Important Note:

For our readers who read the prologue within the first - second day of our first time publishing, please re-read Len's Prologue again. We made a TOTAL change for his prologue, regarding the changing of his personality & role in this story. The change is somewhat related to chapter 1. So, we HIGHLY suggest you to re-read Len's prologue before processing to this chapter.

And

This chapter is based on manga Chapter 48. Reading the manga's chapter is recommended for you to have a better visualization to most of the scenes.

Disclaimer: We never own La corda d'oro ;D

Beta Reader: My lovely partner in this co-writing! ;D

Tsukimori Len

Chapter 1: Hey, Kaji!

First day from the moment I stated my new missions. Remembering I don't have so much time before going to Vienna, I must quickly do all of my plans to make Hino mine. I've prepared myself from very early morning today. I took a shower longer than usual, brushed my teeth two times, and I even have checked my reflection in the mirror and found it really perfect. Neat uniform, clean cut hair, fresh fragrance, and mint breathe. Everything is unblemished. All I need to do now is following the entire plans I've adjusted.

First plan to get Hino is…

...I don't know.

Right, my plan is completely imperfect because I don't know what to do! Being a Tsukimori Len for the entire seven-teen years, I never ever chased a girl before. What should I do to get a girl? I need advises, suggestions, examples on how to win a girl's heart, especially the dense one.

I walk to Seisou with steady pace, thinking about who can give me those advises. Mother? She's a devil in disguise, I can't let her know that I'm falling in love. Never. She will make fun of me, or worse, she will drag me into a humiliating mess she will make. And I won't be able to live in peace again after that.

I sigh and shake my head, until my eyes catch a glimpse of book store on my way to school. A book store, that's what I need. There must be books talking about the chasing-girls-technique. At least, reading books is better than asking to someone. Books will never laugh at you.

Entering the book store, I start to study every section in there. Children, Computer, Religious, Business, Agriculture… That's the first time in my life knowing that there are so many books besides from music ones. And now I'm blind. Which section should I go to find that particular chasing-girls-technique? Clearly there won't be any sections titled as 'Flirting' or 'Getting a Girl'.

Magazine. I certainly remember that boys in my class often read those kinds of books in class, and they talk about dating girls too. That magazine will probably give many tips on how to date a girl.

I walk to the magazine shelf and read the titles one by one. Girls magazines, fashion magazines, music magazines, cooking magazines, games magazines, and boys magazines… I take one of the boys' magazines, which title read as 'Men Cancam'. I open the pages, and looks like today is my lucky day, as I find the article I need without so much effort.

'How To Get A Girl in A Week'

A week. I have more time than that, but if I can have her in only a week, that will lessen my pain a lot. Besides, the selection camp is starting tomorrow, and from her talks with Kaji last week, Hino will come sneaking to the camp. Precisely, these tips will come in handy while I meet her there. Smiling in my mind, I continue to read it.

'Tip number one: Praise her! Girls like being praised!'

I flinch. Praise her? I never praised someone before, should I do that? What should I praise about her? Her music? But her playing is still far away from perfect and I cannot tolerate it. Her appearance? Her… her… beau…

"Tsukimori-kun?"

I jolt and nearly jump upon hearing my name from her lips.

"Hino!"

She smiles and nods, "Ohayou, Tsukimori-kun, what are you doing here?"

My eyes widen, my heart feels like jumping around in my chest. Why should she suddenly pop up before me just when I was thinking about her... her… beauty..?

"Tsukimori-kun, are you alright?" Hino waves, looking worried as her eyes gaze into mine. Her strawberry red hair falls down to her shoulders freely, her porcelain skin looks glowing in my eyes. Why in the world she looks so perfect in my eyes, when I know that no one exactly can compete against my own reflection in the mirror?

"I saw you from the window and I wanted to greet you, so I entered this store. I hope I'm not bothering your reading…," she continues and shifts her eyes towards the magazine in my hands.

"It's nothing," I promptly hide the magazine behind my back. "Look, isn't that Hihara-senpai?" I point with my eyes through the window.

I can't let her see me reading this! It's so not Tsukimori Len!, I scream inwardly.

"Really?" Hino follows my direction, searching for the loud senpai, while I quickly put the magazine back on its shelf and take a music magazine besides it.

"No, I think you're wrong, I don't see Hihara-senpai," Hino turns her head to me again.

"Oh, I heard there are three persons with similar faces in this world," I answer flatly, showing the magazine in my hands, now with confidence.

"Yea, maybe," Hino giggles, "So, what are you reading? Music like usual or…?"

I show her the magazine, pretending that I was reading about some articles related to classical music.

"Yes, this is very interesting, it's about—"

My jaw drops, Hino's eyes widen, reading the magazine's title.

'Even Idiots Can Cook!'

Right. I mistook the magazine. My stupid hand took the cooking magazine, and for worse, it's for idiots.

"It's…," Hino seems struck dumb, she thinks before continues, "...yes, very interesting…."

Smiling awkwardly, she switches her stare to my pale face. Luckily, I'm able to close my agape mouth right before she turns her eyes on me.

"No..., It's wrong, no, I actually…," stuttering, I gripe the magazine.

"Tsukimori-kun," she calls.

"No, Hino, this is a mistake, it's…"

"Tsukimori-kun."

"…Yes?"

"You need it," she smiles in assuring. "I won't tell anyone, don't worry."

I gulp…

… And sigh in defeat.

"Right. I'll buy it. Thanks for keeping it as a secret….."

Not wanting to look any dumber, I walk straightly to the cashier and pay for the 'Even Idiots Can Cook!' magazine. Subsequently, I walk out the store without looking back to the smiling Hino behind me… Guess today is not as lucky as I thought.

The Selection Camp.

Here I am, in the selection camp, listening to the German instructor's lesson. Since yesterday morning, I haven't talked to Hino again. First, I was too ashamed about the cooking magazine thing, and didn't have the courage to approach her again. Second, I was busy that entire afternoon; Kanazawa sensei told me to do many things related to the selection camp's procedure. Third, that Tsuchiura and Kaji monopolized Hino all afternoon, spreading the eyesore to my precious eyes when I accidentally saw them in the cafeteria. Fourth, I heard Hino was called by the school's director, Kira Akihiko, and couldn't practice at the rooftop like she usually does.

I sigh again for I don't know how many times already. The instructor seems to notice my cramping mind and decides to give me the first turn to play.

"Mr. Tsukimori, play a piece and show us your skills," he instructs.

I stand up and nod. "Yes, sir."

Playing a piece will probably make my mind at ease. I should forget about her at least in the middle of this important lesson. Besides, I will see Hino if she really comes to this camp like what I've heard on the rooftop.

I walk to the center of the room and many pairs of eyes pierce on every movement I make. I've taken heed to their performances during the waiting session before the instructor arrived. And in their playing, although the levels are high enough, there are still nothing special I can find. It's funny that in the other concourses and also in this selection camp, I never find someone who can make me feel threatened except for that pianist.

I clear my throat and fix my mind. I should never think about that green-haired pianist, he will disturb my concentration. Obviously he's an evil, he probably put something like spell or even curse to distract my immersion. His uninvited stupid face which always flies around my mind when I'm in the playing mode is the proof.

After shaking my head slightly, I set my position and am about to begin my performance, when suddenly my eyes remark three heads pop up outside the window. I nearly choke on my own spit.

What are they doing? Peeking and popping the upper-half of their heads like that? Are they seriously thinking that no one can see them? Well, I can!

The green-haired foolish pianist, the blonde with so many holes on his ears, and the sweet little cutie violinist… A-hem! Correct that. A crimson haired violinist will match her better.

Besides, are my eyes playing trick on me or the two sapheads are really sticking to her? What is that blonde hair's hand doing on Hino's hair? And what is that foolish pianist's hand doing around her neck? I only could see their upper half heads before, but now they seem like joking around and making me see them clearly! Seriously, what are those dirty hands doing to Hino? They... they.. touch her all over like that...

"Mr. Tsukimori, is there a problem?" the instructor questions.

I snap my head to him and blink.

"...Nothing, Sir."

Nothing except for the two interlopers who land their filthy hands to contaminate Hino's pure body, I added mentally.

"Then, shall we begin?" the rounded old man with half bold head raises his eyebrows, waiting for me to begin the performance.

"Yes, sir," I answer shortly, closing my eyes, and with odium in my heart, I stroke the strings.

The piece flows without me being able to concentrate. Hino's flawless face is flying in my psyche while the two wicked wolves are ready to attack the graceful lady. They're walking around her with evil grins curved on their lips, eyes wandering at her from head to toe with vicious beams. And their hands are in front of their chests, ready to soil Hino's innocence with lustful laughs as their background music.

I pour all of my hatred to the bow and my wild imagination makes my eyebrows tweak. The pace is becoming faster, and as my hands produce the music, my gesture is completely following my agitation, reflecting what I truly feel inside. And without my awareness, the last note has already ended.

A round of applause explodes through the room. All of the participants are standing with astounding mimics plastered on their faces. Their eyes show a great amount of admiration for my last playing, and the instructor is laughing with so much satisfaction.

"Great performance, Mr. Tsukimori!" he yells with passion between his claps.

I stand still in my playing position, dumbfounded. Did I play it perfectly? I don't remember at all, my mind was totally drifted to Hino and her two pursuers. My hands have remembered how to play the piece perfectly, but I guess the applause means more than that. The emotions? So my enraged emotions brought my playing to perfection?

Peeking to the three heads out of the window, I catch their amazement to my performance. Hino is closing her mouth with sparkling eyes, her cherry cheeks are pretty to be seen. Kaji's agape mouth is making him look so dumb and I wish I can take his picture and spread it to his annoying fans. And Tsuchiura looks really distressed, his eyebrows twitching and the edge of his lips pulled downward, probably because of his jealousy to my skills.

I smirk inside my heart. Thanks to my luck today, despite not remembering my playing at all, leastwise I can make Hino astonished and the two tomfools gaping. And of course, thanks to today's performance also, I get a hint on how to reach perfection.

Afterwards, I just close my eyes, keeping my cold façade, and enjoy the remaining applause.

First rule to get a girl, praise her.

The morning lessons have finished, and now after having lunch, I walk around the yard to find Hino. I arrange my plan to praise her secretly, trying to find the right words to honour her. From my observation through the window this morning, I know that Hino and her two followers were captured by Kanazawa-sensei. And before lunch, I saw her crouching and plucking the grass, obviously a punishment.

Though I honestly wonder... Why does she always crouch? I mean, last week at the rooftop, she was crouching too, remember? Still, she sparked like an angel, like a fairy, or even a goddess. If I can engrave a statue, I'll make her statue to defeat the famous Venus de Milo. And I'll name her statue as 'The Crouching Angel'... How does it sound? Attempting, isn't it? Or possibly 'Kahoko de Milo' will be better. But unfortunately, inscribing statues is not my field, so my idea will always remain as an idea...

Still, no problem, all I have to do now is just finding her to fulfill my first attempt to get her: Praising.

But... I guess, I do have a problem after all… What should I say to praise her?

You're beautiful. You look pretty today. You're amazing… You're incredible. You're an angel... Hmn... Something feels not right.

Oh, I know, perhaps I should copy from classical novels, for example… Shakespeare. He's the expert of romance, isn't he? Learning from the experts is always being my motto to reach my perfection in everything. And when I say everything, it means everything besides cooking.

I close my eyes, striving to remember some sentences from Romeo and Juliet's dialog. I'm pretty confident with my memory, and I can imagine every words in that book. I read it during my literature class in Junior High, as Romeo and Juliet was a required Shakespeare's opus to read.

It is the east, and you're the sun.O, you're rich in beauty. You're too fair, too wise, wisely too fair.
To merit bliss by making me despair.

"It is the... east, and you're the... the... sun..."

I swallow.

" O,.. You're rich in be- be- be-be-..."

I clear my throat.

"...Rich in be- be- be-... Ouch!"

Covering my mouth with both palms, I fight the urge to slip out tear drops from my eyes.

God, how could Romeo finish the sentences without bitting his own tongue!!

Afer the pain's gone, I shake my head in abase. Switching my palm from my mouth to cover my forehead, I battle the embarrassment I feel from the cheesy dialogue. No Shakespeare needed… At least now I understand about that.

Oh, how about Murasaki's Genji Monogatari?!

I open my eyes in delight, thinking that I may be able to copy some of Genji's words. He's a Japanese famous casanova, isn't he?

But his dialog will be...

No, no... Japanese classical novel won't give me better words than Shakespeare...

I sigh. I never thought that praising a girl is really hard, even harder than the first time I learned to play my violin. Why are girls really different with violins? Though they do have the same shape of figure, you know the curves... Uhmn... No, no, Len... Stop it! Stop thinking unnecessary things!

...Chasing a girl is indeed contaminating my mind...

Therefore, after deciding to use the simple words like 'you look beautiful', I continue to walk around, too drown in my deep musing until I hear a girl's shout.

"You got it on me!"

I turn my head to see the fuss and spot Hino with another girl. That girl must be Miyaji from Fujijou High School. I think she greeted me this morning, but I wasn't paying too much attention.

"No way! I'm really sorry, are you okay?" Hino panics, seems like she has dirtied Miyaji's dress with the grass she dropped from the buckets.

"Yes, I'm fine, but... You should be more careful," Miyaji glares at Hino, a little bit angry.

"I'm soooo sorry," Hino quickly apologizes again.

This is bad, Hino is in trouble. I have to help her now. Wait, but I'm supposed to not know about her coming to this camp. I think I need to pretend to be surprised seeing her.

"Hino?" I call her with this shocked expression on my face, and continue to make everything look normal. "What are you doing here?"

Hino is surprised to see me, and her panic is doubled now that she sees me walking towards her. I smile in my mind seeing her face. I have come out to be her savior, she doesn't need to be panicked, I have to assure her. What I need to do next is just praising her. Yes, tell her she looks beautiful or…

I study her appearance and realize that she looks messy and dirty.

"And looking like 'that'...," I say unconsciously, twitching my eyebrows, followed by a scream in my head right after I see Hino's sad expression.

What a nice way to praise a girl, Len!

I curse myself secretly for saying those rude words. My tongue slipped in a very wrong time! Perhaps that's the side effect of practicing Shakespeare's speech?

Sigh… Again, being a Tsukimori Len in this seven-teen years, is surely making everything hard when it comes to girls.

"Tsukimori-kun," Hino smiles wearily.

"Oh, Tsukimori-kun, do you know her?" Miyaji's sudden change from anger to delight is scaring me.

"Huh? Yes, we go to the same school," I answer with no care, trying to take one of the scattered buckets on the ground. I heard Miyaji talks non-stop with Hino about how amazing Seisou students are, about levels, and many things I don't really care about. My mind is too busy thinking about what I should do to enlighten Hino's mood again.

"Ah, Tsukimori-kun! You have a lesson, right? I'm fine, so you can leave me!" Hino takes the bucket from my grip.

"I don't mind," I say, and within her quick motion, I see that her fingers are full with bruises. "Hino, your fingers…"

"That's right, Tsukimori-kun, we shouldn't be late!" Miyaji cuts my word. Tsk!

I sigh again for the eight millionth times today. Alright, my first attempt to praise her is failed. And now I have a lesson, that means I have to leave Hino without being able to take care of her bruises. Why is it really difficult to get a girl's heart? I don't mean about Miyaji or any other girls, what really matters to me is Hino and only Hino.

Then with Hino's smile and Miyaji's enforcement, I finally walk towards the classroom again to follow the next lesson.

The night has come and finally I'm free from lessons. I have to practice my violin, but I also have to find Hino. That Tsuchiura and Kaji must have been really satisfied for having Hino while I was in class. I won't let them feel the contentment more than this. But actually, I was the one who feels the pleasure for once again saw their amazement towards my duet with Miyaji this afternoon. Well, they peeked again through the window to see my performance.

I walk to my room's window and send my eyes out of it to learn the situation. At night the garden seems really quiet. The participants mostly practice in their rooms or in the practice rooms. Perhaps inviting Hino to have a walk is a good idea. First, it's quiet. Second, I will have her alone for myself, without the disturbing flies around. You know, I'm referring to those two, Kaji and Tsuchiura.

However, my plan is destroyed again. I see Kaji is walking right under my bedroom's window with Hino. That's good to see that Tsuchiura isn't there, but... What does Kaji want from Hino again? He has disgraced Hino's right hand's purity, and now, what will he take again from her? Her leg's purity? Or even her... Her lips? Oh no, I'm freaked out with my own thoughts now... He's a total terror for Hino's sake! I have to do something before anything bad happens!

I run out of my room without thinking any longer, and when I'm finally near their position, I set my breathing. I have to be as calm as usual, no running, no panting. After I control myself and put my mask on, I steadily walk towards them.

"Hino," I call her.

"Oh, Tsukimori-kun!" Hino looks happy to see me. Is that a good sign?

"Your performances today were awesome! The one in the morning and the one in the afternoon, I love both!" Hino claps her hands, smiling energetically.

"Thank you," I nod to her once, and then slide my eyes to Kaji.

"Oh, Tsukimori-san, you're a wonderful performer!" Kaji sends his lady killer smile. Does he forget that I'm a guy? I don't need his smile. Should I show him the proof that I'm a guy?

"I'm Kaji Aoi, by the way."

Yes I know, you're one of the annoying flies around Hino.

"Tsukimori Len," I answer calmly.

"We're walking around to get fresh air. The night breeze feels wonderful, right, Hino-san? " Kaji's gaze is twinkling and I even can see the pink aura from his body. What a flirt!

Hino blushes and nods with her shy smile. "Yes, Kaji-kun…"

Wait, Hino, what's the blush supposed to mean?

This Kaji Aoi is really grievous, my alert is ringing now. I have to send him out of Hino's reach! I must think something. Plan, Len, plan!

Well, luckily again – guess today is really my lucky day – I spot something shameful for him.

"Kaji…," I walk nearer to him, and whisper to not make him ashamed in front of Hino. Well, I still have a good side.

"Your zipper... Better fix that quickly."

"What?"

Kaji's mouth gapes. He hurriedly covers his pants and with a bright red face, stutters to Hino.

"Hino-san, I'm sorry! I,.. I have to go now!"

Hino tilts her head to the side, dumbfounded. "Sure… Take care…"

And Kaji disappears in a flash before Hino could finish her talk.

"What's wrong with him?" Hino, the dense girl, is wholly blind at the situation, even though Kaji has made an obvious act – covering his pants – in front of her.

"So, Hino…," I start to speak again after I feel the annoying blonde has gone. Now I'm alone with her, and it's about time for me to say what I've practiced so hard in my room.

"Yes, Tsukimori-kun?" Hino smiles.

I touch my bangs to gather my courage and clear my throat. "Hino, you…"

Hino stares at me in silent.

"You look…"

"Yes...?" she pushes.

"You… look... be, be... be..."

"Be-be-be what, Tsukimori-kun?" Hino twitches her eyebrows.

"Please, let me finish," I quickly answer her, silently taking a deep breath and wipe my sweats.

"Oh sorry, go on again, Tsukimori-kun," Hino waves her hands in front of her face.

"Yes, you...," I shut my eyes, counting from one to three before saying the sentence in one breath.

"You look beautiful."

Silence.

I blink.

And I blink.

Then finally I recorded something really joyous for me.

I finally said it!

I sense my heart dances down to my stomach and up to my chest again. I'm really, really happy and don't realize the fact that she actually sneezed at the same time with my talk. She wipes her nose and with her innocent eyes, smiling at me.

"I'm sorry Tsukimori-kun, I didn't hear you."

"What!"

I stop my dance. I mean, my heart's dance.

"Please say it again!" she asks.

No way. She wants me to say it again? Again? After so much effort and I finally could say it, she didn't hear it and asks me to say it again?

I shake my head, depressed. I'm too stupid to follow that stupid tip. I should just be myself, my usual self, not following other people's advice!

"Tsukimori-kun?" Hino takes my hand and squeezes it, smiling in assuring.

"Are you worried about the cooking magazine? Don't worry. I won't tell anyone!"

And the moment when I feel like flying to the seventh heaven because of her hold, in that moment too I'm thrown to the ground.

"...No, Hino... It's not like that…," I shake my head again and suddenly feel really tired. My energy has gone away and my body goes limp... Hino's dense-being and my own lack of experience… are too much to handle.

"Not like that?" Hino raises her eyebrows.

"Yes—"

"Oiiiii…! Hino!"

A horrible voice cuts me. Tsuchiura. That stupid pianist. How many times does he want to annoy me?

"Tsuchiura-kun!" Hino, who was still holding my hand, raises her left hand in response to wave to that fool.

...But she raises it too hard. Her left hand's knuckle hits my lips and sends my head backwards. The sudden movement makes my feet slip, and my unbalanced body brings my head to crash the wall behind me... hard.

Therefore, upon the crashing scene, I can only see her shocking face and the foolish green-haired's running figure in a blur. When slowly the darkness starts to surround me, between the melodious screams of Hino, I can only think of one thing…

Hey, Kaji!

I got Hino's left hand's purity…

(To be continued)

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I got the magazine's title: Men Cancam from another manga I read lol… I don't know if it's a real magazine or not.

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