Main Character: Shoko Fuyumii

Age: 16

Birthday: November 3

Horoscope: Scorpio

Height: 158cm (5 feet, 2 inches)

Blood Type: A

Family: Father and Mother

School: Seiso Academy

Grade: First Year, Music Department, Class B (1-B)

Instrument: Clarinet

Personality: She's quite shy and quiet. With that shyness, she also doesn't exactly like the spotlight (in other words, the center of attention), so she gets really nervous when that happens. She also get intimiated easily as well.

• Special skills: Music dictation (she listens well)

• Food she likes: Seafood and rice casserole, gratin, Pie

• Bad with: Guys and Conversation Skills

The only other female competitor from the school, Shouko plays the clarinet and also knows how to play a little piano, Shouko is a first year at Seisou, a small, slim and extremely shy girl. She is very hesitant and easily intimidated. She comes from a very wealthy family. She looks up to Kahoko as a role model and wants to be like her. She and Kahoko are good friends; Shouko even calls her "Kaho-senpai".

Shoko's Crush: Len Tsukimori

Age: 17

Birthday: April 24

Horoscope: Taurus

Height: 178cm (5 feet, 10 inches)

Blood Type: A

Family: Mother, Father

School: Seiso Academy

Grade: Second Year, Music Department, Class A (2-A)

Instrument: Violin

Looks: Blue Hair, Golden Eyes

• Background: Almost everybody in his family is involved with music.

• Skills: His best subject is English. Athough apparently he's not bad in German either. Can play Piano.

Favorite Food: Chocolate Cake

• Bad With: People, Conversations

Personality: Len is a stern, serious, quiet and rather cold violinist who normally behaves cold, quiet, uncaring toward and around everyone.

He was a child prodigy, coming from a family of renowned musicians. His mother, Misa Hamai, is a very famous pianist and his father is a well-known violinist. Len feels overshadowed by his parents and strives for perfection in his music. He holds a high standard and demands the best from himself and from others. Because of this, many people take his brilliance for granted. He seems very cold towards those that he comes into contact with, even his admirers, to whom he rarely pays any attention.

Before he met Kahoko he didn't believe music was enjoyable, though after spending time with her, Len slowly began to enjoy music and his music changes because of her. He slowly warms up to Hino and even gives her advice on how to hold and stand properly with the violin. People think that he acts harshly towards Hino, but deep down in his heart he is really concerned about her (though he may not show it). He can also play the piano as well, which may be due to the influence of his famous pianist mother, Misa Hamai.

Shoko's Friend: Kahoko Hino

Age: 17

Birthday: February 27

Horoscope: Pisces

Height: 162cm (5 feet, 3 inches)

Blood Type: AB

Family: Mother, Older Sister, Older Brother

School: Seiso Academy

Grade: Second Year, Regular Department, Class 2 (2-2)

Instrument: Violin

Looks: Past the Shoulder Length Red Hair, Green Eyes(?)

Skills: Violin, Math, Writing, Making Friends.

Favorite Food: Cake, Icecream, Rice Balls.

Bad With: Most Guys, Spotlight attention, Observation

Personality: She's a kind and considerate person, who isn't afraid to put others' feelings before her own.

She's a second year in the Regular Department at Seisho Academy. She had never played an instrument. She is one of the few people chosen to participate. Since then her whole world's been turned upside down. She now is a participant in the concours, which at first, she was really hesitant to participate. Because she's a 'normal' student, many people in the music department weren't too fond of her participating at first. It was only after the 2nd Selection that everyone was beginning to notice her talent, despite placing last in the 1st Selection.

Shoko Fuyuumi might be shy and plain and quiet, but she was by no means an idiot. She certainly knew danger when she saw it, and Len Tsukimori had bad news stamped all over him.

Naturally, being aware of this, she applied the Rule of Three (and sometimes more, depending on the slight changes of his brow which told when he was mildly irritated - his default setting - and when he was ready to grab the nearest person and beat their head against a tree), which meant staying at least three feet away at all times.

She followed the rule religiously, and often shrank into herself and hid behind Kaho-chan when she felt particularly threatened by the tall, imposing young man. Even as she felt herself blossoming little by little, creeping out of her shell, finding the courage to square her shoulders and try new things, Len Tuskimori always managed to reduce her to the shivering, stuttering, cowering little girl she was at her worst. More than anything or anyone else she had ever encountered, he made her want to run fast and far in the complete opposite direction.

Most likely because he also drew her like nothing else.

How many times had she stood in the practice room during the concourse, her hands poised to play her clarinet, her mind just finding the right melody . . . when suddenly, she'd falter, as the thought of him raced into her head, causing her music and heartbeat to become hopelessly jumbled and discordant. How many times did she play the same notes over and over until she finally cradled her clarinet against her as she sat against the wall, leaning her head back in flustered misery. How the mere idea of him rendered her completely useless, even more so than she already was! It was infuriating and terrifying and left her feeling completely hopeless.

More than anything, it left her feeling out of place. Different. Not like shy, plain, quiet Shoko Fuyuumi. Like a stranger to herself. And she could not abide that. She couldn't. She had come to terms with herself, accepted that she was the way she was, and for the most part, no matter how tempting the lure of Kaho-chan and what she represented, Shoko would always be this way. This way was what she knew best. This way, she was safe. She knew where she stood and what she was. Even against all the awkwardness and painful stumbling through everyday things, her identity was something she had confidence in, a reassuring constant.

And then she'd catch a flash of blue hair or a faint grimace or the smooth dance of his fingers and the bow across his violin, and her heart would simultaneously jump into her throat and drop to her feet, and suddenly it was as though the self she had come to know, come to terms with, had completely vacated her, leaving her a confused mass of contradicting wants and fears, completely out of her element.

Len Tsukimori made grey, colorless Shoko become any number of hues that she would rather jump in front of a moving vehicle than identify. She didn't want to know, didn't want to feel. She just wanted to be her shy, plain, and quiet self, the blush in her cheeks and the stutter in her voice induced by any common social interaction or mishap - not by the thought or sight or sound of that terrible, frightening, incomprehensibe boy. The one she wanted to slowly pick apart until she discovered and understood every inch of him.

And therein lay the problem. Shoko Fuyuumi kept things simple. She didn't go looking for trouble, she kept social interaction to a minimum, and withdrew into herself as much as she could without going crazy. She certainly did not have an irrational and almost irresistible desire to go chasing after complex, tightly locked away disasters like Len Tsukimori. At least, she shouldn't, and the fact that she did, more than she could ever explain, made her unusually furious at him for scattering her life like he had.

It made her wish that he'd suffer as she had. That he'd become a complete wreck inside. That the moment he retrieved his calm, cool exterior, someone would come along and knock it away again, leaving him confused and angry and full of feelings and impulses that people like him should never feel.

Except he was. He absolutely was. Kahoko Hino had turned Len Tsukimori into as much of a hopeless mess as he had Shoko.

Strangely enough, the knowledge that he, too, was suffering, did not make her nearly as happy as it should have.

Shy, plain, quiet Shoko Fuyuumi did not dare contemplate why.

-Wednesday-

Tap, tap, tap.

The heels of Shoko's shoes clicked a steady rhythm against the sidewalk, and she breathed in the fresh air with appreciation. She did not walk often - was often afraid to, even - but today was beautiful and quiet and she felt peaceful for the first time in a while.

So she walked, and listened to the birds and the whisper of grass and the creak of quietly swaying trees. She watched the clouds drift loftily overhead, taking in the vast blue sky with pleasure. She allowed the day's lovely simplicity to draw her into it's calm spell, putting to sleep her always-racing nerves for a change. She loved days like these. The fact that they were few and far between perhaps made them all the more precious. She never failed to enjoy them, and was always sad to see them go.

Abruptly, the spell released her, and she realized someone was calling her

"Shoko-chan! Hello!" Shoko felt her face heat as Kahoko slowed from her half-run, breathing a little harder than she would have if Shoko hadn't been stupidly lost in a dream world.

"Ah, Kaho-senpai, I'm sorry . . . um, I wasn't paying attention, I didn't mean to make you run," Shoko bowed in apology, and wondered at her ability to cause trouble even as she tried to fade into the background. That was irony for you.

"No, no, it's okay - I do that all the time, too," Kahoko waved her hand dismissively and smiled, tucking a piece of red hair behind her ear. "It's been a while since we talked . . . I miss everyone from the concourse a lot sometimes. How have you been?"

Miserable. She had the strangest urge to tell the older girl all about her bizarre, painful emotions as of late, to ask her advice on what to do about it. Shoko certainly didn't know; Shoko didn't know anything but fading into the background and living through her clarinet.

She didn't dare, however. She could never burden Kaho-senpai with her silly problems. The confident, compassionate redhead would probably gladly listen, but Shoko didn't feel comfortable enough to confide all of the craziness going on within. Not to mention how Kahoko might react to it . . . What if . . .

"I'm really well. Thank you, Kaho-senpai . . . I'm glad to talk to you again," she said instead, which was the truth. Just being near Kahoko made her - and probably everyone else - feel more at peace and content. Nonetheless, the usual red tint crept into her cheeks, and she couldn't find the will to look anywhere but her feet as she said it. In her head it had sounded acceptable, but out loud, she was sure it made her sound like she'd been starving for human companionship.

Shoko almost sighed aloud. She'd never had a way with words. For that matter, except for her clarinet, she'd never had a way with anything. But Kaho-senpai just smiled in that genuinely happy way that made one feel not quite so worthless, and the tide of embarrassment slowly receded.

"Me too. It's been a little lonely since it ended . . . Ah, I do have my Gen Ed friends, and I love them, but I felt like everyone in the concourse was really starting to connect. Or maybe it was just me being sentimental," she laughed, but the glow in her eyes held. "Music is amazing like that . . . it can bring people who are so different onto the same wavelength . . . except, maybe, for Tsuchiura-kun and Tsukimori-kun," she finished, her brow wrinkling a little as she recalled their inability to get along well.

Shoko, however, shivered, and not from the breeze. 'How was that fair?' she wondered. The sound of his name, from anyone's lips, for any reason, seemed to send chills tickling across her skin. Irrational. It was almost as bad as the warmth that followed along with his image.

"Are you alright, Shoko-chan? You looked cold for a second . . . and you're flushed, even though it's so pleasant. You're not catching a cold, are you?" Kahoko glanced at her, concern shadowing her eyes as she observed Shoko's flushed cheeks and the hazy, distracted look in her eyes.

"Something like that," she mumbled.

"Sorry, what?" Kahoko looked at her expectantly, and Shoko smiled guiltily, fiddling with her clarinet case.

"I'm so sorry, Kaho-senpai. I haven't been feeling well lately . . . I was going to go home and take a nap, to see if it will help me feel better," she said.

"That's terrible - colds are the worst, especially when the weather is so nice. Ah, would you like me to walk home with you? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Shoko ducked her head in embarrassment at Kahoko's show of concern. Kahoko-senpai was so kind. Could offer to help, and would even be able to. Not like Shoko. Shoko wouldn't dare extend assistance, for she'd only make things difficult.

"No . . . that's alright, Kaho-senpai. Um, thank you, though! I . . . it's so nice of you," Shoko struggled with the words. She probably sounded ungrateful, when she was more grateful to Kahoko than she could ever say. She just didn't know how to handle things like this. Didn't know what to do, didn't know what to say. Typical Shoko. "But I think I'll be able to get home okay, I'm not really sick, I just haven't been . . . I'm not at my best lately," she finished, her words quieting toward the end. A flicker of something indecipherable in Kahoko's eyes, then an understanding smile.

"I know, I have times like that, too. Well, I turn here, so if you're sure you'll be okay, then I guess I should get home. Maybe, though, we should do something sometime," Kahoko shifted, her hand going to the back of her head in that way of hers when she was feeling awkward, but the crooked half-smile/half-laugh that followed let on that she did feel uncomfortable, but reacted towards it with a playful self-deprecation that left Shoko green with envy. Kahoko was unashamed of her shame, whereas Shoko's just built and built until her insides felt sick and torn and she wanted to disappear with resenting herself for being this way.

"Um, if you aren't too busy, then if it isn't trouble, I would like that very much . . . ah, but I don't know what we'd do," Shoko realized, her ignorance of Kahoko's interests dawning on her. Well done, she congratulated herself miserably. 'Here is a person you admire so much, and sometimes tentatively dare to call a friend, yet you don't even know what she likes.'

"Oh - I guess the usual stuff. I hadn't really thought about it. But whatever you want to do, Shoko-chan - the point is to spend time with people you like, so I think it doesn't matter," she said thoughtfully, her index finger resting on her chin as she considered it. "If you're with a friend, things you don't usually enjoy will be way more fun."

'Take this for example,' Shoko thought wryly - 'conversation.' She wouldn't call it fun yet, but Kahoko being the one she was talking to certainly made it better. She smiled.

"I guess you're right . . . then, if you wouldn't mind, I hope we can," she said honestly. Honesty. A precious thing. To find the words you mean to say, and to say them. Not just stumbling along with the easiest, expected course. Another thing that Kahoko, unconsciously honest Kahoko, had taught her, but that Shoko had failed to learn, too afraid to abandon the person she'd come to believe herself to be, even if it was one she constantly found fault with. It was still her. It wasn't an easy thing to just throw that away and try something new. More often than not, it didn't work and you were left somewhere in the middle, suddenly unaware of who you were. And that was a feeling Shoko had begun to know, and one she knew she needed to avoid.

Her smile weakened even as Kahoko returned it, looking relieved and happy.

"Actually, if you're not going to be practicing or doing schoolwork, on Friday, I've had a little bit of a sweet tooth lately. There's a great cake shop that I've been to a couple of times with my other friends, and it would be fun to go with you. Ah, if you like sweets, that is," she added, smiling warmly. Friday. It seemed too soon, almost. Shoko tried to remember the last time she'd been out with another person. She couldn't, and a wave of panic came over here. For all that Kahoko might find Shoko to be nice, it didn't change the fact that the younger girl didn't have much to say and was never much fun, no matter the company. She should say no, lest Friday come and Kahoko lose interest in ever talking to her again. Infrequent as they were, Shoko treasured these little chats, soaking up Kahoko's kindness like a wilted plant did water.

She hesitated, unsure. There was the usual fear, yes. Daunting as always. But a little bit of anticipation. Hope that it would go well. That maybe, if Kahoko was there, Shoko could do this.

Kahoko waited.

"O-okay," Shoko said. "Friday sounds fine . . . it's been a while since I've had cake." The words were out, and it was too late to change her mind. Still, in spite of the dread, that thread of excitement remained. A cake shop, with a friend. An involuntary smile went across her face.

"It's settled then," Kahoko said happily. "Friday after school . . . we'll meet by the gate and walk there, unless you have something you need to do right after?"

"No, I don't need to do anything . . . um, the gate is fine," she agreed.

"Alright, I should get home then. I hope you feel better. I'll see you later, Shoko-chan!" she waved cheerily, then headed off down the opposite street toward her house. Shoko watched her retreating form, a knot of warmth and anxiety tying in her stomach.

'It's okay,' she told herself. 'It's Kaho-senpai. It'll be alright. She understands.'

Shoko turned in the direction of her own home to finish her walk, but the peace of the day did not quite return and envelop her in it's spell.

-Thursday Afternoon-

"Just look at him. He's so gorgeous . . ." The dreamy exclamation came from a girl standing about two feet away from Shoko with her cluster of friends. Around them, people filtered through the crowded hallway, most of the initial after-school rush having gotten their things and headed out. Shoko took her time, however, both to avoid that crowd and because she had nowhere else to be.

She tensed at this, though, and hoped they were talking about any one of the gorgeous music school guys that surely lurked through the school, and not the particular one that she knew of.

'Don't turn around, don't turn around,'she chanted to herself. 'Either way, you don't care or want to see.'

"Or he might be if he weren't so cold to everyone."

Shoko's heart sank, and against her better judgment, she carefully turned her head. There it was, that neat mop of blue steadily weaving it's way through the crowd of students, a slightly impatient quirk to his brow. Too tall, she thought. She shouldn't be able to see his face. She wished she couldn't see his face, if the fact that she suddenly felt feverish was any indication to go by. Involuntarily, she turned a little more that way, stepping sideways as she did so.

"Who cares if he's cold? Maybe he just needs someone to warm him up," one of the girls said, followed by a round of shocked gasps and giggles.

"Yuka-chan, you're terrible!" the first voice exclaimed, despite the fact that they'd all heard and said worse.

Shoko's face burned, but the corners of her eye kept determined watch over his progress. He was almost right across from her when someone abruptly plowed straight into her. Distracted as she was, she went sprawling into Len's path like wayward tumbleweed.

'Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!' The panicked words ran through her head as the toes of his polished, neatly laced shoes halted but inches away from her face. She felt like hyperventilating, and she was sure her face had never been so red if the heat she felt crawling through it was any indication. She scrambled back from him, and too late realized she hadn't collected her case and the books she'd been holding. Her face flaming, and still on her knees, she inched around him towards her things, snatching them back towards her as fast as she could.

"S-s-s-sorry, Ts-tsukimori-senpai, I, um, s-someone pushed me, I-I," her teeth chattered, her hands shook, and her brain was not working. 'Run away!' were the only coherent instructions coming from her mind. Len sent her a disinterested look of puzzlement, and almost as an afterthought, leaned down to pick up one of her things. She grabbed it and yanked it toward her before he could. "N-no, that's okay, um, I have it, thank you, s-sorry, again, I didn't mean to," she choked out as she stood with the last of her things. She gave a hasty, flustered bow of apology, and he nodded. After all, she reflected, this was typical Shoko behavior. The realization made her glad her face couldn't get any redder. She felt faint. If she stood here a minute longer, she was sure she'd pass out.

"It's fine," he said, and Shoko accepted the two words gratefully, spun around, and hurried in the opposite direction, wherever it led to, as fast as she could without breaking into a full-on run. The sounds of the hallway were only a distant hum against the pounding of her ears, and she wasn't sure how long she'd been walking when she finally slowed down and leaned against a wall to catch her breath. Clutching the handle of her clarinet case in her trembling grip, she huddled into herself, finally understanding why it was so important to stay away from him. Because now that her head had cleared and she'd managed to calm down a little, she wanted to go back and crash into him all over again.

'Rule of three', she reminded herself. 'Don't ever forget it.'