Whew... I'm back...
So now I decided to write shorter chapters instead coz I don't want anyone to be put to sleep with this story...
Please try to adapt since I too am adapting...
That's all... I love this job!
-Chapter Two-
...
..
.
It has been a week since then, and the pressure of high school was just about to start. Hayakawa-san was no exception to this, and all of her getting-to-know-you activities will have to be rescheduled for the following reasons: a Physics assignment, a quiz in Trigonometry, an essay in English, and a quick research about the Great Depression in Economics.
Oh, was she thrilled to do all of these wonderful and educational things!
Top it off with her shifts at the restaurant and her life was as easy as pie.
(I used irony as a figure of speech. Hope you noticed )
It was a Kinyoubi (Friday) when they had the quiz in Trigonometry. Triangles, equations, explosions and nosebleeds were present. Hayakawa-san stared long and hard at her test paper, her mind blank after reading question number one.
"...", her mind went. It was as blank as a piece of bond paper. She tried to recall what she studied last night, but her memory failed her. She tried to figure out a solution, but her brain got re-tangled because of the effort. And so, her last and final option was to stare at it. Stare at it like it was the last time she's gonna see a test paper in Trigo. (Trigo, abbreviation for Trigonometry)
What will "staring at your paper" do for you? A miracle?, a voice inside her head chimed in her thoughts. She responded with mental communication.
That's what I'm hoping for... she grunted, the look on her face unpaintable. She could feel her cerebrum throbbing.
She barely had time to study for the dreaded quiz. She had to help Mama-san and Papa-san in the restaurant because it was because of them that she's here in Gakuen Seiso, sitting in a classroom, taking a test...
*sigh*
Listen, you have thirty minutes left to answer that test. You studied last night; you know how to do this! The voice cheered her on, and that mope expression on her face suddenly brightened up, her eyes burning with fires of determination.
"YOSH! I can do it!" she exclaimed, almost jumping off her seat and her fist pumped up in the air.
(The scene would probably look like a chibi Hayakawa-san and Lili flying around throwing confetti... hehe :P Anyways, back to the story...)
"Hayakawa-san?" their sensei suddenly called out, and every head turned to look at what she was doing.
"Gomen, sensei!" she said, realizing that she embarrassed herself in front to the entire class, "I just... suddenly remembered the equation!"
The sensei just sighed at her. "Whatever. Just please be quiet?" the teacher asked her a favor. Hayakawa-san accepted it and quickly seated.
Geez..., she sweat dropped as one of the students started to giggle, I gotta control myself...
Tsuchiura-kun who just finished the quiz in a span of minutes looked at her and tried to control a chuckle. The result was a smirk, an amused gesture. This girl's suddenness reminds him so much of...
His eyes popped out of surprise.
No. Dare he think of it?
Hino...
He blinked his eyes to wipe off that thought in his mind. He inhaled a lungful of air, and then continued to review his paper for any mistakes.
Thirty minutes later...
In a quiz up to 100 items, our heroine got...
"69." her voice barely even got out of her throat. A dark cloud enveloped her. Yup, she was disappointed.
"It's not that bad!" Tsuchiura-kun said, cheerier than the rest of the class. Hayakawa-san gave a long glare.
He gave an apologetic smile. "Well, look on the bright side! You passed the test!" was his counter to her glare.
"Well, I guess it isn't..." she then began to smile. "Kudos for perfecting the exam!"
"Arigato!" was his glad reply. The girl just smiled.
But still, Tsuchiura-kun's thought hasn't completely left his brain. It still haunted him like a ghost.
I still can't get her off of my mind...
...
After classes...
A thick crowd gathered in front of the academy's bulletin board. Everyone stared at a piece of paper, tacked onto the board, containing the list of students who will be participating in the Interschool Music Festival that will be held at Gakuen Seiso, a month from now. Everyone talked, chattered, babbled, about the chosen participants.
The Official List of Participants for the Interschool Music Festival
"Ne, ne! Manami-chan, you did it!"
"I did?" the pianist squealed in disbelief. "I DID!"
Manami-san and her friends then shared a group hug in excitement that she was chosen to participate.
Mori Manami, Class 3-A Music Department, majoring in Piano.
"OMEDETOU KAJI-SAMA!" a brood of Kaji Fangirls, also known as the Kajinatics, greeted their one and only Oji-sama.
Kaji-kun gave a warm smile to all of them. "Arigato minna-san!"
And as usual, the Kajinatics melted into the ground, still wearing their big grins on their reddened faces.
Kaji Aoi, Class 3-B Music Department, majoring in Viola.
"Hn." He crossed his arms, smirking at the name that he just read.
The clarinet player turned to look at him and blushed furiously, timid as ever.
"A-ano... Etou-kun..." Fuyuumi-san said, nervously shaking, "O-om-mede-t-tou..."
He just gave her a confident grin as a reply.
Etou Kiriya, Class 2-A Music Department, majoring in Violin.
The final participant.
Some creased their foreheads in confusion. Others, wide-eyed in surprise. No one ever thought that this particular event would ever happen again.
Holy Lord...
Apparently, history repeated itself.
4. Hayakawa Riza, Class 3-3 General Education Department, vocal performer.
The blinding stares pinpointed the person standing in front of the bulletin board. The deafening whispers pierced the ears of the one chosen as the final participant. Lastly, the heavy hand that patted the shoulder of...
"Ne, Hayakawa-san, daijoubu?" Tsuchiura-kun asked the dumbfounded girl, hoping that the pat on her shoulder will help her snap out of it.
No way...
A minute has passed, and she's still standing there, mute and motionless. Tsuchiura-kun has been with her for a while now, and seeing her frozen like an ice cube was making him extremely uncomfortable.
Not until...
"OH, MY GOD! I CAN'T BELIVE IT!" a sudden burst of emotion came from Hayakawa-san, ecstatic and making such a ruckus. Everyone was taken aback by her reaction.
Tsuchiura-kun flinched. This is not the usual reaction.
(Usual reaction: gaping in shock, suddenly yelling out "WHAT THE F***?" and lots and lots of ranting then finally, running off to the senseis...)
"I'm gonna sing! I'm so excited! I can't wait to practice! What should I sing? What do you think? OH MY GOD!" she bombarded everyone with a flurry of questions, that everyone being Tsuchiura-kun. She had stars in her eyes, sparkling and in dreamland, though the boy who was in front of her perspired a single drop of sweat on his forehead.
But still, it made him a bit happy. Taking a break from the usual isn't bad.
"Omedetou!" he greeted her with a warm smile, and it made Hayakawa-san stop for a bit to notice the twinkle on his eyes. She couldn't explain it, but everytime that their eyes meet, there's always a rare shine in his peepers.
"A-arigatou ne..." she blushed a bit, hiding her face in her bangs. And after realizing what she did a few moments ago, her face crimsoned faster than lightning speed.
"A-ano..." her voice quivered, "See you later Tsuchiura-kun!" and without another word, she left.
The green-haired lad watched as she disappeared into the crowd. A smile played on his lips, taking pleasure of the thought that entertained his mind.
Of course... she's different...
...
Running...
Running..
Running.
That's what she did. She doesn't care about where she was going, she just ran.
"YAMADA-SENSEI!" she screamed, dashing inside the auditorium where they said he could be found.
"Ah! Hayakawa-san!" the sensei beamed at the panting girl in front of him. "Omedetou ne."
"Arigato gozaimasu!" Hayakawa-san bowed, her face almost reaching the floor. The music teacher was surprised to see the sign of deep respect.
"Itashimashite, demo..." he said, embarrassed. "You should be thanking Kira-sama too."
Hayakawa-san straightened up herself. "Hai!" she joyfully nodded. She then headed off to the head's office to thank the chairman of the board of trustees.
"Mata ne, Yamada-sensei!" she bid as the sensei bade too.
...
"Kira-sama," the secretary disturbed Kira-san from reading the newspaper. "A student wants to thank you..."
He grunted. The chairman should only be disturbed during important situations, and this isn't important at all.
"Alright..." was his uninterested order. The secretary nodded then proceeded to the door.
"You can come in now." The secretary smiled at the student.
"Hai! Arigatou gozaimasu sensei!" was the cheery reply.
Kira-san straightened his back for a proper seat. He brought his hands together and placed them on top of his wooden table, looking as superior as ever. He heard the door closed, and his eyes caught sight of a familiar girl, only this time she was wearing a Gen Ed seifuku.
"O-ohayou gozaimasu Kira-sama..." Hayakawa-san bowed nervously as the chairman stared at her with the eyes of a vampire. (It's because his eyes are red...: P)
"Stand up." Kira-san commanded and the girl obeyed.
"What could be so important to disturb me?" he said cynically. Hayakawa-san bit her lip before she answered.
"Ano..." she quivered, but a smile tugged her lips and her uneasiness went away.
"Arigatou gozaimasu for choosing me as a participant, Kira-sama!" she beamed at him, her huge emerald eyes sparkling in delight. This made the chairman's heart go "b-dump!"
"It's an honor to represent Gakuen Seiso at the festival! I promise to do the best that I can!" she added joyfully. Kira-san just stood there, dumbfounded.
What on earth is happening to me? The chairman thought. He was always calm and composed, and he could handle his emotions well. However, this sudden warmth that enveloped him when he saw her bright smile perturbed his feelings.
But Kira-san managed to shrug it off. "Do itashimashite, Hayakawa-san." He said, back to his calm tone.
Hayakawa-san smiled. "Argato once again Kira-sama! Sayonara!" she then turned and headed off to the door.
"Chouto."
"Eh—"
She turned around to face Kira-san, and was surprised to see him release a gentle smile.
"Mada mada dane, Hayakawa-san..." he said, his scarlet eyes meeting her olive ones.
She took his statement as a compliment and smiled once again before leaving the room.
And now, without her presence in the room, he proceeded to read his newspaper. It was silent until he heard tiny chiming sounds coming from above.
"Yosh!" Lili stretched his little arms and wings, emerging from his bubble. "So you finally agreed to include her..." he said, a teasing grin upon his face.
Kira-san tossed his face away and his bangs flew as well. "Hn. Go away..." he said bluntly. This made the fairy pout.
"You meanie!" he crossed his arms, but then gave a forgiving smile. Kira-san has always been like this..., he thought, amused.
So he floated around the room, measuring the silence like notes, waiting for the proper tempo and perfect timing to disturb the newspaper-reading chairman.
He smiled from ear to ear. The perfect timing.
"Ne, Kira-san..." he started, "She can see me too, you know..."
"I'm informed of that." His gaze never left the periodical, "Domou Lili." And that was the end of the conversation.
But wait, it was just about to start.
"Fifteen years ago... this also happened!" the fairy snapped his fingers as an idea entered his mind.
Kira-san heaved a sigh and put down the newspaper. He already had a hunch where this conversation was about to go.
To his past...
-Flashback-
It was another pleasant April morning in Gakuen Seiso and Kira-san was enjoying it, playing his violin to create such a wonderful melody. He was one of the chosen ones to participate in the concours, and there he was, practicing the piece he selected for the fist selection. He was so engulfed in his own world of music, striving only for beauty and perfection. He wants to feel it—the rare sensation that only perfection can give—and it was within his reach.
He took a break from practice when he heard a sound of another violin, but it was unlike his melody that was struggling for perfection. It sounded like a song from the heart, a glimpse from the soul of whoever was playing it. He was captivated, and his whole being was charmed towards the melody.
He has to find out who created that astounding sound.
His feet have stopped moving as the music stopped playing, and as he returned to his senses, his eyes witnessed something so rare. That melody, that heart-warming tune...
Came from his rival.
And so it was them. A boy and a girl, together as their violins took them to the most beautiful places that only the two of them knew. And as his melody blended with her harmony, their feelings synchronized into the most wonderful emotion anyone could ever feel...
It was love.
But alas, they parted, like the moment when the waters rise up to the heavens. It was period of pain and longing, yet fifteen years have passed... and their music, as well as their souls, never crossed paths again...
-End-
Kira-san relived the moments as he stared out the window, his ruby eyes seeing sapphire sky. The little fairy looked at him with sympathy as he felt what the man was feeling.
"I gave up the violin..." he said with a tone of sadness, "because I never saw her again..."
Lili was still, feeling the same hurt. "Gomenasai..."
"No." Kira-san said, "There's nothing to feel sorry for." He masked his loneliness with his deep intimidating voice. "Now, go away."
And with that, Lili disappeared reluctantly, leaving Kira-san and his thoughts.
...
Yamada-sensei, the one in-charge for the upcoming music festival, welcomed the four participants inside the spacious music classroom.
"Yo-sha! It's time to get acquainted!" he clapped his hands and gave everyone one of his sunny smiles. "Watashi wa Yamada Kouzuto-san. I'm a second year music teacher and also the one in charge of this festival."
"Hajimemashite sensei!" Kaji-san greeted as he was to introduce himself. "I'm Kaji Aoi-san from class 3-B. It's a pleasure to meet all of you!"
He smiled as the only two girls tried to control their blushes.
The girl with the pale brown hair then spoke. "Konichiwa, Mori Manami desu. I'm looking forward to this festival!" she smiled as well and turned to the other female member. "Let's represent girl power!" she encouraged.
Hayakawa-san blushed as it was now her turn. "Hayakawa Riza-san desu. Um... It's nice meeting all of you..." she bowed.
Last but not he least, it was Etou-kun. "I'm Etou Kiriya-san. It's no surprise to be here..." he said, starting to get bored.
"Alright! Now that everybody knows each other I suppose we could discuss the agenda!" the cheery sensei clapped his hands.
"Demo, sensei..." Kaji-kun intervened, "I want to know more about Hayakawa-san..." he followed his sentence with a glance at the girl and a debonair smile.
"Hayakawa-san," Yamada-sensei said to her, "enlighten us."
"Chouto!" she exclaimed, but her protest was cut off by the other two participants.
"I'd be glad to know more about you! Hey, let's be friends!" Manami-san offered and the girl could only nod because she was suddenly pressured.
"You should sing!"
"Yes! What a terrific idea!"
"Yamada-sensei! ."
Well why shouldn't you? The voice egged her on again. Man, was it weird to have a birdie on your shoulder.
"Hai..." she heaved a sigh as she stood in front of them, preparing to sing. But before that, Yamada-sensei handed her a guitar.
"You said that you can play..." he said.
Yeah I did... she sweat dropped. And so, she stood there with a guitar in her hands, everyone waiting for her song.
A minute of silence passed and she finally decided what she would sing.
"Well..." she smiled at all of them, "here goes nothing!'
She strummed her guitar and sang.
Oooooh Ooooooh
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
There's a land that I dreamed of once in a lullaby
Etou-kun smirked. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"? What a kiddy song choice.
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
Hayakawa-san's cool and calming voice touched their hearts as she sang with emotion and passion. Kaji-kun was already doing the second voice of the song even before he knew it. Hayakawa-san beamed when she heard the blending of their voices. Suteki...
Oooh someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Everything was frozen in time. It was a moment when nothing else seems to matter: no problems, no negativity and everything just turned into something beautiful. It was the power of music, the power of her voice.
At that same moment...
"Ne, Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino-san called out the green-haired lad, "going home?"
"Yeah..." he replied, hiding the shock that it was Hino-san that called him. (Aww... he's still not over it... :3)
"Me too. I just need to return the music sheets that I borrowed." She then joined him on his walk, hauling her bag and her violin along with her.
The familiar scene caused a smile on Tsuchiura-kun's lips. "Still working hard, ei Hino?"
"Yup! For love's sake!" she beamed, the words she said pertaining to the subject of his hate, that ice cube...
"Tsukimori?" he faked a smile, "Well then, gambatte ne..."
Hino-san stopped on her tracks causing her friend to pause as well.
"I heard music..." she mumbled, "Someone is singing!"
"Well then, let's check it out..." Tsuchiura-kun suggested as he and Hino-san walked along the corridor towards the music classroom.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
"Sugoi..." Hino-san mentioned as they neared the classroom, "The girl's voice is really amazing..."
"..." Tsuchiura-kun didn't speak a word. Hino-san was right. The girl's voice really is amazing. No, not just amazing... it was alluring, heart-warming, and never has he heard a voice as beautiful as hers.
He's got to know the one who owns that golden voice.
And his need was answered right away as he gazed inside the room; the first thing his eyes landed on was... "Hayakawa-san..."
A sudden light struck his eyes as he witnessed the girl sing and play her guitar ever so beautifully with such great passion. And the song, the very message of the song when sang by her voice... is the voice of an angle singing...
Oh somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
It was her final strum of the guitar when they realized that they were no longer in her calm and serene universe. Yamada-sensei and the rest were still in a trance, and the first to clap for her was Kaji-kun.
The sound of clapping increased as the others applauded as well.
"Sugoi desu ne, Hayakawa-san!" Manami-san complimented while the girl sheepishly bowed.
"Um, it's nothing..." she said modestly.
It's everything... Tsuchiura-kun added in his mind, watching from outside the room. How he'd like to walk up to her and tell her how much her voice shook his emotions, how her voice reached the very bottom of his heart. I love your voice...
"I love your voice, Hayakawa-san..." Kaji-kun said, already a step ahead of him. This made him kind of green-eyed in envy. He just restrained himself for doing anything that he might regret or something that will haunt him, and walked away from the spot, trying to ignore the feelings forming inside his gut.
"Eh?" Hino-san gasped, "Tsuchiura-kun?"
"Let's just go home..." he said, not turning his back so that he couldn't see the view from inside the classroom. Another glimpse of it would just drive him nuts.
Meanwhile, Hayakawa-san received a lot of praises from everyone, but it was Kaji-kun that kept on flattering her.
"Even though it's just a simple song, the beauty of your voice really comes out..." sparks flew as he said those words, making the girl more mesmerized than ever.
"Nah..." she shook her head, "Anyways, I'm so glad you liked it!" she then smiled.
"It's our pleasure to witness such a performance..." Yamada-sensei smiled, "Alright then, getting back to business..."
Etou-kun raised his hand. "About the music festival... Is it gonna have a theme?"
"Why yes!" the sensei said, "All of you, the theme is 'Unity'."
"Unity... in composition?" Mori-san asked.
"More of like 'Peace and Unity', but that's one consideration." The sensei answered.
Etou-kun scratched the back of his head in frustration. "Well then, I guess I better work on it right away..."
"That's the spirit Etou-san!" Kaji-kun grinned at him.
"Hn." The maroon-haired lad crossed his arms, "Apparently you're still a kid."
The blonde- haired boy just smiled.
And so, their discussion continued, and Hayakawa-san is feeling more excited as ever.
This is it, another step towards the brand new chapter of her life... a chapter where certain experiences will test her faith, and love to the very core of her heart...
Okay... so I said I was gonna write shorter chapters, but then, I don't feel satisfied in that... :D
And okay... seriously... an entire week to write this chap~! What a long hiatus!
Feel free to flame this crappish fic btw... lol
Oh yeah! Anyone interested to see the cover of this fanfic? Just go to my profile and click on the link!
Thank you everyone and have a great day~! :DDD
Ps: I hoped you understand Kira's flashback. It's my own version of the first Violin Romance that happened waaay before the current time, which is Kahoko's time...
Me is out again! *flying kisses*