A/N: This chapter also didn't get put into this, as it seems a bit out of place to me, but here it is. This one takes place not too long after Stresemann confronts Chiaki in the manga, after the performance with Son Rui. I wanted a bit of drama, so I put it in there. I'd also like to say I'm trying to show more of how outsiders view their relationship, considering Kuroki says that 'this is some news everyone will be happy about', or how Stresemann recognizes his infatuation. It leads us to believe that their relationship is kind of a dramatic irony, everyone else knows something is going on except for Chiaki and in a way, also Nodame. I'd also like to point out I've released another story for Nodame, a short 1800's AU called Pomp and Circumstance! If you want to read it, that would be awesome. The story is going to be around 5-7 chapters and I think it's turning out quite cute.

Point In Time: Paris Arc

Chapter 25: You'll fall short

Chiaki sighed before he took a drag on his cigarette. He hadn't smoked since he had moved to Europe, had been far less stressed since the transition. But then Stresemann just had to butt into his personal life and tangle him up. He had to talk about Nodame and things Chiaki still wasn't quite sure he wanted.

What was he to do? Did he really hold feelings for Nodame, or was he confusing it with a deep friendship? Stresemann seemed certain he was falling for her, even Rui had claimed he liked her.

He needed time to think, time to sort things out. Time he didn't seem to have if his last phone call to her was anything to go by. If he truly did have feelings for her, and she ended up going out with someone else...

How would that make him feel?

"You've had that look on your face from the moment we last spoke. Did our conversation unsettle you that much?" came Stresemann's voice. The man had a cigarette of his own, unlit, ready to join him. When Chiaki fully turned to look at him, he could see the smug look plastered on his face.

"No, why would it?" he retorted, looking away again as he tried to act as normal as he possibly could. Stresemann, however, saw right through the act and snorted as he came to stand beside him.

"Because I made you see something you didn't want to, of course." his voice was casual, as commenting on the weather. "Though I do find it strange you hadn't realized it for yourself already. When I left you in Japan I thought you'd have figured it out by now."

"I didn't have feeling for Nodame then." Chiaki replied without thinking, then froze. 'Then', what was 'then'? Did that mean he had feelings for her now? Why did this trip have to make him so confused. His relationship with Nodame had always been so easy and unassuming, why did it have to become complicated when she wasn't even here!

Stresemann didn't seem to notice his inner panic, and laughed.

"Of course you did, are you joking?" he leaned against the balcony railing and stared out at the landscape.

"You've always been looking at her, Chiaki. Everyone could see it." Chiaki found himself unable to interrupt even though he desperately wanted to.

"I arrived to Japan and from the minute she became involved there you were. Anything she did you followed like a lost little pup."

"That's untrue, I did not-" his disagreement was stopped by the stern glance Stresemann threw in his direction.

"Deny it all you want, but it's true. She'd go out for the night, you'd be constantly messaging her. You go anywhere with me, you'd message her. I remember one night you were so focused on what you'd make for dinner that you missed your cue to start playing for your concerto."

He had no memory of doing such a thing, or any of those things. Sure, he remembered texting her quite a bit, especially in those final years of college. Both of them had such busy schedules and despite his rampant denial they were close friends. But that wasn't any reason to suspect him of having feelings! It was simply friendship, a strange, close friendship but that was it.

"I see you trying to deny it in your head, you know. That's so unfair, Chiaki. I don't know why you go so far to deny it."

"Because she's a crazy woman who's hardly human, let alone dateable!" his voice was a pitch higher then usual, but he knew he had said the wrong thing when Stresemann's face changed from amused to upset, smile lowering ever so slowly.

"You'll lose her, you know. I don't want you to, but you will." he flicked away his cigarette butt and turned to face his student head on, and Chiaki felt the light atmosphere from before vanish.

"You drag her out here, to do something she never planned to do, and deny her even as you grip her harder. How long do you think you can do that, before she breaks?" his voice was quieter than Chiaki had ever heard, and somehow that made it all the more serious. This was even worse then their last confrontation.

"I-" Chiaki couldn't even get a word in before Stresemann continued.

"I saw the way you looked at her when we left France. I watched you hoard that last rice ball until you literally couldn't wait anymore. How foolish are you going to be when it comes to her? She deserves better than your half-assed affections, Shinichi."

He had never heard his mentor so angry, and at him. The man seemed to take the matter personally, and he wondered just why that was.

"If you want to keep pretending you don't care, that's fine. I can't stop you, but realize that people like Nodame do break eventually. She'll go back to Japan, find some other man to devote herself to, and then you'll never hear her music again."

He didn't know why, but Chiaki felt his heart skip at that. He could already see the scenario forming itself in his head, and although he had always told himself he'd be alright if she chose her own path, he specifically remembered those weeks where he thought he'd be venturing to Europe without her.

Didn't he have his answer, then? If he felt like this at just the thought of her leaving, didn't that mean that he had legitimate feelings for her? How long had he been denying them?

And how, he asked himself with a feeling of dread, had they formed in the first place.

"I see you've got that thinking face on again, so I suppose I should leave you to it." Stresemann's voice brought him back to the present with a jolt.

"Your music can go so far, Chiaki. I know it can, but without her I can't help but think that you're going to fall short somehow. Just, think on it."

He patted Chiaki on the shoulder and left the boy to his troubled thoughts.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you have any prompts/questions I'm always here. review if you want to!