The first rejection

"Nice rehearsal guys" I said while cleaning up my face.

I felt a strand of hair sticking to my neck and pulled it away while remaking my ponytail. We covered a lot of the choreography today. I saw all Starish members getting a drink while complaining about the rehearsal being too long for their liking. Well, it's not my fault they decided to forget almost every step I taught them last week. I decided to upload today's rehearsal video to our LINE group. Their next concert was coming up and we only had a few rehearsals left before they would perform live. They needed to fix their mistakes, especially Cecil.

"Ari-chan" I heard Natsuki calling my name and I turned around to acknowledge him "is there more we need to learn today?"

"We're almost finished with the choreography but I'll wrap it up for today" I said trying to reassure him "anyways, the steps are not that hard, I'm sure you'll have no problem"

"Mademoiselle" I heard his voice as he neared my position in the room "you always say that but it's never true"

I tried to remain calm. It's always been this way between us since I first became their choreographer. I hoped my crush on him would have dissipated during my years in America but all progress I ever made went to ruins the moment I saw him again. I met him at the time he was taking the entrance exam in Saotome. I was there taking the exam as well, just in case the Academy at America didn't want me. Turns out, I was granted a scholarship and I couldn't repress my dreams, I had to go. Saotome Academy didn't have a choreographer program anyway.

"You wouldn't be complaining if you practiced the steps during your free time instead of hoping you'll remember them when we come back here to rehearse" I said, turning my back to him. "Anyways, I mean it this time, this last chorus is easy if you compare it to the start of the song" I heard them groan and I had to contain my evil laughter from coming out.

We gathered our bags and left the rehearsing room. I could hear them all being excited to meet with Haruka again. She was finishing the song's arrangements and they wanted to practice it one last time before they had to record it. I would have to tweak the choreography a bit to suit the new arrangement. Ren was trying to tame down his excitement but I could see it clear as day. Why did it have to be her? Couldn't he see Haruka was in love with Tokiya? I didn't mind Haruka, she was really shy and quiet; I understood why they were so attracted to her but she didn't suit Ren.

"Hello Kobayashi-san" speak of the devil.

"Haruka, how many times have I told you to call me Arisu..." I sighed, we would never be as close as she is with Tomochika but we didn't have to be so formal to each other, we lived right in front of the other.

"Sorry Arisu-san" I sighed again, we were never going to be on friendly terms at this rate.

"They were looking for you, I hope you've finished the arrangements, they were really excited to sing again" I said "maybe you could make my work easier and remind them they need to practice the choreography before the rehearsal?" I clapped my hands together and bowed "Onegai?"

"Sure Arisu-san..."

"Thank you so much, I have to go now, I sweated a lot and I need to take a shower" I said walking into my room "Don't leave them waiting for long!" I waved my hand without looking at her and closed the door with my foot.

Once I finished showering, I grabbed my IPod and a book before going outside. It was such a sunny day I even grabbed a hat to cover my face from the sun. I spotted a nice big cherry tree and sat down in its shadow. I put on my headphones and blasted Starish's first album.

"We are Starish..." I didn't realize I was singing out loud until a shadow covered half my book. I looked up and saw Ren smirking at me. I closed my book instantly and paused the song.

"You should've applied for the Idol's Course, Mademoiselle" he said, taking a seat beside me.

I took off my headphones and sighed. "I'm better at dancing, I don't have the strength to sing and dance at the same time, unlike you guys" I said "I enjoy dancing better than singing"

"You don't know that, maybe you could do both had you applied for the Idol's Course" he insisted.

"I did but I got a scholarship in America and I followed my dream"

"You have passion, maybe you're better being our choreographer" he said "we can always be together this way, you, me and the guys" he said while grabbing my hand and kissing its back.

"Please don't do that" I pulled away as soon as he did that. He greets Haruka this way and he only does that to rile her up. I'm not another of his conquests.

"Mademoiselle?"

"I'm not just one of your many flirts Ren" I said "you're in love with Haruka, please don't flirt with me while you like someone else" I complained "Besides, you idols can't have relationships outside of work "

"That's what Shiny said" he smirked "but since Quartet Night isn't really following his rule, he can't reprimand us" he said while staring at me.

"I don't care, you like Haruka" I reminded him "I don't want to be a second best"

"Mademoiselle, we can flirt alright" he said "I mean, you don't like me anyways"

"I should go now, I have to finish your choreography before I hear the new version" I stood up and walked back to my room.

I sighed, I can't allow hope to enter my thoughts. He's an idol and he won't risk it, no matter what the seniors are doing. Besides, I'm on probation. My job is temporary and it will last as long as Saotome wants. I closed the door and threw my book and IPod to the empty bed next to mine and then proceeded to lay down on my bed. The lights were already off so I just closed my eyes and dozed off.

"Arisu!" I heard someone calling my name and I woke up. It was morning already.

"Arisu-chan, I've been looking for you" I turned towards the voice and recognized Tomochika's figure.

"Hey Tomo-chan, how have you been?"

"Neh, have you heard? Saotome has revoked the 'No Love' rule" she was really happy I noticed that. "I'm so relieved, I can go out with Daiki-kun without any restrictions" she said.

I felt happy for her, truly. She has been crushing on her composer since before I met her, she had told me. I couldn't help my thoughts of Ren; we could try to go out as friends and then maybe something more? I changed clothes while she was still rambling about her new found 'liberty' to date. I said goodbye while she was still rambling and headed towards the rehearsing room. Ren usually was the first in the room.

As I reached it, I caught sight of Ren looking into the room. Was something happening inside? He should be the first inside, what was going on? I greeted him once I finally caught up to him but he didn't seem to notice my presence. I saw him staring at something inside the room so I followed his gaze. I lost my breath once I saw what was going on inside the rehearsing room.

Tokiya and Haruka were hugging each other rather affectionately, they didn't waste a moment since Saotome abolished his most sacred rule, it seems. But what does that mean for Starish? They all seemed to hold a liking towards Haruka, will this be the end for Starish? And more importantly, how is Ren going to handle this? I seeked my answer almost immediately, I turned towards Ren and saw him tearing up.

I understood what he was feeling in that moment; for I was feeling the same. His heart was breaking at the sight in front of him just as my heart was breaking by looking at him loving Haruka and not me. That's when I knew he had rejected me without saying a word, and what did I do? I dried my eyes before they even shed a tear and smiled my way inside without looking back at Ren. I was heartbroken but I couldn't let him know.