Chapter 35: Everyone Meets Kaoru
"Good morning everyone, to start this class I've got a copy of one of last year's graduation auditions. Since the graduation auditions are near, I was thinking of giving you guys some inspiration for your songs."
"Now, let's have...Kaoru!"
Hyuga-sensei gave me a smile and I went over to him to get the music sheet. He smiled at me as he gave over the music sheets; I gave him a wry smile.
Hyuga-sensei seems unusually happy today; it freaks me out a bit.
I went over to the piano and looked over the music sheets before playing it.
The song was wonderful as expected from a graduation audition song. As I played the song, everyone was quiet and concentrated on listening to the song. Everyone had their eyes closed and was listening to the song attentively; the song was so smooth and captivating.
"Thank you for playing for us, Kaoru. You can go back to your seat now."
I smiled and nodded and went back to my seat.
"Now! Let's have a sample of one of your works in progress!"
Everyone became noisy.
"W-what?!"
"Eh?! No way! My partner and I haven't even finished half of our song yet!"
"I don't have any lyrics yet!"
"Our melody isn't that good! There are still many parts to revise!"
"I hope I don't get picked!"
Hyuga-sensei laughed while hearing everyone's reactions. He looks over the class and points at a random student. Hyuga-sensei, this is just evil of you.
"You, let's hear what you've got so far!"
The student jumped in surprise.
He went over to the piano with his partner who was in our class and they performed whatever they have completed so far.
Everyone listened to their song and it was okay; there's a lot to improve on but it was okay. Hyuga-sensei gave them some pointers and advice on the revision and then he started looking for another pair to show what they had so far; I think we listened to about five pairs before class ended. Even I would have never been prepared for what Hyuga-sensei just did; good thing that I wasn't called.
"Hey Kaoru, are you going to eating with us?" Syo said.
"Yeah. I'd like that."
"Ah! Wait, shouldn't you be going out by now? What about your recording?"
"It's alright. The recording has been moved to the evening due to a conflict in schedule with the person I'm collaborating with so I'll be whole day in school for today."
I'll be having lunch with everyone except for today, and until the recording finishes, I'll be with them as Kaoru. I guess this will be the first time that everyone else will be meeting Kaoru.
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"EH?! I can't believe I'm having lunch with Kaoru!" Tomochan said as we ate at the table.
"Tomochan, calm down. You're attracting attention." Haruka said as she tried to calm down Tomochan who was just too happy at the moment.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I'm just really happy right now. Sorry for the inconvenience!"
"Haha. It's alright."
Oh Kaoru! You're too kind!"
I guess Tomochan really is a fan of Kaoru. I feel kind of sorry for her. I wonder what her reaction would be when she finds out that Kaoru is actually Kaori.
Masato then comes over to the table.
"Masa—Hijirikawa-san, good afternoon."
That was close.
Masato was a bit surprised to see me.
"Good afternoon. You're Kaoru-san, if I'm not mistaken."
I nodded at him and he sat down at the table. Otoya then came over together with Natsuki.
"Ah! Kaoru-kun! Good afternoon! You're eating with us today?"
"Good afternoon, Shinomiya-san. My recording has been moved to the evening so I'll be present for the whole day."
Otoya was looking at me.
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself. Sorry. I'm Yamashita Kaoru of S class. I'm in the idol course and I'm Kaori's older brother."
"Ah! Nice to meet you, Kaoru-kun! I'm Ittoki Otoya."
Jinguji then arrived as well.
"Oh? Nii-san is eating with us today?"
"Yeah. I'll be around the whole day for today."
"Is that so? This would be a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with one another. Don't you think so, nii-san?"
"Hehe. I agree."
While we were eating, Haruka asked me a question.
"Kaoru-kun, what happened to Kaori? She didn't eat with us yesterday and then we've noticed that we haven't seen her since we got back from the summer camp."
"I was wondering the same thing. I've also noticed that she hasn't been to the practice hall either." Masato said.
"Oh that's right. Imouto-chan got sick after the summer camp. She got a bad fever for not sleeping and eating well so now she's on sick leave for the week. I swear, she gets sick for not taking care of herself. When she's in her composing mode, she just keeps on composing until she finishes or tires out without thinking of her health."
Bad mouthing myself like this is so weird.
"So she's been busy with her graduation song?"
"Yeah. She's been busy composing the melody of our graduation song."
"Eh?"
"Hm? Did I say something weird, Nanami-san?"
"Kaoru-kun, you said 'our' graduation song."
"Yes. Kaori is my partner after all."
"Ah. How cute. Imouto-chan and Nii-san are partners for the graduation audition. I'm excited to see that; that would be a treasure."
"We thought of pairing up since it would be the most convenient plus we're very much familiar with one another's style."
"That would make sense." Tomochan said.
I guess that I could take this opportunity to ask questions.
"Hey Hijirikawa-san, is Jinguji-san always this flirty and flamboyant?"
"Unfortunately, yes. He's naturally like that."
"Does it bother you, nii-san?"
"Uh...not so much."
"Do not worry. I am a person who loves all women. I enjoy watching them grow and bloom; I wouldn't do anything to hurt their beautiful hearts."
"Then, please stay away from my sister." I smiled.
"I'm sorry, nii-san. If only it was that simple to ignore such a wonderful lady."
And here I thought it would work to ask him to stay away. Sigh.
Otoya then says, "Kaoru-san, I've noticed that Kaori doesn't like flirty or assertive men. In fact, every time she's near Ren she gets uneasy."
"Indeed. The lady sure gets defensive and wary of me. I would be happy when the day comes when she would warm up to me."
So Otoya and Ren noticed; I guess that I'll have to explain why.
"Well, I guess she's just somewhat afraid of those types of men."
"Afraid?"
"She was often hit on by men like that so it bothers and annoys her but then she developed a kind of phobia for them when she had some bad experiences with them."
"What happened to her?" Haruka asked.
"There was one time when an older man tried to bring her somewhere and when she refused to go with him, that man tried to take her by force. I was just thankful that she was with her guy friends who ended up defending her. Another incident was when a guy tried flirting with her and then became touchy. Kaori ended up smacking the lights out of him in self defense."
"Wow. Kaori had it rough." Otoya said.
"For the flirty type of men, she doesn't like them because she dislikes people who play with their words or play with other people's hearts. She thinks that those types of men can't love seriously or just wants to play with girls. She's not saying that all flirty men are like that but she just doesn't like them when that possibility comes to her mind."
"Are you that type of man, Kaoru?" Tomochan asks.
"Definitely not that type. I think that I'm the type that when he falls in love, it's serious and I think that I would be the type to take care of the person I like and makes sure that she's happy; something like that."
"I think that's really nice." Natsuki says.
"I guess so but I'm not interested in love right now. I just want to graduate and become a great idol!"
"Then you and Kaori better make a great song together and give it all you've got!" Syo says.
"Haha. I'll give it all of my body and soul if I have to!"
As we ate lunch, they just kept asking questions about me and what I do and then we just talk about random things which were really fun and interesting. I also got to learn more about my friends today which made me feel happy. Time flies when you're having fun and before we knew it, lunch break was nearly over.
"Ah! Look at the time!" Haruka said.
"Woah. Time sure flies when you're having fun." Syo said as he looked at his watch.
"Before we part ways, where is Kaori staying at the moment?" Masato asks.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me. Haruka and I went to her room yesterday and she wasn't there. Is she at your house or perhaps staying in a clinic or something?" Tomochan said.
Oh crap, I haven't thought about that. I guess I'll just say that the fever is so bad that she's confined at a hospital.
"She's confined at a hospital since her fever is high and she's quite weakened."
"Which hospital is she confined? I'd like to visit her some time." Syo said.
"Oh! That's a wonderful idea! I'll go with you and then I'll bring some of my homemade cookies!" Natsuki says.
"What?! No! Do you want her to stay at the hospital longer?!"
"I'd like to visit Kaori-chan too." Haruka says.
"So do I." Masato says.
Oh no, I haven't thought this through. Uh...what hospital am I going to tell them?!
"Guys, it's almost time for class." I pointed at the cafeteria's clock.
"We should get going or else we'll be late for class."
"Oh, you're right. Lunch break is almost over." Tomochan says.
We all said our farewells and went to our respective classrooms.
I have never felt more relieved to get to class. I was saved by the bell.