I do not own any of the songs. They belong to their respective artist(s).

Boys sing in BOLD
Girls sing in ITALICS
Both genders sing in BOTH

"The purpose of this summer camp is to decide on pairs for the graduation. The students from the idol course and the composer course - it will help decide whether partners are right together," Ryuya spoke, serious behind his sunglasses.

Pretty in a yellow sundress, Ringo clasped his hands beneath his chin, beaming. "Everyone, interact with each other and seek an appealing work. I pray you'll find the perfect match!"

Around here, Hikari could hear girls explode into conversations about who would take her boys as partners. She stilled, blinking at her luggage. 'My boys?'

"Hikari, I've decided!" Tomochika exclaimed, catching the lighter redhead by the shoulders.

Glancing back, Hikari tilted her head, a smile teasing her lips. "Let me guess, Daiki-san?"

"Mm! That last assignment we did together was brilliant!" Tomochika had a happy blush on her cheeks.

"Good luck!" Hikari hugged her friend. "I know you'll do well together!"

"What about you?" Tomochika asked as she pulled away.

Running the thought from before Tomochika came up to her, Hikari shrugged. "No idea yet. At least, not concrete."

"Hmm… well, choose soon, ne?" She received a grin. "I won't prod much."

Hikari laughed as Tomochika darted over to Daiki. Shaking her head at her friend's energy, she looked around, spotting her male friends. Chartreuse green eyes landed on Ichinose and her smile fell slightly. Silently, Hikari admitted to herself she was worried as much as Otoya. She really didn't want Ichinose to end up giving up on music. He just needed to get his passion back.

Blinking when his head moved and they locked eyes, she gave an internal panic flail before letting a cheesy grin cross her face and wiggled her fingers goofily at him. Hikari had to hold back a laugh when he formed a baffled expression. At the sound of drums, she turned fully to land eyes on a flaming torch wielding Saotome. Her eyes blinked rapidly in bemusement.

'Is… is that a turkey on his head?' Her jaw dropped slightly.

"Welcome to the island loved by the goddess of music, Muse!" He rolled the letters on his tongue, the torches spinning a bit faster and she backed up, grabbing her suitcase. Others copied her, more panicked. They probably didn't realise he'd get his butt kicked by guardians if they got hurt (Aunty Rin was scary when angered). "If you feel the touch of a mysterious wind, you will feel inspiration bubble up!"

Her jaw dropped fully when he ripped his clothes off. "Let's go! Enjoy… this legendary island!" Hikari held back a hysterical giggle at Ringo's horrified expression, hands pressing against her mouth.

Hikari ended up crumpling into a crouch as he bolted past her, torches whirling and clad only in a loincloth. Hysterical laughter escaped her as she gasped into her palms. Sides aching as she tried to breath while Saotome disappeared into the sea, roaring, "Shining!"

"Hikari!" Tomochika called and Hikari looked over, forcing herself to her feet while holding onto her suitcase. "Stop laughing, the cottage is over here!"

Taking a few deep breaths, Hikari called out a stuttery, "Hai!" Gripping the handle, she turned and took a few steps before freezing, nearly falling over as she almost smacked into someone. Chartreuse blinked up into midnight blue. "Ichinose-san, we really got to stop meeting like this. It's rather painful." She patted his cheek before she realized it and moved past him.

/

After grabbing some clothes, Hikari hurried into the bathroom. Dropping white leather sandals to the floor, she locked the door, Tomochika having already changed and had given Hikari a green tea glass on the way in.

Hikari stumbled slightly and caught herself on the counter scowling at her sock. She tugged on a royal blue, halter swimsuit top and matching shorts. Grabbing the last piece, she wrapped the long, scarf like around her waist. That done, she picked up her clothes, folding them and slid her sandals on, unlocking the door and heading towards her suitcase, sliding the clothes into a bag she had for laundry. Hikari closed it and headed towards Tomochika. Sitting across from Tomochika, Hikari smoothed down her cover skirt and picked up her cool green tea.

"Doesn't this feel great, Hikari?" Tomochika asked as she stretched her arms.

"It does," she replied, stirring her straw. "It's been a few years since I've come to any beach."

"Hmm… Ah, I need to go. A graduation audition meeting!" The darker redhead chirped, standing and saluting Hikari. "I made a date with Daiki!"

"See you!" Hikari waved after her before turning back to the sea. Slumping her shoulders, she rubbed her face and stood. Reaching, she picked up the drinks and placed them inside the fridge. She picked up her smaller satchel, similar to the one for city outings, and left the cottage, locking it and putting her headphones on.

/

She made her way along the shoreline, sandals off and tied to her bag. Hums left her as she listened to the dulcet sounds of Renge singing with Haruto, a different ballad from before, and kicked lightly at the sand with every step. The volume was low, so she could hear when Otoya called out to her

"Hikari!"

Pausing the song, Hikari lowered her headphones and turned to look at her redheaded male friend. "Hey, Otoya." Her mind stalled for a moment at the sight of his bare chest.

"I was looking for you."

She blinked up at him, twisting the headphone wire around her finger. "What is it?" Hikari moved a bit closer so he wouldn't have to raise his voice.

"There's something I really wanted to talk to you about…" He trailed off for a moment, face flushing as his eyes went blank. She snapped her fingers, making him twitch and smile sheepishly. "Ah, let me start over?"

Blinking in curiosity, she nodded.

"I love the music you make!" He exclaimed. "It's easy going and fun, just like you, Hikari. And I wanna sing a song of yours!"

Chartreuse eyes widened in surprise.

"Well…" Otoya smiled awkwardly and jogged a few steps away. "I'm gonna put your name down as my 'hoped partner,' Hikari! That's all I wanted to say!"

Hikari stared blankly after him, her heart doing one of her cousin's more energetic song as she replayed what just happened. Burying her face in her palms, she let out a series of strangled noises. 'Holy hell, Otoya's too sweet to be true… and now I don't know who I want for my partner even more. What do I doooo…. I need to change. I can't be in the open risking more confrontations. My heart won't be able to take it.'

/

Ren smiled slightly as he closed his eyes. "Hmm, who should it be?" The girls around him squealed in excitement and with the limited proximity, it hurt his ears.

Holding back a sigh, he thought of the girl who gave him back something of his mother. After downloading "Just a Kiss," he'd made it his group ringtone, his mother's part repeating. Ren opened his eyes and blinked when he spotted Hikari. "Lady?" Ren called to her, making the girls and adults look over as well.

She offered him a faint smile, her hiking boots making soft thumps on the patio wood. Hikari had changed from her swimsuit, he noted, now dressed in long tan cargo shorts and a yellow vest over a bright blue tank top. "Hey, Strawberry."

His head tilted, but Ren went with the random nickname as she moved closer to the teachers, looking at Saotome.

Hikari held something out to the adult redhead. "Here, Oyabun."

Saotome paused in reaching for it, staring at her. "Oyabun?"

The girl simply grinned, not answering as she pushed the electronic into his hand. "That's a GPS tracker and alert Gran gave me. This way you can tell me what's going on if I lose track of time."

"Ah," he said blankly, turning the small item in his hands.

"It's similar to a cellphone, don't worry." Hikari stepped back, smiling fully now and looked around the group. "So, I may or may not see any of you until a few hours later. Pretty ladies, Strawberry, Oyabun, Wakagashira-sensei, Shateigashira-sensei, bye~"

"Go away, pain in the ass Kobun," Ryuya said flatly, eyes still closed as he waved a hand at her. Ringo choked slightly on his drink.

Ren and the girls beside him stared at the awed expression on Hikari's face in confusion. "You-You went with it!" She almost squealed and he was a bit weirded out by how much of a fangirl she was acted, completely different from normal. "You actually-" She cut herself off with a squawk, dodging a sandal.

"Go. Away." Ryuya growled, lifted his shades. Ren pressed his lips together, refusing to laugh at how fast she could rile the ginger up. He wouldn't.

"See? See? He does like me!" Hikari laughed, bouncing.

Ryuya stood abruptly. "Alright. That's it, come here-" Hikari bolted, laughter filling the air and a smile made its way onto his lips. "It's vacation!" The man barked, glaring at the rest of them and jabbing a finger at Ren and the girls. "Don't act up!"

He sat back down and silence fell across the group. The girls looked to him worriedly but Ren was focused on Ringo, seeing the weird look on the pinket's face.

"I wonder who's the Wakashira and who's the Shateigashira." The pinket mused.

Straightening at the dark expression, Ren tried to warn Ringo. "Ringo-chan-!"

The ginger was faster and in a surprisingly childish move, pulled Ringo's wig off. The teens widened their eyes in shock as Ringo stilled, patting blankly at his suddenly lighter head.

A screech made them jump as Ringo lunged at Ryuya.

Hikari rolled onto her side, headphone on her left ear pressing into it. She looked over at a sleeping Tomochika, the girl's eyes covered by a sleep mask.

The teen kept running the encounters with Ichinose and Otoya through her head. And stars, the bonfire for the first day of the trip. Hikari had managed to stay away from her male friends, having seen the glances her way. She silenced any texts that may have come from their group chat, leaving the single chats open. It wasn't their fault, but her panic and worry on what to do for the audition problem.

She wanted all six. It was selfish and greedy and despite knowing she could get that way sometimes (mainly when it concerned those close to her), Hikari didn't want to ruin their chances. She'd come to adore them all, even Ichinose (notwithstanding the distance between them).

Sighing softly, Hikari stopped the song playing and turned her phone screen off, dropping it to the mattress before getting up to change into her clothes for the next day, knowing she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. She slid her sandals on again and walked to the balcony, strapping on her GPS tracker, looping it around her left wrist. Dropping her palms onto the rail, she leaned against the wood, gazing at the sea as it reflected the stars.

"Mrrow."

Her head jerked up, her skipping a beat before she turned her head slowly to the left. Hikari blinked at a faint green glow and groaned lightly at the sight of Akuma. "Yah, gaki." She shook her head, unsure on how to feel as she straightened, her words switching between Korean and Japanese. "Yah."

Bright green eyes blinked at her.

An exasperated sigh left her as she straightened, placing a hand on a cocked hip. "What do you want, Akuma-chan? Not really in the mood to cuddle."

His head tilted before he moved forward, headbutting her ankles. The cat was nudging her to the forest.

"Lead on, I've nothing better than you," she said dryly, activating her tracker. "But if I trip and fall on you, I'm laughing."

Hikari, despite feeling a bit silly following him, made her way across tree roots and dodged branches. Glancing around, she noted it was a different area than she'd previously explored. Spotting a stone face, her steps slowed as Akuma disappeared and she stepped into a place of stone ruins. "Nico Robin would kill to see this," she murmured, moving to look closer at a pillar.

Smiling slowly, she traced the etching gently. "Saotome was right, this is the island of the Muse goddess." Her nail trailed the curve of a harp, a female caricature holding it. "Wish I had my phone…"

Her voice fell silent as she turned to the sound of light footsteps. Her eyes widened at the sight of a young teen, one near her age, with caramel skin and raven black hair. His eyes were similar, far too similar, to Akuma's eyes. He was dressed in an open green shirt, dark loose pants, and white slip on shoes. Bracelets of sorts adorned his wrists. To the right of his chest, Hikari could see a purple tattoo. She couldn't see it clearly, hidden by the shirt.

"Akuma?" She managed to get out and the warm smile on his face got wider.

"I've been waiting to speak with you, Hikari." His voice held warmth, affection and she was a bit off guard by how familiar he acted. He moved closer, seeming to want to not startle her. "My real name is Cecil, the crown prince to Agnopolis, a country far west of here-"

Getting the most of her still scattered bearings, she straightened and raised a brow. "The desert country?"

Cecil nodded, his smile bright as he paused within arm reach of her. He held his right hand out to her, kneeling slowly. She narrowed her eyes. "I know you can't stand flowery statements, but will you humor me, please?"

His eyes were full of hope and hers flicked from his to the hand. After a moment, she shoulders relaxed from the stiffness that came upon her at his proximity. "As I get the feeling that we'll probably be meeting in the future sometime," she began, carefully putting her hand in his, "I'll humor you. But if you get too outrageous with your floweriness, I will get the spray bottle."

She nearly toppled over at the sweetness oozing from his grin. Cecil gently curled his fingers around her hand, not intertwining their fingers as he stood. "I would expect nothing less." Her heart lost it's shit when he lifted their hands and lightly brushed his lips against her hand, her face heating slightly at the sudden action. Hikari held back a squeak.

Around them, fireflies came from the depths of the ruins, dancing around the two and other fireflies. Hikari's breath caught in her throat as Cecil began singing.

"Crossing over the moonlit sea,
Now in these hands, love is awakening."

A squeak really did leave her when he tugged Hikari close, arm looping around her body loosely.

"I sing of eternity in the voice of the sea's roar
I've always been searching for you."

He moved her into a loose dance, just a slow circle as she was suddenly running all their past interactions, with him as Akuma, through her head.

"I embrace this fated meeting
I gather love songs from around this world
I'll inform that heart and that dream
I was born only for you
To be your "guardian"

A bride clad in a slumbering veil
In the sky of memories, let's hold these feathers aloft

We'll probably meet again in the distant future
Because we follow this endless dream

You're blossoming even more than thousands of roses
You're shining more than the songs of tens of thousands of stars
I swear to you, my lovely
Like the sun's warmth, the truth will gently
Continue to shine on you

Floating in a transparent ship, let's travel to the mother galaxy

I embrace this fated meeting
I gather love songs from around this world
I'll inform that heart and that dream
I was born only for you
To be your "guardian.""

Blinking rapidly, Hikari stared blankly at his chest, her hand gripping his shirt a bit tightly. "What was that?" Her voice was dazed and she looked up and locked eyes.

His hands now resting on her back and upper arm to steady her, Cecil smiled softly. Carefully he turned her to a wall they hadn't been near before. A gasp of wonder escaped her.

The fireflies were present once more, highlighting the female caricatures, all nine forms holding different things. It was breathtaking and Hikari longed to have her uncle take photos of everything in the ruins, whether or not it was just rubble.

"Long ago, our clan washed upon the shore of this land," he began quietly, his arm a warm weight against her shoulder blades. "Beautiful flowers from the trunk of a tree, life was given and making them bloom in splendor." Cecil paused, reaching past her to pluck a blossom. Copying him, she turned to face him, gazing at the flower with unhidden longing. As he spoke, he replaced his hand with the blossom. Hikari was enchanted. "Muse, the guardian deity who guided us here, speaks thus: The days of distress will continue, but they exist to put you to the test, to spin something of beauty and richness out of the trials. In time, a miracle will be the gift your created. May Muse bless you with divine enlightenment..."

Hikari blinked slowly, frowning as she came face to arm with herself. Shifting, she lifted her head and saw she was at the table on her cottage balcony. Hikari looked around, spotting Tomochika still asleep in her bed and felt her tracker off her wrist, lying innocently in front of her on the table. Oddly, her phone was beside it. However, she put it off to the side as something shifted in her hand. Opening it, her eyes went wide.

"Not a dream…" Hikari felt the traces of Cecil's touch, recalling how careful he was to not make her uncomfortable. Lightly putting it on her tracker, she slid her phone closer, unlocking it and squinting at the harsh brightness. A huge grin formed on her face at seeing an image folder on her backdrop, quickly tapping it open. It was titled 'Muse' and Hikari swore silently to herself, that if she saw either Akuma or Cecil, she'd give him a tight hug.

Choosing to spend the next day going through them, Hikari shut the device off and looked around again, blinking when she saw a figure walking along the shoreline. Leaning forward, Hikari saw it was Ichinose. Nibbling her lip, she lift brushed the soft petals and whispered, "Muse, if you can hear me, make sure we don't do anything stupid. I don't want anyone hurt."

It may have been the moonlight, but Hikari thought the petals glowed rainbow colors.

/

Tokiya stared into the waves, feeling… not quite numb, but nothing in particular. Over the sound of the ocean, he heard steps shifting sand. Steps too quiet to be Otoya.

"You okay, Ichinose-san?" The soft voice of the girl he'd been thinking of early caught his ears and he turned to lock eyes with Nanami.

He didn't answer for a moment, simply staring. Nanami waited, gazing back at him calmly. Running a few sentences through, he decided to be simple. "I've been thinking about you."

Her brows furrowed, her calm expression shifting into a strange one. "Eh?"

Closing his eyes, he continued. "I've been unnecessarily rude to you since that first day. I may be unable to sing the way I want, but that doesn't justify my lack of discipline."

"Hey," she cut him off and Tokiya opened his eyes as she came closer and bumped their arms. "I've got family in the entertainment business and I know how much stress Shiori-nee gets because of it." Her eyes were daring him to apologize. "Your manager or whoever is in charge is forcing Hayato into acting and you're balancing on a tightrope between the two. My cousin saw something in you when she heard your song and there's no doubt that she'd be terrorizing your bosses for making you do so much. She, and therefore you indirectly, are the reason I'm here right now. I fell in love with your songs because of you helping Ruka-chan and for how brilliant they are, not because Hayato or Tokiya was singing the song."

Tokiya blinked at her in surprise.

Nanami smiled and glanced away to the ocean. "I grew up in a family where music was something to be loved and enjoyed, whether traditional or rock, and entertaining is in the blood. No one else except maybe the staff knows about Hayato, right? So let me be your confidante if no one else can."

Speechless, he could only stare before he ducked his head and copied her, trailing the stars along the ocean surface with their arms lightly brushing against each other. "Soon after I debuted, I lost my aim. A bit after, I was in an accident and hospitalized…"

He continued, getting lost in the memory of meeting the boy who had sang in the courtyard. How they'd sang 'Amazing Grace' together. How hospital staff and patients, child and adult came to sing and listen. And never once did she look away from him as he spoke.

The sun came up and they sat together in the sand.

"I remember that." She murmured, laying back in the sand. "It was after Ruka-chan ended up in the hospital and the adults were forcing the rest of us kids to get check ups. I had thought it strange that Kimura-sensei had the door open until we heard a song come through. He'd been oddly pleased and when Yuuta-nii asked, he'd said one of his patients was in an accident and was an idol. Kimura-sensei had been worried that the patient would stay down in the dumps."

Silence fell between them and he broke it once more. "I'll try to start, once more. From the beginning…"

Nanami reached other, lightly squeezing his hand and he looked at her, sharing small smiles. "I'll be here to listen," she promised.

/

Letting the garden snake wind its way around her fingers, Hikari made her way back to the cabin. Idly, she wondered if Tomochika was still there. "I bet she'd scream at me if she's there. Hmm… I wonder if there are any bugs around," Hikari mused absently. "Or maybe eggs…?"

Looking up, Hikari blinked at the sight of Ren sniffing at one of the island flowers as he leaned against the rail.

"Is that safe?" She called, holding the snake closer.

Ren turned to look at her and smirked slightly. "I could ask you the same thing, Lady."

"It's a simple garter snake. There are worse in the country," Hikari answered with a small shrug as she stopped a few steps away. "What's up?"

A playful smile replaced the smirk as he straightened and stepped closer, slightly in her space. She merely blinked at him. "The island air said that the person to make music, to me, Jinguji Ren, is you, Nanami Hikari." He had the gall to wink at her.

Keeping her face blank (and probably failing, Hikari couldn't tell), she held up the snake. "Do you think Ringo-sensei would scream or smack me if I showed him Treble?"

He stared and pulled away. His lips were twitching. "You're terrible at naming things."

She gaped up at him before scowling and stepping on his foot, pulling the flower from his fingers as she strode past. "Just for that, I'm telling Ringo-sensei you wanted me to show him Treble."

"Wha- Hikari, wait, you can't do that!" Ren exclaimed, and she heard him following.

Hikari bolted for her cabin, securing her snake to her chest. "The hell I can't! And this is a girl's cottage. Stay out!"

Ren stopped as she turned around, standing in the doorway and looking up at him. He seemed nervous as he held his hands up placatingly. "Lady, I don't know if you saw yesterday, but Ringo-chan is upset with Ryuya and therefore upset with all of us. I don't believe anyone wants to be his target."

"Then it's a good thing I won't be his target if I convince him it was you who told me to show him Treble." Widening her eyes innocently, she beamed and held the snake out close to his face. "'Ringo-sensei, look what Ren found for me! Isn't Treble adorable?'"

"What the hell." Both humans jumping, Hikari took back Treble as she turned to look at a frozen Tomochika.

"Tomo-chan?" Hikari asked, eyeing how the redhead had a shoe in hand.

"Hikari," Tomochika began then stopped, continued. "Hikari, I love you. You're like the sister I never had. Why the hell are you holding a snake."

Glancing between her friend and the snake, Hikari asked curiously, "Are you afraid of snakes?"

Tomochika simply stared and lifted her shoe.

Humming, Hikari swayed and brought the snake closer to her face, feeling its tongue flicker against her cheek as Tomochika got this horrified look. A smile was formed. "Think I should show Ringo-sensei?"

She earned a furious nod. "Yes. I'm sure he'd adore it, now go."

"Ah, but I need my phone-"

"I'll get it!" Tomochika yelled and following Hikari's finger, picked it up from the table. She came back to her spot, hesitating, before saying, "Hikari move. Ren, catch!"

"What?" The two chorused and Hikari's eyes went wide as she ducked down with a squawk. Ren let out an uncharacteristic curse and nearly tripped over Hikari to catch the phone.

"Go away!" The darker redhead practically ordered, shoe swinging in her hand.

Catching Hikari by the back of her summer hoodie, Ren swiftly got them moving back down the docks. She let him as she peered up at him. "Why so swift to make a run for it?"

A strained smile formed on his face as they walked quickly (Ren did anyway) to the main island. "I have seen Tomochika with her lipstick, Lady."

She automatically raised the hand with the flower, rubbing the phantom pain in her forehead. "Good point. And she brought her high heeled sandals here…"

They shared nervous looks as they made their way to the pavilion. "So, are you really going to show Treble to Ringo-chan?" Ren asked her.

"Mhm… hold them for a second," she didn't give him a chance to protest, moving the tiny snake to his hand. His face went carefully blank as he stared at the snake while Hikari wove the flower into a braid, tying it off. She gently accepted the snake back as they continued walking.

"Hijiri was right," Ren noted suddenly, hands going in his pocket after passing her phone to her. At Hikari's raised brow, he smirked slightly. "You are an animal magnet."

"Heh. You make it sound like an insult when I take it as a compliment," Hikari replied, smiling widely. She held Treble up to her eyes, looking the adolescent snake over. "Wish I knew if you were a boy or girl. Gran never taught me how to do something like that."

At a strange noise, she looked straight and blinked at a frozen Ringo. Ryuya and Saotome were right behind him, both with strange looks as they looked at the pinket. Hikari didn't try deciphering their looks as she beamed and bounced up to the pinket.

"Ringo-sensei! Isn't Treble adorable or what?!" A strangled noise left Ren, which she ignored as she held Treble up to Ringo's face, smile bright.

Ringo stared before a coo fell from his lips, Hikari's smile copying the sound as Treble was swept from her arm and shown to Ryuya and Saotome. "Ryuya, Shiny, look! I think this is is one of Yomi's descendants!"

She watched speechlessly as Ringo cuddled the snake, lightly petting it as Ryuya quirked a lip and Saotome laughed.

"Ahahaha! I can't believe it!" Saotome exclaimed, hands going to his waist, once again in a loose loincloth. "I didn't think they'd survive this long here!"

"It isn't that surprising," Ryuya argued, looking at the redhead. "Not when Ringo set up an area for them."

"But the gardeners don't like them," Saotome reminded him, looking at the snake.

The pinket looked at him in shock. "Are you saying the gardeners would kill them?"

"Give me back my fucking snake!" Hikari barked, sweeping Treble from a stunned Ringo's hands and began storming back to her cottage, making sure to avoid Tomochika, who jerked Ren in front of her by the shoulders. "Honestly!"

"Hikari, don't swear!" Ryuya called, laughter in his voice.

Feeling a buzz from her pocket, she flipped him off before holding Treble in one hand to grab her phone. "Stuff it, shitty ginger!"

A scowl was on her face as she answered with a curt, "What."

"Noona!" A sweet young voice came over the speaker. "I've finally got your number!"

Her steps slowed as she reached the door, balancing the phone on her shoulder while unlocking the door. Hikari kicked her sandals off as she closed the door. "I'm glad, Dong-hae-yah. I've missed you. How's America? Where are you guys now?"

A faint thumping noise. "Right now, we're in Seattle, Washington. I got to go swimming near the Snoqualmie Falls!" Dong-hae exclaimed and a wide grin spread across her face.

"That sounds wicked! What else?" Hikari asked.

"You'll tell me how Saotome is going? Emails aren't as descriptive, even with pictures."

"You just want me to bring it to life."

"Of course!"

"You got yourself a deal!" Hikari moved to lay down on her bed, setting Treble on her stomach. "Wanna Face Chat?"

"Oh, please!"

"Hang on. Treble, don't move like that." Hikari pulled her phone away, letting it go so the cousins could see each other.

After a moment, a twelve-year old with bright green-yellow eyes and black hair appeared. A dark tan colored him as he smiled at her. "Noona! You've gotten brighter!"

Dong-hae had gotten a minor form of synesthesia, just like Haruka. To him, all colors were vivid on those close to him, like family.

"Is that a garter snake? Treble, right?"

"Yup. Now tell me about Seattle. Did you go on the Space Needle like you wanted?"

His eyes brightened and her heart warmed at the sight. "It was better than I imagined! They had a glass floor…"

As Dong-hae began rambling, Hikari began running through her Saotome adventures, pondering whether or not she should send pictures of her friends as aside from Syo and Natsuki (who got their pictures taken by a sneaky Yuuta) and Tomochika, no one else got their pictures. She didn't know about Ren, but she figured they at least knew what Ichinose did.

'At least I threw Ren off topic about the partner thing… I have no idea what to do…'

Cecil Aijima is the definition of dramatic and romantic sweetness, and the author cannot do that for the life of her. Please, for all things shiny, tell me if I get him out of character. Also I should mention I will switch between 'First Name Last Name' and 'Last Name, First Name' because I'm terrible at not doing both when it comes to this.

Uh… I think that's all? I know I wanted to say more because this chapter was a pain in the ass, but now I can't remember. I'll probably add it to chapter 8 (author crumples at the thought of episode 8).

EDIT: The song this chapter is "Eternity Love."