𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 || Kazu x Scara

Chapter XII

[Heyyy, the editor/uploader here (@wtfxiao) !! Apologies for the long wait. There's more chapters to come, you'll just have to wait till some time next week. It has also come to my attention that the pictures and links I add haven't actually been working or showing up after a certain chapter, which is a bit disappointing since its supposed to add some sort of element to these chapters. I'll try to fix that soon enough. Hope you're enjoying the story made by my little cutie patootie(@143kazu). We see all your comments/votes and appreciate that you guys like it! Now prepare for the absolutely diabolical angst!!>:3]

~*~

It was finally the day of the competition. With his newfound hope, Kazuha is ready to give it his all in the competition. If there was even the slightest chance he could convince his parents to let him see Tomo again, then he would try his hardest.

He is currently standing behind the red curtains of the stage. The stage lights are dimmed, making it difficult for the audience to see what's happening on the stage. Kazuha and a few other competitors are peeking from behind the curtains to look into the audience. Kazuha looked around for Tomo and his mother. He checked row by row, seat by seat but to no avail. They were nowhere to be seen. A bit of his hope had diminished and he started having negative thoughts. 'What if they don't want to see me anymore? What if I'm causing them pain and suffering? What if my parents paid them off to stay away from me? Why aren't they here? Tomo... he promised. You said you would always support me...so why aren't you here, Tomo?'

Kazuha felt an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of his stomach. He looked over to the other competitors who were happily pointing at their loved ones that came to support them. Kazuha walked away feeling a bit discouraged.

The stage lights became brighter and one by one, competitors walked up on stage and tried to impress the judges. Kazuha's turn was next. He hoped that when he walked onto that stage and he looked into the audience, that Tomo and his mother were sitting in the audience. He hoped that when he checked earlier they were just running late.

Finally, it was Kazuha's turn. He walked up on stage and before looking at the judges or looking for his parents, Kazuha looked for his best friend. Tomo wasn't there. Kazuha wondered if this new hope he had found was meaningless. If Tomo hated him now and never wanted to see him, then what would be the point in clutching onto false hope?

Kazuha sat at the stool in front of the grand piano. It's not the same model that he used to practice in the office room. It's a different piano. A piano that he's never played on before. The piano was innocent. However, in Kazuha's eyes, all he could see was his white piano that resided in the dark office room. He wanted to smash it to pieces but he held back.

His hands hovered above the keys and he swallowed hard. His index finger pressed down on a key and Kazuha began to play the piece he was working on. The piece that caused him pain. The very piece that his parents had disapproved of at first. The piece that required no distractions. The piece that separated him from Tomo.

When Kazuha finished, he felt a tear roll down his cheek. All he could hear was white noise, his ears ringing. He didn't look over to check the audience's reactions. If they were clapping or cheering, it didn't matter to him. He quickly wiped the tear away and he stood up from the stool. He bowed at the judges and the audience before walking backstage.

Kazuha walked past the other competitors who were chatting with one another. He stood in a corner all by his lonesome. Finally, the white noise was gone. He could hear the audience clapping. Kazuha regrets not checking the judge's reactions. Perhaps if he did, he would've had a rough idea on what place he would end up getting.