Dream Star 68 Cross Road 7

Lila didn't expect him to stop, she prepared herself for something to happen; knowing full well, even if she refused. He would continue. But instead, he pulled away and looked away from her. He seemed to be in deep thoughts. Perhaps, he noticed that she cried? Her gaze softened, he really does appear to love her a lot.

Lila wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his back. "Say, Haruka.."

"What?"

"Do you, like me?"

"Yeah."

"I see."

He likes her...

Haruka turned around, and Lila immediately moves away but he pulled her to his arms, "If I'm distracting you from spending enough time with them, just say so."

Oh….

"It's okay Haruka."

Besides she's not good at getting close to people. She feels more comfortable with him...

"I'm not a good person. You should be with them. In the light."

"I want to...be with you." Lila managed to say.

He cupped her cheeks, "You're so bold. Do you really know what that means?"

Ah…

"Um.."

"Well, even if you don't know. It's fine. You just, have to be with me."

"Okay."

"I wonder why I'm so taken with you."

"I um, don't know."

"Are you seducing me?" Haruka asked.

"I'm not…"

"Really? Then how come I'm like this now."

"I don't know.."

But she does know that if he gets any closer to her like this, she won't be able to take it. Her heart's already beating so fast, her mind is all jumbled again. To her surprise, he suddenly pulled back.

"You're, really easy to tease."

"Wh-"

"To be exact. Shouldn't you be more cautious towards me? You, your not like those other girls. You don't do this stuff with men you've just met."

Say--says the one who kissed her when they just met! She really wanted to say that now, but that would mean breaking the act.

.

.

Sh-she wondered what sort of situation this is, he's asleep, right? On her lap. Though they did this previously before, somehow it's different now. She's so nervous, her heart's beating so fast too. It's really unfair... Her thoughts broke off when the door opened revealing green hair.

"Ah--sorry--"

"Uh, no--um…"

"Just taking a break, but Mikami-san suggested I use it to read up on music.."

"Right. The books and CD's are over there."

Ruka nodded and walked over.

Her gaze darted back to Haruka, he looks tired. Even when she gets the time off, he's always working. She extends her hand out and caresses his hair, she wants to be able to help him out. To help him achieve his dreams, that resemble her own.

"About...what I said the other day.."

"Ah, yes?"

"....Arin, I don't think you have to decide who's better between your boyfriend and Karas.h.i.+ma."

"Oh.."

She wasn't expecting this..Then again, for some reason she found herself being able to say a lot about her past..

____________________________________________________

Oh d.a.m.n, what on earth is she saying?

None of this is any of her business.

But when she recalled the look in Yumeko's eyes and the rumours that have been circling lately. She needed information.

Arin.

She isn't using you.

But, your the only one who's capable of changing Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka. That much she can see. If Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka changes, then those important to her can also feel at ease too right? Takahiro doesn't mention it in detail. But, the reason why he was able to get the music scholars.h.i.+p is simply Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka work. That guy has more ties to those she cares about. That's why she wanted to solve this mystery.

___________________________________________________

"Haruka." Lila called out, once Rukchan had left the room.

"That was pretty good advice."

"Ah um.."

"Well, in the first place. If she isn't interested, she won't get very far. You did well."

A compliment..she's happy.

"Um.."

"Look at me."

She lifted her head, "Indeed, this, should only be mine."

Lila moved away, "L-let's go back already."

"Who says you can just leave?"

Lila s.h.i.+vered as she recalled what happened earlier. She barely felt discomfort when he holds her. However when she recalled how many close occasions they have almost had s.e.x. For some reason, she is very afraid.

Haruka knocked her forehead against hers, ah. "You're warm. Fevers back. Stay put for a bit."

"O-okay."

He's kind...But...doesn't he have ulterior motives?

)

"Lila, most guys have ulterior motives. "'

"Even you Kiryu?" Lila asked,

"Especially me.."

(

An ulterior motive...

Haruka scooped her up in his arms, wah! "I'm keeping you within sight."

"I--I won't try to escape."

"You won't huh? You should do."

But she doesn't want to...

"Don't be so willing to stay with me, don't you know what I can do to you?"

She knows. She still remembers last year and there is the recent incident too. What just happened moments ago. Her gaze caught a glimpse of the earnings on his ear, ah. Come to think of it, he mentioned that they represent his ex-girlfriends. There's so many…"What?"

"Um, your earrings. Do they really represent how many girlfriends you've had?"

"You heard?"

"Ah-huh."

"Didn't think they'd still be spreading that old story."

They aren't. But she remembers what he said last year. She really does want to get closer.

'I'm sorry to be so rude..but I can't see the love, only s.e.xual desire.'

Lila recalled Rukchan just said, she paused. Oh, that's right.. What's between them is… s.e.xual desire? Is that what this is? But when she spoke with Takahiro-kun, it sounded like love. She wondered which one it really is.

___________________________________________________

May 15th, 2035

It was the first time.

The first time she debuted that she saw a genuine smile from the people she's been working with.

This entire time, she's been so caught up in trying to be an idol. That she's forgotten that this isn't just about her. Being an idol, there's so much more to it.

"Alright, let's give it a go."

"Start from the beginning."

She wanted to change something.

.

.

⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽

. RUKA ?

⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽?⚽

[ Shuttle Wise Game ]

"Helter-skelter: ready, go!

Come on!

Play ball!

Now it's summer, summertime, she

who moves first strikes a hit tune

Here comes the helper, ready to rumble

I'm gonna be number one and you can bet I'll walk the walk."

......…...

She did it!

That felt awesome.

She really does want to sing more. More like this, with these sort of feelings.

___________________________________________________

"If your that interested, why don't you join them already?" Kouta asked, he spotted her in the crowd earlier and managed to lure the girl backstage.

The girl his sister has been trying to form a unit with. Yamamoto Maika.

"..You misunderstood, it's not them I'm interested in."

Kouta understood full well who she was talking about.

"Even more so,"

"Is it her? Tell me that much."

"You don't need me to say that. Rather, impatient are we? You already spoke to her."

"Had I not, she would have been swallowed by a pack of wolves."

"...Thank you."

"Your att.i.tude is strange. Thanking me."

"Well--o--once in a while I can say it."

Maika gaze on him, however, doesn't disappear, instead, she looked him up and down before she concluded. "So, you like her."

Kouta isn't able to hide his red cheeks on time and Maika sighed.

"That's fine and all. But, you probably should keep it on the low. Liking a girl so much, and your little sister getting hurt in the process."

He pushed her against the wall, with an angry look on his face.

Maika seemed stunned for a moment, but she swiftly moved away from him.

"I teased you too much.."

"No.."

"I'll see how things go."

Kouta nodded and with those words said watched as the girl left. He slumped to the ground and exhaled deeply.

d.a.m.n.