'I have a surprise for the two of you~" was the last thing he said before disappearing behind the classroom door and into the hallway.

Runa chuckled, "I wonder what he'll bring with him this time."

"I wonder about that too~" I said, a wave of uneasiness washed over me for some reason.

"Come on, Momo. Let's go back home. I'll walk with you today." Extending his hand to me, I gladly nodded and took it. I was more than happy to have someone like Runa and Kokoro in my life.

We walked down the sidewalk; my house was around the next corner. I looked to my right—where the street was—to see Kokoro standing in the middle of it.

"Kokoro!" I called out, but he didn't react. I looked to where Runa was standing to not find him there as well. "Runa?" did he go home already? But? Haven't he seen Kokoro?"

I was sure that I called his name as loud as I could; there's no way Runa didn't hear it!

I was so confused; when I turned back, Kokoro was looking at me, his face was blurred out for some reason, even though he was close enough for me to see his features. "Kokoro! Don't stand there! It's dangerous!"

As soon as I said that, Kokoro smiled. His lips were visible now, he moved them and said something I couldn't understand even though I could hear it.

A warning horn alerted me that a truck was dangerously speeding towards my friend. It was two centimeters away from hitting him; but he didn't seem to care much about it.

"KOKORO!"

I opened my eyes to find myself lying on my bed, my pillow were soaked with my own tears. I touched my cheek to find more of them flowing. "Ugghh…" I hardly managed to get up; it felt as if my own muscles were refusing to move.

"Momosuke?" my mom entered the room. "I thought I heard you calling?" she looked so worried; she walked and sat on the edge of my bed. When looking closer, her face was pale, as if she hadn't slept well in days. Black bags were lightly former under her eyes as well.

"Ah, it was just… another… dream?" I said hesitantly; those dreams bothered my parents more than what they did to me. I was wondering if they were already fed up with all of this. I felt guilty for making them worry every day.

But the thing is; I can't remember any of those dreams I have. All what I know that they're disturbing…

"It's okay honey," mom kissed my forehead, her kiss was lighter than what I'm used to. "Now come on, let's get ready for school, shall we?"

"Of course~" I smiled and got up from my bed. For the past few days, I've been feeling that I'm missing something important… but at the same time, I don't want to know it.

…

I walked down the street and passed by my favorite flower shop. I entered to greet the old lady that works there. She had some customers inside; a couple that were friends with my parents. I greeted them as well then left. Before I did, she gave me a beautiful rose "as a gift". I thanked her and took it gladly.

But no matter how much they smiled, I could see it. They had the same look my parents had. In their eyes I could tell that they were hiding something. That something made them pity me. I didn't like that.

I put the rose on the side pocket of my bag and moved on. Suddenly, wind blew at me; causing the rose to fly; it landed in the middle of the street. I looked back at where I thought it fell then attempted to go pick it up. A car was faster than me; it crushed the poor rose under its wheels as it passed by.

Déjà Vu washed my entire being as the same car passed right next to me; it was all too familiar. I tried to remember what this could've meant but I was immediately struck by a terrible headache.

I decided to let the rose be and thought of apologizing to the shop lady later.

It took me ten more minutes to finally reach Etoile Vio academy of idols~

I loved this place so much, I loved everyone that worked there. I also loved all my "classmates".

I loved being here every day of the week, and on weekends, I loved going out with my friends.

I've created some new friendships in this very same place.

I loved it so much but it hurt.

It hurt waking up every morning.

It hurt to prepare to come here every day.

It hurt seeing those familiar faces every day and greeting them makes me want to cry.

But I don't cry.

It is weird for a crybaby—such as myself—not to cry whenever I get the chance to.

I've seen Runa around only for a few times in the past, but now I hardly ever meet him anymore at school. Him and Kokoro stopped coming for a few weeks now.

Those "classmates" of mine do come and chat with me a little. Even the producer, too!

But for some reason, I felt as if they didn't want me here. As if they were asking me every time why I still come. As if they want me to disappear like Runa and Kokoro did. It was a mute question that I could only read in their eyes.

Did they hate us that much?

It took me a couple more days before I stopped going to school, too.

Strangely, I didn't get any calls from school asking why I've been absent. I expected that, though. My parents didn't say anything much as well.

What is going on?

Bit by bit I hardly ever gone outside. I barely ever stepped outside my own room!

It felt as if the will of doing anything was slowly fading from within me. It's became so hard for me to even get up from my bed.

'Aaahhh~ kokoro will scold me if I neglect my training…' I rolled to the other side, I was facing the wall now. 'I'm sorry, Kokoro. It's just too much for me to even think about anything right now…' I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

…

"…O?" I felt something lightly poking my side, alongside it was a faint voice I couldn't understand what the owner was saying.

"… mo…" it came again, in a slightly clearer manner.

"… Momo?" I became so clear now. I wanted to ignore it and keep on sleeping; but the voice wasn't mom's nor dad's.

I slowly opened my eyes. "Who—," my vision was blurry but I could easily recognize the person. "Eeep!" I jumped to the other side of the bed, my back pressed to the wall and my blanket fold under my arms to cover my body all the way from my chest to my feet.

"Why—why are you in my room, Kanata?" I rubbed my eyes; maybe it was another dream.

"I came to check on you and your mom insisted to get me in. I'm sorry; I should've declined." He scratched the back of his head, a deep shade of red spread across his cheeks to ears.

I felt bad for embarrassing him like that.

"I, it's—,"

"I'll go out now! I might as well pass by later…" he didn't look at me as he said so; he rushed outside my bedroom.

Before I could notice, I jumped out of my bed and followed him. He was about to take the stairs down but I managed to reached his wrist and grab it. "Wait!" I stopped to give myself a chance to breath.

"I, I'm sorry! I just woke up so I couldn't react better…." This is all what I could say? I didn't have anything else to be told, anyways. I didn't understand why I ran out like that, in the first place.

"Ah! It's okay! I'm the one who's supposed to apologize~ I worried that you might have didn't want me to see you in your sleepwear, or something." He smiled shyly. "By the way, it's really cute. Suits you well~"

"My… sleep… wear…" the squirrel pajama which Kokoro gave me…. A simple top with slanted short sleeves and loose-fit shorts. Both pieces had squirrel pattern on them… the pajama was quite feminine—considering the one who gave it to me—but I really loved it, since it was from Kokoro!

"Yeah! I didn't expect to see you in a feminine wear indoors as well~"

My face was heating up; for some reason hearing someone complimenting me like that made me feel dizzy. I think Kanata noticed and said something about waiting me downstairs. I nodded my head unconsciously and ran back to my room.

"To be seen in such clothes…" no, no! I need to stop thinking about that and get dressed! My face stayed hot for a few minutes later.

It took me longer than I thought, when was the last time I actually went out with friends again? It've been way too long…

As I gone to the lower floor; I could hear someone talking on T.V.

"And thus Kokoro Hanabusa's b—," the T.V was turned off.

"Was that a news about Kokoro~?" I approached my parents, they didn't look at me for an instant.

"H, hey, Momo. Let's go out a little." Kanata came out of nowhere and grabbed my wrist, he pulled me to the door leading outside my house.

"Eh? So suddenly? I need to tell my parents first!" I tried to struggle but Kanata suddenly stopped.

"It's okay, I already took permission!" and with that, he twisted the knob and opened the door. Wasn't it supposed to be locked? Maybe mom unlocked it for us already… or even dad.

As I walked besides Kanata—who was still holding my wrist—I could feel that he was unsettled. Something bothered him. He also seemed like he wanted to cry…

What happened? I need to ask him.

"Kanata…?" I called out, he seemed not to notice. "Kanata?" I called again and he stopped walking.

"Y, yes, Momo?" he put on a forced smile. Even I could tell it wasn't a real smile!

"Your hand…" is shaking. But was it alright to point that out?

"Ah! Sorry! I didn't notice I was still holding your wrist like that!" And he got it all wrong; he finally released my wrist.

"Wha—no! I meant that—uh," I hate those moments when I don't know what to say. It happens a lot to someone like me, sadly. "I mean, we can just hold hands normally you know!" and so I did, I don't know what I was thinking. But Kanata seemed quite happy with it. It eased his nervousness a little, I guess.

"So, anyways. Where are you taking Momo today?" I smiled.

Kanata's face lit up upon hearing me say that, for some reason. "Momo! You're finally back"

"Eh?" I titled my head. What did he mean by that?

"Never mind~ I want to take Momo to a nice cake shop that opened recently~"

"A cake shop! That sounds like a great idea!" my pulse quickened as soon as I imagined delicious, varied kinds of cake placed in a beautiful order in a random shop I made up. I realized how much I craved eating something sweet.

Kanata squeezed my hand; as if he wanted me to pay attention to him. "Come on? Let's go!" I nodded and followed his lead.

…

We didn't talk much on our way there, I was more focused on when we are going to reach the cake shop. I lost counting at one point; but it didn't take much to find behind the last corner.

"Hop Bun Café?" it had a cute bunny on its logo; maybe that's a reason why it attracted Kanata. I chuckled at the last thought.

"Did you like it?"

"hmm?"

"I mean, th, the logo…"

I couldn't stop myself from chuckling once more. "Yes~ it's very cute."

"I, I see. Um," he seemed a little hesitated. "let's go in?"

"Yes." as soon as we entered, the sweet odor immediately filled my lungs, my eyes widened upon seeing the great amount of sweets that was arranged in an attractive way.

One of the maids welcomed us and led us to an empty table, with two chairs at each edge.

"Thank you for coming to our shop~ here're the special couple offers~"

"Eh?! N, no—,"

"We have a special offer over "Lovers Glass" with a special mix of refreshments that is twice as big as the usual with a 70% off~ we also offer a medium-sized heart-shaped cake with the price of the small-sized one! Those offers will only be found in our shop and for a limited time~ and there's more to go~!"

"Y, yes. We'll have these two." Kanata looked at me with wide eyes; as if I betrayed him. I smiled at him, however. It was Feb the 2nd, no wonder shops already promotes valentine's offers. Yet, I got an uneasy feeling upon hearing one word: Heart.

"I d, didn't expect you to… order these…" he looked away.

"I'm sorry Kanata; I couldn't say no to such seductive offers~ also come on! Medium-sized for the price of the small and a glass filled with special mix of delicious juice with 70% sale? That's too good to be real~"

"W, we could've at least checked the rest of offers… or… the normal ones…"

I felt a little guilty, I didn't ask if he wanted these in the first place. "I'm… sorry… I should have asked you first… I'll… go cancel the order…"

"No, it's okay! They probably started making it already; it'd be too bad if we cancelled it now."

"I'm sorry…" maybe I was too excited about the dessert I forgot I came here with someone else…

"Momo, what happened to Ricky? I didn't see him with you in a while~"

"Ah! For some reason I kept forgetting about him, and at one point I just didn't feel like bringing him with me anymore…" I don't see Rabirabi with him, too? I wonder why.

"I didn't bring Rabirabi with me as well~" here we go, "I left him with Ricky~"

"What…?"

"Before I woke you up, I saw Ricky on your desk and placed Rabirabi besides him so he doesn't feel lonely if we go out~"

"I see…" I didn't expect that… how come I didn't notice it when I was changing? "Th, then you'll have to walk me home or else I won't give him back to you!"

"Eeeh!"

I laughed upon seeing his reaction; it was thrilling. "Just kidding~" Kanata laughed as well.

Two maids came back, holding a trophy-sized glass filled with a colorful liquid. "Here's your lovely, full-of-love, special Lovers Glass!"

Okay, maybe I should have pointed out we're not a couple. "Thank you." She placed a couple of drinking straws into the "trophy"; I think I might have started to regret this choice.

One maid left. "I'll bring your cake when you're finished with the special drink~ or do you want it to be served right away?"

"N, no. it's okay. We can have it next." Kanata replied, his cheeks suddenly kissed pink like a spring rose. I wondered if mine were colored the same.

"W, well. It's huge." I tried to ease the awkwardness that overwhelmed after that great intro of the drink.

"Yeah… I wonder if we'll be able to finish it all…"

I nodded then got up from where I seated to reach one of the straws. I took a sip then sat down right away. "It's good!"

"Really?" Kanata imitated my action and took a sip, too. "You're right, it's really good."

"Let's make a challenge~ who'll drink more of this will pay~"

"Alright~ even though I was going to pay it myself since I'm the one who invited you here."

"R, really?! I, I wasn't serious! I thought we'd split it and pay together…"

He shook his head. "No. I wanted to help Momo to enjoy this day and so I'm the one who's going to pay~"

"Kanata…" I didn't know why back then, but I had a weird feeling that willed up within myself. I wanted to embrace him and cry for an hour or something—which was weird.

When I looked back I found him already starting to sip from the drink. "Waaait!" I immediately readjusted myself and starting sipping as well.

Between short breaks, the juice was over in record time. At the end, we didn't know who drank more than the other. Kanata insisted on paying it himself and so I let him. I told him that wherever we go next; I'll be the one to pay.

Shortly after, the cake was here.

"I feel so stuffed right now…" I complained. Despite how delicious the cake seemed to be; I could move my hand to grab that spoon and taste it.

"No, no. we can't leave it untouched now~ you're the one who ordered it so you'll have to bear the consequences" he smiled a devilish smile; who could've imagined that such an angelic boy could show such a smile.

"… fine." I attempted to slice a piece but Kanata was already holding a spoonful towards me. "Eh?"

"Come on, I'll feed you." For a shy boy to offer this like it was a piece of cake; it made me feel heat rushing to my face. Bet I was blushing like an idiot right now. Kanata I surely full of surprises.

I opened my mouth and quickly welcomed the sweet taste inside. It was good, SO good!

Right after I swallowed it, another spoon was waiting its turn. I gladly accepted.

Next time was my turn to feed him. However, Kanata seemed startled by my move. "What now? Come on, I'll feed you too!" now his cheeks were back to that soft pink like an outdoor glow. I found it cute.

As we finally finished the cake, we were already too stuffed! We couldn't eat nor drink anything anymore! We decided to stay in the café for a little longer. We chatted a bit about varied topics.

However, Kanata was obviously trying his best to ignore any topics about Etoile Vio. I really wanted to ask him why; but I didn't want to ruin the mood.

I was in a great mood, honestly. And I felt that if I ask about the school, things may turn badly.

I let it slide and tried to talk about anything else.

It was around evening when Kanata picked me up and got me here, now it's dark outside. "I think we should head back."

Kanata checked his phone and gasped. "It's already dinner time! We need to go back right away!"

And so we left. Kanata walked me home as promised; I gave him back Rabirabi.

That night, I tried to stay positive and think about the happy time I've spent with Kanata. I made sure to take Ricky off my desk and hug it as I tried to fall asleep. Bet he was lonely without me~ I'm sorry buddy~

'Maybe this time I won't have any disturbing dreams...' I thought, 'But before this, I need to check something quickly.' I grabbed my phone and unlocked it. I tapped on a chat app and slide through my contacts. I opened one chat:

Kokoro3: Right. Kokoro is happy with Momo's performance today! Please keep it up~ [received at 9:43 p.m, 3 weeks ago]

Me: Yes~ Momo had so much fun today as well~ looking forward to more live shows with Kokoro and Runa~ [sent at 9:51 p.m, 3 weeks ago]

Something about this conversation didn't feel right.

I started tapping on my screen:

Me: Kokoro! Where are you? Momo misses talking with you and Runa a lot : ( [sending failed]

I sighed and locked my phone. For some reason, I knew deep down it was useless. Kokoro stopped texting back long ago… and so did Runa. But why? Why can't I remember anything?

My eyes burned and tears started flowing down on my pillow.

Why am I crying now…?