Chapter 11:

Nodame:

As the orchestra started, I felt so happy at the same time relaxed. Is it the music? Or maybe the embrace Chiaki-senpai gave me. I felt my cheeks flushed. Bad thoughts, bad thoughts again is entering me. I sighed.

After the first symphony which I am not familiar of since the incident, the next performance would be a piano concerto, and again I am not familiar with the piece. The crowd applauded as Chiaki-senpai and Rui entered. They looked good together.

"Do you think those two are dating?" I heard someone whispered at the back.

"I think so, since they play beautiful music together. But the two would not admit anything," whispered the other. I felt my heart thump louder than before. Then the thing that caught my hearing is when they said:

"But Chiaki Shinichi once claimed to be dating someone and was caught in an accident. Rumors say she is a genius but a big idiot," they laughed. "But it's better if Chiaki and Rui would be together right?"

"Yes, I would prefer that" said the other.

I covered my ears. Those rumors are getting on my nerves again. Was I a big idiot in the past? What do I do with music? Genius? Me? But a big idiot –now that is quite bothersome. I heard the piano playing. This piece, where have I heard it? It sounds really familiar.

"Ravel's piano concerto in G major" I suddenly uttered. Where did that come from?

"Yes, that's right" replied Tanya. "Ravel wrote this for his second concert tour of America in 1929. This was strongly influenced by the popular jazz of the day"

"Yeah, it's rhythmical and quite humorous," I whispered.

"You're right again, but what is Chiaki thinking? He repeated a piece he played in France, there are a lot of pieces out there. But why did he chose Beethoven's Eroica, and Ravel's piano concerto?"

"Tanya's right, he is planning something we don't know" added Kuroki-kun.

I watched Rui play, she was graceful and very elegant. She was….sparkling. I felt the rising tension of the audiences. She was indeed a genius.

Are you okay? I heard a voice inside my head.

Can I stay here for tonight, Shinichi-kun?...wine…glass…hug…Ravel's Piano concerto…Rui..playing..

Jealousy, anger, frustration….

I felt my head hurts and it was horrible. My head really hurts.

The crowd stood up and applauded, the piece ended.

I started to stand up but my head was like being twisted and turned. I fell and after that everything went black.

Chiaki:

Baka…I wasn't even thinking?!

I heard a tension in the crowd that a young lady fainted I knew it was Nodame. I ran down the stage and went to Nodame. I knew that this would happen. I really hoped she will remember even a small piece of memory but the price is a very hurting headache that could make her suffer more.

We rushed her to a nearby hospital. The doctor told me that everything was fine, she was just struggling. I went inside the hospital room where she was admitted.

"Chiaki-senpai" I heard her voice, and as if I started to be able to breath again. I looked at her dazzling eyes.

"We'll leave the two of you" said Tanya as she pulled Kuroki out of the room.

I caressed Nodame's brown hair. "I'm so sorry Nodame," I muttered

She looked at me innocently. That look is breaking my heart. "What are you sorry for senpai?"

"That….."

"Senpai, if you are apologizing because I fainted, well it is not your fault. My head is the one to be blamed not you." She looked at me deeply. I felt the urge to kiss her, but I was holding back.

"N-Nodame, thank you" I just replied bowing my head.

"Chiaki-senpai?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Aisheteru Chiaki-senpai." She smiled.