A/N: I'm going to try to type in this more regularly so here is a chapter by way of apology for ignoring it so much.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Uta-Pri.

Chapter 3

It wasn't long before someone approached her, and once again she was not expecting the hat wearing member of Starish to be the one to sit down next to her. This dude doesn't give up. Was her first thought, followed quickly by, What does he get out of trying to talk to me? I don't need anyone's help.

Siren knew she hadn't been like this all the time. There had been a time, she remembered, when she was a nice girl. Helpful. Cheerful. When she was there Siren had had a reason for joy. Now…

"You kissed him." She hadn't expected that complaint to come first and while so far the guy hadn't seemed one to blow a fuse, Siren could tell she only need push a little and the boy fans had screamed the name Shou at would probably boil over. "Of all the people in that class you could have popped out at and kissed it was that skirt chaser."

Siren was not familiar with the emotion jealousy, so she didn't think to chalk her uninvited companion's outburst to that, nor would she have had she thought to. She did explain though, "He chases every skirt but mine. I don't mind that, and I am not fond of him, nor do I desire closeness from him. But he is the most sought after man in our class. I thought it would be a shocking entrance. Kissing a boy all the other girls wanted to kiss."

There was silence for a moment, but shorty wasn't done blowing off steam, "Why didn't you just explain to everyone who she was? There will probably be rumors all over the school by this time tomorrow." Her companion asked. He even had the gall to sound concerned. And angry. At her or for her? "Why are you so damn stubborn about not talking about this? Why can't you just let someone in?"

Siren just looked at him, trying to figure out if he was stupid or something. "It's no one's business who she is. It's something close to my heart and it will stay that way. And if or when I meet someone who wants to be let in because they truly do want to know me, and not as some charity or an act of kindness, someone who wants to know me because they want to know me with no hidden agenda or anything…That person will be let in. Until then I don't feel it is conducive to being on top to make shallow friendships with competition."

"You've got a long way to go before you can consider yourself our competition, Siren." It just slipped out of him, but Shou was mad, so he didn't regret it. Instead he continued, "If your arrogant enough to believe you can waltz in and go from being a street performer to a having a stadium full of people pay to listen to your live, you've got another thing coming. Everyone starts at square one, you know. And walking around with some boulder on your shoulder, some secret that you think makes you special, that's not going to get you anywhere. Sharing experiences, growing as a person, that will."

He looked over at the white haired teen, who currently had her red eyes shut, where she sat on the curb beside him and felt a tinge of remorse. What's said is said, he thought as he stood and dusted the bottom of his pants with a frown.

He turned to leave when she finally addressed him.

"Her name was Sasha." Shocked Shou looked down and into natural red eyes too bright from held in tears. "I won't tell you any more for now. But maybe, as time goes by, you will learn more about her, and what she meant to a penniless orphan. If you can prove that you know how to keep your mouth shut."

Shou hunkered down and offered her his pinky. "I swear," He told her, still looking a little angry. Siren just looked at the offered digit in confusion. "It's like this." The Starish performer explained, reaching down and hooking his pinky with hers and bouncing them a couple times.

"What exactly...?"

"It's a pinky swear." He told her solemnly. "Very sacred."

Siren looked at him like he was the most ridiculous thing on the planet before letting out a small uncharacteristic chuckle that had the young idol staring at her in incredulity. "Alright, so you swear not to tell anyone. I haven't sworn anything though, have I?"

"Sure you did. You're gonna tell me more when I prove capable of holding my end of the bargain. Don't chicken out." From behind her the school bell rang to announce class was over. "Now about your partner for this week's assignment-"

"Oh, look it's lunch time." Siren pointed out, not paying Shou any attention.

"Hey, listen when people are talking to you!" He shouted.

"If I talk to Saotome about it will you never bring it up again? If something like this occurs more than this once." Siren's expression was once more neutral as she stood as well and peered somewhere over his left shoulder.

"Yeah, sure, whatever. But I am sitting in on the conversation." Shou grumbled, trying to hide that he was pleased.

"Well, I suggest we go now then, by your leave, of course. Your fans have arrived and look like they want to dice me up and serve me to a very rabid man eating goat." She was still looking over the short idol's shoulder, her face as expressionless as ice and her voice conveying as much emotion as someone asking a math problem would display.

"Shit." Shou swore as he glanced over his shoulder as well before grabbing the petite songstress's arm and dashing off in the other direction.

As the pair reached Saotome's office, TDM was just leaving it.

"I was wondering where you two went." The temporary teacher looked them up and down and grinned as Shou dropped the girl's wrist like it had burned him. "Little forward aren't you, Mr. Pink?"

"WHAT!" Shou's face turned bright red and had it been physically possible, steam would be coming out of his ears.

"I am sure he was just kidding, Hat Boy. Relax." Siren intoned calmly while TDM looked about ready to crack.

"Not you too!" Shou half moaned half shouted. "My name is Shou. Get it? Shou!"

"Oh, is it?" Siren asked. "I wasn't certain."

That was the last straw for both men. TDM busted out laughing so hard he started to cry and Shou let out something akin to a frustrated war cry.

"How could you not know my name?" He yelled.

"No television, remember?" Siren said helpfully.

"You could have asked!" Shou roared. "That whole conversation we just had and you never even…" He was at a loss for words.

"It didn't seem important." And again TDM was laughing so hard he could barely breath at Siren's toneless responses.

"Oh quiet you! You went by the name, That Dark Magician all day." Shou shouted, pointing at the instructor.

"My job was to teach how to make an entrance, not how to make a name." TDM pointed out, wiping a tear from his eye in the process. "I dare say the principal is ready for his next audience though, when you're quite ready."

The two teens knocked on and entered the door to their rather eccentric principal's office with a hint of hesitation on Shou's part and a bit of reluctance on Siren's. He didn't like his oddball manager and she still didn't see the point of what they were doing.

"Well hello, Mz. Siren, Mizter Kurusu. What brings you to the office of me?" Saotome still had a habit of rolling his rs and spinning in place after he finished a sentence.

"Tch. Can't you just have a normal conversation with us?" Shou shot under his breath.

"It wouldn't happen to be about Mz. Siren's partner for this week dumping his work load on her would it?" Shining ignored Shou and his comment.

"How did you know about that?" Siren glanced accusingly at Shou.

"I forgot…" Shou said bleakly. "He spi-"

"Let's not give secrets away, Mizter Kurusu." Saotome interrupted with another spin. One side of his lips moved up like he was winking behind his sunglasses. "It is a part of this industry to work with other people. Luck plays a big role too, and by your luck you partnered with someone unwilling to work with you. That's just how it is. But since Mizter Kurusu seems to care so much about the issue, enough to convince you to come talk to me I will tell you what. He can compose your song for just this week. I look forward to it!" And with that he started to dance.

"What! I am an idol, not a composer!" Shou floundered.

"Great," Siren deadpanned.

Ten minutes later found them both in the library looking up different composers and styles.

"Can't you just ask the Starish composer for help? She's here right?" Siren asked, sounding decidedly melancholy compared to her usual stoic personality.

"Knowing Saotome he would disqualify you for that and kick us both out of S class." Shou explained, still reading a text on dance music. "Do you have lyrics yet?"

"Yes, but I will just mold them to whatever you create, don't let me hinder you. Are you thinking a dance tune then?"

"Yeah, though I don't want it to be too fast, if that works with your lyrics…" He clarified.

"Just make the song. I will worry about the lyrics fitting or not when you're done." If Shou had not known any better he would have thought she sounded frustrated.

I wonder how well emotions suit her… Shou was pretty sure the girl in question did have emotions; it was just that she hid them so completely behind a steel wall of stoicism. I wonder what it would take to get her to show passion towards something. Or maybe get in a really heated argument.

Suddenly his phone went off in his pocket announcing that he had somewhere to be.

"Shit! Sorry I have to go to practice." He shouted over his shoulder as he shot up and ran for the door.

Siren looked after him and brought her head to rest on one of her hands. "I wonder why he apologized."