Hiro woke up extra early the next morning, and was out the door just as the rest of his family was waking up. He sent a quick text telling Hotaru not to wait for him, and sped off toward the school, taking only a few slow seconds to park his bicycle before racing up the stairs to the orchestra club room. XX
For the next three or so hours, Hiro spent his time finishing his notes and practicing music, though he ended up switching between his violin and the piano several times. Yuki came in around seven-thirty to put away some paperwork, and stayed only to point out how horribly messy his handwriting was before leaving. He then gathered his things and closed the piano lid, gripping his violin case tightly as he headed to class. Most of his classmates were already there, and Hiro gave them a usual grin as he greeted them, walking past Aoi's desk without a word as he joined the conversation. He could see Hotaru staring at him in his peripheral vision and promptly ignored it. The teacher walked in, the lesson started. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. XX
True to his word, Hiro never did speak to Aoi about what had happened during the festival. In fact, he never spoke to Aoi at all, not even in a sideways glance. Hotaru didn't say a thing about it either, and neglected to bring it up, not wanting to make Hiro any more upset. Hotaru was also the only one who noticed that Hiro was different. If anyone else did, they surely didn't show it. During lunch, Hiro, Hotaru, Natsuki and Yuki flocked to the roof to practice. XX
They ended up discussing the solos for their next performance. Apparently their main title for the tournament required both a duet and a solo of some sort. There had to be three different musicians and three different instruments, so as to create a bit of 'variety', and it had been quite a pain when it came to choosing a song to play, but they'd finally agreed on one. It was an undiscussed fact that Hiro would end up with one of the solos, by choice or not. XXX
"I was actually thinking that Hiro could be part of the duet. " Yuki said. Hiro and Hotaru both were irked by her sinister smirk. "And, since we have to have an instrument that goes well with a violin, why not have it be you and Aoi-kun? " "No, I don't want to play with him." Hotaru tensed. "Eh? I thought you were enamored by him." Yuki's smirk returning, and Hiro frowned. "Or are you just nervous about being too close to your crush? I think its better if-" "I said no, okay?! Stop being so pushy all the time!" Hiro ignored the surprised and concerned looks his friends gave him as he stormed off, red in the face an decently pissed off. Instead of going the piano, however, he took a seat on the cold tile staircase and fumed in silence. XXX
The bell rang not long after that, and Hiro headed back to class, smiling to those who spoke to him but not saying anything himself. Hotaru and Natsuki came in moments later, and neither said a word to him, though they both looked worried. Hiro ignored them and stared out the window, lightly tapping his pencil on the desk as a nervous tick. The next few classes passed by the same as usual. Hiro was noticeably more aggressive during the game of soccer the class played during gym, but no one spoke up about it, so he assumed they either didn't notice or - the more likely case - couldn't care less. XXX
Hiro arrived at school early again the next day, wanting to avoid his best friend's worried lectures for as long as he could. This time he didn't have any homework or notes to complete, and for once in his life he didn't have the motivation to practice, so he simply lay on the roof staring at the clouds and waiting for the bell to ring. Am I overreacting to all this? I'm probably overreacting. Sitting up, Hiro sighed in annoyance. I'm definitely overreacting. The bell rang overhead and Hiro stood up, grabbing his things and heading to class. Well, its not like there's anything I can do, so I guess it doesn't matter. XXX
For the next three or so hours, Hiro spent his time finishing his notes and practicing music, though he ended up switching between his violin and the piano several times. Yuki came in around seven-thirty to put away some paperwork, and stayed only to point out how horribly messy his handwriting was before leaving. He then gathered his things and closed the piano lid, gripping his violin case tightly as he headed to class. Most of his classmates were already there, and Hiro gave them a usual grin as he greeted them, walking past Aoi's desk without a word as he joined the conversation. He could see Hotaru staring at him in his peripheral vision and promptly ignored it. The teacher walked in, the lesson started. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. XX
True to his word, Hiro never did speak to Aoi about what had happened during the festival. In fact, he never spoke to Aoi at all, not even in a sideways glance. Hotaru didn't say a thing about it either, and neglected to bring it up, not wanting to make Hiro any more upset. Hotaru was also the only one who noticed that Hiro was different. If anyone else did, they surely didn't show it. During lunch, Hiro, Hotaru, Natsuki and Yuki flocked to the roof to practice. XX
They ended up discussing the solos for their next performance. Apparently their main title for the tournament required both a duet and a solo of some sort. There had to be three different musicians and three different instruments, so as to create a bit of 'variety', and it had been quite a pain when it came to choosing a song to play, but they'd finally agreed on one. It was an undiscussed fact that Hiro would end up with one of the solos, by choice or not. XXX
"I was actually thinking that Hiro could be part of the duet. " Yuki said. Hiro and Hotaru both were irked by her sinister smirk. "And, since we have to have an instrument that goes well with a violin, why not have it be you and Aoi-kun? " "No, I don't want to play with him." Hotaru tensed. "Eh? I thought you were enamored by him." Yuki's smirk returning, and Hiro frowned. "Or are you just nervous about being too close to your crush? I think its better if-" "I said no, okay?! Stop being so pushy all the time!" Hiro ignored the surprised and concerned looks his friends gave him as he stormed off, red in the face an decently pissed off. Instead of going the piano, however, he took a seat on the cold tile staircase and fumed in silence. XXX
The bell rang not long after that, and Hiro headed back to class, smiling to those who spoke to him but not saying anything himself. Hotaru and Natsuki came in moments later, and neither said a word to him, though they both looked worried. Hiro ignored them and stared out the window, lightly tapping his pencil on the desk as a nervous tick. The next few classes passed by the same as usual. Hiro was noticeably more aggressive during the game of soccer the class played during gym, but no one spoke up about it, so he assumed they either didn't notice or - the more likely case - couldn't care less. XXX
Hiro arrived at school early again the next day, wanting to avoid his best friend's worried lectures for as long as he could. This time he didn't have any homework or notes to complete, and for once in his life he didn't have the motivation to practice, so he simply lay on the roof staring at the clouds and waiting for the bell to ring. Am I overreacting to all this? I'm probably overreacting. Sitting up, Hiro sighed in annoyance. I'm definitely overreacting. The bell rang overhead and Hiro stood up, grabbing his things and heading to class. Well, its not like there's anything I can do, so I guess it doesn't matter. XXX
Since I modeled Hiro's personality after mine, he's basically the type of person who constantly has very bad mood swings, but no one ever notices them because he's so good at masking his emotions. Except for those who've either known him since childhood, - Hotaru - or are really good observers - Aoi.