So here we are again with yet another chapter. It was one hell of googling and 'investigating' for the author for various reasons. Anyway, enjoy, and remember to finish your food or drink first before reading. Or better, wait until you finish reading before proceeding with your meal *lol*

Beta-reading was of course done by co-author! ;)

Disclaimer: We don't own La Corda d'Oro. And the song used in this chapter is called Tristesse, originally by Chopin. Has been sang by Paul Potts and José Carreras, among others =)

Tsuchiura Ryoutarou

Chapter 4: We aren't Related that Way!

Just now, Kana-yan claimed to have gotten an idea about how to wake Tsukimori up, who was still laying unconscious in my bed. A while ago, that shabby-looking teacher did the necessary check-ups on Tsukimori, like pulse and so, and assumed that the arrogant violinist didn't receive any brain concussion. So he explained that it was a matter of time until Tsukimori would wake up, followed by dragging Hino and Kaji out of my room.

But what if Tsukimori didn't wake up until dawn? It meant that he'd stay in my bed, in my room until God knows when! And what about me? Where should I sleep? Sharing the bed with that iceberg was a big no-no. I'd rather stay outside than spending the night with him! And then, Hino would suggest that I shared the room with Kaji. But again, I didn't want to spend the night in his room either. What to do? The idea of sharing the room with Hino came into my mind. But she wouldn't allow it, Kaji would want to stay too, and Kana-yan would whack me...

"Hey, Tsuchiura!" Kana-yan's voice came into my ears, and his waving hand right in front of my face snapped me back from reverie.

"Oh, Kana-yan, you were saying...?" I tried to act as composed as I could be, and inwardly so wanted to whack myself for dazing off.

He sighed, then took a packet of cigarette from his breast pocket.

"Don't you dare smoke in my room," I challenged him and narrowed my eyes before he could lit one.

He sighed in defeat and put the packet back.

"So, what did you want to tell me that the others didn't need to hear?" I asked.

He cleared his throat. "Oh yes. I have an effective medicine against unconsciousness and sleep. It has been known for ages as the remedy of all remedies. But if done wrong, it could send Tsukimori into deeper slumber. I'm sure you don't want it to happen," Kana-yan explained in a teacher-like way, pointing his index finger upwards and all, although that attitude didn't actually fit him.

"Can you just get to the point? I don't get you," I inquired desperately. I was getting impatient.

"Music," he simply said.

"What?"

"Or to be exact, a song," he continued with a smug victorious look.

I frowned. Music? Song? And what are we supposed to do?

"And your point is?" I finally asked while raising an eyebrow

"You should sing to Tsukimori," he stated matter-of-factly.

I unconsciously nodded once.

Sing...

… to Tsukimori...

"What?" I yelled, when it dawned to me a moment later. A bit late, actually.

He shrugged. "Just like you heard," he said nonchalantly and headed towards the door.

"Wait, Kana-yan. Why do I have to do that?" I don't want to sing for that iceberg!

"Because it's your room," he answered in such a manner, as if it was the most obvious thing to do.

"That's not what I mean, Kana-yan!" I exclaimed. "You know I don't get along with that... cold, tactless, arrogant jerk!" I added furiously while pointing to the laying form on my bed.

Unexpectedly, Kana-yan laughed almost hysterically upon hearing my accusation, making my blood boil. What was so funny about it?

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized when his laughter subsided, although tears could be seen in the corner of his eyes.

"Listen," he continued. "You know how music is known to be able to reach the deepest of consciousness, right? When someone is in vegetative state, the voice and touch of their beloved could bring that person back. Music works the same way."

"Kana-yan," I cut in with a desperate tone. "Tsukimori and I aren't related that way. In fact, we loathe each other!"

"It's the same thing. When you loathe someone, that person is engraved in your heart and mind, the same way you engrave those you love," he pointed out.

Tsukimori is engraved in my heart and mind? I shivered at the thought.

"Oh yeah, Tsuchiura. If you sing too smoothly, it will become a lullaby, and he'll sleep deeper," Kana-yan added with a laugh.

I winced and glanced at Tsukimori. Is Kana-yan crazy or what?

Kana-yan walked towards my door. He turned back to look at me just before turning the doorknob.

"Good luck, Tsuchiura," he chuckled.

"Wait!" I called out.

"What?"

"What should I sing?" I asked, clueless.

"Whatever you want," he answered with a shrug, then proceeded to open the door.

A second of silence.

"Kana-yan!" I called out again. I suddenly remembered something.

"What now? Let me go to sleep already," he groaned.

"I...," I started, and hesitated. I didn't like to reveal this one weakness of mine. But duh, the heck with it now. "I can't sing!" I stated desperately.

He first looked at me with an indescribable look, but then a wide grin formed about his face.

"That's even better," he simply said, then disappeared behind the door.

Silence prevailed upon my room, and the atmosphere became chilly all of the sudden. I realized I was shivering at the sudden change of air.

I shot a hateful gaze upon Tsukimori who hadn't moved a muscle in my bed.

Well, first thing first. I had to get him out of my room as soon as I could. Meaning, I had to find a song soon, any song. I considered about talking to Hino about it, but my male ego told me not to. She didn't have to know about this! And telling Kaji about it would be the same as killing myself.

I started pacing back and forth inside my room, searching for any possible song I could vocalize. A melody, chant, rhapsody... anything! But now that I needed it, my mind wouldn't cooperate. Lord, help me!

Unable to find a clue, I walked toward the window and opened it wide with the hope that the late evening breeze could help me in some way.

Leaning on the window frame while looking at the evening sky did help me calm down, though. I breathed deeply a couple of times, filling my lungs with cool breeze. And it did work. A moment later, an idea came into my mind.

I tried to recall the notes of a melody that popped into my mind. I knew I had a good pitch, but turning the notes into voice was something I lacked in.

While trying to arrange a song in my head, I closed the window, walked to the desk in a corner of the room and sat on the chair in front of it. Then I started drumming my fingers on the desk in sync with the melody in my mind, and finally let out a low hum of the tune.

É triste il mio cuor senza di te
Che sei lontana e piú non pensi a me
Dimme perché

Wow! I didn't think I could still remember the letters of the song. Moreover because it was Italian, a language I only knew through music... Soon it was engrossing for me, and I felt the sentiments Chopin tried to convey through the song...

Fai soffrir quest'anima che t'ama
E ti vuole vicin

I slid my body so I was crossing my arms on the desk and leaning the side of my head on them. And I continued singing the best I could...

Sei tu la vision che ogni sera
Sognar fa il cuor che nell'amore spera
Ma é un'illusion

"... Stop it...,"

Did I imagine it? I thought I heard a weak muffled voice behind me. But I was in the middle of concentrating on the lyrics of this beautiful song that held nice memories for me; the time I accompanied Hino during the concourse...

Piú da me non tornerai
Forse un'altro bacerai...

"... Why are you crying?"

No doubt, it was Tsukimori's voice, interrupting my efforts.

I lifted my head and turned to face the figure that was now sitting on my bed.

"Huh? So you're awake?" I asked, somehow glad that he was.

"Yes, thanks to your weeping...," he muttered.

Weeping? I wasn't weeping! I stared dumbfounded.

"What happened to me actually?" he asked while massaging his head.

I stood up and shrugged. "You fainted. Your head hit the wall. I carried you to my room," I explained without getting into details.

You were getting too close to Hino, and after you fainted, she insisted that you had to be carried here. Everybody came into the conclusion that I was stalking you, and Kana-yan told me to sing! I added mentally.

He suddenly frowned. "Did you... piggyback me?" he asked out of the blue.

I was taken aback by the suddenness of the question, and couldn't help but thinking that he might not have fainted at all and was just pretending all the time. But the surprise was soon washed by an idea of how to kick him out of my room now that I know he was awake.

I cleared my throat and pretended to be thinking.

"You know… I never knew that you have muscles," I commented, but felt a bulge building in my stomach that made me sick. But it was necessary to get him to his nerves, even if I sounded like a pervert...

He stared at me in disbelief. "... What? Unbelievable... I never knew you're such a pervert. Don't tell me you groped around my body while piggybacking me...," he protested with disgust.

See what I mean? Although I still wanted to smack him for saying all that... I would never do such a disgrace!

"Hey!" I shouted and raised a hand. Anger was starting to eat me. "Great, I was being accused as a stalker and now I'm a pervert? I don't have any interest in men, especially you!"

"Good to hear," he commented nonchalantly.

I frowned. What was that? Even if I want to have him out of my room as soon as possible, can't he be a little more human?

"You're really pestering," I finally said in annoyance and scratched my suddenly itchy head. "You don't even say your thanks!"

"You are the one who caused me to faint. I don't owe you anything," he retorted back.

What the... I merely called Hino. If the slightest touch of her hand caused you to fall, it was because you let your guards down! Stupid iceberg. Behind all that arrogance you're really half-baked! I cursed in my head and locked my hateful gaze with his.

"What do you mean, accusing me like that? Stubborn iceberg, can't say the simplest thing like thanks. You really have zero communication skills!" I howled furiously.

Now my own idea was getting me on my nerves, but I didn't care.

"My communication skills are none of your business," he practically barked at me. Even if he pretended to look and sound cool in front of me, the changing color of his face showed the other way around.

And what did I see? He soon after started to fix his creased shirt, stood up and walked briskly toward my door. I almost jumped of happiness and relief that he was finally leaving. Shoo, shoo!

He suddenly stopped right at the door, with his hand on the knob. He looked like thinking of something.

"What?" What else now? I prepared myself.

"You were crying, weren't you? Big guys shouldn't cry. You should just say so if you don't want me sleeping on your bed. Grow up!" he murmured cynically, then opened the door and left.

What? Crying? Grow up? My blood boiled. This was definitely too much. Yes, right, I didn't want him to sleep here, and I did everything it took to kick him out. But for him to say that...

"I was singing! Tsukimori, you jerk!" I yelled as loud as I could, grabbed a pillow from my bed and threw it against the door, even when there was nobody there.

I panted with my hands clutched on my sides. I really loathed that jerk. Never would I do him any favor again. Ever.

When you loathe someone, that person is engraved in your heart and mind, the same way you engrave those you love...

Kana-yan's previous words suddenly replayed in my head again and it made me angrier than I already was. I turned my head towards my bed and furiously pulled the sheets out of the mattress and comforter, followed by the pillows being undressed. I didn't want any rest of that walking iceberg to stick to anything I used or would be using...

Which means... I have to take a shower again...

I quickly changed the bedsheets with the spare ones I had in the closet, then headed to the bathroom and took a long shower to nullify any rest of Tsukimori and to relax my tensed muscles.

"Good morning, Tsuchiura-kun," Hino greeted me as she entered the kitchen the following morning, where I was sitting on a stool and sipping my caffeine dose for the day.

I smiled at her and muttered a 'morning', yet I couldn't help but admire her fresh-showered look. She looked totally sweet even in the shabby uniform, and I swore I could even smell her fresh and soft fragrance since the second she stepped in, which almost blew me away.

"Want a cup of coffee too?" I asked her to divert my attention. I didn't want to look rude being caught ogling her.

"Sure, thanks," she answered with a smile, then sat on the stool beside mine as I stood up.

I poured a cup of coffee from the machine, then gave her the mug and sat beside her, inhaling the sweet scent of her physique from the vicinity.

"Hmm... nothing better than an aromatic cup of coffee in the morning to keep you awake," she expressed happily after a sip.

I smiled as I watched her happy expression. I was suddenly thankful that I was her friend, since I could be engaged in an everyday conversation with her like this.

"By the way, Tsuchiura-kun," she started and looked at me in worry. "Was everything alright last night? I thought I heard you shout, but I didn't want to disturb you..."

I was taken aback by her remark. Was I shouting that loudly?

"Well, Tsukimori woke up, and you know how cranky we get when we face each other," I tried to sound as indifferent as possible and shrugged.

Unlike my expectations, Hino started to giggle after hearing my answer.

"You know, Tsuchiura-kun? Actually, I think you and Tsukimori-kun could become good friends if only you could understand each other more," she said with a grin.

"Good... friends...?" I echoed with a frown. Tell me you're joking, Hino...

"Yes. Even when Tsukimori-kun and you are the exact opposite. But don't they say opposite poles attract each other?" she added with a smile.

"Eh?" I was left dumbstruck. This was sure one bad joke Hino invented first thing in the morning!

I grimaced. Even if the whole theory was said with that sweet voice of hers, the way everything sounded made me suddenly feel sick. Tsukimori and I attract each other? Please!

"Hino? You know exactly Tsukimori and I aren't related that way!" I howled in desperation. And curiously, a slight sense of déjà vu washed over me. Why do I have the feeling I heard this somewhere not long ago? I thought.

Hino laughed again. "Sorry Tsuchiura-kun. I know it's not like that. Just my two cents."

I breathed deeply. "Don't scare me like that, Hino..."

She grinned, and then we sat in silence finishing our drinks.

"Say," she broke the ice. "Where is Kaji-kun? Isn't he awake yet?"

I shrugged, and realized it was almost high time that we started working.

"I haven't seen him since the incident last night," I answered plainly.

With that, we decided to check his whereabouts. We went to his room and knocked, but obtained no answer, apart from a weak beeping sound. Finally we tried to open the door. It was surprisingly unlocked, so we peeked inside. And as the door opened wider, I heard the increasing sound of an annoying alarm.

Surprisingly, Kaji was still deep in slumber under the comforter, snoring lightly even, laying on his stomach. Hino walked to the side-table and turned the alarm off, that seemed to have rung for at least a couple of minutes.

I massaged my temples that suddenly hurt. Why did I get the feeling that this blonde sleepy-head resembled Shimizu? Now I really saw every single male concourse participants in Kaji! Was I going crazy?

"Anything wrong, Tsuchiura-kun?" Hino asked.

"Huh? No, nothing. I just can't understand how someone can continue sleeping despite the annoying alarm," I mumbled and sighed.

Hino giggled, then raised her hand and started shaking Kaji's body gently to wake him up.

"Kaji-kun, wake up!" she said.

The only reaction she got was a shift, and he was now sleeping in a fetal position.

"Kaji-kun!" she repeated louder, and patted Kaji's shoulder.

"Gnhhh...," he murmured.

I was surely not expecting what came afterwards. Kaji swung his arm and grabbed Hino's small body into his embrace! She wasn't prepared, and out of surprise fell face-on on his chest! I gaped, and in a split second panicked at the situation before me.

As I heard Hino starting to muffle something incomprehensible against Kaji's chest, I grabbed her waist and tried to pull her away. But to my surprise, Kaji was gripping her tightly and won't let her go. Meanwhile, she was struggling to break free.

My blood boiled seeing Kaji taking advantage of the situation. I started to doubt that he was really sleeping. In the end I raised a hand to give him a flick on his forehead out of impatience and jealousy.

"Ouch!" Kaji screamed, shot his eyes wide open, touched his forehead, and thus let go of Hino, whom I immediately pulled away from the blonde.

"Whoa, that was surprising," Hino panted with a flushed face.

I narrowed my eyes at Kaji and gave him a gaze that could kill. "So you weren't sleeping after all, huh?" I hissed.

He sat on the bed and still caressed his forehead. "I was sleeping until just now!" he frowned.

"Anyway," I stated. "Get ready. Work's waiting."

And with that, I dragged Hino out of Kaji's room.

So, I was done with most of my work today. What was left for me to do was cutting the hedge along the fence of the building. This was a bit difficult, as the hedgerow was quite high and I had to drag a ladder all over. And also, there were trees and bushes growing not far from it, which made the job more complicated, that I sometimes had to sneak between the plants and half-juggle with a garden scissor in my hand. This job served me as a mental note not to grow a hedge when I have my own house later.

That's right. No hedge in future home. Check.

But...

What if my future wife liked that kind of fence? Hmm, I knew this was ridiculous, but somehow as I thought about future wife, the image of Hino popped into my mind. What am I thinking? That's a bit too far, Ryoutarou! She isn't even your girlfriend... yet, I mused.

As I was busy sneaking behind a tree and thinking about Hino and fences at the same time, the corner of my eye caught a shade of blue where it didn't belong. I turned my head and the revelation of Tsukimori standing in the garden, on the lawn I just swept, made my imagination vanish into thin air, replaced by growing irritation...

Wait, what's he doing?

Tsukimori crouched, with a hand stretched out over some wild flowers.

You aren't really thinking of picking those innocent flowers with that ice-cold hand of yours, are you?

I was about to jump from behind the tree and stop him from hurting the plant when I heard a female voice call from a distance. I turned my head and saw Minami-san, the elderly lady in charge of the household. I instinctively turned my body and continued cutting when I saw her walking closer with a bouquet of pink flowers in her arms, although I was curious what she was about to do with Tsukimori.

"Young man, you can't pick those innocent flowers," she said.

Serves you right! I almost laughed and so wanted to see Tsukimori's surely awkward expression.

"Here, if you want some, take this," she added.

Eh?

"Ah, well... sorry...," I heard Tsukimori mutter, almost inaudible from my vantage point.

"Sorry is not the right word! Say thanks!" Minami-san said a bit too loudly and laughed.

Yes, Tsukimori. You really have to learn gratitude! Minami-san, scold him all you want! I mused hysterically.

"These are Azaleas. Very pretty, aren't they?" she added a moment later.

"Yes, very... Thank you," Tsukimori answered.

Well, you learned your lesson, you walking iceberg, I pondered amused, while plucking a twig that stuck out from the hedge.

"My, my... Flowers really suit you! What a handsome face you have there," Minami-san exclaimed, making me shiver, grimace, turn my head toward their direction and want to puke at the same time.

Handsome... huh..., yeah, sure...

"Oh well, no time to chit-chat again. I must put these flowers into a vase. Well then, excuse me," she said, then bowed and left.

I saw Tsukimori, strangely holding some flowers in his hand now, bowed slightly, then stood upright and followed the elderly woman with his eyes until she disappeared inside the building. Then he looked at the flowers in his hand again with a frown. A moment later, he shook his head.

What are you really doing there, Tsukimori? I pondered.

And then, he started to walk. But instead of entering the building or anywhere that made sense, he walked toward the bushes near the fence, and actually much nearer to where I was than before. And that really aroused my curiosity.

I started to analyze mentally. Tsukimori was standing far from the building, with flowers in his hand, like hiding or something...

Wait a minute, you couldn't be thinking of giving them to Hino, right? I panicked. Given the situation last night, that possibility was quite high.

Suddenly, he shook his head and spun his body, then started walking to the other side, toward the building, while hiding his hands behind his body. And I wondered what happened.

"You slapped him?"

The sudden female's shriek caught my attention. Who slapped who?

I turned my head, and saw two female participants standing at the entrance. One with enraged face, while the other looked curious. Afterwards, I couldn't quite understand what they talked about. They stood too far from me. So, pretending I was still cutting the hedge, I sneaked behind the next tree. Now I barely heard the words idiot, Azalea, meaning, hate. So judging from their expressions, I tried to reconstruct their conversation, and came into the conclusion that the one girl received an Azalea and slapped whoever the idiot she talked about because it supposedly meant hate.

Whoever the guy was, was surely an idiot, I mused while rolling my eyes.

But...

… wasn't it Azalea too, the one Tsukimori was holding?

I glanced at Tsukimori and his laughable awestruck expression. Okay, so he didn't know the meaning either, until just now. Perfect, so I didn't need to worry about him giving the flowers to Hino...

"You have a problem, Tsuchiura?" he suddenly called out.

I jerked. Did he just talk to me? I was merely doing my job here. Oh no, now he'll think I was stalking him again...

I put the scissor on the ground and walked out. "So you know-"

"Of course, you really should measure your own body...," he intercepted mockingly.

I stopped dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"

He spun his body to face me and narrowed his eyes. "So what do you want..."

Tsk. So he must have thought I was following him or something...

I scratched my head in annoyance. "Uh, well... First, I'm not a stalker. I just happened to pass by," I reasoned, really not wanting to have a nonsensical dispute.

"Fine, you're not a stalker. But you're a pervert who loves to grope and peek me," he replied.

My blood boiled. This was the second time he called me pervert. This was going way beyond my patience. But I still didn't want to cause a commotion in midday.

"Hey, why? But-"

"Tsukimori-kun! Tsuchiura-kun!"

Hino's voice came like an oasis in the middle of a desert. Refreshing and cooled my head that was getting steamy from this iceberg's accusations. I turned my head toward her with relief, but it was sadly disturbed by Kaji's presence, tailing behind her with an annoying grin.

"I see, so Tsuchiura-san and Tsukimori-san are close friends," Kaji added.

"Who? We?" I exclaimed. Stupid Kaji. Now Hino would say her theory from today morning was true!

"What are you doing, Hino?" I heard Tsukimori's curious tone.

Hino shrugged. "Just walking around," she answered with a smile.

Instead of working? And with Kaji? Bad idea..., I added mentally.

"Oh, Tsukimori-kun, you got beautiful flowers! Are these from your fans?" she added excitedly.

"No, uh...,", he stuttered.

I almost burst into laughter at his expression, but decided to wait for what kind of comical situation might come next.

"No? Oh then, are you planing to give it to someone?" she asked again.

Yes, this is getting good, I thought.

"Tsukimori-kun? What's wrong?" she waved her hand in front of his dumbfounded face.

Odd silence. I waited for Tsukimori to give a significant reaction.

"Tsukimori-kun, I like flowers. Can I have those, if you're not giving them to anybody?" she continued persistently.

Give it to her! And when she finds out you hate her..., I smirked.

"I, uh...," he stuttered again.

I really wanted to laugh my head off by now.

"I want to give them to Tsuchiura," he added.

Eh? Me?

I speechlessly accepted the pink flowers he pressed into my hand out of the blue. I could only blink... and think... What was this about?

Azalea... hate...

I saw it now. So he wanted to play safe and preferred to publicly show his hatred toward me. Fine, if that's what you want, Mr. Walking Iceberg...

"Thank you! I wanted to take it from you anyway," I smirked as I played along.

"Oh I see, that's why you two seem very close!" Kaji suddenly butt in with a wide grin, clasping his hands dramatically.

"Huh?" I frowned, and realized Tsukimori did the same.

"You know, Azalea means first love!" Kaji explained, still dramatically.

I felt my heart stop beating for a moment. First... love... That was not true...

"Oh wow, so that's why Tsuchiura-kun seemed eager to receive he flowers from you, Tsukimori-kun! You both like each other, then?" Hino grimaced.

I turned my head from Tsukimori to Hino and back with my jaw almost on the ground. "Who? We?" I managed to ask.

"Ah, it doesn't matter if Tsuchiura-kun's first love is Sakimoto Mizue-san. The important thing is your passion! You have showed your glowing expression when Tsukimori-kun gave you those! You even said that you wanted to receive them real bad!" Hino continued, this time even clapping her hands eagerly.

My head spun upon hearing her long absurd explanation. First, Sakimoto was never my first love, because Hino herself was the one, and second, I received them because I loathed this jerk!

"Wait... Does Azalea really mean...," Tsukimori mumbled almost absent-mindedly.

"So you misunderstood? Azalea actually means first love?"

That same female voice was heard again. Tsk, why couldn't they just keep the excitement to themselves, instead of going in-and-out only to talk about flowers?

"Yes, I apologized to him just now. Azalea means first love, romance and fragile passion. He actually loves me very much!" the second girl answered dreamily, gaining a squeal from her friend. And after that, they simply entered the building again. Just like that.

"Hmm, hmm, so sweet...!" Hino nodded, seeming to have heard the conversation very clearly, and now probably thinking she was totally right with the theory of the opposite poles.

"Didn't I tell you today morning, Tsuchiura-kun? The natural attraction of the opposite poles is totally true! Although I never thought it worked beyond friendship in your case. But don't worry, we'll keep quiet about your relationship...," she squealed and ended her small speech with a knowing wink.

"What? Now I'm a gay?" I shrieked. God help me... This way Hino will be slipping further away from me...

"Ah wait, Tsuchiura. I think I noticed something," suddenly Kaji spoke up.

Without saying any further nor waiting for me to react, he approached me and took the flowers from my grip. And he observed the flowers, like thinking. Not long after, a large smile was seen in his face. Truthfully, creeping me out...

"I think we were mistaken. These aren't Azaleas," he said.

I blinked, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Tsukimori was speechless and totally dumbfounded.

"These are Rhododendrons. People commonly mistake them because they are from the same family," he explained.

I raised an eyebrow. Thank you for your knowledge, but get me out of this situation! I screamed in my mind.

"And do they have a meaning too?" Hino inquired.

"Naturally," Kaji smiled. "The meaning is actually quite the opposite. If I'm not mistaken, it's 'beware, I'm dangerous' or something along those lines."

I jaw-dropped, followed by Tsukimori doing the same, and a fresh laughter from Hino afterwards.

"Wow, so Tsukimori-kun is telling Tsuchiura-kun to be careful of him? Sounds like a threat!" Hino said innocently between laughter.

I didn't know if I should be happy, confused or angry at the new revelation. But at least, I didn't have to prove myself of being straight! In the end, I only sighed.

It was an exaggerated throat-clearing that stopped all motions around me. We instinctively turned our heads, and saw Kana-yan, hands rested on his hips, drumming a foot, a cigarette in his mouth, and frowning.

"What are you guys doing here instead of working and practicing?" he roared.

"Sorry, Kanazawa-sensei. We had a little situation in here," Kaji explained.

Kana-yan walked towards us with an annoyed look. "Why do I have the feeling you guys get into situations all the time when you're together?" he asked.

I should be the one asking, Kana-yan. Nothing good comes from Kaji and Tsukimori, I groaned inwardly.

He stopped, then looked at each of us, one-by-one, with narrowed eyes.

"What happened now, Hino?" he inquired.

Hino, surprised and unprepared, stuttered. "Eh, Tsukimori-kun... gave flowers... to Tsuchiura-kun... um..."

Kana-yan registered a curious look, then gazed at the flowers that were now in Kaji's hand.

Silence.

"Oh, was it a gesture of gratitude from Tsukimori? After all, it was all thanks to Tsuchiura that you're standing there now. The love-hate tune worked then," Kana-yan chuckled.

I grimaced. What are you talking about, Kana-yan?

"So Tsukimori... tell me, was it love or hatred toward Tsuchiura that made you wake up last night?" Kana-yan inquired with dancing eyebrows.

Tsukimori looked totally shocked that I felt a sudden pity towards the violinist. But hey, why should I care? He was the one who started this situation to begin with!

"Kaji-kun, did you say the rhododendrons meant 'beware, I'm dangerous'?" Hino suddenly asked, gaining a smile and a nod from the blonde.

"I believe, Kanazawa-sensei, it was the love part. So with the flowers, he meant to say 'be careful of me, Tsuchiura. You've woken up the love in me' or something," she continued with a very amusing imitation of Tsukimori's voice and body language.

By then, I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. Hino and her ridiculously hilarious little imagination! I laughed my head off, and so did Kana-yan and Kaji. Even Hino laughed over her own little theater as well.

"I must tell you... we are not related that way," suddenly Tsukimori mustered to say with a low voice while giving us his infamous glare, then stormed out of the group, but not before I noticed the slight flush coloring his cheeks.

(to be continued)

A/N: Whoa, that was a long chapter wasn't it? So, what do you think? Do review, and make us happy =)