"14 more people have been attacked since the beginning of the week. 6 of them are from the general studies classes in Ba Le High School. Zhong Ji Yi Ban still remains untouched after what happened last week." Ya Se explained the next day at school.
"Why isn't the enemy making a move on us?" Da Dong wondered as he sat up in his hammock.
"Probably to make it look like we are the true attackers since our class has the least number of victims." Xiao Yu replied as he went to sit at his desk.
"Then can we not just come clean and announce that we've lost our battle points?" Da Dong asked as Ya Se sat on top of his desk.
"That wouldn't be wise. Either way we will still have people who want to replace you as leader and if we do reveal it, not only will our enemy still be free but the KO Charts will become muddled." Ya Se explained.

"Good morning everyone!" An Qi smiled as she walked into the classroom with a large box.
"Hi, An Qi what's in the box?" Da Dong inquired as he watched her walk over to her seat.
"I brought gifts for everyone from the US but couldn't find the right time to give them to you." she explained, "And I've noticed that a lot of things have happened so I thought I could lift all your spirits."
"An Qi mei mei~" Jin Bao San purred, hopping over to her, "You're so thoughtful~ I never knew I had a place in your heart~!" he showed her two finger hearts and winked at her before getting knocked out by Da Dong.
"Wei, Jin Bao San! You're looking for internal injuries aren't you?!" he barked.
An Qi giggled.

As she opened the flaps of the large cardboard box, Xiao Yu stood up. "An Qi, let me help you." he said.
"Bribing everyone to make them like you?" Sha Jie questioned.
"She's just trying to be nice. Can't she do something nice?" Da Dong spat.
"There's no room for kindness in this class and she certainly doesn't belong here!" Sha Jie continued, glowering.
"Wow," Yu Yan smirked, "You're just as persistent on getting her to leave as you are to me."

With hurt shining in her eyes, An Qi blinked before forcing a smile onto her face again, "Sha Jie, I also got you a gift too." She picked up a small pink bag and handed it to Sha Jie and her two followers. Sha Jie opened the bag to see cosmetics and immediately she went silent. As her friends rummaged through it, she didn't say a word.

After An Qi had finished handing out the presents, she came to Yu Yan last. "Classmate Jiang, I apologise your gift was rushed." she said.
"I didn't ask for a gift nor do I accept them." Yu Yan replied as An Qi placed a box of chocolates in front of her.
"I didn't know what to get you because you can't see, so I thought you would like some chocolates," An Qi explained before Yu Yan pushed the box back to her.
"I don't want it," she replied.
"Take it, please?" An Qi urged but Yu Yan kissed her teeth and picked up the box. She turned around and placed it on Xiao Yu's desk.

Xiao Yu however was busy fumbling with the keyring that An Qi had just given him. The keyring had a golden musical note attached to it. He was so immersed into hooking it onto the zip of his bag that the he wasn't aware of what was going on in the classroom. He really liked this small gift that he had received.

He snapped out of his bubble when he pushed his bag off the table, pushing the box of chocolates off the desk in the process. The light thud of the box colliding with the floor brought him back to reality. "Oh... sorry," he bowed his head as he bent forwards to pick up the box. He handed it to An Qi but she pushed it back towards him, "It's okay, you can share it with Da Dong and Ya Se," she said.
 

~*~*~
 

"What are you doing here?" Ya Se asked as he approached Yu Yan who sat quietly against the wall of a building. "School's out, why don't you go home? Need a lift?"
Yu Yan closed her eyes and pointed at the window behind her, "I'm listening to him play," she muttered.
Ya Se looked through the window into the music room. He saw Xiao Yu giving Jay piano lessons and saw Da Dong and An Qi keeping them company. He looked down at Yu Yan puzzled, "Why don't you join them inside?" he asked, "It's warmer there than out here."
"I don't want to disturb them," Yu Yan replied and Ya Se scoffed as he sat down next to her.
"Wow, Jiang Yu Yan actually doesn't want to bother someone? I'm surprised," he teased.
Yu Yan hit his arm, "Hey, don't start."
Ya Se smiled, "Do you often come here to listen to him play?" he wondered.
Yu Yan responded with a small nod.
"Does he know?" Ya Se continued.
Yu Yan shook her head, "and I'd like to keep it that way."

"Xiao Yu, can you give me lessons too? Can you teach me to play that song you made for me?" the two heard An Qi say.
"Xiao Yu, play us that song! I haven't heard to it in a long time!" Da Dong exclaimed.

Ya Se watched Yu Yan's peaceful face slowly turn into a frown as she opened her eyes and kissed her teeth. "Does An Qi annoy you?" he slowly asked when Yu Yan stood up.
"Why do you have so many questions?" she spat before she laughed, "Why would she? It's just getting a bit too noisy for me. My ears are hurting."
Ya Se followed behind her with his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Why are you following me?" she barked at him.
Ya Se grabbed her wrist, "I know a place you'll like." he said quickly before dragging her away to his car.

Xiao Yu stopped playing when he heard a faint but angry "YA SE WAAAAAAAANG!" in the distance that got further and further away. He furrowed his brows in confusion before he resumed his piano playing.

"Xiao Yu, how about the three of us go out to eat after your lesson is over?" Da Dong suggested as he strummed the strings of a guitar randomly.
"Shouldn't we invite Ya Se and Yu Yan too?" he replied he turned to Jay.
"I saw them leave together a while ago," An Qi answered, "I don't think they will join us."
"Oh," Xiao Yu nodded slowly in understanding.
 

~*~*~

"Ya Se Wang, where have you brought me?" Yu Yan questioned as Ya Se helped her out of his car.
Ya Se looked at their surroundings. He had brought her to the top of a hill and currently, they were standing on a road that was on the side of it. From there, there was a spectacular view of the sun setting in Taipei but he didn't bring her here for the view. There was a special area he wanted her to go to.

He grabbed her wrist gently and began leading her down the road, "I can't take my car any further so we'll have to walk a bit," he told her.
"Ya Se Wang," Yu Yan hissed as she followed him obediently, "If I could use my yi neng right now, I would have knocked you out before you even had the chance to drag me to your car! What makes you think that I'll let you drag me around wherever and whenever you like!"
Ya Se chuckled as he listened to her complain even though she was still following him, willingly.

"We're here," he finally said, leading her over to the railings. The two were on a path surrounded by trees and plants. Over the railings was a waterfall. The sounds of birds chirping and tweeting came from every direction.

Yu Yan remained quiet and leaned forwards on the railings. She tilted her head upwards and her ears perked up to listen. She could hear the rapid gushing of water slapping against the boulders. She could hear birds singing and smaller creatures like squirrels scurrying up and down the trees, making her close her eyes to immerse herself in the sounds of tranquillity. She could smell all the different types of plants and flowers and she breathed deeply, inhaling the fresh cool air. A small smile blossomed on her face like the bud of a flower popping open at the coming of spring. Ya Se smiled, glad that Yu Yan liked this place.

A piano melody played in Yu Yan's mind, gradually getting louder to the point that she felt as though she could hear the sounds of the keys ringing in her ears. It was Yi Ge Ren Liu Lang - the song that Xiao Yu had played for her when she had first joined Zhong Ji Yi Ban. Although that was the only day she heard the song, she could hear it clearly in her mind.

She found herself standing in her own daydream. She found herself standing on a large body of water with a large orange sun setting in the distance. She gazed up at the dazzling blue sky that was streaked in tints of pink and orange. She saw thick but small clouds rolling over the horizon and saw exotic birds flying over her in small flocks. She turned around to see a vast beach with golden grains of sand and although there were no people, she could hear the laughter of happy children. Then suddenly, the sky over the beach darkened and a camp fire slowly formed on the sand. Faces of happy people began to surface and were illuminated by the moonlight. She smiled, feeling a sense of elation at the positive atmosphere.

Yu Yan then turned back around and saw Xiao Yu, or a person who she assumed to be Xiao Yu. She saw this boy's face clearly: his dark bangs hung over his face, his eyes were small but enchanting, and his facial features were well defined and handsome. He extended out his tanned hand towards her and unintentionally, she felt her own hand stretch out and reach for him. But then, the laughter of a girl chimed in her ears and a cute and petite looking girl with a beautiful smile and long silky brown hair stood next to him. Yu Yan's smile fell - she knew that laugh belonged to An Qi.

Jiang Yu Yan's eyes fluttered open quickly, revealing darkness.

She slapped herself as hard as she could in order to pull her mind back to reality.

Taken aback by her sudden actions, Ya Se looked at her in confusion.

"It's a sad song," Yu Yan muttered to herself in realisation, almost sadly.

Ya Se looked at the red marks that were imprinted on the side of her face, "Yu Yan, are you okay?" But before he could finish his words, Yu Yan pushed past him and walked back in the direction that they had come in.

"I want to go home," he heard her say. Worried, Ya Se quickly his heel and went after her back to his car.

Ya Se snuck glances at Yu Yan occasionally as he drove back to school. Yu Yan had a far away expression and her aura was cold. She was quiet throughout the whole ride.
"Jiang Yu Yan, you're a bit quiet aren't you?" He commented as he looked over at her.
Yu Yan just sighed.
"Are you okay? You don't look so good." He continued, trying to get her to talk.
She didn't reply.
"Shouldn't you have told me to shut up by now?" Ya Se asked her, "You're acting weird."
Yu Yan faced the window.
"Alright, I won't ask you what happened," Ya Se exhaled, "I won't try and get you to talk anymore; we're nearly at school anyway."

"I'm hungry, let's go get some food," she mumbled quietly.
A smile found its way onto Ya Se's face as he switched lanes, "Sure. Egomaniac texted me saying he and Xiao Yu are eating out. Let's join them."
"Sure... whatever," Yu Yan muttered in response.
 

~*~*~

Da Dong, Xiao Yu and An Qi waited at the mall for Ya Se and Yu Yan. Whilst they waited, they watched a person play the piano near a fountain. A crowd surrounded the person and people dropped in money into a hat that was on the floor next to them. Every so often, the person bowed their head whenever someone dropped in money. When the lady finished her performance, she stood up and received applause from the crowd of people.

"Thank you everyone," she smiled warmly at them all before picking up a stack of flyers. "I was hoping to interest the public in this piano competition," she explained as she showed them one of the flyers.
Xiao Yu's eyes widened.
"Piano competition?" Da Dong repeated as An Qi took a flyer.
Her eyes skimmed over it before she grinned widely at Xiao Yu, "Xiao Yu! You should participate! You’re so good at playing the piano!"
"I-I don't think I have what it takes to win..." he answered slowly.
"The prize for first place is - wow!" An Qi beamed brightly as she showed Xiao Yu the flyer, "500,000NT$!"

Immediately, the large sum of money hooked KO4's interest and he quickly took the flyer to have a look. He then looked at his hands and moved his fingers, 500,000NT$... that would help my situation out greatly.... but do I have what it takes to win...?

"Classmate over there!" The performer gestured to Xiao Yu who looked up, "Why don't you play a piece for us? You seem interested in this competition!"

"Huh? Me?" Xiao Yu stammered before Da Dong pushed him to the front from behind.
"Xiao Yu, jia you!" Da Dong grinned and gave him a thumbs up as Xiao Yu ended up stumbling to the front of the crowd.

The performer sat Xiao Yu down on the cushioned seat, "Play us anything you want," she said.
Xiao Yu nervously looked at all the eyes staring at him. His eyes then fell upon Ya Se who seemed to have just entered the crowd with Yu Yan.

"I don't know what to play..." Xiao Yu admitted to the performer who looked at him encouragingly.
"Don't worry, why don't you play a song that's important to you?" she suggested.
"A song that's important to me?" he repeated as he locked eyes with Yu Yan.
"Jia you!" the performer said as shouts of encouragement flew out from the crowd.

A song that's important to me... Xiao Yu began to press down on the keys ...then would it be... Yi Ge Ren Liu Lang...? he asked himself even though he had already started playing the song.

Yu Yan swallowed before turning around as soon as she recognised the song. "I'm going home," she said quietly but loud enough for Ya Se to hear. Before he could respond, she pushed her way through and out the crowd of people.
"Jiang Yu Yan!" Ya Se called out after her and followed her, "Let me drop you off at school since you don't know where we are!"

Xiao Yu watched the two leave and his eyes were fixed on the spot where they had been standing until he finished playing the song.

"Here is the application form, Classmate," the performer handed Xiao Yu a sheet of paper as he received a round of applause.
"Auditions will be held next week so make sure you fill out the form by then, okay?" she finished.
"Thank you," Xiao Yu replied as he headed over to his friends.