DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything…
Author's Note at the Bottom… üöüöüöüöü
It has POVs of Kaho.
PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE BOTTOM. YOU NEED TO READ IT. PLEASE.
Chapter 6- Why Will You Move On if You Can't?
*Hino residence…7:30 PM
"She's just exhausted. No need to worry." Tsuchiura said to Hino's mother. Her mother heaved a worried sigh. "I know I shouldn't have left Kaho alone in the house. I didn't know that she was so sick that she will collapse any minute." She said. She faced Tsuchiura, Hihara, Mio, Nao and Amou. "Thank you. I'm really grateful you're always there for my daughter." They smiled. "Yesterday, she seems so happy. And this morning she became depressed and she doesn't feel good. That's why she didn't attend school today. I'm sorry to bother you guys." She added. They smiled again. "So, excuse us. Perhaps we should go now. It's getting late already." Nao said. "Ah, yes. Mio, Nao, Tsuchiura-san, Hihara-san, Amou-san, thank you again." Hino's mother said, bowing her head. "It's nothing. Really." Tsuchiura said, embarrassed a little because of the kindness of Hino's mother. "Please take care." Hino's mother said as they waved goodbye outside the door.
-x-
They walked silently along the road, constantly hearing the exasperated sigh of Tsuchiura. Until Hihara broke the silence. "Tsuchiura-kun? I heard you sighing for many times already. Is there any problem?" He asked, preventing himself from asking anything about Hino. "It's nothing. I'm a bit preoccupied about Hino." He muttered clenching his fist. "Worried? Why?" Amou asked, staring at the empty road ahead of them. "Did you ever know about the long distance connection of Hino and Tsukimori?" He asked calmly preventing him to shout in fury. They nodded in response to his question. "Is there any problem with it, Tsuchiura-kun?" Nao asked suspiciously. Tsuchiura heaved a sigh again. "How can I say it?" He asked purposely, placing his hand on the back of his head. "It involves Tsukimori. But please, don't freak out when you hear it." He pleaded. They nodded. They stopped at once in the middle of the road and crowd around Tsuchiura. "It's like this. Hino broke up with Tsukimori." He whispered, keeping his tone calm and away from the anger building up inside him. The others looked frozen, surprised of what they heard.
"WHAT?!" Amou shouted involuntarily, surprised with what she heard. "That's so impossible!! Why?!" Questions started to build up in the minds of Kahoko's friends as they stood motionless in the middle of the road. "Okay, guys." Tsuchiura interrupted. "I'll explain tomorrow, at school. Right now is not the best time. It's getting late." "Ah, yes." Mio agreed and so as the others. They went on separate ways as they walk themselves to home.
*Tsuchiura's room…(A/N: I really don't know what Ryou's room looks like, so let's pretend his room or invent his room…)
Upon arriving at his house, he rushed to his room, locking it. He entered the bathroom in his room and looked at himself in the mirror. He shouted angrily, upon seeing his face. "Damn you, Tsukimori!" He shouted. His hand clenched in a fist and his whole body leaning on the bathroom wall. "I can't even protect her; I didn't make her smile when she needed to smile. I'm sorry, Hino Kahoko." He muttered to himself. "I really can't see you in that state Hino. It really, really hurts. Tsukimori doesn't deserve you, Kaho. You don't deserve the pain you feel now because of some damn violinist who chose his music over you. He doesn't deserve someone like you." He looked at his reflection on the mirror. "Does Hino need me now?" He asked himself.
-x-
*Kaho's room…12:40 AM
Kaho's POV
I wake up in the middle of the night, speculating what happened in the past few hours. I sat upright from my position and gaze around my dark room, the moonlight shining from my broken window. I moved a little but my hand twitched painfully. "Ouch." I muttered lowly, looking at my aching hand. It was all bandaged. "I—I can't believe it." I muttered again, looking keenly at the broken window. "Did I really break the window? With—with my hand?" I asked myself in disbelief. My phone settled fixedly beside my pillow which bore distinct scratches from what I remember, the broken glass pieces. Sudden tears roll down my cheeks. My painful hand is nothing compared to what my heart feels now. The excruciating pain somewhere in my chest. It feels it can kill me now. I stood up from my bed and approached my desk where my violin case settles. I opened the drawer where I place the pictures Len gave me 2 years ago before his air travel. Teardrops fell on the pictures. I placed them beside my violin case then I searched my room for the necklace Len gave me for graduation which I threw somewhere in my room when we broke up and his jacket he gave together with the pictures. "This is better. I must return this to him. It doesn't mean anything to me anymore." I said between my tears. "Tomorrow, for sure. I'll return this." It's really futile if these things remain in my room. This stupid jacket I once loved and still love. The pictures that shows me the happy moments with him. This necklace that gives nothing but pain. These things that reminds me of the agonizing pain in my chest. I sat on my chair beside the desk, grabbed the most presentable paper I could find in my room and started writing.
Tsukimori-kun,
It's now over. And I just wanted to return these things that remind me of the excruciating pain in my chest. I couldn't bear to look at it. So it's futile if these things linger in my room. The three years we have been together is now long gone. I love you. But I know you can't return those feelings again. I'm sorry. But this is goodbye.
Hino Kahoko
That was written. I prevented myself from using his first name. I held back my tears. "Why will I move on, if I really can't?" I said. I placed the letter together with the pictures, the jacket and the necklace and wrapped them in a presentable manner. "Whether you're here in Japan or where ever, I'll be sure that I can step into your house and leave it there." I returned to my bed and tried to sleep. Finally, I cried myself to sleep. I woke up to find out that there were tear stains in my pillow. It hurts so much to sacrifice what I gave up.
I stood up from my bed, and started to prepare for another agonizing day at school. I entered the bathroom and washed myself and changed my clothes with my school uniform. I picked up my bag, my violin and the wrapped package of Tsukimori-kun's things and sprinted downstairs. "Good morning, onee-chan, okaa-san!" I said, putting up my bogus cheerful face. "Kaho? Are you fine?" My mother asked worriedly, approaching me quickly as I enter the dining room. "Yup! A good night rest energized me!" I joked, faking my smile. "Oh! Thank goodness! Your sister is not here. She had a party last night right?" She reminded me. "Mother, I'll go ahead. I need to fix something in school since I was absent yesterday." I said. "You're not eating breakfast?" Mother asked me. I shook my head. "I'll eat along the way. Ja ne!" I said, leaving the house.
I looked at my cell phone. "Still early." I muttered. 6:20 AM. Really early. Classes start at 7:30 AM. I have plenty of time. I turned to another road that leads to Tsukimori Residence. A big mansion. When I stood outside the gate, I couldn't help but to be amazed. I gathered all my guts and hopes when I entered the gate and leaving the package on the doorstep. I walked out of the gates and threw a last glance on the package. I was surprised to see an old man, beside a very gorgeous car parked in front of the gates of the Tsukimori household. "Aren't you Hino-san?" he said. "I'm Kabuki Yuusuke, the butler of Hamai Misa-sama and her family." I nodded at him. "Oh! Good morning, Kabuki-san. How come you know me?" I asked him. He smiled lightly. "My masters always talks about you, being the lady that Len-bochamma laid his eyes upon." I gave a nervous laugh. "Oh." I said. "I thought you left a package on the doorstep." He muttered, gesturing over what I left in front of the house. "Ah, yes. Please give it to Hamai Misa-san. I left a note on top of it." I favored. "Yes, it's my pleasure." He agreed.
"So, thank you, Kabuki-san." I said, bowing my head. "I shall take my leaves now, excuse me." I turned around, heading now to Seisou University. "Ah, yes, please take care, Hino-san." He said, loud enough for me to hear.
*Seisou University…
Kaho's POV
I walked through the front gates of the university, staring at the ground as I walk. With the looks of the school, it was still early. I can still count all the students present on the grounds. I sighed. "It will be another agonizing day ahead." I whispered.
"Hino-san!" Someone called me. I turned behind, seeing a familiar figure. "Kaji-kun!" I exclaimed. "How come you're here?" Kaji smiled as he approaches me. "You see, I didn't mention I am also studying here in Seisou University." I faked my smile. "Ah. So, I'll go now, Kaji-kun. It's good to know you're fine." I said, as I turn around and continue where I was heading. I was stopped when Kaji-kun grasped my wrist. I turned to look at him again. "What happened to your hand?" He asked me. I shivered. "I—I…" I stuttered. I really don't know what to say. "Nothing," I lied, jerking my hand away from him. "Oh, okay." He said. "Well, Hino-san, did you know that there will be a small festival in the park tomorrow and on the following day?" I shook my head. "No." I said. He smiled cheerfully. "Can I ask you to come with me tomorrow?" He asked. "Uh, sure. I guess I don't mind, since tomorrow is Saturday." I said. He smiled again. "Okay. The festival will open tomorrow at 8 and there will be fireworks at 7 PM. I'll pick you up at 9 AM. And by the way, the festival will close at midnight." He said. "Mm." I mumbled.
"So, I'll see you then." He said, before going to his class. I nodded my head again and he went his way. "There goes my day." I thought. I walked up to the building where the music students go. I walk through the hallways, faking my smile to everyone I know who greeted me a pleasant morning. Really, agonizing. I opened the door of my classroom and peered at the students currently present in the room. The early birds. Until I lay my eyes on Tsuchiura-kun.
-x-
~Third person already…üöüö~
"Tsuchiura-kun," Hino whispered. She approached her seat beside Tsuchiura's. "Hino? I thought—" He said. "I'm fine." Hino said coldly. "I'm really sorry—of what happened yesterday, Tsuchiura-kun." He shook his head. "No, it's really fine, Hino." He said. Hino looked at him. "Did you know about the small festival tomorrow at the park?" She asked him, changing the topic. He looked back at her. "Yeah, you're going?" He asked. She nodded. "Yes. Kaji-kun invited me a while ago." She mumbled, as she sits on her chair. "Oh." He said sadly. "You can join, if you want." Hino said quickly. "Nn." He said. "How's your hand?" He asked. She looked at her bandaged hand. "It looks fine." She replied. "It's really fine. Not painful but fine." Tsuchiura smiled at Hino. "That's fine. I'm sorry if I ever acted cold today." He apologized. Hino looked at him with shocked eyes. "You never did anything wrong, Tsuchiura-kun." She placed a fake smile on her face. "And you will never act cold." "That's the Hino I know." He commented.
"'The Hino I know?' It's not me." Hino thought. "But I'm used to faking my cheerful expression."
*Tsukimori Residence…9:30 AM
"Madame," Kabuki called out. "Hino-san left a package for you this morning." He handed the package to Hamai Misa. "Package?" She muttered, examining the package that was neatly packed by Hino in the middle of the night last night. "Yes, Madame. Hino-san was serious when she asked the favor." Hamai Misa looked at Kabuki, surprised in her face. "Thanks." She mumbled. "Please, you make take your leaves." Before Kabuki leaves the house, he bowed.
Hamai Misa sat on the soft futon in their living room. She examined suspiciously the package Hino left this morning, when a paper fell down from the package. She picked it up enthusiastically, gasping in distress.
Hamai Misa-san,
Please return this to Len. If ever you might want to know why, please open it. Thank you so much, Hamai Misa-san. I really appreciate everything you gave me. And I also might want to apologize for what I have done wrong to you and your family.
Hino Kahoko
That was written. Sudden tears of sadness ran across Hamai Misa's shocked face as she open the package revealing the jacket of her son that he gave to Hino more than 2 years ago. Hino's hand-me-down necklace (half heart pendant necklace) that came from her which is also given by her son and some of their pictures. "H—how could this happen?" She stuttered. She read the letter Hino included in the package.
Tsukimori-kun,
It's now over. And I just wanted to return these things that remind me of the excruciating pain in my chest. I couldn't bear to look at it. So it's futile if these things linger in my room. The three years we have been together is now long gone. I love you. But I know you can't return those feelings again. I'm sorry. But this is goodbye.
Hino Kahoko
"I—I can't believe it." She stuttered yet again. "I—I don't know what—what to say." Her hands trembling and tears furiously ran from her eyes. Hamai Misa never imagined that her son's relationship with the person who melted the ice of his heart would just end in such short years. Hino Kahoko, the person that her son loves so much. "I never imagined that everything will end so soon." She whispered.
"End so soon? What do you mean, love?" Her husband asked, confused.
Hamai Misa looked at his husband, standing behind the futon. "Here. Kaho-san left this package this morning, with this letter attached to it." She handed the letter of Hino which was addressed to Len, saying everything in their world is not linked together anymore with each other. Len's father looked at his wife with worry. He read it for a while and he faced his wife again. "Does this mean that they are already separated?" He muttered. Hamai Misa's tears didn't stop. "Yes." She whispered in a low tone, enough for her husband to hear.
"I'm worried about the both of them…" She whispered.
*Seisou University…Lunch Time
Before Tsuchiura could catch up with Hino, she already left the classroom. He looked around the almost empty classroom but there is no sign of a red head girl. "Where could she be?" He asked himself. He stepped out of the classroom, carrying his booklet of some pieces of Chopin and headed for the rooftop. "That's the only place I could think of." He said. Meanwhile, Hino rushed to her usual spot in the rooftop. "I just wanted to feel the wind." She said as she sits on the floor beside the door and placed her violin beside her. She stared at the clear blue sky, with white patches of clouds scattered around the endless blue sky. "I just can't wait for this agonizing day to end." She whispered shakily as tears started to well in her eyes. As she trembles quietly, her hand suffers. "It's painful…" She whispered as tears fall from her eyes.
"If there's any problem, you could just approach me, right?"
Hino looked astound when he saw Tsuchiura standing beside her. "Tsuchiura-kun." She whispered, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "How long have you been here?" "I just arrived." He said, looking at her intently. He sat beside her, the violin case between them. "Why are you crying again?" He asked, extending his hand to Hino's face and wiping her tears away. She didn't reply, but tears still run from her eyes. "Do the others know you came to school?" He asked again. She shook her head. "No. You are the only one who knows I'm here." She said. She looked at her violin case. "Do the others know what happened?" She asked. "It's my turn to ask now." Tsuchiura laughed. Hino pouted. "I'm serious!" She bellowed. "Okay, okay. I'll stop laughing." Tsuchiura said, stopping his snickers. "Yes. I'm sorry I told them." He apologized. Hino smiled. "It's fine. It's for them to know anyway." She said. "Why?" He asked. "Shouldn't you keep it?" Hino sighed. "They already know. It will just help me move on with my existence." She said. "I guess I'm at fault, am I?" He asked jokingly. "No. No one's at fault." She replied, sadness is reflected in her voice. "Come on Hino, just smile. For me." he said, pleadingly. Hino forced a smile. Tsuchiura immediately stood up and shouted. "HINO SMILED FOR ME!!!" He shouted continuously and happily. Hino looked surprised, she rushed to Tsuchiura. "Hey, stop that!" She said. "No way! You finally smiled for me. There's no way I'll stop." Hino laughed. She chased Tsuchiura around the rooftop as he shouts. "Come on Tsuchiura-kun! Just stop it." She pleaded.
"Not until you catch me." He joked. Hino smiled as he chased Tsuchiura. "How can I catch up with you!? You're like so fast!" She said. She stopped when her phone vibrated in her pocket. "Hey, wait, Tsuchiura-kun." She stood motionless when she recognized the person calling her in her cell phone.
Tsukimori Len.
"Tsukimori-kun," She muttered. At once, Tsuchiura stopped running and approached Hino. "Huh? Who's calling?" He asked. Hino froze. "Tsukimori-kun." She said, preventing herself from using his first name. "Well, answer it." He said.
Hino answered it.
"Hello?" She said in horror and the excruciating pain in her chest is attacking her again. "Kahoko." He said in his low, cold voice. Tsuchiura gawked at Hino's frozen expression. "Don't call me by my first name." She said tears ran again from her eyes. Tsuchiura held her hand and squeezed it. "Hino, just relax." He said, enough for Tsukimori to hear in the phone. "Is that Tsuchiura-kun?" He asked his voice so cold. "Yes, why?" She asked, her voice broken. "Why is he with you?" He asked in frustration. "I don't know." She said. "Why did you even call me?" Tsuchiura tightened his grip on her hand. "Just relax, Hino."
"I'm going back to Japan. I'll arrive tomorrow. I'll get you back, no matter what will happen. And whatever the reason Tsuchiura-kun is with you, I can't tolerate it. I love you, whether you accept it or not, even if you hate me or not. "
She froze, without ending the conversation; she accidentally dropped her phone on the ground. Tsukimori was the one who ended it.
"Hino?" Tsuchiura said.
"He's going back. He's going back to Japan."
"Going back to Japan? Tsukimori?" He asked. "Yes." She replied as she trembles. "Are you ready to face him?" He asked, worried at the same time angry at Tsukimori. "I don't know." She faced Tsuchiura. "Please, Tsuchiura-kun. Help me." He looked at her teary eyes. "I promise." He said, hugging Hino tightly.
-_tO bE cOnTinuEd_-
A/N: Compared to the fifth chapter, I didn't like writing this chapter. I guess I have author's block or something. So, did you like it? Mark that as a review. I'm really grateful that my fifth chapter received many comments/reviews (yes, I'm talking about the window breaking chapter). Oh yeah, by the way, I'm already starting to type my next chapter. Hmmm, if you have any suggestions for the upcoming chapters, you can PM me or have it as a review. I want to hear from the readers what they want for the upcoming chapters. Yatta!! *jumps for joy*. Len will go back to Japan after two long years or more!!! And did you ever think that Kaji Aoi, Ijichi Ryouji and Yunoki Azuma will just disappear after two years? Of course they won't. They'll be appearing again the upcoming chapters.
Some SPOILER/CLUE for the next chapter: (WARNING: if you want spoilers, please continue, if not, stop and review the chapter)
Title of the Next Chapter: The Festival
Enough spoilers for now. :)
~tC guys and gals.
~ miYaKo4riYoUji :)