Hi guys! Thank you for all those who read and reviewed last chapter! Here's chapter 6 of In Return.

NOTE: In the first chapter, it said that it was six days before the concert. I am changing the date of the concert, making it nine days. That means, the concert is now on a Saturday instead of the original Thursday.

Disclaimer: I don't own La Corda d'oro

Chapter 6

Monday, Pocky Magic and Tuesday

Monday

Scratching her head using the eraser end of a pencil, Kahoko sighed heavily. It was impossible to finish this math assignment in thirty minutes especially that her mind had shut down everything but those related to music. She could hear it now- Bach's symphony echoing in the background as she tells her sensei that she completely forgot about the assignment because she was too absorbed practicing with her violin all weekend.

The derivative of 3x squared is- "Ah! Mou!" she cried as she allowed her head to rest against her knees. Why did she remember the assignment only ten minutes ago? In the first place, why did sensei have to give an assignment when he knew that everyone was busy preparing for the cultural festival? Mou!

"So this is where you've been hiding," said an un-amused voice. Kahoko raised her head to find Tsukimori Len standing by the door of the rooftop, his eyebrow twitching.

"Tsukimori-kun!" She hastily checked her watch, 11:37am. She only have twenty-three minutes before the Math assignment deadline- and, she still have twenty-three minutes before the start of the practice.

Tsukimori walked towards her and Kahoko laughed nervously. "Tsukimori-kun..? I still have time before the practice starts, right..?"

She was sitting against the wall, her knees drawn close to her body, an open notebook sitting on her lap. He stopped just in front her and picked up the notebook with his uninjured arm.

"Hey!"

"Hmph, you can't answer these easy math questions, Hino?" he asked while scanning over the questions.

"Well, sorry for not being as intelligent as you are, Tsukimori-kun." She crossed her arms in front of her chest and curled her lower lip over her upper lip in a pout.

"Why don't you ask those two friends of yours to help you?"

Was he pertaining to Mio and Nao? Her shoulders slumped forward. "They went out an hour ago to buy additional supplies needed by the class for the festival." If she only remembered about the assignment an hour ago! Then she could have asked Mio or Nao to stay and help her.

He glanced at her dejected form. Personally, he didn't want to ask but- "What about Tsuchiura?"

She must have noticed his slight irritation in his tone when he mentioned that pianist's name for she suddenly looked up. She shook her head. "He's busy helping his classmates build their horror house."

He sighed. "So that's why you've been hiding here on the rooftop, trying to answer these questions." He glanced again on the notebook. "And I see, you've been very unsuccessful."

Her face flushed in embarrassment as she tried to grab the notebook. "Mou! Tsukimori-kun! Just give me back my notebook!"

When he refused and merely scanned the questions again, she added, "I promise to attend the practice even if I don't finish the assignment so please- just please give me back my notebook!"

"When's the deadline?"

She blinked. "Deadline..?" He gestured at the notebook. "Oh, uhm..," she scratched her head. "Twelve noon.."

"Twelve?" He glanced at his watch. Twenty minutes more, and there were twenty questions. The questions were fairly easy but judging Hino's intelligence in Math... He sighed. "Move."

"Huh?"

"I said, move." He glared at her irritatingly and sat next to her.

Kahoko moved to give him space. "Tsukimori-kun..?"

"Question number one: The derivative of 3x squared is.. equal to 6x. Remember that the equation for finding the derivative- Hino, are you listening?" Furrowing his eyebrows, he glared at her stunned expression. "What now?"

"Tsukimori-kun, what are you doing?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Wasn't it obvious? Did she need to embarrass him further? Avoiding her eyes, he muttered, "I'm helping you." Turning back to her, he settled for a glare to emphasize his point. "So listen really carefully because we don't have much time left."

Straightening in her sitting position, she nodded, her eyes brimming with determination.

Tsukimori sighed and gazed briefly at the sky. Even with his intelligence and her determination, it would still take a miracle for Hino to absorb everything he would be teaching her and answer the questions in less than twenty minutes.

Kami-sama, please help me…?

Kahoko kept her head bowed as she listened to Tsukimori-kun's explanation to her sensei on why she handed her assignment fifteen minutes late.

"Sensei, it was my fault. I asked Hino-san to help me carry some things to the practice room," he said with a straight face as he stood in front of the Math teacher's table in the Faculty room. "I didn't know that she was on her way to pass the assignment."

The middle-aged man who was the Math teacher peered behind him to question, "Is this true, Hino-san?"

She nodded and with practiced ease, answered the way Tsukimori-kun told her to. "It was twenty minutes before twelve and so I thought there was still time to help Tsukimori-kun."

"Hino-san could not say 'no' or worse, leave in the middle of helping me because, as you know-" he glanced indiscreetly at his injured arm. "So sensei," he bowed his head a little, "it was my fault, I am ready to receive any punishment."

She bit her lower lip in guilt. Why was Tsukimori-kun doing this? He was the one who thought of this lie and asked her to keep quiet, saying that she would blow their cover.

The Math teacher sighed and waved his hand signaling them to go. "I understand. I will accept your paper without any deductions, Hino-san. There is no need for any punishment, Tsukimori-kun. The two of you may go."

The two of them bowed and exited the faculty room. She kept glancing at him but without saying anything. When they reached the bridge connecting the GenEd building with the Music building, he just had to ask- "What?"

Her stare gave him the impression that it was as if she was seeing him in a new light- and he did not know whether it was a good or bad thing. "Tsukimori-kun, I never thought you were a good liar."

He almost missed a step. "What?" Why did he help this woman again? When she insulted his violin, and now accused him as a good liar? Why this ungrateful-

She quickly shook her head. "No! I don't mean it in a bad way! It's just," she bowed low and said in a small voice, "Thanks, Tsukimori-kun."

He stopped to look at her still bowed form, his brows creasing in deep thought. Why did he help her again? Why did he lie for her again? Seriously, why was he doing all these things for this ungrateful, GenEd klutz?

"But you know, Tsukimori-kun," she raised her head a bit to smile impishly, "I really never thought you were a good liar. I mean, you managed to tell all of those to sensei with such a straight face."

Kahoko blinked as Tsukimori resumed walking. Wait, was he- smirking? "It's a skill that does come handy sometimes."

"Mou! Tsukimori-kun!" Walking beside him, she moved closer and whispered. "Aren't you a bit guilty?"

Glancing at her serious expression, he almost laughed. "Well, should I, the one who merely helped, be guilty or should it be you, the one who caused all of these?"

"Shh!" She gasped and looked around in alarm. Good thing the corridor was deserted. Releasing the breath she had been holding, she frowned at the male violinist. "What if sensei hears you?"

"So you're the guilty one."

"Ah mou!" She stomped her feet in frustration. "Why did it have to turn to this?"

"Hino-san, sensei might really hear you," Tsukimori said almost in a whisper.

She leaned on the wall and groaned her voice muffled. "I won't be able to sleep peacefully from now on- what if sensei finds out...?" Tsukimori-kun, he really did enjoy making her feel guilty, didn't he? First was his arm and now this.

He sighed, "Forget about it, Hino." Suddenly, he gave her an intent but almost gentle look, his voice coming out soft and quiet like a breath as he gave her a ghost of a smile. "This will be our secret."

Her eyes widened as her cheeks flushed. Why was her heart suddenly beating faster? It was just his golden eyes looking at her so differently, void of any contempt and anything associated with it- so why was she so flustered..? Slowly, Tsukimori took a step back, blinked, and obscured his eyes with his blue hair.

He cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. "So.." He coughed and averted his face. "We're late for practice."

"Oh no!" She pushed herself against the wall and darted past him, all traces of awkwardness gone. "Quick, Tsukimori-kun! Oh no.. we're so dead now!"

For her credit, Hino Kahoko was not entirely dense with what was happening around her- especially if she was involved. When she had felt that she was being watched, she immediately turned her head and was surprised to see Tsukimori-kun, looking at her intently that his brows were furrowed. Pretending not to notice, she continued playing her violin while sneaking glances at him once in a while.

He continued looking at her.

And she felt intimitated. Was she playing so badly for him to display such bothered expression? Was it her posture? Wasn't she drawing the bow with enough power? When his eyes shifted to the violin she was holding and sighed, her eyes widened.

Was Tsukimori-kun jealous because he couldn't play the violin?

That was it! The way his eyes turned pensive when he looked at the violin, the way he looked really bothered as he watched her- he must have been thinking that he should be the one playing if only he wasn't injured, not some amateur like her. She heaved a sigh.

However, what Tsukimori-kun was thinking was very different from what she thought.

It was a little over five when Kanazawa-sensei called it a day. Even though exhausted, Hihara-sempai had insisted that they grab a burger or two at the fast food chain near the train station. Kanazawa-sensei had passed, saying that he still had paperwork to finish ("I bet he thought we would ask him to treat us!" Hihara-sempai was caught saying much later). Tsukimori-kun had merely shook his head, and politely excused himself. Next, the trumpet player expectantly turned to the other violinist.

Quickly, she bowed in apology, "I'm really sorry, Hihara-sempai, I can't- I mean, I still need to run an errand for my mother."

His grin faded a little, "Huh? But Hino-chan..."

"Next time, I promise I'll go," Kahoko assured as she clapped her palms together, pleading.

Before Tsuchiura could convince her otherwise, she already waved her goodbye and ran in the direction Tsukimori took. True enough, she could already see the male violinist a couple of meters away.

"Tsukimori-kun! Tsukimori-kun!"

He stopped just as she dashed to his side, her breathing erratic from running. "Hino?" he asked, mildly surprised. "Why are your here?" 'Shouldn't you be at that fast food chain?' he nearly wanted to add.

Kahoko merely smiled as she wiped the thin sheet of sweat on her forehead with her handkerchief. "I need to go to the convenience store. It's in the same direction as your house."

When he did not comment and merely continued looking at her, she hastily added, "Erm.. I need to buy a carton of milk, and eggs- a dozen, that is. My mother forgot to buy yesterday... Erm.." He raised his eyebrows and she unconsciously stepped back, "Tsukimori-kun...?"

"So?"

She blinked and echoed, "So..?"

"So? You didn't have to run," he said disapprovingly as he eyed her disheveled state. "What would you do if by running, you suddenly trip- and I must say that is very plausible for such a clumsy person as you- and injure yourself or damage the violin?"

He almost wanted to groan as he watched her lips form an "O" shape, as if only realizing now what could have happened. He really should distance himself from her- this girl was Accident Prone.

"No worries!" she suddenly exclaimed and patted the violin case. "I wouldn't let anything happen to this violin, Tsukimori-kun!"

For the second time, he really considered groaning in frustration.

He exhaled heavily and resumed walking. He should rest. This girl walking beside him- wait, "What do you think you're doing, Hino?"

She gave him a quizzical look. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed at her. 'Are you following me?' seemed illogical since she was headed in the same direction; 'Why are you walking beside me?'- yes, that was the question but for some reason, he just couldn't bear to ask her that because-just because- it made him feel embarrassed.

As if the heavens had heard his prayer, she answered (was it coincidence? had she read his mind? was his embarrassment clearly painted on his face?) the question. "Since we're heading in the same direction, I thought we could walk together." She smiled, and he felt that same fluttering in his chest. Wait- since when did that word exist in his vocabulary? "I hope you don't mind."

What was he supposed to answer to that? It wasn't like he despised her presence, on the contrary- wait, there was no 'on the contrary', he considered his solitude perfectly fine, and that was it. It wasn't like this girl-grumble-

His train of thoughts halted when he heard a low grumbling sound. Flicking his eyes to the side, he saw Hino stop, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment. Judging from her hand on her stomach, the source of that sound could only be-

"I'm sorry!" and she laughed timidly. "I seem to be quite hungry."

Quite hungry- yes, that was the understatement of the year! He, of all people, should know that she did not eat lunch because of her Math assignment and the continuous practice for the concert. He could feel irritation building. This girl was not only Accident Prone; she was a Walking Accident Zone.

"No worries though!" she rummaged her bag and retrieved a small pack. "I have snacks." She opened the pack and took one of the partly chocolate-covered stick biscuit before offering him. "Want some Pocky?"

"Pocky?" he repeated as he watch her bite the tip of the stick but not enough to break it with her teeth.

"Yes- don't tell me you haven't eaten Pocky in your life," she said jokingly which made him feel defensive.

"It's not like it's popular or anything."

She stopped walking and looked at him wide-eyed. "Not popular..? Why, Tsukimori-kun, Pocky is the universal snack of all time!" She offered him again. "Here, have some. You'd definitely love it."

He shook his head and was slightly annoyed in the underlying pity in her tone. So, what if he preferred butter cookies and had not eaten Pocky in his life? Butter cookies sufficed as, and to quote her, 'the universal snack of all time.'

Thinking that he refused because his uninjured arm was holding his bag, she grabbed it and replaced it with a Pocky stick just as he protested. "Here- and you can't return that, you know," she added when he attempted to. "Come on, Tsukimori-kun," she peered at his bowed head, his eyes focused on the Pocky stick. "It's not poisoned or anything."

"How ungrateful of you if you actually attempted that, Hino," he said and Kahoko blinked- was Tsukimori-kun trying to be humorous..? He certainly did not say that in a nasty tone, more like it was in an almost joking tone.

"Not bad." She blinked again and noticed that he had taken a bite from the Pocky stick. He stared at the stick critically before taking another bite. "Although I'm not a fan of chocolate," he added as an afterthought.

"I told you so!" she said happily as she finished her stick. "Have some more Tsukimori-kun." He was hesitant at first but eventually accepted. Upon reaching the intersection where they separated, they had finished the pack of Pocky.

Later, when Kahoko passed by the snacks isle in the convenience store, she smiled and instinctively deposited two packs of Strawberry-coated Pocky in her basket.

Tuesday

Tuesday was designated as the 'free day' of the Concert participants when, instead of attending the afternoon practice, they would be helping with the preparations of their own classes for the cultural festival. This day was allocated as such primarily due to Third year class B's girls constantly nagging Kanazawa-sensei if they could borrow Yunoki-sama and Hihara-kun for a while to help with the class. Hihara was a dedicated worker and his cheerfulness could do wonders to his fellow classmates especially those in the brink of fatigue ('His smile just makes you feel like you can still continue!') and Yunoki was a definite charmer and spirit-lifter even without trying.

For her class, Kahoko was helping with the paper flowers to be placed at the sign outside the room. Delicately and arduously, her hand worked on perfecting the flowers she made. Her eyes critically examined the pink paper flower currently held in her hands- just a little tug here, a slight bend there. Satisfied, she smiled and just as she placed the flower with the finished ones, she felt a nudge from her classmate sitting to her left and heard a hushed squeal: 'it's Tsuchiura-kun!'

"Hino!"

Glancing up, she saw Tsuchiura-kun smiling at her. "Hi, Tsuchiura-kun!"

He crouched to her level and steadied the box in his arms before speaking, "I hope you didn't forget about our practice today."

"Practice..? Ohh.." She smiled as images from the first selection flashed through her mind's eye. Tsuchiura would be her accompanist for the same piece as during the First Selection- Chopin's Etude no. 3, opus 10, except now he agreed because he wanted to, and not because he didn't have a choice.

"It's at 2pm, Practice Room number 3." His grin turned apologetic, "Although, I can stay only until 5pm. The guys from the Soccer club had been begging me for ages to help them practice, even for just an hour or two. The Regionals are coming up soon."

Shaking her head, she reassured him, "It's perfectly fine, Tsuchiura-kun." Her lips curved in a wistful smile, "I'm really glad that it's working out really well between you and the soccer club. Besides, I've been practicing really hard too so you won't have to worry about me."

He nodded and patted her left shoulder. "I know you do," his voice was gentle and understanding. The girl on Kahoko's left blushed. Tsuchiura stood and straightened himself, ready to leave. "See you later then, Hino."

"Bye, Tsuchiura-kun!" Kahoko waved at the smiling man as he rounded up the corner.

Ten minutes to two in the afternoon, Kahoko was already in the practice room doing warm-ups. If there was one thing that Tsukimori-kun had instilled in her for the past days it was that warm-ups were indispensable to proper playing.

From the corner of her eye, she thought she saw something blue peering through the small glass panel on the door. Looking up from her violin, she was quite surprised to see it was Tsukimori Len.

"Tsukimori-kun!" She opened the door and stepped to the side to allow him to come in. He, however, remained outside and surveyed her critically. "How's your playing?"

Thumbs-up. "I'm confident I can play really well today." Realizing that she might have sounded boastful, she quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks glowing red. "I-I mean.. Well, we've practiced really hard and you've taught me a lot of stuff and well.."

Was that a smile? And yet it was gone as soon at it graced the young man's lips. "Good to hear that," he said and slightly quirked his eyebrow. "I would really hate it if that pianist remarks that you have not improved at all." Not that anyone knew of his tutoring Kahoko.

The girl saluted as if preparing to battle, a determined grin on her face. "Don't worry Tsukimori-kun. I won't disappoint you."

Tsukimori Len, albeit hesitantly, nodded and left.

Tsuchiura arrived a little over five minutes from when Tsukimori left. And as she had promised, Kahoko had performed very well.

"I'm really impressed, Hino," Tsuchiura remarked after their third run. "You have improved so well. Tell me," he grinned, "did you eat something funny to improve that well?"

Kahoko returned the grin. "Mou! Tsuchiura-kun!"

The pianist was adjusting his hands on the keys when he noticed Kahoko's golden violin. "Hino, was the violin you borrowed from the school gold in color?"

Looking up to meet the questioning eyes of the pianist, Kahoko debated whether to tell him that the violin was Tsukimori's- not Tsukimori Len's but maybe his father's, that is. But she knew Tsukimori valued his or his family's things and Kahoko rather would like to stay in one piece. She believed she would have to face Tsukimori Len's wrath or his fan girl's 'Oh! That bitch from the GenEd is using a violin from the Tsukimori's!' if she did tell the truth. "Erm.. I borrowed it from someone else. The violin from the school wasn't maintained well."

"I see," his tone held a hint of doubt which Kahoko tried to brush off with a short laugh. "It looks like Tsukimori's violin though."

Another laugh, sheepish-pretend to notice only now. "You think so? Ah! Tsukimori-kun's violin is also gold, is it not?"

He was still eyeing the violin, deep in thought. Shrugging his shoulders he readied his hands on the keys. "I was just wondering if it was possible that the violin is that brat's. But I guess he would rather let a violin collect dust than to lend it to someone."

Kahoko was about to protest that Tsukimori would not choose such a cruel fate for the violin. However, she was not able to voice out her opinion because they had started rehearsing again.

Being injured did not give him an excuse to not help in the preparations for the cultural festival. Unable to use his arm, he was given the most boring job in the class- guiding his more able classmates in putting up the banner of their cafe on the school grounds.

His task was merely to direct-raise it just an inch to the left; and no, don't raise the right- and look, now it's tilted the other way. Fifteen minutes under his direction, the class realized that it was the worse job for the violinist- the Tsukimori Len was an obsessed perfectionist, for pete's sake!

Sighing for the tenth time, Tsukimori wiped his brow with a handkerchief. If those guys hanging the banner were getting tired, he was also getting tired and irritated. Why couldn't they follow his directions? Hino was much better at listening than them-

He blinked and involuntarily his gaze fell on one window in the Music department building. His current position did not allow him to see anything past the pianist's back, Hino's arm moving the bow and a portion of her red hair falling on her shoulder.

He was thinking of Hino Kahoko-again.

He was very tempted to pound his head somewhere flat and hard. Why did he found himself thinking of her? Of that Walking Accident Zone violist Hino Kahoko? To make matters worse, he was not only thinking, he was finding himself often looking at her. Yesterday at practice he had been observing her—had been watching her as she played. He had reasoned that he had been merely assessing her playing, if she was actually using all that he had taught her. And yet as the minutes trickled by, he had found himself thinking less of her playing and more of her- of simply her- her tendency to pout when teased, and even her habit of biting her lower lip when tensed or in deep thought.

To say he was worried was an understatement. The recent occurrences have brought a very disturbing feeling within him- and he was afraid. It was something he could not explain, something he could not whisk away by focusing on his violin because, in the first place, the person annoying the hell out of his mind was the same person who caused him to be unable to play.

She stopped playing and moved towards the window to open it more. It was a humid day, after all. She glanced up and when she saw him, she waved and smiled.

Thump. Thump. Thump. And there was that disturbing feeling again. Stiffly, he nodded to the female violinist and turned to the banner and his classmates awaiting direction. "It's slightly tilted on the left by half an inch but it's barely noticeable. Already, I think it's alright."

With that, he left the grounds for the cafeteria. Life was really unfair. He needed a drink- preferably something very cold and-how much he wanted, no, really needed his violin right now!

To be Continued...

What do you think? Please Review!

Tsukimori-kun is slowly becoming aware of his feelings for a certain female violinist. But how about Hino? Find out more next chapter!

Walking Accident Zone –not mine, I got this from the Korean drama You're so beautiful.