm... now that I think about it... Like Hino said, maybe I really too fall in love with sighing. I sigh day and night, night and day. I guess I need to change my attitude. I won't sigh again.
Then with the thought, I walk to search a silent space in the garden and exhale. Yes, exhaling, not sighing, mind you. I continue walking until I arrive at the corner of the garden. Nobody's around, so I could say that this is a perfect spot to practice.
I stand still and am about to begin my speech practice, when my eyes catch a glimpse of green behind me. Yes, yes, gardens are usually green, I know. But I was referring to a certain green. And that green is patched to someone's head. In conclusion, it's the green-headed pianist whom I'm talking about.
I exhale again...
Alright... What is he doing in there actually? He's peeking me! He hides his big body behind a tree, but he obviously forgets about something. His big body won't be covered by the thin tree! What a fool...
And great, now I can't practice my speech. Not when he's around. What a stalker... So he spoke the truth last night that he was being accused as a stalker. Well... Everyone will think that he's one if he keeps on doing this.
I shake my head in annoyance and start walking again, believing that I won't be able to do anything as long as he's there. As my feet step toward the building, I try to hide the flowers from his sight. But, I could tell that he already knows my plan anyway. If not, he won't stalk me like this. Certainly, he's going to fail my plan again.
"You slapped him?!"
A familiar voice makes my ears perk up. There, stand the two girls from earlier near the building's entrance.
"What an idiot! He gave me an Azalea! Azalea, you know!" the other girl barks with fiery emotions, and that makes me freeze.
Azalea?
"So what about Azalea?" the other girl questions.
"Flowers have meanings. And Azalea's usually used to say your hate towards someone."
Pang! Now I feel like I'm being shot by a spear right through my heart.
"That stupid guy didn't even try to find the meaning first before giving me the flowers!" the girl continues on blabbering as they go inside the building, leaving me with my dumbstruck expression.
So that girl's boyfriend gave her azalea? Of course, I should have known... That guy must have gotten the flowers from that old lady too. Because if that guy is a selected student like me, he must be suffering the same problem with me: cannot go outside to buy flowers. Oh no,... Now my plan is coming back to zero again....
Through my eyes' corner I can see Tsuchiura's puzzled with my expression. He is too far away from the girls to hear their conversation, no wonder he doesn't understand my situation. He continues to peek me from behind the trees, moving from one tree to another, assuming that his huge figure is small and the poor thin trees are enough to prevent him from being seen by my sharp eyes. Well, actually you don't need to have sharp eyes to see such a huge body, do you?
"You have a problem, Tsuchiura?" I glare to him through my eyes corner, not bothering to turn my head facing him. I'm totally irritated now that my plan to give Hino this Azalea is destroyed. I can't give her the flowers now that I know the meaning already.
Shocked from being caught in the act, he smiles sheepishly. "So you know."
"Of course, you really should measure your own body," I raise one brow to gesture my mock at him.
"What do you mean?" he stares at me, showing his nonplused look. Ah... so he doesn't get it? Then he's just a pure idiot after all.
"So, what do you want?" I tighten my grip to the flowers, turning my body to face him, and narrow my eyes.
He scratches his head, a little bit stammering. "Uh, well... First, I'm not a stalker. I only happened to pass by."
"Fine, you're not a stalker. But you're a pervert who loves to grope and peek me," I reply nonchalantly.
"Hey, why, but – !"
"Tsukimori-kun! Tsuchiura-kun!"
Hino cuts Tsuchiura's stuttering words, forcing my head to snap at her with wide eyes.
"I see, so Tsuchiura-san and Tsukimori-san are close friends," there the clueless blonde busts in to the conversation.
"Who? We?!" Tsuchiura shrieks. Tsk. I don't consider him as a close friend too, but hearing him shrieking like that pisses me off.
I tweak my brows and ignore the two tom-fools, acting as if there were only me and Hino in this place.
"What are you doing, Hino?" …and why are you with Kaji??
"Just walking around," Hino shrugs with her sweetest smile. "Oh, Tsukimori-kun, you got beautiful flowers! Are these from your fans?"
Oh God! She's seen the flowers! I curse myself for forgetting to hide them.
"No, uh, ...," I could feel my hands getting sweaty.
"No? Oh then, are you planning to give it to someone?" Hino continues innocently.
Yes, I wanted to give it to you! But...
"Tsukimori-kun? What's wrong?" Hino waves her hands before my eyes, inviting me back to Earth.
Sweats start to form on my forehead and I roll my eyes round to search for excuses in panic. Within my eyes' travel, I see that Kaji stays calm with his over-sweet smile, although I can see his eyes shine with something dangerous. And I could tell Tsuchiura is as nervous as me, possibly he's afraid that I will steal Hino's heart with the flowers. Well, I did want to do that, but not again right now...
"Tsukimori-kun, I like flowers, can I have those if you're not giving them to anybody?" Hino questions, tilting her head to the side, very cute in my eyes. But now is not the time to think about her cuteness. True, perhaps she doesn't know the meaning of Azaleas, but how if she knows later? Then she will think that I hate her!
"I, uh...," stuttering, I divert my eyes to the grass-head besides me and subconsciously blurt something that flashes across my mind.
"I want to give them to Tsuchiura," I quickly hand the flowers to the gaping pianist.
Blinking again and again, Tsuchiura finally registers something in his mind. He accepts the flowers and grins very wide. "Thank you! I've been thinking to take it from you anyway!"
So, that's why he's been stalking me... He wanted to steal them from me to forestall me giving them to Hino. But it relieves me that he's a stupid person who couldn't get that his act receiving the flowers actually saves me. Well, I hate him, so it's not a problem to give Azalea to say my hatred to him, right?
"Oh I see, that's why you two seem very close!" Kaji whines brightly, hands clasp before his chest, smiling dramatically.
"Huh?" come Tsuchiura's and my voice in sync. What does he mean? Why should he act overacting?
"You know, Azalea means first love!" Kaji exclaims happily.
I blink. I blink. And I blink.
First Love?
"Oh wow, so that's why Tsuchiura-kun seemed eager to receive the flowers from you, Tsukimori-kun! You both like each other then?" Hino grimaces.
"Who? We?" Tsuchiura gapes, turning his face towards me, then Hino, then me again, totally confounded.
"Ah, it doesn't matter if Tsuchiura-kun's first love is Sakimoto Mizue-san. The important thing is your passion! You have showed your glowing expression when Tsukimori-kun gave you those! You even said that you wanted to receive them real bad!" Hino proclaims, clapping her hands in the air, sending the pianist to mimic a goldfish even more.
"Wait... Does Azalea really mean....," I mumble in shock. It can't be! I clearly heard that Azalea means hatred!
"So you misunderstood? Azalea actually means first love?"
I jerk my eyes towards the two girls from earlier, who are now walking outside the building again.
"Yes, I apologized to him just now. Azalea means first love, romance and fragile passion. He actually loves me very much!"
"Awww... So sweet....!!"
And they're gone again... Leaving me alone in my own world – a world of desperation. Great. That explains so much. From now on, listening to gossips is a big no no for me.
"Hmm, hmm,.. So sweet!" Hino nods repeatedly, grinning ear to ear, as if agreeing with the girls' conversation. But the bad thing is, Hino's referring to my relationship with the mud-head!
Mud-head, mud-head, mud-head, mud-head..., now I even can hear them echo in my mind. I must have been crazy...
And so, Hino keeps on squealing while Kaji is beaming with joy. As for Tsuchiura... He looks as pale as a corpse. Green-headed corpse to be exact. And me,... now that my senses start to become dull, only one thing I can be sure of.
The end of my mission is getting away from me... More.
"What!? Now I'm a gay??!"
...That was Tsuchiura's scream.
(To be continued)
A/N: Yayy! End for chapter 3! So what do you think? We'll be waiting for your reviews~! Thanks!
