Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'Oro. Yuki Kure does. I simply own this original idea and anything non-canonical.
Summary: There's a deeper reason why these two don't get along.
Stella Quintet - Rivals: Tsuchiura and Tsukimori
The problem wasn't that they were so different, though that certainly added fuel to the fire.
Tsuchiura hated the fact that Tsukimori thought nothing of love for music. There was no passion in the blue-haired boy's music; it was technically perfect, but emotionally dead. He hated Tsukimori's aloofness and arrogance, how the violinist put himself on such a high pedestal because he could perform. Most of all, he hated how Tsukimori carried an air of entitlement, that he somehow deserved praise and honor and respect from everyone that so dared to look upon him just because he could win a contest or two.
Tsukimori hated the fact that Tsuchiura gave up on his music so long ago, and then miraculously returned after being treated as the hero of the first selection. It smacked of insincerity, of a lack of discipline that Tsukimori had so rigorously honed. He hated Tsuchiura's casual nature because it meant that he didn't take anything seriously, especially not music. Mostly he hated that Tsuchiura was driven by emotion rather than logic, questioning the importance of things that shouldn't be questioned.
But in the end, the problem wasn't that they were different.
The problem was that they were too alike.
They were proud, proud, proud men; stubborn to a fault when they were right, and impossible to live with when they were wrong. They met each other eye-to-eye because they needed the push from someone who offered a worthy challenge. It was a new sensation to both, and they found a grudging, unspoken respect for one another. During the second selection, Tsuchiura defended Tsukimori's character and fought for his chance to perform. At the end of the competition, Tsukimori had all but admitted that Tsuchiura was a musician of equal caliber.
Frankly, if they didn't have so much in common, it was possible they could have become good friends.
But the one thing they shared, the thing they both wanted and loved, was Hino Kahoko, and since there was no way either one was going to give her up, they would remain bitter rivals to the end.
Author's Notes (11/22/08): All right, so I'm not dead – just very very busy. Anyway, I figured I'd post another little short while I had the time. Hope you enjoy!