Dream Star

A deep sigh escaped Lila"s lips.

She disliked these places. But Soichiro"s orders are absolute. He"s right, many people let their guard down here. It"s easy to get them to talk. She was only making light talk with a few people and then he brought her over to a large group. At the start, she didn"t think much of it. But...

"And so..."

The guy who brought her over had his hand on her waist as he continued to speak with members of the group.

Lila frowned.

This must be why senpai wanted to go with her, Takes.h.i.+ and Ritsuko too.

...
It didn"t take long before the guy"s actions grew overboard. When he pulled her into his arms that was the last straw.

However, before that guy could kiss her, someone pulled her back. Her eyes went wide when she saw who it was. Haruka.

"... Wow, Haruksan."

"It"s Haruksan.."

With a cool expression, Haruka said, "What are you doing, with my girl?"

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Your---"

At that comment, the one who was holding her with such arrogance seemed to shake. His face color turned pale as he looked her up and down. He bowed, "I"m sorry I had too much to drink... Forgive me, Miss Kiku Ari-san."

Everyone in the room"s attention turned to them then, and others whispered.

"That"s her?"

"Oh, gosh."

"d.a.m.n it, she"s such a beauty! It"s unfair."

Eh? Lila blinked puzzled. What"s going on here?

Haruka bends down and muttered in her ear. "They think you"re my girlfriend.."

G—girlfriend? Why do they think..? She shot him a questioning look, but it did not phase Haruka. This guy, what has he said to the people here? Even if he told them about him touching her, it still wouldn"t lead to this conclusion. But wait, if he said such things to them. She wouldn"t be happy either.

.
.
Hallway.

"What are you do--" her sentence falls short when Haruka"s hungry lips are on hers. Smelling the alcohol she frowned.

"Nngh.. nngh..."

Lila hits him, "What... what are you doing?!" she exclaimed.

"I wanted to see you."

Thump. Thump.

No, don"t fall for it. He was only fooling around. You"re not special. Haruka grabbed her hand.

"Come with me upstairs. It"s more private."

Lila shook her head, who knows what he will try to do when he"s in this state? Haruka backed her against the wall and cupped her cheek, "Don"t run away."

"I--"

"Didn"t you promise me that?"

It"s true she said that. But... She recalled that person"s words.

"Don"t hesitate."

Lila wrapped her arms around him as she buried her face in his chest, "L—let"s go upstairs..." she muttered.

"Yeah."

.......
One room upstairs.

"I"ll go take a shower, you.." Haruka paused as he kissed her forehead, "Wait here for me."

With those words said, she watched as he walked away and she exhaled. What is she doing? Kiryu made that grand sacrifice, and yet nothing changed between her and Haruka. At the start, it still upset her the break up with Kiryu. She didn"t think it was right to enter a new relations.h.i.+p so soon. But then she received an indirect message from him, telling her not to worry and go ahead. Stupid Kiryu, isn"t it painful for him? Lila slumped on the bed, deep in thought.

What is she supposed to do? She doesn"t think it"s right for them to date right away. But she understands that they can"t keep on going this way. Does she wait a while... Awhile? How long is a while? She"s running out of time. It won"t be long before, she will have to return to her hometown. Back to Universal S academy for her final year in high school. It"s only July yes, but time pa.s.ses by a lot quicker than what one would think.

Oh, he was drinking a lot of alcohol. Lila stares at the half-empty cup. Haruka"s drink...

Her thoughts broke off when Haruka re-emerged from the bathroom. He walked over and drinks the cup in one go before pus.h.i.+ng her down onto the bed. Hungry lips on hers.

"Nmmmhh... Nmmgyh..." Being kissed by him, ever since that time she has not minded so much. Does she like it because he"s good at kissing or because of her feelings?

Noticing how once again he was getting too pa.s.sionate, she pulled back, "Wait, wait.."

Haruka stopped.

"I—I really think we shouldn"t rush things..." she stammered.

What is she saying at this stage? She sounds like an idiot. But it"s true that only a week has pa.s.sed since she was last with Kiryu. It doesn"t feel right to her. Well, they sort of already broke up before then. But still... Haruka buried his face in her chest.

"I don"t know what you mean by rush things, but I"ve been waiting for you for quite some time... Besides you..."

"?"

"It"s nothing..."

Was Haruka going to ask? About her and Kiryu? Surely he overheard it that day... Seeing that had stopped, she paused. She keeps offending him. What did she mean by accepting his invitation to come up here if nothings going to happen? But, she still cannot allow him to hold her. Even if there are feelings, she still can"t help but remember what he did the first few times. When he forced her, he was so brutal. She doesn"t want to experience that ever again.

For a while, there was nothing but awkward silence.

"Do you want something to drink? How about food?" Haruka asked.

"Ah—yes?"

Haruka nodded, "Do you mind if I order?"

"G—go ahead." she somehow got words out.

He"s sticking to his promise? While he broke it that one time during the mini trip to the island, he hasn"t since. Wait, he tried that one time in the training camp. Thump. Why is this person, filled with so many mysterious? While she moved into his place for a while, she gradually went back and forth the dorms... Since they kept fighting a lot.

She"s nervous. Even though she stayed at his place, nothing has happened between them. Do a few pa.s.sionate kisses count? "Ari."

"Y—yes?" Lila said startled.

"Shall we kiss longer?"

K—kiss more? She will die of embarra.s.sment. She can"t let him find out. Besides, her heart has not settled yet. She doesn"t want to tell Haruka about this feeling yet. Since she, still needs to settle her feelings on Kiryu. They"ve broken up. But she"s still having a hard time accepting that, that she is no longer Kiryu"s...

"Haruka...?"

"Your so warm..."

Her gaze softened, "Are you tired Haruka?" she asked.

"Even if I am, you"re in more pain..." he muttered.

... Lila said nothing to this, the one in more pain isn"t her. It"s him. She may get her nightmares. But Haruka is the one who randomly gets up in the middle of the night and wanders around aimlessly, "I was thinking Haruka... Could I move in for a while?"

Haruka looked puzzled at her question, "Huh? You want to increase the time spent in my place... An extra day?"

"N—no, um..." How does she put this without it being weird?

"You want to move in...?" Haruka asked.

She nodded.

"How long? Forever?" He muttered in her ear. She shook her head frantically, but Haruka remained close, "I have my ways to convince you to stay... "

The sound of someone knocking loudly on the door saved her. Irritated Haruka got up. Thump. Thump. Thump. It"s becoming more dangerous for her. Is it okay? She"s no longer confused. But if she became Haruka"s, she will truly not belong to Kiryu anymore... That thought frightened her so much.