La Corda D'Oro Terzo Passo

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Opus IV

~An Unexpected Announcement ~

She didn't notice that she was absent-mindedly staring at Len as he tried to fix up a couple of mistakes on her composition until he cleared his throat.

"S-Sorry, Tsukimori-kun," Thoughts ran amuck in her already confused mind about the conversation between her and Amou in the hallway afterschool about how Tsuchiura told her that he confessed to her about his feelings, which of course, rendered her incapable of thinking anything else but that. Unfortunately, Len had noticed.

Of course.

"You're not concentrating Kahoko," he said, putting the pencil down. Hino sighed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Len asked, leaning closer to her in a hesitant manner. Kahoko smiled. He was so awkward and so inexperienced about having a relationship but then, who can blame him? Even she isn't as experienced either, but since she was a girl, hundreds of previous-boyfriend stories from her friends were enough to teach her a thing or two.

"I guess I haven't told you about what's plaguing my mind for the past week, haven't I?"

"No,"

Kahoko pulled her chair closer to him.

"Do you remember last Saturday when we all went to the beach for a day out?"

"Hm,"

"Well, Amou went all suspicious with me," she said, lowering her head on her arms casually. Len arched a brow, obviously not understanding. "I know we haven't really had the chance to talk about how our relationship should show in public or anything since we've rarely had the chance to do so, but I really think that we should start talking about how we can somehow ease the announcement to our friends. I mean I have nothing against the little secrecy but-"

"Do you want me to tell them?" Len's question surprised Kahoko.

"You, you don't care what other people would think?" Kahoko asked with widened eyes.

"I don't really care what anyone, especially what the students in this school, say or think," he replied matter-of-factly.

"It's definitely you, ne, Tsukimori-kun," Kahoko smiled at him and patted his arm gently. Len glanced at the door when someone passed before turning back to her.

"And you?" Kahoko looked at his steely yet somewhat comforting gaze.

"Are you scared of what people might think?"

"N-No! Of course not, Tsukimori-kun," Kaho replied with a wave of her hands. Len looked at her in a beseeching yet Len-sort of way that only she was able to see. She sighed.

"I'm actually afraid that you would be the one who'd be afraid," she confessed with a blush. "I mean, you're just so popular Tsukimori-kun, with all the boys and definitely all the girls. I just thought maybe you wouldn't want to be seen with someone like me-"

Hino was interrupted by the loud sliding of the chair backwards as Len stood up. She didn't have time to ask him what was going on when he took her hands and pulled her out of the room.

"L-Len," she asked, trying to find her balance, "where are you taking me?" Len's grip tightened but he didn't reply. He led her out of the hallway of the practice rooms, down the stairs connecting the General Studies and the Music Department and turned towards the Creative Arts building next to the gym.

Some P.E. students who were doing some stretching all looked at them curiously as they passed without a word. The ice prince of Seisou was holding hands with the average-looking girl who plays the violin from General Studies. What a queer sight indeed.

Kahoko didn't have time to explain as Len took her up another flight of stairs and opened the room of the Journalism Club on the 2nd floor where Amou sat comfortably on a chair, fiddling with her camera lens.

"Amou," Len said, looking straight at the blonde-haired girl who stumbled a bit after their sudden appearance.

Kahoko and Amou exchanged glances; the former with an apologetic I-don't-know-what's-going-on smile and the latter with a curious arch of her perfectly pencilled brow.

Both jaws dropped a few seconds later.

"We're dating,"

Kahoko couldn't do anything in her shock. She simply held Len's hand as hers continually went cold.

"I'm sorry, but what?"

"Was that not clear enough, or must I say it again, because I will if I need to," Len said in a rather impatient tone. His thumb rubbed Kahoko's hand in an attempt to warm them up. He felt its sudden change of temperature and he didn't know why.

"No, no, it was perfectly clear, Tsukimori," Amou said, who was now standing up. "But I think I'm the one who's not being clear here."

She let two seconds pass by as she gave them a pretend smile before blurting, "What?" in a louder and more emphasised exclamation with the added facial expressions that scared little children.

"A-Amou-san, I, uh...what Len was trying t-to say was,"

"We're dating," he repeated. Both girls stared at him.

"If as you said before, it's clear to you, then we're going."

The few minutes of more walking and more stairs felt as if a whole week had already gone by and that she was already back at the practice rooms for a good two hours with Len as they normally did every Monday. Something was a little off, however. Kahoko's thoughts were more jumbled than the bag of letters for a Scrabble game and that didn't usually happen on a Monday morning. At least for her, anyway.

When a whiff of blue caught her peripheral vision and the sound of rustling papers was heard, her reverie abruptly stopped and the gravity of what just happened started to swim. She had to talk.

"Y-You told Amou!" she exclaimed with a point of her finger. Len continued to pack up the music sheets as if he didn't hear anything. "You just... went for it!"

Kahoko's finger and widened eyes followed the blue-haired virtuoso around the room as he packed up both of their violins. She still remained in her accusing, statue-like position as Len walked over to her and stood just as the tip of her index touched his chest.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" he asked. Kahoko slowly lowered her arm.

"Yes, but..."

"But..."

Kahoko looked him straight.

"I expected you to at least tell me beforehand so I could have prepared," she said, her voice dropping eight notes lower almost close to a whisper. "I actually thought that after I told, you and I would talk about how to do it and plan on maybe telling them another day."

He closed the gap between them and surprised Kahoko by giving her a small kiss on the forehead that was so light that she was trying hard to remember whether he really did it or she just merely imagined it.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'll confer with you next time. Promise."

He didn't bother to slip her violin case's handle on her hands. He held both and stood next to the door, holding it open with his back.

She walked out in a zombie-like trance.

The hot water felt good for her throbbing head and body. It rushed out from the spout in a hard and rhythmic gush that gave her shoulders and head a free, natural massage.

Boy did she need it now more than ever. She still couldn't believe the events that occurred after school! Len telling Amou, Amou over-reacting, she not acting, Len kissing her forehead and Len saying sorry. Len, Len, Len!

That dastardly straight-forward, inconsiderate yet surprisingly sweet of a boyfriend! A real after-school 'ruiner' in the making. She was so tempted to stomp out of the shower and send him a message with "Baka!" in capital letters but decided against it. The water felt too good.

She couldn't shake out how her imagination ran as wild as a feral animal. Thoughts of arriving to school with every girl glaring at her and everyone whispering and looking at her seemed like such an obstacle that she seemingly couldn't overcome.

It's not that she was embarrassed with being Len and everyone finally knowing about them. In fact, it was the exact opposite that she feared the most. Len sure can be a little mean and spiteful at times but he still was one of the most popular guys in their high school, having achieved amazing honours and received outstanding accolades not only in Japan but overseas as well.

Not to mention that he was just so good to look at. She passed by the music department one afternoon and overheard a group of girls from Len's class talking about his good looks and how they actually prefer his more than Yunoki's and that was saying something.

For another half an hour, she spent pointing out her embarrassingly low status in comparison to Len, which made up a good two hours with the rest of her unwanted remembering of the day's events, under the running water before her mother came knocking so hard and fast, she thought the door was going to break. Good thing Kahoko apologised just as many times as the knocks and it relieved her to know that if she wastes water as much as she did then, she wouldn't be allowed to use the taps for a month. She jumped out of the showers like a cat.

With a towel wrapped securely around her body, she glided along her carpeted room towards her bag. She grabbed her phone, slapping some fallen wet hair from her face and sat on the edge of her bed. Her clock screamed 8.30 in bold red letters at her, indicating that if she was going to explain to Amou about today, she needed at least a good two hours to do so.

She dialled. The first ring made her jump.

"Please don't pick up, please don't pick up," she thought to herself, not really sure if she could re-tell her practiced explanation in the heat of her friend's bombardments, which she was sure, she will be heaped upon.

No one answered and she breathed a sigh. She needed a little more stalling time. She was about to dial again when her phone rang.

It was Len.

"Kahoko?" he said with uncertainty in his voice.

"It's me," she said with a smile. Him calling was again, added to her list of 'Unexpected things that Len did today.'

"I just spoke to Amou," he said. She almost dropped the phone.

"Really? What did she say?"

"Wanting to clear things up," Kahoko bit her lip, wondering if he managed to.

"And did you?"

"No," she breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you would be better at it."

Kahoko smiled on the other line.

"I was actually about to call her again just before you called," she said, taking the towel off her hair and rubbing it. "So, how can I even begin to explain your actions today, mister?"

She could've sworn that she heard Len give a low chuckle on the other line.

"I thought that it would be best if she knew straight," he replied moments after. "Besides, we don't want Tsuchiura getting the wrong idea."

Kahoko dropped her phone.

"Kahoko are you alright?" she heard Len's muffled voice since the phone was lying face down on her lap.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she said, trying to steady her breathing. "But Len-kun, exactly how much do you know?"

"Enough," His reply made her shiver. "Don't worry, Kahoko," he continued. "You should rest for now. We'll talk about this tomorrow."

Kahoko scratched her head. She was all so confused again. Does Len know that Tsuchiura had confessed to her? If so, how come he didn't tell her earlier?

She yawned. Len was right. She needed to rest and A.S.A.P. She knew that she'll get to the bottom of everything in a brighter, fresher day.

"Goodnight then, Len-kun," she said. "And thank you for saving me from having to start. But I'm not thanking you for leaving me to the harder part of explaining everything."

Len then laughed and though the lines didn't fully allow her to listen properly, she immediately loved it. Throaty but soft, sort of velvety and content. She loved it and wanted to hear more.

"I can explain too," he replied. "But not as animated as you. Besides, people would understand your side better than mine."

Kahoko smiled. He was definitely right about that.

This chapter's for all those who was wanting a bit of Len and Kahoko moments which I just couldn't insert in the previous chapters. Hopefully it's long enough as well.

It shall continue...
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