Dream Star 279 A Puzzling Game

"Red thread?"

Eh? He doesn't know about it?

Haruka really harbors strong feelings for herself although she knew about it even when she turned him down. She could never express what she felt. His sudden hold on her startled her, yet she found that he merely wrapped the blanket around both of them and patted her shoulder.

"Go to sleep, the sign of calamity has pa.s.sed. You've been working hard on your idol jobs every day, you must be tired," Haruka pulled her closer to him, "Fatigue can cause your condition to go worse. Take care of your body, Lila."

Haruka, his earlier frightening manner almost seems like a lie.

It's like his personality does a complete 360 at times. But she supposed on that aspect she was the same. Perhaps she is more similar to this person then she thought so initially. This man is so gentle, no matter how much time pa.s.ses by he is so very kind. So, so very kind.

_____________________________________________

Eventually, Lila fell asleep, and that's when he noticed the color of the girl's cloak. Blue, the same shade as his.

That image would haunt him forever. A princess like Lila belonged in gorgeous clothes, not his dirty clothing. Even if she wasn't precisely a Princess when they first met, he saw her as a night fairy. Something unreachable.

Haruka couldn't pinpoint exactly when he started to love the girl, but it grew stronger every day, and so did his desire to keep her from knowing, because that would mess up everything. Not only would it probably confuse Lila, but it would likely ruin the dynamic of the group and cause other problems. She didn't need him to be a distraction from her goal.

She needed him to help, to train her to defend herself, to be a part of the group and the ultimate goal of her retaking the throne.

It would do him no good to continue this way. So he crushed these thoughts and made sure he took deep breaths and to get away from it all. However, that didn't last long, his self-control broke, and before he knew it, those random kisses became something he wanted to exploit.

His thoughts broke off when the doors opened, for a split second, he was paranoid, thinking it was Soichiro. Even if the man knew about their relations.h.i.+p with each other, he still wouldn't approve of something like this. He relaxed once he spotted midnight blue. It was Mikami.

Mikami closed the door behind him, "Is she already asleep?"

Haruka nodded, "Mmh."

Once the midnight blue hair boy made his way over, he saw his hands inter winced with the girls yet merely nodded. Well, he supposed that was one of his good points. He doesn't question things out loud, and even if he does, it doesn't take him long to accept it, "It appears she's been having nightmares. That the other night, she felt like someone else came here. At first, she was going on and on about a joke. But I doubt a ghost would pin someone down," Haruka informed him.

"Sleep, paralysis?"
Mikami asked.

"Yeah, she told me she felt drowsy afterward."

Mikami wore a complicated look on his face, "There are no problems with the guards in the surrounding areas. Soujiro slipped his own, and so has George. However, there has been that girl in this area frequently."

The man named 'George' is Lila's foreign friend. When they first met Haruka suspected him. But now they somehow got along with each other. Maybe it's because Haruka saw the sibling like bond between them. Or maybe it's because the man reminded him of Atsuya. Haruka shook his head, don't be stupid. Atsuya is dead - it would be disrespectful to compare him to another person.

"That, girl?"

"Yes, the one who is always with Kiryu-san."

Haruka thought back to his conversations with Sophia.

Can't be… But just in case, he's going to have to contact people. His gaze lands on Lila; she doesn't have to know about this, though. Honestly, it surprised him. There are some people who are actually stupid enough to cross him? Stupid enough to go against him?

....

It only took Lila two more days to recover, much to his disappointment. He liked the idea of having her to himself and spoiling her.

Recently, it felt as like his feelings towards her have grown even stronger than before. Haruka wondered if it was even possible for that to happen. For his feelings to grow, even more, to love her more than he already does. He tested his resolve the other day when he went to visit her when she was working in Moonlight entertainment.

Even if she weren't feeling well, usually that wouldn't stop him from attacking her. The idea of the infirmary too where they could get caught. It was a thrilling situation and yet not only did he not lay his hands on her, he even asked the girls recently appointed new guard to come along with them.

"It's because the things behind me are all gone now. Now that nothing is holding me back. I can honestly say I love her'. For sure, Haruka didn't lie when he said those words to Ichinose not too long ago.

However, as for his next course of action towards the girl, he wasn't sure. Now that he knew how hard he has fallen for her, he can't turn back now.

Haruka opened the door to his study and was surprised to find surrounded by the usual dusty books - was a blue hair girl. At first, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, believing he saw things again, but indeed he confirmed it was her.

She turned to him, "Haruka, there you are."

"….."

He stood by the door, frozen in shock.

Lila made her way over towards him, "What's with that look? It's like your not happy at all to see me."

No, he's delighted.

In fact, almost too happy to see her. But right now a battle raged inside his head. Conflicted by the fact that Lila is here before him and the fact that this is someone's idea of a joke.

Or someone set her up to this, someone. Grey hair sprouted to mind, "Hold on, a second. Before I respond to that, I have to know. Did Jae-hee send you here?"

It wouldn't surprise him if she did. He was grateful for the girl's help concerning his affections towards Lila. However, once in a while, he would like it if the girl approached him willingly, not being forced in to or talked in to.

Lila's response was something she had no intention to express through her words. Instead, she reached over after she closed the distance between them, to touch his face, "I must say I find it greatly offensive when you can't accept the idea that I'd come here willingly."

Haruka stared at her, stunned, "Huh, so this situation is real."

She chuckled, "Did you think of it to be a dream?"

"Well, it is difficult not to," Haruka trailed off, "Since Austin Kiryu's news reached your ears well, you've done a splendid job in casually evading me."

"Indeed, that's only natural of me, no?"

"And pray if that's still the case now. Then why are you here?"
Why is she here, when she knew full well what could happen when the two of them are behind closed doors? In a secluded room and all alone with n.o.body else in the building.
Just the thought of it lead to all sorts of images appearing in his head.

"Perhaps, you can take a wild guess since you examined me the other day," Lila said.

Huh, so it's because of that.

Indeed, when he gave the girl a quick checkup in the infirmary, he noticed it. That's why he praised his self-control about not touching her then - especially when he could have easily done so, and the excuse would have been valid.

Haruka placed his hand on top of hers, "You're a cruel woman like usual, huh? For your benefit, you intend to use me."

"If we are speaking of righteousness, you have no right to talk about that."

"Hmm, fair enough."

By this point, Haruka had stopped what he was doing, he had wrapped his arms looped around the girl's waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as she took a step forward.

"Mmm, you really do want to tease me," Haruka murmured against her ear.

"I learn from you Haruka."

Haruka held back a laugh since he was preoccupied with what to do with her. Let's start with kissing, her lips are prettier than usual today.