Dear Amu-san back in America,

How are you? How's the family? I always have to ask.

I know Zyphyra is doing fine. And now I am for the moment. I could spend hours writing about all the drama that's occurred here, but I rather wait. Graduation is coming closer, and though it grows colder over here, the weather is the last thing on all our minds.

Since we last spoke, my spot at the Academy was put on the line along with my friends' as well. The short of it is, we prevailed our trial but working together as a team. If we weren't as talented as we were, we would have been kicked out on the spot. After all the trouble we've caused so far this year, we still can't sit back and relax. Something called the Pair vs Pair contest is upon us, and everyone's teaming up again...only in pairs this time. Two idols pair up with one or two composers, in order to compose two songs to be performed. Round one is one idol's song, and if they advance to round two, the other idol sings there song. It's intense because there are so many good composers and singers here. But I hear there will only be 10 idol pairs advancing in round two. Whoever I partner with...will have our work cut out for them.

Well, I don't want to make this too long. But there is one more thing I want to tell you. Aside from the fact that my weird dreams have been slowing down, I think I...just maybe...am getting my passion for music back, somewhat. Recently, I've been trying to compose a song myself. I know, crazy right? I haven't done that in years! But the things, these notes, this melody...it just doesn't feel like something I would sing. I can't explain it. It's like I'm writing this music for someone else. When I figure out who, I'll think about giving it to them. But I think I'll keep this to myself for now.

I gotta go but write back soon. ~Melody K.


"So it's for Tokiya-kun."

I choked. I lifted my fingers from the piano mid-play, "What made you come to that conclusion!?"

Otoya placed his hand to his cheek, "It's simple really. Process of elimination." He lifted his fingers one by one. "The music's too slow for Natsuki, not very upbeat for Syo, it's not sensual enough for Ren, and Masato sings to piano, but not of this caliber. The tempo's too fast for him."

I gained an anime vein mark, "And what about you huh? Why not you, Otoya-kun?"

"I'm sure if it was meant for me, you would have told me by now. Besides," Otoya looked again at the sheet music and sweatdropped. "I don't think my voice could handle this...the range is way too high..."

Annoyed, I still tried to counter him. "So what!?" I slammed my hands on top of the piano. "Just because the song doesn't fit one of the other guys, it could be for someone else! Anyone else!"

"Like who?"

"There's uh...Tsubasa! Or even Tomo!" Otoya gave me a look. "What's that look for?!"

"What look?"

"That look!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Tch! I'm not doing this with you!" I sat back on the practice room piano bench.

"No matter how you look at it," Otoya slapped the sheets with the back of his hand. "This music suits Tokiya the best."

"Hey! Be careful with those!" I snatched them back. He apologized.

Otoya pointed at me from where he stood beside the piano, "Just admit it! This is your peace offering! You've been unconsciously writing a peace offering for Tokiya to apologize with!"

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say Otoya." He sweatdropped. "I'd never, conscious or unconscious, would want to purposely make peace with that guy. Not without reason."

"Geez, Me-chan." Otoya muttered, "Why do you hate Tokiya so much?"

I turned away. "I...don't hate him."

Otoya kept going, "Then what is it then?"

"He's just...so..." I really had to think about it. What is he? Why don't we get along anymore? Frustrated, I answered, "...Overprotective!"

Otoya's eyelids lowered, "You're angry at him because he's too overprotective?"

"And nosy! Since day one, he's always been on my back about something! Melody, I think you should switch pitches! Be careful about your voice! I got the same crap from him over and over again."

"That just sounds like something Masato would say, and you're friends with him. In fact, any of us could say something like that. Surely that can't be why you're angry."

It wasn't.

"If there's another reason," My back was still turned to him, "I...don't know what it is. We just don't get along anymore, Otoya." I heard the shuffling of papers behind him. I turned my head to peek, but Otoya had already reached me.

"I hope you do soon." Otoya handed me the rest of my sheet music. "Tokiya's a really nice guy honestly, he's just shy sometimes. And you're really nice too. I really don't see why you guys can't be friends again." I took my stuff back from him. "Come on, don't be so down. It'll happen, definitely. And it'll start by you giving him your song."

I looked to the side, "Yeah right. It's not finished yet but...If that's all it takes, we'll see."


The next day I knocked on Otoya's dorm room with resolve. "Otoya, open up! It's me." I hear a loud bump on the floor before the door opened.

"M-M-M-ME-CHAN!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Otoya's hair was a mess. He had an extreme bedhead. He then frantically started to whisper, "Ah! If the others see you~!"

"Would you relax? I came to tell you the news since you clearly don't know yet." I lifted my phone to show him the picture, "This was posted on the bulletin this morning. Apparently Shining changed the campus rules about female and male interaction. Now girls can enter the boys' dorm and vise versa without hassle. We changed the game, ba-byyy~" I pushed the door open and let myself inside.

"AAH! Wait!"

"But last I checked, there's still a no-romance allowed rule in place. So, if you came here to make out, I suggest you keep the PDA to a minimum, especially in front of me. I'm not putting my scholarship on the line for you two again."

I froze, "T-Tokiya?"

Tokiya looked away from his magazine to face me, "I don't know why you look so surprised. I do live here you know? Otoya's my roommate."

"Of course I know that, Baka." I folded my arms, "It's just you're never here when I visit."

"You mean you broke the rule more than once before it was legal?" Tokiya tsked, "Honestly, I really shouldn't be around the two of you. You both know how to really start trouble. Ah, what a pain." I gained an anime vein mark.

"Now now you two~" Otoya's words faded into background noise as Tokiya and I bantered.

"If we're bothering you, why don't you leave then?"

"Actually, I am. But not because you told me too. I'm late for a practice session." Tokiya stood up, lifting his bag.

"Huh? Tokiya, I thought you said that was three hours from now?" Tokiya choked.

"Haha. You've been had, Loser~" The dark bluenette had no comeback. "Sit dowwwwwn!"

"Me-chan cut it out." Otoya told me, "It's cool Tokiya, we'll get out of your way. I just have to get ready real quick. Just give me a few minutes, Me-chan!" Before I could stop him, Otoya leaped into the bathroom and shut the door.

"He doesn't even know why I came by..." And just like that, Tokiya and I...were alone. When I realized, I shivered.

"Does it matter? Every time you're near, he always scrambles to go see you like a puppy missing his owner." Tokiya flipped the page to a different article.

"I don't appreciate how you just compared him to an animal, and I'm sure he wouldn't either."

"When you find a better metaphor for describing him, I'll consider using it."

"Why you~" I really couldn't argue with that one. Otoya was kinda like a puppy. He was just so~ "Huh?" Suddenly something caught my attention. I sauntered over to Tokiya's desk. He eyed me out of his peripheral vision. My finger ran over his open planner before he had time to close it on me. "You aren't...still going to work are you?" I could see him sweat.

"What is it to you?" He said and I glared directly at him. He matched me, "What I'm doing with my life is none of your business." With one had I squished his cheeks in between my fingers. "Ex-cur-shh vuu, dat's my facee."

"You of all people have some nerve to even let that sentence leave your throat." My index finger ran over his left cheek, "You're still pale after all this time. You haven't been eating right yet have you?" He didn't respond. "I knew it. You're running yourself into the ground. I thought I warned you before? Overworking can kill you know!"

Tokiya pinched a certain area of my waist, causing me to yelp and let go. He massaged his jaw, "As I said. It's none of your business."

I know we aren't friends. I know we're not quite friends again. And yet...

"Also, you don't have the right to look at me like that," Tokiya said. I said nothing. "Hey! What did I say?" I only stared at him, which only bothered Tokiya more. "Tch!" He suddenly grabbed my arm and brought me close. "I don't get you. When did you start caring again? Huh!?" He whisper-shouted to me, so Otoya couldn't hear. "Answer me! What was it that made you care again if I couldn't!?"

"Tokiya...why aren't we friends anymore?"

Tokiya faltered. His bangs slid over his face. "That's..." His lips curled slightly.

"Why...can't we get along?" I asked. My violet eyes teared up, "I don't remember anymore." His eyes widened.

"Ah! I'm ready!... Huh? Ehhh!? Did I accidentally lock the door from the other side!? No way! Tokiya? Melody? ... Hello!?"

It happened so fast. Tokiya had jumped up to grip the bathroom door handle so Otoya couldn't come out. I blinked in confusion. "Dry your tears." He told me with his back turned to me. He held the door handle with enough force to oppose Otoya's banging. "You wouldn't want him to see you like that." I looked in Tokiya's wall mirror. I had ruined the mascara Tomo had put on me today. The one day I let someone put makeup on me, I cry. And I let Tokiya see me at that.

I quickly took out a makeup remover wipe from my bag and cleared the mess off my skin. "I don't know what came over me," I told him. "I'm sorry."

"I am too."

"What?"

Tokiya unlocked the door and let Otoya out, "AAAH!" Otoya fell on the floor. "Ah! Where were you guys? Didn't you hear me!?"

"It's your own fault for locking yourself in there." Before I could get a look at Tokiya's expression, he quickly went for his bag on his bed and headed for the door. "I have to go."

"W-Wait! Tokiya!" Tokiya stopped. Otoya stood up, "...H-Have good practice. Whatever it's for." Tokiya nodded and closed the door behind him. "Gosh, he left after all. And so fast." Otoya turned to me, "You didn't argue with him did you?"

"What? Me? No, not really. He was just late he said. Honest." I smiled trying to hide my previous emotions.

"Is that so..." Otoya thought for a moment. He then looked at me. "Oh yeah, Me-chan, I meant to ask."

"Yes?"

"Why are you here anyway?"


"Tokiya's partners with you!?"

"THAT'S RIGHT! AHAHAHA! HE'S MY PARTNER FOR THE PAIR VS. PAIR CONTEST! EAT IT SUCKERS!"

I folded my arms, "Why Tokiya?"

"Yeah," Otoya agreed, "It just doesn't make sense. Why him?"

"Why him? What do you mean why him Senpais!? Ichinose-senpai is cool!"

"Of course we know that." Tomo took a bite out of her hamburger, "But besides us, no one really has believed in Tokiya's talents since he got demoted. It's definitely suspicious, Tsubasa-kun."

"Oh come on Tomo-senpai! I believe in him!" Tsubasa tapped his chest out of sincerity, "He, Ittoki-senpai, and I are dorm neighbors! We hang out all the time, right Ittoki-senpai?" Otoya only sipped his drink through his straw. "A-Anyway! I've heard him sing on plenty of occasions and even when he wasn't doing very well, he was always pushing forward. I knew I needed to have someone with that energy on my side in the Pair vs Pair contest! So I went out of my way to make sure he'd partner with me!"

"And now the question changes," I said growing bored, "Why on Earth would Tokiya choose to pair with you?"

"What's that suppose to mean, Senpai!?"

"Tokiya's the type to usually put thought into how he sings and who he partners with. Maybe he didn't care this time and accepted the first person who asked?"

"ITTOKI-SENPAI TOO?! WHAT THE HECK!?"

"Stop shouting you idiot." Tomo leaned away from the male.

"Look! I'll have you know that I won Ichinose-senpai's partnership through one of the purest forms of gaining male trust:" Tsubasa's eyes lowered when he smirked. "Gambling."

"Jaysus Christ."

"Tokiya doesn't know a damn thing about gambling!" I was quick to yell.

Tsubasa lifted his arms defensively, "No no no. Not like poker gambling~It was more of just a personal bet." He claimed, "Back in class a couple of days ago, I knew I just had to get Ichinose as a partner after his performance last month. So during improv, I challenged him to a series of challenges and whoever failed the least amount of them won. His condition was really lame though; it's almost like he knew that I'd win..."

"So in other words, you challenged Tokiya to something only you were good at and he happened to get blindsided and lose."

"So underhanded."

"As expected from this guy."

"You guys are so cruel!" Tsubasa frowned, tearing up.

"Still, I couldn't imagine Tokiya losing to someone in improv...it's kind of his specialty..." I thought allowed. I then glared at the salt and pepper haired male, "What did you do?"

"Ah, do?"

"What did you challenge him to do?"

"..."

"..."

"...I may have...made the majority of challenges...dependent on team participation."

"YOU A-HOLE!"

"A GUY'S GOTTA DO WHAT A GUY'S GOTTA DO! HE'S MY PARTNER NOW, END OF DISCUSSION."

"Gosh, I hope Tokiya can handle this nightmare," Tomo muttered to Otoya.

"I really do feel sorry for him." Otoya sighed.

"GUYS. I AM YOUR FRIEND! HAVE MORE FAITH IN ME, PLEASE!"

I sighed too, "Fine. Tokiya's your partner. We get it. You're behind the practice he had run off to yesterday." He nodded, confirming my accusation. "I assume everyone else is out finding their partners then? Since they didn't join us for lunch today?"

"Are you kidding? Everyone's as busy as a bee this week! I don't think they'll be around for a good while." Tsubasa took a sip of his soda. "Ren and Natsuki have already paired up. And Syo's been hunting around for a partner for months now." Hearing about Syo, I felt guilty for not agreeing to be his partner when he asked. It sounded like he was getting desperate, and it was all my fault.

"What really? Ren and Natsuki working together? Good for them~" Otoya said, "I'm sure Syo will find someone."

"Yup. Haruka's been so nice recently. She wrote both of their songs and Syo's too. I think she will for whoever's asking honestly. As for me, my partners and I are in the process of lyric writing as we speak." Tomo folded her arms with satisfaction.

"Wait, what about Masa?" I asked.

"Oh, Masato-senpai? He's a weird one. Syo's actually been bugging him to be his partner actually. But he's being stubborn and..."

"He refuses to enter. Just like you, Mel." I sweatdropped.

"A-Actually..." I hesitated to say. "I am entering the contest."

"WHAT?!"

"REALLY!?"

Tsubasa and Tomo fell out of their chairs. I nodded, "Yeah. Ringo-sensei told me it was impertinent for me to sign up. So I talked it over with Otoya and..." Otoya sheepishly looked at the table. "I'm doing it with him."

Tomo exclaimed, "OOH! Syo's gonna be so mad!"

"I know!" I cried, "I had no plans on entering before, honest! If I did I would have told him yes before when he asked! I'm such a jerk~"

"Hey now, you'll make Otoya feel bad!" Tomo said gesturing to the other redhead. He didn't seem bothered at all, however. In fact, I don't even think he was in the conversation anymore. His brain was somewhere else entirely.

"MmmHph." We ignored him when Tsubasa made a noise. "I see what's going on here, KaSakura-senpai." He then followed up with, "I see, and I ship."

"What?" I asked not knowing what the heck he was referring to.

"Are you serious right now? I'm talking about you and Ittoki-senpai. I'm seeing the ship sail and I'm boarding it, you can't stop me!"

"HUH?" I asked quickly. "Me? And Otoya?" My face grew red, "Nah uh, we're not a ship..."

"Why the frick you lyin'? Why you always lyin'? MmmmmmmmmmmH oh my gosh~"

"Oh my god! Tsubasa stop it!"

"Oh, Tomo-senpai. You just don't get memes from overseas like us."

"No, you just sound horrible singing it!" Tomo yelled at him, "If you embarrass Tokiya, he'll never forgive you, you know!"

"Oh Tomo-senpai, Oh Tomo-senpai, Oh Tomo-senpai," Tsubasa suddenly grew a cynical smirk, "I think you'll be surprised to know that my team's secret weapon is not Tokiya's, but actually my voice."

"Really?"

"Interesting. Then you have the confidence to save your routine for the second round then and let Tokiya go first?" I asked the guy.

"That is yet to be determined." Tsubasa was quick to answer. "We'll judge both of the songs that our composers give us, and then we'll determine which song is the best to perform at the given opportunity." I don't know what it was about Tsubasa right then. Maybe something with his aura I guess, but there was something out of character about him. He just seemed, I dunno, like he was more intelligent than he let on. That he was different than how he carried himself around us. It would explain how he got into the S-class so fast. But the change was too quick to dwell on, as he immediately shifted to his normal persona. "Still, with Tokiya at my side, you better look out! You'd better start perfecting your routines right now. You'll never make it past the first round if your partner's talent can't match you! Gotta get good, guys haha!" Otoya seemed to hear that and snapped back to normal.

Otoya gripped his fist, "Right. Speaking of, Me-chan we should go." He stood up from the table.

"So soon?" I asked.

"I wanted to talk some things over with you before we start practicing together. Plus, Nanami-chan wanted us to consider choosing one of the songs she wrote for us."

"Oh, sure thing." I stood up from the table too. "I guess we'll get going first. Bye." We ignored Tsubasa as he whistled catcalls at us as we left.


"So, what did you want to talk about first?" I asked Otoya when we were finally able to claim an empty practice room. Otoya shut the door behind him.

Otoya eyed me seriously, "I think I should sing in the first round."

I wasn't totally against the idea, but I wasn't sold on it either. The person singing in the first round held a lot of pressure on their shoulders. For one, if their performance wasn't good, the second person wouldn't even be able to sing in the second round. And two, to advance to the second round, you'd have to make the top ten over of all the other performers. If the first person's performance wasn't top ten worthy, you already lost the competition. I folded my arms getting serious too. "Why?"

Otoya wasn't expecting that, but explained his reasoning. "I know you're going to fight me on this, but you're the better performer out of the both of us. Look, I'm not saying it out of self-doubt this time. You have more experience and have more of an advantage."

"Just because I have more experience, doesn't make me any more comfortable on that stage than you, Otoya."

"Okay, but your compositions are really strong and powerful." He complimented, "If I can just hype the audience enough to make the top ten, then you can blow them away with one of your arrangements. That is what I truly believe is best."

"I don't know." I looked down, dragging my foot along the floor. "That's a lot on me to keep things alive and goin'."

"I'm confident you can do it." Otoya smiled at me. "Trust me, all you have to do is trust me. Let's put trust in each other." Otoya's supportiveness always got me weak. It was part of the reason I agreed to be his partner. "Speaking of trust," He pulled some documents out of his bag. It was sheet music, from Haru-chan no doubt. "Haruka gave this to me a few days ago. I've been pondering over it ever since, but this is the reason I want to go first." I took it from him and looked over the arrangement, "I called it, Trust My Dream."

"It looks...awesome," I said looking at the notes and lyrics he had started to right with them. "You think you can pull this off? If you can I think it would suit your style really well Otoya."

"You think so? I was hoping you'd say that." He chuckled before digging into his bag again. He pulled out more papers.

"Don't tell me."

"Yup, Nanami-chan wrote one for you too~"

"Ugh. Really...What happened to the one or two composers per team rule?" I asked glancing it over.

"I think it counts if we have the song written already. And Nanami's really good at what she does." Otoya held them close. "I really want to use these."

"I guess it can't be helped then. Nanami's our official composer too. With all of our songs by Haru-chan, our biggest rivals will be each other." Each other referring to our friends that is. I stuffed the sheets carefully in my bag. "Okay, I'll start working on lyrics for this pronto. What's next?"

"Next? Uh," Otoya thought for a moment. "Actually...I wanted to talk to you about, that night. In my dorm room..." I took a moment too.

My word...I had forgotten all about it.

That night was the reason I still couldn't look the redhead in the eye when we were completely alone, like now! "You mean~"

"Yeah." He started to whisper. Otoya and I knew there were security cameras so we kept our words brief. "I just wanted to clear things up."

I sighed, "Look, I know it was an accident. It's okay, I'm fine really."

"Really? Are you sure?" I know our words were meant to be brief, but I still felt a little sad that Otoya was ready to dismiss the issue again after bringing it up. I guess I wanted to know how he felt about it is all...

"Yeah. Totally." I tried to smile. Not gonna lie, I probably looked as disappointed as I felt.

I started to turn away and change the topic when Otoya grabbed my wrist. "Me-chan."

"What? I'm serious." Otoya's eyes wavered. "D-Do you not want me to be, or something?" His lips flattened. "Well!?" I shouted getting annoyed.

"Melody." Otoya looked to me with the most serious look he had ever given me. "There's a no love rule between the students here. Even if I wanted..." He cut himself off. "I can't, it's impossible." He muttered under his breath. He looked so conflicted.

"Pfft, no way." I quieted my voice too, "You weren't really, thinking of taking things further, did you?" Though my words sounded insulting, it was as cryptic as I could get, and Otoya knew that. Saying the "d" word couldn't be explained if we were caught right now.

Otoya couldn't hide his blush, "Any guy would." Not the best response, but he was no doubt embarrassed. He looked at me I guess for any form of uncomfortableness.

Because of that, I laughed to ease the tension. "Yeah. I suppose you're right." I decided that was a fitting answer.

Otoya let go of my arm. "Let's just pretend it...didn't happen. For our careers' sakes." Was I hearing him right? "I just...Under any other circumstances, I'd take responsibility. But it can't be helped. I need you to believe that. Please. I don't want our friendship to get, weird."

"Fine. I just have a question then." I said matching his tone of voice, "Do you regret it?" Otoya's bangs fell over his face. I refused to ask again as he stood in silence.

He then turned away. "I don't think that answer matters now."

Oh, it matters. It matters to me, Ittoki Otoya!

Before I thought of actually saying this to him, the door to our practice room violently swung open. "YOU GUYS ARE HORRIBLE," Syo yelled at us. We tried to hide our blushes from the short blonde. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? KASA? ITTOKI?"

"I take it Tsubasa told you." Otoya sweatdropped. A nervous smile peaked at his lips. Syo gripped him by the collar.

"I outta slug you." He lifted a fist. "You traitor!"

"Hey! Cut it out!" I broke up the two quickly. "I'm sorry Syo!" I pleaded, "For real! I really wasn't going to enter!"

"And when you decided to you didn't want to pair up with me!? Who was actively looking for a partner all this time!? AND ASKED YOU FIRST BY THE WAY?!"

"Otoya helped me with producing my song from before, so since we got along back then, he'd make a good partner now." Syo glared at me with a frown. "FOR REAL I'M SORRY! I WON'T DISS YOU LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

Syo came up to me and gripped the back of my neck without hesitation. "Damn right you won't." He growled in a low tone. "Otoya may have won you this time, but I'll know better for the next. I know who my real rival is now." He glared at Otoya, who shrunk backward away from him. "Look, I'm over it. But I need your help."


"Masa, join the pair vs pair contest."

"~No."

"He's not gonna do it." We found the troublesome bluenette male in the kitchen. Because of his missing hot pot extensions, Masato had turned to making his tea there until Tokiya decided to buy him the new parts he needed. Apparently, the pan that he used to knock the security guard out was not the only thing he had borrowed. For what reasons? I don't know. But Masato was left in a state of annoyance, and for that reason alone, he had no intention of being forced into entering the upcoming contest.

"Hijirikawa-kun please!" Syo begged, "You're literally like the only one not paired up with anyone! I could really use you!"

"That sounds like a you-problem, Kurusu-kun." Masato took a sip of his newest concoction. His face furrowed in disgust. "That's not quite right." Syo continued to beg and plead in front of Masato for the next half an hour while Otoya and I watched. All Masato did was ignore him, tending to his pot of tea and a treat he was making to go with it. Once we finally had enough (Or rather finished eating Masato's delicious snacks), we decided to step in and help.

"Syo-kun, you can't force Masa to be your partner if he doesn't want to."

"Yeah Syo," I followed Otoya in talking Syo down. "The contest isn't mandatory either. You don't have to worry if you don't compete!"

"ARE YOU KIDDING?" Syo snapped around to us, "Of course I know there won't be any benefits grade-wise. But this shite's getting televised!"

"Televised!?" This gathers all our attention.

"TELEVISED!" Syo repeated, "This is a good opportunity to get your name out there, especially for me, who has been trying to be an influencer remember!? Even so, I still wanted to enter this a while back before I knew that!" He looked to Masato once more, "Come on Masato! Doing this will be fun! And a good career move too!"

"Being on television..." Masato pondered while pouring a substance by teaspoon into a cup. I could tell it made him nervous.

"The Romeo Juliet play was televised! What's the problem?!"

"That was mandatory..." Masato took a sip once more. "...better I guess." Then Syo snapped. He purposely knocked Masato's cup of tea out of his hand and into the sink. We stared at Masato who stared into the sink.

"Oh no."

"What have you done!?"

"Masato please listen to me! This goes beyond making tea!" Syo sat on the counter in front of him, "Now is not the time! If we were partners, I know we could place high! You just gotta agree to be my partner! You're right, I need you but for benefits, you need me too!"

"You do that again, and I will destroy you."

"I'm sorry okay! Just please be my partner pleaseeeeeeeeee!" Syo hugged Masato firmly around the waist.

"NO! MY ANSWER IS NO AND THAT'S FINAL!" Masato shouted shaking the blonde off violently. "GET OFF OF ME! I'm not getting involved end of discussion!" Masato left the kitchen without another word. Syo collapsed on the floor, obviously fake crying. Even his fake cries didn't seem to get to Masato.

"AH! WHAT AM I GONNA DO NOW!?"

Otoya tasted the leftover pot of tea with another empty cup, "Ughh, it's so sweet!"

"I figured. Masato has added a teaspoon of sugar for every time Syo begged him."

"Huh? Why would he do that?!"

"Because he's socially awkward. No one's ever bothered Masato like this besides me when we were kids. He doesn't take pressure well." Syo blinked at me, "He probably thinks he'll disappoint you since you keep talking up his ability like you have been. So with Masa, you gotta use reverse psychology. Watch and learn." I walked to the doorway and leaned in it. I knew Masato had stayed outside the door. "Don't worry Syo. Masato wouldn't have made a good partner for you anyway!"

"Hey, Me-chan! Isn't that a little too harsh!?" Otoya whispered to me. I ignored him.

"Masato just came here as an escape from his home life. He just wants to take a degree home as a souvenir to signify that he left his house! Ahaha!" I was having fun with this. "There's no way that Masato could get you to the top ten! Especially if Ren is in the competition to stop him." I shut my mouth. Silence echoed in the kitchen. Then I felt a heavy aura burning behind my back. I stepped out of the way.

"KURUSU-KUN." A blue fire blazed around Masato as lifted a trembling fist. "I WILL BE YOUR PAIR VS PAIR PARTNER."

"HUH? Just like that!?" Otoya yelled in surprised. I smirked in triumph. Syo passed out onto the floor. "Well...I guess problem solved."


mabushii Shining Day!

chikoku magiwa GIRIGIRI Last Train

HĀTO no nanka ga

sanbyou de FURĪZU shita

BIBITto Searching Eyes

kono kanjou wa nani nan deshou?

DOKIDOKI ga BAREmasen youni...

otagai no kyori nante

GITĀ no WANFURETTO kurai na no sa

egao no CHŪNINGU,

junbi wa ii desu ka? Are You Ready!?

Trust Myself! te o tsunagou!

Trust Your Dream, futari no sekai!

saikou no Ride!

SHIGUNARU wa All Blue!

Trust My Song! kowakunai yo!

sora wa hateshinai!

kokoro wa Rave!

nee ikou oto no saki e!

saa hibike kaze ni natte!

Otoya practiced his song with Haruka at the piano. I stood back beside the two as he sang and she played. He blew me away with the lyrics he wrote, and Haruka's playing added on to its greatness. At that point, I was convinced that I should trust Otoya's decision to go first. Haruka stopped playing the piano once he was finished, "And that's the end of it. Great job, Ittoki-kun!"

"Thanks, Nanami! It sounds way better than before."

"I know!" I agreed, "When you put your guitar spin on this song, this will surely explode! You're a shoo-in Otoya!"

"Thanks." Otoya blushed with a smile. "I just want to do good for us."

"And you will I know it~" I went in for a high five. He accepted without hesitation. "Now I just need to get my song to your level."

"You will. I know it." Otoya repeated.

"Ah, well if that will be all." Haruka stood up, "I'm due to meet with Ren and Natsuki soon, so I should get going."

"So soon?" I asked, "Ne, Haru, are you sure you're okay with being the main composer for so many people at once? It's tiring isn't it?"

"Yes, but I'll be okay Me-chan." She assured me, "I want to help as many people as I can if they need me."

"Well bless your soul child. I could never."

"Sure you could." Otoya nudged me. "I'll be fine for now. Thanks again Nanami."

Haruka walked towards the door, "Good luck to you both." She told us and left.

"She's too kind for her own good." I said, "She's gonna be taken advantage of if she's not too careful."

"No one can ever be too kind, especially in this day and age. Lighten up will you?" Otoya patted me on the shoulder. He clicked open his guitar case and grabbed the stringed instrument from inside. "I guess I should start practicing with this now. Let me know if I'm distracting you." I nodded. I picked up my sheet music and began to look it over. Otoya strummed softly starting out, trying not to break my concentration. So once I landed into a deep stage, not even Otoya's louder strums brought me out of my mind. I was all in, I was focused.

"Alright." I finished the first set of lyrics easily. I put my pencil down and stretched. I kicked away the pile of papers I had left underneath me.

"Did you finish?" I jumped up, blindsided by Otoya's presence. I hadn't noticed his ninja-like footsteps approach me, or even just the fact that he had stopped playing. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"No. I'm good." I patted my heart once for good measure. "Everything's coming along, nicely...That feels good to say."

"See? Staying positive can help you through even the darkest times." He said, "I'm glad you've been feeling better recently Me-chan. You're really pretty when you smile." Otoya couldn't catch himself in time. "I mean, smiling is...healthy and..."

Ever since that night at his dorm, being alone with him had always felt slightly awkward. And after our conversation, we were both left confused. We were friends, yes. But now we had to pay attention to what we said to each other. Now, what constituted as going too far?

Otoya stopped trying to speak and picked up his cell phone. He dialed a number and held it to his ear. "Who are you calling?" I asked.

"Tokiya. He left his textbooks with me this morning before he left and~"

RING! RING!

"Hello?"

"AH! Tokiya appeared when I called!"

Appearing in the doorway, Tokiya looked at us with his cell and frowned. He immediately hung up. "I was outside already. You told me to come by earlier remember?"

"I did. I just thought you forgot..." Otoya sweatdropped.

Tokiya stuck his phone in his pocket and entered the practice room. He sighed, "Thank you for grabbing them for me."

"No problem," Otoya told him passing them off. "You go off campus a lot, what are you doing out there?"

He played the question off easily, "It's really none of your business." I frowned and rolled my eyes.

"S-Sorry! I was just worried that's all." Otoya defended.

"I'm doing nothing that will harm my physical condition if that's what you mean."

"Hey! Your mental stability is important too!"

"If that's the case, in those terms I'm beyond repair." Tokiya let out a sad smile. Otoya and I cringed at how serious he said that.

"Ah! Stop being dramatic~" I slapped Tokiya's back. He twinged in pain. "You're as just as okay as anyone else is, you always have to play the Drama Queen."

"Me? A drama queen? Me?" He gestured between the two of us, insinuating that I was more than a drama queen than he was.

I pointed at him in return, "Yes, you."

"Are you kidding?"

"No-pe." I ignored his dumbfounded look, "Now since you're here, why don't you explain the reason why you didn't tell us that you were entering the Pair vs Pair Contest. And conveniently you're already paired! With Tsubasa no less!"

Tokiya sighed again. He seemed to have a habit of doing so. "I was tricked. There's not much to say about it. I was tricked and Tsubasa became my partner. I've accepted it." Otoya and I frowned.

"You know you could just say 'No.'..."

"You know you don't have to participate..."

"It's okay, really." Tokiya folded his arm while complementing Tsubasa respectfully, "I don't like the way I was contracted, but it has turned out to be a pretty good thing. Tsubasa is actually an extremely gifted individual. He lets his talents lie beyond the surface I think, which is an advantage for us as a team. The composers we're working with are friends of his, and their work so far has been extraordinary."

"Really?"

"I wasn't expecting that."

"That's what the two of you get for not giving people a chance, or rather Tsubasa I guess. He comes off as a novice, but I think he knows what he's doing. He's been taking charge of everything, and I choose to trust him." Tokiya started to smirk, "In fact, I think you'd be jealous if you heard my song so far. It holds a uniqueness I've never heard before, one that I've to believe I've grown to love. I'll definitely do this song justice."

Hearing him talk about a song that way bothered me. Tokiya has never spoken about anyone else's music like that before. I'm suddenly reminded of my own music, the one that I possibly wrote for him in particular. I didn't have it with me today, but if I did, I'd probably have shown it to him right then. Thinking that made me mad. Did I really wanted to one-up a person I've never met before? It's just a song...

"Ichinose-san! We're practicing in the studio now~Ah!" Without warning a random girl whipped around the corner at an incredible speed and clumsily tripped on the door frame of our practice room.

Tokiya was close enough to catch her, "Aruhi!" He exclaimed, "That was close. You need to be more careful!"

"Yeah, who just barges into a room like that and not expect repercussions?" I asked, "Also this is a private room right now..."

"I-I'm sorry! KaSakura-chan, Ittoki-kun! I was just trying to find Ichinose-san and~!"

"How do you know us?" I asked immediately. The girl seemed to hide inside her long dark blue locks, and behind Tokiya too.

"Me-chan don't be rude! She's an A-class student like us, I remember her. You guys alright?" Otoya helped Tokiya help this girl up. Suddenly I felt like the intruder.

"We're okay." Tokiya looked to me, "Melody, Otoya. This is Aruhi-chan. She's one of the composers in our team. The one in charge of my song, ironically." My eyebrows furrowed unconsciously, "It's my fault for speaking about you behind your back. I practically summoned you at my side, Ru-chan." My eyebrows furthered tighter.

"Y-You were talking about m-me?" She looked up at him worriedly.

"Ah! I promise it was only good things." Tokiya claimed. "Aruhi-chan is an excellent A-class composer, and I had to talk about the amazing song you wrote for me."

There was a glare in her glasses as her forehead sweated profusely, "Ahh! You don't have to mention it so much!" She waved her hands in front of her.

This nervously shy girl is composing for Tokiya?

"Why wouldn't he? You've written him the key to our victory, Aruhi-chan!" Suddenly appearing in the doorway behind him to more people appeared. Tsubasa flipped his salt and pepper bangs, "I guess you were able to see our team's true secret weapon, after all, Ittoki-senpai, KaSakura-senpai. With the two of us joining the scene, you've now encountered our entire team! The ones that are going to beat you all!" He grinned cynically. "Huh? KaSakura-senpai? Your face...what's wrong?" Tsubasa asked immediately when I wasn't staring at him. I couldn't, not when the person clinging to his arm was purposefully grabbing my attention.

"Serena."

"MPK..." She pretended to gasp, "Oh sorry, bad habit. You go by Melody now, I remembered."

Otoya caught on to my immediate discomfort, "Kagoshima-chan, what are you doing here?"

"Waaah! Such sudden hostility! Serena, what have you done to these guys?!" Tsubasa sweatdropped.

"You know these guys, Kagoshima-chan?" Tokiya asked with him and Aruhi looking between us all.

"Of course I do, Ichinose-kun! We're all in the same class! And besides everyone knows that Melody here's quite famous for being your brother's side~"

"Serena. That's disrespectful." Just like earlier in the week, Tsubasa's aura seemed to do a one 180. I swore to myself, I hadn't noticed behavior like this from him before. "If you aren't going to say something nice, don't speak at all. Got it?"

Aruhi gripped Tokiya's arm, "Am I the only one confused right now?"

"No, you and me both." Tokiya said, "I didn't know you and Otoya knew Serena. But I guess it makes sense. If you've seen Aruhi, then you should know of her too. They are best friends." Tokiya gestured in between them. "Serena is our second composer."

"HUH?" Otoya exclaimed. "That doesn't add up!"

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't make any sense!" Otoya told him, "Serena's in the idol course! How can she be a composer!?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but there's nothing in the rules about the composers needing to be from the composer course." Serena scoffed, "I'm allowed to compose my own music for this contest if I want to! Yours truly is talented enough that she can do both: composing and singing! Ah yes, but you wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Melody-chan?" My teeth clench instinctively. A low growl escaped my throat.

"That's enough. I don't think it's necessary to hurt Melody's feelings like that, Kagoshima-san." Was Tokiya's way of defending me. However is words only left me feeling even more irritated, much to Serena's delight.

She feined, "Sorry Ichinose-kun, some times I go a little too far with my words. I just don't like KaSakura-chan constantly underestimating me."

"I don't underestimate you, you just like to insult me. Me and my friends, and if you haven't realized it yet, we aren't going to stand for it anymore. Not from you, and not from your lackeys either." I stepped forward and the boys grew tense. Otoya hovered behind me just in case I thought to lunge at her, which I wasn't going to do. I had more class than that to start a physical fight. I wasn't going to let Serena get under my skin any further, especially now that I knew I wasn't alone. I wasn't her only target. "You have some nerve, ratting us out to Shining Saotome like you did. I'm betting those guys Masato fought were lackeys of yours too weren't they?"

Tokiya's eyes widened, "She knew those boys?"

I placed my hand on my hips, "Everything you had them say were lies, that's why we're all still here. Good always conquers evil, don't you know that?" Serena rolled her eyes. I turned to Tsubasa. "Are you really not able to see what she's like? Why on earth would you form a team with her? And you," I looked to Aruhi, "This is the person you call your best friend? Are you blind? She's clearly a bully!"

Before Tokiya and Aruhi could retort, Tsubasa said his piece. "KaSakura-senpai. I've known Serena for a long time. I get all you've seen is her mean side, but when it comes to music she's not one to play around~"

"Aww, don't tell me you're just using me for my music?" Serena snickered but goes silent when Tsubasa sends a glare her way. It's happened so quickly I was the only one who could have noticed it.

"Serena has the talent to back up her incredibly huge ego, which I'm sure will keep her thriving in the music industry. And the fact of the matter is that we work well together in a business sense. That's why I brought her on as a partner." Tsubasa amber eyes seemed to dull. "I know my words seem cruel, but we're in a school for music aiming for the entertainment world. When you see an opportunity, you seize it. Surely you can understand my point of you. Right, Senpai?" A shiver went down my shoulder. "Serena brought on Aruhi, and I collected Ichinose. Together, we create a strong musically sound team. To deny that would be denying the path the muses have laid out for us. Denying any chance of winning this contest as well." Tsubasa removed his arm from Serena's grip. He waved it around in a lackadaisical manner as he headed for the door. "Ichinose-kun, we practice down the hall in Studio 4. Please don't keep us waiting, dear friend." He gripped the door handle, "May the best pair win, you guys." Tsubasa then exited without another word. Leaving the room extremely awkward, Serena followed after him.

"I'm going to go now too," Aruhi said to Tokiya.

"You don't have to announce that. Just leave."

"Melody, please." Tokiya scolded. "I'll catch up in a minute." Aruhi left then too. "I apologize for them barging in on your practice time. It really is my fault."

"It's cool Tokiya. People will do what they want." Otoya said to him.

Tokiya looked in between us, "Is there really that much bad blood between you guys and my team?" Tokiya took our irritated expressions as a yes. "Right. Then I'll try to keep them away from you guys until the contest is over."

"You're still going to pair up with them?"

"Tsubasa made his point and it was clear, no matter how harsh it seemed," Tokiya told me. His tone was less sure than his words. "What we've accomplished so far as a group is truly remarkable, the songs we've worked on together are really good. I think together we could win."

I glared, "You're going to regret working with her."

"Perhaps that may be true. But we'll see." Tokiya walked out, "What's the point of life if you don't take chances, right?"

With the room cleared, Otoya sighed heavily. "Ah, I really didn't expect that one. What a pain." When I don't respond to him, Otoya gripped my shoulder. "Try not to let it bother you too much, Me-chan. We have other things to worry about." He muttered to me. Hiding my face under my bangs, I gripped my sheet music until it crumpled.

"No. I don't think I can."


OTOYA: Together we can work through anything! UTAPRI!


MPK: Read and Review~ Next chapter coming soon!