When I opened my eyes, the sky ahead was already dark. I saw no bright sun, but a clear sky with scattering twinkling stars. I could feel the hard ground beneath myself and the pounding in my head as well.

I blinked twice, trying to remember what happened.

Ah, that's right.

I tripped myself and fell down. From where I was laying I could still see the old ruins—the place where I fell down. My body didn't feel that pained at all despite the fact I fell down from such a tall place. I didn't think I was bleeding too. There was only the pounding in my head.

I tried to move my fingers and they twitched just like how I wanted them to. I then tried pushing myself up with my elbow, then slowly got to a sitting position. I looked at my arms, then my legs. There was no wound—not even a scratch.

I frowned, trying to register of what had happened.

Then in that moment, the bright light ahead was suddenly blocked by a looming shadow. I looked up to see what or who had casted the shadow and ended up meeting a pair of warm, green eyes. A young man was standing before me. He had dark skin, green eyes, and dark brown hair. He was wearing an outfit from a foreign country that I believed could be from somewhere that had deserts.

"Are you all right?" He asked in Japanese, which surprised me.

"I'm fine," I answered. I stared at him for a moment before tipping my head to the side. "Who are you?"

"I am Cecil," He introduced himself with a very princely-bow. His hand was reaching out for mine and without any feeling of suspicion I took it. He smiled at me and said, "It is very nice to meet you, Shiho."

I stared at him again, trying to contemplate of where have I seen this young man before. "Have we met?" I asked.

Cecil smiled again as he slowly and delicately helped me up. "We have." He answered. "Several times."

Then, realization started to down itself. Those eyes—those were the eyes that always looked at Haruka with curiosity—the pair of eyes that always bugged me.

"You're Kuppuru."

"Yes," He confirmed. "Are you surprised?"

"Not really," I claimed. "Magic isn't really that weird when you have a friend who could conjure ice and you yourself have this gift of hearing people's mind and heart."

Cecil let out a hearty chuckle.

"Are we in a dream?"

"You can say that." He responded as he walked toward the nearest wall in the ruins. It was the wall that was covered with moss and vines and the lovely carvings of the muses. "Do you know them?"

"Muses." I answered, moving closer toward him, stopping a few steps away. "They're like—Deities, right? Of music, poetry, and stuff."

Cecil clasped his hands together behind his back. His head lifted to the sky that was glittered by the stars. "My people came to this island long, long ago. They were guided by the Muses." He paused. "And just like them, I had been guided by the Muses to meet the person I cherished the most."

I paused for a moment, before finally opened my mouth and said, "Haruka."

Cecil hummed. Even if I couldn't see him, I knew he was smiling. "Haruka and I have met before in the past. A long, long time ago. In a past further away from the light of a star." He then looked down. "I have always been watching her. Recently, she seemed down. Uncertain."

"It's about Tokiya," I answered, even though I know he probably already knew the reason why. "The person she admired. He was fading away from his true self." I paused for a moment, looking down at the concrete of the ruins as well. "Truthfully, even I'm worried."

"But there is nothing you can do," Cecil turned around, looking at me. "That is what you believe."

It was true. There was nothing I could do except looked after Tokiya from afar. He was too distant, afraid to open himself to others, even me who had known his secret for far longer. "There's nothing I can do." I said, slowly, as the wind began to blow softly. "This is something he needs to solve on his own."

Cecil smiled. "You have a pure and strong heart, Shiho." He took both of my hands and squeezed them gently. "I am glad to know Haruka have a friend like you."

"Well, it's not just me. Tomochika, the guys, even you are there." Shiho grinned. "And anyway, Haruka always supported everyone just as much. She'll be fine."

Cecil smiled once more before releasing her hands. "I hope we can meet again soon, Shiho."

With that said, Cecil hand reached out to my face, his thumb slowly caressed by cheeks. He stepped closer, leaned his face closer to mine. He pressed his forehead onto mine as he slowly closed his eyes. I slowly closed my eyes as well.

Something around me moved, slowly swirling around me.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was a clear sky that was still bright and a lock of brown hair.

I blinked. Blinked again. Then frowned.

"Oh, you're awake." The owner of the brown hair said. She was the girl from before, the one that was staring at me when I was talking with Masato. The girl's green eyes were filled with concern as it observed. "Are you feeling okay?"

At that question, I tried to get up. The girl helped, holding me by the shoulder. The fact that I fell was undeniable, yet I couldn't feel any pain from the impact. I supposed Cecil probably had something to do with it.

"I'm fine," I said to the girl. "Thank you—um?"

"Kaguya." The girl said. "Nakagawa Kaguya. I'm from S class."

Ah, so that's why she doesn't look familiar.

"How did you manage to find me?" I asked as I rolled my shoulder. There wasn't any strong pain and thankfully no bruises, but she could feel her back ache from laying down on the ground for too long. "Were you following me?"

"No," Kaguya answered simply. "The black cat your friend always plays with kept meowing at me until I follow him into the woods."

I hummed. "I see."

"You're Tsukihara Shiho-san, right?" This time, Kaguya asked me. "From A class?"

I nodded. "I am." Then I tipped my head to the side, observing the S class student. "And you were staring at me and Masato before."

The girl's eyes widened and she shifted away uncomfortably. "I was not looking at Hijirikawa-san." She clarified. "I was looking at you Tsukihara-san."

I processed the words.

Blinked.

Then asked, "What?"

"I don't mean it to be creepy or anything, I just—" She paused for a moment, frowning. She then looked back up at me, and said, "Don't read my mind. Let me say it myself."

The word took me aback.

I did know that there were rumors about my talent, but most students at the Academy didn't seem to believe in it. But here I was now, with the girl who believed about my talent. It surprised me really, especially because I wasn't trying to read her mind at the moment. My head was still pounding a little.

She stared at me—observing me.

I sighed. "I'm not trying to read your mind. So relax."

"So the rumor is true." Kaguya said.

"No, no. We aren't changing subject." I raised a finger. "Why are you staring at me before? Was it because of this?"

The girl shifted uncomfortably again, and shifted her gaze away from me. She changed position from crouching down into sitting crossed legged next to me. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her green eyes shifted back to me.

"Half of it, yes," She admitted. "But the other half was… I want to talk to you about the graduation audition." She hooked a strand of her brown hair behind her ears. "I want to ask if you already have a partner… or not."

Well, that was another surprise.

"You're from the Composer course." I said.

She nodded. "I mean, of course if you haven't got a partner, that is."

"Well, I actually haven't found a partner yet," I replied. "But, are you sure you're okay with me?"

Kaguya frowned. "Of course. Why not?"

"I mean, you are from S class." I reasoned. "There must be better idol course student than me, especially in S class. Like, Tokiya for example."

"Unfortunately, they are all already has someone else in mind," She explained. "And even if they weren't, I'm not close enough with anyone from A class, Ichinose-kun is a little hard to approach and work with, Kurusu-kun would definitely choose Nanami Haruka on every scenario I could think of, and I don't want to work with Jinguji Ren."

I mused in response.

"So," Kaguya said. "I would be very honored if I can be your partner."

I stared into her eyes. I tried to listen to her thoughts, to her heartbeat. Steady, calm. She wasn't lying. She truly just wanted to partner up with me.

Kaguya broke the gaze first to stand up. After she dusted the sands off her calves, she lent her hand for me and pulled me up. I patted my back and calves, ruffling the back of my head in an attempt to clean myself from the sand.

"You don't have to answer it now," She said, smiling. "Please think about it first."

I smiled back in return. "I will."

Kaguya then led the way back to the beach. The sun wasn't high anymore. I had missed lunch while I was unconscious. Hopefully there was still some food left from the barbecue.

As we walk along the shore, talking about small stuff about class, music, and some other students who stood out aside from those six boys and Haruka, we saw Ren standing sunbathing on the beach chair along the shore with his sunglasses on. There were no girls in sight so far.

Kaguya next to me let out a small groan under her breath. She then switched side with me, and started walking a little further from Ren's location.

I followed her without asking any question, but I could tell that there was something going on between her and Ren.

They were now almost right behind him. I could tell that she was almost relief that he hadn't turned his head around and noticed us. She thought too soon though.

Ren noticed us. He lowered his sunglasses and smiled at us. "Ladies."

Kaguya rolled her eyes.

"Oh wow, this is a unique combination." Ren commented. He scooted up from his seat and got up to approach them. He took off the sunglasses and placed it on his head instead. "Usagi-chan and Hime"

I raised an eyebrow. "Hime?"

"It's Kaguya." Kaguya quickly spat. "Nakagawa Kaguya."

"Now, now, don't give me such scary face, Hime." Ren smirked. "Though you still look very beautiful even when you're angry."

Kaguya groaned. "I'm leaving."

She quickly turned around and with a couple of strides was already pretty far from them. But then, she suddenly stopped. Kaguya then turned around and said to me, "I'll be waiting for your answer, Tsukihara-san." Then she continued on.

Ren looked from where Kaguya had left to me. "What? You got confessed to?"

I rolled my eyes. "Are you an idiot or something?"

"Well, I thought that maybe she swings that way, because she clearly hates me."

Another surprise.

This day had been filled with lots and lots of surprises, so if after this she heard from Otoya that Tokiya agreed to eat some meat with him, she wouldn't even be surprised anymore.

"Ren, I really don't think she hates you."

Ren raised a questioning eyebrow. "No?"

I smiled. "It's quite the opposite of it, actually."

Hellooooooo! I'm sorry for the late update! I truly do!

I hit writers block on this story and decided to leave the story for a moment. But, I'm back with an update, so, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Don't forget to leave your review, and like and follow the story if you enjoy them!