Mayuzumi Chihiro squeezed the carton of his juice before thoughtlessly releasing it onto the trash bin. He had stood quite some time on the same spot trying to think of a subtle way to clear the misunderstanding that he had with a certain girl.

It shouldn't be hard. All he had to do was tell her straight. What he said that time were meant to the fireflies.

A sigh, he put both hands inside his pockets.

There were still some time before class resumed but he didn't think he would spend it at the rooftop for the time being.

He had to put an end to this.

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Necktie kept swaying as he walked at the school's hallway, he gave it a thought last night and everything pointed to this same decision.

Feelings, emotions, girls, dating and relationships, these things were all a mess, indeed. Because if not, he wouldn't be in this kind of situation.

It wasn't even related to romance per se, just a mere misunderstanding, yet it was already troublesome.

At that time, he was not aware that her first name would be the same as those bioluminescent species.

"…Hotaru…" Pronouncing the word itself felt so awkward all of a sudden.

At that time, why did he even admire those bugs? He remembered the captivating scenery despite not truly liking the ambiance of a forest in that early night.

Suddenly he was reminded of her face that moment. She looked so enchanted, totally drawn, and perhaps that was contagious so he unknowingly felt the same.

That moment, when he said he liked it, he seemed to have given a confession—truly a misunderstanding, he thought of again.

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Finally reaching the front door of the Music Club, one hand took the action of knocking.

There was no answer.

Despite that, Mayuzumi knew that there would be no other place except this. She would definitely be inside.

The only way to correct the disarray of his mind caused by the situation he was in was confronting the source directly. So without hesitation, the third year twisted the knob with that one goal in mind.

In the first place, he shouldn't even be worrying about this kind of thing.

As he pushed the door, a melody so soothing welcomed him in an instant. It made him pause, feeling the chills in his body.

Come to think of it, this would be the first time he'd see her playing the piano.

Mayuzumi blinked, her figure finally reached his sight. Like a clip in a movie, the moment seemed perfectly filmed. She matched the exact preference of the director and him being the viewer, he could actually feel something just by watching.

The agitated mind turned lucid.

Calm breeze entered through the opened window, the curtains danced carelessly like an accompanist, matching and following the gentle melody that she was creating.

Mayuzumi closed the door silently. Using his usual quiet pace, he approached her. If she was one of his classmates, she definitely wouldn't notice but since it was her, he knew she would. She probably already knew his presence the moment he entered.

When he came closer, it was then she lifted her hands, parting the fingers from the keys. Her shoulders went up then down, all slowly and calmly.

Though he came in abrupt, the moment was still and placid.

It was quiet.

Finally, she turned her head to his direction. He waited till their eyes met.

When it did, a mutual understanding of what was truly going on between was formed.

The two completely drowned each other with their gazes, simultaneously sensing their emotions to one another, while waiting for each other's word of greeting.

The unexpected visit seemed natural. Hotaru wasn't surprised and Mayuzumi didn't seem regretful either.

She knew after that night near the station, a moment such as this would happen but never did she imagine it would be here, in the music club where he wasn't comfortable and that he'd come on his own accord. She thought that unless she braved it out and went to him at the rooftop then a moment like this between them wouldn't happen.

Mayuzumi stood confidently against her eyes.

Hotaru rested her hands on her lap. A soft smile was produced as she gazed down.

How to begin?

"Mayuzumi-san… would you mind sitting first?" She offered as she moved a little to the side. Her chair could occupy two people because it was meant for students who liked to play duets in the piano.

The freshman placed her hand on top of the lid, closing the piano in the process.

He stared at the wooden chair before accepting the offer. Then, he turned away, his back faced the right side of her body.

There was no other way to begin except saying it straight. A small talk for starter wasn't his thing and he knew she already knew what he came for.

"It was a misunderstanding." He said.

Hotaru smiled softly and silently breathed out an air of ease. "It's my fault." Was her immediate reply. "I'm sorry Mayuzumi-san. It's just that…." her head turned in the opposite direction, through the window, searching for the proper words in the clouds that were floating comfortably at the light blue sky outside.

"…I knew you were referring to the fireflies yet I couldn't help but feel as if you were telling those words to me."

He couldn't picture what kind of face she was having while speaking. Honestly, he kind of wanted to know.

"How silly…" she continued, referring to herself. "I really felt awkward that time." It was definitely the fireflies. She knew it very well, still, his words that time made her shy.

Mayuzumi wanted to believe that those words were meant for those glowing creature as well. However, he was actually looking at her when he said that, had she known, would that mean something different then?

"I haven't given you my name, all these times." The girl smiled sheepishly and shifted to look at him, just to face the back of his body. Her attention was caught by few wrinkles on his uniform, probably caused by leaning for a long time. She smiled all of a sudden. Well, at least he wasn't slouching.

"Hotaru, that's my name." She ended with a soft laugh. "Unfortunately, I'm not as pretty as those in the dark."

Hotaru was a pretty name, he'd say, but he won't. So what else must he do? A 'Nice to meet you' was too late for this after all.

"It's really embarrassing." She said.

He straightened his back and changed position. Their shoulders were now aligned. Looking at her, as she said that with such gentle and bashful laugh made him wonder why he hated this misunderstanding in the first place. So what if he seemed to have confessed at her—to this girl who couldn't seem to break a glass even if she wanted to? What would be so bad about that?

"I mean, there's no way—"

"—Why?"

She blinked, quite surprised at the interjection.

"…"

"Why would you think that there's no way?"

These consecutive days that she occupied his mind must have more meaning than just a simple confusion.

Probably, he already realized but didn't want to admit.

From the very beginning, he was aware that such emotions were not designed for him. Mayuzumi tried to avoid so he turned away from it. But the more he forced his self to ignore, the more he desired.

She truly caused a riot and messed up the emotions that had always been stable.

The stare was emphasizing, Hotaru had to avert and to that, she forced out a smile. "W-Well, Mayuzumi-san wouldn't be interested with someone like me…"

He didn't say anything, waiting for further reason.

The black-haired girl gulped, one hand travelled behind ear, tucked some hair behind as it lingered there. There was a sudden accumulating self-consciousness caused by his eyes. "…I do not have any special characteristics at all, I'm just all about this—a piano and being an attendant."

Even though she didn't mention, he felt the itch of one name to escape from her mouth.

Akashi Seijuro. That's right… Shes' an attendant of an Akashi.

Mayuzumi knew by then that whatever it was that he felt won't matter. Not when it was as clear as the sky how someone was already occupying her mind. Just like how she did to his.

In the beginning, he was right to stop everything.

He could have stretched his reach but there would be no meaning if the other person was already holding on to someone.

He looked away similarly and nodded to his self.

It was fine.

In just few months he would be leaving this place anyway.

There would be no point in being interested to someone.

He blinked nonchalantly and sighed quietly away from her view.

Then he spoke, "You're right." And for that, he'd make it certain that she'd be right. "I won't be in that situation towards you."