Author's Note: I do not own La Corda D'oro, but my story plot is original.

Chapter 3: Under the Umbrella

"Gosh… I'm going to be late!" Kahoko whispered to herself as she checked and rechecked her watch and phone. She agreed to help her friend Eri prepare for the dance contest for the schools foundation day and she's now hurrying.

To cap it off, its raining hard….

Sighing as she endured the heavy traffic and rain, Kahoko peered outside the car's window and saw Kazuki making a run for the very same car she was on.

Watching Kazuki as he made a mad grab for the car handle, she gazed wonderingly as he went inside, hair all drenched and clothes a bit soggy.

"Hihara-kun!" Kahoko greeted as he sat down opposite her.

"Oi, Hino-chan…." Kazuki smiled guiltily at her as he wiped his hair with his handkerchief.

"You don't have any umbrella? Isn't it your dance contest today? You'll get sick!" Kahoko barraged him with questions.

"I don't carry umbrellas…." Kazuki trailed off as he gazed at his foot.

"Oh…. Sorry then…"

"Got your make-up, Hino-chan?" Erika smiled warmly at Kahoko as she saw her enter the room, with Kazuki behind her holding a wet umbrella.

"Yup… Here it is Torii-chan.." Kahoko held out a small pink to her friend and then face Kazuki.

"Thanks for holding out my umbrella…" Kahoko smiled gratefully up at Kazuki, not noticing the blush spreading out to his cheeks.

"N-no p-pro-problem…" Kazuki stuttered as he handed back Kahoko's umbrella.

"You should dry out your clothes before the last rehearsal, Hihara-kun… You'll get sick with your damp clothes…" Erika called out from the room's corner as she applied a light blue eyeshadow on her face.

Laughing, Kahoko looked up at Kazuki and nodded off at the restroom, "you better go.."

"Right…" Kazuki sprinted off, his wet clothes dripping water on the waxed floor.

Kazuki's POV

That was weird..

Kazuki looked at himself on the restroom's mirror as he changed clothes.

I've never felt that way before…..

Frowning, Kazuki recalled the walk he and Kahoko just had on the way to school.

It felt so surreal.

He continually gazed at himself as he recalled the things that occurred minutes ago.

Flashback

"Here, let me hold out that umbrella for you…" Kazuki extended an arm as Kahoko pushed open her blue umbrella as soon as they got down from the car.

"No, its okay.. " Kahoko shook her head as she propped the umbrella to cover both of them.

"I insist." Kazuki shook his head too as he gently prised Kahoko's hands from her hands.

"Oh… Okay…" Kahoko smiled shyly as she willingly gave her umbrella to Kazuki, not noticing the sudden blush that spread on her cheeks.

Almost losing his balance with the blush, Kazuki quickly regained his composure by commenting on the slippery floor.

Giggling at his comment, Kahoko bowed low to watch her step, not knowing that Kazuki was watching her.

Kazuki gazed rather curiously at Kahoko. She was always shrouded in mystery. She was smart yet very humble. Friendly yet weirdly enough, she wasn't popular in school. Extremely pretty but invisible.

Naïve yet still sweet….

"We're here!" Kahoko's voice ringed like bells, cutting through Kazuki's thoughts.

"Yeah, I guess so…"

End of Flashback

_

Alright! Yeah! I managed to finish chapter 3… whooh! Okay, I know it's a bit too short, but its really my intention 'cause the next chappie is long, to compensate for this chappie.. The next chapter will be set after a year from this one, okay? Its just that the story will be toooooo long if I did it in a normal day after day after day sequence…. Thank you for the reviews! Next chappie…. SOON!