The Summer to Remember
Chapter 6: Like him
Author's note: First off, thank you everyone who is still waiting patiently for me to update this story. Well, I will really be lying if I tell you that I do not have time to update. It's almost a year and I have gotten more used to my school life now.
Likewise, I suddenly got the urge to finish writing it, why? The La Corda D'oro Anime has a second season. Called La Corda D'oro Secondo Passo. I really do hope that Hino ends up with Ryou, or at least chooses someone. It's really like a cliff-hanger when they didn't tell you who she chose. But the best thing for me, is I get to see Ryoutarou again! Hahas, I am a major fan of Tsuchiura. He's just so handsome!
Note: I realised a fact when I watch the series again, that they said that Ryou's mother is a piano teacher. I kind of forgot this point, so Hitomi isn't a piano teacher in my story.
Okay, back to the story, Now that we know about Hitomi and Ryousuke's story, and that Ryoutarou has decided on what piece he's playing. What will Hino do, to make him stay?
Tsuchiura Ryoutarou woke up with a smile on his face. He had a good dream last night and he was feeling very confident. He got out of bed and walked over to his desk where the calendar was. He flipped to the next month and smiled as he saw the writing on his competition day. His mother had circled it for him in red and written good luck and drew a chibi version of him.
" Guess all that's left now is... practising." Tsuchiura muttered to himself.
He looked up at the ceiling. He must win, he doesn't want to move away, he wants to stay here. Here where everyone's around. An image of Hino flashed into his mind. He immediately shook his head, she was one of the reasons. But, he mustn't let her affect him. Or else, he wouldn't be able to perform well.
He went to the bathroom to wash his face, brush his teeth and take a bath. Then he got dressed in his uniform and came down the stairs. As usual, his parents were already out. But he was surprised to see that his mother had left a bag on the dining table with a card. It was probably bento boxes.
" Dearest Ryou-chan. Mum put in a lot of effort and love while making these food for you. PS. If it's really awful, don't eat it. From mum, Hitomi." Tsuchiura read out loud and smiled at the chibi face his mother had drawn.
It was rare for his mother to even cook, she was just so busy with work. Tsuchiura wondered why they relationship seems to have gotten better. He felt as if he had grown a little closer to them. Probably it's because he had heard their love story. Tsuchiura picked up the bento bag and then his school bag. After putting on his shoes, he left for school.
" Good Morning, Ryou!"
Tsuchiura turned to see Takeru waving at him. He stopped and waited for Takeru to catch up.
" You look happy." Takeru commented.
Then Takeru's eyes fell on the bento bag Tsuchiura was holding onto.
" Is that bento?" Takeru asked.
" My mum made it."
" Why aren't you lucky? No wonder you look happy." Takeru told him and smiled.
They continued walking to school.
" You want to share it with me?" Tsuchiura asked.
" I have a feeling it's not meant for two." Takeru told him.
" Knowing my mum, she would probably pack more servings." Tsuchiura told him.
" Well, since you offered, I will gladly accept it then. Thank you!" Takeru exclaimed with a smile.
" Since you are eating half, you should do some work."
Tsuchiura stuffed the bag to Takeru. Takeru didn't complain.
" I found it."
" Huh?" Takeru asked.
" The song that I'm going to play for the competition." Tsuchiura told Takeru.
" You did? That's fast..."
" Judging from the time I have left till the competition it's already late." Tsuchiura commented.
" What piece are you playing?" Takeru asked.
" Moonlight Sonata - by Ludwig Van Beethoven ( First Movement)." Tsuchiura told him.
" Hmm... Why that song?"
" It has a story behind it." Tsuchiura told Takeru.
" What kind of story?" Takeru asked.
" A... love story I guess."
" Is it about you and..."
Tsuchiura wasn't listening, he looked at his watch and realised that they were going to be late.
" We better run, or we will be late." Tsuchiura told him.
" What love story?" Takeru pressed on.
" Let's go."
Tsuchiura broke into a run, Takeru watched him run off.
" Wait up Ryou! I haven't even finished talking to you. Hey!" Takeru exclaimed.
But it was too late, Tsuchiura was already gone from his sights. Takeru sighed and ran after Tsuchiura, towards the school as well.
Hino Kahoko sighed as she changed out of her outside shoes into her school shoes. She has been thinking a lot this whole weekend. She have thought about what Takeru said, and how to make Tsuchiura stay. She thought for very long and she couldn't come up with any good reasons to convince him to stay. It's not like they were that close. Maybe they were in the past, but ever since that kiss... They have become more distanced. Hino sighed.
" What should I do?" Hino asked herself.
She placed her outside shoes back into the shoes locker, just when she closed it, she saw Tsuchiura coming into the school building. As she was just thinking about him, she was a bit embarrassed to see him at that moment. Plus there's a lot going on lately, so she hoped that he didn't see her. She just froze there and closed her eyes and waited. When she heard nothing, she opened her eyes and peeked past those shelves of shoe lockers to look at the entrance. He wasn't there, sighing in relief, she turned to pick up her bag.
Her eyes widened in shock when a hand reached past her for the top locker. She froze totally and she felt the heat rush up to her face as she was standing so close to him. She felt her heart beating like crazy as a picture of her kissing Tsuchiura filled her head. She had forgotten that Tsuchiura's shoe locker was in the same shelve as hers. It was impossible to avoid meeting, or pretend that she didn't see him.
" Ah... Anno, Good Morning, Tsuchiura-kun." Hino greeted slowly.
Tsuchiura turned to look at her.
" Morning." He greeted and moved to change his shoes.
The silence and atmosphere was awkward. Hino didn't know what to say. She suddenly remembered what Takeru told her, that he's moving away in 6 months.
" Tsuchiura-kun."
Tsuchiura turned to look at her. Hino looked down a little and wondered how to put what she's thinking into words.
" I... er... heard from Fuyuki-kun that..."
The school bell rang and they heard the sound of people rushing to get to their classrooms so that they won't be late for their first lesson.
" I should get going." Tsuchiura told her softly.
" Oh, yeah." Hino whispered, looking down.
Tsuchiura walked past her and Hino was starting to blame herself. Why was she such a failure? Why couldn't she even talk to him like she used to? She didn't notice that Tsuchiura looked back at her before heading for his class.
Recess
Hino was still confused and depressed. She was staying in class during the recess break. Kuromi and Yumiko were eating from their bento boxes. They noticed the look on Hino's face.
" What's wrong, Kaho-chan?" Yumiko asked.
" Nothing." Hino whispered, resting her head down on her table.
" You look exhausted." Yumiko commented.
" I think it's because she's hungry and she didn't bring her bento today." Kuromi told them.
" It's not that." Hino whispered and then sighed and turned to look at the other side.
" Do you want to talk about what's troubling you?" Kuromi asked.
Hino sighed and then she sat up straight and looked at her friend.
" I can try." Hino whispered.
" Okay, shoot." Yumiko told her as she sat down on the seat beside Hino's.
" Well, if... you have a very close friend and you find out that he/she is moving away in 6 weeks time... what will you do?" Hino asked them.
" Is this a trick question?" Yumiko asked.
" No. And... He/she isn't coming back again. What will you do?" Hino asked.
" Well... If we are very close, I will probably try to make him/her stay." Kuromi told her.
" But how?" Hino asked.
" Hmm... I would probably name all the advantages of staying here and all the disadvantages of moving away." Kuromi told her.
" Yumiko, what about you?" Hino asked.
" Hmm... I will try to make him/her stay. But if it does work, I guess there's really nothing much I can do." Yumiko told her.
Hino sighed, in the end, the problem was still unsolved. How to convince Tsuchiura to stay? She thought to herself.
" Wait, why are you asking us this in the first place?" Kuromi asked.
" Well..."
" Kahoko, you are moving away?" Kuromi asked, looking shocked.
" No, relax. It's just that a friend of mine is moving away, so..."
" That's a shocker." Kuromi commented.
" Is that friend very important to you?" Yumiko asked.
" Important?" Hino asked.
She had never asked herself that question.
" Yumiko." Kuromi kind of hissed.
" I mean, if it's a he. And if he means a lot to you, then all the more you should try to make him stay, no?" Yumiko asked.
" Means a lot to you..." Hino whispered.
" And if you like him, you should confess your feelings for him, maybe he would change his mind about leaving. Likewise, you will feel better because you have told him how you felt about him. And if he's never coming back, all the more you should do that." Yumiko told Hino.
Hino was shocked when Yumiko took her hand and squeezed it.
" Come on Kaho-chan, I know you will be able to do it!" Yumiko told her and smiled at her.
" Yumiko! Kahoko didn't even say that her friend is a male. Plus, what makes you think she likes him?" Kuromi asked.
Then Kuromi asked.
" You watch too much drama." Kuromi commented while Yumiko just smiled.
Hino had no idea what Yumiko was talking about. But she didn't see Tsuchiura like that. He was just a close friend.
A close friend who you kissed. A voice in her head told her.
Hino's eyes widened at the sound of that voice.
You blush and your heart races at the sight of him. You get upset when you see him with other girls. The voice in her head continued.
No, it' because we kissed, that's why I'm reacting like that.Hino tried to rebut her way out.
You think that he's handsome, no? And that's he a gentleman and that he's boyfriend material. The voice told her.
" No, No, it's not like that!" Hino suddenly shouted.
When she opened her eyes, she realised that everyone was looking at her with wide eyes. Yumiko had dropped her chopsticks.
" Kaho-chan..." Yumiko whispered.
Embarrassed with her sudden outburst, Hino stood up, bowed and apologised before running out of the classroom. She just kept on running and running. What was wrong with her? She wasn't usually like this. She was happier... When she finally stopped running, she realised that she had ran over to the music department's practice rooms. She looked around and sighed, what was she going to do now? That's when a sound a piano got her attention. Maybe she was just imaginating things. She turned to leave when she saw a flash of green.
She immediately peeked in from the glass pane on the door and saw that Tsuchiura was playing the piano inside the room. Hino immediately felt her heat beating faster. Then she closed her eyes and listened to him play. It was beautiful and skilful as ever. Her hand fell on the doorknob, and somehow as she was too engrossed in the music, that she didn't notice that she had turned the doorknob. The door opened and she fell forward. It hurts a lot, but she heard a loud bang on the piano's keys.
" Who's that?" Tsuchiura asked.
Hino stood up.
" I'm sorry for intruding on your practice." Hino whispered.
" Hino?" Tsuchiura asked, then he frowned.
" What are you doing here?" He asked her.
" Well... er... I don't really remember." Hino admitted as she closed the door.
" I... er kind of eavesdropped a little while I was outside. What piece are you playing?" Hino asked.
" Moonlight Sonata - by Ludwig Van Beethoven ( First Movement) in No.14 C-sharp minor, Op.27 No.2." Tsuchiura told her.
She was getting a little nervous, knowing that they were alone in the room and that he was looking at her. She wished he would just continue playing and ignore her.
" Oh..."
" Are you... hurt?" Tsuchiura asked her softly.
" What?" Hino asked, fearing that she heard wrongly.
Tsuchiura turned to look at his right and he started clearing his throat.
" I mean, were you hurt when you fell?" Tsuchiura asked.
" Oh, no, I'm alright." Hino told her and smiled at him.
She was a little surprised that he would still care about her, after all that has been going on. And the fact that they have been avoiding each other. Hino looked down and her hands clenched into fists.
" Tsuchiura-kun... About what I was talking about in the morning..." Hino whispered, trailing off.
" What about that?" Tsuchiura asked, his attention back on the music scores before him.
" I... er... heard from Fuyuki-kun that..." One of Hino's hands was now tightly grasping the hem of her school skirt, she was nervous.
" That... you are moving away to Singapore in 6 weeks time." Hino finished her sentence.
Tsuchiura didn't say anything, nor was he showing any expression on his face.
" And?" Tsuchiura asked.
" I... just want to say, don't leave, Tsuchiura-kun." Hino told him.
Tsuchiura looked down at the piano.
" Why?"
" Why what?" Hino asked.
" Why are you trying to persuade me to not leave?" Tsuchiura asked.
" That's because you are a close friend of mine and I..."
Hino looked down a little.
" I won't know what to do if you are gone." Hino whispered.
Tsuchiura started packing his music scores.
" Tsuchiura-kun..."
But he was still packing his music scores as if he was ignoring her. Then he closed the cover of the piano and stood up to walk towards the door. Hino immediately ran up to stop him. She held his arm, in an attempt to stop him from leaving.
" Tsuchiura-kun, please stay. Stay here, in Japan with us." Hino whispered.
Tsuchiura looked back at her.
" Please." Hino whispered, their eyes met for a moment.
Then Tsuchiura removed her hand that was on his arm. Hino looked at him in shock.
" There is no reason for me to stay here." He told her softly.
" What about your friends? Fuyuki-kun? What about your piano playing? What about your memories and what about your school and studies?" Hino asked.
Tsuchiura just kept quiet.
" What about me?" Hino asked him softly.
" Since we are merely friends, then I believe nothing you say will convince me to stay." Tsuchiura told her as he reached for the doorknob.
His words were shockingly painful. They were like arrows that were stabbing into her heart. Tsuchiura opened the door.
" Wait, Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino called out, trying to reach out again to make him come back, but he was gone.
He's gone...Hino slowly sank down to the floor. He's leaving in about 6 weeks time... He's not coming back again... Hino didn't know what to do. His painful words still hurt her. There is no reason for me to stay here. Since we are merely friends, then I believe nothing you say will convince me to stay. His voice echoed in her head.
" No..." Hino whispered to no one.
He cannot go, he couldn't go just like that. What about her? Tears stung her eyes as her heart felt like it was broken. What about them? He was so good to her... He was so kind to her... They were such good friends... Droplets of water fell from her eyes and hit the wooden flooring.
" No... I don't want you to leave." Hino whispered as she cried.
She couldn't imagine him leaving. It was like having a hole in a photo. But why? Why was it hurting so much? Was it because she cares about him as a friend? Or was it because it was something else? She didn't know, she was so confused and upset.
Tsuchiura was walking into the canteen when he saw Takeru reading a book by a table.
" Takeru!"
" Oh, you are done? Let's eat then!" Takeru exclaimed, closing his book.
" TAKERU FUYUKI!!!" Tsuchiura shouted as he pulled Takeru by his collar up to face him.
Everyone turned to look at them.
" Why are you so mad at me?" Takeru asked.
" You told HER!"
" Her?" Takeru asked.
" Hino!"
" Oh, that." Takeru muttered.
Tsuchiura let him go, feeling his blood boil.
" I told you that I'm not going to tell her about it and you should respect my decision!" Tsuchiura nearly shouted again.
" How did you find out?" Takeru asked.
" She came to find me and asked me to stay in Japan!" Tsuchiura told him.
" Okay... Look, Ryou. Someone has to break the news to her. Put yourself in her shoes for one second. If you are her, and you just disappeared off without a trace like that. How will you feel?" Takeru asked.
" I will get over him and move on with my life. After all, he's merely my friend."
Tsuchiura said the words my friend like it was poison.
" The problem is she is a girl, Tsuchiura and you are you. So you won't know how she will feel. And what's with the my friend?" Takeru asked.
" Look, I already got my answer okay? She doesn't like me." Tsuchiura told him.
" You told her the three important words?" Takeru asked looking excited.
" No, she said that I'm a close friend of hers. So I knew, it was as simple as that. She doesn't like me, she just treats me as a close friend. That's it, end of story, full stop." Tsuchiura told him.
Takeru sighed and pat Tsuchiura on his shoulder.
" I'm sorry, pal." Takeru whispered.
Tsuchiura pulled out a chair and sat down.
" At least you got your answer." Takeru whispered.
Tsuchiura looked down at the music scores.
" I... suddenly feel like I have lost my reason for staying back in Japan." Tsuchiura told him softly.
I guess I knew all along that she didn't like me. Tsuchiura thought to himself.
Takeru opened the bento boxes that Hitomi had packed.
" Wow, it's quite a spread. Since you are so depressed, I take it that you aren't eating. Then I won't stop myself." Takeru exclaimed, opening his chopsticks.
" Itadakimasu!" Takeru exclaimed.
Tsuchiura sighed and picked up his chopsticks to try his mother's food. He was surprised to know that it was still as tasy as ever. He was suddenly reminded of the time when he was really young. His mother used to cook for their meals. Tsuchiura was often interested in cooking, so he would always be inside the kitchen to watch his mother cook and help out a little. Hitomi would always smile and pat him on his head as she prepared the ingredients.
" Hello? Ryou?" Takeru asked, waving his hand infront of his face.
" What?" Tsuchiura asked, snapping out of his thoughts.
" It's really good, isn't it?" Takeru asked.
" Yeah, because she's my mother."
Takeru smiled.
" Though your cooking is good, her cooking is way better than yours. Tell her I said thanks." Takeru told him.
Tsuchiura nodded.
" Basketball match after school, first to score 40 wins." Tsuchiura told him.
" What? Shouldn't you be practising?" Takeru asked.
" I haven't forgiven you yet." Tsuchiura pointed out.
" Fine... Let's see if your piano hands can beat mine." Takeru told him, giving him an evil smirk.
It has already been hours after school, now the sun was setting. Hino was walking home. Her heart was still feeling the pain and she felt that her eyes were still red and swollen from the crying. Her feet were heavy as well, so she was practically dragging her feet home. She walked past the basketball court and somehow she was reminded of Tsuchiura playing basketball there.
" Hino-san?"
She snapped out of her thoughts to see Takeru waving to her. He was sitting on a bench outside of the empty court. She walked over.
" What are you doing here?" Hino asked him.
" I'm just cooling down before I go home."
" Oh." Hino looked away for a moment as if looking for Tsuchiura.
" He has already gone back."
" I see." Hino whispered.
" Ryou told me that you went to see him."
" Fuyuki-kun, I have thought about what you said and... I couldn't think of a good reason to convince Tsuchiura-kun to stay in Japan. And... I really don't know how I should convince him to stay. I... I'm really sorry." Hino whispered, bowing as she apologised.
" At least you tried." Takeru whispered.
Then Takeru noticed something.
" You were crying?" Takeru asked.
" What, no, I'm just suffering from sore eyes." Hino lied.
Takeru turned to look infront of him.
" Ryou made you cry?" Takeru asked.
" No... It's not like that."
" You don't have to lie to me." Takeru whispered.
Hino then sat down beside Takeru.
" He said rather hurtful things." Hino whispered.
" Like?"
" He said there weren't any reasons to stay. And that nothing I say can convince him to stay." Hino whispered as she looked down.
Takeru sighed and closed his eyes.
" Ryou's not that kind of person. I'm sure he appreciates your effort in trying to make him stay. Likewise, I think he was a little mad at that time."
" He's mad at me?" Hino asked.
" No, at me." Takeru told her with a smile.
" Why?"
" Let's just say he er... doesn't want you to know about it. But I broke the news to you on my own. So naturally he's mad at me." Takeru told her.
" Why... doesn't Tsuchiura-kun want me to know that he's leaving?" Hino asked.
" I cannot answer that question for him. Maybe you should ask him. Or... maybe with time you will figure it out." Takeru told her.
Then Takeru stood up.
" If none of us can convince him to stay, have you thought about what you are going to do for him?" Takeru asked.
" For him?"
" A farewell party or something?" Takeru asked.
Hino didn't say anything as she thought about it.
" Well, it's still early. For me, I will try my best to spend as much time I have left with Ryou." Takeru told her and picked up his school bag.
" I'm going first, see you tomorrow, Hino-san." Takeru told her.
Hino nodded and waved goodbye with a forced smile. Then she turned back to look at the sunset. After that, she went home. She ate dinner with her family, bathed, did her homework and tried to practise her violin, but she could hear that her music was sad and painful as well. Giving up, she went to bed early instead. Her thoughts were still flooding over Tsuchiura.
Hino woke up and went to school. She chats with her friends on the way to school, then she saw Takeru.
" Fuyuki-kun!" She called out, waving.
Takeru stopped and they greeted each other good morning.
" Er... Where's Tsuchiura-kun?" Hino asked softly.
" Tsuchiura? Who are you talking about? " Takeru asked looking confused.
" He's your good friend?" Hino asked.
" I have no idea who you are talking about." Takeru told her.
" Hmm... He's this tall, (using her hand to kind of measure to Takeru how tall Tsuchiura is) He has darker green hair..."
" I think that maybe you are still dreaming." Takeru told her and then walked off.
What's going on, why is Takeru acting like he doesn't know Tsuchiura? She turned to Yumiko and Kuromi.
" Do you know someone called Tsuchiura Ryoutarou?" Hino asked them.
" I don't believe so." Kuromi told her.
" He... he was the other general education contestant in the concours. He was my piano accompanist during the first concour." Hino told them.
" Hino? Are you alright? That was over a year ago and you were disqualified from the concours as you didn't have a piano accompanist during the first concours. And you were the only general ed. contestants in the competition. " Yumiko told her.
" What? It can't be..." Hino whispered, in shocked.
" See I told you, she still hasn't gotten over it." Kuromi told Yumiko.
" Hino, are you alright?" Yumiko asked.
" What's going on here?" Hino asked.
Something was way off. Then Hino decided to find Kanazwa Sensei. She went to the staff room to find him.
" Kanazwa Sensei." Hino called out.
" Oh, Hino. What can I do for you?" Kanazwa asked.
" Do you remember that a year ago there was a student from the general education department like me, who took part in the concours?" Hino asked.
" Hmm... You were the only student who was from the general education department who took part in the concours." Kanazwa told her.
" Do you remember the boy who became my piano accompanist during the first concours?" Hino asked.
" Hino... I believe you must have made a mistake. You were disqualified from the competition because you didn't have a piano accompanist. You didn't even play." The sensei told her.
Hino couldn't believe what she was hearing.
" The piece... What piece was I playing?" Hino asked her.
" I believe in was Canon in D."
" That was my second piece. My first piece should be Chopin." Hino told him.
The sensei frowned.
" Hino... Is there something wrong with you?" Kanazwa asked.
Then Hino remembered something, she ran off towards the general office. She asked for last year's year book and the current register record of Tsuchiura's class. She looked down the list and couldn't find Tsuchiura's name anywhere. She looked though the year book and she flipped to the photo of Tsuchiura's class. She remembered that he was at the most right side of the top row, but his face wasn't there. Nor was his name... What's going on around here? How can he disappear off like that in just one day?
Then during recess, she went to find the current captain of the soccer team. She asked to check the records of the team, but she still couldn't find Tsuchiura's name anywhere. The captain also didn't remember having a star player named Tsuchiura Ryoutarou.
After school, Hino was walked home. She felt very confused and depressed. He was gone, he wasn't even here. It was like she... was living in a world whereby Tsuchiura didn't exist. She also noticed that a lot of things have changed because he wasn't here. She was disqualified from the concours for not having a piano accompanist. Her first piece had changed to the second piece. And... she didn't play the violin. She was just a normal school girl...
Hino stopped walking suddenly. Only she remembers him, no one else remembered him. Hino thought back about all her memories of him. Were they unreal? Was it just her imagination? No, he's real. But... where is he now? Why isn't he here?
Hino sat down at an empty bench and thought about Tsuchiura. How many times has it been when she was down and he was there to cheer her up? He always helped her out when she was in trouble. First was the concours. Then she remembered that he was the one who made her choose to do Chopin for the first piece. If he wasn't there to catch her when she was about to fall, she could have broken her legs, or twisted them if she had fell down the stairs.
All her memories of him flashed past before her eyes. Where was he? Why... Why does she feel so sad? Tears fell from her eyes and Hino reached up to wipe her tears away.
" No, I don't want this to happen." Hino whispered as she cried.
She found that she was shaking badly.
Tsuchiura was always there for her, especially when she was down. He walked her home, if not nights would be dangerous for a single female like her.
" Tsuchiura-kun." Hino whispered as she cried.
If Tsuchiura didn't exist... Hino knows that her memories will be filled with a lot of gaping holes that no one else could fill. He wasn't someone that could be replaced that easily. He was... important... An image of Tsuchiura smiling at her flashed into her mind. It only made her cry harder. Life just felt so empty and colourless... so lonely and cold.
" Someone... please... save me." Hino whispered as she cried.
Hino's eyes snapped open and she heard the sound of the alarm clock by her bed. She immediately jumped out of bed and looked at the calendar. It was the same day as just now. Wait, it was all a dream? Hino sighed in relief. But it was a horrible nightmare, to be in a world where Tsuchiura didn't exist.
" Kahoko! You are going to be late." Her mother shouted.
" Oh."
She washed up, took a bath and changed into her school clothes and then went to school. She was a little happy that it was all a dream. But she couldn't help wondering if the dream was a sign that was telling her to do something about Tsuchiura. She got to school, went to her class and sat down. She sighed and rested her head on the table. Chills were sent down her spine as she thought about the dream.
From her view, she saw the familiar back view of Tsuchiura's. He was walking past her class to his classroom. She couldn't help but sigh in relief.
" Hmm... Are you looking at Tsuchiura-kun?"
Hino nearly had the shock of her life, she looked up to see that it was Yumiko.
" Yumiko! Don't scare me like that." Hino told her.
" Well, you look really engrossed. So... is it him?" Yumiko asked.
" Him what?" Hino asked.
" The one who you said was moving away." Yumiko told her.
Hino kept quiet, she didn't know if she should let Yumiko know.
" Yumiko..."
" Yes?" Yumiko asked.
" Have you ever thought of what it's like if this guy disappears from your life?" Hino asked her.
Yumiko blinked at her as if in confusion.
" Is he a friend or someone I like?" Yumiko asked.
" A friend I guess."
" Then no." Yumiko told her.
" But if he's close to you... Won't you feel something if he's gone?" Hino asked.
" Sad of course, it's saddening to know that you lost a good friend." Yumiko told her.
" What if you feel that life's empty, colourless, lonely, saddening and cold without him?" Hino asked.
Yumiko looked surprised for a moment, then smiled.
" I will feel like I cannot continue living my life with him gone." Yumiko whispered.
Hino wondered if it was her case as well.
" But when it reaches this state it probably means something else as well." Yumiko told her.
" Something else?"
" You will only feel that way if he's gone because... you like him." Yumiko told her with a smile.
" Like him?" Hino repeated.
" Yes, Hino... You like him don't you?" Yumiko asked.
Hino was stunned.
I... like him?Hino thought to herself.
" I... don't know." Hino admitted.
She hadn't thought of Tsuchiura like that. And plus... compared to Yamato, her feelings for Yamato was stronger then. But she didn't seem to feel it when she's with Tsuchiura.
" I think she's probably too dense when it comes to love to know." Kuromi told Yumiko, walking over.
It's not like Hino has never liked anyone before. But... she just wasn't sure how she felt about Tsuchiura. Wasn't he just a close friend?
Tsuchiura seems to have lost the motivation to continue playing the piano for the competition. He lost his confidence, his reason to win... He just didn't feel like taking part anymore, because he knew he was going to lose. He was disheartened and sad, even his music sounded like that. Plus, he made too many mistakes.
Guess he would have to disappoint his parents. And he would really move away to Singapore. Tsuchiura sighed and walked over to look out of the window. He might not be coming back, but at least one thing is for sure, he had cleared his doubt about Hino. Although he hadn't said he likes her to her, face to face, he already knew. Reading in between the lines, that's what they call it.
Tsuchiura sighed again and sat down on the piano seat. He thought about Hino and then decided to push her out of his mind. He concentrated and played the piece again from the top.
The next few days, Hino and Tsuchiura seem to keep on seeing each other. But they didn't say anything to each other, but merely walked past each other. While Hino would always turn back to look at him. Her friends noticed this and noticed that she looked sad. But there was nothing they could do, Hino has to figure it out on her own. It was after school.
" What should I do to make him stay?" Hino asked herself softly.
" Kahoko, I think you should really tell us what's troubling you." Kuromi told her.
" I mean what are best friends for?" Yumiko asked with a smile.
" It's about Tsuchiura-kun. He's moving away in about 5 weeks time." Hino told them.
" So the friend you were talking about is him." Yumiko told her.
" Yes."
" Then what's with the what if he disappears from your life question?" Yumiko asked.
" I had a horrible dream one night. It was a world whereby he didn't exist and I realised that a lot of events would have changed if he wasn't there." Hino whispered.
" I see..." Kuromi muttered.
" I'm confused about how to convince him to stay. I tried to talk to him, but he said such hurtful things." Hino whispered.
" Has something been going on between the two of you?" Yumiko asked.
" What do you mean?"
" You two seem to be avoiding each other for a while now." Kuromi told her.
" Oh... It was because..."
Hino trailed off she didn't want Kuromi to know she used to like her current boyfriend, Yamato.
" We kissed once..." Hino told them softly.
" Oh my God, Kaho-chan! Why didn't you tell us?" Yumiko asked.
" Well, it was embarrassing. I don't really remember it well, but I was very upset then. Then I kind of avoided him because we kissed. I mean... I didn't want him to misunderstand, I mean... he's a good friend of mine..."
" Kahoko... You didn't feel anything when you two kissed?" Kuromi asked.
" I don't know... I don't remember." Hino admitted.
" She's really dense at this." Kuromi exclaimed.
" Then, you found out he was leaving?" Yumiko asked.
" Yes."
" You tried to convince him to stay. Then you are upset because he said hurtful things to you. Then you had the weird dream about him, right?" Yumiko asked.
" Yes." Hino told her.
" Kaho-chan, I will say that you already like him. Just that you don't feel it or haven't realised it yet." Yumiko told her.
" No, but I don't see him like that. He's just a good friend of mine." Hino told them.
" A good friend won't make you feel like life's empty, colourless, lonely and cold without him." Kuromi told her.
" But, I mean if I leave too, won't you two feel that way?" Hino asked them.
" We will feel sad, because you are our best friend. But we will also feel happy for you, after all you are the one who chose to leave, to pursue a better future for yourself or something. That's why we will support you till the end." Yumiko told her.
Hino couldn't believe that it was so totally different.
" Kahoko, what if Yumiko leaves for another country, how will you feel?" Kuromi asked.
" Sad... but... happy for her." Hino whispered.
Funny how she didn't seem to feel happy to know that Tsuchiura was leaving.
" Why don't I feel happy for him?" Hino asked herself.
" Because you like him, Kahoko and because you want to be with him. That's why you want him to stay. That's why you will feel something else if he's gone." Kuromi told her.
Hino still couldn't believe it.
" But I don't feel... anything..."
" Why are you constantly looking at him?" Yumiko asked.
" Because he's leaving and I cannot find a good reason to make him stay."
Yumiko and Kuromi sighed.
" This is going to take a while." Kuromi whispered.
" Kaho-chan, stop deceiving yourself. Don't keep thinking of a way to argue that you don't like him and only treat him as a friend." Yumiko told her.
" But it's..."
" See you are doing it again." Yumiko whispered.
Do I really like Tsuchiura-kun?Hino thought to herself.
" Okay, what's not to like about him?" Kuromi asked.
" He's..."
Hino realised that she couldn't seem to find a bad point about Tsuchiura.
" I... don't know." Hino admitted softly.
" Do you blush when he's near?" Yumiko asked.
Hino nodded.
" Your heart races?" Yumiko asked.
Hino nodded again.
" That's something." Kuromi told her.
" But it's because like I said, we kissed before. So it's a little embarrassing to be near him, likewise he makes me nervous." Hino told them.
" Do you think he's handsome?" Kuromi asked.
Hino blushed at the question, but nodded shyly.
" You blushed." Yumiko told her.
" I didn't."
Then Hino touched her face and realised that it was hot. Just then she looked out of the classroom and she saw Tsuchiura walking past with Takeru behind him. Her eyes immediately focused on him.
You like him...Yumiko's voice echoed in her head.
You blush when he's near and your heart races when you see him. A voice echoed in her head.
Just then Tsuchiura turned a little and smiled back at Takeru. That scene... his smile... Suddenly Hino felt herself blushing again, and her heart was racing and it was beating very loudly. Then Takeru seems to notice her. Takeru waved at her, while Tsuchiura turned to look at her. Their eyes met for a while and then Tsuchiura turned to look away. Hino was immediately filled with sadness to know that he's still avoiding her. Then they were gone.
" Kaho-chan?" Yumiko asked.
" Maybe... I do... feel something for him." Hino whispered.
" Looks like he's avoiding you." Kuromi commented.
" Yes." Hino whispered sadly, feeling like her heart was breaking.
" I guess you will have about 5 weeks left. What do you plan to do Hino?" Kuromi asked.
" I don't know." Hino admitted.
" Are you going to confess?" Yumiko asked.
Hino was immediately reminded of her confession with Yamato. What if she gets rejected again, who would be there to cheer her up this time? The fear of rejection...
" I don't know."
Hino stayed back to do her homework. It took her longer than usual as she kept on thinking about what her friends said and about Tsuchiura. Does she really like him? To her it was just so sudden, they were friends and now suddenly she likes him? The change was a little drastic and hard to believe. It was raining heavily when Hino have finished her homework. She packed her bag and made her way out. She changed her shoes and saw that it was already 6.30pm. It was already late.
Taking her umbrella out, she left the school building and walked to the gates. Then she walked back to her house. As it was raining, it felt like it was already night time. Then she thought about Tsuchiura as she continued walking.
I like him... Do I like him?Hino asked herself.
Then she thought about her dream, living in a world without him. She felt as if she couldn't live in a world like that, without him there. Was it because she likes him? Was it because she cares about him? Or was it just because he's a close friend of hers? But they were right, who would feel like that if he's just a friend to her?
Hino continued walking. She thought about the time when she was rejected by Yamato. Tsuchiura was there for her. She remembered crying against his chest. Then he piggybacked her back to her house. And then there's the time when she found out that Yamato was Kuromi's boyfriend. He was there for her as well. And they kissed... that night.
Tsuchiura was just always there, protecting her and cheering her up. Like he was her guardian angel or something. He was forever there for her, whenever she's down or in trouble. She didn't ask him to help her out, but he did anyway. He still talked to her even though she was mean to him. He was so nice to her... Sometimes Hino felt as that she was undeserving of his kindness.
Funny how it seems a little one sided. He always helped her and she seems to only bring trouble to him. But he didn't complain. Hino suddenly missed the good times they used to have together. They were happier and they talked more and they were closer. Compared to now... They feel so distant from each other.
Hino walked past the basketball court and she stood there for a moment as she thought about Tsuchiura. Kuromi made her realised that there was nothing to not like about him. Then what's stopping her? Yes, it was the fear of rejection as well as the fact that they used to be friends. Their friendship might be ruined if she wants them to be something more than friends.
" Look what we have here."
Hino snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look behind her. A gang of 6 men was approaching her. They looked a little like gangsters with their punk hairdo and their clothes. Two of them were holding onto bats. Hino's grip around her bag and umbrella tightened as she walked faster, in an attempt to escape from them. But a man walked faster than her and stood in her path, making Hino stop walking. She turned back to look at the other 5 men as they slowly approached her.
" What do you all want?" Hino asked.
She was afraid, she have never been in this kind of situation before. Hino hadn't learnt any self defence moves, so she was really in deep trouble. They surrounded her and then started to walk around her in circles as if observing her.
" Hmm... She's kind of cute." One announced.
" Seiso Academy huh..."
" I didn't know they have such cute girls there." One announced, reaching out to touch Hino.
Hino slapped his hand away. The man looked angered by her reaction and Hino was suddenly afraid of her own safety. Her mind raced as she thought of what they were going to do to her. Are they going to rob her? Kill her or are they... going to rape her? Hino looked around, hoping that someone would be around to save her.
" What should we do to her?" One man asked.
" As a student, I doubt she has enough money. But she... does... turn me on." A man exclaimed, giving an evil smirk.
Hino was really scared and she looked around, hoping to find someone.
" Look at her, she's so scared." Another man said.
" Yeah, she's looking for help." Another told them.
Then the rest smiled as they stepped closer towards her.
" No, don't come any closer to me." Hino called out.
A man grabbed her by her hands, making her drop her umbrella and her school bag.
" Let me go!" Hino called out as she struggled to free herself.
" Look at her, she's so pitiful, struggling to get free." A man called out.
" Help! Somebody!" Hino shouted.
" Now she's even trying to get help. But it's useless, no one comes here at this timing." A man told Hino, reaching up to touch her chin.
He made Hino lift her head up.
" Hmm... She's really cute." The man exclaimed.
" Help! Let me go!" Hino shouted.
" She's too noisy, let's go into the bushes." A man suggested.
" Good idea."
Then they were going to drag her off into the bushes. Hino knew that they were going to rape her, but she couldn't let that happen. She bit the hand of the man who was holding her. He let her go as he felt the pain, then Hino stepped on his foot and ran off as fast as she could. She heard footsteps after her, but she didn't dare look back. She kept on running, but then they caught up onto her. A man grabbed her by her hair and pulled her back, so that she would stop running.
" Let me go!" Hino shouted.
" You are one annoying girl." The man told her.
" I intended to treat you better, but guess not." A man laughed out.
" Help me!" Hino shouted.
" It's useless girl, no one comes here." The man holding her told her.
" Help!" Hino shouted.
" What the hell do you think you are doing?"
They turned to see Tsuchiura standing there with his school bag. Hino couldn't be happier to see him.
" Look kid, you should just pretend you didn't see anything and walk away."
" Can't do that." Tsuchiura told them.
" Why not?"
" Let her go." Tsuchiura told them coldly.
" As if we would listen to you." One man said.
Hino looked at Tsuchiura, as if pleading him to save her.
" Let her go!" Tsuchiura shouted.
" We will, after we have finished having fun with her." The man told him.
Tsuchiura punched the man so hard in the face the man fell to the floor with a bleeding nose.
" So you want to play it rough huh? Get him!" The man holding onto Hino ordered, as if he was the leader.
Then the five of them started to fight Tsuchiura.
" Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino called out.
Tsuchiura avoided their punches and kicks and returned a few of his own. He knocked some of them down and injured some of them. But it was 5 versus 1, his chances of winning are slim. Hino watched in pain as Tsuchiura was punched in the stomach.
" Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino cried out.
" So you know that guy huh." The man holding onto her told her.
" Beat him harder!" He ordered.
" No!" Hino cried out.
Hino watched as they continued hitting Tsuchiura. Who was now lying on the floor as they kicked him.
" No! Stop!" Hino cried out.
Then Tsuchiura grabbed a man by his leg and tossed him over. Then he stood up and fought them again, even though he was already injured. Then Hino saw a man pick up his baseball bat.
" Behind you!" Hino warned.
Tsuchiura turned and disarmed the man who was holding the baseball bat by twisting his hand. The man winched in pain, then Tsuchiura took the bat and slammed it down on the man's back. The man howled in pain as he fell to the floor. Then Tsuchiura used the bat as a weapon instead. He used it to hit the 5 men who were still coming at him. Then Hino felt the man who was holding her release his hold on her.
" That Bastard." The man exclaimed, walking over to help his gang.
Hino watched as the man picked up the other baseball bat and walked towards Tsuchiura who was distracted by the other 5 man.
" Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino shouted.
Tsuchiura turned a little too late, before a baseball bat was slammed down on his back, making him fall to the floor. Then the other men took the chance to continue hitting him. Tsuchiura looked like he was in pain, but he looked straight at Hino and Hino looked back at him. Then he gritted his teeth and kicked a man in his groin, before fighting them again.
Hino stumbled to find her handphone. Police... She has to call the police. But her phone was in her bag and her bag was quite far away. Then she looked around them.
" Help! Somebody!" Hino shouted.
The man who was the leader seems to notice that she was shouting. Then he immediately turned and walked towards Hino with the baseball bat in hand. Hino didn't seem to notice but Tsuchiura did.
" Shut up you bitch!" The man shouted.
Hino saw that he was raising the bat to swing down at her. Hino closed her eyes and waited for impact. But it never came. She opened her eyes to see that Tsuchiura was standing before her and he had blocked the attack with his hands. Frustrated, the man continued to use the bat to hit Tsuchiura.
" No, Stop! Stop hitting him!" Hino shouted.
When they man didn't stop,
" Tsuchiura, stop, you don't have to protect me." Hino told him.
" Don't be a fool, no gentleman would allow a girl to get hit." Tsuchiura muttered.
Hino could tell that he was injured and he was in pain. He was bleeding but he still wanted to protect her.
" I..."
Tsuchiura's hands were bleeding, but he finally managed to grab hold of the baseball bat. He twisted it out of that man's hands and used it to hit the man right in his face. Hino heard the sound of something breaking, Tsuchiura had broken the man's nose. The man stumbled back, with his broken nose.
" Get him!" he ordered.
Tsuchiura immediately turned and hugged Hino tightly. Hino was shocked, but she realised that the other men were hitting him and he was still protecting her.
" Tsuchiura-kun."
He didn't say anything, but Hino could tell that he was in pain.
" Trying to play the hero huh? Hit him harder!" The man ordered.
Tsuchiura coughed out blood as they continued to hit him on his back. Hino was wishing that these people would stop.
" Ryou!"
Hino peeked out and saw Takeru, Takeru threw down his bag and immediately started punching those men that were hitting Tsuchiura.
" You are late." Tsuchiura whispered.
The other men were busy with Takeru as Tsuchiura slowly fell to the ground. Hino caught him and slowly sank down so that Tsuchiura was resting his head on her lap.
" Tsuchiura-kun?" Hino asked.
He looked really tired and injured. His eyes were half closed.
" Are you alright?" He asked her.
Hino was surprised, why was he still concerned about her now?
" I'm alright. But hang in there." Hino whispered.
Tsuchiura turned and they watched as Takeru was fighting the five men on his own.
" Will Fuyuki-kun be alright?" Hino asked.
" He's a black belt." Tsuchiura whispered.
Tsuchiura gave Hino his handphone. Hino called the ambulance before calling the police. Then he coughed out more blood. Hino watched in surprise as Takeru broke the baseball bat right into two when someone tried to hit him with it. Then he punched the man in his stomach and tripped him to the floor before knocking him out with a punch in his face. Then Takeru slammed his hand hard down on another man's neck from behind and knocked the man out instantly. The rest were losing to him and then they eventually tired out and were injured. Takeru broke the last bat and threw it on the floor.
" Go before I change my mind." Takeru told them.
Takeru walked over to Hino and Tsuchiura.
" You are late." Tsuchiura whispered.
" You overdid it." Takeru commented.
" Are you alright?" Takeru asked Hino.
Hino nodded, then Takeru picked up their belongings.
" I called the ambulance and the police." Hino told him.
Tsuchiura's eyes were closing.
" Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino called out.
" I... can't seem to feel my hands anymore." Tsuchiura whispered.
Takeru looked down at his bleeding hands.
" Shit, what did you do?" Takeru asked.
" I... protected..."
His eyelids closed and his head dropped down a little.
" Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino shouted.
" Ryou!" Takeru shouted, shaking Tsuchiura.
" Wake up!" Takeru shouted.
They heard the siren of the police as well as the ambulance. Hino looked down at Tsuchiura and felt tears falling from her eyes. Her tears fell down onto his face. But in the rain, those tears were probably mistaken as the rain instead.
To be continued...
Author's note: Yup, another cliff hanger. Well at least Hino's close to realising that she does like Tsuchiura. The problem is what's going to happen to Tsuchiura? Will everything turn out alright? What will Hino do now?
Anyway, I have always wanted to write a scene whereby the boy comes to the girl's rescue. Although in the end it was Takeru who eventually saved the day. But I think if most girls are Hino then, they will definitely be touched by Tsuchiura's actions.
Likewise, I wanted Hino to know what it's like if she was in a world whereby Tsuchiura didn't exist. I just kind of made that part up, mainly about how things will go if Tsuchiura wasn't there to help Hino through the first Concours.
Well do read and review. Do look forward to the next chapter.
