Dream Star

Training Camp, Room 1001. Later on the day.

Haruka was sighing for the 100th time. As he recalled the events earlier, he felt frustrated. While Lila agreed to work on her international idol status, with everything going on she had yet to commit herself to it. Also, he knows she has her hesitations on the matter. But the moment Austin Kiryu asked she agreed right away. He sighed, it really seems like he's lost lately. That song, her singing, even now he remembered it well. He doesn't want to lose; he wants her more than he's ever wanted another person before. But at this stage, he will lose miserably. He was overseeing the practice, and yet Haruka's thoughts remained on Lila. What does he do to get her?

As he thought this, he found a blue hair girl rushing over to him.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, she normally doesn't approach him during practice. Haruka understands why when he's in work mode. He scares everyone else away, she included.

"I don't understand this part, could you explain it?"

"... Give it here."

"Yay, lucky!" Lila exclaimed.

The surrounding others commented.

"Wow, she's brave.."

"Right? I'd never been able to ask.."

.....

Not caring what the others thought, he grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her out of the room. Once they were in the hallway and out of earshot, he paused and asked her.

"What were you doing?"

"Um, trying to prove you weren't a scary person! It worked."

Haruka stares at the girl in complete disbelief and slumped to the ground, "Wahhh? What's wrong Haruka? Do you feel sick?"

"How do I, avoid you? If you do things like this..."

"You were avoiding me?"

"I'm trying to be considerate."

Lila shook her head, "You don't have to be... Tell me Haruka, these past few days. Have you been eating well?"

"... No."

"And sleep?" she asked.

"Not really."

"Mmmm, I see."

....

"Lila..."

"Yes?"

"Give me your hands.."

His questioned puzzled Lila, but she extended her hands out, "The scars don't go away. Does it still hurt?"

"A little. But it's a lot better now."

"Because of this, I hurt you. But I regretted it afterward. I couldn't stop once I had already touched you."

"Haruka..."

He knows already. He knows that he wronged her and that he left a scar on her heart that won't go away with mere apologies. That's why, until now. He decided not to bring it up. However, after listening to Jae-hee and then seeing Austin Kiryu and her being so close. Haruka was at his limit. He understands full well, that ever since that incidence, things haven't been right between the two.

"Can you tell me? What do I have to do... what don't you like.?"

"Location and relationship, huh?.." he repeated.

"Ha—haruka.."

"Lately, you've been odd around me. I wonder if something's changed." He muttered.

"N—nothings changed.."

Nothings changed? Really? He doesn't believe that. But sadly, he can't tell whether she likes him. He gently cupped the girl's red face with his hands, and noted how she was turning even redder, "I suppose, I can't ask you for an answer now... But when we finish the camp, will you tell me?"

"Y—yes?"

_____________________________________________

Selia who had been walking by had stumbled upon this scene and quickly hid. She frowned slightly, watching the two walk away. Is there really nothing between them? It's hard to believe. She ought to investigate it more carefully.

...

"So, why are you asking around about Haruka and Ari?"

Oh shoot, she should have chosen a class where there are no close associates. What's more this girl seemed dangerous. She felt as though she had met this girl before, but she isn't exactly sure when that was.

Selia, however, remained calm, "What's wrong with me asking about a judge and participant with a close relationship? The other contestants are uneasy."

She wasn't exactly lying.

Even before she investigated, she heard this information from the others.

"There's not much to investigate. He likes her and if you ask me, she likes him too."

!!!

"But, for that girl. There's someone she loves more than Haruka. As long as that still stands, Haruka and Ari aren't doing anything wrong."

.... "That's not up to you to decide," Selia commented.

"I think you have your priorities wrong, Fujisaki Selia."

This girl knows who she is!!

"Or should I call you Nino? Lily?"

Selia felt the color drain from her face as she heard all the other names. How come she knows that much?

"How.."

"Though I knew you personally when you went under several name changes. I looked you up because I was curious. Mikado's girlfriend and fiancé? You probably ought to get your priorities checked. That guy never stopped looking for you." Jaehee warned.

He never stopped searching? For a split second that touched his heart. Only for a second. As the memories from before came to mind.

No, don't be swayed.

That guy, that guy... forced her to do so many cruel things.

.

.

After that encounter earlier, Selia didn't want to work. But she realized if she neglected her duties, she wouldn't be able to see Kiryu-kun, with that in mind, she made her way to the west side of the building. The training camp people had most of the space reserved but for some reason, Kiryu-kun reserved the last remaining corner that wasn't being used. When he instructed her to do that, she was a tad bit surprised. When she heard the reason, it annoyed Selia.

She entered the space and called out to him, but received no reply. Realizing he was in the shower, she quietly cleaned when he called out.

"Lila?"

....

"I—it's me, Selia."

"Sorry, can you grab a few towels? I left them out."

"Ye-yes." she stammered. Selia quickly found them and handed it to him through the door. Selia glimpsed his muscular body, she averted her gaze. But quickly took another peak. This is the body of the person who held her so lovingly.

Eventually, Kiryu-kun came out.

"Did you see Lila anywhere?" he asked. Selia frowned. That girl again.

"....did you two have a meeting?"

"Yeah."

Throb. Throb.

"I saw her, with Karashima."

Seeing Kiryu frown, her lips curve to a smile, as she asked, "Kiryu-kun, why don't you teach me the piano as you promised?"

"Well, since there's time."