When Lila pulled away from Kiryu, her cheeks were flushed red when she finally realized what she did. Miu watched amused, well now, maybe she ought to have said something. But, Lila looked like she was starving, as a friend, it"s natural to think of her best interests.Kiryu gently brushed his hand on Lila"s forehead, "You don"t look so pale anymore, can you eat? I"ll finish up in a sec."
"Y—y—yes," Lila stammered. Kiryu nodded and made his way over to the kitchen. Before Miu could open her mouth to speak, she hears the sound of a car engine. Her eyes widened, realizing, and Lila must have heard it too since she immediately dashed out of the room.
Miu quickly followed after her, and sure enough when they reached outside. They saw Karas.h.i.+ma about to enter a car. Lila hurriedly ran down the steps, her friend stumbled a few times but eventually made her way to the sidewalk.
"Haruka!" Karas.h.i.+ma stopped, and Lila hugged him, "Haruka, don"t get angry at me. I"m sorry, I"m just hungry."
"I know, and I"m not mad."
"But why are you leaving?"
"I just have to take care of something; I"ll come get you in the park in two hours like I promised."
"Okay..."
Miu, however, saw the look in Karas.h.i.+ma"s eyes, it was dark, and the aura around him felt suffocating. "Something must have happened," Miu thought. Something terrible, she quickly took out her phone from her coat pocket and sent a message. Whatever Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka is involved in now, there"s no doubt that he needs surveillance. Miu didn"t want to do this, knowing that he"s special to Lila; however, this is for his own good.
....
Lila collapsed no sooner had Karas.h.i.+ma left, thankfully Kiryu was following from behind - so Lila didn"t fall and hit her head on the ground. Kiryu quickly brought her back inside the house and laid her down on the couch.
"Kiryu, I want to see Haruka."
Ouch, that must be painful to hear. But, Kiryu being the friendly guy he is, paid no mind to this and continued smiling.
"Don"t worry, he said he would be right back," Kiryu said as he caressed Lila"s cheeks, "Why don"t you go to sleep?" The girl seemed reluctant, but after a while, Miu watched as Lila closed her eyes. In a few minutes, her friend was fast asleep.
"Pa.s.s me my laptop, Miu."
Miu nodded and fetched his bag from the bag railing; she made her way back and pa.s.sed the bag to Kiryu. Kiryu opened it up and pulled out a laptop. Miu watched as he quickly typed a few things, and something appeared on the monitor. It looked like a map of the town, and a flas.h.i.+ng red dot was moving.
"What are you doing?"
"Tracking Karas.h.i.+ma," Kiryu answered.
Ehh? Miu looked at him dumbfounded and then back at the screen.
Kiryu smiled, "Well, even if you didn"t forward that request just now, I was already a step ahead," oh that"s right. The request she made must have been sent to the Austin Family headquarters, "Anyhow, it"s a fact that trailing after Karas.h.i.+ma is something we should have done a long time ago."
"Why didn"t you?" Miu heard that Kiryu was opposed to the whole tracking thing.
Kiryu smiled, "It wouldn"t be fair, would it? Enemy or not, Karas.h.i.+ma has never hurt Lila, and he"s always helped her behind the scenes. Also," his gaze fell on Lila, "She loves him."
Miu didn"t need an explanation for that; she immediately understood what he meant. As long as Lila loves Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka, Kiryu will not harm Haruka in any way. As long as Kiryu can see that Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka genuinely loves Lila, then that"s a guarantee for his protection. What"s more, "Kiryu, genuinely cares for Karas.h.i.+ma," Miu thought. She wonders why, though.
....
- Downtown -
Two hours left before her concert, and the last thing Miu expected to do was spy on Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka.
Miu understood Kiryu"s point of view, Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka must be suffering quite a bit due to loving Lila, " I am sure your aware of what kind of man he is, is he not the type to be completely loyal once they are officially together?"
Indeed, if those two were together properly, then she"d probably cease worrying about Lila too much. If there"s someone out there who can support her fragile friend, and she can trust them properly, she wouldn"t have to worry. However, the man named Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka is surrounded by mysteries. There are all kinds of rumors about him, some good, some bad. But all of these rumors involve him with other women.
One of the main reasons why she had been against Kiryu and Lila dating last year, was because of Kiryu"s flock of women. She didn"t approve of it, friend or not. Miu didn"t want Lila to be in a relations.h.i.+p with a guy who slept around. That"s why when Kiryu broke everything off, she was slightly surprised. Miu believed he was attached to the girl"s he slept with. But it was not like that at all, since then she"s learned not to judge people so easily. Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka, is he really like the rumors say he is? Or is there more to him than meets the eye? From the brief interaction she saw between the two, Miu could ascertain that Karas.h.i.+ma loves Lila a lot. But, to what extent would Karas.h.i.+ma go for Lila? That"s something she still needs to find out.
If Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka can"t prove that he"s good enough for Lila, then Miu will advise Lila and support Lila. Miu wanted to remain neutral, but while her friend"s happiness is essential. She has to make sure that the person in question is a good guy.
She supposes there"s no way to find out more about him unless she tails him, which is what she"s doing presently. Still, her gaze landed on the surroundings. Tall buildings, with bright signs that read, "Hotel," and several heart decorations. Tacky signboards with the price listing, and even a small red carpet at the front of most places. To think Karas.h.i.+ma can openly enter these places without question. It may be during the day, so not many people are present. However, without a doubt, this is the dodgy side of town.
"This is the first time I"ve ever gone to such a place," Miu thought. It"s not like she was unaccustomed to such sights. She may have been raised in n.o.bility, but she is not like those spoilt rich brats. Miu confidentially walked through the entrance, despite the looks she was getting and searched for her target. Where did he go? She can"t have lost him already.
Her thoughts broke off when she spotted bright ginger hair. Kira Maaya. Although their parents are friends, it took them a long time before they got along with each other. What is she doing here by herself? Or rather, what"s with that get-up? She looks suspicious. The ginger hair girl wore a white mask over her face and suspicious looking shades. Miu followed her line of sight and found it on the very same person she was spying on. Oh, could it be — that she"s also, spying?
"I heard that Kira Maaya was the one who snapped and not Iwa Kasumi, I"m sure the latter is as kindhearted as you say at least regarding the two"s situation. But Kira Maaya, on the other hand, was quite mad," she received word about Maaya getting angry at Lila. However, Miu didn"t think it was true at first. The only reason why Maaya would get mad at Lila is she thinks Lila isn"t serious when it comes to love.
Not serious? When Lila practically thinks about love twenty-four seven now? Perhaps Maaya can see something about this situation that she can"t. Something that not even Kiryu and Lila can.