It was set after the event taken place on The Stars (Ch 5). It was before the third-year students had graduated. Not long after realising each other's feelings, thoughts ran through Eli's and Umi's causing them to talk about their relationship.

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The Atmosphere

Chapter 7: The Time

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Time moves at different speeds. When there was only less than a month away from my graduation, time sprinted like a flash. But it could suddenly stop.

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That Friday Nico and I went to Nozomi's house to settle whether µ's should continue. Since were the third-year students, we had to settle this matter together before coming to a decision to the group. It was a long night. We argued and tears were shed but Nozomi's tea was pacifying. Nico had never been this desolated; her Nico cheer would had uplifted the mood. The night seemed far from over but we eventually came to a conclusion, which I forwarded Honoka.

Honoka, It's Eli. Afterwards, the three of us talked: about our popularity, about how many people listen to our songs, about how we were asked to help with Love Live! And we were very happy about that. But our answer hasn't changed, we will not be continuing µ's. We just…We're serious about being school idols! We love school idols. For our school, for everyone. We students, the nine of us coming together, competing with each other…Holding each other's hands…We love school idols!

I joined Nozomi and Nico by the table to get my share of tea after I had sent the message. 'So, Eli,' Nozomi voiced over the sound of her tea pouring into my cup. 'How are things with Umi-chan?' I was blown right when the pouring stopped. Chills went down my spine I could not reply though my mouth was gasping; I was choked.

'It's okay,' Nico tried to unclog my windpipes. 'Both of us had noticed it for some time. So, what are you two, exactly? Are you…' With that she lifted herself from the bed with a grin.

'No!' I reacted unconsciously with heat on my head as if it would let out steam if Nico punctured it. 'I-I mean – yes. I mean no! Like we've never talked. I guess yes, we're just c-close. We became very close for a while, along with at that. We spent a lot of time together too and know a lot of things about each other. I always look for her for consolation, and vice versa. She's Miss Comfort herself.'

I looked up because I was paying attention to my tea that whole time, where I imagined Umi's face printed on the surface. Nico and Nozomi had the same teasing face and were up-close; as if they were twins.

'But we're nothing like that,' I continued. 'It would be vice. I mean we are idols – think of what the others might say and also her admirers. But I would like to… But we soon will graduate, so, I'm meeting her tomorrow. I don't know what to do and to say.' I buried my face with Nozomi's pillow and laid on her bed facing down.

'This would be our second debate,' Nico reopened as she was the president. 'What should Eli do?' The night was far from over.

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I sat on the same park bench as I was on our second first date. I arrived at 10:30 and I had been waiting for hours for Umi since. As far as my eyes could see I could not spot my wish-fulfilling, stupefying, effervescing, Eli-loving girl. I counted how many people passed by that morning, I counted how many times that fit-looking old lady ran pass that bench, but I lost count of the hours because I believed Umi would arrive soon. She wanted to see me that Saturday – I only assumed that she was bummed that she could not spend the night before. I guess it was normal to feel that way since soon it would be my graduation. If Umi were my senpai I would be despairing even devastated if she were to graduate this soon – I would not actually allow that to happen.

Umi had asked me to meet her for brunch but I was already hungry. I sighed and finally checked my phone to see how long I had passed lunch time. It was only 10:41 and from the corner of my ears I heard footsteps paced quickly and increasing in volume.

I turned and found a goddess headed towards me dressed in such posh panache. Venus herself was there. Her elegant donker blue hair flown out of a reddish-brown beret and a pink hairpin she clipped above her left ear. She covered herself with a dark-grey shirt under a low-cut, caramel and cream dyed, wool sweater with a short skirt that matched the colour of her hair and soft leather boots that reached just below her knees. Then I began to scent her fragrance. On her right wrist, was the same bracelet as the one I made while in New York.

'Eli!' the diva panted while her pace was gradually lagging and eventually stopped in front of the bench. 'I'm sorry! Got here as soon as I could. I promised 10:30 but – I was getting ready, and –' And she was out of breath.

I couldn't hold it in but I laughed since I got light-headed. I stood up and grabbed her by the hands. 'You know, you should not bring your bow and arrows around especially shooting them in public like this.' She tried to protest but I was getting hungry so I towed her away from the park while admiring her.

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We then proceeded to our date. But that day went by like a blur. At 11:00 we started talking as we shared an ice cream waffle. At 11:01 we strolled around the city and watched street performers. At 11:02 we watched a movie at the local cinema. At 11:04 Umi was hungry so I took her to a fast-food restaurant and we ate by the river. At 11:05 we visited an art museum where we took photos impersonating some of the paintings and sculptures. At 11:07 we checked out different shops and Umi bought me a new hair tie that I requested her to tie my hair with. At 11:08 we went for drinks at a nearby café and looked back at the photos we took that day. At 11:09 we went to the arcade and she won me a fox doll while I won her a rabbit doll. At 11:10 we went to dinner at a romantic restaurant by the bay that I booked a few minutes earlier, and we saw fireworks dancing from where we were sitting. At 11:12 we were walking back to the park to sit on the same bench as I was awhile back.

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'Today was wonderful,' I reviewed. 'Thanks for inviting me and having me today, Umi.' I gently rested my head against hers.

Umi was sitting upright like she was frozen, yet her hands were on her handbag and her fingers were playing with the lock, reopening and reclosing the buckle. 'Eli,' the girl finally responded after a while. 'I have something to give you.' She reached out from her bag where the bunny doll was, and took out a box laced with an aqua ribbon. She moved away and held the box with both hands straight towards me while her face was directed at the bench.

'You're very sweet, Umi. You shouldn't have but thank you.' I gratefully accepted her gift and pulled on the ribbon to open the box. Inside was a heart-shaped clear crystal locket, that was unfolded from the start, with a golden lace. There was a writing engraved on it: I give my heart to you, because nothing can compare in this world to you.

Umi was still facing down but I could see her face and her hands were clenched like fists pressed on her lap. It was already dark but she was glowing brighter than the red traffic light. She was about to say something but before she could I already jumped at her. I wrapped my arms around her neck to her back and I held her. 'I love it, Umi.' Then she wrapped her arms around my waists to my back.

We both let go after she had offered to put it on me. I turned around lifting my tail as she put her arms hands and arms around, placed the necklace just below my collar bones, and locked the chain from behind. 'How does it look?' I asked of her opinion after turning around.

'You look beautiful, Eli.' Her eyes were wide open as wide as her smile like the blossom of a flower. She was no longer blushing – she got used to controlling it.

However, we didn't speak and we didn't break our eye contact for hours. I didn't mind if anyone else in the park were staring, because I was gazing at Umi's eyes and troubles of the world would just had to wait. Her eyes were topaz portals, to a sacred land where paradise awaits.

Not an hour later Umi finally spoke, 'Eli, I have got to tell you something. Something I meant to say for a while.'

I was holding the bracelet that was around my neck with both of my hands on my chest and I broke the eye contact, to look at the skyline that was in front of us across the river. 'Is it something important? And must it be now?' I paused to hear her respond but there was none – it must be it. 'Have you discussed it with your friends about it?' I then heard a murmur that was not coherent as if she were talking to herself. 'More essentially, have you talked to yourself about it?'

Looking at the silent girl who had her head down, she was sitting gloomily and guiltily as if she hadn't done those homework I asked.

I took a hand off the locket to stroke her head without disturbing her beret. 'Take 3 days.'

She looked puzzled after she turned to me to demand an explanation, 'why 3 days?'

I contacted my forehead to hers with my eyes closed. 'I want you to really think about it in that 3 days. One day with closest friends, and one day with yourself. You may have thought about telling for a long time but consult with these people as well. See what they think of it and tell me on the third day. Until then I don't want to hear about it, okay?' Somehow this felt like how our second date went, but it went well. Hopefully it would too…

I removed my head from hers and opened my eyes to look at the girl. She lifted her head and stretched her neck to meet my eyes. None of us said anything about this closeness for a while but her smile had said she was joyful, she was pleased, and she was jubilant. 'Okay.'

With that I lifted my head with enough height, to smooch her forehead gently before pulling her in until I felt her hairpin on my collar whilst I still have a hand on the locket.

...

That night we sat there to appreciate the city skyline in front of us. I noticed Umi's left hand was on my lap with her watch facing upwards. It was broken because the hands were not moving. She needs to fix it, I thought. But after a while it moved, but it lasted like a lifetime for the second hand to move.

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Time moves at different speeds. It is what prevents everything from happening all at once.

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