A/N: DID YOU GUYS THINK I'D JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THE CONCERT? NO.
DID YOU THINK I WON'T UPDATE A DAY RIGHT AFTER I JUST UPDATED? NO. (Cause I literally update a lot.)
DO YOU NEED A LITTLE ROMANCE RIGHT NOW? YEEEES.
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Hino was back in her dressing room fixing her bag as she packed everything after the concert. She was still trembling from what happened back there, the applause, the stage, just everything.
Hino took her 5th deep breath to calm herself down, "Just chill, Hino, it's done, you can go back home. You can-"
She was interrupted by a sudden knock on her door, "Come in !" she called and Tsukimori, still in his dashing suit, came in with a calm look on his face as he entered. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked.
Hino smiled, not facing him. "Oh, nothing at all, I'm just preparing to go back home."
"You can do that later."
"Uh, why?"
"I forgot to tell you, we've got an after-party in a hotel near here. Hihara and the others are there too since they watched; they didn't have time to visit us because of all the comotion." With comotion he meant paparazzi. Ugh.
Hino sighed, "Why did you tell me?! I could've gotten a better dress or something-"
"Well I didn't change so this is fine."
"But look at this dress ! It's so short and my legs are revealing too much !" Hino gestured to the mini skirt of the dress, Tsukimori followed her gaze with a wonderous look.
"Hmmm..."
Hino hit his shoulder, "Stop looking, I didn't tell you to." but laughed it off.
"Would you mind if I asked you to escort me to that party?"
"About that," she looked up at him but noticed he was too close, her face was just inches away from his neck since Tsukimori was so much taller than her. "Uhm..." she forgot what she was about to say.
"I'll take that as a yes." he offered his arm as he gazed straight into Hino's eyes and Hino had no choice but to wrap her arm (which looked so fragile next to Tsukimori's slightly muscular one,) around his, beneath the soft fabric of his suit, she could feel his somewhat strong arm and biceps. He wasn't too muscular but he was very fit.
"I suppose the others do know that we're dating but not the fact that it's all acting?" she asked as they headed to the car.
"Right."
Hino sighed, this was going to be a loooong night.
When they arrived at the grand hotel, it was surrounding with people dressed in such formal outfits and expensive looking cars driving around as well, leaving the rich and famous looking people into the party.
Hino felt small all of a sudden.
"We're here, c'mon." Tsukimori wrapped an arm around Hino's shoulders as he pulled her with him out of the car into the flashing lights of cameras.
"Tsukimori Len ! Is that your new girl ?!"
"Tsukimori ! It's been confirmed by your assistant that you guys are dating ! How is it !"
"Want to give her a quick kiss ?!"
The paparazzi roared with annoying questions while taking endless pictures, the security tightened immediately as they blocked the unwelcome crowd out of the hotel. Tsukimori's grip on her shoulders tightened as he continued to push against all the chaos until they finally got to the lobby of the hotel.
"Some security they've got." hissed Tsukimori as they walked towards their friends and composed himself.
Amou saw them first and his eyes widened with surprise, "Hino ! Tsukimori ! It is true !"
"Oh. my. god." said Mizue with her mouth making an O shape while Tsuchiura just stared in surprise.
Hihara and Minami blushed furiously while Yunoki was emotionless... or was glaring at least. Mio and Nao were laughing hard.
Fuyumi smiled and blushed at Hino while Shimizu looked... smug. (awkward.) Kaji's eyes widened at first but then smiled sweetly at Hino, completely ignoring the fact that Tsukimori has an arm around her and Etou muffled a laugh.
Hihara came forward and hugged Hino, "Congratulations Kaho-chan! You were great back there !" hihara was wearing a suit with a yellow tie, he looked like he was enjoying since he was with Minami and she felt the same. Minami hugged Hino close too, "Aaaw, Hino, I almost cried there. You don't only look beautiful but man, you can play ! I do miss the times I accompanied youuu."
"Aw, Minami, me too." Hino hugged her back. "Hihara thank you too."
Kaji came in and patted Hino's hair, "Congrats Hino! Awesome performance." his smile was caring as always, Etou smiled at her as well.
they were both greeted by all their friends with hugs and appreciation for their loved ones.
----
"So, you guys are really dating huh?" Amou asked as they were all seated in their seats for the buffet.
Tsukimori didn't answer but glanced at Hino, Hino's lips went up at the corners of her face. "Y-yes."
"Oh? Wow, I could barely believe it, Tsukimori what's happened to you?" Tsuchiura teased and laughed while Mizue shut him up.
Tsukimori's lip went up at one corner, "I guess, I didn't realize so soon."
Silence.
"WOW ! OH THAT'S SO SWEET, TSUKIMORI ! I'VE GOT NEW EVIDENCE I'M SO-" Amou stopped when she saw Hino glaring at her mercilessly. "Uhm, right. Forget it."
Tsukimori sighed and sipped his drink.
----
While the party began and performances from the band were playing, everybody happened to be distracted while Tsukimori and Hino were the only ones who kept quiet.
Suddenly, a woman stopped the band to announce something. "Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, this party was made to congratulate Tsukimori Len on his long journey through music and finding his own self along the way. Tonight, he is escorted by a very fine young lady known as Hino Kahoko, as his partner and girlfriend too." she giggled and the crowd cheered too.
Hino blushed furiously.
"Would it be okay to ask Tsukimori-kun to lead the dance with his beloved ?"
'What?!' Hino thought as her hands started to sweat. 'I barely know how to dance !'
Mizue giggled and patted Hino's shoulder and winked, "You can do it."
Beside Hino, Tsukimori stood up and offered his hand to Hino, "May I have this dance?"
Hino's mouth fell, literally.
The crowd started to cheer including their friends, Tsukimori smirked with his eyes showing a hint of anticipation.
Hino sighed, took his hand and stood up hesitantly. "I'll kill you for this." she hissed angrily.
"I already am dying," said Tsukimori but chuckled, "but I must admit, I'm enjoying this a bit."
Did he just chuckle? Like, chuckle-chuckle?
They walked to the center of the wide open marble floor, Tsukimori whirled Hino to face him. His arm already around her waist and his other hand holding hers gently. Hino didn't move, couldn't move. Tsukimori used the hand that was around her waist to lift Hino's othe free hand on his shoulder, bringing the two of them closer.
Hino scoffed, looking away.
The band played soft music and it cued the two of them to slowly whirl around gracefully. Tsukimori led Hino slowly of course for her sake because she hasn't exactly experienced dancing before while Tsukimori's had lessons on Venice when he dated Mijako.
Hino looked down on the floor at her feet, hoping she would'nt trip or accidentally step on Tsukimori's foot (although she'd love to.)
She was actually enjoying it.
"Hino, look up." she didn't have to as he lifted her chin with the hand that held hers. As soon as she met his gaze, all she could see was gold and was mesmerized at how it glimmered. Hino realized what she was doing and immediately looked back down;
"Is something wrong?" Tsukimori murmured, his voice low and soft as his forehead touched hers.
He didn't pull away.
"You're being too close..." Hino whispered, barely speaking.
"If this is all just an act, shouldn't it be perfect til the end?"
Hino's heart suddenly felt ten pounds heavier, "I--I guess."
"After a few more minutes, people will start to join the dance then you should go home." Tsukimori said.
'So much for dancing.' Hino simply nodded and shut herself up for actually believing something would happen.
She shouldn't even have bothered.
---
Taka-san chuckled as he saw how Tsukimori and Hino looked right now.
They were dancing slowly there, their foreheads stuck together and wrapped around each other.
"Good job, Taka, good job." He laughed to himself and decided to help himself to the delicious looking dishes.
---
After a few minutes tickled by, people joined and danced as well, giving the two musicians some privacy after so many people saw how close they've become.
Hino was the first to pull away and cleared her throat, "I'll go now."
"Okay."
Tsukimori untangled himself from her and they just nodded at each other. "Goodbye." hino murmured as she turned on her heel and walked away.
"Hino?"
Hino stopped but didn't face him, "Yeah?"
"Take care of yourself."
"Right." and she continued to walk away.
---
Hino went out the back door so that the paparazzi wouldn't spot her. She already wore her beige coat jacket to keep her warm since her dress was too short and revealing. Her violin case held tightly in her grip as she walked home;
'If this is all just an act, shouldn't it be perfect til the end?'
Those words seemed to haunt her.
"Huh, act eh?" she scoffed to herself as she remembered how hurt she felt when she heard him say that.
And just as she started to infuriate, thunder clapsed and rain started to pour. She used her violin case to cover herself and she had to run since fog started to blocked her way and she didn't want to get lose or anything.
She finally arrived, drenched and tired, her feet hurt and had blisters since she ran with her heels. She loosened the straps of her heels and threw it somewhere on the floor and stripped down in the bathroom to take a clean and hot shower.
Somehow Hino tried to distract herself from getting anymore frustrated and decided to just recall the dance she had with him. She tried to cloud his face away and just remember how light she felt as they whirled in the dance floor. How the friction between them felt great and just being in his arms even for just one night would seem to make up forever.
Hino took a deep breath as she lifted her face to where the water directly poured on her, her face feeling the hard droplets of water. She turned the knob of the shower, wrapped the curtains away and wrapped a towel around her. The mirror covered with hot mist, she wiped it away and looked at herself.
Her hair was damp and tangled in all directions. Drips of water all around her body but her skin looked light and clean. Her cheeks were flushed red from just taking a bath. Her lips were a full red too but one thing disturbed her.
Her eyes were watery and tears slowly fell to her cheeks.
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW. HINO, I LOVE YOU.
I feel so sad for her/ kills Tsukimori.
Keep tuned in for the next update !