I slowly open my eyes and sit up from my laying position. I look to my left and notice a little fur ball at my side. Cecil, the cat anyway, had rolled up into a ball and was sleeping soundly. I pet the sleepy feline and he purrs in his sleep. I then notice the rain. It was dark outside still, and it was pouring heavily. Since I didn't have a watch I didn't know exactly what time it was. I poke out a hand and let the raindrops fall into it. Then I just stick my entire arm out of the pavilion. The sensation was satisfying.

After a minute I brought my arm back in and sat back leaning against the pillar. I run my wet hand through my hair and don't flinch when the cold water on my arm hits the side of my face. I shut my eyes again and breathe out a sigh, "I can't go out in this rain now."

"Beautiful..." I turn to my left and hold in a scream. "Ah, what's wrong? Hime-sama?"

Sitting at the other end of the seat of this pavilion, watching me, a dark haired male sat, legs crossed and arms folded. But not the one I would have been expecting to see at this point, if at all... "Prince Kiyavelli?"

He seemed to lightly blush, "You said my name. That makes me so happy."

"What are you doing here?" I ask him, "How can you still be~" It is then that I notice that it wasn't raining around me anymore. "Huh? But the rain?"

"What do you mean?" Prince Kiya asks. His dark blue eyes caught my startled gaze and wouldn't let it go. He then raises his eyebrows as if he understood what I was asking finally. "Oh. I bet this must be a shock to you. When you fainted, you didn't disappear like Cecil-san said you would, so one of us looked after you until you were able to cross back into your own world. I was the one that decided to do so. I did need to take responsibility..." He tells me. He continues in his naturally soft tone of voice, "I just lost you a moment ago. But you came back quite quickly. You must be stuck between the different realities."

"Between realities?" I asked not immediately following him.

"My reality...and your own." He says with an all knowing tone, "It must be hard. Traveling back and forth and all...I'm just glad you came back to see me..." He smiles lightly, "You're confused, I can tell. But how should I start to explain..." Prince Kiya pondered for a moment. "Ah, I guess I should hurry, or you might fade away before I finish." The smile he wore turned sad, "Well, just like you have friends in your reality that look like us, we had someone in our reality that looked like you. But she's long gone now...But then you came, in her place. We spent time together off and on, us and the princes together. I loved adventuring around with you."

Prince Kiya seemed lost within his memories. He sounded like he knew me for years. But I didn't remember him at all. "Adventuring?"

"We were young. You may not remember I guess." He tells me, scooting over closer. "But I do. I especially remember the memory of when we searched the Central Kingdom castle for this rare crystal gem, and you got lost. You were crying when Otoyan and I found you...You bawled right up until the time you had to go..."

"Crystal gem?" After hearing his stories my eyes widened in realization, "Wait? The crystal of light?!" He nodded. I vaguely remember dreaming about something like what he described, when I was younger. "No way...that was a dream."

"Dream?" Prince Kiya shook his head, "It was certainly not a dream. None of that was, and none of this is. You're just having a hard time remembering, but the memories are still there. I'm sure of it." He pointed to my heart. Our gazes lock on each other and before I knew it, Prince Kiya held be in another strong embrace. "I have to hug you." He says slowly, "Otherwise, I might accidentally kiss you."

"K-Kiss?" I stutter.

"On the lips. If not, anywhere else wouldn't be a problem I'm sure. But I don't want to take any chances. For me, it's hard to hold back..." He trails off before I can ask. I couldn't see his face while he talked as he held me too close. "Forgive me. The true reason for me being here is extremely selfish. Unlike the others, I was unable to let the memories of you go away so easily. I did want to watch over you, but...when I heard that you would disappear, I got scared. I thought that if you disappeared again, you'd never come back this time." I could feel his hands shaking. "I missed you so much, Melody-hime." Prince Kiya says quietly, "You truly don't know how much I've missed you."

I didn't really know what to say, with the absence of my memory of him from the past. "I'm sorry..." He stayed quiet for a moment. Then came a blunder of questions.

"Where did you go? What did you do?" Prince Kiya asked me, "Where did you stay? Were you safe the entire time? All of these questions seem to bother me. But don't worry about answering them, I'm sure I'll only just grow frustrated by the answers and ask more questions." He told me letting me go, "When you disappeared, I was left to believe that you left because of me. You left one day without a word, I didn't know how to feel. I let so many negative emotions over come me...Ah, I've been rambling on for too long." Suddenly Prince Kiya stops himself, "It's okay that you don't completely understand how I feel. But it means a lot to me that you took the time to listen to me. And that you tried to understand at all." He leans against the pillar of the pavilion and gestures for me to as well. I lean on him, "Forgive me, but can we stay like this? For a little while?"

"Sure." I say, laying my head on his chest. He presses his chin on top of my head. I then feel him move to place his cheek where his chin had been. We sat like that, in silence, for few minutes. I start to feel sleepy and close my eyes. The sound of rain and the sudden sensation of something warm causes me to abruptly open them. But when I do, it's not raining and Prince Kiya is still with me. He seems distracted by something and is staring in front of us. "What is it? Prince Kiyavelli?"

He doesn't speak at first, then carefully forms his words. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your reality's version of me like? Do you know him? Is he like me?" I hesitate to answer. "Oh...I see."

"He's like you...in a way..." I start to say, "...But we don't get along."

"Why?"

I hesitate again, and start to fiddle with my fingers. Prince Kiya analyzes my movements. He was trying to read me. "We were childhood friends but, just...He...doesn't like me anymore. He hates me."

When I don't explain anymore, he doesn't say anything. I look up from my fingers and realize he's staring directly down at me. It was just a stare not a glare, but it still intimidated me. "He doesn't hate you." He says.

"Huh? What do you mean?" For some reason I grow defensive. "We argue all the time and he gives me angry glares. He always gives me sarcastic answers and ignores me all the time..." I trail off at Prince Kiya's staring. It was like he was silently calling BS. "But I'm not lying! I'm telling the truth!" Prince Kiya stares back in front of us again for a moment then looks back at me.

"What caused you not to get along?" I swallow hard, "People don't just meet and automatically dislike each other. Besides it sounds like you two were friends for a very long time before then...Perhaps, you're leaving something out, Hime-sama?" He pryingly stared at me from the side, wanting me to tell him everything. "It's okay," He whispered, "You can tell me."

"I...We..." I couldn't form the words. I folded my arms and looked down. "...There was...an incident. When we were younger..." I didn't want to tell him every single detail, so I summarized. "Look, we used to sing together, all the time. One day, I was too into my feelings and I was stupid and did something careless. He and I ended up hospitalized because of it, since he tried to save me. Luckily our injuries weren't that bad, and we recovered from them later on but...I found out that...my throat had grown unhealthy." I didn't want to talk about this. I won't tell him everything. Prince Kiya placed a hand over my bawled fist, wanting me to continue. "After it "got better", I tried to sing, but I couldn't. So without a notice, I quit, simple as that."

"Let me guess. That didn't go over too well with him."

"...I didn't explain. He wanted me to, but I-I couldn't." I felt myself tearing up. "I left without explaining, with an attitude. A-And I may have said some things I'm not p-proud of~" I didn't want to cry, but the tears came down anyway. "Now every time we see each other, he won't speak and if he does, it's not anything nice..." Prince Kiya once again called my BS and gave me a silent stare. I was too upset to call him out on it though. "Okay! Maybe it's more my fault than his! He's tried to reach out to me, but I-I pushed him away! Now he's stopped trying and so have I! And when I get angry, he does! Now he hates me! And it's my fault, are you happy!?" It was only then that I realized that he hadn't said a word to me. Prince Kiya hadn't tried to ridicule me at all, he only listened to what I had to say. It was all me, assuming things. I covered my face in my hands and cried. Prince Kiya silently held me.

"He doesn't hate you." Prince Kiya firmly says to me again, "...All alternate reality personas are structured in the same way. If he hated you, then I would have to hate you in some way. Even if it is only a little bit. But I don't. Do you understand what I am trying to say?" He asked, "I don't think you should give up on him for such a silly accusation, that may not even be true. I think you should hear his true feelings straight from him, like you have done with me." He brought my face from his chest and wiped my tears away. "Now don't cry anymore, Princess. These tears do not deserve you."

"K-Kiyavelli~" I stutter some more. The prince looked towards the outside of the pavilion. Then stood up. "Wait, where are you going?"

"I'm going to prove it to you. Prove that he cares." He tells me, "Promise me you won't so easily give up on us, Hime-sama. No matter how stubborn we may get." I end up telling him okay.

He suddenly trapped me on both sides with his arms. "Just wait. Just like you've shown me love through my song, I shall show you my love through it. This love song that was meant for you." His dark blue eyes twinkled. He got up and walked towards the wooden dock. "Just don't push me again please." He joked. Prince Kiya then looked at me from the side. "Listen to my song, Princess. I'll make it a lullaby of love." He tilted his face toward me, his hair falling into his face only revealing one eye. That eye held an emotion that I couldn't put my finger on as he lightly smiled at me. "So listen, and fall for me." I felt like my heart skipped a beat. Before I could give him a nod, he turned towards the lake and looked toward the sky.

Ah… kimi dake ni todoke

kono kaze no oto yo...Feeling Heart…

mou nakanakute ii yo sono mama de ii

sora o mite Ah… My Sweetest Love

The sound of his voice resonated throughout the whole area. While Prince Kiya sang Nanairo no Compass, I could faintly see a shift in his appearance. But when I did it went away. A little before the chorus, I grew frustrated, and wiped my eyes. I was going to stand up and see him better, but I was stopped by the light sound of drizzling starting to fade away, and the sudden warmth I had felt before. I looked down instead. "A...jacket?" I asked myself. It was an academy jacket. It wasn't mine, it was too big. But it was laced over me at my shoulders. Almost forgetting about the song, I look for Prince Kiyavelli again. But I don't see him this time.

Standing on that wooden dock, being shined on by the moonlight, singing his heart out to the water, was the other dark haired male with dark blue eyes. Other as in the one from my reality. His uniform was a dead giveaway. "T-Tokiya?" I put his jacket around my shoulders and stood at the entrance to the pavilion, holding a pillar for support. "I-It is you..."

kimi ga negau koto no zenbu ga

hoshi ni naranai kamoshirenai

dakedo shinjiru yume de areba

ikusen aru "yozora no ichiban kirameku hazu no houseki" sa

His last word was the loudest and resonated throughout the area the most. His song...it was full of passion. And heart. So much, I felt tears leaving me again. I couldn't tell whether the song was so good, it reached me emotionally, or if I was just so emotionally unstable from my talk with his princely version I couldn't keep myself together. Either way, the song had touched my heart at that moment regardless.

I started to try and talk to him, until I hear a branch break on our left. "Haru..." Of course. She would be here, of all times.

"You really are HAYATO-sama, aren't you?" While they're focused on each other, I hide behind the pavilion in the bushes with Tokiya's jacket. I see him, look towards the pavilion, probably for me, but he glances away without saying anything about it.

"We met here before. Didn't we? And you noticed right as I was HAYATO. Even though you were told I wasn't, you didn't deny the thought. At the live too."

"So she did find out." I muttered under my breath. Haruka asked Tokiya about why he was at Saotome Academy, even though he was an idol. I started to interject their conversation, thinking he would tell her about our meeting with Saotome, but he didn't.

"~Because I wanted to sing. But I can't." Tokiya says quickly, "My songs, lack heart."

"But your singing before was beautiful!"

"Because it is HAYATO's." He tells her with a dejected expression, "HAYATO's singing was beautiful, right? Ichinose Tokiya's singing, is no good."

"It might be the same for you then..." Haruka says to him, "I couldn't play the piano, even though I should have been able to. My fingers wouldn't move. It was like my heart was frozen...maybe it's the same way for you. But it's okay! I'm sure you'll be able to sing. The way you want to!"

Tokiya lets out a huff before standing closer to Haruka. He bends down a bit, looking at her right in the eyes. "I can't stand the way you act like you understand me. You don't know me at all." He walks past her towards the woods, "You and I are nothing alike. Excuse me." Haruka is left in shock. I didn't go over to comfort her though. Sometimes you need to experience pain, in order to bring you back to the painful reality.

When Haruka walks back towards the dorms, I can hear her calling my name. She came out here looking for me. I feel the twinge of guilt but ignore it. I step out of the bushes finally and stand on the dock where both the males had been. The warmth from Tokiya's jacket kept me content in the cold air left from the rain. "Without heart huh? Or is it lack of love. Which is it?" I bend down and swish my arm in the water, less violently then how Kyato had done. I spoke a little louder, "Why are you so selectively nice? Haruka is a nice person. She's most likely genuinely wanting to help you succeed. She's done so for everyone else." When I don't hear anything, I let out a sigh. "If you were trying to be sneaky you failed. If you haven't gotten it already, I know you're here, Tokiya." I turn around and realize we're so close we're face to face with each other. "Damn. Could you be any closer?" He holds out a hand. "What?"

"My jacket."

I huff and feign innocence, "Oh this? This is yours?"

"Who's else?" His answers are short.

I raise my eyebrows, toying with him. "This says A class you know." I wondered if he'd tell me.

He didn't. "Give it back."

I swung away from him and backed up off the dock. He followed, "You shouldn't have gave it away in the first place." Not having a comeback, Tokiya only reached for the blazer again. Of course I moved away again. "Weren't you ever told not to give things to people without compensation?" He wouldn't answer me, not even giving any sarcastic remarks. He reached again and I moved further along the lake bed. "Why didn't you tell me that you got demoted to my class?"

"Why would I?" Good point.

"Well...maybe I'd want to know if my arch rival was going to be in the same room with me every day." Tokiya furrowed his eyebrows.

"Just give me my jacket so I can go." He wasn't in the mood. He tried swiping it from me once more but I went back the other way. Back on the dock, I held a hand out in front of me. "Wait."

"I don't have time for your games, KaSakura."

"KaSakura? Okay, Ichinose." Want to be formal now? I'll be formal then. "And if you didn't have the time, you'd just go back without it right? I'm a lady, I need this more than you."

"Pfft, I see no woman here." I furrowed my arms.

"Ah well, looks like you're just going to have to get a new jacket then." Tokiya narrowed his eyes, "Got that, Bro?"

"Last chance."

"There is no chance." Tokiya started swiping at the jacket faster and I dodged him each time. Suddenly I slip, not realizing that I was on the edge of the dock. "A-Ah!" As soon I brace myself for the impact of the water, I don't feel it. Tokiya caught me just in time. With one arm, he held me up. He stared down at me like Prince Kiyavelli had, and I couldn't help but gaze back. "You're so pale, Tokiya."

He closes his eyes, sighing heavily. He gave off the expression that said that he was done with me. I wanted to laugh. "...You, like being troublesome, don't you?" Tokiya says, "Back then, and even now."

I hesitate for a moment, but I close my eyes and sigh just like he had. However, I wasn't trying to mimic him. I was just gathering my dignity. "I'm sorry."

"I bet you are." Tokiya told me. I shook my head.

"No. Not for this." As if I could be, it was just a little fun. "I'm sorry for not telling you. About why I quit the old agency." I decided to finally talk things out with him. Like Prince Kiyavelli had been persuading me to do. "I should have told you, what was going on." When he didn't say anything I looked at him.

"Well?" Tokiya asked, "Are you going to tell me?"

I look down, "What do you remember?"

"You had gotten surgery. In America. After you recovered you refused to work with me in the studio then quit."

"...I had become tone deaf." I told him straight. His eyes widened and he finally let me go. "The music...I couldn't sing with it anymore. I tried to retake lessons, thinking it would go away quickly but it didn't. Not in time. Not to mention, after the surgery, my range had changed. I didn't like the way I sang anymore. I lost it." I said, "I, I was too ashamed to let you hear that mess... and I didn't want to drag you down..." I noticed Tokiya frown.

"Is that what it was? I'd never imagine that was what was wrong with you." He asked me, "...I thought it was me."

"No! Of course not!" I defended immediately, crying. "It was me, all me! I knew if I had told you, you would have tried to still work with me. That's why I didn't say anything."

"I would have." Tokiya told me quickly with a shaking bawled up fist, "And even if we may have failed, I would have supported you. I wouldn't just leave you to suffer alone like that!" He covered his mouth.

We looked away from each other instinctively. "Is that so? Haha."

"Of course. Ha..." We nervously laughed. "...I should have tried harder to find out what was going on."

"There's nothing we can do to change things though I suppose." I say looking to the stars. "At least we are both here to try and move on towards the future." Tokiya didn't answer back and looked at the stars too. I was in shock that Tokiya and I were able to talk to each other normally like this. I missed talking like this. I didn't want to ruin this moment.

But of course, things almost never go according to plan.

I took off Tokiya's A class jacket and tried to give it back to him. "I guess I'll give this back to youuu~!" Just like before however, I slipped on the went ground of the lake bed and fell backward again. Tokiya couldn't catch me fast enough and I ended up pulling him down with me. Me, him, and the jacket end up wet. Luckily the water was shallow and I sat up with him. "Hey are you okay!?"

Tokiya spat out the water he had inhaled. He coughed then glared at me and I flinched. "Ah mou! Honestly!" I was taken aback by his sudden childishness, "You're such a bad luck charm! You trouble maker!" He splashed me.

"I am not!" I yelled splashing back.

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!" We splashed each other back and forth like there was no tomorrow. It took us a minute to realize that we were fighting like children. We blushed in embarrassment. "Now, was that so hard?" I'm startled when I see Prince Kiyavelli in him for a second. "Ugh. The things I get into with you." Before I knew it, Tokiya picked me up in his arms.

"W-What are you doing!?"

"Carrying you back before you catch a cold. Unless you want to walk back like that, Miss no underwear~"

"Ah! How did you know!? Pervert! Let me down!" I fought for him to put me down, but held on. I glared at him menacingly, and he glared back the same way, until our faces were so close we couldn't see our expressions anymore. I assumed his glare softened, like mine had. His lips were inches from mine. I was about to freak out when I saw a light down below. "Your phone is in the water." I whispered. He backed up from my face realizing what was happening and shook his head as if he didn't approve at all. He reached down with his free hand for the waterproof cell phone, thankfully undamaged and opened the text. He choked. "What? What is it?" He showed me the screen.

Shining Saotome: RULE ONE. ROMANCE IS FORBIDDEN! YOU CAN'T FALL IN LOVE!

"HE'S WATCHING US!?" Tokiya was too shook to respond. He only whispers, "I apologize" and walks me back to the dorms.

"Ha...ACHOO!" I feel the jolt of my sneeze. I swear it shook my entire body.

"Bless you Me-chan."

"Thanks Otoya."

"No problem." He smiles brightly. Any brighter and moe flowers would appear. Just like that, I had the hint of a cold the next day. But instead of resting, I was in school like everyone else.

"So what are we gonna do?" Tomo asked us from her seat. "Sensei went to get him. Should we just leave him alone?"

"You know what Masato said." I blew my nose, "The reserved guy needs to be shown love. So show him love."

"...I suppose you just mean try to befriend him, right?" Tomo asks.

"It might be a little hard for you, considering you scolded him the first time you met. But yes."

"There he is!" Haruka says from in front of me. Ringo-sensei and Tokiya both enter the room.

"All right everyone! Take your seats! There's some business we need to discuss before we start." He tells us, "Well then. I'm sure you all were gossiping among each other about this already, but," He starts out by saying, "As of today, Fujisaki Tsubasa-kun, our top idol student in this class so far this year, has been promoted to S class and will no longer be with us." The class causes an uproar. "I know, I am sad as well."

"What!? How dare he not tell me!" Tomo exclaimed.

"Is that why we've haven't seen him lately?" Haruka asks.

"I guess so." Otoya says, not looking concerned in the slightest.

I couldn't care less either, "Congrats."

The students in the class whisper to each other until Ringo quiets them down. "In his place however, Ichinose Tokiya-kun will be joining our class. Everyone be nice to him."

"Alright." Tomo says, "Act naturally you guys~"

"HI TOKIYA!" Otoya suddenly shouts loud enough for the class next door to hear.

Tomo hits her head with her clasped hands, "How did I know he was going to over do it?!"

I also scold him, "You overdid it and you know it." Tokiya didn't even respond to him, only stared. Otoya looks down, dejected.

Ringo-sensei clears his throat, "Ichinose-kun, according to my seating chart, there should be an empty seat in the back. However..." Someone was sitting there.

"Matte sensei!" The male student in front of the seat suddenly calls, "Can my friend continue sitting here? He's been helping me all year!" I could see Masato glaring at him. I turned back to the front.

"An idol shouldn't need help!" Ringo-sensei refutes.

"But he's been helping me with notes since I can't see the board!" He argues, "And there was no where else to move!"

"Ugh. Fine!" Ringo-sensei tells him, not wanting to argue about it. The boys high five and don't make it a secret. "Ah wait, but that would mean the only seat left...would be..." The class went quiet as Ringo trailed off. Everyone was staring at a particular place in the class room. I turned around to see what they were looking at. There was an empty seat alright. Right. Behind. Me.

When I turned back around everyone was watching me, as if waiting for my reaction. This made me irritated, "What the hell are you all staring at!?" I shouted, "Tokiya, if there's an empty seat behind me, sit your azz down and stop wasting the class's time!" Also looking irritated, Tokiya went down our row of seats.

Ringo-sensei suddenly says, "Ichinose-kun, if KaSakura-chan starts to fall asleep during class, you have my permission to slap her in the back."

"I bet he was already doing that." Someone said. The class oohed and laughed, except for our friends. I furrowed my eyebrows angrily.

"Areh Areh Areh!" Ringo-sensei says, "I didn't mean for it to sound like that! I apologize!" Tokiya grunts.

"I'm sitting here because he asked me to, not you." Tokiya told me before sitting down at the desk behind me.

"Good for you, I don't care! Just do it!" I yell back at him. At that moment, I should have realized then things were only going to get worse from there with Tokiya.

"Me-chan daijoubu?" Otoya asked me when we were getting let out for lunch.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sur~"

"I said I'm fine!" I banged my fist on the desk.

"Me-chan what's wrong?" Haruka then asked me like I didn't say anything.

"You know those girls are talking about you right?" Tokiya pointed out from behind us. "The Melody I once knew, would have set them straight when they first started talking."

"Well the Melody you once knew is practically dead if you hadn't noticed!" I growled at him, "So shut the hell up!" I walked out of the room, not waiting for anyone.

"Don't worry Tokiya. It's just that she's in a bad mood." I heard Otoya say.

"No Otoya. That's just Melody." Tokiya tells him.

Later that day, when we were back in class, Ringo-sensei was giving one of the usual lectures. This time on the importance of the basic principals of music. So of course, I was going to casually tap out of the convo. I closed my eyes and leaned on the desk, hiding behind Haruka. Suddenly I hear a heavy sigh behind me and then feel a painful sensation.

WHACK!

"WHAT THE HELL?!" I suddenly shout immediately turning to Tokiya.

"I was told to hit you when you were falling asleep." He says innocently.

I stood up slamming my hands on his desk, "DO YOU WANT TO DIE?"

"Would you stop yelling! I didn't even hit you that hard! Baka!"

"Yes you did! And you did it on purpose!"

"Believe what you want to believe!"

"I will! You Ahole!" Ringo didn't say a word and only waited for us to settle down. And at times like these, when they kept happening later on, he didn't say anything about it. If it looked like we were going to physically fight, Otoya would get up and hold onto one of us until we calmed down. It was like this every other day after that for 2 weeks. Ringo refused to change our seats, and Tokiya and I just couldn't get along. Regardless of our earlier "interaction". I grew irritated by the thought of just having him behind me. That only made things worse.

One day, we were passing textbooks down our row. I took a book and passed the rest on. When Tokiya didn't take them right away I grew an anime vein mark. "Take the damn textbooks Ichinose." He snatched a book from me making me angry, but didn't take the other two, making me angrier. "Take the other two dammit!" He grunted and then snatched the others with both hands. Suddenly one of the books fell on the floor. I chortled in triumph, "You forgot one. That's why that bish fell." I then caught a glimpse of Ringo-sensei eyeing us. "You know what, fine. I'll be the bigger person and pick it up for you." Tokiya rolled his eyes and I was triggered some more.

"It was your textbook. Baka." I didn't even check to see if it was mine. I was annoyed of the fact he kept calling me and idiot. From my peripheral vision I could see Otoya getting ready to jump.

"Call me and idiot, one more time. I dare you." I spat. I was a phrase away from killing him.

The class watched in anticipation. Tokiya's eyes never left mine as he slowly leaned forward from his previous position until he was over his desk, in my face. That next word ticked me off the edge, "B-A-KA." Out of anger I got up quickly and caught the male by the collar and tugged violently on his tie. Otoya jumped up and squeezed me around the waist yelling "STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!" As quickly as he could over and over. Masato had also got up to free Tokiya from me.

It only made sense that my detention sentence was later extended.

"Unbelievable!" Syo shouts, "So you have to be here, but not him?!"

"Yes." I mutter in a low voice while sweeping. Syo, Otoya, Masato, and I were back in the classroom after classes, during my detention period. "It's frustrating."

"I can understand your feelings though." Syo tells me, "Tokiya can be a real prick on a bad day."

"I bet it is frustrating." Masato says, "But I also bet it still less painful than the choking sensation Ichinose-kun felt. KaSakura-san could have severely hurt him back then. She has to receive some kind of punishment for her actions." He inadvertently reprimanded.

"But Masa! Melody's hurting too! It's not her fault that Tokiya's been so mean to her!" Otoya immediately defends. I squeeze the broom in my hand. He continues in a lower voice, "Melody's been trying her best. Tokiya hasn't been making it easy to be around him at all."

"I'm wit Otoya on this one. You're way outta line on this one, Masato." Syo tells him. "I get that you're all for fair treatment, but what about equal treatment?! If KaSa has to be here, then what about Tokiya!? He did as much wrong as she did. I call BS! If she has to be here, he needs to be here too!"

"And have him in the same room as me after school too?" I can't help but interject. "Do you want me to kill him?" Syo looks down at the ground.

"At least let me help you." Otoya says going for the chalk board erasers. But I step out in front of the black board.

"I'm good." I tell him, "Look, thank you for being concerned and all. But I think you all should go. Before Ringo-sensei comes by here and sees you guys."

"But KaSa-chan, are you sure?" Syo asks me. Masato doesn't say another word and leaves out on his own. The two boys only stare at his behavior. "Ugh. That guy gets a little too brazen for me to handle."

"Don't look at him like that." I say, "Masato cares about what's going on with me. It's just his morals conflict him from being completely on my side, is all. I was wrong for attacking Tokiya." I unintentionally give a sad smile. The boys frown. "Don't worry about me now. Get outta here, both of you guys." Syo starts to say something, but just leaves. Otoya stands at the doorway with a worried expression.

"Are you sure you'll be alright alone?"

"I'll be fine. Go." Otoya hesitates but then leaves as well. I bang my fist on the teachers desk when he does. Tears start to leave my eyes for some reason when I jam them shut, falling on my hand. "Dammit!" I was frustrated, rather than angry. I banged my fist again, "DAMMIT!" I said a little louder. My tears started to become uncontrollable. Nothing is going right for me at all...

Just then there's a creek at the doorway. Whoever's there backs up. I frantically turn away wiping my eyes with my arms. "I didn't mean to startle you." I hear Ringo-sensei come in the classroom. He stops behind me at the desk. I move further away from it, out of his way. No doubt he had seen me crying. And even if he hadn't, it was obvious now. Ringo rummages through the drawers of his desks for papers. I stood a little away from him, silently hoping he would leave quickly. The awkward air in the room doesn't seem to get any better, especially when I catch Ringo glancing at me out of his peripheral vision. I wanted to hide in a hole and stay there forever.

"I finished clearing the area. And I swept too." I say when I can't take it anymore. He didn't seem to be leaving quick enough, and I really needed to be alone right now. I had to get out of there. "If there isn't anything else, I'm going to go."

"Wait, KaSakura-chan." Ringo-sensei says. He stands up and grips the sides of the desks. "Ugh." He sighs lowering his head, "I suppose since I'm a teacher, I should've cracked down on you kids harder..." He raises his head to look at me. I tense up, "Miss KaSakura, I'm fully aware that you and your friends are getting bullied in my class. I get that you're upset, especially because I'm not doing anything to stop what's going on. But it's not because I favor certain students over others. Please understand, it's not because I hate you or anything." Ringo looks me dead in the eye from where he stood. "In the music industry, you're going to have hard times. There are going to be times where it will seem like the odds are against you. Times where people who you think should get a penalty, will get rewarded instead. I, as a teacher, am only trying to prepare you for when those moments come. I'm not allowed to sugar coat anything for you. Things like what you are experiencing now, will come full force in the future. And you, as an idol, will have to be ready for that, and rise up when people are trying to tear you down. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

'So all those times Ringo didn't say anything to the students in class, he was trying to teach us? I guess I can get that.' "...Yes, sir." I tell him. Ringo puts his hands on his hips when I try to wipe away the tears from my eyes more furiously. He stares at me worriedly for a minute, then comes around the desk towards me. Putting a hand on my cheek, he wipes the rest away with his thumb.

"Good. Now stop all those water works, Dear." He pinches my cheek after doing so. "I know you. You're one heck of a singer, you're too good be picked apart by these guys. Don't let them provoke these tears outta you again. Got it?" I nod and he pulls away. "Oh, and as for your fights with Ichinose-kun...Deary, those are unnecessary and you know it." I frown, "The both of you are angry at each other for no good reason. I think it would be real helpful for you two to just learn to get along. I'll have a talk with him as well though. I'm not just punishing you solely. Tokiya's dealing with his own personal demons right now. He's getting more of a punishment right now than you know."

"Yes, Sensei." 'Huh? What's that suppose to mean?' Ringo digs in the desk drawers for more papers. He slyly changes the subject.

"You know, I haven't heard you sing for a solo project all year..." I gulp nervously. "You've only done alternative compositions, a duet, and some group work. How sneaky KaSakura-chan." He smirks, "But that all ends soon."

"W-What do you mean?"

"You see, I want to get all my grading done before the school field trip in a month or so. That means, I want to see your composition submission asap." I froze, "I know you've been putting this assignment off since the beginning of the year. This isn't some random minor assessment grade, you know. It's a major assessment grade, that's why I made it our first assignment. It's at least 50% of your overall yearly grade!"

"That much? How is that possible?"

"Because it's a composition, lyrical, and performance based grade." Ringo-sensei explained, "We only have two of those per school year that are officially put in the grade book. The one at the beginning of the year, and your graduation audition."

"Wouldn't that equal 100% together?" I asked getting confused, "Where does the rest of our assignments fit in?"

"It would take too long to explain. But the graduation audition isn't as many points as you think." Ringo left it there, "Anyway, I want your submission before the Pair vs Pair contest starts up. Surely someone has at least mentioned it to you by now."

"Someone may have." I told him.

"Well, either way I'm going to make an announcement about it in a week. I want to at least look at your assignment before then. That way, you can just perform that or maybe even a rendition of it at the Pair vs Pair contest with the help of your designated partner!"

'But I wasn't even planning on entering that thing...' I was going to say that out loud, but I didn't want to break Sensei's spirit more than I already had.

"You don't want a zero, right? Even if you don't finish it in time, or it's not to your liking, just turn something in. Better something than nothing my dear!" He shuffled the stack of papers he had finally finished compiling. "You know that I don't mean to be rough on you right dear? It's just this business is really rigorous work and I wouldn't be a good teacher if I sugarcoated everything and didn't expose you properly." He said recapping what he had told me earlier. He picked up his papers finally and placed a hand on my shoulder, "Work hard okay? I'm looking forward to what you come up with! I believe in you, Melody!" I am startled by him using my first name all of a sudden. Before I could respond though, Ringo-sensei had already left.

I take the chance to finally let out a small sigh of relief. The tension was gone, but the pressure was still bearing down on me hard. I put the cleaning supplies I had been using away. I checked to make sure everything was in order before leaning against the teacher's desk. I suddenly placed a hand on my heart and breathed.

It hurts. Feeling helpless. Especially when the feeling, doesn't want to go away.

My eyes narrow. I had dreaded the day that I would loathe coming to this place everyday. Deep down, I knew that this feeling would come at some point. But regardless, I had still let Shining's words and everyone's encouragement drive me to continue to want to be here. But in the end, I guess it still wasn't enough. I moved my long bangs out of my face. "I think it's time I...get out of here."

Suddenly something hits the classroom window. I started to ignore it, when something hits it again, I go to the window to open it. "Me-chan!" I'm met with Otoya's gaze. He has his guitar in his hands.

"Otoya? What's up? I'm just about to head out, I'll meet you~" I start to close the window back.

"Matte!" He yells for me to wait, "Just, listen to this!" Otoya suddenly lifts the acoustic closer to him and then starts strumming a song. But beat ended up being a little familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on the tune. I sit on the ledge watching Otoya play louder. The speed starts to pickup. Faintly, I can hear music coming from a device on Otoya's person. Someone, an american, was singing...Katy Perry?

Why is Otoya playing Katy Perry? How does he even kn~

Listening harder, I realize he's playing the acoustic version of Last Friday Night. The beat picked up some more. Otoya tapped his foot to match the beat. He seemed to be in his own world with his eyes closed like that. He wasn't looking at all at what he was strumming. I get it that the acoustic version is a lot of the same cords over and over, but, he had learned that well that he didn't have to look at what he wasn't doing? I'm in awe at how much Otoya has learned at this school in such a short time. And it makes me almost laugh to see Otoya's facial expression change from happy as he smiles while getting into the music, to serious as he tries to remember the chords, and back. He somehow made something as simple as a cover, sound so amazing. I envied him. Being able to play like that, and have fun with it.

With the last chord Otoya strummed, he opened his eyes. The few passerbyers who had stopped to watch him, clapped and shouted. Not aiming for the sudden attention, the redhead rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. "Nice moves Katy. A true legend in the making." I partially meant that.

When they all had dispersed, Otoya's blush of embarrassment hadn't faded. He looked away shyly, twisting a strand of hair in front of his face to try hiding it. "Thanks. I tried, at least."

"Tried? You were really good Otoya. Honest." He turned to look at me. My heart definitely skipped a beat.

"Can I, come in?" He asked before our eyes met. When they did Otoya seemed to jump, immediately hiding his eyes behind his bangs. I didn't get why the adorable boy was acting like this. He's normally so confident and outgoing. I held out a hand. Otoya was only a story below me, we were practically eye to eye. Without looking up, he scaled the first story, grabbing the ledge to the window I had been looking out. Then grabbing my hands he carefully slid inside with his guitar. "Sorry to barge in all of a sudden." He muttered in a low voice. "I just...I figured you since you were still here...that I...that you were..." He trailed off when I slammed the window shut.

"What made you decide to steal my iPod and learn to play an English song?" I asked with my back turned to him. He laughed nervously.

"Ab-bout that," Otoya handed it over, "I wanted to return it." I grabbed it from him with a smirk. "Uh, remember that time you were sharing music with everyone? You were listening to this one a couple times more than the others, and you joked that you hadn't heard any good covers of it so..."

"That's right. I remember. I can't believe you did." I let out a soft snicker, "You learned and memorized a whole song in a week, just for me?" I heard myself chuckle a little harder. "And let me guess, to try and cheer me up. Since I've been feeling so down..."

"Ah! I knew it! You were feeling down!" Otoya exclaimed.

I leaned against the teachers desk, "Of course I was...Guess I wasn't hiding it well..."

"You shouldn't have to!" Otoya told me raising his voice. He bit his lip nervously after doing so. "You shouldn't have to hide it, your feelings that is. Even if they're not happy emotions..." He trailed off again, then started anew. "I did want to make you feel better. But, I also wanted to...to ask you something today...important."

"Oh?" I asked curiously, "And does it have to do with the box you're hiding behind your back?"

"Wha!?" Otoya jumped when he realized he had been compromised. He tried to slyly hide it in the desk behind him. "What box?"

"Heh?" I muttered playfully, "If you're trying to give me a gift, it's not nice to hide it from me. Especially when I've already seen it..." Otoya gulped, "Fine. I'm listening." I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "What did you want to ask me?" I ask leaning forward. He blushes and turns away. "Hmm?" I edge on. Otoya's gaze snaps back to mine, as if he's found a resolve. He grabs my shoulders, facing me properly. I'm taken aback by his sudden boldness. He only stares down at me, right into my eyes. "W-What is it? R-Really?"

"Me-chan."

"Y-Yeah..."

"...I~"

CREEK

"Melody, are you~" The classroom door opens wide. I swear my heart stopped. Otoya and I whirl around to see the incoming visitor. Of all people, it was Tokiya.

"T-Tokiya?" Otoya stuttered after noticing him. He let me go, "Ah, I was looking everywhere for you earlier. Where were you?" I could see Tokiya hide something behind his back after he had finished reeling from seeing the two of us together. However, I had already seen what it was. A broom.

"I was, speaking with the teacher." He muttered in a low voice. His gaze shifted to me. I felt the sweat trail down my face when he did. I had expected him to scold me right off the bat. Instead he didn't say anything, only looking at me with this extremely sad look. One I wasn't ready for of course. "Excuse me." He left out without another word.

"W-Wait! Tokiya!" Otoya shouted after him. Neither of us tried to stop him though. "Aw man. He ran away."

"Otoya, what were you going to tell me?" I asked him again.

"Eh? O-Oh about t-that..." Otoya seemed to regather the courage he had lost before. Didn't seem like he had found it all. I braced myself, "I...I..." He swallowed, "Please be my partner! For the Pair vs Pair contest!"

"HEH?" I finally caught my breath, "Oh. So that's what you were going to ask." I sighed, "All that for a question like that? You had me worried there for a second~" When I see Otoya's face I can tell he was biting back some words. Not sure what, but he left out something from his previous statement, but he made sure to shrug it off. "Didn't I already say I had no plans on entering? I turned down Syo remember?" I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Yeah, I know. But I just thought it wouldn't hurt to ask anyway." Otoya finally moved to grab the box he had hid in the desk behind him. "I also wanted to g-give you these."

"So you thought bribing me would win me over?" I ask with one eye closed playfully. Otoya sweatdropped.

"Honestly...Yes." Otoya put his head down in shame. He still handed me the box. "I was told by someone, that you like chocolate. So I got some from SaotoMate. It was partly to cheer you up, just like the song, but I'll admit it." He sighed, "It might also be a bribe to win you over."

"You went asking around for my weakness? Otoya how could you?" I say, playfully getting under his skin.

"I wanted you to consider me." He muttered.

"For a contest I'm not entering?"

"One that you should enter."

"For someone who's asking politely, it sounds like I'm getting quite a threat here..." I tell him, "If I don't accept the bribe, I die?"

"Of course not Me-chan." Seeing that Otoya's courage had wallowed down to all but none, I finally stopped with the antics.

"You know, since I'm the judge here, I'm required to tell Syo about your bribe. Otherwise it wouldn't be fair. How do you think he'll feel when he realizes you one upped him like that?"

"I didn't even think about that!" Otoya shuttered.

"Still," I started, wanting to get one more jab in. "It's a little past Valentine's Day for chocolate~"

"It's only Giri Choco!" Otoya shouted immediately, triggered.

"Giri? Choco?"

"You know, chocolate meant for friends..."

"...What else, would it be?" I tilted my head in confusion.

Otoya seemed to gasp, "Y-You mean, you don't know about~!?" He didn't finish. "Aww, never mind. Just don't worry about it."

'About what?' I thought. But I let it go.

"You might want to go after Tokiya now." I told him, "He might get the wrong idea, from before."

"What do you mean?"

"It may have looked like we were going to have..." I leaned over closer into his ear, "Sex."

"Sex?" It took a few moments for him to register what I had said. The next thing I know, Otoya was as white as a ghost.

"Heh!? Otoya?"

"Me-chan," He said in an exasperated voice. "I'm...heading...back f-first."

"Oh." Otoya immediately walked in a slow pace towards the door and shut it behind him. Right after, I could hear his fast paced skid marks as I assumed he had jolted into a run, running away from the area.

I glance at the box of chocolate, "They look worth a bit. I haven't had some of this in a long time." After opening the box, I fiddle with a chocolate. I hesitate to eat it, but do so. It tastes so sweet, just like it always does.

And then it doesn't.

I swallow it and make a face, "How nasty." I can feel my vision start to get hazy and my world grow dark. "As usual." I absentmindedly popped another one in my mouth before cackling uncontrollably. I stopped abruptly, "Now give up. I'll handle this." And then, nothing.

MPK: To Be Continued...chapter coming soon.