Mikan's POV

Onee-chan smiled in satisfaction as I played the last few notes. When I finished I looked at Onee-chan and asked," What do you think, Onee-chan? Will I do well in next week's round?"

"If it's you, you'll be the one who wins. Don't worry. After this, you'll never have to see that boy ever again. Since I've been helping you, you won't lose to anyone."

I smiled. "Thank you for helping me Onee-chan."

"Make sure that you change your bandages and cover your scars with concealer before the actual performance. Nobara' s going to be the one designing your outfit, if you didn't know. I also saw a bit of her design. It kinda looks like another dress."

"I'll go talk to her later about that. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go make sure that my violins are tuned for tomorrow's lesson."

Before I left the room Onee-chan said, "Mikan. If you change your mind about anything... just know that I'm okay with it. No matter what it is.''

"Onee-chan... well, I'll see you later then."

I left the room. Wait, when she said that does that mean that she's knows that I might be in love with Natsume? I still don't know... I know that I don't hate Natsume but... Do I actually love him like Nobara told me so long ago? Or is it another feeling that I don't know of?

Then since I wasn't paying attention to where I was going I bumped into someone."Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's my fault- Oh, Yukihara-san. It's been a while. Have you been well? Did you decide your song for the final round yet,' Kotone-sensei asked.

"Well, yes on both accounts but..."

"Is something wrong? Can I help you in any way?"

And somehow I ended up having tea with Kotone-sensei. she put down a plate of cookies and said," Take as many as you like. Now, what's on your mind?"

I fingered the rim of my tea cup. "I'm confused I guess. I can't decide what I... feel for Natsume."

She picked up her tea cup and said, "So that's what's worrying you. Yukihara-san, you know you don't hate him, right?"

"Yes, I know that. It's just... he tries so hard for me. Getting me to apologize and then he gave me this charm. I met this girl the other day and she said that it was because we really like or love each other and..."

"That charm is a sakura flower correct?''

"Yeah," I said not knowing where she was going with this.

"Sakura flower have different meanings like a new beginning, or a more historically meaning like during World War 2 where many people gave up their lives. There's also a meaning like love. Somehow, I don't think that Natsume-kun knows this but... he could want to start a new beginning with you because he loves you. That's just a guess through."

Love... I still don't understand that feeling. What is love? "Yukihara-san, just listen to your heart. Follow what it says and don't regret it."

"What if my heart's wrong?"

"It's never wrong. Don't worry about what other people say, worry about what you think. If you don't know what love is, that's fine. You'll learn what it is eventually, so don't worry."

I stood up and said, "Kotone-sensei. Thank you. Now, let me tell you something."

"What's that?"

"I don't want to win and make you leave this school, it's where you belong," I said as I walked towards the door. "Thank you for the tea."

"Yuki- no, Mikan-chan you don't have to worry about that because I'm sure that Natsume-kun will give a surprising performance."

I smiled at her. "Then I look forward to it."

Meanwhile.. Natsume's POV

"Natsume-kun, you've done really well. It only took you two weeks to match Sensei's tune, pitch, and timing. That's amazing," Mitsukai said to me after I practiced the song.

"However, something's off," Sensei told me. "What is more important than anything is the feeling he puts into it. Without that feeling that he wants to convey, he won't win. Natsume, why do you want to play this song in particular? "

"To say that I'm sorry to someone important."

"Why is this someone so important? Why didn't you play it for someone else?"

"This song is something that she wrote for me. This song is the only one that will get through to her. I want to let her know that I won't forget her again. Like how she never forgot me."

"Just be honest with yourself, do you love her,'" Sensei finally asked.

"Yes, I do a lot."

"There are your feelings. Remember why you play this song and you'll win. No doubt about it."

"I will."

"Let me tell you a story about Mikan. She was always excited when I came to day, while I was working she told me that she wanted to play something, to see how it sounded. She rarely ever played in front of her parents and that day it was just the three of us, her, me, and her violin that I made for her. I'll never forget that song that she played, it reminded me of my late wife. All the happy memories that we shared. When I said that it was perfect she smiled and told me that she made it for a boy. Her song has a power to remember. It's quite unique."

"What, if you knew about me then why didn't you help when I lost my memories?"

"I was forced away to here the day after she played the song for me. I had heard rumors, about Mikan three years ago. Kotone-san told me about her. I was planning on seeing her at Christmas but she left the day before. I prayed that I would see her again. She came back but completely different when I saw her. Her music wasn't as good as it use to be. I wanted to help her in some way but I didn't know how."

"That's why you helped me so much."

"Yes, I hope that Mikan will turn back to normal. Now that I think about it I've never told you my name have I?"

"No," I said. What was his name? I always just called him Sensei.

"My name is Sakura Takashi."

"Sakura-sensei, would you come to next week's round?"

"I was planning on going anyways. Mitsuki and Mitsukai we're planning on going as well."

Next week... everything will get better by then.