Chapter 2: Complications

Yunoki Azuma wasn't a sucker for romance. Definitely not.

He'd rather die a slow and painful death than be involved with something that would ruin his most carefully crafted princely image especially meddle with some other people's love lives when he couldn't even take care of his own. Not that he had any romantic inclination or unrequited love towards anyone in particular. He just thought it corny, not to mention unmanly to be swooning over women.

That said, he wouldn't have imagined that he would let himself be affected (really greatly affected) by the scene he had just the misfortune of witnessing just a few moments ago.

That scene that made his jaw drop, his fists clench and ultimately made him wince. Though he really wondered why.

Tsukimori Len and Hino Kahoko kissed.

Accidentally or not they still kissed. And in front of the whole school for everyone (well, just a few unfortunate beings including him) to stand as unwilling witnesses.

After that, if not for the feelings that were stirred inside him, he would have laughed out loud at how Len and Kaho managed to break the spell or whatever damn thing it was that befell them and walked away from each other as if nothing had happened, which was obviously not the case since their faces revealed otherwise.

It was really a sight to behold mind you, especially with the usually cold and surly Tsukimori Len being red all over and losing his balance.

Heh. Scheming person that he was, this would definitely be interesting.

…Yunoki Azuma still hadn't realized how he would end up regretting whatever he had in mind that day he had witnessed that unfortunate kiss.

Tsukimori Len was having a hard time.

Although, he wouldn't admit it to himself, he was thoroughly bothered.

That kiss just now was neither exactly good, nor exactly bad. He wouldn't say he enjoyed it. It started and ended within a mere second anyway. But the scary thing was, it left him wanting for more. The soft and tender feel of her lips left him yearning for kissing her for real. It was unbelievable.

And it made him scared.

Dead scared really, like he'd never been in his whole existence.

These bothersome feelings were never his cup of tea. He'd never once thought of pursuing any relationship with any girl lest he be distracted from concentrating on perfecting his music.

Girls are nothing but mere distraction or destruction for guys, whichever comes first. That was what he thought then up until now.

Up until Hino Kahoko appeared in his life and unprecedentedly swept him off his feet. She changed his whole outlook about everything around him especially with the way he regarded his music.

However, he didn't think he'd have any romantic feelings for her. No. To put it exactly, he just wasn't aware. He just didn't realize it before.

Because the girl was just average. At first glance that was.

She wasn't someone that could be called drop dead gorgeous. He had seen a number of women with above average beauty within their family's circle since meeting with celebrities and important people were a normal activity for the Tsukimoris. Thus, his eyes were used to seeing extraordinarily beautiful women and it would just be plain honest to say that she wasn't one gifted with the celebrity-like kind of beauty. She could even be called a plain Jane with ordinary features and body.

But, her most astounding quality was that she had this glow of charming aura that had people around her seemingly drawn to her. She could light up the whole room with just her smile. Now, that he thought about it, she had the kind of beauty that was kind of hidden and would only reveal itself the more you got to know her better.

Though she was clumsy as hell, unbelievably slow and painstakingly naïve with zero awareness about how she affected other people, her pure love for music was so tangible he could almost touch it with the way she played her violin.

Amazing really, how much he had come to see the real her. Her flaws and strengths mixed altogether made her the desirable person that she was. The most desirable and beautiful person he ever knew.

But now, the pressing problem was that how he would act upon his recently realized and recognized feelings (actually just mere hours ago) toward Hino Kahoko. He wasn't the type to just confess to the girl that he liked her. No, that would definitely be downright embarrassing and out-of-character really.

He could just ignore it. Pretend nothing was wrong and still treat her just the same as usual. After all, his music still held the top priority in his list. Furthermore, he wasn't sure if Hino Kahoko was interested in him in any way. What if she just thought of him as a friend or worse, a rival and nothing more? That would surely be a big blow.

But then again, what if other guys such as Tsuchiura and Hihara found their courage and confessed to her before him? He knew, like him those two guys looked at Hino Kahoko with admiration and yearning in their eyes, though the said girl hadn't noticed, slow and naïve as she was. What would he do then if one of them acquired the right to have her and never let her go?

To hell with all the consequences. He'd have to act soon.

…Tsukimori Len, still in a state of confusion, decided he would rather face what he thought would be the most humiliating experience in his life.

Hino Kahoko was unusually quiet.

The people around her had already wondered time and again during the entire morning, what could possibly have happened to make the normally cheerful girl uncharacteristically spacing out. It even took the teacher three loud yells calling her name before her wandering mind resurfaced within the walls of the classroom.

But after she answered wrongly and apathetically the teacher's question and made the poor old Yamaguchi-sensei have added wrinkles and a near anger breakdown, she just went back immersed in her own world whatever and wherever that was as if she saw nothing and heard nothing in the real world.

Well, if anyone would probe into her mind they would see nothing else but the same scene repeating again and again like a broken record.

Tsukimori Len kissed her.

That Tsukimori Len kissed her.

She, Hino Kahoko was kissed by Tsukimori Len.

Seriously, even she wanted to pull a hammer and strike her own head so that she could just stop thinking about it.

Whatever was the matter with her? It was just a simple touching of their lips within such a short streak of time. Just a feathery light kiss. Accidentally initiated, nothing more. It was done and over. No big deal.

But why was she so darn concerned about it? It wasn't like Tsukimori Len did that on purpose, stealing her first kiss in such a manner. However, even until now, she could feel her pulse going berserk and her cheeks seemingly had a permanent pinkish stain.

She knew this could mean one and only thing: a spark of something that would make her fall straight into the pit of love with no possible lifesaver whatsoever. Ugh. Talk about being mushy.

A true novice in the world of romance, she hadn't had the single experience about it. But she did read a lot of shoujo manga and romance novels so she basically had an overview of the whole thing and all those sweet and nice feelings.

However, it was with Tsukimori Len, the ice cold prince who came from a family of renowned musicians. Could she measure up to him? With all his fans, admirers and all the girls around him, could she even stand a chance?

Would her feelings only bound to be an unrequited love?

But no matter what, she would definitely not lose. Unrequited or not, mushy, cheesy or whatever, she would gladly welcome her first love.

…Hino Kahoko, a seventeen-year-old girl and had never had an ounce of romance in her entire life would soon learn the unpredictable realities of love and its many repercussions.

"I like you. I've always liked you. Would you give me the honor of being your boyfriend?"

Hino Kahoko gasped. This development was totally unexpected.

Shocked and confused, she found herself staring at his face.

Whoever would have thought he would confess to her?

A/n: I've liked the character of Yunoki so yeah, I included him in this story. Well, maybe it had something to do with my inclination to guys who have long hair (like Hotohori in Fushigi Yuugi I've never really gotten over him). They look hot to me tee hee. I'm still thinking if I will include the other characters like Hihara and Tsuchiura among others (probably they'll make an appearance one at a time). Anyway, as always comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!