Just So You Know

kalen1

Summary: Amou started invading the music camp of the participants of the concour and has a very naughty idea how she could finally make the story she adore so much, Violin Romance, come true.

Disclaimer: Again, La Corda D'oro is not mine and this would be the second time I'm wishing Ren Tsukimori is mine.

Recap: Chapter One. The Sacrificial Lamb: Tsukimori was chosen by Kanazawa-sensei as the sacrificial lamb for the slumber party that Amou has planned since every male participants of the concour refuses to join the party.

Author's Notes: Well, well, thanks for those people who made me happy by leaving their comments here. ARIGATO GOZAIMASU! For those who had reviewed the story so far:

kuroxdoragon: Thank you for praising the story. I really appreciate it. I hope you'll enjoy the other chapters and continue to send me your thoughts about the story.

CC: Hahaha. Thanks for worrying about Len. Don't worry, just like what Hino-chan said on the first chappy. He'll be fine. I bet he'll have a hell of a great time. And it'll be good that I'll made the other male participants of the concour envious of him. Hahaha. Thanks for the review!

renren010883: Thanks for marking that first review! I do apologize for letting you hang there. I was 'kidnapped' by my friend for a vacation and I got no chance to type in my thoughts about this story during that vacation. Anyway, this is the second chapter. Please be patient for the rest of the chapters. Thanks so much!

Chapter Two. Of Magic and of Heart

Tsukimori Ren, the so-called stoic prince of this year's concour, found himself in a predicament that he never wish he would be stuck to. He's sitting casually on a soft futon but felt rather uncomfortable. Annoyance crossed his handsome face as his arms crossed in preparation of the worst thing that could happen right at that moment. 'How did I turn out as the sacrificial lamb among those guys? Did heaven hate me so much? It would be much better if Yunoki-senpai is the one sitting here, not me,' he said to himself.

"Now, now, Tsukimori-kun, no need to be tense. See, we've also prepared snacks and food for the whole night," Amou said, placing a variety of junk foods and refreshments on a low-level wooden table. For futons surround the table as the piano is moved at the corner of the room. Throw pillows are piled up to each futon with thick blankets to ease up the cold night.

"I am not tense, Amou-san. The right term to use is that I'm rather annoyed. I have an early practice tomorrow," Tsukimori commented, eyes shut. "And I'm not hungry." Tsukimori corrected with an annoyed tone. 'What the hell is wrong with this girl? Her persistence is really annoying!' he commented silently feeling ridiculous that he has to play the part of a fool in Amou's plans.

"Gomen ne, Tsukimori-kun," Hino apologized as she sat, facing the other side of the table. "It's supposed to be moved to another date with all of us so we could just have a break from the concour and from school but it turned out that it's almost impossible to complete all the participants of the concour so it has to be the music camp. Apparently, it seems that you guys don't wish to join the slumber party…"

Amou cut off Hino's words, trying to make the female violinist at ease. "Tsukimori-kun, this would help you a lot in socializing and getting to know other people. It would be a wonderful experience for your life that I assumed to be boring," Amou said, sitting comfortably across Tsukimori. "Besides, it's just another girl talk." Tsukimori opened his eyes and glared at Amou. 'If looks could only kill…' Amou commented to herself. "So before anything else, do you have any idea what happens during girl talk?" she asked, opening a can of orange juice. 'Anyway, you think you could easily scare me with that? I'm have so much perseverance and nothing can stop me if I really wanted to do something! Violin Romance will come true with this batch and I'll make sure of that!' Amou said to herself, delighted even with this small success.

"Not interested, don't care and it has nothing to do with me," Tsukimori coldly answered, earning huge sweat drops on Hino's and Amou's heads. 'Can't this girl realize that we don't have time for this stupid thing? The inter-school concour will be held very soon and we have to perfect each piece that we're going to play!'

"Well, you might not be interested but it has something to do with you since you're stuck here with us," Amou shot back at Tsukimori. "And for that, we're going to play truth or dare," she said, placing an empty bottle in the middle of the table, putting the snacks and the refreshments aside. "So, first thing first…" Amou twisted the bottle, making it spin clockwise. The bottle ended up pointing at Amou. "Alright. I'll be the first one to ask for answers or for dares…"

"And what if I refuse to answer or to perform the dare?" Tsukimori interrupted, glaring at Amou, his arms still crossed. 'No way! No way! As in, NO WAY!' he exclaimed silently.

Amou, who had a wild guess on what's happening inside Tsukimori's head, smiled sheepishly. "Well, a hard slap to your precious hands that you guys take care so much for," Amou explained, pointing at their hands. "You have to answer us something or perform the dare or suffer the consequence."

"Amou-san, don't you think that's rather harsh? The inter-school concour would be in less than two weeks," Hino reacted with a sheepish smile. 'That would be really really really bad for the two of us. I also don't want to do this especially that Tsukimori-kun is here with us. Anyway, I guess this is much better than all of them are here. I especially don't want Yunoki-senpai to be here. Talk about demons that has an angel face.'

"Besides, I have the Kanazawa-sensei's blessing to do this so you have no other excuse. You're going to play a piece with two weeks interval. No need to rush out things. So you guys better behave," Amou said, waving a finger on the air. 'If you think you guys are going to escape. No freaking way! I had planned for this long ago and those other guys had already ruined but since you're here, Tsukimori-kun, no way I'm going to let this opportunity go. I'm going to make sure of that!'

"Annoying," Tsukimori commented in a low tone. 'Damn it. There's really no escaping this girl!'

"Okay, let's start the game!" Amou said, spinning the bottle once again. The bottle ended up pointing at Hino. "For my first victim, Hino-chan, truth or dare?" she asked wickedly.

"Uh…" Hino paused, thinking what to choose. "Truth?" she answered, though being unsure on what to say that it sounds more like a question.

"Good choice. So, let's clear up things, shall we? You've entered the intra-school concour without having any experience of playing the violin. Is this a magical phenomenon or some sort?" Amou asked, gaining Tsukimori's interest as he stared at the red-head violinist.

"Ano…" Hino smiled weakly. "Before I answer that, is this going to be in a report or something?" she asked.

"Iye. Though I'm clarifying things with you, this is more like just having fun. Don't worry. Nothing goes out of this room, not from me. Unless you want me to," Amou answered and then stared at Tsukimori's direction. Tsukimori returned the stare, as if he's asking her in a 'Why are you looking at me?' stare. "Right, Tsukimori-kun?"

"Don't look at me," he reacted as he shifted his stare from Amou and closed his eyes. "I'm not that type who talks about other people's business. If it has nothing to do with me, it's not my business to interfere or talk about it," he reacted, defending his self.

"Sa, Hino-chan, we want the truth!" Amou said excitedly as Tsukimori opened his eyes once again and gave Hino a look with eagerness, as he awaits the words of truth from the female violinist.

"Well, in truth…" Hino started, stammering at her own words and her fingers playing nervously. "Well, it's…it's because I saw the fairy of Seiso Gakuen," she finally answered, not looking at the two. 'Ma ika. There's no point in hiding it anyway. It would be better if someone knows about my secret. Besides, I don't play the magical violin anymore, right?' Hino said to herself with a sigh.

"Fairy?" Tsukimori asked, wanting more information. "What fairy?" he asked again, curiosity can be heard on his tone. "Is that the fairy of the old story regarding the Violin Romance?"

"Really? So, it really does exist!" Amou said in a loud tone, slamming her hands on the table. "So, what it's like? Did it gave you magical powers or something?" she asked, eyes glittering with the new information she got.

"Ano, it would be much better to call 'it' as Lili," Hino said with a huge sweatdrop on her head as she remembered how Lili cried when she finally calls 'it' using his name Lili. "I first saw him infront of the huge statue as I took a moment of rest when I'm going to be late in school. That would be on the day the headmaster announced the participants," Hino explained.

"Wonderful! So, how does Lili looked like?" Amou asked, wanting more information, with her face looking like a dog, begging for a piece of bone. 'Wonderful! This is really great!'

"Well, just like how he's portrayed in the statue, only this size," Hino motioned her hands, showing the two of Lili's actual size. "He got blond hair and his clothes are in the shade of the sky and he got a pair of purple eyes. He's also always holding a magic wand with him all the time. Some sort like that."

"And then?" Amou asked, her face, only an inch away from Hino. "And then? Go on, Hino-chan!"

Hino had a huge sweat drop at Amou's reaction to the information and said, "My turn, I guess," Hino said, holding the bottle in place. 'That's enough already, Amou-san.'

"Stingy," Amou said in a sharp but low tone, slumping back at the futon, with her arms crossed. 'Just when we're going to the good part. Agh!' she exclaimed to herself. 'What's up with this suspense?'

Tsukimori closed his eyes again upon the refusal of Hino to give more information. 'So that's why…' he commented to no one. 'Once it's my turn, I'll ask for more information.'

Hino, this time, spin the bottle and ended up pointing at Amou, "Well, would it be a dare?" she asked with a smile.

"Nah, it's too early for that. Besides, I got no energy because your answer is still insufficient," she said with a huge pout, not looking at Hino.

"Sorry about that," Hino said in a low tone and with several sweat drops on her head. "Hmm…what to ask?" Hino asked no one in particular, placing a finger on her lips. "So, aside from checking on the progress of the practice of the participants for inter-school concour, is there any other reason why you have to travel all the way here when we could give you information once we're back from the music camp?" Hino asked.

"Lame question," Amou reacted, her arms still crossed, narrowing her eyes at Hino. "Can't you come up with a much more interesting question? First, you made me annoyed by leaving me hanging with the information that I wanted and now, you ask such a lame question? Hino-chan, what the hell are we? Kids?" Amou interrogated.

"Just answer the question," Hino said, twitching her left eyebrow in annoyance. 'Ma, can't beat this reporter when asking questions.'

Amou sighed and a smile crept on her face. "Anyway, a question for the truth so I still need to answer it, " she said, "Well, the reason that I have the trouble of going here is to check the progress of the Violin Romance and witness them with my very own eyes!" she answered with glee, hearts surrounded the background. "After 25 years, all students of Seiso Gakuen are awaiting for it to happen all over again!"

'Hmp,' Tsukimori glared at Amou and diverted his eyesight to the pile of snacks and refreshments. He picked a can of coffee and started to drink. 'So that's why I'm stuck with your pathetic plan? Can't you come up with a much better way of disturbing me without me planning to kill you someday?' Tsukimori would like to ask Amou but chose to remain silent.

"Anou, Amou-san, I told you we don't have time for that," Hino defended, her eyebrows twitching. 'Is there no end with this Violin Romance?' she asked to one. "Amou-san, don't you think that the Violin Romance won't be happening to this batch since the intra-school concour is already over?" she asked.

"You think so?" Amou asked back in return with a teasing smile adorning her face. 'Whatever you say, Hino-chan. There's no way I'm giving up! I'm sure that one of these guys would end up being with you one way or another. Be it to happen naturally or I have to forced it out from all of you! Anyway, this is one way!'

Tsukimori stared at Amou, unsure on the uneasiness he's feeling towards Amou's reaction. 'What exactly does this girl wants to say? Does that mean that someone is getting close with Hino and… Masaka, it can't be Hihara-senpai or that Tsuchiura, is it? Or would it be Yunoki-senpai?' he asked in wonder as he thinks on how the two other guys are close towards Hino and what happened during the mistakenly engagement of Hino towards the other guy. 'So, Hino has already chosen someone? Or is that Hino has already fallen to one of the participants of the concour? Is that what you're trying to say, Amou-san?' he asked. Tsukimori really wanted to clarify and to get answers from both Hino and Amou but he can't force his guts to ask questions to the two girls. 'And what the hell is with me getting mad at this?'

"Eh?" Hino stared at Amou, confusion written on her face. 'What the hell does that supposed to mean?' she asked and then suddenly stared at Tsukimori who's eyes are calmly shut and has no reaction towards what Amou had just said. 'Tsukimori-kun, are you not going to say anything? Wait, why the hell am I trying to ask him to react?' she asked herself as she shifted her eyes towards her lap. 'Mou, what the hell…'

"Oh, nothing," Amou said with a wicked smile as he held the bottle in place. "My turn again," she twisted the bottle and it ended up pointing at Tsukimori. "Well, well, the 'it has nothing to do with me' and the only guy here would have to chose either from truth or dare. So, Tsukimori-kun, what's it going to be?"

"Truth," Tsukimori plainly answered, still not opening his eyes.

"Mou, can't you give any other emotion whenever you answer questions or just say out something, Tsukimori-kun? We're supposed to be having fun!" Amou reacted as she rested her chin towards her left palm. 'Monotonous guy with a handsome face…boring!'

'Fun? What the hell is your definition of fun? Torture?' Tsukimori did not react nor respond towards Amou's interrogation. So many questions are currently lingering on his head and he's starting to have a major headache. 'And this girl is the cause of all of it!' he noted to himself. 'Or is it…uh, nevermind…' Tsukimori finally opened his eyes and said, "Is that all that you'd have to ask me, Amou-san?" he asked, staring at Amou.

Amou dumbfounded by the question of Tsukimori, twitched her eyebrows and realized that she actually had asked a question. "No, that's not it. It's like a minor question! I'm just reacting the way you say 'truth' as if you're not scared on what I'm going to ask," she said.

"I told you, this has nothing to do with me and there's nothing to hide," Tsukimori plainly said, eyes closed. 'And I'm not going to let you enjoy this annoying setup of yours. Not in a million years!'

'Is there anything else or anyone on this world that could break this guy's wall?' she asked. "Actually my question is, do you have anything else aside from playing the violin day by day? I mean, does your life only revolve around your violin?" 

she asked, narrowing her eyes. 'Safe question for the assurance that I would still live tomorrow,' she said to herself. 'Maybe, I'll ask the sensitive questions later on. Iye, I'll definitely ask the sensitive questions later. You better be ready for that, Tsukimori-kun!'

Tsukimori sighed and closed his eyes, "Watch concerts or musical play, read fiction books, play chess and sometimes, I also attend my father's corporate meetings," Tsukimori plainly answered. "I got a busy schedule," he added.

"And definitely a boring one," Amou commented, looking bored at his answer. "Yapari, your life is really boring."

"And not your business," Tsukimori said, opening his eyes and held up the bottle and started spinning it, making it end up back to Hino. 'All things well, first thing first,' Tsukimori noted. He's eager to get all the answers for all the questions lingering on his head for this night and end up the painful headache he's having. "Hino-san, if you joined the concour without any experience, does that mean that the violin you have was covered by the magic of the fairy Lili which is why you can't play any other violin?" Tsukimori asked, wasting no time in asking Hino the question.

"Uh, when you saw me in the practice room the day that the participants were announced, I was talking to Lili and he gave me the violin, the bow and the case. Yes, it's a magical violin and anyone can play it but to be able to play it, the heart of the one playing the violin should be in sync with the violin. It mysteriously guides my fingers to move whenever I wanted to play a melody," Hino answered. "Well, that was before the three strings suddenly snapped during the third selection. Now, it's only an ordinary violin," she added.

"Sou ka. Arigato for answering it truthfully, Hino," Tsukimori said, closing his eyes. 'So that's why when she tried to play the violin after the incident when we taught the kids and also when the strings has just been replaced. Anyway, it doesn't matter now,' Tsukimori said to himself.

Hino stared at Tsukimori's cold reaction and felt a deep pang in her heart. She does not understand why Tsukimori can hurt her and uplift her heart at the same time. Only he could do that to her. She felt better that she was able to tell Tsukimori about her secret but his cold reaction pierced through her heart unknowingly. Hino shifted her eyes back to her lap with his fingers playing, "Gomen nasai, Tsukimori-kun. I really feel bad for lying to everyone. I really didn't mean to deceive anyone," Hino said in a tone as if she would cry any moment, looking down with a fake smile crossing her face.

Tsukimori suddenly opened his eyes upon hearing Hino's sad voice. He stared at her, confused on what made the other violinist sad once again. 'What? What's wrong now? Did I said something that made her sad? If I said something, I didn't mean to but what is it?' he asked his self, trying to pick the right words to make Hino feel at ease once again.

On the other hand, Amou stared at the two, switching her eyes to Hino and then to Tsukimori and vice versa. She's quite amused at what she's seeing though there's uneasiness between the two. 'It's a good idea that I took the effort of coming over. I'd never get any chance like this again,' she said to herself, watching the scene unfold. 'Sa, amuse me on what's going on, Tsukimori-kun, Hino-chan,' she said to no one.

Tsukimori closed his eyes and coughed, 'Ma ika,' he said to his self. "Iye. It's not like you're at fault. Besides, I never though your music was fake. Maybe I have doubted the way you played the violin but never your music. It's different from what I've heard before. It's really gentle and straightforward. It seems to pierce anyone's heart as if the melody encourages one's heart to dance with joy, contentment and happiness. Trust me, it's much better than the music that I make…" Tsukimori explained.

"Demo…" Hino tried to cut off but was stopped by Tsukimori's words.

"Besides, you've also said that you can't play the violin unless your heart is in sync with the violin so it should be real. I love your music and it slowly enchants my heart…" Tsukimori suddenly stopped as he realized what he had just added. 'What the? What the hell was I talking about just now?' Tsukimori asked his self as there's surprise on what he had just said to Hino, his eyes widen up with disbelief to the words that just came out of his mouth. He stared at Hino, trying to see what she's thinking by looking at her face, without asking any question.

Hino just stared at Tsukimori for a moment. Though there's confusion on why Tsukimori stopped, she felt relieved. She doesn't know what Tsukimori has to say other than that but what he had just said made her so happy. Slowly, a small smile crept on her face and she finally said, "Arigato, Tsukimori-kun. Hontou ni, arigato."

"Iye, it's really nothing," Tsukimori said, a small blush crept on his face as he turned his face opposite of Hino. Hino was not able to see the blush on Tsukimori's face but Amou was amused to see the once cold violinist had his defenses down towards Hino.

'Sou ka. Tsukimori-kun likes Hino-chan. This is really wonderful! Now, we just have to know on who Hino likes and maybe it'll turn out good. What to do?' Amou wondered, looking at the smiling Hino and the blushing Tsukimori.

Author's End Notes: Well, this is it for now, minna. Again, thanks for reading this story. More reviews, more chapters to come. Hehehe. I just came back from my vacation so this is what I had just formulated at this time. I just need more inspiration with the story. Please be patient with the author's grammatical error and the delay with adding the chapters. Anyway, again, thank you so much.

Have a nice day!