Dream Star 331 Like A Date

Lila's apartment (September 2035) 9:30am

In the years since he met Teras.h.i.+ma Lila, he's gotten quite used to people calling him with frantic voices. 'Such a careless girl,' Kiryu thought the entire time he was rus.h.i.+ng over to Lila's apartment on the other side of town. She really is careless, like didn't she arrive just yesterday? When he drove into her driveway, Kiryu examined the house briefly. It's a beautiful place, an old-style j.a.panese traditional home with a fancy gate at the front. Not many houses were in the area too, so it was rather quiet.

When he arrived at the front door, Kasumi is waiting for him, "Inside," Kasumi said, pointing to a set of stairs, "I brought her up."

Kiryu sweat fell, why is Kasumi so strong for? Well, no matter. Kiryu made his way inside and walked up the stairs. The place was still quite new, and it gave off the atmosphere that n.o.body had been living here. When he finally arrived at the girl's room, he found her awake and sat on her bed with a dazed expression.

"Hey," he called out. But received no response, so he walked over to her. Kiryu frowned, seeing the look in her eyes and grabbed hold of her shoulders, shaking her lightly, "Lila?"

"Haruka?"

"It's me," Kiryu said.

Lila panicked then, "Where's Haruka? Where did Haruka go? Did Haruka leave because he hates me?"

"Lila calm down, he just went to the store to get you some food."

"No, no, that's a lie! Kiryu your lying."

Kiryu didn't know what it was, but he had a feeling that if he told Lila that Karas.h.i.+ma left because of a phone call, then she would become even more frantic. But it seems like she saw right through it.

"Shh, calm down."

...

"I'm sorry," Lila murmured.

Kiryu smiled, "Don't worry about it. Your relations.h.i.+p with him isn't easy, huh?"

"I love him a lot, but that probably isn't enough for us to stay together. Lately, I've thought that I did something wrong."

"You did nothing wrong," Kiryu murmured, "It was because of me."

It was because of him if he didn't let her go so abruptly like that. Then Lila wouldn't be so confused and so lost. But the damage has been done already. There is no use thinking of what if scenarios? It was not his intention for Lila to break apart like this. Kiryu just wanted her to be happy, and he really thought that Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka would give it to her. That happiness.

"Because of Kiryu?"

"Yeah," he didn't say anymore since Lila wasn't asking. He reached out for the porridge, "I made you some food. You should eat something."

She said nothing, and he picked up the spoon.

The girl's eyes lightened up, "It's yummy."

"Yeah."

.....

After eating, Kiryu figured it would be better if she got some fresh air. 'The moment she looks pale, bring her back,' is what Kasumi told him. But from the moment they got outside, she seemed to cheer up a bit. Many people pa.s.sing by kept staring, but Kiryu glared at them all. The conference and the concert were only yesterday, and though it was broadcasted to everyone in town. Kiryu was aware that not many people saw it.

"Kiryu, Kiryu! That place wasn't there before, what is it?"

"Oh, it's a new garden center. Looks neat, huh?"

"Can we go inside?"

Kiryu nodded and led the way. The entrance was quite large, and past the reception was the garden center itself.

"Waahh, so beautiful!"

"You still like flowers, huh?"

Lila smiled, "Ah-huh, there aren't many places like this in Light Town because it's the main city. So I don't see flowers often."

She doesn't? But doesn't Karas.h.i.+ma get her any? Kiryu stopped himself from asking. Don't pry too much about their relations.h.i.+p. It will make things awkward for you. Besides, weren't you going to work on either stealing her back or becoming friends? Though the latter would be very hard for him to do. Kiryu isn't going to make it hard for her. If Lila doesn't have any feelings left for him, there is nothing he can do about it.

___

In the past, the two of them were always together. But now that Lila thought about it, they've never walked side by side before. It was always one of them leading in front of each other. It's no wonder…that n.o.body really noticed what was going on. Those times they walked home together and got interrupted to.

It never looked as though they were walking together, so n.o.body realized they were together... Even now, n.o.body would think they were together. His back..its broader in contrast to before…His hair too is slightly longer… The two of them have both changed appearance wise. But, this really is a mysterious feeling.

This isn't a date. But even then Lila has to make sure she tells everything to Haruka later on. She doesn't want to make him feel uneasy in any way. Still, she can't just take her phone out in front of the other person; it would be rude. When she gets the chance to be left alone, it ought to be okay. In the first place, it's her fault that everything got so mixed up and complicated. If she only realized it back then, this sort of situation could have easily been avoided.

"Do you want some food? Is there anything you want? "

Ah. Lila quickly took a box out of her bag, "I--if you'd like, I made you something."

Kiryu stared at the box, " For me?"

Lila nodded. After her crying episode and Kiryu said he would take her out, Lila figured it would be better if she made them both food to eat.

"Thanks."

It's not a date. But her hearts beating a lot. This really is the first time the two of them have properly gone out with each other anywhere, that's got nothing to do with work. Is it really okay? She made those in a rush.

"It really is good, you've gotten better."

Whaaah, he liked it.

"For some reason, I feel like I'm going to cry."

Wahh? Cry? Lila panicked, she did hear that people can get moved eating good food but... "Eh? Waah, wah what should I do? "

Laughter escaped his lips.

"I'm kidding," Kiryu said. He gently knocked his hand against her forehead, "Thanks."

"..."

Lila is utterly speechless; it ought to be a crime! That expression of his. Yes, that's it; it's a crime. How can somebody be so handsome? Lila shook her head, 'Haruka's smile, Haruka's lips, his neck,' Lila repeated those things in her head when she realized something. Ahhhhh, that won't work! If she thinks about Haruka, she will get embarra.s.sed.

Still, Lila looked over at Kiryu. He is smiling so brightly. It's the first time in such a long time that she's seen such a bright smile. Today she really does have to do her best.

....
"Ah, I'm stuffed. Is there anywhere you'd like to go? We still have a lot of time before it starts," Kiryu was referring to the dolphin show in the aquarium nearby. Earlier, somebody was selling tickets near the food vendors in the garden center.

"Eh eh umm? I do have an idea. But is it okay if I say it?"

"Of course."

"I want to hang out. Not like hang around. But go on a walk."

Kiryu reached over and patted her head, "I was thinking the same too."

….....
After they left the garden center, they didn't have a particular destination and killed time walking around the streets before the show started. Kiryu had been blabbing on about something and is very vague about it. But Lila understood what he was trying to say.

"Secret feelings?"

At that comment, she noticed his whole face gradually becoming red. Wahh, he's embarra.s.sed. An embarra.s.sed Kiryu! How rare.

Kiryu exhaled deeply before he nodded, "Well, your right. But I didn't think you'd say it so easily. "

"Um, um, it's not easy. My heart has been beating unusually loud since earlier. So were the same!"

That's right. They are both the same. The two of them, even though it was clearly visible, couldn't explain how they felt about each other. It feels as though it's been a long path, but the fact that they are able to talk to each other about it like this now made Lila feel happy. She no longer has to keep it hidden.

"Kiryu? "

"W—wait a moment, let me have a timeout.… You're thirsty, I'm sure. I'll go buy some drinks. "

Lila doesn't have time to respond when he sped away. She blinks. Is he really that nervous? Then again, she's been feeling nervous since the beginning too. She wondered if it's okay for her to feel nervous? No, stupid, of course, it isn't. Okay, how to become less nervous. Lila dove into her pocket for her phone, but she saw no new message notifications.

A deep sigh pa.s.sed her lips, Lila didn't think Haruka would call Kiryu and leave her with him.