Chapter 5 – Confession Night

"Are you guys ready?" Sayuri asked. She looked at the performers.

Kahoko peeked from the backstage to see the whole crowd waiting for them to perform. Kahoko's legs became wobbly. "Huwaahh! They're so many!" she gulped.

"You can face them, don't worry." Sayuri smiled.

"That's easy for you to say." Kahoko pouted.

"If you can't perform then back out." Len said coldly.

"Why you little!" Ryoutarou charged and held Len's collar tightly.

"Why are so heated up? This is not even your issue." Len said. The atmosphere was very tense.

"Now, now. Can you two please stop fighting?" Ousaki Shinobu interfered. "Tsuchiura-kun, please let go of Tsukimori-kun."

Ryoutarou did what Ousaki Shinobu said; he loosened his grip on Len's collar. After Len was released he fixed his clothes which were ruined by Ryoutarou.

"Hey, are you okay, Hino?" Ryoutarou asked.

"I'm fine." Kahoko answered.

"Here I'll help you get up." Ryoutarou offered a hand. He pulled Kahoko up.

"Thanks." She thanked.

"Here it is! Are you guys ready?" Sayuri said. Her face looked very excited.

"Yep, we're ready Nawa-chan!" Kazuki answered energetically. "Right guys?" he looked at his co-performers and they all agreed.

"Good luck to all of you!" Sayuri said happily.

The performance was successful; many students from both departments watched and enjoyed the performances. The said director, who was always serious, smiled and Sayuri was very happy with the result of the performances.

"Good, everything turned out beautifully!" Sayuri said gratefully. "Thanks you guys!" Ousaki nodded as agreement.

"We thank you for your cooperation, you may now be dismissed." Kanazawa Hiroto said.

A hour after the performances a bonfire was lightened in the middle of the field. That was the signal of the Confession Night; it is an event where boys and girls confess each other's feelings. The students were scattered all over the school. While Kahoko was walking in the corridor, she saw Len walked inside a music room. She followed him quietly. She sneaked in the room, she saw Len playing his violin. Len seemed to notice her presence.

Len stopped playing and sighed. He lowered his instrument. He stared at Kahoko, her eyes were closed. She was listening to Len playing his violin. The long pause made her eyes open.

"Oh, I'm sorry Tsukimori-kun, did I disturb you?" Kahoko asked nervously. Kahoko, you idiot, why did you follow him?! Kahoko said to herself.

"Is there anything you want?" Len asked coldly.

"W-Well…" Kahoko said nervously, her knees started to shake. Go Kaho! You can do it! Tell him, tell him now!

Silence filled the room. Len stared at Kahoko's nervous state.

Kahoko broke the silence. "Tsukimori-kun… I want to tell you something." Kahoko said nervously.

"What is it?" Len asked.

"I… I-I love you!" Kahoko said. She immediately hid her face under her hands. She was scared on what will be Len's reaction.

Len's eyes widened because of the shock. He never knew that the girl he admires in playing the violin loves him. Len walked towards Kahoko.

Is he mad at me? Kahoko thought.

I must tell her my feelings for her also. Len thought.

Again silence filled the room.

"I love you too, Hino-san." Len said calmly. Kahoko looked up to Len. His face was not the cold face you always see in him, now he is smiling. A warm smile you won't see every day.

I can't believe it, he loves me? But how? Kahoko thought. Tears fell from her amber eyes. She pressed her face on Len's chest. She never thought the boys she loves the most loves her back.

"Maybe you're curious on how I fell in love with you." Len said. "You changed me and my music. You taught me that music is not all about perfection; it must also come from the heart. You made me realize the missing thing in my life, LOVE."

Kahoko was speechless. Len wiped off her tears and hugged her. Kahoko stiffened a little but relaxed. Len cupped her face then pressed his lips against hers; it was a passionate kiss full of love and care. When they stopped, both took a deep breath and relaxed. Kahoko smiled at Len and he did the same.

"Tsukimori-kun, you smiled!" Kahoko was mesmerized on Len's smile – a very gentle and beautiful smile that you won't see every day.

"Is it wrong to smile, Kahoko?" Len said, still smiling.

"O-Of course not, it's just new to me… you never smiled before." Kahoko replied. Her face was as red as her hair.

Len chuckled. "By the way Kahoko, why are still calling me by my surname?" Len added.

"Well…" Kahoko hesitated. You want me to call you by your first name?!

"L-Len-kun." Kahoko said shyly.

"Drop the '-kun'." Len ordered.

Kahoko gulped. "L-Len."

"Yes?" Len responded.

Len inserted his hand in his pocket. Kahoko noticed it, she became curious. "Len, was it that in your pocket?" she asked.

Len pulled out a butterfly diamond pendant. "Could you hold your hair up for me?"

"Okay." Kahoko did what Len say.

Len placed the pendant around Kahoko's neck. She didn't even notice the pendant Len was holding a while ago.

"I-It's beautiful, it looks very expensive." Kahoko was fascinated on the pendant. "Where in the world did you get this?"

"My mother gave that to me, she told me that my father gave this to her when he was courting her." Len said while smiling at Kahoko. "She told me when I confess to you I must give that to you."

"So this is a hand-me-down…" Kahoko stared at the pendant. "Thank you, Len." Tears stared to fall from her eyes.

"H-Hey, why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?" Len panicked.

"No, I'm just happy. I'm happy because I'm with you and you love me." Kahoko said as she wiped her tears.

"Kahoko, always remember this. I love you and I will always love you, I promise." Len promised. "Kahoko, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course Len, what is it?" Kahoko smiled.

"Are you free tomorrow?" He asked.

"Yeah, why did you ask?" Kahoko asked back.

"Nothing, I'll pick you up at 10:00 AM sharp." Len said.

What is he thinking right now? Where are we going tomorrow? Kahoko asked herself.

"Let's go outside. We stayed here for too long, maybe your friends are getting suspicious about your sudden disappearance." Len said. Kahoko nodded as response.

Len held Kahoko's hand as they walked out of the main school. It's night time so it was quite dark. Many people noticed the couple holding hands, but the couple didn't care, they have their own world and in that world that only the two of them knows.

"Hey, Jirou, since when did your sister and that Tsukimori guy got together?" a guy asked.

"How in the world will I know? She never told me anything about boys." Jirou said.

"Sheesh, Jirou, what kind of brother are you?!" the guy said.

"Mind your own business, Hiwatari." he said seriously.

"You're so serious, Jirou. This is our last festival here in Seisou. Can you please even enjoy every bit of it?!" another said.

Not only Kahoko's brother, but also the concours participants saw the two holding hands.

"Since when did they get really close?" Ryoutarou asked.

"I don't really know." Aoi answered.

"You're the cousin and you don't know?!" Ryoutarou said.

"Hey, is it my fault that they're holding hands?!" Aoi complained.

"Will you two please stop?" Azuma scolded, as the one of the eldest among the participants, he must take responsibility about the fights of his kohais.

"Yunoki, did you know?" Kazuki asked.

"No, I really don't know." Azuma responded. He smiled; he was hiding his jealousy and anger to Len. I didn't know my cousin is in love with the Ice Prince.

~ELSEWHERE~

The crimson eyed boy walked towards a girl standing under a tree, looking at the bonfire and holding her violin case.

"Hey!" the boy called.

"Yes?" the girl looked.

"I need to tell you something." The boy said. You better tell her or else your dead!

"What is it?" the girl asked.

"Nawaguchi, I like you!" the boy confessed. He spilled out the words too fast, they are almost not understandable.

"Huh?" Sayuri replied.

"I already told you, I like you." The boy said coldly.

"W-wait, before anything, why did you like me?" Sayuri asked.

"I like you because you're different." The boy answered.

"What do you mean by 'different'?" Sayuri asked again.

"Your attitude… it's different… you're more mature, tougher and stronger than other girls I know." He stuttered. He looked away.

"Oh really?!" Sayuri teased, she was amused in the words of the boy.

"I'm not kidding, I'm serious!" the boy objected.

Sayuri's amused face changed into an unsure look. "I know you're serious, but I can't answer you yet, Etou-kun." She paused; she hid her face behind her bangs. "But… can you wait for an answer?"

"O-Okay. Sure. No problem." He answered. "I'll leave now, sorry for interrupting you." Kiriya said. He left; he waved his hand goodbye to Sayuri while he was walking away.

~THE NEXT DAY~

I can't believe what happened last night! It was like a dream! Kahoko thought, smiling. "Oh yeah, he's going to pick me up at ten." Kahoko looked at her alarm clock; it was already 9:30 AM. "Holy cow! It's already 9:30!" Kahoko jumped off her bed and took a bath quickly but making sure she smells good. She dressed up and suddenly the door bell rang.

"I'll get it." Jirou said lazily. "You know you can call if you need something, Tanami." Jirou said while opening the door, he didn't expect that the guy he was talking to is not his classmate, but it was Len. He was wearing a long sleeved blue polo with a white blazer and a beige pants. "Oh, my bad. I thought you were my classmate." Jirou scratched his head.

"It is okay. May I ask where Kahoko is?" Len asked, wearing his stoic expression.

So this is my sister's boyfriend. He's too different from her, he's too SERIOUS. Jirou thought. "My sister? She's in the kitchen. You want me to call her for you?"

"Yes please." Len said seriously.

"Just wait a minute…" Jirou closed the door, leaving Len outside of the house. "Yo! Kaho, someone's looking for you!"

Maybe it's Len, what time is it? Kahoko thought. When she walked passed Jirou she asked. "Do I look okay? Do I look hideous?"

"You look-" Jirou was cut off.

"You look absolutely beautiful, darling." Their mother smiled at Kahoko while she was washing the dishes.

"Thanks, mom." Kahoko smiled back. She danced her way to the door. Before opening it the fixed herself once more. When she opened the door Len was leaning on the post with his arms crossed across his chest. She smiled brightly. "Good morning, Len."

"Good morning, Kahoko." Len greeted. He was smiling back at her. "Are you ready?"

Kahoko nodded.