Dream Star

She extends her hand out to the centre and closes her eyes. It"s not the silver tree at home, or the mysterious one covered in her mother"s flowers at the park. However, she feels it. The very same essence in those trees flowing through this one. It surprised her that there would be such a place like this, in such a busy city. A place where you can clearly hear the sound of the wind, the leaves rustling.

Mother, she really does want to get stronger.

Is it possible for her?

The entire time she was so loved and sheltered. She looked straight ahead, without looking back, in order to catch up. In order to be able to find you. But even though she"s attained the t.i.tle of number one idol. It feels like she"s only touched the very edges. On that stage.

No inside that place, inside the s.p.a.ce where Mother appeared and gave her the G.o.d idol crown. She felt it. This is only the first step; there"s something more. There"s an area in that s.p.a.ce that she cannot reach yet with her current level. Gradually her body is getting better but the lingering effects of Soichiro"s training still remained. With the heavy schedule, Haruka gives her; it"s difficult to rest too. She isn"t sure exactly how well she will be able to do in the Dream Stars audition round. Even though, Lila intended to hold her abilities back. There"s probably no need for that. The present her won"t even be able to scratch the performance she put on during the finals.

Lila frantically shakes her head, no more negative! Besides, Kasumi still believes in her. She said it was okay for her to be confident. It"s okay, it"s okay. Lila repeated those words several times more. Before pulling her hand away and returning to training.

.

.

Lila manages to break free and covers her flushed face with her hands.

"You"re cute."Haruka said with a sly smile.

This is so embarra.s.sing. In the first place, why does he know about these areas" n.o.body seems to cross? Hearing the sound of the bell go a third time, Lila knows that she"s late. It will take some time getting to the cla.s.sroom.

"I"ll take you back."

"Yes..."

Today is her birthday.

Maybe, that"s why she received such a royal princess treatment from him this morning and why, despite her protesting. He made her stay with him last night. Although she managed to slip away during the morning, he easily found her. That was the first time for her, waking up to someone who isn"t Kiryu kissing her. Haruka"s lips were on hers. It was such a mysterious feeling.

Her thoughts" breaks of feeling the warmth of Haruka"s hand against hers. Ah, "Don"t s.p.a.ce out.."

"Ah-- yes."Lila stammers.

His hand. Her gaze softens, she really doesn"t understand. Why does he like her?

.

.

When Lila arrives inside the cla.s.sroom, thankfully no teacher was insight and everyone seemed to have moved the table around into groups of four. Lila blinks. A lesson must have been cancelled. But what"s everyone doing? When her eyes scanned the room, she noticed everyone seemed to be preparing for something. Various art materials lay on the tables, and the floor. Lila blinks. Are they preparing for a festival? But it isn"t till June right, and it"s only April? Then again, when she was doing her research with Kiryu. She did notice that the school had an unusual number of events. Cheerfully Yumeko-chan made her way over to where she and Haruka was standing.

"Look Ari-chan. I made a cute crown."Yumeko holds up a paper crown with various decorations, and ornaments on it.

"It"s pretty--"

Haruka cuts her off by sneering, "Childish."

At that, the blonde eyes twitch in annoyance.

"At least my tastes aren"t vile."

"Hm."

"By the way aren"t you in the wrong cla.s.sroom? You better hurry long again before you end up repeating another grade."

At that remark of Yumeko-chan, she watches Haruka"s expression change. Lila sweatdropped, seeing the lightning bolts between the two. Uh...Before Lila could intervene, someone pulls her back.

Ah.

"Hamano-kun."

"Always making a fuss these two. Senpai. Yumeko-chan, don"t cause a scene."

"But he--"

"She--"

Mikami shakes his head and then points to her. At that, the two suddenly stopped, as though something just crossed their minds.

"I"m going to get more materials. Ari-chan, what colour do you need? We"re almost out of everything."

"Ah, then some shades of blue please."

Yumeko nodded. She spoke to some other girls before leaving.

Lila stares at the girls retreating figure, she wonders what"s really between her and Harukkun. This sort of hostility towards each other doesn"t seem normal. Perhaps Yumeko-chan as well, is one of those girls.

Haruka informs her that he"s leaving, stopping her train of thought, "I"m going to head back now."

"Ah-- yes...um..."

She wants to say something. What was it again? Oh, right. She wants to see him before the meeting time...She should tell him that she can"t come.

"I"ll meet you by the back gate."

"Ngh..."Lila moans lightly, as his lips grazed her ear.

"Ann--ano I have--"

"Come meet me when you"re done here."

Lila shyly manages to nod.

His fingers lingered on hers for a moment before he pulls away.

"Senpai, t--thank you. For earlier."

Haruka looked puzzled. "You like that sort of kiss?"

She forgot that words of grat.i.tude are useless with this guy. He always interprets her words of grat.i.tude for something s.e.xual. But, she supposed, it was for something physical related. How does she explain this? Whenever she feels cold and uncomfortable, he hugs her tightly. He makes her feel safe.

However, whenever she wakes up in the middle of the night, his arms are no longer around her. His back is turned, so he is no longer facing her. Occasionally she would wake up in the morning, and he would be there. But those times are rare, the majority of the time. He"s never there.

He doesn"t wait for an answer and kisses her lips briefly.

With a final nod, she watched as he walked away.

. . .She couldn"t tell him.