For several long minutes, Hana stood in front of the Akaashi family's door, not daring to knock. Coming from a rather well-off family herself, it took a lot to subjugate her. Yet the young woman couldn't help feeling intimidated as she crossed the impressive garden leading to the magnificent family home.

Hana tended to forget that her partner came from a wealthy family. He never bragged about it, and she'd eventually put it in the back of her mind. But now, the slightest element on which her gaze lingered reminded her of it. Was she dreaming, or were those koi carp in the little pond she could see from over there?

In any case, she wasn't dreaming when she saw a few gardeners discreetly raise their heads to spy on her. They were probably wondering who she was and whether she had indeed been authorized to enter these grounds. And after all, these thoughts were quite permissible since she did nothing to dispel them.

Unwilling to prolong this awkward moment, the ice skater took a deep breath and forced herself to look away, once and for all. She'd check out the pond on her way out later. If the path was clear. And if...

—It takes you quite a long time to knock. My mother's fish always have that effect on newcomers.

Caught red-handed, Hana would have been embarrassed by her behavior if she hadn't recognized the drawling voice that had just called her out. She hadn't even heard him approach, too immersed in contemplating the surroundings, and apparently Akaashi was amused by her reaction. His translucent eyes told no lies, and he made no effort to hide it.

—You've been here for a long time? You could've come in, continued the young man, searching his pockets for his keys.

—You're late, said Hana.

—I had an errand to run. It took longer than expected.

Hana's eyes fell on the plastic bag the young man was holding in his hands, without understanding its contents.

—Were you at the pharmacy? The brunette guessed as she recognized the logo, without hiding her astonishment. What for?

Faced with Hana's doubtful expression, a mischievous smile took place on Akaashi's lips.

—I'd like to show you a rather special drink, the boy explained briefly. I'm sure you'll like it, he added as he unlocked the door.

The click of the lock sounded, suddenly reminding the young woman where she was.

—It's a good thing I didn't ring the bell, because who knows what would have happened if I'd run into your parents.

—My parents aren't here, informed Akaashi as he pushed open the door. You would've just run into some housemaids.

Housemaids? They even had housemaids? Hana didn't even have time to digest the news before she was already inside, pushed by the hand Akaashi had slipped down her back.

—You see, I'm even doing you the honor of going through the front door, ironized the young man, referring to the night he'd slept at her place.

—We could very well have studied in the library after class if you hadn't gotten detention every day of the week, remarked the student, giving him a knowing wink.

—Not my fault, he replied with a shrug. Besides, after what we did during our detention, I don't see how we could have stayed focused there.

Hana was about to reply, but the sudden arrival of an employee in the vestibule prevented her from doing so.

—Good afternoon, Mr Keisuke, greeted the maid, bowing respectfully. May I take your ve...

With a look of surprise on her face, the maid's sentence hung in the air. She had just noticed the presence of a pretty stranger beside the housemaster, and not having been informed of the presence of a guest, a slight panic seized her.

—My apologies, she exclaimed, leaning forward again. I didn't realize we were expecting company.

As she spoke, Keisuke glanced discreetly in Hana's direction. He was well aware that his family's living standards far exceeded the norm, and that along with the household staff, was enough to impress newcomers. There was nothing unusual about that. And yet...

Hana didn't show the slightest hint of emotion that might have corroborated this pattern. True to her usual self, she wore a perfectly calm face, not at all embarrassed to be the center of the servant's attention. Yet he knew how much she hated being in the spotlight...

In fact, come to think of it, he'd never seen her embarrassed. No doubt, with her detached nature, it took a lot for her to get to that stage. Another thought crossed his mind. Did she blush in such cases? A grin invited itself on his lips. He'd make sure to discover it personally.

—Don't worry, Hitomi, the boy replied quietly, handing her his jacket, which she took up immediately. She's just a friend of mine, Hana Hoshino, he introduced her briefly. You don't need to be so formal.

Hitomi nodded, slightly relieved by his words, before turning to Hana.

—Miss Hoshino, can I take care of your jacket ?

Not expecting this, the figure skater blinked several times before finally realizing that she was the one to whom the maid was addressing. But to the great displeasure of Akaashi's watchful eyes, no crimson blush covered her cheekbones. Mission failed.

—Thank you, Madame, she breathed politely.

—Mr. Keisuke, would you like me to bring you a drink? There's iced lemonade, freshly squeezed from the garden.

—I would appreciate that, confirmed Akaashi, who couldn't refuse his favorite drink. But please add some peach juice with it. Hana doesn't like lemons.

The maid nodded again, mentally taking note of the information she had just received. She disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

Once again, the student began to watch the brunette for any sign of discomfort. But apart from the interception of her suspicious glance and the questioning raised eyebrow in response, he didn't get the reaction he was looking for. So - for the time being at least - he shelved the idea in the back of his mind and headed for the row of stairs leading upstairs.

—Are you coming or...? Akaashi asked, realizing that she hadn't followed him.

—Aren't we waiting for...Hitomi to come back with the drinks? Asked Hana, glancing down the corridor where the employee had fled.

—She'll bring it straight to my room.

—I'm a bit worried about disturbing her so unexpectedly, admitted the young woman as she followed her comrade. She must have more important things to do.

Keisuke glanced over his shoulder and met the student's gaze. He considered reminding her that housekeepers were paid to do just that, but in the end, he refrained from such a remark and opted for another answer.

—If I'd warned her you'll come over, she'd have made a big deal of it and blocked off her morning to cook us something. And like you said, she's got other fish to fry.

And inevitably, when guests made their entrance, Ichiro Akaashi would have heard about it. As the grand master of the house, nothing escaped his notice. Some of the staff were very talkative. Especially the gardener, who'd been on the boy's back since he'd hidden cigarette butts in his geraniums. But as far as the latter was concerned, the young man used to play it straight. He knew full well that the gardener would proudly report any suspicious gesture to his superior. Keisuke loved to defy his father's authority and purposely let him see him in the company of one of his lovers, smoking all sorts of substances or coming home drunk at three in the morning. His father never failed to rage, an emotion the smoker never got tired of.

But when the news reached his mother's or sister's ears, the boy was immediately less boastful. This rarely happened. But each time, when his mother covered him with her gaze filled with sadness, the guilt never failed to grip him. He felt guilty because he knew his mother felt - wrongly in his opinion which she shouldn't. And he hated it. He hated seeing the worry hovering in her tear-bright eyes. And he hated even more the look his sister gave him, as if he'd disappointed her...

So, in order to limit such outbursts, Keisuke had mellowed somewhat. Henceforth, he defied his father by prioritizing head-on confrontations, deciding what information he wanted him to know. And his relationship with Hana was one of the things he wanted to keep to himself. Even if he could use it to annoy his father.

Probably because he was holding that card in reserve for someone else entirely.

—Here we are, said Akaashi, stopping in front of his bedroom door to invite her in.

—Thank you, she breathed as she rushed inside.

Hana wasn't sure what to expect when she entered, but at first glance, she could tell they were in his room. It was spacious, with the blinds halfway up, limiting the amount of light that could enter. On some of the walls, there were, not surprisingly, sketches and pictures, both made by Akaashi. A few knick-knacks lay here and there, next to a camera on the drawers next to his bed, and a jumble of sheets bearing scribbles of all kinds rested on his desk. Hana realized, and smiled inwardly, that these must be the revision sheets on which he'd let his artistic side shine.

His room was a perfect reflection of him. Except for one detail. The imposing grand piano in the center of the room was something Hana hadn't seen coming.

—Wait, don't tell me you know how to play the piano? She exclaimed, dropping her bag at her feet.

—No, it's just for decoration, retorted the student in a bored tone.

Hana rolled her eyes. Of course, he did know how to play. Silly question, silly answer. She glanced quickly over her shoulder to find the young man crouching in a corner of the room, a look of concentration on his face. He had unwrapped the contents of his plastic bag and was pouring what Hana identified as a bottle of cough syrup into a Sprite bottle. The patent medicine he was concocting had taken on a crimson hue that the young woman recognized immediately.

—Is that Lean?

At these words, the student paused in his dosage.

—Have you ever had any? He asked, a little surprised, and she nodded in the affirmative.

—Yeah, it was offered to me a few months ago. But it was the wrong dosage, she grimaced, thinking back to her bad memories of it. I spent the next day with my head over the toilet.

The young man chuckled in astonishment. He hadn't expected her to already know about the drink. And she was so young....

—Too bad, Akaashi replied simply. I thought I'd introduce you to something new.

—Well, I think yours will be better than theirs, continued the young woman, offering him a knowing smile.

—No doubt, the dark-haired man ventured falsely, returning to his preparation.

The ice skater watched in silence. Even though he seemed rather experienced in the field, and she trusted him completely, she preferred not to disturb him too much, not wishing to relive a bad experience.

The young woman returned her gaze to the piano that had caught her eye on the way in and approached it. Facing the keyboard, all she had to do was raise her arm to press any note. And despite the temptation rising within her, Hana didn't dare make the slightest gesture, fearing of being rude. This piano was certainly worth far too much for anyone to use, and it wasn't sure Akaashi would particularly like her to start playing anything.

But curiosity got the better of her silence.

—What can you play? Inquired the skater. Mozart? Chopin? Or Beethoven?

Without looking up from his preparation, so as not to make a mistake in his dosages, the young man chuckled, amused by the names she had just mentioned. People always came up with the same pianists when they asked him this famous question.

—Yeah, Akaashi blurted out, as if there were nothing incredible about it. I've studied all these great composers, he continued, tidying up his desk. Bach, Debussy, Schubert...  I can play pretty much anything you tell me. And I don't say that to brag, of course.

—Did you study music theory? Or had private lessons?

Faced with the brunette's interest, Keisuke paused in the concoction of his purple drank to glance at her. He found her more talkative than usual. Nothing like the way she'd been when a few drinks were mixed with her blood, of course, but still more expressive than he'd become accustomed to. Not that he was annoyed. Far from it. He'd always liked this hidden facet of her personality, the one that said whatever came into her mind without the slightest filter.

So, although he would normally have told off anyone who dared to ask him so many questions about his private life, this time Keisuke agreed to answer. In any case, he knew the young woman well enough to be able to claim that she was questioning him out of curiosity, and not because she was inquiring in order to get closer to him later. The nature of their relationship was clear, no unnecessary feelings, and both respected the limits.

—I've done both, finally answered the student, who had in the meantime gone back to making space on his desk. When I was a kid. And I have perfect pitch. It helps.

That's all, Hana mused. This boy never failed to surprise her a little more every day. He'd never told her he played the piano. Not even by innuendo. His life seemed to be full of well-kept secrets, and her intuition told her she'd only seen the tip of the iceberg.

—It's impressive, commented the figure skater, timidly brushing her fingertips against the dark varnished surface.

Her gaze left the keys and landed on the few loose sheets of paper lying prominently against the piano desk. She identified them as sheet music, given the numerous lines marked with notes, each more complicated than the last. Visually, there was something pleasant about sheet music, but intellectually, her brain churned at the many signs she'd never ever heard of. The only thing she could read was the title.

A title that made her giggle softly.

—Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake? She read aloud. I didn't think you were learning ballet pieces.

Keisuke, who had just put away the evidence of his misdeed, approached Hana and saw for himself what the young woman had said. Rina's piano sheets were still lying around on the music stand, and since she often came into his room to practice, he didn't bother to put them away.

—My sister's learning it, so I'm giving her a hand.

He was careful not to mention that he'd memorized the piece just to please his younger sister, and that he'd never played the piano for anyone other than her or his mother. And anyway, he didn't need to, since what he'd said had been more than enough to bring a smile to the ice skater's lips.

She was laughing at him, but he wasn't going to let her get away with it.

—What's got you laughing like that, Hana? Asked Akaashi as he planted himself in front of the young woman.

Their eyes locked, and a familiar mischievous glint lit up in her eyes. That was all it took for the atmosphere in the room to take on a whole new dimension.

—Nothing, she replied in a falsely innocent voice, without breaking her smile.

The tension rose a notch.

—Nothing, really? The boy repeated in the same tone, leaning towards her. You're sure 'bout that ?

His hands came to rest against the piano, trapping Hana's body at the same time. His gaze was filled with the same desire he read in her charcoal eyes. They were so close that the other's perfume fogged their senses, and if they listened carefully, they could even hear their heartbeats synchronizing. But their attention wasn't there, their minds too muddled with this budding desire to care.

—Liar.

He devoured her with the intensity of his translucent gaze, sending several shivers through her body. Only a dozen centimeters separated their lips, but neither yielded to this ridiculous distance. It was as if they were challenging each other to see who would succumb first. Except that, in this game, Hana had figured out how to win.

The young woman slid the tips of her fingernails against his chest, moving slowly up to his shoulders before finally locking them behind his neck. Her body brushed against his. At this distance, she could feel his warmth radiating through her clothes, his breath against her cheek. Hana swallowed. She knew that if she didn't react quickly, it was she who stood to lose.

—I was just thinking that I didn't expect your sister would be your weak spot, she said innocently, tilting her head to one side. That's so sweet.

Hearing him sigh, a bored look on his face, Hana knew she'd hit the nail on the head. She bit her lip to keep from smiling more but didn't have time to savor her victory for long, already drawn into a kiss that made her lose her thoughts. The contact thrilled her, electrified her and sent her into another universe. She felt as if she were floating as his lips attracted hers without restraint, with both passion and tenderness.

When had his hands slipped to her waist? She couldn't tell, but the light pressure they exerted against her skin didn't displease her. A blink later, Hana found herself settled on the back cover of the piano.

Their breath quickly ran out, but it wasn't enough to keep them apart. Ever since they'd stood in front of the mansion door, they'd been waiting for this moment to come. The moment when it would be just them, out of sight and at the mercy of their desires. The only thing they wanted was to enjoy every second they had.

In Keisuke's eyes, time flowed excruciatingly slow and frighteningly fast. He wanted to make their moment last, but the logical continuation of this exchange attracted him just as much, if not more. He could already imagine her warm skin curled against his, her short, almost panting breath, and the melodious song of her voice that she couldn't contain. All the things he could do to her, all the things he'd never tire of. A shiver of anticipation ran through him as his kisses migrated down her neck, teasing the spots he knew were most sensitive. She tensed in his grip. He smiled, letting one of his hands venture under her shirt.

Feeling a caress up her spine, Hana suddenly regained a semblance of lucidity. Her eyelids slowly lifted, as if emerging from a long, peaceful dream.

—Weren't we supposed to be working? She murmured half-heartedly.

—It can wait, he retorted in her ear.

Hana was about to agree with him, but never had the chance to ; the creak of the door sounded, and her words died in the back of her throat. He, too, had come to a standstill. Time stood still.

Silence.

Then, after what seemed like an eternity, Keisuke slowly detached himself from Hana, a deeply bored look on his face. A long sigh ran through him. His head swiveled to the other side, and he opened his mouth, ready to swear at the person who had interrupted their conversation. But as he met the wide-eyed gaze of his little sister, obviously frightened by the dark look he was giving her, all trace of annoyance disappeared. His features softened, and before he knew it, he was already kneeling at his younger sister's level.

Of course, he'd never get mad at her for entering without knocking.

—Rina? He called softly. What are you doing here?

But the girl didn't reply, her eyes fixed on the stranger in her big brother's bedroom. She scanned the pretty brunette with interest, but as soon as the latter intercepted her stare, her shyness returned at full gallop. Rina used her older brother's silhouette as a shield to keep out of her sight. He held back a sigh at her silence.

It was to be expected. Rina always needed time to get used to the presence of people she didn't know. She hated strangers, they made her feel uncomfortable. 

And yet, against all odds, her sister dared to speak up.

—Who's she? The little girl finally uttered to her brother.

Her eyebrows raised imperceptibly, but his surprise didn't last more than a second. Rina's presence worried him, since she wasn't supposed to be home at this hour. He was already imagining the worst. So he took advantage of the miracle that made his little sister inclined to talk to question her.

—Hey, garden gnome, he said in a more serious tone, trying to regain his attention. I asked you a question.

His stratagem paid off. The little girl finally deigned to look at him, and her cheeks puffed up.

—Don't call me that, she grumbled in a low voice, embarrassed by the stranger's presence.

—What are you doing here? Asked the increasingly worried young man. Did something happen at the hospital?

Rina frowned, not understanding what Keisuke wanted from her.

—Bah, no?

—Then why aren't you with Mom? Asked her brother, raising an eyebrow in turn. It's Saturday. You went to see her, didn't you?

—But... Mom's back home today, she blurted out as if it were obvious. Didn't you know? Dad told me.

No, he didn't. And slowly, as he understood the significance of his sister's words, the dots connected in his mind. Obviously, his dear father hadn't bothered to share Honoka Akaashi's return with him.

—I didn't know, the dark-haired boy finally said as he stood up, his jaw set.

—Dad had a lot of work to do, reasoned his young sister, seeing him upset. He probably forgot to tell you.

—Probably, yeah.

He'd have two words to say to him later. But right now, it was neither the time nor the place to think about it. Especially that since earlier - apart from the fact that she'd discreetly come down from her perch - Hana hadn't moved an inch. And for someone like him, who didn't like to spill the beans about his private life, this should have annoyed the hell out of him. But the news he had just heard made him so happy that he didn't even think about the fact that Hana had overheard their entire conversation.

His mother was home again, with them, within these four walls, but he had to see it with his own eyes to believe it.

—Go, Akaashi.

Hana might not have grasped the whole of what she had witnessed, but his need to verify – by himself - the little girl's words hadn't escaped her. He hadn't had to say it out loud. She had read it in his eyes. Surprise. Anger. Relief. Hesitation. A startling cocktail of emotions in his clear, usually neutral eyes.

—You don't mind ?

This news had distressed him much more than he wanted to believe, and Hana was well aware of that.

—No, really, replied the brunette, offering him a smile she hoped would soothe his nerves. Meet her now, she repeated, gesturing for him to leave.

He nodded slightly, infinitely grateful for her understanding.

—I won't be long, Akaashi promised before turning to his sister.

—You're leaving? The little girl panicked, throwing him a look of distress.

Keisuke loved his little sister very much, but he needed a moment alone with his mother. And since Rina seemed to tolerate Hana's presence, he thought perhaps he could take advantage of the opportunity to get them to stay together.

—Hey, shorty, why don't you show Hana what you've learned? He proposed, ruffling her hair.

He glanced discreetly at Hana, who immediately understood the message. She took over without the slightest hesitation.

—I'd love to hear you play Swan Lake, confirmed the pretty brunette in a gentle voice to the little girl. Your brother told me you were learning it, so would you show me?

—But I don't know the whole song, whined the little girl, pouting.

—Well, I don't even know the notes, giggled the brunette as Rina's eyes widened in astonishment.

—You don't? Sighed the girl, whose shyness seemed to melt like snow in the sun. Look, I'll teach you.

Rina moved away from her brother, who watched the two girls chatting as if they'd known each other all their lives, with a look of satisfaction on his face. Soon, the first notes of the song rose into the air, and the dark-haired boy decided it was time for him to slip away. But just before he closed the door, a snippet of the conversation reached him.

—You know, my brother plays the piano like a professional, ventured Rina, her eyes shining with pride. He knows Swan Lake better than I do.

—Oh, he only learned it for you? Guessed Hana, who was enjoying the young girl's express confessions.

—Hm, hm, confirmed the little girl, whose cheeks flushed. But you won't be able to hear him!  He only plays for me. And nobody else.

—Oh, lucky you!

—But maybe if I ask him, he'll agree to make an exception.

With his forehead against the door, the young man smiled. He didn't know how Hana had done it, but her words had soothed his younger sister in no time. He'd never seen her warm up so much to a stranger, and inwardly, he could only feel incredibly proud of his sister's progress.

This woman was truly exceptional.