Chapter 9.Grazioso
The next day, 2-2 classroom, second break…
"What?? The Yunoki's bodyguards bowed to you?" Mio asked in disbelief.
"Wow, they're seriously in deep trouble now." Nao joked although her face showed some seriousness.
"Oh, come on Nao! That was mean!" Kahoko complained, both her hands grabbed her head. "Sure they will have their revenge on me…" she sighed
"Excuse me. Hino-san?"
The eyes of all the students were on the door. Yunoki was standing right there with a smile plastered on his face, making all the girls blush. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but may I take you time for awhile?"
After a short pause, Kahoko hesitantly rose from her seat and walked to the door. As she walked to the door, she received vengeance glances again from all the girls, unfortunately. Mio and Nao could only shake their head.
In front of the class, there were so many students watching Yunoki's arrival, making Kahoko slower her pace. Yunoki noticed this and decided to take Kahoko out from the crowd. So when Kahoko arrived in front of him, Yunoki immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her out from the corridor to the rooftop.
"What is it, Yu- Azuma-san?" Kahoko asked, changing the way of addressing him. He would punish her if she addressed him as senpai. Yunoki wasn't fond of the –san either but from nothing at all...Calling him with the second name even with suffix was pleasing enough.
Yunoki smiled at this and rubbed her head. "Good girl. Make sure you always call me that." He released his hand and walked to the railings, leaning against it. "Come here, I want to talk." He patted a place right next to him.
Kahoko blushed at his request… no, order. Because there is no word such as 'request' in his dictionary. Yunoki smirked, "It's not like I'm going to bite you, come here." He gestured. Kahoko slowly walked towards Yunoki and stood beside him.
"Do you have free time after school?" he asked
Kahoko nodded, "Plenty of time. What's wrong?" she stared curiously at Yunoki.
"I'll pick you up in front of your classroom later. I'm taking you to a music practice room." He replied.
"But, you know… I haven't brought my violin today." Kahoko answered. She had forgotten her violin because she was too hasty since Yunoki was already in front of her house, wanting to give her a lift.
"Don't worry, you will not use your violin." He was looking at the sky above him, enjoying the view.
"Eh? Then, are we going to use your flute?" Kahoko asked.
Yunoki shook his head.
"So, what is it?!" Kahoko stomping her foot impatiently.
"Just make sure you're ready, I'll show you." Yunoki headed to door, leaving her alone.
'Oh man, I never understand this person…' Kahoko shook her head, but smiled heartily. 'But, that's perhaps the reason why I feel each time more attracted to him…' ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
"Ano… Azuma-san?" Kahoko was confused. She didn't mind being pulled by Yunoki forcefully, but it seemed he was impatient. After the lessons were over, just when the teacher opened the door, Yunoki had already been waiting for her outside. He immediately grabbed her as soon as she stepped out from the classroom and pulled Kahoko to the music room.
Yunoki shoved her in and locked the door. Kahoko got surprised, why did he lock the door? To seduce her?
"Eh…" Kahoko watched Yunoki as he pulled the curtains. "What are you doing, Azuma-san? Why have you locked the door and…"
"Look." Yunoki said, referring to the grand piano beside Kahoko. "Besides violin, don't you like piano as well?"
Kahoko nodded. "Of course, it's such a wonderful instrument, I like the sounds coming out from the piano." She lowered her head. "But unfortunately, I can't play piano…"
Yunoki then sat on the piano bench. "Sit here." He commanded, leaving a space on the bench "I'll teach you how to play. So you have at least one skill to be proud besides violin."
"Eh? I never knew you could play the piano, Azuma-san." Kahoko got interested and sat next to Yunoki. Yunoki started doing warm-up session for the fingers. He pressed a couple of notes and played Moonlight Sonata First Movement.
Different from Tsuchiura's playing; Yunoki's playing sounded softer and more delicate. Kahoko could almost hear all of the details from Yunoki's performance. But the melody he played somehow reflecting his own self, was desperately lonely like a shadow. As Yunoki enjoyed his old skills coming out again, he didn't notice Kahoko's frown.
After Yunoki had finished, Yunoki turned to Kahoko and was surprised that Kahoko was crying silently. "Kahoko?" he put his hand on her shoulder. "Something's wrong?"
"No-nothing." Kahoko said wiping her tears off. "It's just that… the melody you played was so sad..."
Yunoki said nothing as he became sad too, remembering his painful past.
"Why did you stop playing the piano, Azuma-san? You're more skillful in the piano rather than the flute." Kahoko asked. "I mean your performance with the flute is also beautiful, but your skills in the piano are more impressive."
Yunoki looked at the piano keys, "I was not allowed to play the piano." He said simply.
"Eh?" Kahoko was shocked.
"Compared to my brothers, I played the piano better than them , always making the quickest progress among them." Yunoki started explaining. "But I am not allowed to surpass my brothers. Then I had to choose another instrument."
"Was it… your grandmother?"
"Yes. But I can't really said that she forced me." Yunoki chuckled. "She said because my brothers had already taken the piano, I should change my instrument."
"Why?" Kahoko asked with tears, looking straight into Yunoki's golden eyes. "That's so unfair! I can't really get , why you should do this. She has no right to deprive you of what makes you happy!"
"She has- she's the head of the clan. And lately she said that the family business is having financial problems; therefore I should help my brothers and forget about anything else…"
"And music?" Yunoki nodded "No, she can't…she can't do that!" But obviously she could.
"Silly girl, don't be so kind-hearted like that." His voice was tender 'You 'ld cry rivers if you knew my whole past.' Yunoki wiped off her tears . "I'll be alright .We 'll continue our lessons, but be careful not to tell anyone." Yunoki kissed her eye; Kahoko calmed down a bit.
"Now," Yunoki took out of his bag a score book, "Let me teach you the basics. Next time, you're going to perform this for me ,okay?" He showed an easy piece. "Now let's begin with the right hand."
"Yes, Azuma-san" Kahoko smiled.
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"You did well, Kahoko." Yunoki smiled. He had given her a lift and now was standing outside Hino's house. "You do have a little talent in piano, although it'll take time for you to master it." He put his hand on his chin.
"Can you teach me again when we have free time, Azuma-san?" Kahoko asked, satisfied with Yunoki's patient guidance. She made so many mistakes, but Yunoki didn't give up as he patiently showed her the right note. She really loved what Yunoki taught her and she couldn't wait to have her next lesson.
"Alright. But do not forget that your main course is violin."
Kahoko smiled widely, "Alright then! Thanks for taking me home, Azuma-san. I really liked it!"
Suddenly without warning, Yunoki pulled her into embrace and kissed her lips. Kahoko was surprised with the sudden action but she didn't do anything, she felt happiness flooding inside her as she kissed him back shyly. After awhile, Yunoki pulled back but still keeping her in his embrace he rubbed her head. Kahoko placed her head on his chest, listening to his heart.
Yunoki touched her cheek and gave a soft kiss at the crown of her head. "Goodnight, Kahoko."
Dinner time in Hino's House…
"Kahoko~" Kotoko called Kahoko with tease, catching her mother's, brother's, and father's attention. "So… why don't you tell to our dear family if your boyfriend sends you home safely?"
Kahoko's brother, Hino Daichi, spit out his ice tea, coughing.
"WHAT THE HECK??!" Daichi shouted in disbelief, standing up from his seat. "KAHO HAS A BOYFRIEND?!!"
"Yes, I have. Is there a problem ,onii-san?" Kahoko asked and raised a brow.
"Wow…" Daichi's eyes widened, sitting back to his chair. "I guess your boyfriend kinda has …" he paused, "…odd taste?"
Just about when Kahoko wanted to pour her tea on her brother's head to help him take a shower, Kotoko and Mrs. Hino pinched him. "Hey! Be polite! He is the most handsome, kind, and intelligent person I've ever seen. Don't you dare to say anything bad about him!" Kotoko protested. Kahoko sighed; looks like her sister and her mother were added to Yunoki's fan club.
"Okay, enough." The head of Hino family, Hino Kenzo raised his hand. "You too Daichi, keep your mouth shut, son. You know Kotoko is sensitive with such things." Obeying his father, Daichi shut up and continue eating.
"Kahoko" Kenzo started, "I don't know how much you love this guy of yours but, I want you to be careful. There are so many crazy people out there."
"Otou-san…" Kahoko pouted disappointed, "I'm not a kid anymore!"
"It's nothing like that, dear." Kenzo waved his hands. "I just want you to find your happiness and make sure your safety. Do you have any idea how many men use their girlfriends just to have fun and when they feel bored or tired just dump them ?"
"Otou-san, do you think I'm stupid and I don't know what I'm doing?" Kahoko didn't want any other apart from Yunoki to consider her as such. One person is enough.
"You can trust her, dear." Mrs. Hino patted her husband's shoulder, supporting Kahoko. "I saw him before. This person is a real gentleman! And our Kaho is old enough to understand some things and take care of herself."
Kenzo sighed. If his wife does say so, that mean he can trust this person. "Alright, Akane." Kenzo nodded his head, smiling in defeat against the daughter-mother alliance. "If that's the case, why don't we invite him for dinner another day? I would like to get to meet him."
Kahoko was so happy that her father finally accepted Yunoki. Kahoko was lying on her bed, humming while she was reading a romance novel. She blushed as she read the kiss event in the novel; she pretended that she was the main heroine and Yunoki her prince.
'Ok, now I think I'm losing my mind! Why all I can think about is him?' Kahoko hid her face in her pillow in bashfulness.
Just when Kahoko was going to sleep, her phone suddenly flashed, indicating that a new mail arrived.
~Sweet dreams, my little angle~
From your prince
Kahoko smiled, placing her phone on the nightstand and burying her head in the pillow once again, departing for the dream world with happiness and blessed feelings inside her. 'He can be so sweet when he wants…'
Note: Grazioso = gracefully
C_V's characters: Hino Kenzo and Hino Daichi, Kahoko's father and brother
Ayame gave the name Akane to Mrs. Hino.