Dream Star

She"s someone who can truly help him overcome the darkness in his heart.

"Ari-chan, you should tell him that one day."

"Ah-huh, that"s true."

One of the teachers called out to her friend then, "Kiku-san, we found the doc.u.ments."

"Ah, I"ll be right there." Ari turned to her, "I"ll be gone for a bit Yumeko-chan."

"I"ll be right here."

Yumeko watched as her friend walk away. She stretched her arms. The two of them weren"t talking loudly, but some had gotten closer upon hearing Harukkun"s names. So, she hoped the fan girls understand that Ari-chan isn"t like the others. Indeed, she noticed that some of them had slightly different expressions than before. Ari-chan truly likes Harukkun. But what"s preventing her from... "She has a boyfriend already." Come to think of it... Mikami-kun said something like that to her. When she first expressed her concern.

Ari-chan has a boyfriend. Indeed it matches with what the girl said before...about already having someone more special. But there are no mistaken the words she just heard. However, she can"t say for sure that her judgement is correct. When it comes to love, she isn"t exactly the best person to ask.

"Yume-chan, something is heading your way."

"Mira?"

"Something is--"

Eh?

What?

She sees it then come from the window, a flash of light-headed in her direction. Yumeko proceeded to use her powers however she found that the light didn"t appear when she called. Eh? But just now she was speaking with Mir- someone"s interfering! Yumeko braced for the impact, but blue hair appears in front of her. "Ari-ch-"

Bang.

Crash.

The windows in the surrounding shattered around them, and a large explosion.

. . . . .

When Yumeko opened her eyes, a few seconds later. She saw that she had been thrown aside. Many students had been lingering near the edges so they didn"t get hurt from the looks of things. Noticing how far she had been thrown and a huge crowd gathering around the spot she was once. Her eyes went wide in alarm, and she quickly scrambled to her feet. Ari-chan? ...she has a bad feeling about this. "Please let me through.."

Yumeko somehow managed to squeeze herself through the crowd, expecting the worst. But she immediately spotted red hair there, arms wrapped around the blue hair. Ah...

"Takahiro-kun..."
Yumeko called out.

"Few...Somehow...I got here...."

Indeed despite the damage to the surrounding area, Yumeko could tell that the blue hair girl didn"t sustain much of an in-- from the corner of her eye. She caught a glimpse of Ari"s hand. She rushed over and grabed her unconscious friend"s hands. This... It"s swollen? No, "Takahiro-kun, call the hospital!!"

"Ehh?"

"Just do it!"

....she wants to use her powers. But there are so many people... Ahh, forget it! A pink glow surrounded her and soon Ai-chan"s hand was engulfed in that same light.

.

.

Thanks to her measures, the damage wasn"t that bad. But even then it was a case that alarmed the doctor at the special powers hospital. A place that specializes in supernatural injuries. While this place was always here, not everyone knew that it specializes in cases of special beings. They all a.s.sumed it was a private hospital. Her thoughts broke off when her brother slammed his fist in the wall. Blood trickled through his hands.

"Brother, your hands.."

"This, this is nothing.."

"Nothing in contrast to her." Yumeko knew what he wanted to say...

"Kouta, being hot-blooded won"t help."

"I know but d.a.m.n."

"I already reported it to our superiors and relayed it to her company. Those people should do something about it. So relax."

"Relax..."

Her brother turned away.

"Brother?"

But her brother didn"t respond and continued to walk away.

___________________________________________________

"...What?"

"It looked like they were aiming for Kanehara. But,"
Erika trailed off.

At that comment, he stops his movement.

"They"re after her?"

"Yes."

Inside the school. That sort of accident, can"t be caused by normal fangirls. Could it be …His gaze flickered toward where the boss had been sitting. Haruka had been too caught up in the orgy and didn"t notice when he left. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He did it on purpose.

"Haruksama?"The girl underneath him was confused, and the other ones too.

However, he didn"t waste a single time explaining, he gets off her and quickly gets dressed. The entire time the girls were watching him with curious and worried gazes. He understands why. They were paid. Since the job isn"t done, their worried about getting in trouble. Haruka exhaled deeply before handing out a few cards.

"Call me."

Courses of yes Haruksama filled the room. Before he swiftly left.

"I"ll be careful, um, you"ll really take me anywhere?"

"Yeah, where do you want to go?"

"T-then the amus.e.m.e.nt park."

… d.a.m.n it.

___________________________________________________

"Ari-chan, what did they say?"
Yumeko asked.

".."

"She can"t play the guitar. Thankfully she didn"t get hurt anywhere else. But playing the guitar with her hands like this.."
the doctor explained. There was something awfully familiar about him, but Yumeko doesn"t stop to ponder that thought.

When she saw the injury, she did figure as much. However, as she recalled how much hard work she saw her friend put into practicing that song. She clenched her fist. Is there really no other way?

"Um, Mikami-kun?"

Hearing the girls words and the sound of a razor blade, her eyes widened. A bead of sweat trickled down her face.

"Ari-chan, tell me all you can remember.."

"Etto.."

"Mikami-kun!"Yumeko exclaims.

"It"s called heaven"s punishment," Mikami replied calmly.

What punishment? If you cut anyone with that, you"ll get into trouble.

…

"Then how about a bat?" Ruka asked.

Takahiro shook his head, "No, no, this soccer ball is our friend. It will get justice for her too.."

Her sweatdropped, these two aren"t being exactly helpful either. She understood it though. Everyone is concealing their anger. While there isn"t a strong enough bond to bind them all together, they all feel strongly for Ari-chan. That"s enough to unite them, even temporarily. Her thoughts break off when she felt a familiar presence. Uh, oh...

Sure enough Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka emerged from the corner, and with his quick and long strides appeared before the blue hair girl. Gaze dark, as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Who was it?"
Haruka asked, a dangerous aura surrounded him.

"Haruka."

"Tell me..."
he urged her.

He shoots her a harsh glare and her sweat dropped...

Its true Ari-chan got hurt because of her but...

it felt like they were aiming from her from the start.

Those people knew Ari-chan would defend her. From that range, someone with powers? But, that"s impossible. All the power users in school are people she knows well. While they aren"t exactly friends, there"s a treaty to stay out of each other"s way. Up until now, that hasn"t been broken. "The winds around you have changed.." . . .

Something has changed since Ari-chan came here or for a long time ago? She doesn"t know. But for sure someone broke the treaty. And yet, it doesn"t make sense to her. n.o.body has a power like that…

Her gaze briefly meets Harukkun.

Ah. ..

___________________________________________________

He took her back to his place, and the entire time doesn"t say anything to her until they are inside.

"Give me your hands," he instructed.

"D--don"t look.."

"..Why?"

"...They..they don"t look pretty now…"

… That"s why? How stupid…

His gaze darkened further when he removed the bandages. How terrible, to think they did something like this to her. Whether it was Yumeko or not, even he wouldn"t be happy seeing the girls hand in such a state. Haruka brings his lips to her hands, kissing the wounds slowly. "Unngh?"

"Sorry... " He murmured.

Even if they aimed for her, it was most likely due to him. This must be the boss warning for his false report, the timing fits way too much. The boss already knows of course. Mikado did. But he hasn"t leaked her ident.i.ty to anyone but Jaehee, and he knows Jaehee disagrees with the mission. Who could it have been?

"nngh…"

. …. Maybe because she was making such cute sounds, or maybe it"s due to the anger and rage he felt for not being able to protect her. But Haruka found himself pus.h.i.+ng the girl on to the ground.

"Har--Haru--Haruka…"