Yoruko: Sorry it's been so long since I updated, Minna!
Hihara: Ne, Yoruko-chan, how come it's been so long since you updated this story? Don't you like us any more? *kicked puppy look*
Yoruko: That's not it at all! I just thought for a while that I'd try concentrating on one story at a time for a while.
Kagome: You still manage to update, so it's all right.
Disclaimer: Yoruko Rhapsodos does not own Inuyasha, La Corda D' Oro, or anything else readers of her fanfiction might recognize.
Chapter 3:
The New Student
"Ne ne, Azuma! Did you hear about the new student?" Hihara said.
"I believe I did hear something like that, Kazuki." Yunoki said with a smile.
"Do you think they'll be our friend?" Hihara said.
Yunoki chuckled. "You never know."
Just then their homeroom teacher walked in. "All right, class! Settle down! Now, it sounds like you've already heard about the new student, so I'll just go ahead and introduce them." The teacher turned towards the mostly open door. "You can come in now."
Just then a girl walked in... And everyone was surprised. The girl herself didn't look too extraordinary but was still beautiful, with long black hair in a braid and blue green eyes. It was her uniform and the more casual way she wore it that surprised them more. The black skirt was slightly longer than normal- it reached her knees. She also wasn't wearing the scarf, her blazer was unbuttoned, and appeared to have managed to either dye the shirt black or to find a black shirt that looked just like the other one. Most weren't fazed by the new student at first except for the girl-crazy boys, who immediately plotted ridiculous ways to try to ask her out. It was when she seemed to look in Yunoki's direction but soon looked away as if she hadn't seen anything special or out of the ordinary that they all realized that they had someone abnormal on their hands.
"Why don't you introduce yourself?" the teacher 'suggested'.
"Hai, Sensei." she said, "My name is Kagome Higurashi. "Out of the instruments I am able to play, my favorites are the saxophone, bass, and piano. I like a lot of things. I dislike people who judge others based on anything other than personality and fangirls."
"You can have the window seat next to Yunoki-kun. Yunoki, raise your hand." the teacher said.
"No need, Sensei. I only see one available window seat." Kagome said, then walked over to said seat and sat down without acknowledging even once that she had noticed Yunoki's presence.
Once it was break time, the fangirls lost their thin restraint. They stalked over to her, demanding why they would ignore someone like their precious Yunoki-sama. Kagome looked at them like they each had too many heads, and told them that she had no reason to react to someone she had just met. Looks weren't everything after all, and if that was all they wanted they should stop wasting her time. Which Kagome then claimed would be better spent if the break proved long enough looking for her cousin. Then the fangirls fled, flushed red from embarrassment and anger when Kagome's response elicited a chuckle from the object of their affections. Now that the coast was clear and he no longer had to worry for his life, Hihara came over to his best friend and new classmate.
"Sugoi na! You must be brave, Higurashi-chan! The Yunoki Guard is so scary!"
"Kazuki!" Yunoki complained, only for the green haired boy to ignore him.
"... 'Yunoki Guard'?" Kagome quoted.
"They're a cult that practically worships Azuma!" Hihara whispered conspiratorially.
"... They're just fangirls. What makes them think they or this guy here are anything special that they're called something like that?" Kagome said incredulously.
Hihara laughed. "I like you, Higurashi-chan. You're different. Wanna be friends?"
"All right... then I insist you call me Kagome. In fact, you both can. What's you're name?" she said.
"Okay Kagome Chan~" Hihara agreed cheerfully, "And my name is Kazuki Hihara. You can call me Kazuki."
"And I'm Azuma Yunoki. Nice to meet you, Kagome-san." Yunoki said, "I must say mentioning a cousin you wanted to see was a very nice ploy to get the girls to go away."
"... Who said it was a ploy Yunoki-kun?" Kagome retorted, "I have every intention of spending time with Kahoko-chan. She's why I moved to this school in particular."
"... Would you be talking about Kahoko Hino?" Yunoki inquired.
"Yup~" Kagome said cheerfully, then more seriously, "You two are friends she made because of the Concours right?"
"Ah! So you did know who Azuma is!" Hihara accused.
"No, but unless there are a different Kazuki Hihara and Azuma Yunoki who are in the same third year music class, it was pretty obvious." Kagome replied.
"Ah! I know." Yunoki said, "If you're Hino's cousin, perhaps you would like to talk to Kanazawa-sensei? He's the one in charge of the Concours."
"... As a matter of fact, that's not a half bad idea." Kagome decided, "All right, Yunoki-kun. Lead the way."
"You can call me by my first name as well if you like." Yunoki said.
"Hai." Kagome said with a smile.
But when the boys had turned their backs on her to lead the way, Kagome frowned. Something was false about Azuma Yunoki's smile. He still seemed genuinely nice for the most part, Kagome was sure of that. Nonetheless it was clear that he was wearing a mask... She wondered what reasons he could possibly have for putting on a fake personality. Soon they were approaching room that appeared to be the teachers' lounge. As in they would be there any second, if Kazuki Hihara's shouted greeting was anything to go by.
"What do you want, Hihara?" a man with long hair held back in a ponytail asked.
"I want you to meet my new friend! Her name is Kagome Higurashi!" Hihara said, dragging Kagome over by her arm.
"Ouch! Kazuki-kun, if you're going to drag me can you please at least be more gentle with my arm?" Kagome complained.
Kanazawa finished off his cigarette, looking at the new student. "Name's Kanazawa. I take it you're the new student?"
"Hai, Kanazawa-sensei." Kagome answered.
"... You look familiar." Kanazawa said.
Kagome blinked. "I do?"
"... You wouldn't happen to be the niece a certain music store owner I know talks about would you Higurashi?" Kanazawa asked.
Kagome's eyes lit up. "You know Hiroshi Oji-san?" (AN: Oji-san with one 'i' means uncle or can be used to address middle aged men, two means grandfather or is used to address and elderly man.)
"Music store, Kanazawa-sensei?" Yunoki inquired.
"As a music teacher, I need access to supplies. Hiroshi Higurashi has a very unique store, and he's always accommodating to students who want to learn music."
"My uncle's store is the best!" Kagome exclaimed with pride.
"... I suppose it is pretty impressive." Kanazawa agreed.
"Ne, Kagome-chan, has Kahoko-chan been there?" Hihara asked.
"I don't think so." Kagome said.
Kanazawa had already found out that his new student was Kahoko Hino's cousin, so as the three chatted he thought, 'Considering Hino's cousin befriended these two so quickly and is the niece of that guy, things are sure to get pretty interesting.'
Owari