Dream Star 286 Things Have Changed

August 2035 (London)

Though Lila wanted to talk to Ameno-senpai more, when she saw Haruka's serious expression, she left the two to speak for a while. After they finished, she clung herself to Haruka's arm and cutely asked if they could take a walk. The 'cute' trick always works on Haruka.

"Now and then, you can say something so disconcert without embarra.s.sment, huh?"

"You think so? What's so embarra.s.sing about it? Because those are my feelings. I have nothing to be ashamed of,"

"Well yeah, I thought the same too. That it's a miracle."

Lila chuckled, "Haruka, you were the one who said it first. So does it look like I'm copying you?"

Her thoughts broke off when Haruka reached over and caressed her cheek with his palm, "Even now I still don't understand it. Why you chose someone like me. But if I say it like that again, you'll get mad, huh? Say, Lila, I like hearing you say you love me. Will you do it again?"

Lila stared at his expression; despite his kind words, she could see nothing but a pained look. Ah, that's right, this person also. This person also doesn't want to leave her. If he had an option, she's sure that he would stay with her forever. He would hold her in his arms and not let her go. She knows that he must be in just as much pain as her. However, even though she knew that. It hurts.

"You didn't tell me anything about it, and I had to find out indirectly when all the plans were already in place. When I found out you intended to leave saying nothing to me; I was hurt. I didn't want you to disappear without saying anything to me again," Lila muttered. After her conversation with Sophia, she did some research. It turned out even if she didn't leave Haruka's side; he already had plans to leave by the end of the year.

She didn't want him to leave her without telling her anything. Even if he was avoiding causing her grief, the fact that he did it from her made it worse.

"No, that's not it. That's not it. I already understood it, after all, your decision," Lila shook her head. For the longest time, this person has only done things for her sake, "Do you remember? When we first met again, there was that time you got into a fight. You were bleeding a lot, and it wasn't due to your wounds either. Then whenever I mentioned it, you'd say ridiculous things like 'Are you scared of me?' I remember thinking what is there to be scared about. The real reason why I don't want you to go is because I'm worried that you'll get hurt,"

By this point, she was already crouched on the ground, as she struggled to contain the tears streaming down her face.

If he gets hurt, severely. She knew the others would do everything they can to help him. But what if that too fails? She's scared, so scared of what could happen to him when she isn't beside him. Her thoughts broke off when his forehead softly brushed against hers.

"Sorry, and thanks for worrying about me this whole time," Haruka apologized. It was short, unlike her long speech. But his apology was filled with so much warmth.

"Truth was, I didn't want you to know. Because I knew you'd figure it out right away. What I'm planning to do once I go there. A long time ago, I couldn't protect you, and you were almost killed. I didn't want the same thing to happen again when I have the means to stop it. I was worried that if I didn't do something this time, despite having the power to do so. You'd end up hating me,"

And slowly, little by little, Haruka is letting her hear his true voice, allowing her to listen to the voice in his heart.

Lila turned to him with a bright smile, "I'm not scared of you. Ever since the beginning, that kind of thing didn't bother me at all. I'm here with you now, because you're Haruka. Because you're the person, I love. So don't bring that topic up that topic about you being scary again. I've always loved everything about you."

In his words, she can hear a small voice cry 'stay here with me. 'As she gets closer to him, little by little. She can see the real him. Strong, gentle, and a little bit fragile. Haruka always feels at ease, whenever she says these words. Even now

"Is that so? You always seem to give me the words I want to hear the most."

She has been in love with Haruka for the longest time now. So she doesn't want him to leave without her. But Lila wonders if she can resolve herself to go with him?

.....

"Meat buns for only 70 yen," she trailed off, "I meant - and we got a good bag full with a discount too. Lucky.. ."

They pa.s.sed by a random street vendor, and Haruka didn't hesitate to buy her food. He is usually is so stingy about her eating random stuff from vendors. The two of them had found a bench and ate.

"Is something bothering you?" Haruka asked.

"Hmmm. . I think I earned myself a fight last night. Last night, after I collapsed, and you took me back. Lind came to see me.."

"What did she say?"

"It's strange; I don't remember. I mean, my blood just went straight to my head. But I do recall her saying something about you that I didn't like. So then, I told her I believed in you. I just said that and went back to cuddling in your arms," Lila explained, That's most likely why she forgot about the fight.

To her surprise, he suddenly laughed, "Haha, that's just like you. I feel kind of cheated for worrying."

Lila's cheeks turned red when she saw his broad smile. What's with him? Don't pull expressions that are bad for her heart out the blue like that.

"Don't make me want to kiss you again," Haruka muttered.

"Um, like if it's just kissing, I don't mind."

She likes his kisses, after all. Sensing his hesitation, Lila stood on her tiptoe and kissed his lips.

"Wow, look at that.."

"No hesitation, it's a public road."

Haruka pulled her away, "H—hey, don't just do that."

Lila looked at him with a confused expression on her face, but Haruka just sighed, "Forget it," he walked a few steps ahead, and Lila frowned, did she say something wrong? Or maybe she's too blunt about everything.

"You decided in the end, right?" Haruka spoke up. Despite his vague wording, Lila understood what he was talking about.

"Un," Lila started slowly, as she decided what to say next. After she told him the name, Lila laughed, "When I first heard the name I thought it was a mouthful. But the translation in English is pretty, colorful flowers blooming," Lila chuckled, "But I bet the male students that attend that cla.s.s don't appreciate the name much."

"You'll never know. It suits you."

Lila looked back at him and smiled, "Yeah. Though you know, despite the beautiful sounding name, it seemed like the others really wanted me to chose it, rather when I, they all let out sighs of relief. Ah! Can you believe that? Even though they said, they'd leave it up to me. They were all like 'Few we thought you'd choose the wrong one' 'you are clumsy like that' 'Truly a fool sometimes,' "Lila said ending the last line with a chuckle, "Those kids are always messing around. They don't hesitate with those compliments at all."

"You'll be with a bunch of people from random years,"

"Un, cause even if it's for a little while I want to widen my experiences. Besides, you know I'm taking the electives too. So I'll be switching around the buildings a lot," Lila said with a light laugh, "Ah, now that I think about it it will probably be a bother. And uh, do I even look like a second year?"

"Yeah, you should be careful that you don't get lost."

"Hey! I don't always get lost."

If only time would stop like this, as if. Despite what it seemed like, Lila longed to stop thinking like that. She knew that Haruka thought the same too.

"When we return to j.a.pan, and things get busier for the two of us. I'll be lonely," Lila trailed off, "It was normal for me before, being alone. I always used to say it, that friends.h.i.+ps aren't something that will last. We shouldn't count on it since if we end up depending on it too much, we will fall apart. That superficialness isn't what I want. However, after I met everyone that changed, that's why maybe I'll be okay now."