Going
It hadn't been anything, really. They'd been sharing the same practice room, trying out various pieces for a fit for the theme of the next round. Len had gotten frustrated, unable to find what he wanted, and had packed away his violin to leave.
"Done for now?"
"I'm going home," Len confirmed, careful not to hit his case in the doorway on his way out.
"Nn," said Kahoko non-commitally, flipping through a song. Then, "Itterasshai."
It hadn't registered until later.
Itterasshai. Her words had bothered him all night. Itterasshai was 'go and come back', not a simple goodbye. Did she want to see him again? Was that it? Did she enjoy the silent hours in the music room together? Did she want him to go back just to see her?
Len tossed and turned all night, her few simple syllables echoing in his head. Frustrated, in a huff Len decided to go back to the same room the next day to find out just what that was all about.
He got there after school, fully intending on waiting for Kahoko just to tell her off, but when he entered the room, she was already there.
She was trying out some piece on her violin; some quiet, content song. Her lips were curved into a soft smile, her eyes closed, her hair drifting slightly on a slight breeze, enchanting him at the sight.
She stopped at the end of a measure, looking down at her lap to check something, and Len abruptly remembered he had something to say to her.
"Tadaima."
His face flamed instantly; that wasn't but he'd been meaning to say! He was ready to hit himself. After the huge issue he'd made out of this, to mess up at the beginning of talking to her...
But then Kahoko looked up, her eyes sparkling, meeting his, dancing with life, and her small smile took his breath away.
"Okaeri."