AAAAH, GOMEN! (Sorry) I really wish I had posted sooner, but with the vacation and school immediately after, it was super hard for me to find the time to write! Anyway, enough with my excuses, here's the chapter! It still won't be a daily update, but I'll try my hardest to update as much as possible!

"SYO-KUN!"

"IT'S SYO-KUN!"

The crowd of people cheered as Syo waved happily back. It was a simple fan meetup in the streets of Tokyo. An area had been cleared off, with a grand stage setup in the middle of it all. The road had been closed, and the street was packed with screaming fans.

Shining had made it clear that more fans would show up, especially after Syo's absence. They would come to see him, was his reasoning. And to be honest, Syo felt flattered when he arrived at the stage with STARISH and saw the huge audience screaming his name.

As the curtains parted, Otoya was handed the microphone from the main host.

"GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE!" Otoya exclaims, beaming. The audience cheered once more. "HOW'S EVERYONE TODAY?"

The crowd yelled replies, though inaudible from the juts of voices. Otoya waves.

'THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY, WE ALL MISSED SYO, DIDN'T WE? BUT HE'S BACK. WE WOULDN'T PERFORM WITHOUT HIM, EVER!"

The audience screamed again as the rest of STARISH burst out of the curtains, their song beginning.

Syo felt the same feeling he always felt when he sang; the miraculous, joyous feeling. He hadn't really sang in a while, but the instant he began, he didn't make any mistake.

STARISH performed their newest song, Stage Continue, written by Haruka, of course.

Syo's eyes darted around as they performed the choreography, as they always. His eyes searched the crowd, and finally rested on one particular member in the audience, sitting beside three others. His smile brightened when the person returned his glance.

Of course Ai is here… not just to support me, but all of STARISH.

Ah, that makes me more happier than usual.

Ai stared at him for a moment, then he smiled gently. Syo's heart skipped a beat, and he looked away, afraid that if he got flustered now, it would affect his performance.

As they neared the end of the song, Syo suspected the familiar burst of energy to shoot out, sending what Shining called the "Happy Pulse" to everyone.

But… it never happened.

STARISH finished the song in a flourish, the crowd cheering like crazy. But the members of STARISH all exchanged glances.

Masato shook his head, signaling that they'd speak of whatever was on their minds later, and instead focus on the rest of the concert.

STARISH took a bow, the crowd chanting "Starish."

Syo jumped and waved, but his eyes landed on Ai again, who tilted his head in confusion.

He noticed it too… Something's wrong.

Something's definitely wrong.

STARISH herded into the backstage, and into the make-up rooms. The group stared at eachother for a moment, before Otoya spoke up.

"Everyone noticed… right?"

He was replied with steady nods.

"Our singing was off- somehow. I can't pinpoint it." Tokiya mumbles, running a hand through his gelled hair in exasperation.

"I felt it too, but the muses have not informed me of anything. How could of this have happened? It didn't feel like we weren't singing our best." Cecil added sadly.

"It wasn't off at all, I feel. Just, something in our hearts… it wasn't right." Masato sighs. The usual cool and calm bluenette sat down in one of the chairs, pulling the headphones off his head.

Syo flattened his lip, feeling frustrated. "What was missing? I know- I know something happened but… what?" He groans.

The group sat in silence for a few brief moments, staring at the floor.

"Where's Nanami? Maybe she noticed as well.." Otoya mumbles.

Syo's eyes jolted wide open.

"Wait." He says suddenly.

The rest of STARISH look up at him.

Syo grinded his nail into the top of his lip. "Maybe, maybe this is ridiculous, but… what if… what if our singing changed because… our hearts are no longer directed to one person?" Syo furrowed his eyebrows, unsure how to explain.

Tokiya and Otoya glanced at eachother. "What do you mean, Syo?" Tokiya asks, though he began to understand.

Syo tried to spell it out. "Let's see, um… We were formed because of Nanami, right? Because we loved Nanami."

Masato averted his gaze. "I wouldn't say that…" He mutters, his cheeks slightly painted pink, but Syo shoots a glare at him.

"Don't lie. It's true. And we can all admit to it." Syo sighs sharply. "But it's not that way anymore, right?"

Natsuki sat down in one of the chairs as well. "It's… It's not like that why?" He asks, not really getting Syo's point. Syo shook his head vigorously.

"Our feelings have changed. Half of us, if not more, don't see Nanami that way anymore. We've all fallen for someone else. I guess this only happened recently so… maybe it affects our singing…" Syo murmurs.

The room quiets.

The idea was crazy, sure, but there's nothing normal about the discovery of the Happy Pulse, either, and yet it existed.

"I'm sure that's possible, but does that mean the only way we can create Happy Pulse is if we love Nanami? Is that the only way we can connect our hearts…?" Tokiya clenched his teeth in utter frustration.

Ren sighs. "There has to be a way. There's no way that is the only way. STARISH wasn't just formed because we loved Lady, it was because of her songs, and all of our individual dreams." He reasons.

"Strange. I didn't think I would ever hear that from you." Masato remarks in surprise. Ren smirks.

"The time calls for it." He responds firmly.

"But… what are we missing then?" Syo scratched his head, feeling frustrated.

The door suddenly opened, and an employee smiled at them.

"STARISH, thank you for today. Your ride is here, so you are free to leave. Would you like a security guard to accompany you?" She asks politely.

Otoya looks up at her, and smiles, pushing his worries away for now. "Ah, thank you! We'll be fine, actually. We'll leave in the back." He responds brightly.

The employee nods and shuts the door.

Since the area the performance was half an hour away from the Master Course, STARISH chose to ride in the bus instead. Ren, Otoya, Masato, and Cecil appeared to be asleep, and Tokiya sat in the front passenger seat reading. Syo leaned against the window.

He sat in the back of the bus, just because the cushions in the back were especially comfortable. Natsuki joined him, sitting on the opposite end of the back.

This made Syo… uncomfortable, but of course, he repetitively reassured himself that it would be okay.

Syo's eyes darted from outside the window, and briefly to Natsuki. It was short, and unnoticeable by anyone else, but Syo couldn't help it.

Just deal with it.

He doesn't remember anything.

I shouldn't either.

I have Ai.

"Syo-chan?" Natsuki's sudden voice caused Syo to jolt.

"Oh, Natsuki. You scared me." Syo stammered. Natsuki smiles.

"Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to. I just can't sleep because I don't have Piyo-chan with me." Natsuki giggles, keeping his voice low so he didn't wake the others.

"Right…" Syo responds.

His stomach swirled.

A few moments pass in silence; Syo returning his attention to outside the window, when Natsuki spoke again.

"Hey, Syo-chan… Earlier you mentioned that you had… fallen for someone else besides Haru-chan. Is that true for you?"

Syo merely flickered his eyes over to Natsuki, not moving really.

"Hm? Well…" Syo scratched his cheek sheepishly, "Yeah, it is. I probably wouldn't have mentioned it if it wasn't true for me as well."

Natsuki's normal happy expression changed to a slightly more serious one.

"Oh, I see…" Natsuki drummed his fingers on the side of his seat.

Syo looked at him, forcing himself to grin. "What, are you planning to go for Nanami now that I'm not a 'rival?'"

It was purely a joke. Natsuki was perfectly aware of the "No Heterosexual Relationships" rule, Syo knew. But Natsuki shook his head.

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm the same." Natsuki whispers.

Syo looks at him curiously.

"What do you mean?" Syo asks slowly.

Natsuki smiles at him. "I mean, I've fallen for someone else, not Haru-chan." Natsuki explains.

Syo blinks.

"Oh…"

It takes merely a second for Syo to register the thought.

Natsuki actually fell for someone?!

Who?!

Wait…

Of course.

It's obviously…

Syo stared dully at Natsuki. "Is it by chance, that new senior you're with? Torima?" Syo questions bitterly.

The faint image of the senior appeared in Syo's mind as he spoke of her.

That purple hair… those deceiving eyes… Slanted like a cat's, and sparkle with malice...

Everything about her, I hate.

Maybe I'm judging too quickly, but…

There's something eerie about her.

I don't like it.

I don't like it at all.

But to his surprise, Natsuki tilts his head in confusion. "Hm? No, of course not," Natsuki replies, "she's cute and all, but that's not it. Plus, the rule…"

Syo squints at Natsuki, but didn't dare push further.

Was he lying?

No, if he was lying, I would know. It would be obvious.

But… he's not.

Then, who?

Natsuki look slightly disappointed. "Eh? I really thought you would know who it was!" He whines.

Syo flails, his eyes crossing. "How am I supposed to know?! You didn't give me any hints!" Syo snaps.

It ended up with Syo flapping in a comedic way, though all he wanted to be was angry, and Natsuki giggling like crazy.

"Jeez…" Natsuki chuckles as the two slowly settle down, afraid they'd wake the other members if they continued to be so loud in their conversation.

Syo grunted and sighed, opening one eye to look at Natsuki.

Wait.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wAIT, WAIT.

Syo opened both eyes at the giggling Natsuki.

Is he… blushing?

No. You're lying.

I-I…

The moment Natsuki regained composure and opened his eyes again, Syo bolted to his seat, sitting down abruptly.

Syo felt Natsuki's confused gaze on him, and almost died in relief when he finally looked away.

This can't be happening.

Syo placed his hand over his heart, which was supposed to be fully healed. It was pounding ruthlessly; Syo was unsure if he was flustered and purely angry.

It's starting to hurt again.

Agh, I want to cry.

Syo blinked away the forming tears desperately.

Please, not now.

Not today.

I promised Ai…

I promised myself…

What the hell am I doing anymore?!

As the bus finally arrived at the Master Course, as the sleepy members of STARISH finally awakened by Tokiya's instructions, Syo took it as a chance to get off that bus.

His eyes twitched, his chest throbbing, as he bolted out the bus doors and into the building.

Syo had noticed, as he charged into the building, that the limousine that had drove QUARTET NIGHT to their concert, was parked in one of the driveways, telling him that they were home.

Syo blinked rapidly, and a tear slid down his cheek.

Shit, no…

Syo ran through the dining room, the planning room, and two hallways. He had planned to run straight towards his dorm, but he figured something else was a better idea…

Syo saw the doors of the main room in his blurry vision. He pushed open the doors, and saw Ai stop there.

"Huh? Syo-"

It appeared that Ai had just got to the main room as well and was walking, but Syo pushed forward, flinging himself onto Ai, embracing him in a bone-crushing hug.

Ai was knocked back a little, but shoved his feet into the ground to keep from falling. He finally had the chance to look down at the special person now in his arms.

"Syo? What were you thinking on doing?!" Ai said in shock, but he quieted when he saw Syo's face hidden in his chest.

"Ai… it's happening again… I can't stop it! I tried…" Syo's voice was muffled and fit with sobs. Ai quickly switched to concern.

Syo started to cry, it seems, and Ai simple brushed his hair and hugged him back, not saying a word.

Ai gently pushed Syo off slightly so he could see his face. The bluenette smiled softly at him, brushing Syo's tears away with his thumb. He bent over slightly to place a kiss on Syo's lips.

"Goodness… You're such high maintenance." Ai laughs, happy at the blush that spread across Syo's face.

"I'm not…" Syo retorted quietly, scrubbing his face.

Syo sighed, trying to regain himself.

I'm embarrassed…

"Hey, Ai…"

"Yes?"

Syo bit his lip sharply.

"What am I going to do?"

Ai looks at him, and takes his hands.

"What do you mean by that?" Ai asks, tracing Syo's hands with his thumb.

Syo felt angry at himself.

He felt so angry, and couldn't reason with himself.

What am I supposed to do against that?

"Hey, Syo…" Ai interrupts his thoughts. Syo looked up at Ai, who was slightly pouting, or at least trying to. "I know you're thinking negative thoughts, and I command you to stop."

Syo blinks.

"You command me?" Syo asks in surprise.

Ai grins cheekily. "Yes. I command you. As your senior," He pulled Syo close so their foreheads almost touched, "and as your boyfriend."

Syo could practically feel his face on fire.

"O-Okay…"