Chapter 3: The Sweetness of Strawberry Milk Juice

The final key echoed by the piano surrounded the opera house. A moment of silence surge before a thunderous waves of claps came from the audience. She sighed and stood up, bowing respectfully before exiting the stage.

The contestants who were after her were already losing hope. After all, she just performed one of the most hardest piece to play. To top that, she even executed it perfectly without missing a beat.

It was obvious that once again, she'll claim her throne as usual. She always does, without a fail.

People around her expected it, they already have expected that Araragi Setsuna who is a prodigy not only in academics, but in piano, will win this competition. But for Setsuna, it was not a pleasing experience to see those people congratulating her.

It was unpleasant.

Because she can see beneath their facade how rotten their personalities was. They have to keep up with their appearance in front of her to gain something. They weren't concerned of her achievements, they were only concern of gaining a support from her father and her grandparents.

She hated doing this kind of competition but she love playing piano.

She sighed and took of her high heels. She plopped herself down the sofa inside her waiting room as she looked up the ceiling.

Just how long will she keep up this perfect act?

A knock on the door caught her attention. She quickly fixed her posture as she looked at the direction of the door. A moment of silence surged the whole room before the door finally sprang open.

"Congratulations."

She looked at him, a bit suprise that he is here. What suprises her the most is the bouquet of flower he's giving for her. He's awfully calm, but his ear are now red in embarassment.

He's really cute when embarassed, she thought.

With careful movements, she reached out for the bouquet in his hand. He scratched the back of his neck in an awkward manner as she stared at the beauty of the flowers she was holding.

"Nagisa told me it was your favorite flower." He said with confidence.

She smiled softly, "You didn't ask Nagisa about it?"

He tore his eyes off her. "O-Of course not."

It has been months since they've known each other, both have warmed up and is still in the stage of getting to know each other but for them, it feels like they've known each other for a long time. Setsuna, for instance, have been teasing the red-haired boy as much as she can and the latter just listens to her teasing, seemingly unaffected about it.

It was, as Fumino said, clearly not a friendship anymore but less than a lover as she would describe it.

"You.. You did well." He softly said and then patted her hair in a caring manner.

Strange. It didn't feel similar like how the people would tell her after she performed. It wasn't malicious, it was very sincere and it feels like he mean it from the bottom of his heart.

And the way he patted her hair... heat quickly spread on her cheeks as she looked up to meet his eyes. He looked down to meet hers and it took him seconds before realizing what he did and the girl's expression.

"Sorry."

"N-No.. it's okay.. I enjoyed it, to be honest.." She bluntly said, making Karma blushed even more. "Could you do that again?"

"Of course not!" He exclaimed, shocked by how bold her request is. It shouldn't be a shocked to him since many girls acted like that around him but when it comes to Setsuna, his facade quickly crumbles and he acts like a normal boy who is embarassed in front of his crush.

She really, as the rumours say, brings out your true self without her knowing.

As expected, she won the competition much to Chairman Asano's delight. As soon as she arrived at the school, Gakushuu told her that the Chairman wanted to see her. He didn't tell her any details and just told her to go.

"Did he heard about it?"

Gakushuu just looked at her for a minute before letting out a deep sigh, "I told you to be careful."

They walked towards the principal's office, greeting the people who they passed as they continued their way.

"I've heard some ridiculous rumours, Setsuna." He said, his eyes gleaming as he said those words.

"And what are those ridiculous rumours, Chairman?" She asked in a sickening sweet voice.

"That you've been hanging out with a student from Class D."

She looked at him with wariness, knowing all too well where the topic is going. Ever since she stepped inside this awfully cold and dark office of the Chairman, not a single word have been uttered between the two of them. Even when they are being served with teas and snacks, he didn't say something.

Not until five minutes have passed and he finally spoke and the first thing he said is about her hanging out with some student from Class D.

I expect him to, at least, congratulate me for bringing another award that he could boast to those in the lower level but I never expected him to care more about me hanging out with Karma than me winning that piano competition, she thought.

"Are you threatening me, Chairman Asano?" She asked in a soft voice. The smile on her face didn't disappear as she asked those words.

"Of course not." The latter denied, the smile on his lips didn't disappear and Setsuna finds it creepy. "I am only worried about how the other people would view it considering that you are a person who deserves something greater than you settled for it."

"There's no need to worry about that, Chairman." She smiled and placed her tea cup down, "Because in the first place, I didn't care about those things."

She stood up and bowed down at the older man before raising her head and smiled at him, "If you'll excuse me, I have important papers to deal at the Student Council. Thank you for the tea, Chairman Asano."

"So? What did you talked about?"

"He did found out about it."

His eyes didn't leave the papers he is dealing as she closed the door behind her. They were the only ones in the room, the others have left after Gakushuu dismissed them. Her brother and her best friend is currently at their respective club, so the remaining paperwork is left on them.

She sat on her chair, flipping the papers on her desk. Only the sound of the ballpen making contact to the paper dominated the room. It was a normal scenario for Setsuna since Gakushuu prefers a peaceful atmosphere while doing his work and so do Setsuna.

"What are you going to do now?" He asked, still not leaving his eyes from the papers.

"Stay away from Karma until the rumour dies down."

For the first time since she arrive at the room did Gakushuu's eyes finally went to her.

"Just like that?" He asked, in a mocking voice. She slightly pouted, unhappy of his tone. "Do I have a choice?"

"You have plenty of choices." He commented, arranging the papers in a neat form, "But you prefer picking a choice where you'll sacrifice something."

"There's no other choice!"

"There is." Gakushuu muttered and then looked straight in her eyes, "You just didn't see it, Setsuna."

"Then what is it?" She said, taunting him, "What are the other choices that you spoke, Shuu?"

"Tell him." He curtly said, "Tell him what you feel."

At this point, Setsuna has finally lost it. This guy.. this is the same guy who became a martyr for her dear older sister who vaguely told her that he did, in fact, love her! How ironic it is that he was the one suggesting her to tell whatever she's feeling for the red-haired boy when he can't even tell her sister what was his feelings for her.

She finally recovered from her shock and she gave him an 'are-you-kidding-me?' look. He just looked at her, no emotions appearing on his face, as he stopped whatever he is doing to hear whatever she's about to say.

"You're ridiculous." Setsuna finally said after a minute of silence, "The audacity of you to suggest me that thing when you can't even tell my sister that you love her."

"In my defense." He calmly said, his attention finally back on his laptop, "If I did tell your sister that I love her, she would probably stay here and waste the opportunity of going to Paris for a much more better education."

"My sister isn't the type of girl who would be distracted by love."

"Trust me, I know her better than you and Satsuki would." He said and then spared a glance at her, "Your sister is like a wind. She likes being free and she likes doing whatever she wanted in her life. If I did gave in to what she wanted, she would stay here despite the fact that she can attain so much more than what she could if she stayed here. Honestly, I would feel guilty about it if she did it."

"I never knew you could feel that kind of emotion."

"As cold as I am, I still have such emotions lying in my heart." He said and then he let out a small smile, "Thank your sister for that."

Indeed, Gakushuu wouldn't be this kind of guy if it wasn't for her sister. Shouko Araragi, who is portrayed to be a person who possessed the attributes of like a free wind. She was a cheerful, elegant, gentle and well, a person who likes to tease the people around her. She never cared about what the society of this school tries to impose on her. She was rebellious, a person who likes dipping into trouble and the kind of person who would do anything to protect her loved ones.

No wonder Gakushuu fell for her. She just didn't care about what others say. She just do whatever she wanted to do, like a free wind.

If her sister can ignore this kind of things, why couldn't she do the same?

Her father always said that it's better to risk than to regret afterwards. It's always better to try rather than hold yourself back. He told her that she should worry about what will it cause later on rather than contemplating first before doing it.

Always risk, he said, because taking a risk is always worth it.

"Sorry, Shuu. But could you let me leave early for today? I have something to do."

She didn't even let her answer. She disappeared as soon as she said those words. Gakushuu just stared at the door and smiled to himself.

"Finally."

She ran with all her might to the nearest train station, hoping that he was still there. She left her bag to her brother and left before he can even say something to her.

She ran, not caring if some people recognized her. She didn't even care if she was already exhausted. She just wanted to meet him before he disappeared once again.

She hastily put the card and immediately ran towards the platform. She looked around, trying to spot a certain red-head among the crowd.

Even at the moment after the train arrived, she didn't see him.

Where is he?

Did he already left?

Such thoughts invaded her mind and the courage that she has earlier is slowly dwindling into nothingness.

When the door of the train finally closed, her hopes were immediately crushed. She could only stare at the door in front of her and when the train finally left, she let out a pathetic laugh.

Of course, she thought as she clutched the card in her hand, Everything that I've done is useless, after all.

She turned around and slowly walked towards the exit of the platform when suddenly, a familiar silhouette stood in front of her.

She raised her head and looked at him, finding him sipping some strawberry milk juice from the convenience store near the train station. He immediately put the straw away from his lips and looked at her.

"Setsuna.."

Ah.. why does it sound so lovely when he said my name, she thought as she looked at him.

"I thought you have something to do at the Student Council? Why are yo--"

"I ditched it."

"What?"

"I ditched it." She smiled, "For you."

He was in disbelief after hearing such words from her. She never ditched anything important. Setsuna Araragi is known for being responsible and that's why she was the secretary of the Student Council.

To hear such words coming out of her mouth made him feel weird happy about it. Happy that she can do such thing like a normal person would. He wasn't happy that she's risking her reputation but seeing her smile, he thinks everything is worth it.

For her, at least.

"Hey Karma.."

"Yeah?"

She pursed her lips, contemplating if she would tell him or not. It didn't even help when he turned around and faced her, curiousity etched on his face as he waited for her answer.

As the sun finally disappeared from the skies, she looked straight at him in the eyes. Her eyes shining like a crystal as the darkness consumed the sky. The sound of the train passing by invaded the ppace as they both stayed still at their position.

She took a deep breath, looked straight into his eyes and with baby steps, walked towards him. With each step, her heartbeat began to rapidly race. Too loudly. Too quickly.

She was nervous. It was the first time that Setsuna Araragi, the girl who is always calm and collected, experienced this kind of feeling. She wasn't nervous when competing for national events, she wasn't nervous when she always step in that podium and deliver her speech as the secretary of the Student Council.

Everything that she's experiencing now.. these new feelings that recently surfaced, all of them feels surreal for her.

And all of this is caused by this boy, this boy that she met on one fine day at the place where the apple tree stood.

The same boy who told her that there is nothing wrong doing your best.

The same boy who told her that she's not obliged to make the people around her satisfied with her.

And at that moment, she knew that she has fallen deeply into this complicated web of love. The love that she has tried to avoid at all cost.

When she finally stood in front of him, with ten cetimeters apart from each other, she already knew that there was no turning back.

She took a deep breath once again and looked at his confused face and finally opened her mouth to speak.

"Do you want to go out with me?"