Dream Star

Lila cheerfully replied, "Me too! I love--"

The image of her and Kiryu hand in hand vanished, and Haruka"s image appeared.

"Stay by my side."

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June 9th, 2035

Thump. Thump.

Lila immediately bolted up from the bed and exhaled deeply. What, what was with that dream? Why, did Haruka appear…..

Is she really that desperate? Just because Kiryu hasn"t woken up, just because she hasn"t seen him in so long. Is she that lonely? But her heart, her heart will always belong to Kiryu. That"s something she knows full well, that"s why she has to get a grip and wait for Kiryu patiently. They say his condition is getting better, so she ought to be impatient. Hisame-san phoned her and said he would allow them to meet once Kiryu recovered. She simply has to bear with this pain and loneliness until then...

Her thoughts broke off as she heard the sound of a message being received and picked up her phone.

From: Soichiro

______________________________

Theres someone in the school.

Perhaps an organization.

Be careful.

_____________________________

Lila exhaled deeply, she has to calm down. It does her no good being in a state like this.

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Light Academy Courtyard, 12:00 PM

After that, she struggled to get back to sleep. It was difficult for her. She tried to. But she was afraid to close her eyes. If she closed her eyes, then once again, that dream would appear. She was afraid that once again, Haruka"s image would replace Kiryu"s.

"What"s wrong? You"re acting strange?" Haruka asked.

"N-nothing." she stammered.

Haruka brushed his forehead against hers, and her cheeks reddened. "Are you sure? You have a live show later, it would be bad if you"re sick."

"Even if I was, I"d go anyway," she muttered. Besides knowing him, he would most likely try to get rid of her fever using questionable methods.

"I"m tired. Let me borrow your lap for a bit."

Despite how embarra.s.sed she was, Lila nodded, and Haruka laid his head down on her lap. He really is foolish. But he"s a kind person and his feelings for her are genuine. Someone kind won"t abandon someone in need correct?

Lila thought for a moment before she made her mind up and asked, "...Haruka."

"Hm?"

"I wanted to ask you for a favour…"
Lila murmured quietly.

"Is this about Austin Kiryu?" Haruka guessed.

Lila looked away, shame-filled her features. It was the last thing she wanted to resort too. However, the media are getting restless. While the Austin family provided an explanation for Kiryu"s absence. There were still many people who weren"t satisfied with the explanation. It doesn"t help that Kiryu took over the number one work she was meant to be doing.

"I"m sorry, I know this is shameful of me.." she murmured. Even if he is a kind person, asking this would be too much. After all, Kiryu being asleep is advantageous to him. Why would he give that up?

Haruka doesn"t say anything at first and she"s worried that she upset him. Is he going to get angry again? Lately, the two of them have been fighting more frequently. She thought after they had that honest talk, things would get better between them, but that sadly wasn"t the case. A deep sigh escaped her lips, really, what is she doing?

After a few minutes, he suddenly spoke up, "Alright."

"Eh?" Lila said puzzled.

"There is something I could try."

"Um, really…?" she asked.

"Well, your singing already did the majority of the work. What I will do, will simply wake him up." Haruka explained.

"Don"t cry." he brushed his fingers against her eyes and wiped the tears.

Oh no, the tears started falling un-controllably before she knew it.

"You"ll be busy for a while. But I can put aside some time and alter your schedule, considering how busy you have been as of late."

Lila nodded and doesn"t say anything.

She gets to meet Kiryu, soon... She"s so happy. It"s almost been two whole months since she last saw him. She wants to meet with him soon. So much has happened in such a short amount of time. Her thoughts broke off when Haruka suddenly sat up and brushed his hand against her cheek.

"H--haru?" Lila said startled.

"I"ll help, but …you pay me back.." he murmured.

Lila paused, it had been quite some time since they last slept together. Part of it was due to her busy schedule regarding the tournament and the music screening. Haruka too has been very busy. But more importantly...

Haruka must have noticed her staring, since he suddenly said, "What?"

"Say, you"re not going to force me to do anything?" Lila wondered. After all, it would be easy for him to do so.
By forcing she meant those kisses. After his so called failed attempt. He never tried again.

"..I was a bit brash before. Sorry." Haruka apologized.

He apologized...

But she probably shouldn"t continue with this topic any longer. It"s still dangerous. He"s keeping his promise, but she can"t be too sure. He may try again, the moment she lets her guard down.

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After parting ways with Haruka, she found herself lost in thought as she headed back to cla.s.s. She wondered what she"s really going to do about the situation regarding Haruka. She hasn"t received any word from Ameno-senpai too, so she guessed she"s alone on this for now. Knowing that guy, he will show up randomly one day. But for now, she ought to figure this out.

It"s not as though … Her feelings have changed for him. She still thinks Haruka is someone important and Kiryu is her most beloved, and yet there"s something different now. She recalled that dream from earlier and sighed. If he"s entering her dreams now, something"s different, right? In the past she only used to dream about Kiryu, her whole world simply revolved around Kiryu.

That was the past. Even though it was like that up until she left for her journey. She understands full well that she can"t keep up that sort of behaviour anymore. Her thoughts broke off when she felt someone"s gaze on hers.

As she recalled the context of Soichiro"s text message, she paused. Already? It"s true she did suspect something last time but... Lila took a deep breath, she closed her eyes and a trail of black mist surrounded her. Over there. Lila raised her hand and sent the mist towards the left. She caught a glimpse of several figures getting caught up in the mist, but some swiftly dodging.

Lila exhaled deeply.

It"s boundless and filled with possibilities. Lila lept back and a bullet grazed where she had just been standing moments ago. She felt the persons increasing murderous intent. It was a good thing that she decided to leave that hallway. Although it had occurred to her that she would be attacked once again. She couldn"t figure out the exact timing. Two days after the first attack. Two or maybe three days, there always seems to be such a elapse of time before anything else happens. So, in this case, it would be two huh? What timing.

She didn"t tell Haruka about the other attacks. It did occur to her that she ought to have said something, and yet even when she returned with scratches. He didn"t say anything. Like with her ident.i.ty, he feigns ignorance. Is it simply because they are enemies? She doesn"t really now. Unlike her Mother and Kyoko-nee, she"s always known - from birth that she was not like all the others.

Despite the person"s murderous intentions, she noted how they haven"t tried to get close to her. Nor have they even revealed themselves once. So they must have no close range weapons. She drew back her mist and murmured a few words until two silver guns wrapped with blood vines, appeared in her hands.

It"s not a weapon that she likes using often. But like she told Takes.h.i.+ the other day, even her quick reflexes have limits. Besides she"s gotten so many injuries in just the span of three months. Even if she"s a hanyou pure breed, her wounds can"t heal that quickly. Simple wounds yes but wounds from darkness?

Even now the pain in her leg from when she was pushed down the steps hurt. Yes, that"s another thing she refrained from telling Haruka. If he knew his fangirls were causing her problems again, he would blame himself. She can"t allow herself to get hit.

One.. two...

Lila shoots.

Three...four five...

Hearing groups of screams of agony and pain. Lila nodded. Good. She"s glad that she doesn"t have to see it this time. The faces of people she"s hurt with her own hands. Although the world is peaceful in contrast to her mother"s generation, crime still happens. She will not deny it if she"s ever confronted with someone who calls her a murder. After all, she has killed, killed so many people with these hands of hers that Kiryu loves so much.

As another wave headed to her, she dodged once again and cut"s it apart landing on the ground briefly before bouncing back. These powers are a curse. That is something she can no longer deny. When her powers first emerged, the timing was bad. Her mother wasn"t around, and she wasn"t able to control it.

Her memory of it is very vague, but she does recall the scene dyed in the colour of red and her hands filled with the very same colour. Before she could even process what happened, she was pulled into the arms of her mother"s familiar warmth and pa.s.sed out.

It was over, but never once did she forget the sight of blood she saw that day.