Cal-Reflector's notes: This is my first fanfiction, a Flute Faction story centered on Hanai Haruki and Suou Mikot. The story is based primarily on events in the manga, as the anime moves too slowly and deviates from the original at certain points.

Disclaimer: School Rumble is the property of Kobayashi Jin, to whom I own hours of endless mirth and teeth-grinding frustration, the latter from the way he plays with and leads us on; fans of the manga will understand.

New Beginnings

Chapter 1: The End of a Dream

Hanai waited atop the school building, his eyes surveying the lively bustle of the activity below in the middle of lunch break. His tall form was still and erect as he prepared for the coming confrontation, one that was long overdue. That morning he had placed in Tsukamoto Yakumo's shoe locker a letter which asked for her to meet him during lunch break. The wording was plain and discreet, but he was certain that by now his feelings for her were apparent enough that the significance of the letter could not be missed by even by the densest of minds…

… Unless that mind belonged to Tsukamoto Tenma, Yakumo's elder sister. Even now Hanai could not comprehend what work of aberrant genetic metamorphosis had created these two completely different individuals from the same stock. Hanai did not dislike Tenma, who apparently was a caring sibling to Yakumo and had a circle of loyal friends, she was simply… different. One might say she was a bit of a dolt and simpleton, a combination of a cheerful sunflower and a brick wall. Unable to reconcile the sisters' radically polar dispositions to the force of natural selection, Hanai contemplated the possibility of a Higher Being accomplishing the deed with intelligent design and not a little sense of humor.

The sound an opening door brought Hanai's mind away from his drifting thoughts, and he turned to see Yakumo, standing in front of the doorway with her hands folded demurely before her. "You wished to see me, Sempai?"

"Yes, and thank you for meeting me, Yakumo-kun." A moment passed between the two in which no words were exchanged, one mentally silent and the other feeling uneasy at her inability to read his thoughts on this occasion, though her instincts had given warning signals to the purpose of Hanai's unusual behavior.

Hanai was the first to break the impasse. "Yakumo-kun, for a long time now I have held deep feelings for you, which I am sure you have noticed."

Yakumo looked towards the ground, and quietly replied "Yes."

"For a long time I was content merely to be near you, looking on from a distance and being a small part of your life when I could... but I was wrong. I grew uncertain about where we stood as the days went by and you never gave reply of how you felt towards me."

"It has been partly my fault as well, for never coming completely clear. But that ends today, the uncertainties, the doubts and questions that belies our relationship: Yakumo-kun, will you go out with me?"

Yakumo looked up, a startled expression on her face. She gazed at Hanai's concentrated countenance, which was as placid and calm as the clouds in the skies above, but beneath the surface she felt slight tremors that spread like subtle ripples across the ocean that was Hanai Haruki's state of mind.

Hanai watched Yakumo, his heart racing with ache and expectancy, his display of emotions restrained only with utmost effort. She wrung her hands, the internal struggle apparent upon her face. At last she folded her hands in front of her and bowed.

"I'm sorry…"

The bell signaling the end of the lunch break sounded, but neither made a leave to move. Minutes of silence passed before Yakumo looked up after to see that Hanai had turned away. She strove to find words, but came up empty.

"... I understand." Hanai's tone was emotionless, Yakumo stood still. "Sorry to have taken up your time, Tsukamoto-san."

The switch to the use of formal address caused Yakumo's heart to sink. "Sempai…"

"Please… leave me alone for a while."

After she left, Hanai remained in his place. The courtyard and hallways emptied, students reentered their classrooms, the bell for the beginning of afternoon classes rang and silence fell over the school. Hanai did not remain motionless for long however, as soon his shoulders began to shake. He slumped down, the wall to his back, and took off his glasses as the internal restraints snapped and the flood burst forth.


Please look forward to the next chapter. Reviews are welcome.