Dream Star

Lila took a deep breath, okay. She should be fine. She glanced at the small basket under some table cloth. It"s nice weather for a picnic. So ... As Lila rehea.r.s.ed the lines in her head, a sigh escaped her lips. What is she doing here? She should spend more time with Kiryu. There are only a few days left and yet, she recalled Haruka"s expression the last time they were together. He really doesn"t look well, and he hasn"t been eating or sleeping much, she wants to check up on him.

The months ending, she heard odd rumors that Haruka acts strangely during this time period and the start of July. But she isn"t sure why... There are still a lot of things she doesn"t know about him.

The door opened revealing Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka. Lila averted her gaze, cheeks flushed seeing his appearance. "G—good morning..."

"Ari." He looked confused.

"Um... Can I come in?" Lila asked.

"Wait--"

Wait? She tilted her head in confusion. Why does he suddenly seem so panicked?

"Harukkun? Is someone there." A female voice called out.

Oh, he had a client...

Lila felt her heartbeat speed up when she recognized the voice... This voice? It confirmed her suspicions when a half-dressed Rosalichan stepped out.

"Oh ~~ it"s Lilchan. Morning."

It"s Rosalia... Recalling what happened before, her face color goes pale... Ah.

Didn"t she say she will work on getting Kiryu? Why is she dragging Haruka into this? Does this woman really want to see her miserable that much? Her thoughts broke off when Haruka wrapped his jacket around her and blocked her view.

"Could you leave?"

"Huh? I thought we would go again."

"Change of plans."

"Stingy... But," Rosalia wrapped her arms around Haruka"s neck, "You"ll meet with me again won"t you?"

"I will."

Seeing the two kiss, she felt a swelling pain in her heart.
.
.
After Rosalichan got dressed, she gathered up her belongings and left. At least she gathered up things. Lila could still see various garments belonging to the woman around the room. It made her feel sick while she isn"t staying in this room anymore because she wants to spend more time with Kiryu. It doesn"t change that a while back she stayed here with Haruka...

His lips brushed against her ear, "I have time... Want to relax with me?"

Haruka getting close to her like this is bad for her heart. It"s beating so loudly. She really likes him. She knows that. But she loves Kiryu. Lila drew back, "I only came here to ask... I can"t attend practice later... So.."

"Your taking advantage of my feelings for you to make up excuses to skip practice."

Her eyes widened at his cold words.

"I know you want to spend more time with him, but you"re pus.h.i.+ng your luck. As a professional, you ought to know better." Haruka sighed. That"s not it, that"s not the reason she is...

Seeing his indifferent expression and cold tone. Lila clenched her fist, there"s no use reasoning with him. Why is he acting jealous for, anyway? Just now he was being intimate with another woman right in front of her. What a hypocrite. Her thoughts broke off when he pushed her against the wall, "Not going to speak?"

Lila still chose to remain silent. "...."

"You know, I really am pent up. You shouldn"t have come here.""

"L—let me go... we can"t Haruka," Lila said.

Haruka with an irritated expression, replied, "You"re annoying me. Did you really think I"d let you leave?"

... Why is he like this now? It"s unfair. So unfair.

"It"s okay for you to kiss and have s.e.x with other girls, but you won"t even let me spend even a little time with Kiryu?" Lila exclaimed. It tired her, this situation. Why is it he"s able to do what he wants, but the moment she does it...

Haruka cupped her cheeks, "Don"t cry... Don"t cry, Lila..."

"Idiot..."
__________________________________________________________
Training Camp. Singing practice.

Haruka sighed, well so much for holding back and restraining herself. He wonders what sort of expression Austin Kiryu will have once he sees those marks. Though she slapped him before it could go any further. He still left a mark that could easily make the other one to misunderstand. His thoughts broke off when blue hair entered the room.

Huh? Why is she here...
...

He grabbed hold of her arm, "Can I help you judge Karas.h.i.+ma?"

Sensing the girl"s cold tone he sighed.

"Weren"t you meant to be skipping?" he muttered quietly.

"Is there something wrong with me attending and changing my mind?"

There isn"t a problem. But wasn"t she supposed to be spending time with Austin Kiryu? He doesn"t understand why she"s here. He doesn"t have time to ask since someone announced they were starting; he let"s go of her arm and watched as she walked over to where Yumeko and the others were.
.
.
"Next Miss Kiku Ari, could you show how far your range is?"

Lila nodded and Haruka watched as she stood in the center.

"Our Love was like a song.
It started slowly, filled with uncertainty.
But as the song goes by...
The notes are dancing, swirling alongside the other notes blossomed to a beautiful melody filled
with the deep emotions we carry from our youth...
We can no longer return to our past love."

"The past where we spent our fleeting every day only thinking about each other where our worlds revolved around each other...
Instead, we can nurture a new start.
One that is as bright as the stars. If I told you that whenever you held me in your arms... ...."

Hearing the familiar song, he sighed quietly to himself. She had to sing this song. For her, it will always be that guy. The song, unlike the last time she sang it was slightly different, mainly because she was singing without the piano music. Not that she needed it.

"It felt like I was in a sea of stars, would you have laughed?
Perhaps you would have.
But what"s certain to me is no matter how far apart we are from each other, our songs will always conn---"

Why did she stop— Haruka"s eyes widened in alarm as he saw her face gradually become paler.

It didn"t take long before the girl collapsed.

By instinct, he rushed over and picked up the girl, and left the room without a second glance at the other partic.i.p.ants. Once he was down the hallway, he was scowling himself severely. What on earth was he doing? He didn"t realize she was sick if he knew..if he knew he wouldn"t have.. Haruka paused in mid-thought. He wouldn"t have done anything if she was sick? That was a lie. In fact, it would have spurred him on. He"s the type to take advantage of her when she"s sick...

His thoughts broke off when he crossed paths with Ayase Kotori, a worried look flashed through her face seeing the girl in his arms... What perfect timing. Haruka hesitated for a moment.

"Um...?"

If he asks, then Austin Kiryu will come right away. But if he does that, his time with her.. Haruka shook his head, this isn"t the time for this.

"Can you pa.s.s on a message to Austin Kiryu for me?"
...
When he sent the girl away with instructions, Lila stirred in his arms. Her hand extended towards his cheek, "Don"t frown... Haru-kun...." Lila said, half conscious.
!!!
"Smile!"

As he recalled the words of the young Lila he met then, he paused and glanced back at the girl who shut her eyes again. Lila isn"t meant to remember. It can"t be possible for her to get those memories back either.