CHAPTER 3: "The Concours Participants"

Kahoko stared at the violin. "Umm… can I hold it?"

"Sure." He handed his violin to little Kahoko.

"KAWAII! I wish I have something like this…Ano… how do I make this work?" Len sighed. "Here." He arranged her position and how the violin should be.

"There!" he stepped back from her. "Like this?" a noise came out from it.

"I'm a total failure but I'm happy I managed to make a sound come from it." She handed the violin back to Len.

"More like a noise." He chuckled.

"Ne, Len-san. That's rude to say to an amateur like me." She pouted.

"Just kidding. Hey Kahoko..." Len called out to her. "Nani?"

"You don't know how to play the violin yet but you're really determined. You like it so much, don't you?"

"Yes, I like it a lot!" he pulled out something from his pocket.

"Here, you can have this." He handed it to her.

"What is it?" she went towards him and looked at what he was holding. It was a wooden violin keychain. "I bought that at a music store here. I bought it as a lucky charm of mine."

"Then I can't take this if this is your lucky charm." She said, giving it back.

"It's okay. You can be my lucky charm."

"Eeeh?"

He laughed at her. "Just kidding. I just bought it yesterday. You can have it. I'll just buy a new one."

"Thank you so much, Len! I'll treasure it." She stared at it the whole time.

The sunrise that shone on his room woke him up. He slowly opened his eyes. He pulled his self on bed and sat. Head's bowed, eyes closed, he placed his right hand on his forehead.

"I'm having that dream again. No. it wasn't a dream. It was more like the memory I erased years ago. And know it's coming back, and I don't know why." He got up and got ready for school.

At school;

Kahoko held tight the violin keychain with both hands, gave to her by Len, and placed it on her chest. She was in front of the fairy statue on Gakuen Seiso and murmured; "Len… look, I've study how to play violin but I'm still not that good at it. It hurts the ears of many people who hears it. You know, ever since I started on the violin, I've always wanted to be included in competitions like what will be held here. But it's impossible for me to be—" a fairy then went near in front of her. "Kyaaaaaaa!" she screamed and fell on the ground.

"What? You can see me?" it went near her again. "Hi! I'm Lili! As you can see, I'm a-" he was cut off when Kahoko ran away from him, fast!

She hid in one of the music rooms. Then she heard the announcement of the participants is starting. And the names that were mentioned were:

Music Ed.
Yunoki Azuma from 3-B
Hihara Kazuki from 3-B
Tsukimori Len from 2-A (she ignored it because she know there were a lot of people in the world who's name is "Len" and besides, she doesn't know his last name.)
Shimizu Keiichi from 1-A
Fuyuumi Shouko from 1-B

And at the Gen Ed.
Tsuchuira Ryoutarou from 2-5

She held the door knob and was about to go and congratulate them when:

And last:
Hino Kahoko from 2-2

"Whaaaaaat?" she was about to go to the directors office to complain but Lili showed up before her suddenly.

"Congratulations, Hino Kahoko!"

"Why did I got included?"

"Let's just say… that you could see me and that's why you got in."

"But-"

"If you're worried about your playing… here!" he cast a spell on the violin.

"Hey! What did you do to my violin?" Kahoko complained.

"I put a spell on it."

"But that would be cheating! I don't want to happen!"

"You wouldn't be cheating. Your playing releases deafening sound. I just made it sound beautiful. You'll still be the one to control it. Why don't you try it, Hino Kahoko?"

She tried a piece but suddenly stopped when her music changed.

"I wanted to thank you but this isn't my real ability. I-I-I can't do it!" she was happy but she felt guilty as well.

"Isn't this what you've ever wanted?"

"It is but…"

"Hino Kahoko… you're one of the kind. You're the only one in this school that can see me… please help me…" Lili made the puppy-dog eyes.

Then he grinned. "Good luck Hino Kahoko! I know you could do it!" he disappeared so suddenly.

Kahoko sighed. "Hm… I guess it's not that hard to just try." She smiled and made her way to the room where all he concours participants are gathered.

he room was filled with silence. No one ever dared to talk. Soon, a knock was heard at the door. Kazuki offered to open it.

"Kaho-chan!" Kazuki shouted as he welcomed his friend. They all snapped out from their reverie. Even Len peeked at the door to know if it was really her. A red-headed girl holding her violin went inside.

"Um… Sumimasen…" they all aligned in a semi circle in front of her. Except for Len, hiding behind them, leaning at the wall.

"Okay. Since everyone's here, you should start introducing yourselves." Kanazawa sensei said.

"Do we really have to? We already know each other." Ryo smirked.

"Tsukimori has just transferred here, so it's good to introduce yourselves for him to know you all." Kanazawa insisted, rubbing his head.

"I don't really care in all of you." Len thought.

"Let's start from Hino." Kanazawa pointed to her.

"Eh? H-Hai… I-I'm Hino Kahoko of class 2-2. I play the violin."

"Kahoko?" Len spoke in his mind."

"Nice to meet you, Len! My name's Kahoko!" He remembered.

"So she is really the girl I saw at the park."

"Tsuchiura Ryoutarou. Class 2-5. I play the piano."

"I'm Fuyuumi Shouko from 1-B. I play the clarinet."

"Watashi wa Shimizi Keiichi desu. 1-A. I play the cello."

"Tsukimori Len desu. Class 2-A. I play the violin."

"What? Len? He really looks like him… and he's also playing the violin? It's really him!" Since then, Kahoko's attention was all just put to Len.

"Ohayoo! I'm Hihara Kazuki of class 3-B. I play the trumpet." He cheerfully said.

"My name is Yunoki Azuma. Class 3-B. I major in the flute."

"Our theme on the first selection is: Opening up."

After that, they were all dismissed. Len was the last one who got out. Kahoko waited for him outside.

"Ano… you're Len, right? Don't you remember me? I was your childhood friend. I'm Kahoko."

Len looked at the other direction. "Sorry… but I don't remember any friend named Kahoko. And also… I don't remember ever having a friend." He walked away and left the dumbstruck Kahoko.

"I was sure he was Len… but he said… he doesn't know me…" a tear formed in her eye. "No! I wouldn't give up! I…. I could just think… he wasn't the Len that I know… I just hope he really isn't. but…"