ｔｈｅ ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ

「 your p.o.v 」

Standing off to the side backstage, I listened as the crowd erupted in cheers and loud claps every time a different name was called. I received my diploma first so I could make it backstage and set up so I don't have the luxury of sitting with my peers on this ceremonious day. Then again, I don't have any friends in my graduating class, so nothing would change even if I decided to with them.

I rearranged my dress some before fixing my cap and gown. This is the only time I'll ever wear this outfit in combination with one another so I should enjoy it. Looking out to the crowd from behind the curtain, I immediately winced and reeled back into the safety of the dark backstage. The lights shining down on the stage of the auditorium make it hard to see anything out in the audience section.

"And with the last name called, that concludes our ceremony!" The principle said while he stood behind the podium and smiled to all of the friends and family that showed up to support their children and friends. "Though before we all leave, I'd like to invite Bright Centrair's very own Mute Virtuoso to come play for us one last time and ensure we all leave this journey behind on a high note. Miss ___, if you would?"

Backstage staff hurried out from the other end of the stage to grab the podium as the principal walked towards me and met me halfway, shaking my hand and offering me a warm smile. I gave him just a ghost of a smile in return before looking to the large, grand piano that had previously been hidden behind one of the stages innermost curtains.

The audience section of the auditorium had its lights dim down completely now as I walked up to the grand piano and took a seat in front of the large instrument. I fixed my gown so that it flowed out behind the piano bench and then placed my hands on the keys.

Pushing away all of my nerves, I focused on the piano as I slowly began to play. The chairman had asked for me to play something more popular like a rendition of some pop song. But, after much convincing from my music class peers with me very rarely having to put in any input, she agreed that a more classical piece might better fit this joyous occasion.

As I played the introduction to Debussy's "Clair de Lune", the audience went absolutely silent. I kept my eyes closed as I got lost in the song, no sheet music even being placed in front of me to glance to since I have this song memorized and have had it so for years. It was almost like this was just another late evening practicing in one of the more secluded and less used practice rooms off in the fine arts wing of the academy. Alone again with nothing but the music to soothe my mind and soul.

It felt as though the short five-minute song was over in a matter of seconds. I exhaled a small breath that I hadn't even noticed I was holding as I slowly opened my eyes, the sound of a few stray claps coming from the audience before the entire crowd erupted in cheers. Standing up from the piano bench, I walked towards the front of the stage and bowed, taking off my cap as I did so and throwing it high up into the air when I stood straight once more, all of my peers doing the same and throwing their caps up right along with me.

This was my last performance at Bright Centrair Private Academy.

Cherry blossoms blew in the wind and carried my gown some along with it as I walked outside and looked up to the clouds that are rolling through the bright blue sky. It's the perfect weather for graduation.

Many of the other graduating students wave to me as they hurry past to meet up with their friends and family. A few congratulate me on my performance, other's bid me farewell, and a few even stop to ask if I plan on becoming a professional pianist one day since they want to listen to me play more. I simply nod or shake my head to the questions I can answer with a 'yes' or 'no', no one expecting me to reply verbally anyways.

"You played like a true virtuoso as always."

I turned around at the voice of my only friend, his hazel eyes scrunching up a bit at the ends as he gives me his signature prince-like smile and holds out a bouquet of eleven peach-colored roses. My eyes widened some as I happily took the bouquet and cradled it in my arms.

My first instinct was to tell him "thank you", but the second I went to say those exact words, it felt like my mouth had a mind of its own and all I could do was smile. The words so close yet so far. I can feel them on the tip of my tongue...

Iori, of course understanding all of this by now, offered me a more tender smile as he grabbed my arm and pulled me further from all of the other students and family and friends and more towards the side of the academy where we could talk in private. I couldn't be happier once we were finally out of sight from the rest of the growing crowds of people.

Now standing behind the trees that line the edge of Bright Cetrair's main building, I exhaled a small sigh of relief. "You don't know how nerve-wracking it was to play in front of everyone like that." I said softly before laughing a bit. "I almost didn't walk out on stage."

"But you did." My grey-haired friend commended as he leaned against the tree, currently dressed in some nice black dress pants and a pale grey button-up shirt. "And you played amazingly. I still can't believe next year I won't see you walking around the halls anymore. Who am I going to eat lunch with on the roof now and hideaway in practice rooms with when our fans inevitably get out of hand?"

I shrugged as my smile widened. "You just have to survive one more year and then you can come to college with me and it'll be like we were never apart." I mused. "Besides, it won't be any easier for me what with going to a large new school and having to try to not get thrown into panic attacks left and right."

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

"I could say the same to you."

Iori and I grew quiet as we just stood there with one another, soft smiles gracing out features as the sound of gleeful shrieks and upbeat conversations came from the front of the school and drifted over to us, seemingly carried by the wind just as the cherry blossom petals are. This really does feel almost like a dream. Like I'll wake up and go back to the day where Fuyuka and I were walking into Bright Centrair for the first time our second year and meeting Iori who was then just a kindhearted first year who looked too nice to be in a school full of egotistical rich kids. That was only about two years ago and yet I can remember that day as if it was only yesterday. So much has changed since then...

"Actually ___, I have some good news." Iori suddenly spoke up, tearing me from my thoughts as I shift my gaze back to meet his. "You remember my mother, don't you?"

"How could I forget such a lovely lady who threw me a party for my birthday last year?" I asked with a small laugh. "And bought me my cap and gown."

Iori's smile grew just ever so slightly. "That was a great party. Anyways, I talked with her a few weeks ago and she said you can come live with my brother's and I- if you'd like to that is."

My jaw could have dropped right then and there at his words if it wasn't for the fact I was too shocked to do much of anything. Truly stunned into silence this time around. A welcomed change from the usual anxiety-induced silence.

Seeing that I wasn't going to be able to talk, my hazel-eyed friend continued on with the conversation. "It's just, I know you got into Bright Centrair on nothing but scholarships and you've done the same for university so if I can help you save some money by letting you stay with us instead of having to go live on campus, then I might as well try. Besides, you're going to have to leave the orphanage any day now, right? You can't stay there forever."

Slowly, I nodded. He's right. Now that I'm out of high school, it's time for me to leave the system behind and start my life. Though funny enough, I have no real large amounts of money or anything like that so there's no way I'd be able to afford to live on campus even with my scholarships. My best bet is taking him up on his offer, even if it is kind of stressful...

"Are you sure it's okay for me to live with you and your brothers?" I decided on asking, trying desperately to push away my rising anxiety.

Iori nodded. "Mom gave me the okay and I'll be talking with my brother's later tonight about it so you can move in within the next couple of days." He responded with a reassuring smile. "I think if you can get a little comfortable living with us before you start classes for uni, then you won't be nearly as stressed out."

"Let's both hope you're right..." I murmured.

Hugging the bouquet of peach-colored roses closer to my chest, I unconsciously caved in on myself some. I've been over to his home a few times in the past and have inevitably run into pretty much all of his brothers at least once before so it's not like this is the end of the world for me or anything. It's just, living with Iori and his brothers is more than a little daunting to say the least.

Thankfully each of his brothers have always been nice to me and I think at this point they've all caught onto the fact that I don't talk- or at the very least they think I'm incredibly shy. Either way I know me living there should be fine. Though I can't help but worry because it's not like I'm close to anyone other than Iori. He's my only friend and the only person I can talk to. Now I'm going to be living in a house full of boys who I won't be able to communicate much to any with and really that just sounds like it's going to be awkward.

It's either I endure the awkwardness that's destined to come my way or I go into debt and somehow figure out how to live on campus...

Just as Iori was fixing to speak once more, a loud and upbeat voice called out to him from near the front of the school. Both of our eyes widened as we looked over to find not one but two men walking towards us, looking completely identical with the only differences being their hair color and how it's parted along with their clothes.

"What are you guys doing here?" Iori asked once his brothers were close enough to hear him. I instinctively moved closer to my friend, hoping to disappear into the background if only a little.

The white-haired twin shot his younger brother a large grin. "Kyo-nii said you'd gone to school for your friend's graduation and we thought we'd stop by to say hello." He said as he then shifted his gaze to me. "Oh, it's ___'s graduation? You should have told us! We all would had come to celebrate!"

My eyes widened some at that. He, he remembers me? We've only met at most four times before this and even then it was just in passing whenever I happened to leave Iori's room. I never thought any of them would remember me...

"You look great ___, congratulations on graduating." The black-haired twin spoke up, his smile much softer than his twin's but still just as kindhearted.

I offered the two of them a sheepish smile in return, trying to not seem too uncomfortable since they mean well. Today's been full of me having to do things that cause ample anxiety and really, talking with these two is only making me more anxious. They just want to congratulate me and here I am unable to say a thing back to them.

I'm such a failure.

"I was just fixing to leave actually." Iori said as he pushed off the tree and stretched a little. "I have an announcement to make when we get back home but I guess I can just tell you two now since we're here with ___. From now on, ___ is going to be living with us."

Both of the twin's eyes widened at that. "No way." Tsubaki said. "Who's room is she going to be staying in?" Azusa then asked.

"Natsume's old room. No one uses it anymore except to store random things so I'm going to clean it out tonight and help her move in within the next few days." Iori responded easily, clearly already knowing exactly what needs to be done.

Tsubaki's amethyst colored eye focused on myself as he smiled. "Well, guess we're going to be roommates from now on ___!"

Again, all I could do was smile, a lump in my throat forming despite the air remaining light and cheerful around us.

Iori looked to his brothers for a moment before refocusing his attention on me. "You don't mind if I tell my brothers about your, situation, do you? They might ask why you're always so quiet and if I tell them now then it should save you from some awkward situations later." He said a little softer while Azusa began talking to Tsubaki about all the things they're going to need to move out of Natsume's old room.

I shrugged, silently telling Iori to do what he thinks is best. The grey-haired boy smiled at that. "Don't worry, I won't go telling them your life story. I'll come over in a few days to help bring your things over so start packing tonight. You really did play incredibly today, ___."

Azusa and Tsubaki both said their goodbyes as Iori led their small group of three back towards the front of the school. I waved to them with my free hand as they left me standing there, cherry blossom petals floating through the air as I watch them disappear from my sight altogether.

Letting out a small sigh, I glanced around a bit before looking down at the bouquet still being cradled in my arms. "How am I going to survive living with those guys? I can't say a thing to them..." I mumbled dejectedly.

Keeping the bouquet close to my chest, I walked off towards the back of the academy and out the gates where there were little people walking about. With my gown blowing in the wind, I left my old high school behind and started the long trek back to the orphanage in order to start packing just as Iori told me to do.

Well, this certainly is one way to start off the next chapter of my life...

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Tsubaki won the popularity poll so tadaaa he gets the first solo book written for him.~

Question of the Chapter: What are your thoughts on the heroine? Do you like her? Hate her? Don't really have an opinion yet? xD I looked up a bunch of stuff on selective muteness to try and make her believable but only time will tell if I can really pull off this sort of protagonist. Even if I get some things wrong, I hope you still love her all the same xD I'm trying guys lmaooo

I'm really looking forward to this book though. I already have a bunch of ideas on how I want Tsubaki's story to go and it's all pretty cute tbh like her and him could not be more polar opposites (then again, she's not really like any of the boys with the exception of Iori and probably Louis lul). I was originally going to write Azusa's story first, but you all wanted this boi so here we go xD onto chapter one and let's all pray I don't mess this story up ^^

I love each and every last one of you lovely cuties and thanks so much for taking the time to read this chapter <3

~ ｋａｔ ♡

p.s. HAPPY NEW YEARS TO THOSE READING THIS THE NIGHT/ DAY I POSTED IT AYYEEEEE XD