A/N: This is the first time I'll be loading a chapter through my phone, if something goes wrong lemme know from your reviews and I'll try to fix it right away (so you know what that means, review is ALWAYS A MUST ^_^). And by the way, I write LCDO on first name basis, I have no idea what characters should I put the –kun, -san, -chan, -senpais, -senseis (so mind if you teach me those? ^_^). And lastly feel free to strangle, beat or better yet kill me if you must for putting this off for so long, I don't have any valid reasons to present to you, I already ran out of those ages ago. So here goes after gazillion months of waiting it's already out of dark and into the lights of . *laughs hysterically* Read on.

Chapter 3 – Ethics

When Mr. Kanazawa rethought Len's suggestion the first thing that popped out in his mind is who will be their accompanist? He rubbed his chin still thinking and when he turned to the young man he immediately understood that he came prepared with his own solution on his side. Confident that he chose well for himself Mr. Kanazawa gave him a nod. The only thing that's left on his mind is who will be Kahoko's accompanist.

x

It was obvious who Len picked, considering his performance on the concurs it was an easy option, heck, there was no option at all since he's the only GenEd he knew who can play the piano and that how he was too anxious looking for cracks so that he can find another way around the whole situation of being paired with Kahoko. With the rapidity of his mind he quickly decided that it would be Ryotaro Tsuchiura.

"Len"

"Ryotaro," he glared.

Here stood two young men towering equally each other. At the moment their gazes were affixed to each other their eyes slightly narrowing into slits but their foreheads didn't wrinkle further when Ryotaro's voice rolled into a laugh.

"The hell man! Don't look at me like that," he forced out in between laughs.

Len smiled also but it didn't reach his eyes. "I hope you're not too busy with soccer practice these days," he said indifferently.

"We're going to have a big game on the school festival. Wait, I'll take a wild guess that you didn't came here just to inquire on my practice right?"

Len only cocked his head and smirked at him smugly. "Of course I did," he snickered.

Ryotaro rolled his eyes away from him as he lifted his knapsack from the ground and sling it on one of his shoulders. He is well aware that sarcasm is the flavor of his voice right now. He began to walk to the exit and Len followed few steps behind.

"What? You suddenly decided to be friends now and walk out of school with me?" Ryotaro said to match his sarcasm equally.

"Mother is missing her 'piano buddy', she asked if you can come for dinner"

Ryotaro looked at him unsurprised. It has been Len's mother's habit to invite him for dinner some day of every week.

"I hope you brought a change of clothes, mother won't appreciate it if you come to dinner like that," Len raised his eyebrows when he scanned Ryotaro from head to toe in his soccer uniform.

"You mean you won't appreciate it. What's with you and your etiquette? Your mother will never care what I wear on the dinner table," he grunted.

"It's nice to have some civility sometimes. If only you went to etiquette school with me, you would know."

He flung his hands in midair before they settled on the back of his head then glanced Len who's now walking beside him. "Etiquette school? Those are for girls, man."

Len abruptly turned towards him his eyes narrowing precariously.

"I'm just saying, okay chill." He shrugged.

Ryotaro's attempt to settle the mood of his companion was left in vain, seeing him still giving him 'looks that could kill' he tried to digress to a much lighter subject. "So how are you doing these days?" He hoped that his inquiry will not excite anymore of his very short temper.

"It's fine, nothing much, just the usual." Len replied keeping the evenness of his voice though at the back of his mind he was rattling furiously at his conclusions on Ryotaro's remark, etiquette school equals girls. He needed to slap himself mentally and through his tightly clamped jaw he wanted to blurt out so badly that he isn't as pansy as he think he is.

There's nothing but a pause on Ryotaro's side so Len continued, "I wasn't bluffing when I asked you if you're busy on soccer these days.

Ryotaro looked at Len. The passiveness of his face told him that all kidding are aside right now.

"I know that by now you already heard my participation on the school festival." Len heard him utter an 'Mm-mm'. "I needed an accompanist, I hope you can balance your time with me rehearsing while practicing with the soccer team."

"Ww-Wait!" He exclaimed, his face a bit crumpled. How can this guy be so direct, he haven't asked for his approval yet and now he's assuming that he will easily agree on what he was saying. "I haven't said yes yet Len."

The expression on his face was so adamant and was made even firmer with him keeping that stoic face right back at him.

Ryotaro pinch the creasing line in between his brows trying to dispel the stress building up inside his head. "Len…," he began as if trying to scold him.

"I don't have any other choice." He said plainly.

"You can't bring this up to me like this," his voice trembled a little bit.

Len heaved a sigh. "It just came out suddenly and Mr. Kanazawa said it's suppose to be a joint participation between a GenEd and a Music student how else could I choose when you're the only GenEd I know who can be my accompanist?"

"Well it's impossible that the Mr. Kanazawa haven't chose anyone for you or maybe given you an option," he tried to argue. "Oh come on Len…"

There was a flicker of anxiety that crossed his face for a moment, he wondered if Ryotaro noticed it but he still managed to reply calmly. "You are the only option that's why I picked you."

It's going to be a hard time juggling in between this especially now that the soccer team is now on its high preparing both the school festival and the upcoming regional tournament being held each year. Ryotaro gritted his teeth, how he wished right now that he was playing baseball rather than soccer so he can whack the bat on Len's head to knock some sense out of him.

"You're being selfish Len," there was that tone of indignation in his voice.

"I know, I know… Look if it would help I…" he said earnestly, "I got two front row tickets on a Chopin's piano concert."

He raised an eyebrow not sure if he's going to bite in his bribe. He flexed his arm in a certain angled position and quickly hooked it on Len's neck bringing his head down towards him to ruffle that blue hair.

He exasperated a low grunt on Ryotaro's usual playfulness. "My hair…!" He complained.

Ryoutaro eased his arm out for the boy to compose a little. Fixing the knot of his tie then combing the hair, his friend cheerily disorganized, with his hands.

"You drive a hard bargain my friend."

Len smirked triumphantly, he knows how Ryotaro tick and nothing beats it like a good classical concert to push him. Well, except girls that is. He thinks he's a weird cross between someone who's a huge fan of classical music and a very good player at the opposite sex indeed. Heck this guy goes to multiple speed dating sessions in a month and every week he goes out twice to date a girl or two. He often invited him to go on a double date with girls he recently met so that he can have a little bit of social life but he found no interest in his hobby and refuses every time asked. He cautioned him one time that he is turning this in a bad habit. Len knew Ryotaro understood exactly what he meant. He received a pat on the shoulder from him and calmly said, 'Im a one time deal, I don't cheat'. He didn't know why he was sticking his nose to his business but there was that time when Ryotaro asked him again, telling him that he just met two girls from the other school across town. Much to Ryotaro's shock Len tersely said 'Yes' and went out to meet their dates the following weekend.

The date was set on a common fast-food joint. When their dates arrived Len did not bother too much and only said 'Hi' while Ryotaro got in to his gentleman antics greeting and complimenting the two young ladies and offer them a seat afterwards. The chatter began and it was mostly directed to Ryotaro while Len was on the background listening and observing him looking for hints that might say he's going down to the dangerous path of hard flirting. The thing that made Len agree to come in the first place is to see if Ryotaro didn't lie when he said 'he doesn't cheat' jumping quickly to the conclusion seeing that he had a lot on his plate and its impossible for him not to be a two timer. But judging on the actual situation right now, it seemed that he had proved himself wrong. Ryotaro was seated right across him, his body slightly inclined towards his date having a friendly chat, it wasn't like what Len saw on the telly or the movies where guys flirt and say outrageous flowery compliment to flatter the girl and make her squeal enough to go somewhere inconspicuous to grope the girl's busty chest or maybe pinch those squishy butt. What he saw instead is like a normal conversation, lively enough to spark both of their interest on the topic and plain somehow that their just simply talking about common random events that recently happen to each of them. There was that one second that Ryotaro looked at him and jerked his head infinitesimally signaling him to talk as well to the waiting girl beside him. Len momentarily glance his own supposed to be date, she smiled at him meekly, Len didn't took any regard of it and went back to stare outside the busy street. Len's date was slightly pissed and she inched her chair further away from him. On Len's peripheral vision he wondered why Ryotaro smacked his head.

Len's motive to come lead to another thing in particular. True, that he might care enough for Ryotaro's sake but not to the extent that they can call each other good friends for caring so, there's that odd inkling that rang around when he put their relationship on that word. Nonetheless, just for the sake of not being mushy, he reasoned, it's for their decency, or –his decency, he doesn't want to hang around players who does chick for pastime or people with bad influences. Self-preservation he thought.

Secondly, he was aware that whenever his mother and Ryotaro talked about the girls he dates, both of them were exchanging weird glances. One time he saw his mother stood up and put one hand on Ryotaro's shoulder saying, 'It's all up to you don't let him cross the other side'. What did she mean by that? And then he heard scattered words from their tête-à-tête, 'Don't-Him-Gay-Get-Girlfriend!'

Len nearly trip on the first climb on the three stepped stairs up to their doorway. They already made it to his house. Ryotaro being the occasional visitor let himself in when he clicked the doorknob Len followed.

"Good evening Aunt Misa… We're home," Ryotaro greeted first.

"Good evening mother"

Len's mother popped from the dining room. "I'm glad you made it Ryotaro, why don't you two settle down first? I'm almost finish setting up the table." She said as she lay down a couple of cutleries.

"Yes mother, we'll be down in a bit," replied Len at the foot of the stair case while following Ryotaro.

When he reached his room Ryotaro was already there waiting for him to unlock the door.

"Hurry up I'm starving." Ryotaro said impatiently.

Len purposely slowed his pace to piss him. "I told you to get a change of clothes."

"Knowing you who doesn't even have an ounce to wait I didn't bother."

"What makes you think I'm going to let you borrow one of my clothes again?" He looked at him warily and slightly disgusted.

"Hey don't look at me like I have some disease or bad odor or something."

"I just don't want ketchup stains on my clothes, okay?" Len unlocked his door and Ryoutaro followed.

"Why, did Aunt think that it was another one of those lipstick smudges?" He teased as he gave himself a chuckle.

Len grabbed a pair of pants and buttoned up tee-shirt from his closet and tossed it angrily straight to Ryotaro's face. Len banged his bathroom door to change leaving Ryotaro clutching his stomach from laughter.

x

When Len came down for dinner Ryotaro was already there helping his mother bring the food to the table. There was still that frown plastered on Len's face and Ryotaro felt responsible to console him. He took a step towards Len and formed his hand into a loose fist then raised it on the right level, "Are we cool man?" He waited for Len's affirmation.

Len did the same thing as well and tapped Ryotaro's fist with his own ball of knuckles.

"So when do we start practicing?" Ryotaro inquired.

"Maybe tomorrow afternoon, I haven't decided what piece we're going to play yet."

"How about Chopin? I'm always good at Chopin," Ryotaro suggested.

"No you've already done Chopin on the concours."

"Oh yeah you're right, 'La Chanson de L'adieu' with Kahoko"

He froze at the mere mention of her name.

Ryotaro didn't seem to notice. "Hey why don't we go to Uncle Minami's shop tomorrow and look over some of his CD's and music scores over there?"

Len cleared his throat in an attempt to move again. "Why not? Tomorrow then at Uncle Minami." He said stiffly.

x

That night after the dinner when Len already bid his good bye with Ryotaro, Len stole some alone time in their veranda before going up to bed. He found himself still shaken, unable to sit still so he was walking restlessly back and forth then sitting down again and when the tension gets too high he goes back to walk some more. He clamped his hands together in front of him to try to contain himself. Though things are already settled with him and Ryotaro, he can't sway himself enough to care less when the mere mention of her name stuns him. And yet still he couldn't help going back to what had transpired that very day.

That little incident in the practicing hall was still left lingering in his mind and every time he focus too much about it that little leash that's holding his self control seems to loosen and what better way to prevent that than avoiding the very person causing it. Call it as an act of cowardice but it's the first time he ever felt this way, that he surprised even himself to feel so detached on that natural path that he should've approach this matter, that he is in no way of knowing how to react, express or how to truly feel at times like this or maybe this is how it 'really' feels on being in that complex puberty and 'wild hormones on the loose' their teacher once mentioned during sex-ed. Damn puberty, damn hormones, he is well in the way of being depersonalized, he doesn't act like this! He had a good scratch on the back of his head upon his self directed vexation. He now slowed his pace, relaxing, filling his lungs with air, helpless at the moment there's only little he can muster with the respect he was now trying to hold on her.

x

Morning came and Len found himself heading to the teacher's lounge room. When he open the door he thought that the room was still empty, perhaps its still too early in the morning, so he let himself in thinking that Mr. Kanazawa would arrive any minute soon.

There was a moderate sized sofa over there, in front of it a low-rise rectangular table, a TV on the wall and a few computers by the side. There were also a couple of round tables in the room surrounded by three or four chairs, one table in particular caught his attention. Adjacent to that table is a window, overhanged by a curtain being swayed sinuously by the morning breeze the light slightly being dimmed and brightened every time the crevice of the curtain moves with the wind.

He didn't gasp but was still surprise to find a collective mop of red hair on that table, her body stooped from the chair she was sitting in towards the table in a sleeping position.

The subtlety and the emptiness of the room made him afraid to move for he thought that any movement he does or any sound he makes will wake her up. But he weighed the options, he thinks it's very rude for a teacher to come to the room and find a student sleeping, so he's putting himself the responsibility of waking her up, plus he can't deny to himself that even his own feet were itching to stride towards her.

He left his violin case on the rectangular table as he passed it by. When he was already at hands reach to tap her shoulder and wake her up he hesitated seeing how she was napping peacefully with her eyes gently close and her head tucked in both of her arms. Five minutes he told himself as he gives the girl more time to ease up that building crease under her eyes. Normally, he would tell himself to scram because it's very impolite to watch someone sleep but went completely against it, not sure why, when he kneeled to level face to face with her. Good thing that she was tucked in her arms obscuring the part he dreaded to see but enough to get a good view of her face. He reminded himself the respect he was holding towards her and for now that was enough to hush up his craving hands to brush away the strands of hair that had fallen in her face and tuck it behind her ears.

Enough sightseeing for now. He motioned to stand up and wait for the remaining five minutes on the far corner of the room, away from her. Halfway standing up, he failed to realize that she was slipping at the edge of the table ready to fall in any second now, Len acted on his fastest reflexes, quickly he got back from his kneeling position, his arms now open ready to brace her fall.

There was a soft thud when Kahoko's head collided with Len's chest instantly waking her up from her sleep but still groggy that she stayed for a while in that position with Len's loose arm supporting her. It felt weird that it didn't hurt when she hit the floor. She rubbed her eyes to focus her vision to only see a white uniform up close. Her legs were sprawled on the floor and her head was shoved lightly on a music student's uniform. It took a little longer for the familiarity to strike her but soon recognized that it was Len who caught her before she fall.

Len stayed frozen as she stirred about in his arms orienting herself. It horrified him there was nothing more to cover her lips not only that but the way her face laid on his chest and the proximity of the part of her he dreaded made his reflexes kick up again and pushed her away from him before she can recoil. He regretted doing that for a moment for he knew he pushed her too hard and might have hurt her. He was about to muffle an apology but when he looked at her he couldn't find his tongue through those glorious lips. All he could find is thinking how it might feel when his tongue licks those plumps. Shit. He slapped himself mentally and sharply turned away from her.

An apology was soon heard but it was from her. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry Len." She didn't know what to feel, to panic or to be embarrassed. She kept apologizing countlessly and realized that she also needed to say thank you from what he had done.

"Its nothing," he said in a low tone. "It's time for you to wake up anyway."

She picked up the spitefulness in his voice, she must've offended him badly. "I'm sorry," she said lastly. She only saw him nod infinitesimally and walked to the farther end of the room.

The silence was deafening. Len was always that kind of person who doesn't feel the need to speak, he was contented with his own silence. What's the point of opening your mouth when you have nothing good to say anyway. But now he was fidgeting, rambling furiously inside his mind thinking some things that might strike a conversation with her. 'Say something you idiot'. He scolded himself.

It was getting awkward by the second, the clock ticked slowly when she resumed her sit back at the table. Len was not the only one who wanted to break the silence, she wanted to say something as well to lighten up the mood but she doesn't know how to begin.

Timing was perfect when Mr. Kanazawa pushed the door quickly noticing the two. "You guys are here early."

Both of them stood up and greet their teacher in unison. "Good morning Mr. Kanazawa."

Megumi followed behind him and entered the room.

Mr. Kanazawa scanned the room. "Where's Ryotaro, Len?" He asked as the boy came closer.

"Soccer. I'll just tell him what you're going to tell us later."

"Gather up then." He motioned them to the sofa.

Len waited for the two ladies to be seated. He terribly wished that Kahoko would sit on the other end of the sofa making Megumi the border between the two of them. But luck was working against him today when Megumi rushed up at the other end of the sofa, thus, leaving Kahoko on the middle and him to be seated next to her. Len sweated at the back of his neck and reluctantly took his place beside her nearly sitting at the edge of his sit ready to sprang up the second this meeting is over.

Mr. Kanazawa only repeated what he said on both partners yesterday and went on discussing events during the school festival, then handed them copies of the program schedules.

Len was completely lost halfway when Mr. Kanazawa began with the proceedings of the program. It was hard to keep his concentration especially when most of it is directed to keep his mind away from a frenzied daydream with the person beside him. The best solution is to sit as far as he can, away from her, not to throw any side glances on her side and again placing his hand below nose to chin, hoping that would help to repressed his thoughts about her lips.

The anxiety is lighter on Kahoko's side. Though a little bit of awkwardness is still hanging on that growing space between them. She glanced him momentarily only with her eyes, noticing that he's covering half of his face just like he didn't want to smell something bad on the air. That made her self conscious, she took a bath this morning and even put on her favorite perfume, she cupped her hand on her mouth to check for her breath, it smelled fine, she remembered brushing her teeth after she ate this morning and she's absolutely sure that her armpits doesn't stink. So why is he covering his face like that?

"Kahoko?" Mr. Kanazawa inquired, waiting for her response.

She remembered him asking if she had talked to Nami for her and her staff to give them a hand at organizing the activities before she checked on her personal hygiene. "Yes, Mr. Kanazawa they are absolutely available."

"And Megumi, the Orchestra Club?"

Megumi smiled and give him a thumb's up.

"Alright then, so you know the catch, both clubs will be combined. No GenEd should be working with another GenEd, no music student should be working with another music student, try your best for your groups to get along together."

He glanced on Len's side. "Len are you sure Ryotaro's soccer team is not available?"

"There hands are full with the regional's Mr. Kanazawa, but I'll see to it if you and Ryotaro can talk about it later, but if you need extra hands…" He finally looked on both of the girls' direction. "I would be glad to help." He said looking at Megumi, avoiding any unnecessary eye contact with Kahoko.

Kahoko pouted feeling left out.

When Mr. Kanazawa noticed the time he quickly closed the meeting. The first one who got up was Len, the other students followed and were already on their feet. Mr. Kanazawa told them that if any of them were late, tell their teacher that the tabs on him.

Len walked as fast as he can to his first period, not that he's going to be late, the only way that's going to happen is if Mr. Kanazawa has some secret portal from the teachers lounge to his class.

"Len wait!" Kahoko called when she was out of the doorway.

'Oh, great.' It's like he wanted to run when he heard her voice. "What is it?" He hissed not turning around to face her.

"Uhm…" She hesitated, her eyes glued on to the floor. "You forgot your bag."

Reluctantly he turned to his heels not knowing how to reach for his suit case since Kahoko got her fingers wrap around the handle. In one fluid motion he took a hold of his suit case avoiding any prolonged contact with her. "Thanks." He moved back from walking to his class again. Hearing footsteps behind his back he had the urge to ask if she was following him but immediately pushed it out, less talk, less mistake. But that was thrown out of the window when she spoke again.

"This is also the way to my first class." She pointed out at the end of the hallway.

He merely nodded, his intentions geared not to engage further on the conversation.

At their turning point in the hallway she bid goodbye and apologize once more to what had happen earlier and muttered another 'thanks'.

He groaned inwardly, when will she stop unnerving him.

"Kaho-" calling her by her first name was odd because it felt being too familiar with her. "Hino," he settled. "Why won't you stop bothering me and yourself with your countless apologies? We only have less than five minutes for our classes to start."

"But-"

He held a finger to cut her, his eyebrows twitching from her incessant excuses. "Look, its nothing, okay? So don't make a big deal out of it."

Kahoko stood there watching his back. She wanted to protest, but that would piss him off probably and then she will go apologize for that again and will further more piss him and she will apologize again. The cycle goes on and on.

The bell rang. "Hino? What are you waiting for? You're going to make me late. Go!"

She bit back another 'I'm sorry'. "I'll see you later then…"

The trepidation wasn't completely gone yet but greatly diminished when he called her indifferently by her last name. As weird as it gets he felt more composed acting like that around her. Being mean was a bad thing he realized even that to himself but it was odd that it was less asphyxiating when he hissed some of his points to her. Finally, he had found out how to combat his growing preoccupation with her, being mean and obnoxious is alright, when the end justifies the means, though the means is intrinsically evil in nature, Evil is such a strong word! But that's how they explain it in his Ethics subject in etiquette school, when the end produces a greater or an equal effect than the mean everything is solely based on the outcome. Hence, the morality of the subject doesn't stand on the action itself but on the outcome of that action, Rule of Consequentialism. He just summarized a whole worth of semester's subject. Hah! In your face Ryotaro who says etiquette school are for girls only. It comes handy every time.