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CHAPTER NINE
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"That sounds nice," Stephen remarked after hearing Shoko's supposed plans for the day. As promised he drove Shoko to school - well, he didn't actually drive the car; that's his driver's job.
Then an idea came up his mind, "Can I come along too?"
"Eh?" Shoko blinked twice, obviously taken aback by the sudden request. Realizing how awkward his request was, Stephen was about to take back what he said but before he could open his mouth to do so, Shoko spoke up shakily as she usually do, "Well if you want to…and if you don't mind being with us. I'm sure Hino-Sempai won't mind,"
That statement made Stephen smile a little. Half of him was expecting she would make up an excuse to why he can't go with then but instead, she allowed him to come. On Stephen's defense, he didn't actually mean it to sound like that. He was just curious on what Shoko would do when she is out with her friends.
"Of course I don't mind," Stephen said, chuckling at her usual shuttering. Then with a determined nod he added, "I'll tag along,"
Shoko was silent for a while but much to Stephen's relief, she doesn't seem distressed about his request. Just her usual quietness.
"You'll keep me company right?" Stephen asked, raising his eyebrows inquiringly at her and with a sheepish smile on his lips.
Shoko looked at him for a while then looked away, focusing her gaze on the car floor, "I…if you want me too," she answered
"Of course I want you to," Stephen answered with a small reassuring laugh. Then he shifted his gaze to the view outside the window muttering, "I wonder how's its like -"
He was cut off by the sound of a phone ringing. Instead of using his right hand, which was for some reason covered with a blue blanket, he pulled out his cellphone from his right pocket using his left hand with such difficulty. Shoko watched with a perplexed look on her face at Stephen's odd action but decided to brush it off. Unfortunately during that time when she was looking at him, Stephen chose that moment to glance at her also. Noticing her confused look, Stephen raised his eyebrows inquiringly as he continued to listen to what the caller is saying but shook her head lightly and shifted her gaze outside the window instead.
"I'll try my best to act like a normal childhood friend who is visiting here for the holidays so in that case no one will get suspicious," he said after the phone call, and then he turned to Shoko and smiled, "I'm sure you don't want that kind of attention,"
Shoko blushed slightly at that thought. She wouldn't know what to do if their little secret was out, especially at the academy. No one wants to be the center of the school gossip. It's bad enough that some people hate her for some reason, she doesn't know if she can take it when something like that happens.
"I tried talking to grandfather about the engagement and to cut the long story short; it didn't go well." Stephen said suddenly, pulling Shoko out of her train of thoughts. He was still looking out the window, watching the lamppost they passed by. He sounded apologetic, as if he did something he regretted, "But don't worry, Shoko-san. I'll try again,"
He shifted his arm a little and it's only then did Shoko saw what he was hiding beneath that blanket. Without rethinking it, Shoko reached out and lifted the blanket away from Stephen before he could stop her. His right wrist was covered with a bandage and from the looks of it, it appears broken; keyword, appears. Stephen grew tense at that though he was trying hard not to show it.
"Suichiro-kun…your wrist…"
"Huh?" Stephen said feigning innocence but it was not use. It was already too late
"What happened?" Shoko asked, worry obvious in her tone as she hesitantly placed a hand on Stephen's arm.
"Oh this," Stephen said, lifting his broken wrist a little. Then he gave her his best reassuring smile, "It's nothing. Just an accident - a proof of my stupidity, I guess. But don't worry its not broken. Just a couple of gashes,"
But Shoko just looked at him; her golden orbs told him that she did not believe his story. That's when the phrase saved by the bell came; a literal sound of a bell. Both teenagers looked out the window and after a few seconds, it's only then did they realize that they already at Seiso Academy's front gates.
"Oh look, we're here already" Stephen said.
After a moment of looking at Stephen's wrist, Shoko decided not to pry anymore. She took her belongings and was about to open the car door when Stephen grabbed her by the elbow with his good hand.
"I'm sorry I can't tell you about this right now. Maybe when the time is right, okay" he said apologetically.
Shoko gave a small smile and nodded; it was her own little way of reassuring him that she understood. Stephen seems to be relieved at that.
"Have a nice day Shoko-san," he said his usual smile, "I'll pick you up after school okay?"
Shoko nodded, "Okay…"
Stephen's smile grew then it was followed by a chuckle, "Take care of yourself for me, okay?"
Shoko blushed slightly at that but she managed to open her mouth and voice out her reply before her shyness gets a hold of her, "Don't worry. Thank you,"
Stephen bit his lip and looked down, "I think I should be the one thanking you, Shoko-san"
Then he looked up again and gave her a sheepish smile.
"Bye," Shoko said and opened the car door.
"Bye," Stephen answered back and watched her run in the school gates before closing the car door. By the time he returned to his original position, he noticed that his driver was looking at him through the rear view mirror; his eyes were smiling.
Stephen felt his cheeks grow hot but he put on his best defensive look, "What?"
The driver chuckled before adverting his gaze as he started the ignition, answering, "Oh nothing, young master Sui,"
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For some unspoken reason, the Golden Notes Competition Candidates were given that time of the day to rehearse, as was the order from the headmaster himself. The candidates are paired by year and each pair has an accompanist assigned by Kanazawa-sensei - with an exception to Ryotaro and Len, of course. After a few hours of straight practice, the younger candidates - namely Keiichi and Shoko, along with their accompanist, which was their Mori-sempai - decided to take a small break. Manami excused herself, saying something about going to the ladies room, thus leaving the two younger musicians together in the music room.
"Look. It's snowing," the cellist said, breaking the silence between them. Not that it was getting awkward; in fact it was quite a comfortable silence and honestly, Shoko thought the cellist was asleep awhile back so she started scanning her music sheet. Keiichi was sitting near the window, with his arms resting on the back of a chair, as he was sitting on it backwards.
Shoko immediately looked outside the window and sure enough it was snowing. She stood up and approached the window, stopping beside the cellist. Sure she has seen snow fall many times since she was little but there are times when snow begins to fall, something was quite different. A beautiful kind of different. It's like how some people say there no same sunsets; one is bound to differ with the other. The scene before her eyes was like that.
Shoko gave a small smile, "It's beautiful,"
Keiichi took a glance at the clarinetist before giving a small smile as they watched the scene together, falling again into an easy silence. Then Keiichi remembered something that he was meaning to ask ever since his sisters convinced him to come along with them for their Christmas shopping that day.
"If someone gave you a gift for Christmas Fuuyumi-san, what would you like to have?" the cellist asked all of a sudden, surprising the young clarinetist. Of course, the question threw the clarinetist off guard but she answered it anyway.
"Anything will be fine as long as it came from the giver's heart," she answered with a small smile as she continues to watch the falling snow. It was true, she didn't care much about gifts but if someone gives her a special gift, she always took care of it. "How about you Shimizu-kun, what would you like?"
Aside from the fact that she was quite curious as to what the cellist would like, it was on reflex that she asked the question.
"Shimizu-kun?" Shoko inquired, glancing at the cellist. At first Shoko thought he fell asleep but as it turns out, he was just musing over things with his eyes closed, humming a tune Shoko didn't know. When he did open his blue eyes, it immediately met with Shoko's golden ones.
"I already have my friends, my family will all be here for Christmas and I have my cello. I don't know what I would want," he answered with a small smile as he looked at Shoko. Then his gaze shifted to the window, "A book maybe,"
"A book?" Shoko repeated, blinking a few times before realizing that it was something he wants for Christmas.
Maybe, if there was still time, she can look for a good book when they go Christmas shopping later.
Unknown to the two, a certain female pianist was eavesdropping with a wide smile on her face. This proves to be promising, she thought.
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Stephen stopped near the fairy statue of Seiso's academy for no apparent reason. For a moment, he just looked at the statue, curious as to why the founder of the academy chose the image for a front statue. As he was musing over to where Shoko might be in this time of the day, he caught a glimpse of something behind the statue. Curious, he went over and found something hovering but before he could make out what it was it zoomed out of his sight, leaving a small trail of faint shimmering light behind. Now curiosity was getting the best of him. He followed the trail, no caring where it will lead him or who will he bump on to along the way. Then when the trail took a curve around the corner, Stephen wasn't expecting to bump into a girl, nearly knocking her off balance. On reflex, he immediately supported the girl by grabbing her arm.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking," the girl said apologetically as she steadied herself.
"No worries. I wasn't looking either, so I apologize for that too," Stephen answered, gently letting go of the girl's arm once he noticed that she already regained her balance.
The red-haired girl looked at him for a moment before realization hits her facial features. She let out a small gasp as her hand automatically went up to cover - or more like hover in front her mouth as she continued to speak, "Oh my gosh…You're - "
Of course, once Stephen got a good glimpse of the person, he already knew right away who the girl is but he asked anyway for formality's sake, "You're Kahoko Hino, right?"
Kahoko was slightly stunned since she didn't tell him her name yet and since seeing a person from afar doesn't count as meeting someone, this is the first time they officially meet.
"How did you know my name?"
Stephen gave a small shrug and explained, "Shoko-san showed me a picture of you guys during that event…" then he trailed off as he tried recalling what that event was called, "Everyone were dressed nicely. You were wearing your school uniform that time though -"
"Oh you mean the school Concours," Kahoko interjected, with a thoughtful look.
Stephen nodded, "That's it,"
Then something zoomed behind the red-haired girl. Then it zoomed to another location. To Kahoko, Stephen looked like he saw something unnatural behind her. Anxiously, she looked back but saw nothing.
"Ummm," Kahoko began not sure how to continue seeing Stephen's weird action.
Stephen noticed that of course. "Oh, sorry. I thought I just saw…." Then he trailed off. It was not good anyway to tell people that you are seeing little flying creatures. They might think you are crazy so he just smiled sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, "Never mind,"
Kahoko looked around her surroundings cautiously, she had a feeling that she knew what Stephen saw. When she saw nothing out of the ordinary, she shifted her attention to the visitor wondering why he was there in their school. Since no one transfers on the month of December, she could only guess that he is just visiting someone. And who that person is, Kahoko could only guess.
"Are you here for Fuuyumi-chan?" Kahoko asked, snapping Stephen out of his train of thoughts.
After replaying the question in his mind, Stephen nodded at the red-haired violinist. Regaining his composure he said, "Shoko-san told me about your plans for the afternoon,"
"If it's alright with you, I would like to tag along with you to your…uh….Christmas spree," Stephen added with a smile.
Kahoko stared at him for a moment as questions started swarming in her head. Then she remembered the question and immediately answered before Stephen could think that she doesn't want him to come along with them.
"Oh, of course it alright." she answered brightly. She was sure Amou-san would be delighted by this as well. As for Shoko, she doesn't know what to imagine.
"Thank you. I'm delighted," Stephen said smiling.
"Uhm…" Kahoko began as she remembered to ask one particular question. Stephen gave an inquiring look so she continued, "What's your name again? I kind of forgot what Fuuyumi-chan told us."
Stephen gave a chuckle then he bowed in front of the red-haired violinist like a gentleman should when he is introducing himself, "Oh, I apologize for not introducing myself. I'm Stephen Suichiro but you can just call me Step…or Suichiro, whichever you prefer."
"I think I prefer Suichiro better than the rest," Kahoko answered as Stephen straightens himself up.
Honestly, she was quite amused at the charisma this young lad holds and she can't help but wonder why he would think of coming along with then on their Christmas shopping. Surely Shoko didn't invite him, did she? Kahoko paused in her train of thoughts as she remembered something more important than having a mental debate on whether Shoko asked this guy to come along with them or not.
"Oh crap… we are having a rehearsal for our Christmas concert," she blurted out, startling Stephen a little. When she remembered that he was still there, she covered her actions immediately.
"Do you want to watch?" she asked all of a sudden with a smile.
"Gladly," Stephen answered, "But please don't tell Shoko-san that I'm watching, okay? I don't want her to feel uneasy,"
Kahoko smiled, "Alright, I won't tell her"
Then she caught sight of a group of girls whispering amongst themselves, clearly the object of their conversation is about the white haired lad with her. Seeing that those girls are the typical on-a-look-out-for-gorgeous-guys type of girls, the news of a good-looking guy inside the campus will spread immediately. Kahoko can't blame them for that, Stephen was really good-looking. Match it up with his personality; she was sure he'll have a fan club of his own if he was studying there.
"Though I'm not sure she wouldn't know that you're here," she thought out loud, not noticing the questioning look on Stephen's face as they walked towards the school auditorium.
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Meanwhile in the Auditorium:
"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!"
"What?" a girl asked exasperated
"A really cute guy is with Hino-sempai earlier. I think he is going to watch the rehearsal," the first girl said, successfully cooling the other girl's head with that fact.
"Do you suppose they're dating?" another girl asked all of the sudden
"Oh, why does Hino-sempai have to get all the good-looking guys attention?" the hot-head girl said with a pout. Then that expression immediately faded as the girl started imagining what the guy looks like but apparently she can't get an image in her mind so she decided to ask, "Is the guy really that cute? What does he look like?"
"Other that the fact that he is super cute," the first girl said making Manami roll her eyes exasperatedly but at that moment, the girl didn't seem to notice as she continued, "He has tousled white hair and stormy gray eyes. He looks rich by the way he acts. He's quite tall too."
At that description, Shoko automatically looked at the girl's direction. Manami could tell that she has an idea who the girl is talking about and she could see a mixture of nervousness and a slight glint of joy in the young clarinetist eyes.
Of course, Manami wasn't the only one who noticed that. A certain blonde cellist just happens to wake up from his short nap and the first thing he saw was that thoughtful look of his senior. He followed her gaze and it stopped on Shoko. Though he was confused at her expression, he felt something that he can't place.
"His stormy gray eyes were just mesmerizing. He is just…" the girl said and trailed off as Keiichi closed his eyes to sleep again, though his mind was still thinking about that feeling.
"Looks like there's another competition," Manami thought out loud as she watched the gossiping girls ran out of the room in hope of searching the object of their conversation.
"What are you talking about?" Len asked, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.
"Oh nothing. Nothing at all," Manami answered waving one hand to brush it off. Then she looked at Shoko, the worry in her face was slightly obvious, "Is something wrong Fuuyumi-chan?"
Shoko looked up then gave an apologetic smile, "Nothing,"
After a few moments, everyone was called to their positions for the rehearsal, with Kahoko arriving a few minutes before they start the first piece. Osaki gave them a chance to catch her breath before they officially start the rehearsal. From the shadows, Stephen watched them with a sad smile. Then he actually cracked up a real smile when it was Shoko's turn to play a piece with Keiichi. But that smile didn't last long as he sighed to himself. After Shoko and Keiichi's performance he took the liberty to go out.
When he was just a few steps away from the door, a creature flew in front of him with a big grin on its face.
"What the -"
"I knew it! I knew you can see me! I'm so happy!" the little blonde fairy blurted out cheerfully flying in different directions.
Stephen on the other hand just watched at the flying creature with wide eyes. Surely, this has to be a joke of some kind. There is no way something like that could exist. It was a Fairy! A Tinkerbelle kind of fairy! They are not supposed to exist! Can they? He kept convincing himself that his subconscious is making things up or something like that. But the creature looks familiar like he has seen something related to it before.
While Stephen was in the middle of his mental debate, Lili managed to calm himself down and hovered in front of the young white haired lad. He was still beaming like there is no tomorrow though.
"O—kay?" Stephen said slowly, blinking a few times as if he is waiting for the moment for the creature to disappear. But Lili was still there, smiling. Stephen closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, "I'm going crazy,"
"No you're not," the fairy said simply and Stephen just has to open his eyes to prove to himself that there is something talking to him, "You are one of those very few people who can see me. Hino-chan is one of them. Headmaster Kira is another. You can go ask them about me if you want to prove that you are not insane,"
Stephen blinked twice, "O—kay?"
"So if I'm not crazy, who are you and what are you exactly?" Stephen asked after grasping the fact that a flying blonde creature is talking to him. He made a mental note to ask Kahoko about the thing later when he has the chance.
"My name is Lili, guardian fairy of the academy," the blonde fairy answered with pride raising his hands in a way that his current pose is identical to his statue.
That's when realization struck. Stephen could feel his mouth swung open in astonishment. He heard rumors on how the school was magical in an aspect but never did it come across his mind that it a magical creature is actually living in the school.
"So, that statue in front, is you?" Stephen asked though he already knew the answer.
"Uh-huh," the fairy replied with a nod. Then he tilted his head to the side, "Why did you leave, the rehearsal is not finished yet?"
Stephen looked away for a moment then he placed both hands inside his pocket and gave the fairy a shrug as an answer. He was only two steps away from his current position when the fairy told him something that made him stop in his tracks.
"You used to play music and you stopped playing for so long but you still love playing though something is stopping you," the fairy stated in a disappointed tone, his eyes looking down as he played with his small wand, "I felt your desire to be able to play again when you were watching the rehearsal."
Stephen glanced back at the floating creature, waiting for him to continue what he was saying. He had a feeling there was more and he was right.
"Though I cannot explain how, I saw glimpses of your past. That's the first time I ever experienced something like that," the fairy explained, then he looked at the white-haired lad with curious eyes, "Why did you ever stop playing?"
Stephen was silent for a while, not meeting the creature's gaze then he gave a shrug, "I have my reasons,"
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After the rehearsal and a few clean-ups, all of the committee members are free to go. Shoko was slightly troubled about something though she can't place what. Her Kaho-sempai was troubled about something too, which was quite a surprise since she was so full of energy a while back.
When they passed by a corridor, a couple of General Education guys smiled and greeted Shoko sweetly, catching the young clarinetist off guard so she instinctively hid behind her senior, earning a chuckle from the latter.
"Kaho-chan! Fuuyumi-chan!" Nami shouted as she ran towards them in her usual hyper fashion.
"Good Afternoon, Amou-sempai" Shoko greeted with a bow
"Good Afternoon too," Nami answered. Then she caught sight of the famous sleepy cellist of the academy, "Oh, hi Shimizu-kun"
"Good Afternoon, Amou-sempai" the young cellist said with a bow.
"Eh?" Nami blurted out looking from Shoko to Keiichi, "What's with all the formality?"
Kahoko gave a giggle at that and a small smile appeared on Shoko's face.
"Are you coming with us Shimizu-kun?" Nami asked, a little too hopefully. Kahoko could only guess that she is planning on interviewing the young cellist for an article in the school paper.
"I'm sorry," Keiichi answered with another short bow then he continued when he straighten himself up, "My sisters insisted that I should join them in their Christmas shopping,"
"Aw, such pity."
Kahoko smiled, "But there is someone who wants to join us,"
"Really?" Nami said, clearly pleased that someone else is coming along with them yet confused at the same time as to who is tagging along with them so she took a guess, "Mori-san?"
Kahoko shook her head lightly, "Nope,"
Nami's eyebrow's met together in confusion, "One of the guys from the Concours?"
Kahoko laughed, "No, but he is a guy."
Nami gave a dejected sigh, "Okay, I have no clue,"
"Shoko-san," Stephen called out as he started to walk towards them just before Nami could take another guess, a couple of girls from a distance gave a squeal of delight, making the others turn to the source of the noise, at the sight of the rumored guy. Shoko felt her stomach do a flip as she watched the person walking towards them with a smile on his face.
Nami gasped when she remembered who that person is, "Oh my gosh! Is that -"
"Yep," Kahoko answered with a knowing nod, "We have a tag-along. You don't mind him tagging along right?"
"Of course not," Nami answered, eyes sparkling, "This is the perfect opportunity to ask him all the questions regarding him in my head,"
"Um," Stephen began awkwardly, "Hi,"
Just then a red car parked itself outside the front gate. The driver's window slowly rolled down, revealing two young ladies inside the car. Kahoko immediately recognized them as Keiichi's sisters; remembering the time they drove his to the train station when they were on their way to Fuuyumi Villa.
"Kei!" one of them called out
"I better get going," Keiichi said before giving a bow again as a form of formal goodbye.
"Oh, okay." Kahoko said, "Bye Shimizu-kun,"
"Yeah, bye." Nami said with a chuckle "Don't forget to shop for my Christmas gift,"
"B…bye, Sh...Shimizu-kun," this one came from Shoko. The young clarinetist looked down then she took the chance to look up as she continued, "T…Take care,"
Stephen's eyebrows involuntarily rose a few millimeters up at that, though no one noticed the change in his features. Then he turned to the cellist and gave him a friendly smile, "Advance Merry Christmas, young master Shimizu."
Keiichi looked at him for a while before giving a nod then he went towards his sisters. So far, it's been years since someone called him with that title.
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