Perhaps it was his growing feelings for her or maybe it was just the heat but lately, Shun couldn't be with Maki for so long without blushing because of small contact like the brushing of their shoulders and momentary eye contact. HIs heart beated so fast that he felt like he had just ran a marathon before coming in contact with her. The brown haired male wasn't sure when he started to develop feelings nor was he sure that this wasn't some puppy love. He definitely did not want to act on something as petty as puppy love.

When did he start thinking about it though? Ever since yesterday. When both left for their classroom, they walked side by side. He had started making small talk with Maki replying every now and then. That was when he noticed that every time she smiled or laughed, his heart fluttered and he found himself with a small blush on his face. When Maki questioned it, he merely shrugged it off as the heat getting to him and he would be fine after he drank water.

After that, he went straight home and fell asleep. He woke up very early and he just can't go back to sleep. He had busied himself with using his laptop but his mind kept drifting to Maki and how much he admired her. He would then convince himself that he had no chance with a proper girl like Maki considering his family backgrounds and how much it differs from hers but then he would contradict, thinking that the red haired girl wouldn't mind being with a person like him. But then again there was the matter if she did accept his love and they'd go on dates and he can't even pay for much because of his meager allowance...

"I can't take this anymore!" Shun exclaimed as he ruffled his own hair and dropped his laptop on his bed. He would then curse himself for yelling so loudly as the guy next door might get mad at him again. His eyes would go to the clock beside his bed and it clearly read 4:30 and that was very, very early. He wouldn't be needed to report to the school until 7:30 so he had nothing to do. Sleep won't come to him and thinking about his feelings only confused him further.

"But what can I do?" He muttered to himself as he stood up and went for a quick shower. Might as well jog outside. Jogging very early might not be his hobby but it sometimes helps him clear his mind of any doubts and find a clear answer. He put on some casual clothing and then exited his door, making sure to lock it and have his keys and left.

He set down his planned road. His path was going straight from the apartment, towards the park, make a round at the park and then come back to the apartment. At early hours of the morning, multiple bad presences were around but he was confident that some old people were already out so he wouldn't be in too much trouble. You know, in hypothesis.

The wind rushed against his face as he jogged and the only thing he could hear was his foot hitting the cold pavement. Okay, alright, he was regulating his breath quite well so he's far from tired.

First, he had to arrange his feelings. Is it real? Or is it just a crush? He was no stranger to having crushes. Admittedly, he had a crush on Hanayo when they were kids but that feeling was different from what he felt right now. So he can say that he has fallen head over heels for Maki. "That's embarrassing to admit to yourself though." He thought, his face coloring itself with a pink hue.

Second, he had to find out if he really has the guts to actually confess these feelings to her. He had many doubts earlier because of his financial status. He's barely going by with what little allowance he could get from his parents. Not only did he have to pay for rent but he needed to pay for his food as well and he's already saving money as it is. Maybe he can push through or maybe he can get a part-time job… after all, his school doesn't forbid students from getting a part-time job. "I can help around the convenience store…"

Alright, he knew he has feelings and he knows he can do something about the difference in financial status. Maki didn't seem like one to think of the other's financial status anyway. She might be rich but it doesn't mean she looks at the riches of one person.

Oh wait, he forgot one important thing. He slowed down to a stop as he reached the park and when that thought came across his mind.

"Her parents…" Her mother was out going from what he saw but he can't be too sure with her father. Maybe… he can ask Kei right? There won't be any harm from it right? He nodded, boosting his resolve. He then continued jogging.

His mind then directed itself to another course. "The steps!" He exclaimed to himself and he almost tripped as he did so. He managed to keep his balance and then straight out ran towards his apartment. He came back and then stumbled inside. He looked at the time. Good, there were still 2 hours to spare. He then leaned back on his bed as he took out his phone, put on the earphones and then played the song.

He stood up and kept repeating the song over and over again. He let the music control his movements. After an hour, he dropped down, panting with sweat dripping from his forehead. "I'm so tired…" He muttered to himself. He rolled himself so his back was the one on the ground and he was facing the ceiling. "But at least I managed to think of something. I just hope they can modify it to fit their style." He continued. He then forced himself up and then headed towards the shower to bathe.

"Shu-kun isn't with you today?" The cat-girl asked as she saw Reifu walking down the street alone.

"And you're not with Hanayo because…" Reifu asked back as he reached where Rin was standing. "Shun said that he'll be a little late so I should go on ahead." He finally replied to his question before patting Rin's head. "Good morning."

Rin looked like a cat who was being petted by her owner as Reifu patted her. She nodded. "Good morning!" She exclaimed before stepping back a little. "Kayo-chin went on ahead to help Kotori-chan with the costumes." She replied with her usual cat grin.

"I see." Reifu then walked forward with Rin beside him. They fell silent as they headed for the school grounds. This result was to be expected. When all four went with each other, only Shun and Rin talked with each other and the only reason he and Hanayo talked was because they were asked a question directly. Reifu could confidently say that they were all best friends but he wasn't as close as Shun was to them. He wanted to stay silent. She wanted to say something.

"So when will you act on your feelings?"

But it went the other way around. Reifu was the one who spoke and it was quite a sensitive question. His tone was still normal and he never looked at her when he said those things.

"What are you talking about Reito~" Rin asked with a small nervous chuckle. "I don't-"

"Stop denying it Rin." Reifu said, voice heavy as he looked at her. "You're hurting yourself and that is painfully obvious to me and Hanayo."

Rin practically shrunk as he looked at her. "I can't. If he doesn't like me, then that means our friendship will be ruined."

"Shallow." Reifu said, his tone can be described as harsh but it was still his normal tone of voice. "He's not that kind of person. Confess and if he rejects, he'll go back to normal." He continued with a shrug. "There's absolutely nothing to lose."

Rin gripped the clothing over her chest. "The Cultural Festival." She said in a hushed town.

"Hm?"

"I'll confess at the Cultural Festival."

Reifu finally cracked the smallest of smiles and then placed a hand on Rin's head. "Do your best." He said before they continued walking.

Eri and Shun were at the rooftop of the school. The blonde had wanted to practice there out of habit and Shun didn't say anything to contradict her. WIth them was the red haired president of Amagiri; he had nothing to contribute but he was so bored out of his mind alone in the SC room that he just decided to watch them.

"Hm… not bad Shun." Eri admitted as she watched Shun go over the whole song. "But don't you think it's too fast?"

"Yeah I was thinking about that as well. I thought that maybe you can modify it to fit your style." Shun said with a nod, fully expecting the reply. "I took into consideration the current condition too so I went with what I think a cheerleader-like movement."

"I think it's great actually. So maybe we can do this…" Eri said before starting to dance as they played the music. The two went on for a while, suggesting their ideas back and forth and sometimes asking the third party, Kei, for some feedback to which he replied with what he thinks. There were some points were none of the three could reach a decision and ends up creating a whole new step. After about two hours, they had finally finished the whole song.

"Alright, let's take a break. Come back at 10 and we'll start teaching the others about the steps." Eri said as she packed things up. "I'll see you two later." Eri said before departing.

Shun sat down under the shade of the stairwell. Kei went near him and sat down. "Tired?" The latter asked as examined the brown haired boy's condition.

"A little."

"Well at least you were able to help." Kei then leaned on the stairwell. "Say, I'll buy you lunch later as a thank you for helping out. I kinda forced it onto you and Reifu so I might as well right?" He said with a grin.

Shun chuckled. "I know that you're not taking a 'no' for an answer. Will Rei be joining us as well?" He asked.

"Of course!" Kei replied. "Anything you two want."

"I'll gladly accept the offer then kaichou!"

"That's the spirit!"

"I have a question though." Shun said, his voice lowering making the president curious. "What's Nishikino-san's father like?"

"Eh? What's with that question. You sound like…" Kei trailed off before grinning. "You like her don't 'ya and you're asking 'bout her father because you want to know if he'd accept 'ya or not."

Shun blushed out of control. "N-No that's not…" He couldn't even try to defend himself at this point. He knew Kei wouldn't stop.

"Don't worry man. I won't tell." Kei said. "Maki-chan's father is a little… no, really strict. He's the head of the NIshikino hospitals so there's nothing else to expect. He's strict, busy but he does love Maki-chan very much. For you… well if she loves you then her father would probably accept you." He said. "You know, in theory."

"Ugh, I'm getting more nervous because of her father." Shun said as he leaned his head back on the wall.

"Well if you have confidence in yourself, he'll probably come to accept you." Kei said. "I don't really see him very much nowadays… scratch that, I don't even see him when I was a kid. Sure, he's sometimes here and there but the only one who is always present is Maki's mother."

"Really? He has a lot of influence in Maki's life right?" Shun suspected.

Kei nodded. "It's the main reason why she has to be a doctor."

"Has?"

"It runs in the family." Kei said. "Remember how I need to succeed my father when he dies? You know, if I don't die earlier than him." Shun nodded. "Well this is technically the same. Once she grows older, Maki will be the new owner of the Nishikino hospitals."

"That's a pretty heavy burden to put on a single person." Shun said. He could never relate to that. His parents just wanted him to finish school and get some decent earning job. That's all they could ever ask for. Right now, Shun admittedly still doesn't know what he wants to be. On one hand, he wants to be a graphic artist while on the other, he could potentially become a lawyer. Weighing those two was all he could ever worry about. He had one thing that Maki didn't apparently, and that was freedom to choose her future.

"It's what was placed on her father's shoulders anyways." The red haired president pointed out. "So maybe, if you really do like her, you'd want to support her. Chase your own dreams while walking with the great Nishikino heiress. Support her when she's breaking down, fight for her if the time comes… and I assure you, she'll do the same." He said before standing up and stretching. "Well, that's everything I can tell you. See 'ya later." He said with a two finger wave and then left.

Shun waved goodbye to their president before leaning back. Oh, here comes the doubt again. Maybe he should avoid her for now? After the practice, it would be alright if he wouldn't see her right? Sure, they'd be in the same classroom but only up to that. Hardening his resolve, he cheered himself. "Avoid Nishikino-san at all costs then." He said. He had to make up his mind already and being around Maki certainly made his mind a lot hazier than it should be.

It wouldn't be too soon until the rest of Muse finally came. Oddly enough, both Reifu and Kei were out of sight leaving Shun to be the only male there. He was far from awkward though, engaging in conversations with Hanayo and Rin, occasionally with Kotori and Honoka as well. He had found out the he got along with most of them quite well even though they all just met a few months back. Scratch that, a month back.

Eri would start the lessons with the same routine they've been doing for practice. As Muse stretched, Shun was at the shade watching them with his arms crossed. A small smile was present on his face. His eyes didn't land on Maki… or well it did but he made a habit of redirecting his gaze to somewhere else.

"Alright Katanashi, mind helping me out now?" Eri asked, snapping out of his reverie.

"Ah, right!" Shun said before jogging out of the safety of the shade and into the unforgiving sun. He looked at Eri, unsure where to start. The latter chuckled before teaching the others the first steps and then Shun followed suit, teaching them about the more complex yet easy to do steps that he thought up and revised to fit the idol atmosphere. "Er, you guys got it?"

When he turned around, the crew seemed more tired than before with the exception of Umi, Eri and Rin. "A-Are you guys alright?" He asked. He seemed to be in pristine condition even after the whole training and the time spent before.

"It's a little bit faster and harder than what we're used to." Honoka pointed out as she sat down. Some other followed suit.

Eri nodded. "That is true so you all can take a break first." The others scrambled towards the shade and to the supply of water.

"Is it because of your ballerina training that you're not as tired as them right now?" Shun asked as he looked at the blonde haired girl beside him who didn't look like she was out of breath.

"Yes. I've built up more stamina than them. Same goes for Umi and Rin over there." Eri said before gesturing towards the aforementioned two who was talking to the rest of Muse. "It's a nice change of pace though. They've never tried cheerleading too."

"If you weren't a school idol group, we could do tosses and lifting." Shun pointed out. "But I think sticking with dancing is the best option right now." He admitted with a soft chuckle.

"You've been on cheerleading before?" Umi asked out of curiosity as she approached the two.

Shun shook his head. "Nah, I just saw some in television. We don't exactly want a cheerleading group made up of all boys you know."

"It could work." Eri said.

"Uh…" Shun rubbed the back of his head. "Not really. Besides, we don't need a cheerleading group here."

"Now, now, if you guys have time to chat, I think you guys have time to practice." A male's voice pitched in and they turned to the door. It seems Kei and Reifu had arrived, both holding a box filled with clothing.

"The costumes!" Kotori exclaimed before scrambling up and towards the two males. "I can't believe you two finished it!"

"Well it was only two more costumes." Reifu said before he and Kei placed the box near the entrance. "It wasn't quite hard to do after watching the three of you work you know?"

"Hey, Reifu, maybe we should start our own sewing company." Kei suggested jokingly as he nudged his blue haired friend.

"Hm… that wouldn't be too bad."

"I wasn't serious…"

Some cracked a smile while the others hid their giggles behind their hands at the two. "Alright girls, let's go back to practice. Kei, Sato-kun, you can sit down and watch if you want. Let's look at the costumes later when we're alone." She said before looking at the three boys who were present.

"Hai!"

They soon finished and were dismissed. And so Shun's objective of avoiding Maki has begun. With a quick farewell to the others, he immediately departed the area. Well, avoiding her is impossible considering they're in the same class but he would do his best to not be alone with her.

But fate just wouldn't have it.

"Ah Shun, can you bring these papers to the Student Council?" Ryu said as he placed his hand on a mound of papers.

"Sure." Shun said before standing up and heading towards their class rep.

"Nishikino-san." Chiisaki called out, almost making Shun freeze and he pleaded in his head that she won't ask her to accompany him.

"Yes?" Maki asked as she turned her head towards the girl.

"Can you please accompany Katanashi-kun to the Student Council? There are two mounds so I think it would need two people and considering that you two seem to be friends…" Chiisaki said, trailing off at the end of the sentence.

"Sure." Maki said before standing up and then taking one pile for herself while Shun took the other. "We'll be right back."

The two then exited the room and then both headed for the SC room where Kei and Eri are probably just talking. Shun didn't talk for the duration of the walk making Maki suspicious of the other's behavior.

"Is there something wrong Katanashi?" Maki asked as she turned her head towards the male walking with her.

"Huh? Oh, nothing, nothing." The brown haired teen replied with a forced grin on his face and Maki wasn't too dense to not catch it.

"You're lying."

"Eh?"

"If you can see through me, then I can see through you as well." Maki pointed out before turning right.

Shun sighed as he continued to follow. Of course. "Really, it's nothing. Just… I just have to tell you something at the Cultural Festival."

Maki looked at him with a curious look on her face. "Why wait?"

"I still have to work on it." Shun said with a nervous chuckle.

She held a frown on her face, obviously unpleased by his excuse, but she let it slide. Not everyone was as confident as her or as smooth as Kei or as blunt as Reifu. "About the Cultural Festival, Kei and I are going to do something so you better look forward to it." She said.

"That sounded more like an order more than anything." Shun said before they reached the SC room.

"Ha! Got you now!"

"Check again idiot."

"How did-"

"You got too caught up in your plan that you failed to notice my movement."

There the two presidents sat, the red haired male smirking and the blonde haired female staring right at the board game. It was chess and Kei was currently holding the White King piece, Eri's piece. "Checkmate." He said.

Eri sighed as she leaned back to her chair, defeated. "You win, again."

"I didn't think you would lose so easily senpai. Perhaps you're better in shogi than chess?" Kei suggested as he started to collect and rearrange the chess pieces on their appropriate places.

"No, you're just pretty good at these kinds of games." The blonde pointed out.

He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table with a smirk on his face. "Well if you want I can give you-" Kei cut himself off as he finally noticed the two first years who were standing at the door, seemingly watching them end their chess game. "Ah, Maki-chan, Shun! What are you two doing here?" He asked as he leaned back to his original position.

"Progress report." Shun said. "And finance report." He said before placing the papers on the table and Maki did the same. "I think there are some other things in there but I'm not so sure."

"Ah thank you. You were the only one who haven't passed their yet." Eri said as she stood up and headed towards the pile of papers. "Kei, you take the finance, I'll deal with the others."

"Roger that." Kei said before standing up and then taking a bundle for himself. He then looked at Shun before beckoning him to go to him. Shun nodded and did as was told. "Can you help me arrange these?" He asked, a stupid grin on his face.

Shun's initial shock was replaced with a smile on his face. "Whatever you say kaichou." He said before sitting down and then started arranging the papers.

"Does this happen a lot of times for him to get used to it?" Eri asked as she sat down as well and started working on the rest of the reports.

"Kimuri-senpai doesn't come to school very often." Shun said. "And he's the vice-president so kaichou shoulders all of the troubles. Rei and I help around because of that."

"Tachibana's a sick kid, in both mind and body." Kei said as he rolled his eyes. "It was a miracle that he was named vice president anyway."

"But they won't vote a sick student right? The student body I mean." Eri reasoned.

Kei smiled and shook his head. "Wrong. We don't run to get a position; we compete for it." He said before scribbling some things down. "You apply for it, wait for the tourney and then do your best. A tactical mind can get you through anything and that's what you need when you want to get into the Student Council."

"But really, all tests are different. A president's test is a simulation of a student rally, a vice president's test has something to do with a president going AWOL, and so on." Shun said. "Reifu and I took on the disciplinary test but it wasn't easy."

"Yeah, with that normal build, I don't think you're built for it." The red haired president said with a chuckle. "You need to stop two gangs from fighting each other. It's either diplomacy or have them absolutely fear you." He then smirked. "Good thing you took the former or else you would've failed."

"Katanashi-kun's in the student council? Then why…" Maki asked. She fully knew that Shun didn't concern himself with student council matters.

"Well… we became more like liaison officers more than anything." Shun said with a shrug. "Why do you think I was always the one they came to to send files to the SC? Why do you think Reifu seems to disappear most of the time?"

Kei grinned. "Sorry 'bout that. There haven't been much disturbances inside the school you know? It's not like we have gangs or anything."

"That might be true but it still doesn't justify why we're liaison officers." Reifu entered along with Nozomi.

"What? I'm the president! And you know just how important that is in a hierarchical school." Kei pointed out.

"Your school sounds like something from the medieval ages…" Eri commented as she continued on with the paperworks.

"Well anyway, here's a letter from the principal." Reifu said before dropping the mail on the desk where the rest of the paperworks were.

"And I'm here to help." Nozomi said as she claimed the seat in front of her Russian friend and started to go through the paperwork as well.

Maki waved her hand. "It seems I have nothing to do here anymore. I'll head home then."

"I'll head home with her then." Reifu said, always the gentleman. He then waved as well and the two departed after everyone said their respective farewells.

Two days until the Cultural Festival. Five Days until Eri finally steps down from presidency.

N/A: Another month huh? I blame tests and projects. I planned to release this earlier but I always get stuck in the middle… Sorry 'bout that.

TsUNaMyWaVe: Uh… it's something like that…

ja669543: Eh, you'll find out. And honestly, Takaramonozu is one of my most liked songs and I did have to get a cheery non-love song for them.