Dream Star

From what little tailing she did, Miu could figure only so much. However, without a doubt, Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka is only happy around Lila. The entire time he was smiling while speaking with those people, but there seemed to be something superficial about it. While the two will most likely have complications in the future, for now, things between the two of them

Her conversation with s.h.i.+chiro remained fresh in her memory. That scenery that she hasn"t seen so long, with the same person she saw it with before. A peaceful and pleasant dream dyed with color. Her gaze softened when she recalled the words Lila said to her last year. Agehwouldn"t who isn"t a talkative person, or gets involved in those situations said something to her. It was the first time she truly understood, the power and influence that person has.

Magic Change
Lyrics: Tachibana Miu
Composition: ?

"The wind is blowing in a different direction than before.
Things are changing rapidly every day.
Everything is happening so quickly that I can"t keep up.
I"m spinning around in circles, wandering aimlessly about.

Is it okay to be like this?
The person I am right now is different
Can I fit in this society anymore?
Just like a normal girl, I worry, laugh, and cry - I experience these different emotions.

Because I am different, people shun me.
However, there are those who stay
Those who remain by my side who I can act like myself around.

I won"t change for another person.
I will continue being myself.
Because this is what I learned from you," Miu sang.

---------
Haruka said he would come back soon. Lila peered at the roadside but saw no traces of his car. Is he really coming back? Or did he return to the bar? Lila frantically shook her head, no quit being paranoid. It"s precisely because she"s become so paranoid these days that she keeps neglecting her health. All she can think about is Haruka and what he is doing.

Still, her gaze fell on the crowd that was slowly dispersing. "Miu"s gotten a lot better," Lila thought. The girl"s stage is entirely different than before.

Miu takes a seat beside her, "How was it?"

"Ah, sorry, what?"

A defeated look appeared on Miu"s face, and Lila laughed, "I"m just joking around with you. I was watching carefully; you were s.h.i.+ning so brightly. So beautiful," Lila complimented.

"Lila…"

"The current me lost so many things. The things that were precious to me before, even now are still precious. Kasumi and everybody, even Kiryu - but right now I"m not the person they once aspired to be like. I"m not everybody"s ray of hope anymore," even if Selichan didn"t come along. Even if her reputation wasn"t ruined, "That"s why I want to see with my own eyes. These changes and learn everything about everyone all over again."

"I don"t think you have to," Miu smiled, "You couldn"t tell from my performance? If it weren"t for you, I would not have come so far."

"You still remember what I said to you then?"

"How could I forget just now before I went on stage, it came to me? The words you said then, both you and Agehsama. You two gave me so much support, without you two, I wouldn"t have come so far."

Lila smiled and nodded, "You see Miu, the one who gave me the strength to help everybody was Kiryu. If Kiryu weren"t beside me then, I wouldn"t have realized my potential," she muttered. It was because Kiryu was supporting her this whole time, that she found the strength to do her best.

"Is that still the same now?"

"It is actually," Lila laughed, "Really, there"s no use in beating around the bush about it, so I"ll just admit it. Even now I know Kiryu is supporting and helping me, I get strength from that. Things right now with Haruka are very complicated; if it weren"t for Kiryu"s advice, I wouldn"t know what to do."

"What a naive and kind person."

"Yes, Kiryu is kind. One day, I"m hoping I can cut the tie between us properly. He"s a kind person, so he deserves somebody better than me."

"Do you really think that?" Miu inquired. Lila knew that Miu saw right through her, and she deeply sighed. Miu laughed, "Honestly Lila, you need to stop acting all grown up. It"s scary."

Lila"s cheeks puffed into a pout, "I"m not acting, I"m mature now!"

"Yes, yes, whatever you say."

There is something else she wants to tell Miu, "Please look after Kiryu for a while," but Lila held herself back from saying it. Right now Miu has a lot going on. She can"t possibly ask Miu for something so selfish.

....
When she saw Haruka by the gate, Lila quickly excused herself, and after saying a few more things to Miu she made her way over, and Haruka immediately wrapped his arms around her, "Hey, ready?"

Lila nodded, a particular scent caught her attention, "Haruka, you smell of alcohol," she muttered. The strong smell couldn"t pa.s.s her, and she frowned.

Haruka smiled, "Mm, drank a bit more," so he returned to the bar after she left? Lila didn"t like the sounds of that. But is she really in any position to complain? She made them leave abruptly without even saying goodbye to Aizawa. While Lila wasn"t fond of the girl, leaving without saying a word was very rude of her.

Still, "they met again," Lila thought. That was most likely the thing that bothered her the most.

"Before we go on our date, you have to sober up," Lila murmured, "Ah, sit here for a bit, I"ll get you some water," she pointed to bench.

There should be stalls in the nearby area.

"Water is no good," Haruka said, and before Lila could question him, she felt a sharp p.r.i.c.k on her neck. `Oh, well she supposes this is better too," Lila thought. Her blood is supposed to have some kind of healing effect, right? Still, this whole getting drunk in the middle of the day thing has been happening far too frequently recently.

After a few minutes, Haruka pulled away, but he looked at her, Lila understood and pressed her lips lightly against his.

"Nnngh…"

"You"re too beautiful," Haruka murmured against their lips, "Your not going to ask why I was drinking?"

Lila shook her head, "No need, you"ll tell me in due time," even if he hides things from her. He doesn"t hide them from long; eventually, Haruka tells her the truth. So all she has to do is be patient.

"Your trust me has gone up, huh?"

A deep sigh pa.s.sed her lips; it"s more like she doesn"t want to get too worked up. These days she has a lot on her mind, and Haruka still returns to her side by the end of the day. He doesn"t stay out late, and while he disappears during the day at times, he still comes back to her. For now, that much is enough. Her thoughts broke off when she felt his hand on her cheeks, "Shall we continue kissing? I don"t feel like talking much now."

Lila nodded, and Haruka pulled her towards him again, this time deepening the kiss. Things are okay, aren"t they? Slowly she is going to regain everybody"s trust, and in the process, she wants Haruka to see it too. The town she fell in love with, the people living her and the views. Haruka"s always felt left out when it concerns her past; that"s why she wants to show him everything she loves.