MPK: So I went back and changed the purples and indigos like I said I would the last chapter when I saw them, and even redid a few chapters. I still want to go back and edit chapters 4-8 because I didn't touch those at all, but everything else is decent enough for me to leave alone! Yay!
On with the next chap!
Dear Amu-san,
Writing to you as a seasonal check-in, like you suggested. All though we've just had an amazing trip to a very warm, private island, the winter air is frigid and cold. Everyone is feeling the effects of the snowy season. People are doing what they can to finish up all their work and go back home where it is warmer. I've chosen to stay on campus for the holidays of course because I have nothing else better to do. With dad busy and all my siblings scattered, what would be the point in coming home?
...But, I sort of regret doing so.
You see, during the school trip, I felt like I had grown closer with all my friends here at the academy. I know you won't believe it, but even Tokiya and I are actually on good terms now. The thing is...now that we're back from vacation, everyone has grown distant again. I mean, it's expected since we have exams and such and everyone's busy with their own assignments. But they're also busy trying to find their partners for the graduation audition.
The graduation audition is important for us all. It's kind of the main reason we came to this academy. It's our only shot at becoming real idols. But at this rate, some of us are going to end up failing. Me, because I have no idea who would even choose me as an idol partner, and all my friends because...I think they've all chosen the same person. Only one composer can audition with one idol representative. So I have no idea how this is gonna go down. The girl I think they've all chosen doesn't even seem to know who she wants to pair with either.
It's a mess over here, Amu-san. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up here. But I'll try my best and keep you updated on the details.
Hope you and my fam have a happy holiday.
Yours truly ~Melody K.
"Huh? A "B"!? After all that!?"
"I know~I probably would have done better if I had studied a little more. But I'm not complaining."
I sighed patting the back of my red-headed best friend, "Well at least you passed. I'm proud of ya Otoya."
"Hehe, thanks Me-chan." He gave me a smile. It was a cold December day when Otoya and I were walking down the hallway after one of our last exams for the semester. "Ah! I'm so pumped! I'm way more confident in my music now than I was at the start of the year! Now I just have to impress whoever my graduation partner will be, and I'll be set!"
"You make it sound so easy." I undid my scarf since we had just entered a new building, "Do you have any idea who you're gonna ask?"
"...I don't know yet." He hesitated, "I got the form today because I wanted to do it quickly before everyone gets taken, but I haven't officially asked anyone yet." The boy frowned. "There are so many talented people in the composer course, but I want to pair up with someone who will be able to...mesh with my style. You know?"
"You want a partner that can compliment you."
"Right! I knew you'd understand!"
I brushed my hair with the hairbrush from my school bag, "Well, is there someone that you've worked with this year that you thought fit your style of music well?" The question came out as smooth as butter. I had no idea how much I would soon regret asking that.
Otoya hmmed, "...Well. Now that I think about it..." He paused and I paused as well. "~AH!"
"Ah!" I repeated. "What?"
He slammed a fist into his hand, "I know who I want to ask!"
"Okay!" I mimicked him playfully, "Who is it?"
"It's~uh..." Otoya's excitement seemed to fade. "...no one."
I tilted my head, "But you just said you knew someone."
"..." Otoya looked to the side silently. "...I don't think I should tell you yet."
"Why not!?" I yelled making Otoya jump.
"Look, you have nothing to worry about!" He put his hands out defensively, "It's just an idea! It's not set in stone after all!" Otoya continued walking ahead of me, "If I ask the person and they say yes then I'll tell you."
"What kind of sense does that make?" Otoya's lips closed nervously. "Oh, I get it. You don't want to tell me because I might pick the same person. How cheeky Otoya!" The red-head buried his hands in his pockets and refused to talk about it any further.
"Let's just go find the guys already." With a frown, I complied.
Almost four weeks had gone by since that conversation with Otoya. The two of us had not spoken to each other since. Whenever we passed each other in the hallway, the interactions were never long. Both of our schedules didn't seem to ever line up, so we never found the time to see each other outside of classes. Otoya was always "too busy". It didn't take me long to wonder what the heck he was doing that was so important.
"Nanami! Can I talk to you for a sec?"
The familiar voice of the redhead caught my ear as I had traveled in the same hallway he and I had last spoken in.
"Sure Ittoki-san."
"Haru." The person he had stopped to talk to was none other than our classmate Nanami Haruka. I didn't know why I felt the need to hide, but I hid behind a nearby pillar, spying on their conversation.
"I'm sorry about the other time, at the summer camp." Otoya scratched his neck nervously, "But I'm serious! I'm not thinking about anyone but you!" My eyes widened at his exclamation.
"Something happened between them during the vacation?" I thought aloud, "Why didn't he say anything? And what did he mean he's thinking about her?!"
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to shout." Otoya backed up from leaning over the short red-headed girl. He lowered his voice, "I'm finally turning it in. I wrote your name down on it, Nanami."
"What?!" Haruka seemed to gasp.
Otoya blinked at her reaction. He then slid his hands in his pockets out of nervous habit. "B-Between m-my music and your singing...I think we'd make a dynamic combo! Like when we passed the recording test earlier this year. I was able to sing naturally with a lot of confidence. And it was a lot of fun."
"B-But Ittoki-san~"
Otoya gathered some inner courage and leaned in closer to her again, this time on purpose. "Nanami-chan. I think...I think that I am the closest one to you. I-In style...and in terms of working together..." He swallowed the rest of his nervousness and spoke clearly. "If I am your partner, I promise I could turn any sound you make into a fantastic song, for our graduation audition!" He clasped her hand in between one of his. The boy's ruby eyes peered into her golden-green ones.
"Ittoki-san." Haruka was always one just to mutter like that. She seemed moved by his confidence. "I...I am flattered. Um...Umm...I~"
"It's okay." Otoya brought her hand closer, "You don't have to decide right now." He whispered even lower than before, "Just put some thought into it, please. For me."
"...Okay."
I felt my own heart waver unintentionally as he directed one of his signature warm smiles down at her. "So...he picked her," I whispered to myself. "Is that why he wouldn't tell me? Because it was Haruka he wanted?" Saying that, produced an accidental emotional sting. I moved in the other direction of the hallway away from them before they could notice me.
"Why am I even perceiving it like that? This is just about the graduation audition. He wants Haruka to compose for him. That's all he meant." I tried to convince myself. But I couldn't help but think about how Otoya stared at Haruka that day. His ruby eyes warm, his smile bright. His hands clasped over hers. I know it could just be me...but he looked like he was in love...
"But why do I care anyway!?" I slapped my cheeks when the bell rang in signal for the end of Ringo-sensei's class. I said that I didn't like him like that. And he didn't seem to either. Besides, if he did have feelings for Haruka anyway, he'd be in some serious trouble. "Love isn't allowed here anyway! It's the academy rule!"
"Yes. That is still the rule in place."
"AH!" I jumped not realizing that Tokiya and Masato were standing on both sides of me. "T-Tokiya! Masa! What the heck!?" I then started sweating, unsure of how much I had said out loud, "H-How much did you hear just now?"
"Just the part about the school rule." I sighed in relief, only for Masato to lightly bump his textbook against my head. "You've really got to stop daydreaming in the middle of Ringo-sensei's lectures. Do you want to be on cleaning duty for the rest of the year like Jinguji and Ichinose?"
"No..." I whined. He smiled and gave me a light head pat to combat his previous action.
Then of course Tokiya took the opportunity to whack me on the head with his textbook, "Then you should actually learn to focus more. I'm not covering for you in class anymore."
"I didn't ask you to!" I growled in annoyance. It took me aback when Tokiya let loose a smile. I lightly blushed.
"Come on. We're going to be late for recording class." He swung his textbook skillfully back under his arm.
"About that. I'm going to stay back and walk with Nanami-chan." Masato told us.
"Are you sure?" Tokiya asked him, "They seem to be hanging back here for a while." He pointed at the usual group that surrounded the girl. Tomo, Natsuki, and Otoya too. "I'm going in early. I don't want to be late today."
"I'm sure." Masato was quick to answer as he had already walked over to join the group.
"Are you staying too?" He asked me. I looked over to the group as he moved toward the classroom doorway. Everyone seemed to be well versed in conversation. If I stayed, I'd feel like a sixth wheel of sorts. They were all crowding around Haruka, and I had no interest to join in bothering her. I shook my head. "Well. I guess it's just the two of us~" He and I both tensed at the sentence. I think we both had suddenly remembered the moment we had on the private island. We both looked in opposite directions with a blush. "L-Let's go." Tokiya headed out first. And then a second after him, I followed behind, feeling both embarrassed and slightly alone.
I would only continue to feel as if I was given the cold shoulder.
In addition to Otoya being too busy for me, and Masato and Natsuki too invested in spending time near Haruka, Ren and Syo had started to show off. They would do whatever they could to impress Haruka whenever they saw her.
On a day close to Christmas, I witnessed Ren spoiling Haruka with two bouquets: one of roses and one of poinsettias. He trapped her against the wall of the dormitory staircase and began putting his ladies man skills into practice, spouting his usual nonsense in hopes of whooing her over. "My dear little lamb. With your music, I can sing you a passionate song like no other. There is nothing to doubt. I can definitely make you happy."
"J-Jinguji-san!" Haruka stuttered as he glided her locks behind her ear.
"Ever since the day you found my torn lyrics, I've felt this way about you. It was you. Nanami Haruka. You awoke the feelings toward music that were locked away in my heart." Ren told her, "For that, I thank you. But I want to see beyond that. Where else can your music guide me? I want to know the answer. And I want to discover that answer, together with you." Ren started to lean close to Haruka, but stopped midway, taking her hand and kissing the fingertips. With a light chuckle, he gave her his infamous smirk. "I'll be waiting for a favorable answer, Little Lamb." I stood in place realizing Ren would continue towards my direction. "~Lady!" Ren yelped in surprise upon seeing my form near the bottom half of the staircase. "You've startled me. How long were you watching me?"
I placed my hands on my hips, "Long enough to understand that harassing females really is a favorite pastime of yours."
"~It's not what you think Lady." Ren is quick to say, but I turned on my heels. "Lady please!"
"For someone who doesn't like to get attached, you seem really clingy these days, Jinguji."
"Lady, don't be like that. Nanami Haruka is a special individual. I'm just doing what I can so she'll look my way is all." Hearing him say that bothered a nerve within me. I folded my arms.
"Nanami doesn't need you invading her personal space." Ren's nervous smile turned into an instant frown. Masato had been passing through the hall and stopped at the bottom of the railing when he saw me and the strawberry-blonde.
"I swear. Can I go one day without you creeping up on me like the annoyance you are?" Ren closed his eyes seeming to fight back a fit of fury that had suddenly crossed his mind. "Besides, you're one to talk." He snared, "You and the rest of the A-class are practically homeless puppy dogs with the way you're following her every move."
"At least I'm doing it to be friendly. You're just trying to take advantage of her!"
"How dare you insult me." Ren's eyebrows furrowed. "I'll have you know I would never mistreat a girl like that."
"Both of you are overwhelming her!" I exclaimed. The two scions both closed their mouths with a sweatdrop on their cheeks. "All of you are and you know it!"
"...She's not like other girls, Jinguji." Masato insisted, "Regardless, stay away from Nanami."
"Or what? And if I were to tell you that I won't?" Both of their stares clashed and they looked like they were going to fight again.
"I will never forgive that."
"Oya?" Ren seemed to laugh. "Do you really have to make her the next target of our rivalry? Ever since we've been children Hijirikawa~"
"That's not why!" Masato yelled, "It has nothing to do with "our rivalry". I need Nanami. She's the person I want to pair with, no one else!"
Ren stepped forward, "Unfortunately, I need her more than you do." Masato lightly gasped dramatically. "There's no way I'll let you have her."
"You guys are really serious...aren't you?" I muttered with a sweatdrop.
Ren's angered blue eyes flickered to me, "You don't understand it yet, Lady. You don't harbor enough feelings toward anyone to." I took offense to that, but Ren didn't seem to care. "Maybe when you finally decide to open your heart to someone, they'll be able to help you, as Nanami has helped us." Ren glided down the steps past me to face Masato. "Don't expect me to explain myself to you again. Hijirikawa." Ren hmphed and walked back up the stairs away from us to where Haruka had gone.
I frowned. I realized I was starting to get annoyed. But it wasn't Masato or Ren's fault. He was just shooting his shot, in hopes of Haruka choosing him as her graduation audition partner. I realized that they all were. I just couldn't understand why it was bothering me. "KaSakura-chan, are you okay?"
"...Am I jealous?" I asked him directly. He didn't know how to answer me, so he waited for me to continue. "What's so damn special about Nanami Haruka? She's my roommate in the composer course. She has some talent when it comes to making music, but there are other composers here that can do exactly what she can do. Why is everyone so focused on her?"
"...She is also a good person, with an even kinder heart," Masato told me. "Nanami has had to put up with the entire lot of us this entire year, over an array of different trials we've been put in. And she's helped us all without complaint nor did she ask for anything in return. It's rare for someone with such talent as her to be as genuine and accessible as she is." Masato moved in front of me when he realized I was looking off to the side. "Over this year, Nanami has touched us all with one of her songs. For me, it was the one she worked on with me during the Romeo-Juliet play. It was then that I got a glimpse of what she was truly capable of. And I admire her for that reason."
It was then that I peeped the textbook Masato was carrying. "So because of that, you'll go as far as being her lapdog, taking even her textbooks to class for her?" Masato's blue eyes widened when he realized that I knew that wasn't his book.
"Oh this..." The bluenette started not to explain. But then he slid something out of it, an envelope with his name written in kanji on the front, and showed it to me. "Nanami left her book in our last class together. I was coming to return it to her just now but lost sight of her. And I also wanted to..."
"Sneakily use the opportunity to tell her you wrote her name down on the form in secret."
"It was a good opportunity...for discretion." This was just like Masa. He was too shy, to ask Haruka face to face to be his partner, so instead, he wrote her a carefully thought-out letter. I couldn't be mad at Masato. He was just doing what he could so he could graduate. But still, I couldn't help but feel agitated with him.
"Nanami Haruka! Please be my graduation partner!" Masato and I blinked. Hearing Syo's voice loud and strong from the window, we instantly looked down.
"What on earth?!" Masato exclaimed, "He surprised her with a band!?" There was indeed a group of students surrounding them playing their instruments.
"This is ridiculous, even for Syo." I let out a "tch" sound, "How did she even get outside so fast? She was just here...She must have taken the other staircase to escape Ren."
"I knew it since the day you helped me get over my fear of heights. The song you composed for me during that time was incredible and it was all I could think about since!" Down below, Syo stood on part of the stone wall inside the courtyard. "You're a fan of HAYATO so you understood how it was for me of being a Hyuga-sensei, how much I deeply admired him and wanted to impress him. You helped me succeed in doing that!" He kneeled down on one knee to keep himself balanced on the wall. "You're light-hearted and kind and a bit of a klutz~but that made me want to protect you even more! But when it comes to music, you're in a completely different state. It's almost scary how serious and straightforward you can get." He placed a hand to his heart, "I've been looking for someone who understands my feelings toward music and aims to make something great with me. And Nanami, you're the one that caught my eye." Syo finally jumped down in the grass with Haruka, placing his hands on her shoulders. The people behind them stop playing. "It has to be you...So please partner up with me!"
"Kurusu-san..." Will she ever have a decent reaction?
"Syo-chan took the words right out of my mouth. I feel the exact same way!"
"Huh? Natsuki!?" Standing up on top of a nearby bench, Natsuki mimicked Syo from earlier. "Hey! What are you doing!?"
"Nanami Haruka! Please be my partner!" Everyone besides the three dispersed in confusion. "Unlike what you said Syo-chan, Haru-chan is someone who is gentle and warm as a spring sunbeam! You create songs that soften and warm hearts, and those are the kind of songs I want to sing." Natsuki jumped down and approached Haruka. "Since the day of HAYATO's concert, I just knew! I want to walk through the world of music with you!" The taller blonde lifted the short red-head girl in his arms, "All joking aside, I am completely serious! You're the only one who truly understands my music! Only you Haru-chan!"
"Shinomiya-san!"
"Hey stop it! You're stressing her out!" Syo yelled banging helplessly on Natsuki's back, in the hopes he would put her down. "I thought you only liked small and cute things, Natsuki!"
Natsuki set Haruka back down on her feet. "Are you implying that Haru-chan is NOT small and cute?" Syo choked. "Syo-chan." He grabbed the smaller blonde by the cheeks. "You're a cutie too, and I love you." Syo choked again. He then yelped in pain as Natsuki held him in a hold, pinning his small arm behind his back. "I'm not letting you have Haru-chan though! Teehee!"
"Don't "teehee" me! Let me go! And leave Haruka alone! I won't let you have her!" Syo squealed, "~Natsuki leave me alooooooone!"
"It looks like the competition has only grown," Masato mumbled under his breath. Haruka started to creep away from the two blonde boys now that they were distracted. "Wait Nanami-chan!" She stopped to look up at the bluenette as he shouted down from the window from beside me. "I have something of yours to return to you. Meet me out front, please!"
"Okay! Hijirikawa-san!" She yelled back and moved away quickly before they could stop her.
"I better hurry then." Masato moved his head away from the window and tucked the letter back inside the textbook, sliding it back under his arm. "KaSakura-chan." He called to me one last time, "I'm sure Haruka has helped even you at some point during this year. You really shouldn't underestimate how much of an impact she has had on the students of this school. It's only a matter of time until you'll see that." Masato then gave me a small pat on my head before running off.
"..."
"..."
"...I really hate to ruin my day like this, but what is wrong with you this time?"
"...Can I come in already?"
"..."
"..."
"~You know perfectly well that you already barged in here and slammed onto my bed like I wasn't sitting here." My head dropped into the pillow near Tokiya's left knee. "Fine. Forget I asked." The dark-haired bluenette picked his magazine back up and began to read again.
"Why is everyone so invested in Haruka?!" I suddenly shouted, peeling myself halfway off of the pillow.
"Who knows." Tokiya bluntly responded. He tapped a finger on his tongue and quickly turned the page. "Oh wait. Were you actually responding to me? It took me a minute to register." I rolled my eyes. "I don't know. What does it have to do with you?"
"It's starting to piss me off. And I don't know why."
"What else is new?" He casually turned a few more pages like he didn't just burn the life out of me. Once Tokiya saw how aggravated I was he sat his magazine down once more with a sigh. "So what? Are you bothered because they've been spending less time with you to suck up to Nanami?" I cringed realizing that he had hit the nail on the head. "What did you expect? It's almost time for the graduation auditions. Of course, they are going to be busy prepping and bothering the closest composers to them to pair up with them."
"But do you not realize it? They haven't just gone after anyone. They're all going for Haru! Like all of them!"
"Nanami Haruka is a gifted individual." Tokiya folded his arms like the answer was clear as day. "She's proved time and time again this year at the academy. It's only natural she'd be overwhelmed by many applicants in her wake. I feel sorry for her honestly. And them as well actually." He frowned to himself. "In the end, she can only choose one of them."
"Well, you sound like you have nothing to worry about." I pouted sitting up with the pillow in my arms. "Have you chosen your graduation partner yet?"
"Yeah have you!?" My back hit the wall when I realized Otoya had sat next to me on Tokiya's bed. Apparently, Tokiya had seen him enter the room, but didn't say anything about it. It was yet another instance that I had forgotten they were roommates.
"Oh great, now you've started him up again...Why are you both on my bed?" Tokiya pouted annoyed.
"Oh come on Tokiya! I'll tell you who I chose!"
"Oh you mean you can tell him, but not me?" My eyebrows furrowed.
"Hey hey! Don't look so angry!" The red-headed male nervously smiled, "At the time you asked it would have been risky to tell anybody! But now that I know there are a bunch of other people picking this person, there isn't really a point in hiding it." Otoya fixed his legs so that he was sitting crisscross applesauce. "I officially turned it in today, the name of my hopeful partner!" He slapped his thighs repeatedly to add suspense to his pause, "I wrote Nanami Haruka in jumbo size letters!"
"How am I not surprised?" Tokiya and I spoke in unison accidentally.
"Yeah. I guess it really wasn't a secret, was it? Hehe." He plopped onto his back, unstabling Tokiya's position on his side of the bed. Out of annoyance, Tokiya started to push Otoya off, but retracted his hands slowly, fighting back the urge. "What about you Me-chan? Have you decided on a partner yet?"
I looked away clutching the fluffy pillow, "No. Not yet."
"Hmm. Okay. Let me know if you want help looking for one. I'd always be up for helping you out!" He smiled innocently. A light blush glossed over my cheeks. Otoya then whipped his head up to Tokiya. "What are you going to do, Tokiya? Have you chosen a partner yet?"
"Get your head~off of my thighs." Tokiya was quick to say when the red-head dared to playfully lay on him. "And no, not yet. As I was about to say earlier, I just choose not to stress over it. It's better for my mental health."
"Welllllll~Who are you thinking about picking?" Otoya asked out of curiosity. "Have you decided already?" The red-head completely ignored Tokiya's previous statement and asked a blunder of questions rolling back and forth across Tokiya's thighs. "I'm guessing you haven't? But what if you have?" Tokiya was quick to gain an anime vein mark. "Hey! Hey! Hey! Which one? Have you decided? Or no? Which one? Who is it? Who~" Tokiya suddenly kicked the chatterbox with his right leg off of his bed. "Owwww~!"
"There is no need to tell you." He folded his arms. Otoya created a small puddle of tears on the floor.
"But! What about me? Hmmm?"
"What about you?" His dark blue eyes glared at me next.
"You'd tell me right?!" I clasped one of his knees, "Who is it? Who? Have you decided yet~AH!" I flinched when Tokiya lifted his right leg again. "I'm sorry! I had to join in on that! Don't hurt me!"
"ME-CHAN!" Otoya suddenly exclaimed, "HE CAN'T STOP US BOTH!" Tokiya instantly paled.
"~HE CAN'T!" I exclaimed back.
"Don't you da~"
Before he could get it out, Otoya and I pounced on Tokiya. We held him down and started the tickle fest. "TELL US! TELL US! COME ON TELL US! JUST A LITTLE, TELL US!"
"STOPPPPPPPPPPPPP!" Tokiya's yells echoed throughout the dorm room. He kicked and screamed until he reached a level in which we had to let him go or someone would think something was wrong and check in on us. "The two of you are just~!"
"Oh come on Tokiya! You know you love us!" He slapped us both with his pillow. We crawled away before the hits could hurt us.
"Ah, Me-chan!" Otoya shouted. He grabbed a pillow off his bed and threw me another one. "Pillow fight! Let's go!"
"I'm with ya!"
"I don't think so~" Otoya was the first to whack the angry boi and I followed up with a whack of my own. Tokiya angrily picked up another pillow off of his bed and started going to town on the both of us.
"Waaah!"
"Don't mess with Angy Toki!"
"Damn right!" The two of us had surrendered immediately to the amazing dual wielder, crumbling to the floor out of laughter. Eventually, Tokiya stopped and let out a few snickers himself. "Unbelievable. You both are just unbelievable!" He genuinely laughed. Otoya and I seemed to smile at the fact we had finally gotten the hard azz to lighten up for a little bit.
After the commotion was over and done, Tokiya's cellphone pinged without skipping a beat. The dark bluenette's mood seemed to drop once he had read the message he had received. "Ah, what is it Tokiya?"
"...I have to go." He stated bluntly, walking over to his desk. He packed some things inside of a duffle bag that was sitting there.
"What the heck? Right now?" I asked confused, "Where?" Out of his peripheral vision, he gave me a look. I blinked before I finally understood. "Oh."
"Are you going out to train again?" Otoya pouted, "Hey! Is your trainer nice? Maybe Melody and I can go with you this time~"
"No!" The tips of Otoya's bedhead that looked like puppy dog ears temporarily, flattened themselves. "It's a private kind of training. It's not what you think. You wouldn't like it...I don't."
"Oh...then why are you doing it?"
Tokiya's dark blue eyes darkened, "Because I have to."
"...Not really. I think you have a choice whether or not you should train or not..."
"Goodbye Otoya." Tokiya slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and opened the door.
"Wait Tokiya!" I glided across the floor poking my head out of the door before he can shut it behind him. "Is there a chance, I can go with you?"
Tokiya gained an anime vein mark, "Do either of you listen?"
"In all seriousness." Tokiya blinked. He let out a hard sigh.
"...I don't care."
"Hey Otoya, I'm gonna head out too then."
"Oh okay." The redhead approached as I exited into the outside hallway too. "Have a good~" I accidentally shut the door on him before he could finish. "~day. I guess."
"Ichinose-san, we go live in 10."
"Got it."
"I can't believe you take classes and still go through this whole shebang." I said to Tokiya in his dressing room.
"I'm still under contract Melody. I have to be here and do this whether I want to or not."
I stood against the wall as Tokiya gets patted with makeup by his makeup artist. "She's making you look so pale."
"Melody, please. She's almost done." Right on queue, she stopped patting his cheeks and closed her makeup bag.
"Okay HAYATO-san, you're ready for them."
"Okay. Thank you." She bowed respectfully to both of us before exiting the room, leaving us both alone. "If I had known you were only coming along to complain, I would have let you stay at the academy."
"Well, I'm here now~" I stuck out my tongue at the dark bluenette in costume. "Get used to it." He rolled his eyes.
"HAYATO." Tokiya's manager Himura suddenly entered the room. "Here's today's lineup of appearances...Ah, KaSakura-san." He hesitated upon seeing me, "It's uh, nice to see you again."
"Charmed I'm sure." I snared behind a fake smile.
"W-What is she doing here?"
"Melody is accompanying me today. I've already gotten clearance for her." Tokiya insisted. "She promises not to cause any trouble." He looked at me out of his peripherals.
"Those words didn't come from my lips." My fake smile widened.
"Ugh, Melody~"
"Ugh, Tokiya~" The dark-haired bluenette pinched the bridge of his nose.
"We don't have time to argue about this." Himura flipped some pages in his clipboard. "You'll have to wing today's program."
"What? Why?"
"The special guest that was coming in today had a sudden cancellation. That segment will have to be replaced with something else." A lightbulb seemed to shine above Tokiya's head.
"Is that so?" He smirked. His dark blue eyes narrowed on me. "That's perfect. Then it's obvious who can fill in for him."
"The question is, will she?" I asked between gritted teeth.
"She's got nothing better to do."
"On the contrary, I think I'd much rather enjoy watching a trainwreck from the sidelines. Not contributing to it." Tokiya frowned.
"Oh come on. Think of it as a first-hand experience. You'll be doing this kind of stuff later on." Tokiya insisted. "I'll introduce you as my long lost childhood friend who came to visit me, which is true. And we'll take it from there."
"Don't you think it will be a little odd for the person you used to publicly sing with just appear at your side on TV? It'll cause another scandal for sure. Not to mention, there's no way that this would be legal. And if Shining~.."
"If Shining says something about you appearing on the show, I'll vouch for you."
"HAYATO-san! One minute sir!"
"Ah yes! Coming!" Tokiya stood up and straightened his HAYATO uniform, "I need your help on this, Melody. Just one time. Please." The three of us exited his dressing room and headed towards the set.
"...Fine." I said, "But only this one appearance."
"Great. Then I'll give you a signal as to when to come out." Tokiya left my side and jogged towards the stage. After a small count down, he started reading the teleprompter switching into work mode. Ichinose Tokiya was Ichinose HAYATO again. "OHA-YAHHO~! How is everyone doing today!? Welcome to today's episode of Maido! Idol Las Vegas! Yayyyyyy!" Normally I would scoff at the male's try-harding, but today, it was making me laugh. "Today! I am introducing to you a very special guest. A dear friend of mine who hasn't been seen for a while~"
"Okay, it's almost time." Himura grabbed my shoulders, "All you need to do is to follow HAYATO's every move. He can~"
"I think I got it." I said squirming out of his hold. "I've been on television before."
"I'm just trying to help, Miss KaSakura."
"Well, I'd appreciate it if you don't. I know you don't like me. So just stop." I stretched my shoulders and legs.
"Oh look! Here she is now!"
HAYATO made a hand signal behind his back and I took a breath. I threw off my hat and ruffled my hair slightly. Stretching my arms above my head, I make the quick decision to cartwheel onto the live set. "Ohayo!" I shouted. Everyone behind the scenes including HAYATO in front of the camera gasped in instant bewilderment. "Whoa~" I muttered playfully before I ending off in a decent full split. "Ta-jang!"
HAYATO blinked before snapping back to his senses, "Ah...Ah ah ah! KaSakura Melody has appeared!"
"Yayyyy!" We exclaimed in unison before hugging each other.
"Pfft~" Mid movement I feel the dark bluenette snickering in my shoulder. "A cartwheel and a split? Of course, you just had to, KaSakura Melody." He whispered to me. He held onto me long enough to control his inner urge to laugh out loud.
"What? This show's all about the entertainment factor. I'm doing you a favor."
"Hai hai." His childish smile caught me off guard when we finally pulled away. "Sorry for the prolonged pause everyone! Just a little joke between old friends~" HAYATO gestured to me. "For those of you wondering why Melody looks sort of familiar, she and I used to sing together when we were younger! You're not mistaken! My long lost partner has returned to me for a day! Yayyyy!" We both gave a small smile and clapped with the audience. "Thank you for coming to see me today Melody-chan! I promise you'll have a great time during today's segment with me!"
"I can't wait!" I did my best to keep the fake smile up. I teetered back and forth playfully, "I'll leave my well being in your care just for today!"
"Okay!" The idol took my hand, "Then let's do it!"
"Melody!"
"I'm in here."
"~I'm coming in then." Tokiya rushed into his dressing room with his HAYATO costume wildly disheveled. He kneeled in front of me, who was sitting in his name plated idol chair. "Are you okay?"
With my fingers, I combed my hair over my head. "Yeah...I'm just tired..."
"The staff told me you had a bad reaction to the gag food combinations." He felt my forehead worriedly, "I knew that you were going to be pranked, I just didn't know with what until it was too late."
"I knew too. It was to be expected from a show about pranks." I paled still feeling slightly ill. "But the food...it really was nasty."
"Believe it or not, a lot of what you consumed were common Japanese dishes. Some were just...laced with terrible condiments."
"I guess it's clear that I'm still not used to all Japanese food still." I covered my mouth, "How can people eat seafood...seriously."
"I think it was just more of a problem for you because of what was on it. You'd be fine if it was normally made."
"I don't think so. But can keep believing that if you want."
"...Are you sure you're okay?" Tokiya peered into my face.
"I took the medicine the staff gave me. I'll be fine, Tokiya."
The dark bluenette pulled up the nearby folding chair and sat in front of me. "Thank goodness." He sat back finally letting out a sigh, letting his body relax.
Finally, I could see the tiredness peeking through Tokiya's face. "Now are you okay?"
"Feeling like this after a job is normal." He said with an arm over his eyes.
"If you're feeling that rough after one job, it means you're overworked."
"Possibly." He didn't move an inch. "But I don't have time to worry about it, I'll have to leave for the next one soon."
"Your breaks are that short?" He gave me a faint nod. "Nuh-uh. Tokiya that isn't right. You have to talk to your management about this. You're a student for crying out loud!"
"I've let my jobs pile up towards the end like this. This is my fault, Melody." Tokiya claimed, "You don't have to worry about it. I'll manage just fine like I have been. My contract will be ending soon anyway." I frowned. "Especially if the days continue on as they have been recently."
"...What do you mean?"
"I had fun today, Melody." Tokiya told me ignoring my question, "Being in front of a camera and a live audience with you...it really did feel like the old days."
"I guess it did." I reluctantly agreed, "You felt so comfortable today that you almost fell out of character."
"That...t-that was~"
"Which reminds me," I twisted my body in the chair with my arms folded. "You used my appearance today to address the rumors!"
FLASHBACK
"Ne, HAYATO-san."
"Yes?" HAYATO turned to his assistant for the live segment as he arranged the dishes on the table.
"This may be forward of me, but I don't mean to be rude. I just have to ask what the audience was thinking."
"What's up?" I asked him from HAYATO's side at the table.
"Well, being a long time fan, I just thought it was weird that KaSakura-san had just turned up out of the blue at your side. Isn't it awkward for you...you know...since the two of you used to date? It's true isn't it?" HAYATO and I paled at the same time.
I blinked profusely, "Um...uh~"
"Yes." My head whipped so fast to HAYATO that I almost caught whiplash. "It's not a rumor. It's true. KaSakura-chan and I used to date." The audience gasped.
"If that's the case, what caused you two to break up? Was it KaSakura's departure from the agency?" The assistant asked nervously, knowing that he was treading on dangerous territory.
"That's~" Before I answer that it is none of his business, I felt HAYATO's hand grip my knee.
"Make no mistake. I would have never made her stay at our agency just to be with me. Yes, Melody and I used to publically date, but when it came to singing we put our careers first. That is how it has always been." HAYATO's cheery tone shifted into Tokiya's normal more monotone sound. "As much as Melody and I care for each other, the music we made was always our first priority. She leaving our agency was definitely made things stagger between us romantically, but it was not enough cause for a breakup. I would never let something like that break the two of us's relationship." His dark blue eyes never wavered as spoke. Everyone was caught off-guard by HAYATO's unusually serious way of speech, causing the variety show's producers to start whispering behind the camera. I kicked the idol in the leg to snap him out of it. Tokiya blinked a few times before becoming HAYATO again. "Ah ha ha, I-I mean i-it was more of a mutual separation per say~In the end, we just silently agreed that it just wasn't our time~" He was quick to think on his feet. "Melody-chan's friendship is way more important to me than a lovey-dovey relationship in front of the media~! Sometimes, people just end up on different paths and drift apart! But luckily for me, Melody-chan hasn't forgotten about little ol' me, nya~!" He posed like a cat, making light of the issue. "Besides Assistant-kun, it's not very nice to meddle into people's private lives! Both Melody and I have been through a lot, so be more kind to us from now on, okay~?!"
The assistant sweatdropped, "Ah hai! I apologize!"
"Hear that everyone? That goes for you too!" HAYATO winked into the camera.
"Yes! HAYATO!"
"Okay! Let's get back to tasting then! Melody-chan!"
FLASHBACK END
"It was the perfect opportunity to clear things up." Tokiya told me standing up and gathering his things in his duffle, "Now that I addressed it, they shouldn't feel the need to dig any further into your sudden appearance. I've helped us in the long run."
"It sounded to me more like you were trying to clear things up for yourself than for the media." Tokiya peered at me in the mirror in front of him, preventing him from the motion of rubbing his face out of agitation. "What's with that, Tokiya?" His hands stilled.
"What do think, Melody?"
I leaned over to grab my hat from the counter, "I'm asking you because I don't know, Tokiya." I stood up finally, but suddenly feeling dizzy I stumbled slightly. In one quick motion, Tokiya slung his right arm around me and pulled me close. With his body against mine, Tokiya quickly leaned in so close to my face that our noses grazed each other. Startled I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for what would happen next. When nothing happened, I opened them to see Tokiya's eyelids dangerously low with a slight smirk. He was teasing me, on purpose.
Tokiya took his left hand and let the back of his fingers graze my left cheek. "Then I guess it is to be left up to your imagination, then." He whispered in the lowest tone I'd ever heard him use. I felt a dangerous pound on my heart just then. My hand instinctively clung to his white dress shirt in response. With that, I had accidentally allowed him to realize his taunt had gotten to me successfully.
Boy. Had it really, gotten through to me.
Tokiya removed my gripped hand from his shirt and kissed the back of it, before pulling away. He retreated back toward the mirror, fixing his clothes. He fixed his exposed ruffle collar last. "Gather the rest of your things. I'm having Himura take you back to the academy before I head off to my next gigs." The dark bluenette's gaze temporarily fixated on the cracked doorway. He then picked up his duffle, slinging it over his shoulder. "Don't even think about protesting. You're going back to rest after what you've been through today. I apologize for the inconvenience, but bear with me just a little while more, okay?" His dark blue eyes widened after seeing my stilled reaction. Looking down at the floor, I gripped my hat in between my hands. I could feel how flushed my cheeks were without seeing it.
"...Okay." It was all I could say. There wasn't a single ounce of me that could refute him at that point. I was really under his spell.
"G-Good." Tokiya became as red as I was. He gave me a head pat, "I'll be heading out first then.
The car ride back was deadly silent, but not for the reason you would think.
On the way out from the dressing room, I noticed Tokiya had left his daily planner on the dressing room counter. I ran back inside the room from the doorway and grabbed it, but something slipped out. A piece of paper, a form. The graduation audition pair form. And at the top of it, in crisp, pristine lettering, was the name Nanami Haruka.
I stomped up to Tokiya in the front lobby entranceway with a vengeance. "Are you ready? Himura is bringing the car around...What's the matter?" I held up the planner with the form clipped to it. Tokiya frowned. "Of course you'd find that...It's discourteous to go through people's things you know."
"You're the one who left it!" I threw the book at him and he reluctantly caught it, "And you made it sound like you weren't thinking about choosing her at all~Ugh you're such a hypocrite!"
"Melody~!" I dove for the shotgun seat of Himura's car, not wanting to sit next to the dark bluenette. I disliked Himura, but even he felt like the better choice to sit next to for the long ride. "Melody~" I didn't want to hear his explanation. I knew it would be the same as the others.
"Hmph." I seatbelted up and folded my arms, slouching back in the seat. Himura just glanced at me with a sweatdrop. With a sigh, Tokiya climbed in the back with no argument and we sped off without anyone saying a word.
Tokiya was silent for the majority of the ride but kept staring me down in the rearview mirror. Eventually, he attempted to speak to me again, "Melody, when it comes to Nanami-san~"
"She's been helping me out all year. She's a kind and caring individual with amazing talent." I mocked, "I knew ever since such and such a day that she just had to be my partner. That's what you were gonna say right? Did I hit all the points?" Tokiya closed his lips. "That's what I thought. I don't wanna hear it."
"...S-Sounds like someone's jealous." Himura hesitated before following through with his sentence. I glared in his direction. "Trouble in paradise, HAYATO?"
"Please. You're not helping, Himura-san."
"...You know KaSakura-chan, you really have no need to be jealous of HAYATO." Himura said while steering around a corner. "I'm positive that the only girl I've seen him interested in is you."
"Himura-san!" Tokiya yelled in the back seat. "Please refrain from saying things like that!"
"But it's true. I mean you never allow people to accompany you during work, not even me." He smiled at Tokiya's embarrassed blush. "I don't know if you noticed Miss KaSakura, but while live on set with you, HAYATO was smiling ear to ear with no problem what so ever."
"...He was?" I broke my silence to ask.
"As if!" Tokiya was quick to say, folding his arms. "He's just trying to get on your good side, Melody."
"If I am, then so are you, HAYATO." Tokiya began grumbling to himself. I realized while looking into the rearview mirror at him that Tokiya did like to show his more childish side whenever he was around me. If he was comfortable enough to do that, maybe he did enjoy my company. To make matters worse, I was starting to find those instances of childishness...cute. "And about earlier, Miss KaSakura. It really is not how you think it is. I really was just trying to help you. I do not dislike you. We just got off on the wrong foot a little when we met." My purple eyes watched Himura's form in my peripherals. "It's just that, meeting someone with such an...unconventional...personality like yours has been a rare occurrence in my line of work, and I was caught off-guard by it. I do not have an issue with your race. I do apologize if I have seemed rude to you at all."
"...I see." I kept my response brief.
Not too long after Himura's apology, he pulled up in front of the gate of the academy. I took my hat and bag and stepped out of the car, not exactly accepting what Himura had said. Everyone seemed to be agitating me today, so I just needed some time I figured. Tokiya rolled down his window when I shut the car door behind me. "...Melody."
"What Tokiya?" I asked in a bitter tone.
Seeing that I was still peeved, Tokiya physically reeled back, seeming to swallow what he was going to initially say. "...Have a good evening." Hearing that made me feel bad, especially after seeing the dejected face Tokiya made as he rolled the window back up. The car then sped away, so Tokiya wouldn't be late to his next idol appearance.
With a light huff of frustration, I started towards the dormitory. Not feeling like heading back to the dorm I shared with the person I was "jealous" of, I decided to head for Otoya and Tokiya's dorm again. "Otoya? You in here?" Luckily for me, the door was unlocked and the redhead was nowhere in sight. That meant I had the whole room to myself for a little while. I plopped onto Tokiya's bed and sprawled my limbs out flush against it. "Why Nanami Haruka?" I asked myself.
"I'm sure Haruka has helped even you at some point during this year. You really shouldn't underestimate how much of an impact she has had on the students of this school. It's only a matter of time until you'll see that."
Remembering what Masato said, I pulled the sheet music Haruka had once given me. Fantastic Dream is what we called it. This right here was proof enough of Haruka's talent and influence on me. "I have to face facts, she's in high demand for good reason." The afternoon breeze hit me from the open balcony. Growing sleepy, my eyes lowered as I hugged the composition while entering a mini nap period.
"Me-chan?" Otoya woke me up a few hours later. By now it was dark so the moonlight brought out his classic red hair. "What are you doing here by yourself?"
Still groggy and annoyed, I turned away from the boy, "Leave me alone, Otoya."
"Tokiya texted me that you might be upset. If there's anything that you need to talk about~"
"~I meant it. Otoya." I pulled Tokiya's pillow closer to my head. I heard Otoya's footsteps shuffle away from me and assumed he had given up. But then I heard them come back towards me. When the redhead's hair started brushing me in the face, I instinctively scrunched my nose and scooted over a few inches. Otoya had silently sat on the floor in front of me, his cell phone in hand. He connected his earbuds to it, sliding one in his ear and the opposite one in mine. "Oto~" He ignored me and snuggled his back against the bed, putting on what could be described as lo-fi beats. He just sat with me like that, scrolling through social media on his phone like I wasn't there. Even when I was being mean to him, he still wanted to cheer me up.
Still, I could only frown. No matter who showed me kindness, I could still feel a dark cloud hanging over me. I really didn't know why. I really didn't like feeling irritated at everyone around me, and yet I still was. Otoya still managed to fall asleep before I did, but eventually, I fall into a restless, nonrestorative sleep.
"Hmmmm Hmmm Hmm Hmm~ Hm hm hm Hmm Hm Hmmm~"
In the dream world, I am surrounded by a garden of flowers. Each group a different color, so vibrant and so beautiful. It doesn't take me long to spot the person who most likely had called me here. "Cecil?" The light-skinned male turned his whole body to face me. "Iie. Prince Cecilion."
Unlike before, the boy was dressed in a similar outfit that matched the style of the other dream world princes. He wore a long, white, sailor suit-like overcoat over a black shirt and white pants. Draped around his neck were a green argyle scarf and a golden flower necklace. Black gloves adorned his hands and white slip-ons adorned his feet. The Central Kingdom prince's expression was not sad, but it wasn't happy either. His mood was in the defined middle, almost emotionless. "Hime." He spoke to me in a more formal way than Cecil would have. "Take a walk with me."
"You called me here for a walk?" Cecilion didn't answer. I noticed the bouquet of green flowers in his arms. The jewels in their center gave the flowers their own magical shine. "Is there a problem, Prince Cecilion?" The male just began to walk away, near a dirt path to avoid trampling any more flowers and I had no choice to follow. "Dude. You're scaring me."
Prince Cecilion then stopped in place. He turned back to look at me for a second before slipping his free, black-gloved hand into mine. "Does this help?"
I blushed lightly, "It would help more if I had a little more information right now."
"I do not wish for you to be afraid, Hime."
"Then stop acting so ominous and just tell me what's wrong!" I exclaimed.
Cecilion looked to the side, "I'm sorry. I shall try my best." Without saying anything else, he began to lead me down the dirt path surrounded by flowers. Eventually, we reached the garden center. The prince set his bouquet in front of a large stone tablet in the center. He then lightly fell on his knees, "This place, is what I wanted you to see."
"...A memorial?" I asked, eyeing the many other bouquets and trinkets surrounding it.
"No. A place of offering." Cecilion finished his short prayer and clapped his hands. "Melody-hime-sama. I've called you here, to warn you."
"W-Warn me?"
"This site belongs to Muse, the goddess of music." He explained, "She is a deity that has watched over our sacred lands since before time itself. Descendants of Muse watch over us all, that includes you. And it seems that you don't believe in them. And that makes me sad."
"Cecil once talked about this before." I spoke in thought, "Descendants of Muse? Muse has descendants?"
"Yes." He then stood up, his white overcoat flailing in the wind. "Hmmm Hmm Hmm~" He hummed softly and the area glowed green for several seconds. He danced in a circle and in slow motion, the already partially bloomed flowers bloomed to their full potential. "One of them is close to you."
"They are?" I then frowned, "Are you talking about...Nanami Haruka?"
"I know not the name of the muse of your world, but as a princess of song, it should be by far much easier to tell than just anyone." He told me, "You are destined to cross paths, and she is to guide you towards your future. But only if you believe she can help you."
"Pfft. Really?" I folded my arms, "Haruka is just a classmate of mine with a now more distinguished musical talent. You make it sound like I should be praying to her for my own success." When Cecilion looked to me in silence my eyebrows furrowed, "You're serious?!"
Another green flower formulated out of thin air in the palm of Prince Cecilion's hand. "It would not hurt to try."
"Alright, now these dreams have gone too far." I turned away instantly. "I understand the bit about the essences and sort of the caste system here and stuff, maybe even Cecil being real. Just maybe!" I started to stomp away, "But if you expect me to pray to my classmate for success with my own music~!" The tanned boy appeared and hugged me from behind. "Stop it! Your little sudden instances of romance are not coercing me into doing this!"
"It makes me sad. It makes me sad, Hime."
"I don't care what makes you sad!" I tried to squirm out of his hold to no avail. "Why is your grip so strong!?"
"I could hear it." I stopped moving upon Cecilion's tear hitting my cheek. "The sound of your heart, crying out. I felt it before, through Princess Harmony. But I can hear it much clearer now with you here in front of me." He whispered, sounding upset. "Pain, loneliness, sorrow, guilt. You felt all of these feelings recently, haven't you?" My eyes widened. Prince Cecilion's eyes glowed green, "With my powers, I can see it. The unease you feel going through life right now, Hime. You feel lost, regardless of the many of those around you who wish to help show you the way. I wish for you not to hurt anymore."
A tear of my own dropped down my cheek. I leaned my back against Cecilion's chest, limp in his arms. "Then what should I do, to stop feeling this way?"
"Open your eyes and take the hands of those who wish to grip it." The flower once again appeared in the prince's hand. "For when you choose to do so, they will hold you close and promise to not let go. And the winds of fate will carry you the rest of the way." He held it in front of my chest.
"...You know, out of all the princes, you are definitely the weirdest."
"I accept your compliment in its fullest, Hime." He placed the flower closer to my face. As I tried to snatch it, he playfully pulled it from my reach, causing me to take it more politely. I walked back to the stone tablet and placed the flower next to Cecilion's bunch. Upon doing so, the flower turned indigo, and I was taken aback. "She'll accept you, only if you choose to accept her."
With a sigh, I closed my eyes and put my hand together. I calmly hummed just as Prince Cecilion had. My indigo aura enveloped the area and he smiled as the light brightened to the point I couldn't see anything anymore. Prince Cecilion's voice resonated loudly as he ended off by saying, "Trust in her, Melody-hime-sama. Please."
"Mmph...Otoya..."
"..."
"Your hair...move...out of my face..."
"..."
"And w-why are you holding me?" My eyes sprung open to quickly understand what was going on. My heart almost stopped after analyzing the situation. Otoya was still sitting on the floor, snoring softly with his cellphone in his lap. However, someone else was in the bed next to me. "T-Toki~"
"Why must you be so loud when you're awake?" The dark-haired bluenette covered my mouth. Without my knowledge, Tokiya had returned to the dorm and had slid into his bed next to me. His free arm was hugging me around the waist. "The sun is just starting to rise, so I still have a few minutes or so...Go back to sleep." He whispered groggily cuddling me like it was normal.
"What do you think you're doing~!?" I whisper-shouted. "...Did you get in?" I asked, my expression turning into one of concern. At a glance, I could tell Tokiya looked as exhausted as he sounded. "You didn't rest at all before this, did you?"
"Ask me that in the morning." Tokiya groaned softly before sliding his other arm around me. His eyes were still closed, not wanting to conversate in the slightest.
"In what world is it okay to be holding onto me like this?" When he didn't answer, I socked him in the chest. Tokiya only held me closer in response. "T-Tokiya~!" I whined.
"...How does it feel to be trapped after invading someone's personal space?"
"I didn't plan to stay long! I didn't even know if you were coming back tonight!"
"...I'm sure you didn't." Tokiya muttered, his sleeping face starting to show wrinkles of frustration, "...You thought that I wouldn't find you and Otoya alone like this...Serves you right. Suffer."
"Wah~? T-Tokiya?!" He nuzzled into my shoulder. "~Are you jealous?" He refused to answer. "Ahh~" I tried to sit up, but he brought me back down. "L-Let me gooo~!" I almost exclaimed out loud. But Otoya started to stir in his sleep and I froze. The redhead rolled onto the floor from his sitting position. "He's gonna be in pain when he wakes up. I should wake him~"
The bluenette pulled me back again, "~He'll be fine."
"Staph~! That's it!" I pinched him in the leg, making him roll over to the opposite side of the bed to massage it. I quickly sat up and nudge the redhead. "Otoya, get to your bed."
The other teenage boy sleepily yawned, "M-Me-chan?" He babbled something that I couldn't make out but held out an arm. I did my best to drag him across the floor to his side of the room and luckily he did the rest. "Have a...new year...good night." His head laid flushed against his pillow and then he was completely out like a light. I smiled at the quirky teen in his bed, pulling the cover up to his chest properly.
I stretched while walking back to Tokiya, whose dark blue eyes were barely open. "You are just...so...troublesome."
"You're one to talk." His eyes lowered dangerously. I could tell he was on the verge of sleep himself. "You're no fun at all." He complained, "A few minutes next to me wouldn't have killed you."
I tried to hide my blushing face as I pulled the dark-haired bluenette's covers over his head. "Sleep!" I whisper-shouted once more. "I'm heading back~"
"...Fine...I guess I'll have to be content with the few hours you spent clinging onto me in your sleep already."
I threw one of the floor pillows at him before leaving out. "Good night!"
mayoi konda RABIRINSU
yoru no naka
hontou no kimochi
nani mo wakaranakute
tsuki kara nigeta usagi mitai
modoranai tokei o mitsumete ita
kono mama jikan ga
modoreba nante
kitto chotto wagamama kana
kono oozora no shita
minna e to
tsunagatteru no ni nande darou
kotaete My Song
nee kamisama oshiete kudasai
setsunakute setsunakute demo ureshiin desu
gyutto mune o shimetsukeru
aa kono omoi no kotae
tabun zutto kodomo no mama
otona ni naritakunai
maigo no KOKORO
"So you're a triple threat."
"Ah!" Haruka jumped from the piano seat, startled by my voice. She hadn't noticed me entering the dorm.
"You can play the piano, write music, and sing. That makes you a triple threat." I told her approaching the piano in the morning light, coming from the open balcony, she seemed to be surrounded in. "No wonder so many people are interested in you."
"Ah, Me-chan~What timing." She held her heart to calm herself down. The sun beaming down on her red hair brought out a more ginger look to it. "Sometimes, when I feel sad, I play a song on the piano and it seems to lift my spirits. However, tonight is just...not my night."
I sat my stuff down on my end of the piano, "...What's wrong, Haruka?"
Without hesitation, Haruka slid out a bunch of papers from her binder. Even though it was the sun was barely out, I knew exactly what was inside the pile. All of them were graduation audition forms. "Six. Six different audition request forms. All of our friends sent one to me! Except for Tomo-chan and Tsubasa-san." Haruka squealed in frustration, "I had no idea that this would happen! Ittoki-san, sure...but Hijirikawa-san, Jinguji-san, Shinomiya-san, and Kurusu-san!?" She gestured to each of their forms for emphasis. "And last night, even Ichinose-san!" She ruffled her hair and I could even feel her anxiety. "I should be happy right now, flattered even, but I'm not at all! I can only choose one of them! But then the others won't have a partner, and it may be way too late to look for anyone else! If they can't find a partner in time, what are they going to do?! It'll be all my fault!"
"...Yes. Yes, it will." I felt like being blunt, which didn't help her mood.
Haruka groaned loudly. "Waaaaah! Me-chan!" She whined in her frazzled state, "What should I do?!"
I looked to the side taking a long hard pause. "...I can't help you make that decision." I muttered coming to a conclusion in my head. I had made a decision that I was willing to stick to right then.
"You're right, Me-chan." Haruka dejectedly looked down at her hands, "I should have to decide for myself."
"Well yes, there's that. But that's not why." Her golden-green eyes widened as I slammed another form down on top of the already big stack. "I'd only be biased."
"K-KaSakura-s-san!" She became formal with me for the first time. "Y-You can't mean~?!"
"Sorry or not sorry, I haven't decided yet. But yeah, ya girl just joined the fight." I lifted a tightly gripped fist. Haruka whined dramatically. "It's your choice though, Nanami Haruka. Take your time with it." I headed for the bathroom door, "Happy New Year."
HARUKA: Even with a conflicted heart, I love all of you! UtaPri!
MPK: How funny that this chap ends on New Years' and New Years' is comin' for us lol. Here's to hopin' 2021 won't be so bad! Read and Review~