Dream Star

Since they came to England during July, Haruka hoped that the chances of rain would be small. But it seemed like his hopes were in vain. To think it rained on the day of their date, what a bad omen. His gaze fell on his girlfriend who was looking out at the window and sighing every few seconds. He felt bad really. But it"s practically a storm out there.

His thoughts broke off when she called out to him, "Can I join you?" Lila asked.

Join him? But the couch is far too small, how is she.. Seeing Lilas gaze, Haruka nodded. Lila made her way over and cheerfully laid down next to him. Because of the couch being small, she had to huddle up against him.

Haruka wrapped the surrounding blanket around Lila, and buried his face in her chest, "mm...."

"Well, I guess rainy days aren"t bad," he commented.

Lila laughed, "Aha."

Haruka apologized, "Sorry, I know you wanted to go on that date."

"No, it"s okay."

Is she really fine with this? He knows how much she was looking forward to this. "We will be here for a while. So.."

"Ah-huh.." Lila replied.

Is she listening? Haruka noticed her looking him up and down, cheeks turning red. What is she doing? "Say Haruka, do you like a.s.sertive girls better?"

Huh? What"s with that question? Seeing the serious look in the girl"s eyes, he thought about it. Does he like it? Haruka knew he didn"t have a preference. He"s never paid much attention to the girl he slept with. But it"s different with her; he notices things he shouldnt..

"Yeah." He doesn"t mind it when they take the initiative, but, "I"m fine with innocent girls."

Lila"s cheeks reddened, "So basically me?" she murmured.

His lips curve to a smile. "I don"t know about that. You"re not so innocent anymore; I guess that"s because of me. " Haruka commented.

"D—don"t tease me, idiot." Lila stammered as she hid her red stained cheeks with her hands.

__________________________________________________________
R Dome (Dream Star Training Center)

Kotori sweatdropped, hearing the girls insults regarding Lilchan. Uh, but the weather is terrible? It"s practically a storm out there, and they still want Lilchan to come in for practice? Then again, Karas.h.i.+msan made her take the day off, anyway.

........
Lounge.

Kotori hugged the pillow to her chest as Maika sat on the opposite couch with some doc.u.ments.

"You need to tell them off. You don"t enjoy listening to their blabbing either correct?" Maika said.

Kotori laughs weakly, "But.."

"I know you care about her. It must be hard sitting around and listening to them bad mouth her."

Kotori gaze softened, "Her voice saved me. I owe her a great deal. That"s why.."

"That"s why you came to the academy; you knew she would come here, eventually?" Maika said.

Kotori nodded, "It was only a guess. I wasn"t sure she would, but she did, eventually."

Maika tapped her pen, "About that, it was only a guess?"

Kotori shook her head; there"s no need to hide it. "My powers."

"I see, so you"re also.."

"But what I can see is very limited, and it"s subjected to change. If something disrupts the flow, then the future can change easily."

"Who will she chose?" Maika asked.

Kotori looked away, "It"s hard to say." Truthfully, she also wanted to know. That"s why the moment she realized Lilchan"s feelings were a mess. Kotori wanted to find out exactly who she would choose. "Predicting the future for romance, I think is the restriction on my powers."

"We shouldn"t interfere in it?"

Kotori nodded, "Yes."

Maika sighed, "So there"s no easy way.." Seeing the girl"s concern, Kotori paused. She wonders if Maiksan is thinking the same a.s.s her. It is worth a shot to mention it.

"The two seem to be okay, are you still worried?" Kotori asked.

"I"m more worried for Austin-San," Maika said.

"Oh...you think.."

Maika nodded, "Don"t you think so too? She likes him more than she thinks."
______________________________________________________________
Apartment Complex (H Street)

She"s practicing.

Maybe he shouldn"t bother her.

Still, Haruka stood in the doorway. Lila"s singing has changed, it"s on a whole new level to when she was singing during her audition room. Comparing the time to when she sang and competed with her sister though, she"s gone through a lot. So he doesn"t want to use that performance and her present condition. It"s difficult to make comparisons for it, anyway.

Lila turned around and stopped seeing him, "Um?"

"Hey."

Lila asked, "How is it?"

Haruka walked over and placed his hand on the piano key, "Yeah, as I said recently. Your singing changed. Your emotions for your songs are different now.." Noticing her turn red from the corner of his eye, he paused. Oh. Is it because he"s dating her? So that"s it. But her level of singing now won"t match up to Misaki.

When they have chosen compet.i.tors for the main tournament. Lila ought to revert to her old style; otherwise, she would stand no chance. Or maybe he can do something about this. The feelings she has for him, Haruka could use it so. He refuses to accept that her feelings for him are weaker than the one she has for Austin Kiryu.

If that"s what influences her singing. Right now with her present state, isn"t it admitting that her feelings for him aren"t as strong? That"s frustrating. He grabbed hold of her hand and walked towards the door.

"Haruka?"

"Let"s go out after all," Haruka said. He was already putting his coat on and removed the girls from the coat rack before putting it on her.

"Eh, but the storm?" Lila said puzzled.

"A drive."

..........
He sheltered her properly, so she didn"t get wet on the way down to the car. It didn"t take long before Haruka drove. Though he hadn"t been here in a long time, the roads were still familiar to him.

"Can we go up there?" Lila asked.

Haruka nodded, "Yeah. I"ll get the tickets."

Lila cheerfully replied, "Yay!"

G.o.d, she"s cute. He"s never seen a girl like this before. Lila is so pure and so innocent, she is different than all the others. The lights turn red, and he used that chance to kiss her.

"Wh--"

"Oh. Back to green." Haruka turned his attention back to the wheel. But he spotted how fl.u.s.tered she was through the mirror. He put the car on auto-mode and returned to kissing her.

"H-haru-"

"Auto mode."

Lila shook her head frantically, and he sighed and turned back to the wheel. Is she still shy? They"ve been dating for a while now.

...

Rise Stage.

"Such a large stage! What is this place?" Lila asked eyes sparkled in amazement.

"It"s your first venue here," Haruka replied.

At that comment he watched his girlfriend"s expression turn from amazement to panic. "W-wait here?" Lila exclaimed.

Haruka nodded, "Yeah."

"Haruka didn"t you tell me on the first day that I have no fame here. What are you doing booking an arena this big? What if we don"t sell out the tickets?." Lila said in disbelief.

"You"d reduce yourself to a small venue?"

Lila shook her head, "But right now..."

"Even your status as Kiku Ari grants you this much. Naturally, it"s like I told you before. Even though you"re famous in j.a.pan with both ident.i.ties, it means nothing here. You rest from zero. However, my status here differs from j.a.pan."

"Um, so I"m cheating?" Lila summed up.

"Not necessarily, I"ll set you some conditions." Haruka walked over to the switch. He flicked one of them on, and the rooftop opened.

"An open roof?" Lila murmured.

"Let"s see how far your voice reaches."

Haruka thought she would be more pleased, but he watched as Lila looked down. "But..my voice.." Lila hesitated.

He frowned and walked back over, "Do you doubt my eyes? I wouldn"t bring you this far if you are not capable."

"I—I know, but..."

Haruka hugged her tightly, "I want to see your feelings for me." Haruka murmured, "Won"t you show me?"

He wants to rea.s.sure himself that Lila really loves him.