Disclaimer: Don't own La Corda D'oro
Chapter 6 - The Setup
The following day in Seiso Academy...
"W-what's this?" asked Kahoko.
Kanazawa had asked the concours participants to meet at the usual classroom. Kahoko was late as usual, what she didn't expect was the different faces she expected to see was not all there.
It was Ryoutaro, Shimizu and Fuyumi, Amou, Nao, Mio, Ousaki, Kanazawa, Yunoki and a gloomy-looking Hihara, plus, Len- who was seated at the middle on a chair, was surrounded by them. They looked up at her when she entered.
Ousaki and Kanazawa, who were not hovering over Len answered, "We have no idea." Ousaki smiled while Kanazawa scratched the back of his head.
"Anyway, I'm leaving." Said Kanazawa, groaning along the way.
"Eh? But?" said Kahoko.
"Ask Amou-kun over there," pointed Kanazawa leaving the room, followed by Ousaki.
"Amou, what have you done?" asked Kahoko.
"Obviously black-mailing," said Len, glaring at Amou.
Amou shot him an innocent look, "Come on Tsukimori-kun," then she looked at Kahoko, "Come here, sit." She said
Mio placed a chair next to Len with a bit of distance, Kahoko sat there confused, "What's this all about?" asked Kahoko
"First, will someone tie Tsukimori?" asked Amou.
"What on earth-" started Len, but Ryoutaro tied him onto the chair happily "Let me go," complained Len.
"Think of this as something from us," said Yunoki, laughing a bit, then he looked at Hihara, "Don't you have orchestra?" asked Yunoki.
"Ah!" said Hihara, his eyes widening, "Ah! Oh-no! Ah! I forgot! Ah!" he panicked.
"Come on," said Yunoki to his best friend. He glanced back at Kahoko one last time, and with that look, it made Kahoko shiver.
"Hm…okay, let's begin the trials," said Mio, clearly enjoying the atmosphere, but not Len's piercing aura.
"Trial?" questioned Kahoko.
Amou and Mio giggled, "Fuyumi-chan?" asked Kahoko looking at her.
"U-um…uh," she said nervously, "N-n-Nami-senpai a-a-a-asked me t-t-t-to----"
"Well, first question, are you two going out?" asked Amou, interrupting Fuyumi.
Kahoko and Len blushed, "No, clearly not." Said Len icily.
Kahoko somehow felt hurt by his statement, but nodded in agreement.
"Hm, then why are you two so close?" asked Nao.
"Does it matter?" asked Len.
"Kaho-chan?" asked Mio
Kahoko shook her head "It's not like that," she said
"Am I hearing foul lies?" asked Amou
"Clearly not." Said Len
"So, basically, you, Len Tsukimori and you, Kahoko Hino have no feelings for each other or something like that." said Amou
Kahoko blushed, and then she looked at Ryoutaro. He met her eyes and grinned. Kahoko's eyes widen 'He did not,' thought Kahoko
Len glared at Amou. 'I thought I could trust her, but clearly not.'
"Then what is this?" asked Amou holding up a picture of the two. They were in a park together, watching the birds and laughing. Len had the sweetest smile in that picture.
"Ah, that is not a date," said Kahoko, yet she was surprised at seeing Len's smile captured.
"Seems like you can read my mind," said Amou.
"But it looks like one," said Mio.
"What do you really want from us?" asked Len.
Amou grinned widely as if telling him 'You really want me to get straight to the point?' then she patted her pocket.
Len's eyes widen 'The recorder,' then he glared, 'you wouldn't dare,'
'Try me'
The two communicated using their eyes, but the rest ignored them.
"Are you two still denying it?" asked Mio, her eyes as taunting as Amou's.
Kahoko and Len did not speak up.
"Excuse me senpai," disturbed the sleepy Shimizu.
"Yes?" asked Amou, clearly annoyed that the moment was disturbed.
"Could Shouko and I leave? We need to practice for something," said Shimizu.
"Oh, okay," said Amou, shoving her hand, clearly impatient.
The two left, Kahoko looked at them 'They're so sweet together. It's been 2 moths already since they're dating huh.'
"So, we just want to say, we've got evidence." Said Amou looking at Ryoutaro.
"Evidence? Of what?" asked Kahoko, her heart skipping a beat.
'After this, I'm switching schools,' thought Len 'This would be the most embarrassing thing that's happened to me.'
Ryoutaro and Amou both held up a tape recorder. Len and Kahoko's eyes widen. 'She is not going to….' Thought Len
'When did that happen?' asked Kahoko to herself then she remembered Ryoutaro putting his hands under the table "Noooo way!" said Kahoko.
"Sorry Hino, though I was serious with what I said, I just had to…" said Ryoutaro.
'Did…does this have something to…don't tell me Hino-san feels…' said Len looking at Kahoko.
Kahoko was blushing. Amou saw intuition flash across Len's eyes.
"I'll be in the court yard Mio, Tsukimori's aura is too much to take." said Nao.
Mio nodded at her friend. So Ryoutaro, Amou, Kahoko and Len were left in the room.
Amou said, "Behold Kahoko, the truth." Then she hit the play button, Kahoko heard the voices of Len and Amou.
"Are you in love with Kaho-chan?" asked Amou
"Once again, it's none of your business," said Len, annoyed
"Just admit it Tsukimori-kun," pleased Amou
"Alright, I like Hino-san, just leave me alone,"
Kahoko's eyes widen at what she hear. Mio squealed silently. Len closed his eyes. He just wanted to disappear from this embarrassing situation. There now it's revealed he's in love with her. She's going to reject him. He looked at Kahoko, she had a blush across her face, she was dumbstruck by what she heard.
'Tsukimori-kun's….in love with me?' her eyes remained widen.
Amou grinned, she looked at Tsuchiura, Kahoko sighed. 'This is it, so…our feelings…are mutual?'
Ryoutaro played his tape,
"Tsuchiura-kun," said Kahoko
"I see, so that's your answer,"
Len paid attention, 'Does this mean…HE was rejected by Hino-san?'
"Sorry," apologized Kahoko
"I know this was coming, so who's the lucky guy? It's Tsukimori isn't it?"
Len's heart skipped a beat, Ryoutaro snickered a bit. "That guy's pretty much happy."
"Yes,"
Then Ryoutaro stopped the recording tape. The three looked at the two, they were both in a shock, knowing the person they love who they thought would be impossible to have love them back….actually loves them.
Ryoutaro untied Len, but Len was oblivious of that. Ryoutaro whispered to Kahoko, "I was serious about my feelings, but I want you to be happy," he said.
His words barely registered until she realized she was left alone with Len by her side.
Len slowly looked at her, "Kahoko," he said
Kahoko was surprised hearing him call her first name affectionately, she looked at him, his face drew closer to hers, before his lips touched hers, he said, "I love you."
Finally, she was his, and he was hers…though everything had been awkward...things ended well...
A/N: yaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....................review please :D The ending's really not to my liking. My I want to maintain my chilldish self when I wrote this two years(?) back.