Salut D'Amour

Measure 2: What Makes You Happy

KAHOKO'S POV

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flashback

"Do not play your violin." Nami whispers and I am startled by her words.

"Eh? What do you mean Nami-san?" I ask curiously but she just winks at me. Suddenly, Tsuchiura hits her head.

"Don't try scaring Hino. She easily gets scared, Nami." Tsuchuira teases and I fight him back.

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"I wonder what Nami-san meant by that..." I mutter as I stare at the sunset.

"Hino?"

"Eh?" I look back and see that Tsukimori-kun has just opened the door. I am startled by his sudden appearance.

"Ah...Tsukimori-kun...What brings you here?" I ask absentmindedly and he raises his brow.

"I thought this being a practice room was obvious enough, Hino." He replies coldly and I panic.

"Gomen nasai Tsukimori-kun." Quickly I do a bow. Then he gives a heavy sigh. Like the ones he always gives whenever I do something he doesn't approve of.

"Really, what ever goes into that head of yours will always puzzle me." He scratches his head and I look at him. Was that...a compliment? Suddenly, he notices me staring at him and his face reverts into his stern look.

"If you're done practicing, would you please allow me to use this practice room?" It isn't a request, rather a command. Normally I would feel unnerved but this time since I was spacing out and wasn't really in the mood for a practice, I do another bow.

"Gomen nasai Tsukimori-kun." I finish packing up my things and begin to run outside when Tsukimori gives a grunt.

"Hino..." He says and I stop.

"Yes, Tsukimori-kun?" I ask. Oddly enough, I feel my heart beating fast. Silence... Okay.... So I was hoping that he'd say something but he doesn't. So I do it for him.

"Er...See you on the trip next week?" I try to give a smile but he just sighs. Silence - again. Okay, I know you're not the talkative type but that doesn't mean you can just start a conversation and not end it. Annoyed as I was, I try to keep my cool.

"Hino..." Finally, he speaks and I brace myself for his reply. Instead, he grunts as he opens his violin case. "If you have nothing else to say, please close the door on your way out."

What?! The nerve of this guy....

I walk out and slam the door. Tch...And to think he was the one who barged in. I storm my way through the hall and mumble stuff against Tsukimori-kun's arrogance when I hear the sound of....a trumpet.

Hihara-senpai?

I walk by the garden and see that Hihara is playing his trumpet infront of Lili's statues. I close my eyes and lose myself in the music. He's playing Gavotte, the same music he and I played together - in the exact same spot.

"Kaho-chan!"

I open my eyes and see that he's waving at me. I smile as he walks towards me with his familiar radiatin smile.

"You're going home now, Kaho-chan?" He asks timidly and I nod.

"Hai. That was lovely, Hihara-senpai. Brings back a good memory." I compliment him and he pulls away suddenly.

"Yeah...a good...memory." He says softly and I lean my head to the side.

"Are you alright, Hihara-senpai? Why are you red? Are you sick?" I place my hand on his forehead but he suddenly pulls farther and waves his hand frustratingly.

"Nooooo ~ nooooo~ I'm alright! I...I have to go now. Gomen nasai Kaho-chan. I-I need to go now. Ja ne!" He gives a sharp bow and quickly runs away.

"Eh? I wonder if he's alright?" But thinking about Hihara-senpai, I know that he'll be alright. I smile at that as I begin to walk home. Soon, my thoughts turn back to the trip to Gendou Island.

"Do not play your violin.'

"Kaho-senpai?"

From behind me, I see Shimizu's smile and I realize that I've found myself infront of Minami's Music Shop. Shimizu is holding his cello and has just exited the shop.

"Eh? Shimizu-kun?" I look up and smile. Shimizu smiles as well.

"I'm so glad to meet Kaho-senpai out here." He gives a low bow and I am flustered.

"Eh, no need to bow Shimizu-kun...No need to be so -" I begin suddenly Tsuchiura-kun pops out of the shop as well. He looks at me, surprised.

"Hino?" He is startled and so am I.

"Tsuchiura-kun too?" I smile at him and he return it. Suddenly, the door opens once more and Fuyuumi steps out.

"Kaho-senpai?!" She flusters and so do I.

Why is everyone almost inside the shop?! EEEEh?!!

*****

"And so I ask Shimizu-kun to accompany me to buy some sheet music at the store. Tsuchiura-senpai just happened to be there as well." Fuyuumi explained as we leave the ice cream parlor.

"Oh so that's why." I sigh in relief as we reach the highway.

"Fuyuumi and I will be going here." Shimizu-kun points to the right lane.  "Goodbye Kaho-senpai, Tsuchiura-senpai. See you tomorrow." He gives a bow and so does Fuyuumi and they leave.

"Keep safe Shimizu-kun and Fuyuumi-chan!" I call out. Soon, the nearest lamp post lights up and Tsuchiura-kun sighs.

"It's already late. We'd better get going, Hino." He walks ahead and I follow him. As the night turns darker, I begin to remember what Nami-san said.

"Do not play your violin."

"Hino? Are you okay? Is something bothering you?" Tsuchiura-kun's face is about a few inches away from me and I blush.

"Eh?! Nothing!!!! Nothing at all!" I look away and don't want to him to see my red face. I speed up but he catches with me anyway.

"Hino, you can tell me, anything at all." He assures and I keep silent. Somehow, I can't bring myself to tell him about that.

"Was it something that Nami said?' He asks and I jolt up. He laughs heartily and I look at him accusingly.

"How'd you-?!" I inquire but he shakes his head with a smile.

"You're so easy to read sometimes...But you've been spacing out eversince Nami talked with you." He explains and I sigh. We continue to walk and soon, we arrive at the crossroads.

"My place is here. Goodbye Tsuchiura-kun." I try to smile but Tsuchiura-kun gives a sigh. Suddenly, he ruffles my hair and smiles.

"Whatever she said, please don't ever forget Hino," He looks straight into my eyes, "Do whatever will make you happy. Because if you're happy, then I'm happy." My heart beats so fast.

"Tsuchiura-kun..." I ask but he smiles and waves as his figure disappears at the curb. I touch my hair and smile.

Whatever makes me happy?

I look at my violin case and hug it tight.

Of course...playing the violin always makes me happy. And so, I will always play the violin. No matter what.