"No."

"Is kind of late for that Umi-Chan."

"I refuse."

"It will be short." Nozomi tried to hide her amused smile in vain for it was clear that she was plenty entertained.

"That's not the problem."

"You do realize that you are the one who wrote this, don't you?"

"W-well y-yes b-but I wasn't contemplating that I had to actually do it when I was writing it!"

"It's just a peck," Nozomi said, shrugging her shoulders with her smile still intact.

"We can just have the narrator tell that line instead of performing it," I said with my cheeks still painted in red.

Nozomi sighed. "I'm not saying you have to practice for it every day, you don't even have to do it in front of us until the performance if you don't want to … But you should at least do one rehearsal with Elichi. It is the final scene after all."

I remained silent. For I was still trying to think of what could I say and get myself out of this predicament.

"Umi-Chan…" The director's expression changed into a sympathetic one.

No. No. No. I'm not going to fall for her tricks this time. I thought as I adverted my gaze to my right side, avoiding hers at the same time.

"Do you know why I chose you to act on your own play?"

I furrowed my brow. I've been wondering about that for a while but knowing our director I had definitely thought it was just one of her fortune telling stuff.

"And no, I didn't rely on luck for this." She crossed her arms this time. "Geez Umi-Chan, I told you that when I announced the roles at the party."

I flinched. I'm starting to think she can really read minds. She's not doing it right now is she?!

After clearing my throat I finally asked. "Then … Why?"

If had I ever wondered how it would feel to be sentenced, then I won't need to do that anymore. This was it. Nozomi gave me a confident smile and I knew I was done for. She hit a weakness, that being that I would never reject something that will make me grow. Both as a writer and a person. And there was also that comment she said about me doing a half-assed effort in my own play.

After my utter defeat, I left her office. And as I tend to do, I got lost in my thoughts while I was walking in the halls. Pride. Or whatever it was that got the best of me. I couldn't care less at this point… Well more like, I had something else taking over my thoughts. Or should I say someone…

Eli…

I have to kiss Eli.

The more I thought about it, it became impossible to lower my pulse.

I have to kiss her on stage.

My pace quickened. I felt like couldn't breathe so deciding for a destination, I made my way to get some fresh air.

I have to kiss Eli in front of an audience.

I could feel my heart trying to burst out of my body.

I…

My thoughts came to a halt.

As if I was calling for her. The source of my current distress appeared when I turned in a corner of a hall.

"Oh, Umi." Eli smiled at me.

I took a step back. Small enough to be unnoticed.

"I was just going to Cosmo's, you have rehearsals there today don't you? Shall we go together?" Eli asked me with enthusiasm.

I tried to think of a response but instead of that, I returned to my previous train of thoughts.

"Umi?" She called when I looked at the floor, avoiding both her question and stare.

My heart is really going to explode if I don't get away from here.

"I-I have to get something first… I'll be there later." I gave her the best smile I could muster in that moment and walked as fast as I could to get outside.

I opened one of the back doors and stood right outside of it.

Eli.

I have to kiss Eli.

I have to kiss her on the lips.

Eli.

I'm going to kiss Eli.

And it's going to be fake.

"This sucks." I groaned, clenching my fists at the same time.

"What sucks?" Eli's voice came from behind me and startled me.

"E-e-eli?! W-why a-are you h-here?!" I asked as I stepped back from her.

She crossed her arms and sighed. "Well… You don't usually arrive late to a rehearsal so I thought... something must be wrong... and I quess I got it right."

"It's ... nothing. I'm fine, I just needed some fresh air." I told her before I scratched the back of my neck and averted my eyes to the floor when I noticed she hadn't bought any of that.

A few seconds passed before Eli sighed and broke the silence.

"Umi." Eli's feet appeared in my sight. "I might not know what's bothering you." She raised her hand and placed it on top of the one I had on my neck. "But I can at least tell you that nothing will be settled if you keep looking at the floor." She took my hand, gently, and brought it in front of her. Her hold was loose. As if telling me I could pull away whenever I wanted.

I don't. I thought as I slowly extended her hand with my fingers, pausing my movements for a moment before I intertwined my fingers with hers. Still... I didn't have the courage to hold her firmly yet.

I took a deep breath and finally lifted my head. Only to find Eli's eyes glued to our still connected hands.

"Uwaah! I-I-I'm s-sorry." Realizing I had done something that I probably shouldn't have. I took a few steps back, to give her some space while I tried to cool down my burning face.

Eli sighed. "It's alright but... Oh." Eli smiled suspiciously before she continued. "Say, Umi. Can I ask you for a favor?"

Even I can tell she's plotting something.

A pointless thought I had in that moment because not only I ended up saying yes, I even agreed to her request.

:::::::::::::::::::

Light blue eyes appeared in front of me. Which belonged to the person who had made me come here today. "Thank you for coming, Umi." Eli smiled and stepped aside so I could pass through the door.

"It's not a problem." I waited for her to close the door before I followed her to the living room.

She was wearing capris of military green with an old white t-shirt. Perfect clothes for today's task.

Even in old clothes she looks good. Not to mention that the loose ponytail she has today makes her look adorable. I thought as I contained a sigh right before we entered the room.

Her living room. Previously occupied with music sheets on her shelves, a table and a couch taking over most of the space. Was now completely empty, for it was a room that was more than ready to be painted. I left my stuff where I usually do whenever I come to visit and then went to help Eli to put some newspaper on the floor.

"So, I'll be honest with you... I have never tried to paint a house, walls... you get the point." Eli moved to one corner and began to place some sheets of newspaper.

"You haven't?" I took a bunch of sheets so I could put them next to the opposite wall. "Well... don't worry, it's not that hard. At least that's what I remember from that time we had to paint the theatre by ourselves because we lacked funds."

"That's good to hear." Eli hummed. "Though I really hope there won't be any need to do that again. Painting a whole theatre sounds exhausting."

"It was." I told her as I turned to see what part of the room needed more paper. Only to find her staring and smiling at me. Making my heart miss a beat. Again.

"W-w-what?" I asked. She's not even doing it anything and my cheeks are already full red.

Eli giggled.

"Nothing~ I just noticed you look more relaxed."

My eyes widened for a second. "D-do I-I?" I commented before I had to break eye contact to place what was left of my newspaper.

Well, that's probably because I'm with you. I made sure to think to myself.

The doorbell rang and I sighed relieved because that meant Eli had to go and greet the next guests. Which gave me enough time to recover myself. Eli came back with 4 more familiar faces behind her.

Wait, so these are the members Eli said were also coming today?! I thought while I tried not to panic.

"Oh, Umi-Chan is already here~." Kotori said. She and Nico were carrying painting cans.

"Punctual as always~, right Umi-Chan?" Said the most troublesome one of the group. Of all the members, Nozomi our director was here today. Carrying some empty buckets with her.

"By the way, are we the only ones that were supposed to come?" Nico asked.

"Yeah. I asked the members that I was sure they would be of help and not be all over our famous violinist," Nozomi said with a wink.

Maki hummed in agreement. "Then, shall we start?"

Nozomi suggested we formed pairs and that each would paint a room. And given the unspoken agreement that Nico and Maki wouldn't be in the same room with buckets filled with paint. Kotori and Nico went to the guest's room and Nozomi and Maki to Eli's.

Leaving me alone with Eli in the living room, none of them left without giving me a smug or some sort of smile and I had no idea why.

We brought water after we read the instructions that came with the can adn I offered to make the mix since I had done it before... But after having Eli's breath tickling my neck for some minutes I eventually had to ask her if she wanted to try it. To which she replied by clearing her throat and nodding her head, trying to hide her obvious excitement in vain.

"By the way… Why did you suddenly decide to paint your apartment?" I asked while I observed the circle movements she was doing with one of the wood sticks Maki was carrying earlier.

"Oh, I never told you? My grandma and little sister are coming to visit in December," Eli said, still focused on the swirls of paint, "so I wanted to put colors they were more comfortable with since the current one is too dark."

"Huh? Wait, your parents aren't coming as well?" I asked with curiosity. Now that I think about it I've never asked Eli about her family.

"No, they have some kind of event on that week. Well, my mother does." Eli chuckled. "My grandma was really angry when my father told her they wouldn't make it to the day of the concert because he mistakenly arranged a live with my mother as the main singer." Eli slowed her movements but her smile was still intact.

"That's... too bad." I inwardly smacked my forehead. Good job... that will definitely make her feel better.

"Yeah but I know they didn't do it on purpose. Besides, I will go see them in New Year's. My grandma made a deal with my father to take some vacations from their tour, otherwise she won't record the concert for them." She halted her hand, and turned to look at me. "By the way... Is the mix ready for us to start or should I keep this up?"

"Huh? Ah, it should be fine now." I told her after I inspected the bucket's mix.

Eli went to left the wood stick in the sink and we began to paint when she came back. We took a roller paint brush at first. To cover the upper part of the wall and then continue with the lower one.

It took us until dawn but we managed to finish all of our assigned rooms.

"We're finally done," Eli said after she stretched her back and released a satisfied sigh.

"Oh, there is still some paint left." I heard Eli said when she went to leave her brush on the bucket.

A comment that if I had paid more attention to, maybe I would've dodged Eli's fingers. She approached me from behind and before I knew it she had already rubbed her thumbs covered with paint all over my cheeks.

"W-what… Eli!" I scolded after I realized what she had done. I tried to clean the paint with my hands while she was laughing but I had to stop when gentle hands grabbed my wrists.

"W-wait a sec," Eli said between breaths, for she was still recovering from her previous laugh, "you're only spreading it all over," she said. Her shoulders and chest were still rising and falling frantically.

We stayed in that position while she recovered herself. Meanwhile, I panicked inside my head.

Too close! Too close! She's too close!

"Harasho~" Eli said smiling sweetly at me. Which was not of any help to my already red cheeks. Now my heart was beating like crazy as well.

"W-what is i-it?" I dared to ask.

Eli's smile remained. "You are too cute~."

A flash startled us... Or rather, Eli since I was too shocked to actually move. I became a mess, I could do nothing more than to endlessly mutter words that made no sense at all.

"Did you took it?" I heard Maki ask.

"Hmm... I think so? Hehe, Hanayo-Chan will love this. " I vaguely remember Kotori's answer.

"What are you guys doing? Also did you just took a picture?" Eli asked them with an unamused tone after she let go of my arms so she could approach Nozomi and the others.

"Well, look at the time... We should get going. I have to give them a ride after all... I'll tell the guys to bring your stuff back tomorrow. Enjoy your night!" Nozomi said before she left almost running with the other three.

I heard Eli's sigh after she came back from closing the door.

"S-sorry... I was only joking." Eli raised the wet towel she had brought and started cleaning the paint from my face. The cold cloth finally brought me back to my senses, Eli had an apologetic smile on her. But rather than saying anything to tell her it was fine. I settled for taking some fresh paint from her fingers and using some courage I didn't know I had, I made a stroke on her cute nose.

"W-we're even n-now." I said, trying to fight my upcoming blush from taking over my face again.

Eli's surprised expression lasted only a second before she eventually laughed and replied. "I guess we are." She smiled and returned to clean the rest of the paint I had on my face. After she finished I took the towel so I could clean the stain on her nose before she did.

You are cuter.I thought when Eli giggled after I removed the stain.

"I'll make some tea. Could you get the coffee table? I think Nico used it today so it should be in the guest's room." Eli said before she went to the kitchen.

"Sure." I told her as I made my way to go for the table. Trying to forget in vain what she had said earlier today. 'You are too cute.' Eli said. And I hope I didn't dream that this time but... Why did she say that?

I finished putting and cleaning the table and still couldn't figure out why. Besides, there was another thing still bothering me. Eli's true request wasn't helping her with painting her apartment. I had actually offered her my help since she mentioned it that day. Her true request was for me to spend the night today at her house. Which if she had asked for it in any other way, perhaps I wouldn't be as nervous as I am.

That smile was seriously suspicious.

Eli came back after a while but left me with the drinks when she went to get something from her room.

The scent form the tea relaxed my sore muscles. Painting is always exhausting but somehow I've always liked the way it felt after you finished. I guess it's kind of refreshing. I drank from my cup, which made me release a relaxed sigh.

"Ah, I finally found it!" Eli exclaimed in relief. She came back with a bunch of paper sheets and placed them on top of the table after she sat down on the floor.

My eyes widened as I recognized the pile as the last pages of my script.

"Is this what you were worried about?" She asked me with a shy smile.

"Nozomi gave me the last pages that morning when you were acting weird..." Eli continued when I adverted my eyes instead of answering her question.

There was another pause. I had no idea what to say and it seemed like she was either waiting for me to say something or just trying to figure out what to say next.

"I'm the same." Eli added. Finally breaking the silence.

"Huh?" That made me look at her again.

"I am nervous about this scene as well." She shrugged her shoulders.

"And well... I thought." Eli adverted her eyes this time. "You know, postponing this will only make us more nervous so..." By this sentence she had a slight blush on her cheeks. "I was thinking that maybe we could..." She stopped talking. And after taking a deep breath she returned to look at me. "Practice the scene tonight?"

Some seconds passed before I could finally process what she had said.

"W-wait... Y-you... W-want to practice t-this... N-now?!" I finally asked. Why?! I'm not ready! Not that I will ever be ready but does it have to be now?!

Eli nodded with her head and I felt myself close to faint.

"Unless... I mean it's fine if you really don't want to..." She said as tried to keep her smile. "But-"

"No! I do!" I interrupted. W-w-w-w-wait, I do?! Why is my mind conspiring against me?! I thought as my cheeks began to surpass Maki's hair color as soon as I realized what I had said.

Eli observed me for a second before she returned her gaze to the untouched cup of tea. There was a silence that seemed like it will never end, as it was more than obvious than neither of us knew what to say or do next. That was until Eli finally spoke. "Then..." It was a simple syllable, nothing too special perhaps. Yet the movements that accompanied it were more than enough to change the mood in the air. As Eli voiced that syllable, her hands removed the band that was loosely holding her beautiful golden hair. She placed the band on the table and took the sheets of paper containing the final scene of my script. Her movements were slow, not as if she was tired but rather... She looks as nervous or even more than I am. I noticed as Eli moved from her spot with the script in her hands and sat beside me.

Putting aside all the contradictions I still had, I was at least certain of one thing. That slight blush she has is not making this situation any easier.

"Here it goes." Eli said.

W-w-wait, I'm not ready!

She put the script down and said the first line. Which would've helped me to identify from where we were going to begin if I hadn't ran away to my dreamland when she rested her forehead on my shoulder. I was about to push her away when I remembered that it was an action I had actually written for the script.

My heart was beating so loudly I could feel my pulse up to my ears.

As for Eli, she was breathing slowly but deeply. Some time passed before she said another line I couldn't register for I was too busy trying to remember what came next in the script.

Eli grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and at that moment I had an idea. Maybe I can do this if I only count how many lines I have to wait for my own.

I took a deep breath. And I told my first line and Eli said nothing so I assumed I got it right.

This should work.

Eli said the next one.

My turn now. I thought as I continued with the dialogue.

Another line from Eli came. She still had her head resting on my shoulder.

I told mine as well. It was a weird feeling. I knew I was saying the lines out loud but I felt like I didn't at the same time. Just as my thoughts wouldn't let me hear Eli's voice.

I don't want to hear it.

Eli spoke again.

And I must not think about that.

I told my next line.

I can do it.

She said hers.

Just Ignore it.

Eli was holding my shirt firmly with her hand and her forehead still rested on my shoulder.

This is where I'm supposed to kiss her cheek so she'll turn around. I recalled.

I can…

I took a deep breath and spoke when I wasn't supposed to.

"… Can't… I can't." I tried to push Eli but her hold was stronger than before. "Eli." I tried to call her so she'll lift her head. "Eli... I can't pretend I'm ok with this." She still didn't respond.

"I have to go. I'm sorry, Eli." I used enough force so I could push her away without hurting her and as soon as I did that, I rushed to the door and I left.

I'm sorry. I really am.

I ran to my apartment.

But I can't kiss you and pretend I don't have feelings for you.

It was lucky that I hadn't left my keys in my bags for I didn't have the time to take it back with me. I closed the door and went straight to my room.

I wasted no time in turning on the lights and let myself fall on my bed stifling a groan with one of my pillow. "How am I supposed to act when I see her from now on?"

To think this could be happening... that I would not only reject her help but throw away all of our previous efforts as well.

As I tried to think of what I could do to apologize properly I recalled today's events. One, rather than all of what had happened today, it was something I was sure I will never forget. Just us in a room. A room with nothing more than a small table. To think that there were days when we used to chat about nothing and everything in that place. Why couldn't today be like that as well? As I asked that to myself I realized something. The fact that I can't even ask to have that back... Not after tonight... For I had ruined it. If the expression I saw before I ran was any sign of it.

:::::::::::::::::::

"So?"

"So..." I trailed.

"Geez, just tell us what happened." Nico said exasperatedly.

"Nico-Chan, calm down." Kotori intervened. It was in a lunch break, when Nico and Kotori kidnapped me and took me to the sewing room since it was empty because everyone had gone to eat.

"What? Don't tell me you don't' find it weird as well." Nico pointed out to Kotori.

"Well, we still don't know if something did happened so..."

"It's my fault." I finally spoke, which made them return to look at me again.

"What the hell did you do after we left you two alone last wekeend?" Nico asked me with a raised eyebrow.

"I-It's... Complicated," I said as I adverted my eyes.

"Aaah, seriously whatever it is you should fix it as soon as possible," Nico said impatiently, "she doesn't even look at you when you talk to her. Heck, I think she is even avoiding you at this point."

I felt a stab as soon as Nico said that.

"B-but what if I make her even more upset? Wouldn't that be worst since the concert is coming and she has a lot on her plate alrea-"

"Umi-Chan." Kotori's voice interrupted my babbling. Nico sighed but let Kotori speak.

"Did you apologize properly?" Kotori asked.

I denied it shaking my head.

"Well if you think is your fault, don't you think you need to apologize first? Umi-Chan is not someone that will make someone upset and not apologize after that." Kotori finished with a smile.

I stared at Kotori and then at Nico. Both of them looking at me as if telling me that they knew I could do it.

"Thank you," I said. Finally smiling at them.

"Whatever you do, don't run away." Nico told me before I left.

"I won't." I answered back confidently.

...

Don't run away, apologize first and decide what to do after that. A chant I've been repeating as I walked inside the theatre in my search for Eli.

Is she even inside? I sighed with disappointment when after searching in half of the theatre I still hadn't found her. I had less than 30 minutes before the lunch break ended so I had to find her soon or I would miss today's chance to apologize since the orchestra leaves earlier than the cast.

I was about to go to the other side of the theatre when I spotted a figure with golden hair coming out from the director's office.

"Eli." I called.

It seemed she didn't hear me so I followed her and tried one more time.

"Wait! Eli."

Eli didn't turn around and walked through the halls and rooms as if nothing happened.

"Eli... I-I... Can we talk?" I asked, almost tripping with some wires that were on the floor.

She didn't turn around, nor did she say anything. Eli kept walking without looking behind and I followed her with no clue as to what should I do. We kept walking until we arrived to the props room and even then, Eli didn't stop.

What do I do... It's clear she doesn't want to talk but... 'Whatever you do, don't run away.' I remembered Nico's advice and finally ran to catch up with her.

"Wait. Eli, we need to talk," I said when we stopped next to a row with unfinished medieval costumes after I grabbed her arm.

Eli turned around and crossed her arms. "There's not-"

"No, wait. Let me go first."

Eli's expression didn't change. She sighed after some seconds she responded. "I'm not sure I want to hear it." She pressed her lips tightly and took a circular small object that was on the shelf.

I took a deep breath. "I-I know that you are upset b-but..."

"Upset? Do you really think I'm upset?" Eli furrowed her eyebrows when she finally looked at me.

"Well, t-that's what it seemed like before..." I tried to say but I stopped since wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this.

"Before you left." Eli completed the sentence for me, looking sadly at the round object she was holding.

"I-I'm sorry... That's actually why I wanted to talk-"

"You really weren't listening to anything I was saying that day were you?" Eli said with a crack on her voice.

"I..." I wasn't. I realized."I'm sorry." I told her truthfully.

"Well, you seem to be listening now so let me replay it for you." Eli left the item she was holding on the shelf and took a step forward when she turned to face me. 2, 3 steps. She walked and stood just a foot away in front of me.

Eli closed her eyes for a moment and I decided to say nothing until she was ready. She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.

She opened her eyes and looking right into mine, she finally spoke.

"I like you."

I was about to say something but she went ahead of me.

"And don't you dare think I mean that as a friends." Eli clenched her fists.

I said nothing. Trying to understand what she was talking about, I opted for staying in silence until she had said everything she wanted to say.

At least I was sure of one thing. I won't run away. I concluded as I waited for her to continue.

"Umi, I like you. I really, really like you." Eli's right eye dropped a tear. "I'm sorry, actually that's a lie." Her voice was trembling. She tried to wipe her eyes in vain for she was shedding too many tears. "Because after you rejected me, I realized something." Some tears fell to my face when Eli took my head with her hands and crashed her lips on mine, making my heart flutter but leaving me with no time to react for she had taken me by surprise. "I fell in love with you." Eli said right after she broke the kiss.

I won't run away. I said. And even if I didn't fully trust in my will power to accomplish that, I would've never thought that Eli was going to be the one to run away from me this time.

"Wait!" I tried to follow her but my legs failed me. The storage room was so big I lost sight of her before I regained my balance.

"Eli!" No matter how much I screamed she didn't came back. I searched in all the rows, costumes, closets and even cauldrons. Still, I couldn't find her.

When I went outside to keep searching for her I found Nozomi standing next to the door.

She turned around as soon as she saw me. "Umi-Chan..."

"Nozomi," I said before she could speak. And I turned to face her as well. "I need your help." I simply looked at her and waited for her response.

Nozomi observed me for a moment but she eventually replied.

"It'll be a pleasure." Nozomi told me with a smile.

::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::

Phantom Notes:

*Breathes* This was…

This whole chapter was...

Whew.

And yes, Eli's mom is a singer and her father is her manager in this AU. He was previously a CEO of a record label.

Extra fact: In case you were wondering... The story for the script exists and I do have the dialogue for that rehearsal scene, the thing is I didn't need it for this chapter. Also is not completed. I haven't even started to write it. I just replay and plan the story in my head for now.

Anyway, thanks for reading. (∪ ◡ ∪)

"Am I evil yet?"- A monocle ghost that dreams to be evil someday.