Dream Star

Kiryu wanted to hang around for longer; however, Shichiro dragged him away. Kasumi too was off shooting now, leaving Lila on her own. Her gaze flickered towards the sky, 'What to do, now she's bored,' come to think of it there's still that huge plan Yori came up with. Kasumi are fine now, so there's no need for it anymore? But, Yori worked very hard on it. Lila didn't want to discard the girls' feelings. Maybe she can still use it to surprise Kasumi. It would be a shame to drop the plan; those flowers are gorgeous after all.

Sketch pad in hand, Lila found herself in deep thought. The spring collection was brought up in the last meeting because of her suggestion; it may seem early to start. But she's already planned when her leaving date for her journey will be.

'Tie up any loose ends you have soon...

You'll be focusing on the tournament last two months right?'

Haruka said that, but she's already in October and hasn't told anyone yet. It's not as easy as it seems. She wonders how Mother did it. How can you leave behind the people that are important to you? Or rather, Lila didn't want to leave everybody behind again.

This time around, it's not a journey or anything. But she will be leaving for personal reasons because she wants to go with Haruka. Haruka plans to go abroad after the Dream Stars Tournament ends. As his wife, it's only natural that she comes along. But, can she leave everybody behind again?

Her family.

Kiryu...and…

Lila paused, 'Kasumi, huh?' the one who will take it the hardest is her.

---

SS Stadium - Gardens -

Lila stood up and grabbed hold of Kasumi's hand. Her friend's eyes went wide, but she squeezes her hand back, "Tell me. What was it that you wanted to say back then? No for a while now. . .. "

"Back then, I wanted to tell you how much I like you."

"Ah um?" her eyes widened, "Are you confessing! My heart is beating."

Kasumi rolled her eyes, "Like that's believable."

Lila laughed.

Kasumi walked over to the small pond in front of them and bent down, "I really do care a lot about you Lila, and that's why I will do anything for you. It's because of you that I came this far, because of you I realized my dreams. But all of them is to do with you."

"Me?" Lila repeated.

Kasumi sighed, "You've been pestering for me to tell you this entire time, and you couldn't tell at all?"

"Etto…"

"I want to create dresses together and share the same stage. I want to walk down a path with an endless amount of possibilities, possibilities that lead us closer to the sky."

Wahhh, is this best friend telepathy? Lila smiles brightly. "That's everything I wanted to say to you. "

Kasumi smiled, "Telepathy?"

Her eyes brightened, "En," she smiled, " I want to achieve my dreams, with you, Kasumi."

"With Lila," Kasumi followed in suit.

---

Present

Even though ..she and Kasumi made such a vow. It's difficult to concentrate on designing clothes together with everything else going on in the surroundings. It's easy to get so caught up in your own affairs and lose sight of everything else—

'When we are engulfed in darkness, and there is no trace of light in the surroundings. Just pitch black, one starts to realize many things. In this pitch-black sky of nothing, can you see it? There's something there. Darkness cannot exist without light, and the same would go vice versa. Amidst the darkness, there is always light. Even if you can't see it, small stars - the light exists. In this pitch-black town, with no light now. I want to ask you all to recall it, remember where everything started.'

Lila blinked before chuckling softly. Mother really is amazing. She supposed that was her life experience talking but even so, Mothers really able to foresee and read people very well. She's sure that ever since then, the people who were present at the party are thinking about her words.

Where everything started, huh? Since she became a Goddess4 member, so many things have happened to her. On many occasions, she's reaffirmed her dreams, but it wasn't until Mother came back did Lila understand what it was she wants to achieve first.

Walking the same path with Kasumi. Kiryu aside, the other reason why she was reluctant to leave back then was Kasumi. After the two made such a vow, Lila didn't want to leave her friend. 'I want to see the same sights as Kasumi, I want to continue shining together with her,' almost a year ago now Lila had such thoughts.

Even now, Lila's gaze fell on the sketchpad she opened up. Even now, Lila felt the same, creating clothes, designing, singing - anything related to the entertainment industry. Lila wants Iwa Kasumu to be by her side. But, is that possible if she stays with Haruka?

"What are you doing slacking off?"

Lila's gaze lit up when she saw her friend, she put the sketchbook down and hugged her, "Your back!!"

"Yes, it's unlike you to slack off. What's wrong?"

Before Lila could say anything though, she noticed that Kasumi was carrying something.

"Kasumi, Kasumi, what's that? " Lila was staring at the bag in Kasumi's hands.

"Your present, I didn't get a chance to give it to you when I dropped by before. But, I've been carrying them around with me. I say present but their mainly food."

Her gaze brightened, as she stared at the bag, Kasumi just passed to her. There were various boxes of different cakes, and sweets, " Wahh, there's so many! I love you."

"Yes, yes, I'll make some tea. So wait here."

"Okay."

….

Quite some time has passed since she last had Kasumi's tea and she even made some made lines. There are even more snacks now! Lila happily starts eating them. "You're still the same as ever," Kasumi sighed, "Still a glutton, did you put on weight?"

Lila pouted, "I'm not fat!" even if she does overeat at times, she makes sure to burn away the calories. Haruka tells her that appearance isn't important, but she doesn't want to be fat. All the girls surrounding Haruka are drop-dead gorgeous after all.

"Ah, but I changed a bit."

"Really?"

"I grew 2cm taller," Lila said proudly.

"No no, that's not what I'm asking..rather I wouldn't have noticed that if you didn't tell me. "

"Ehhh? But I think that it's noticeable," especially whenever she stands beside Haruka. She always feels so small in comparison.

Kasumi raised her eyebrows, "Rather, since when did you become so fussed about height? "

"Um, since I realized that Haruka is about twenty- two, no twenty now, cm taller than me...and um..when we kiss. I end up reaching to about his chest, which makes me look at his neck. " and when that happens, she ends up craving to drink his blood. T--then it becomes intimate. Lila explodes at the memory. It's embarrassing after all.

"So it's about Karashima, well that was expected... ..Lila, come over here for a second. "

Lila shifted closer, and Kasumi placed her hand on her forehead, "Strange. You're red. I thought you had a fever," Kasumi murmured.

Waahhhhh— wahhhhh— wahhhhh--- Inside her head, Lila is panicking.

"Could it be, your feeling self conscious towards Karashima again? "

"Ahuh...wait. Um again?"

"Since it's been a while, you may have forgotten. But before you two started dating, you acted strangely jittery around him."

Was she?

Kasumi nodded, clearly reading her confusion, " You kept on saying things like that before."

Wah wah wah wah? Did she admit to feeling oddly whenever she was around Haruka? Kasumi is right, she really forgot. Rather, how many embarrassing things has she confessed to Kasumi before?

Come to think of it... She recalled what Haruka said when they first started to date. Wah, what were you saying so bravely past her?

"Anyhow, this sort of thing is normal. E—even I can't get used to it, being together with Mikami," Kasumi's calm demeanor vanished. Her cheeks flushed red.

Ah! Kasumi's going all red too. Before Lila could say a word, the girl's phone started to ring.

"Ah hold on a minute Lila."

"Kay."

This meat bun is delicious. Lila supposed the taste varies on the area. ... Lila looks at the name on the bag; she should make a note of all these food places. So when she goes there, she will at least be familiar with some foods. Speaking of which, she never did finish showing Haruka around town last year. While Lila has yet to familiarize herself with the changes, she wants to spend some time with him.

Can she really say it? It's difficult. Lila knew, though, that no matter what she has to leave with Haruka. For the sake of their future, but also there's that. While she managed to cover it, but she reacted to that case. .To detect blood from that distance, to feel excited. Lila shook her head; it's starting to become dangerous. She has to be careful, while she initially went on this journey to evade such things. It seemed like it was futile; her urges are out of control recently.

Just a few more months and a half before she has to leave. There's really not a lot of time left. It's going to be difficult telling everyone, but she will have to. Between Kasumi and Kiryu, she supposes she ought to tell Kiryu first. Telling them at the same time won't work. When she tells him, she is leaving, that's when she ought to break off the connection for good. Lila didn't want Kiryu to be bound to her when she would never return to him. It would be painful for her seeing him with another woman, but she can't be with him.

"Wh— I'm not flirting with guys! I'm at work, and Lila's with me."

Ah, Kasumi must be talking to Hamano-san. She's all red and fretting. Lila chuckles, in a girl in love, is nice...

"I'll switch it on and show you," Kasumi turned to her, Lila come over here."

Lila does so, and Kasumi set up the video chat. In the background, she could spot Yumeko and the others. They must be working, now that she thought about it. She hasn't spoken to the guys in RAY in awhile, 'She ought to drop by and spend some time with them.' At the start of her journey, they spent a lot of time together. They advised and helped her on so many things.

"Huh, so you weren't lying."

Her sweat fell when she sensed Mikami's tone. Kasumi, he's tricking her.

"Of course not...geez...I thought you trusted me. "

"You're cuter when your pouting," Mikami commented.

"Kasumi, Kasumi, your exploding," Lila pointed out, her best friend's whole face was beet red now.

"Argh geez," Kasumi sighed, "Quit being a moron and Lila quit looking so happy."

Uwaah uwaah! This is the first time she is seeing Kasumi like this. She really must be serious about Hamano-san. Un, that's a relief. After all, Lila was always worried about it for the longest time, since she avoided talking about anything romance related. Thank goodness, things seem to be back to normal now.

...

"Do you miss Karashima or something? You keep looking at his picture."

Lila nodded, "Ah-huh."

"Then, go see him."

"But I don't have pa-- " her sentence falls short when Kasumi pulled out two passes from her pocket. Ah !! " Kasumi, your amazing! Ah, was that magic? "

"Maybe. Well, since there's two, I'm coming with you."

"Un! Let's go together, ah um is it okay if I ask about the town? "