A/N: I do not own any of these characters.
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… "It's our #1 Trumpet player." Kumiko finished explaining to Kanade.
Reina slightly turned her gaze towards Kumiko upon hearing her name mentioned. Kumiko's voice was faint enough, clearly just enough for the person next to her can hear. But when it comes to Kumiko, Reina knew she can hear the calls of the Euphonium player without any words.
"Kousaka-San?" Barely audible question of surprise as Kanade briefly turns her head back towards the trumpet section only to find piercing purple gaze staring back.
Kanade quickly turns back to face front as she hears the President's call to walk to their chairs. A swift glance from Kumiko made her much more confused. She shakes her thoughts. Now is not the time to be delving into her senpai's personal relationships. No. There will be time for this after the performance, and Kanade promised herself that she will get to the bottom of why her senpai seemingly acts indifferent toward Tsukamoto Suichi. For now, her focus, attention, and energy are all directed to their upcoming show.
And so Kanade gave it her all.
"Kumiko-sempai?" Kanade looks around after their show, trying to spot her fellow Euphonium player. She sees the trombonist, Tsukamoto-kun, sitting on the stair steps against the wall, together with the other trombonists. Her eyes continue to scan the crowd, seeing the tubas, clarinets, horns, trumpets…"
"You won't find her there." Natsuki breaks Kanade's search. "Natsuki-sempai?"
"You're looking for Kumiko-chan, aren't you?"
Kanade can only nod at her own transparency. "And the trumpets are missing a member?" Natsuki continues.
Kanade feels her own blush creeping.
Natsuki turns her head towards the two upper row levels from them and sees Kumiko whose arms are draped over Reina's curled form against the second year brunette. Kumiko's arms on Reina's lower back, gently rubbing and easing the trumpeter's nerves. Kanade can only follow Natsuki's gaze.
"… so close." barely a whisper to anyone who wasn't paying attention. Then she remembers all those times she teased her senpai and the trombonist together.
"In Oumae-san's world, nothing, nobody else truly exists apart from Kousaka Reina-san." Natsuki starts to explain to her Euphonium kouhai. "Those two are destined. Their bond has been set. Not even air can come between those girls. I keep telling Kumiko to just date Kousaka-san."
"Date?" Kanade managed to squeak.
"Last year, Kousaka-san was chosen to take solo for the Crescent Moon Dance. But a couple of the second years made it difficult for her. Almost all rooted for Nakaseko-san. After all, Nakaseko-san was our senior. And so, we held a second audition."
Kanade nods. She had this conversation with Kumiko once. "And at the end, Nakaseko-san stepped down and truly believed Kousaka-san should play the solo." Kanade finishes the story.
Natsuki nods. "Hai." Then the third year continues, "But I bet you didn't know that even being just a first year, Kumiko-chan stood up and clapped for Kousaka-san. Against everyone else's silence, Oumae-san's devotion to Kousaka Reina-san is unbreakable. And in vice-versa." Grinning, Natsuki finished relaying the details of last year's events.
Kanade shook her thoughts. "Kumiko-senpai didn't tell me that last part."
"Of course she wouldn't! That's just how Kumiko-chan is." Natsuki paused. "And then, when Kumiko got sick, Kousaka-san didn't think twice about visiting her at home. And a whole new rumor started after that."
"Rumor? I don't think I've ever heard of such thing." Everything was spinning in Kanade's mind.
"What's there not to talk about. They're best-friends beyond closeness, alone in one of their bedroom. Anyone can just imagine what could've happened. Anyway, why not ask Kumiko later in the bus." Natsuki chuckles.
"Natsuki-senpai!" Kanade turns her gaze back to the two seconds years. Of all the ideas Natsuki can put in her mind's eye. Her face was burn in red in embarrassment. "… so close."
"Really, have you seen Kousaka-san cling onto any other person? Any one at all? They look so comfortable just being together. They just fit together, you know? Must be nice to have someone, huh?" Smiling at her kouhai's words, Natsuki remarks. "Ja ne" she walks away looking for Yuuko.
And so the results were announced. Kanade's head whips towards her senpai's. Her eyes focus on how Kumiko's arms wrapped protectively around Kousaka-san, whispering. She can almost see how her senpai cradles the crying trumpeter.
"In Oumae-san's world, nothing else truly exists." Natsuki's words echoed as she saw the displayed closeness of her senpais. She hardly interacts with the trumpeter. Truth be told, Kousaka Reina's direct demeanor petrified her. Besides from greetings, she avoided Kousaka Reina-san as much as she can.
So when, once again, she finds the two second years holding onto each other on their assembly before boarding the bus, she almost felt a pang of jealousy. Maybe not so much for herself, but… then her gaze finds Tsukamoto Suichi laughing with another first year trombonist.
And when they boarded their bus heading back to school, she was sure Kumiko would sit with Kousaka-san. So, she was surprised when her senpai sat next to her.
"Kumiko-senpai."
"Daijoubu Kanade-chan?"
"Ano… something about you said earlier - our #1 trumpet player"
"Hai!"
"Is she…?" Kanade couldn't explain herself.
"Have you been talking to Natsuki-senpai?" Grinning, Kumiko replies, calming down the nervous voice of her kouhai.
"Demo I haven't seen you since we finished our performance." Kanade tried to find the words. As soon as she faced her senpai, she was looking into a drilling gaze by amber eyes almost fearing for what her senpai was about to say.
Kumiko blinks. Then her eyes follow the front trail of their bus, looking at the other vehicle that Reina was in.
"Kanade." Kanade swear she has never heard this serious tone in Kumiko's voice. "Kousaka-san is the most important person in my life. She's more important than the next breath that I will take."
"Is she?… are you?" The first year's annoyance apparent at her own inability to ask clear question.
Kumiko turns to face Kanade with a straight face. No smile, no pout. "Mine"
"I don't understand." Kanade explains. Her confusion taking over her thoughts "Demo, Tsukamoto-kun likes you! He's good for you! He even gave you a hair pin!"
Kumiko can see the frustration in her kouhai's actions and words. So she steered herself to explain things clear to the first year.
"I could've bought that hair pin myself. And even if Suichi has confessed, he's not the one for me. He will make a woman happy someday. And it wouldn't be me. I want Kousaka Reina. Nothing, and I mean no one will change that. Reina has given Me so much more than a hair pin. She inspires me to be better. She's the music I want to hear. She's why I look forward to waking up everyday. She's the ache I long for. She's my best-friend. And she has brought color to my world. She's my love. She's my everything. Even after high school is over, I will stay with her. She will always have me." Kumiko takes a deep breath, clearly baring her emotions to her confused kouhai. "Suichi knows the kind of pain he will feel if he continues to pursue Me. He's a childhood friend, nothing more. I hope I have made Myself crystal clear." Kumiko closes her eyes and basks on the thought of Reina's very existence.
Kanade's in awe of her senpai's loyalty and devotion. "Natsuki senpai told me to just ask you if… I mean, I would like to hear it straight from you." Kumiko's intensity calmed a bit. Kumiko carries on with a gentle smile. Kanade watched as her senpai tugged something around her neck, from under her uniform, revealing a silver band hanging on her necklace.
"I know we're still young." Kumiko starts to explain. "But like I said, she's my forever. As I am hers. So, no. Kousaka-san and I aren't dating, as you would like to know." Kumiko chuckles at the ever so confused look plastered on her kouhai's face. "We're way past dating."
And with the brightest grin, Kumiko finished "Reina and I have promised ourselves to one another."
Kanade couldn't even begin to explain the combination of utter excitement and confusion that have taunted her. To shake things off her thoughts, she hears Natsuki's calling from the front of the bus. "Everyone set?"
"Ano - Kumiko-senpai?" Curiousity got the best of Kanade.
"Nani?"
"Is that why Kousaka-senpai plays so well? For you?"
Kumiko shakes her head slowly and smiles. "Reina is special on her own. She lives and breathes music. If you think she's that good. That's because she really is. And she's only starting."
Kanade noticed that only Kumiko refers to Kousaka-san using the trumpeter's first name. She looks at her senpai and sees a calm and contented look.
And to think the competition will rattle her nerves.
She just had to ask.