MPK: HAPPY BELATED 12th ANNIVERSARY UTAPRI!

I am back for my bi-annual update! Ehe...ehe...e-he...-_-


Dear Amu-san,

I know I could just call you nowadays, but I've been so busy recently. For me emailing you has been a much easier way of sharing my thoughts with you. If I spoke on the phone, I'd probably be rambling for hours honestly.

You'll never believe it. But right now...I am on track to audition and maybe even debut with an entire group of idols. Remember all those boys I've mentioned before? Well, because of certain circumstances, we ultimately came to the decision to audition for graduation together instead of alone. It wasn't allowed, like a lot of things we've done here lol, but we were just so good that the headmaster let us do it! Everyone's on good terms with each other, and when we sing together...it's amazing. You've got to hear it sometime. Everything's going so well right now. It's unbelievable really.

...But. I don't know. I can't help but feel...like this is only the calm of a storm, you know? We're so close to the end of our time here, and we haven't had too many issues. It's just a little suspicious.

Anyway, if something else comes up, I'll make sure to tell you about it. Say hey to my bros for me. Maybe father too. 'Phrya and I miss ya lots~

~Melody K


"Big Sister Dearest!"

"Hey, Zyphyra~I was just thinking about you. I'm on my way to practice right now though, can I call you later?"

"Yeah of course~but wait! I need you to tell Tokiya something for me!"

Getting closer to the practice hall, I lose momentum in my steps. "Hey, make it quick! I'm running late here~"

"I just wanted to thank him for coming through and delivering me all that HAYATO merch I wanted~"

"Z, that's nice. But couldn't you have just texted that to him directly?"

~I'm not done!" Zyphyra cleared her throat. "Also tell him that I said I know he feels like he's going through a hard time right now, but even if he chooses to stop being HAYATO it's okay and I'll support him in whatever he does!"

'A hard time?' I stood in place. "He told you that he was going to quit?"

"Yeah~when I called him last about the merch. I've been calling him every day until he got it to me!" I sweatdropped.

"So, you know about our new group then?"

"What new group?" I swallowed.

"Look, I don't have time to explain it. But the reason Tokiya is leaving his agency is that he's gonna be in a new group with me and a few friends."

"~YOU AND TOKIYA ARE GOING TO BE IN A GROUP?! AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!"

"I told you now." I boredly looked at my fingernails. "It's more complicated than that, but that's a basic summary."

"...WILL THERE BE TOKIYA MERCH?"

I scoffed, "You'd buy Tokiya's merch before mine?"

"Oh, I'd buy yours. Just not first." My eyebrows furrowed, "Sorry Sis~! But Toki and I have a pact! Not like mine and Ren's, but I'm gonna be his biggest fan! Just like I promised when we were little!"

"...Ren's in the group too."

"WAH?"

"So is your boyfriend's brother."

"SYO TOO!? OH NO! I HAVE TO SUPPORT MY FUTURE HUBBY'S TWINNIE! I want, NO, need a bag of merch for each boy! And you of course! Melody! Lend me some money! I'm going broke just thinking about it!"

"Okay, slow down on the future hubby thing." I massaged my forehead, "You have a field day with the info given for now and I'll tell you the rest later. I gotta go."

"Yes! When school lets out, we better hang out!" Zyphyra yelped suddenly, "Oh oh oh! Tell Syo also that I~!"

"Zyphrya~"

"PETER PIPER PICKED A PECK OF PICKLED PEPPERS!"

"...Goodbye Zyphyra." I hung up before she could add anything else. I pushed open the door to the music room, "Peter Pipper picked? A what?"

"Hey KaSa!" Syo who was sitting backward in a chair yelled to me immediately, "You're late!"

"Sorry, guys." I apologized to the whole room, "My sister called."

"Zyphyra-chan?" Otoya handed me my sheet music. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she was just spouting nonsense like usual." I turned to the short blonde, "She told me to tell you...Peter Parker...Peter Pipper~?"

"~PETER PIPER PICKED A PECK OF PICKLED PEPPERS!" Syo shouted at the top of his lungs. He was so loud he disturbed Haruka who was playing piano for Ren and Masato who were practicing their parts. "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers! A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked!"

"What?"

"Syo-chan?"

"If Peter Piper pwicked a pebble~AAAH! I still can't do it!" Syo screamed, "It'll be the death of meeeeee!"

"A tongue twister?" Masato asked setting down his music, "Right now?"

"Oh sorry guys, haha." Syo lowered his voice. "I was in a video call with Zyphyra and my brother the other day, and they dared me to do a bunch of tongue twisters. But I couldn't pronounce this one to save my life!"

"What are you talking about? That's like the easiest one." Ren yawned.

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yuh-huh."

Syo flipped his cell out so quick, "Then you pronounce it properly!" At first, Ren was reluctant to move from his spot (out of laziness) but he ended up walking over and examining the twister.

"Peter Piper pwicked, Mmm. Petter Pipper picked a pep~Aah. Peter Pwipper, oh my."

"EXACTLY!" Syo snatched his phone away.

"All of the p's just blend together very quickly..." Ren rubbed his eyes. Masato's sapphire blue eyes twinkled.

"I'm sure it's not that hard." You could basically read the "This is my chance!" written on his face. The bluenette always leaped at the chance to prove he could do something Ren couldn't do. "Peter Pipper picked a pweck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled~!"

"Wait! It's Piper, not Pipper! Say it right!"

"R-Right." Masato looked back down at the sentences much more nervously than before. "Peter Pipper pwicked a...Peter Pipper...Peter Pwipper~!"

"You're doing worst than me."

"Shut up! I can do it!" Masato snatched Syo's phone. "Peter Piper picked a peck of bickled beppers!"

"AAAH! WHAT IS A BICKLED BEPPER!? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" Syo started dying. I tried to contain my giggles but to no avail. Once Syo started laughing, the entire room broke out. "I JUST WANNA KNOW!"

Masato's face turned red, "This is stupid! Why would anyone say this?" He threw the phone back at Syo.

"That's the beauty of it." Ren told him, "It's supposed to be hard and tongue-inducing."

Syo gestured to the rest of us, "Anyone else wanna try?" Haruka shook her head profusely.

Otoya and I sweatdropped, "Pass."

"Can I try?" Natsuki got up from his seat and took the phone. "Oh? This sounds so cute! Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?" Our mouths dropped open. "Where is the peck of pickled peppers? Is there an answer to this riddle?" Syo choked.

"He even~"

"~said it again afterward..."

"Natsuki! That was amazing! How did you do that?!" Syo's cerulean eyes sparkled. "You have to tell me!"

"It's not too hard really." Natsuki told him, "The p's are a little confusing, but you just take your time with each word I guess."

"But first try though?" I folded my arms, "That's genius-level!"

Natsuki blinked innocently, "I don't see what makes it so difficult."

"Taking your time huh?" Syo raised the cell to his eyes, "Pwickled~ARGH!"

Otoya patted his back, "Try it again later, okay?"

"Can we get back to work now please?" Ren tapped the pages of his workbook. "This song isn't gonna polish itself."

"Right, my bad."


"Dang, this part is so hard to say! Let alone sing!"

"Yeah, maybe we should tweak it a little here." Otoya scribbled some notes on the score.

"Maybe..." Syo gave a mischievous grin and I knew exactly where this was going. "It's almost as hard as saying~!"

Masato's glare shot like a dagger across the piano. "Don't you dare say it again!"

"..." Syo swallowed and went back to work. And so did we. Until he whispered, "...A bickled bepper."

Masato slammed his hands on the piano keys as he stood up. Syo shot up and almost fell over Otoya and me. "COME ON!" Realizing the bluenette wasn't letting this time go, Syo ran around the music room for his life. "GET BACK HERE!"

"AAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Syo screamed like a little girl. "HELLLLLLLP!"

"He's not gonna let this go will he?" Otoya sweatdropped.

"Ochibi's gonna hold this one over him for a long while. As he should." Ren smirked, "Bickled Bepper...Such a fool."

Syo hopped behind me and grabbed my neck. "TAKE HER INSTEAD!"

"Hey! Stahp!" I slinked through his loose hold. "Masa get 'em!"

"Melody whyyyyyy!?" Masato tackled him immediately. "Help! Help! Help! Uncle! Uncle! Uncle!"

"You should have thought of that before you said that stupid joke for the 5th time today!"

"I'm sorry I'm sorry please! PLEASE! Masa! I can't breathe~!" Masato dropped the boy and Syo gasped for air. "Why can't we all just get along huh? Let's just sing okay?"

Haruka's smile dropped when the commotion was over. "Somehow. The music is different this week."

Ren's smirk fell too. Everyone's did. "Of course it does. We're missing a member."

Masato fixed the wrinkles in his clothes, "Tokiya, didn't show yesterday either. Today I guess he was too busy to show up."

Otoya dropped his music on the piano, "I know he's busy with his part-time job, but he could have at least called to give a heads up." At that moment, I checked my own cell for messages. There was one from Tokiya that I hadn't seen, telling me that he'd be here soon. But that was an hour ago. I decided not to mention it since it didn't matter at this point.

Natsuki looked up from his sheet music, "What does Tokiya-kun do exactly?" Syo, Ren, Haruka, and I go stiff.

"I'm...not sure exactly. He does like training for it I know, since he always comes back exhausted and sweaty. Maybe it's something athletic? Leaving right after classes, coming back during the middle of the night, sometimes early mornings. I'm surprised he hasn't collapsed from it all."

"It sounds like he's a very hard worker." Natsuki said, "I hope he'll be alright. For whatever reason, he's working on the side for."

"Aaah. I'm tired now." Ren suddenly seemed much more irritated than before. "I'm beat. Let's work the rest out next time."

"Yeah. We've been here for a while." Otoya stretched.

"We missed lunch since we've been so busy~ let's not miss dinner too!" Syo glanced at the sunset peaking through the windows.

"I agree." Masato gathered his things. "We need our strength for tomorrow." Minutes later, the messy music room was as clean as it was before we had settled in it. "Anyone else heading to the dining hall?"

"Of course!" Otoya gripped his backpack excitedly, "Me-chan! Let's go!" I nodded.

Before I could exit the room with Haruka and the boys, Ren grabbed my wrist. "Lady. Syo and I need to have a quick word with you before we go." Ren was in serious mode. I had a bad feeling.

"Oh?" Otoya seemed to pick up on it too and gave me a worried look.

"I'll just wait outside." He told me. I gave the redhead a thumbs up to assure him.

I closed the music room door for the privacy Ren seemed to want. Syo was still inside, leaning in his backward chair at a dangerous angle. "What's up you two?"

"Come closer. Otoya might be leaning on the door." I did as they said, walking closer to Ren by the windows. "Have you heard from Tokiya at all?"

I frowned, "...I got a message from him earlier, saying that he was running late but he was on his way."

"And?"

"Isn't it obvious, Ochibi? He wasn't." Ren turned his back on us, watching the sunset.

"It was from like an hour ago." I told the strawberry blonde, "But I don't think it was a lie. Maybe he got held up."

"Did he get held up yesterday too?" I closed my lips. Ren continued to make his point, "What about last Wednesday? Last Monday too? What we're doing here is important. The reason we don't meet every day is so we can tend to his schedule. And he isn't even making the days we decided on."

"He's right KaSa." Syo tipped his fedora down. "One or two misses we're used to. But I don't think he's shown up for a full solid week yet. He's had to have one of us catch him up. I thought he was supposed to be dialing back on this whole..."HAYATO" thing." He whispered conscious of the camera in the room.

"He is." I told them. "At least, that's what he said..." My frown deepened. "He told my sister that he's been having a hard time. Maybe something is going on legally with the agency that he isn't telling anyone about."

"If that's true, that would be really bad right?" I looked down. "No human should be working this much. He's living a whole other life Melody! He's gotta stop!"

"I get it Syo. I do." I folded my arms, "I just don't get why he doesn't."

"I joined this group because I was promised everyone would be giving their all here. Tokiya's given us less than 2%. I could tolerate Tokiya blowing us off before, but not now. Now things are different." Ren's form hardened, "His absence isn't just affecting our grades anymore, it's affecting the group dynamic. If this kind of behavior is what I have to look forward to in the future, I want no part of it." He turned to us. "You need to talk to him, Lady. Because if he keeps this up, there might just be another member missing from practice next time."

Syo finally got up from his chair, "Ren. You don't mean that." Ren picked up his bag with closed eyes, not acknowledging the boy at all. There was nothing I could say to stop him from leaving the room.

"Perfect timing as always, huh Ichi?" Ren huffed in a harsh tone. We turned to see he had bumped into Tokiya.

"Ren, I~!"

"Impeccable really." Ren shoved Tokiya out of his way and exited the practice hall. Syo tipped his hat to me and ran after him.

Tokiya was panting. "I...ran all the way...here. And I still didn't...make it."

"Ran?" Otoya pushed open the door all the way. "From where?"

Tokiya looked the worst I'd seen him. I could tell just talking was stressing him out. "Hey, Otoya. I'm gonna be here for a little while longer. Do you mind heading out without me?"

"Yeah but~"

"Please?" Otoya looked at Tokiya worriedly.

"Okay." Otoya slid his bag from falling from his arm and closed the door.

"Tokiya, sit down." He took Ren's seat nearest to the window. I felt his forehead. I could tell he was too tired to push my hand away. "You don't have a fever, but you haven't slept in days." I lifted his chin to the side. "It's starting to show in your face."

"Make-up hides...everything on stage." He heaved. Along with being worn out, I was sure that running here took whatever energy he had left since working.

"You might need to go to the nurse. Get an IV." I used my hand to flatten one of the edges still sticking up from his HAYATO hairstyle. "Even if you had gotten here on time, you wouldn't have had the energy to sing with us."

"I'm fine." He closed his mouth to stop breathing heavily. "I can do more."

I looked into his eyes. "Sing something." Tokiya opened his mouth. As if realizing that he really couldn't, he closed his mouth again and lowered his head in shame. Out of nowhere, I felt myself crying. I couldn't hide the noises my mouth made.

Tokiya's face shot up, "Melody?" He asked in a quiet voice. "Don't cry."

I bent a little to hug Tokiya around the shoulders. "This is too much! This is too much, Tokiya!" I squeezed my arms tighter. "You can't do this anymore!"

"Hah..." Tokiya pulled me closer into a loose hug. I stood up and he rested his head against my chest. "Just a little more...The contract ends soon. I'm...doing my best. I promise." His voice even lost momentum as he passed out in my arms, "I want to...going to...keep...the promise..."


I don't think I slept well that night. I was too busy worrying if Tokiya would be okay. The dark bluenette had fallen asleep right after that. I pitied him so much that I pulled up a chair and let him sleep against me for a little while before waking him so that he could go to his room and sleep. I called Syo to help make sure that he did. I had called Ren first, but he didn't answer. Syo and Tsubasa came and met Tokiya outside the boys' dorm and took him inside without question.

The next day, however, Tokiya was late again.

Syo pulled me aside while the others were taking a break, "You did talk to him, right? What's going on?"

"I...I don't know." I could only be honest. All I knew was that he was exhausted from doing a lot. I didn't know why he was still doing so much. Clearly, he had his reasons. But the problem was that he wasn't telling anyone what they were. "But he said that~"

"Give me his number!" Syo exclaimed higher than he had intended. "I'll call him! He'll answer me for sure!"

"Tch!" Ren was still in the same sour mood he had left in yesterday. He dropped his papers and headed for the door.

"Ren!"

"Jinguji-san, wait a second!"

"I'm just~!" Ren snapped. He calmed his tone of voice, "Going for some water." Ren opened the door with a scowl and closed it behind him. The sound echoed through the room.

Syo made a gripped fist, "I'll go too. Anybody, want anything?" No one answered. We all just shook our heads. Syo then scurried out the door as well.

"Ren has been really patient these days." Natsuki frowned.

"It's wearing thin, however. I could tell that he really wanted to pick up his stuff and leave just now." Masato sat his pages down, "I suppose today, his frustration is justified."

Otoya's eyes lowered, "There's gotta be something we can do..."

Suddenly the doors swung open, "I'm here!"

"Ichinose-san!" Haruka stood up to greet the rushed individual.

"One of my jobs got canceled, so I was able to leave early." The dark-haired bluenette bowed respectfully. "I'm sorry for being late the last couple of weeks."

"So it won't happen again? Right?" Ren and Syo reappeared with two cups of water.

Tokiya sighed, "I'm working towards a better schedule, I promise." Ren's eyebrows lowered.

"Have you thought about just taking time off?" Natsuki asked, "I get your part-time job is important to you, but surely a couple of days wouldn't hurt right?"

"Yes. You look worn out. That can't be good for you." Masato followed up.

"...It's not that simple." Tokiya looked to the side in a deflated way. "But I appreciate your concern. Really."

Everyone stared at Tokiya for several seconds. The ones who weren't in the know started to look like they had more questions to ask. To save him the trouble, I interjected before they could. "You're just in time for Haruka's new composition." The dark bluenette's head lifted in my direction.

"Huh? Me-chan!" Haruka was flustered when she realized I knew what she had.

I picked up the sheets. "You've been fiddling with these all morning, clutching them tight so no one else could see them. It was obvious you were waiting for everyone to show up before you wanted to bust these out."

Haruka lightly took the papers from me, "Well...yes. I-I wrote a new song! Last night, when thinking of all of you~ a new melody came to mind!"

"Nothing like a Melody on the brain. Nah?" The small blonde poked me with his elbow.

"Ha ha."

"I'm here all week~!" Syo grinned.

"That one was pretty lame if you ask me."

"Hey!"

"This is, a call and answer isn't it?" Masato asked.

"It feels like it." Natsuki agreed.

"It's so strange..." Otoya looked over Masato's shoulder. "When looking at Haruka's songs, the words almost immediately come to mind."

"I don't know about all the words, but some words definitely do appear." Tokiya told him.

"I like this song. It's gentle and sweet. At least that's what I feel." I said.

"A slower burn. Interesting." Ren had stopped frowning for the first time today.

"I wanna give it a shot." Syo piped up. "Let's give Maji Love a rest for right now. Let's write some lyrics for this!" We all agreed as pumped a fist.

"Yeah, let's do it!"


A-class:kono hiroi hoshi no naka,

bokura wa naze deatte,

sora o miageterun darou?

S-class:ikusen no toki o koete,

hitotsu no MERODI

kyou o shitteta youna…

Masa x Syo x Mel:We'll Be…

Ren:kokoro no oku o,

Masa x Syo x Mel:Maybe…

Ren:terashite ageru

Toki×Natsu:Make Your Happiness

seiza o RANPU ni

Toki×Masa:soshite

Natsu:todoketainda

T×Masa:zutto

Natsu:issho ni iyou

Oto x Mel x Toki x Syo:shinjitainda

Ren:bokura no mirai o

All:"hitori ja nai kara ne"

Oto: bokura ga tsutsunde ageru

All: mamorasete

Toki: ari no mama kimi o…

All: HĀTO ni hibikasete

Ren x Masa: kimi to iu na no onpu o

Natsu: sekai de ichiban no Mel: hanataba ni

All: chizu wa ashita o sashiteru

Toki: nanairo ni somete…

Natsu: hitori ja nai… Toki: hitori ja nai…

Natsu x Toki: kimi wa hitori ja nai kara…

Toki: mirai chizu hirogete!

"When did we get outside?"

"Wow. The song left you reeling back like that, KaSa?" Syo's eyebrows arched.

"I guess so." I felt my forehead, "Haruka's music almost sends you to another world."

"I understood your reference and I applaud the execution."

"And by you saying that you've made the joke unfunny." Syo laughed.

"The song was awesome though!" Otoya exclaimed pumped.

Masato loosened his school tie, "I can't believe we wrote lyrics for it so fast. It felt unreal how everything worked."

"Whenever everyone's voices blended together, it warmed my heart." Natsuki touched his chest, "If we continue like this...I think we can really pass the graduation audition."

"And come in first!" Otoya shouted in his direction, "We can make a full debut!" Natsuki gave him a peace sign in response.

"Not so fast," Masato said with closed eyes. Although he was relaxing, he felt the need to keep the group level-headed. "We still need a proper dance. Jinguji, your steps are still too loose. And you're singing part is still~"

"Now it's okay for him to blatantly verbally attack me, but when I say something back I'm in the wrong?" Ren, who was laying on his back in the grass, complained to the orange sky above him.

"That was indeed a verbal attack."

"Masa, when did you turn so vicious?"

"Tch!" Masato blushed in embarrassment and turned away from us with folded arms. "I'm just saying! There are still things that aren't perfect!"

"But why just me though huh?" Ren complained in a lower voice. Natsuki put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Well, we'll make them perfect." All eyes went to Haruka. She exuded a confidence that we rarely saw in her. "I promise, I'll do my absolute best in making this group successful!"

"We'll hold you to that, Little Lamb." Ren smiled, "Say, if you can wink for me, I just might put some serious effort in. What do you say?" Ren winked in her direction.

"I can try!" The red-headed girl struggled to wink for several seconds. "I don't think I can do it?"

"Haru, you can't wink?"

"No..." Haruka whimpered to me.

"Eh?" Ren blinked, "Well if not a wink, let me catch one of your blown kisses!" He sat up and exclaimed playfully.

"Oh, I can do that!"

I held out a hand, "Wait a sec, Haru!"

"Definitely don't do it!" Syo leaned over me.

"Little Lamb, come on!"

"No way!" Otoya and Natsuki exclaimed in unison blocking Ren's view of her.

Ren laid back with a pout, "You guys are no fun." A sudden breeze passed us by.

I let it blow through my hair, "It feels nice out today. Why haven't we done like a picnic out here?"

"Because we've been busy with school, Me-chan." Otoya muttered with a sweatdrop.

"School. Right..." I sweatdropped too, "This summer break we should definitely do one."

"That sounds nice."

"I'm down for that."

"Me too." As if remembering something Ren sat back up.

"Think you could make it to that? Ichi?" Ren turned behind him to the dark bluenette. "Ichi? Ichi? No way. He's completely knocked out."

"Really?" Natsuki slid closer to the tree trunk Tokiya had fallen asleep against. "Ichinose-san!" He poked Tokiya's cheek. He didn't move an inch.

"Ah! Don't wake him!" Haruka insisted. "He might need to rest."

"You know what this calls for." Syo gained a mysterious grin. His light blue eyes sparkled as he pulled a black marker from his pocket. "He's brought this upon himself!"

"Seriously Syo?" Masato frowned.

"Really? I'm getting downvotes here?"

Ren raised his hand, "I'm upvoting."

I turned around, "I'm upvoting too honestly."

"Two is enough for me." Syo turned to write on Tokiya's face. "What should I write?"

Ren dropped his hand finally, "Surprise us."

"Sure. Okay." Syo bent down. For a moment he was still, before finally putting the marker to Tokiya's right cheek. "There. That'll work." It was obvious his enthusiasm had declined after finishing.

"Regret your actions already?" Masato glared with disapproval.

"No..." Syo backed up for us to see. I got closer.

"Ga...Gamba? I can't read it." Otoya crawled beside me.

"Gambatte. He wrote, "Do your best"."

"I never expected you to get sappy with this, Ochibi."

"What? When I looked at him up close, I felt bad for the guy." Syo pouted folding his arms. "He really must be tired." We all got silent, equally feeling as worried.

"Well. It's getting dark anyway." Masato was the first to stand. "If he can't change his lifestyle so easily, all we can do is make sure he stays healthy while doing it. Help me get him up, he'll catch a cold if he stays out here."

"Masato, you're such a good mom." Instead of going for Tokiya's arm, he suddenly pivoted on his heels rejecting the compliment.

"Forget it then. Let him stay out here for all I care."

"Wait Masa! Come back!"

"No! Do it yourselves!"

"Guess he's getting left then." Ren dusted his clothes off and followed Masato's lead.

"It's dining hall time!" Syo exclaimed. He and Natsuki started to go off too.

"Guys! Come on! Stop playing!" I yelled to the guys already halfway across the field.

"Ichinose-san?" Haruka poked at him. Tokiya still didn't react. "Ichinose-san please get up?"

"Hey wake up!" Otoya shouted, "Oh no. Is he dead? " Otoya crawled forward hesitantly. "T-Tokiya...NOOOOOO!" He held Tokiya's body by his shoulders. "TOKIYAAAAAA! COME BACK! WAKE UPPPPPPP!" He shook him violently.

"OTOYA! HE'S STILL BREATHING!" I grabbed the redheaded male. "YOU'RE GONNA MAKE HIM DIZZY!"

"GET OFF OF ME!" Otoya let go and fell backward into me. Tokiya panted in a panicked state. "Jeez! What the heck!?"

"Ichinose-san! You're awake!" Haruka held him up properly.

"What's going on?" Tokiya asked with a scowl.

"You've been out of it for almost an hour." Haruka muttered worriedly.

"Yeah. We let you sleep...well some of us...but you wouldn't wake up!" Otoya said, "I yelled and you still wouldn't wake!"

Tokiya pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry for the trouble. I'm okay now."

"Nanami-chan! Tomo-chan's looking for you!"

"What are you slackers doing!? Let's go already! I'm hungry!"

"Ah yes!" Haruka stood up with the three of us. "Let's go!"

"To the dining hall!" Otoya exclaimed with a fist. "Some food will really wake you up! Tokiya!" The four of us started across the field.

"Hey. Why are there...so many of you guys?"

"Uh maybe because there's a lot of us?" I chuckled. I pivoted in his direction. "You know Tokiya~WOAH!"

The next thing I knew, Tokiya was face-first in the dirt.

"Aaaaah!" I almost let out a harsh scream. "T-Tokiya?!" I dropped to my knees immediately. The way Tokiya had fallen wasn't normal. It was like his soul had flown out of his body for several seconds, and NOT in a comical way.

After a moment, Tokiya's head popped up from the ground. After a couple of blinks to wake himself up, he tried to shoo me away as if nothing had just happened. "Sorry. I'm just...a little tired." He tried to ignore the glare that I was directly aiming at his face.

"Your forehead is burning up!"

"It was hot today. The heat just made me a little dizzy." Tokiya closed his eyes to avoid having to see the building anger on my face. His cellphone suddenly chimed with a message. He stared at the screen blankly before clasping the phone in what seemed like frustration. "I have to go."

"What!?"

"Tell the others that I~"

"Tell them yourself!" I yelled, "Tokiya! Between us and the agency, you're overworking yourself! And you know that! What will it take for you to understand that!? For you to fall into a coma and never wake up again!?" It was like my words were becoming white noise in Tokiya's brain. "You've got to stop working yourself so strenuously! Otherwise, you'll end up in a position where your health won't recover! You have to take care of yourself!" I could feel myself getting ready to cry again. When did I get so emotional? Did I really care that much about Tokiya? "Why? Why are you still acting like HAYATO is so important to you!?"

"...I chose all of this for myself." Regardless of my yelling, he was still able to address me with a tired smile. "As HAYATO...I chose him, even if it was a long time ago. I owe it to myself to see his journey through to the end, no matter how tiresome it becomes. By contract...I legally must anyway." There was a glossiness in Tokiya's dark blue eyes. "The end is near...I can see it, almost grasp it. When I do, I can finally be able to close the chapter. And properly open a new one." Tokiya's purple ball of essence faintly shined at his side. "I don't want to lose this chance. It's just as Haruka said, meeting people like them only happens once in a lifetime. I don't want to screw this up."

"Why does it have to be all by yourself? Why don't you ask us for help?" I whimpered unintentionally.

"It's not fair, that I drag you all along. I can handle it alone."

"But your body can't. Is it really worth it? Damaging your future health?"

"...Excuse me." Instead of answering, Tokiya turned away from me and began to walk off. Had he stayed and given an answer, my guess was that it would have been a yes. And that hurt my heart. A lot.

"Why...why is he fighting by himself like this?!" I cried to myself. An arm brushed past me suddenly.

What had brushed my arm was Otoya's wristband. "Can't you see that you're making her upset?" Otoya gripped Tokiya's left wrist, causing him to turn back to face him. A gust of wind blew through us making me shiver. "She's worried about you. And you're ignoring her."

Tokiya sighed, "Let go of me."

"You know, we haven't been nagging you just because you've been late to practices, we've all been worried about you too."

"I understand that~"

"The days you come home, you're tired and stressed out. No convenience store job makes you sweat like that, so it has to be something more physical. You always have to train for your part-time job."

"Otoya~" The redhead's eyes widened.

"It can't be..." He suddenly muttered, "You...are you...filling in for HAYATO?" Tokiya and I made similar looks. "That's it isn't it? It makes sense...why you're still working so hard when you shouldn't have to." Tokiya paled. "Why didn't you just tell us? We would have understood if you had told us that this was about your brother!"

"~I'm not filling in for HAYATO." Otoya and I looked at the bluenette at the same time. Was he...finally going to tell him?

"Then what is it? What job is so important that you can't devote time to be with us?"

"I'm not filling in for HAYATO..." Tokiya repeated. "...I...just work for him." My purple eyes narrowed. "Like a slave." They unnarrowed just as quickly, filled with pity.

"What? Like a backup dancer?"

"Sure, Otoya. Like a backup dancer." Tokiya quietly laughed to himself. Tokiya released his wrist from his grip and stepped away. "Now if you'll excuse me. I'm going to be late." Tokiya gained a pep in his step so he couldn't be stopped anymore.

"A backup dancer? For HAYATO?" I frowned at the puzzled boy. "If that's all it is...why didn't he just tell us?" Otoya thought allowed. He then looked at me.

"Don't ask me anything!" I stopped him before he could question me. "I refused to get involved with this anymore! I've said all I had to say to that guy! And he won't listen!" I stomped on the ground in frustration. "From now on, it's his word and his word alone! If he says he's HAYATO's backup dancer, he's HAYATO's backup dancer! Screw that guy!"

"Me-chan!" I ran against the evening breeze, unintentionally leaving Otoya in my dust.


"Otoya-kun. What about today?"

"Tokiya sent me a text earlier this morning. He can't make today's meeting at all."

"I see."

"...At least he had the decency to say something this time."

We practice the next time without Tokiya like usual. This time, Tokiya wasn't going to show up at all. In fact, since the day we wrote for Haruka's newest group song, he hadn't been at school. For four days we hadn't seen or heard from Ichinose Tokiya, except the single text he sent Otoya this morning. Not one of us knew where he was, or what he was doing.

Syo peeked his head my way, "Hey KaSa~" He began to whisper. "Do you know if T~"

"No!" I shut him down. "And I don't care!" I resituated myself in my chair at the window. The others dared not talk to me while my eyebrows were furrowed in such a hard slant.

"Aaah." Syo sighed turning on his phone that had been cut off since practice began. "This sucks." He genuinely complained. He scrolled through social media, "Who wants to be in a group like this?" All of us stopped what we were doing. Syo's words hit deeper than he had intended. I snuck a peek at Ren. Like the others, I could tell he was self-reflecting in his head. As the expression on his face changed, I could tell that he was going to be the first to flip.

But I was wrong. "I think we should stop." We all looked at Otoya as he grabbed his bag.

Masato was as equally as surprised Otoya stood first. "Stop for today you mean. Or did you mean..."

"...I don't like working like this." Otoya gripped his bag strap. "I think we all, just need to take a break and wait til we're in a better place to work again."

"You know good and well that we don't have time. Ikki." Ren spoke up. "You know the situation we're in. And who's the cause of it." The strawberry blonde leaned up from his position against the wall and unfolded his arms. "I say we vote him out."

And then all hell broke loose.

"Jinguji!"

"Shut it Hijirikawa!" He pointed, "It's time. You all know it!" Ren began proposing that Tokiya should be quicked out of the group and everyone in the room blundered. Arguments were made, but Ren refuted them all. But Masato refused to let Ren win.

"You have no right to be insisting that we give up on Ichinose! You were the last to join us!"

"Well, I would have never joined if this was going to happen!"

"You knew that Ichinose had a part-time job before any of us!"

"Even so, I'm not the one telling him it was okay to blatantly blow us off for it every day! Nor do I justify it every time it comes up!" Masato gritted his teeth. "You will not blame me for his lack of time management! Or pretend like I don't have a reason to be angry right now!"

"It's not all about you! You're not the only one angry that this isn't working!"

"Well, that makes two of us then doesn't it?" Masato closed his mouth, "All seven of us really. Right?" No one seemed to outright defend the absent male this time. "Regardless of what you all think, I'm not out to get Ichi! I'm just trying to make things work again. For all of our sakes! He's the problem, and removing him solves it! End of story!"

"Come on Ren." Syo muttered, "Don't pull out the cliche, "it's him or me!" please. We're dealing with enough right now."

"I'm not! I'm just~!" Ren growled in frustration, "Ochibi, Ichi is clearly going through something! And he isn't telling anyone anything! Not even the Lady! And we're just supposed to work around that? For how long? Graduation is almost here! Ikki said it himself. Who wants to work like this?!" It sounded like kicking Tokiya out was going to be the next move.

"Hey now! I get that Tokiya not being here is affecting us, but there's a reason why!"

"One that he won't tell us." Natsuki folded his arms.

"H-He~" Otoya looked to me and I looked away, "He's HAYATO's backup dancer!"

"Backup dancer?" Masato stopped arguing with Ren to address his accusation. "Where did you get that information from?"

"H-He told us! Melody and I! Yesterday!"

Natsuki rubbed his forehead, "Otoya. HAYATO doesn't have any backup dancers."

"Huh?"

"In fact, HAYATO isn't even singing right now. You of all people should know that. You follow Idol Monthly."

"R-Right." The A-class boys frowned in unison.

"Someone..."

"...Has to know something~!" The rest of us clenched up in frustration.

RINGGGG! RINGGGG!

"What is it Leon?" I asked in annoyance. "Now's not a good time."

"I'm coming to get you."

"Hah?" My eyes travel back to outside the window. "I can't leave right now. I'm busy here~"

"Tokiya collapsed." My seat fell back as a stood up. Everyone looked at me worriedly. "His manager agreed that you should come to see him."

"W-what?...W-When?"

"I'll be there in five." I could hear Leon's car engine revving. "I'll discuss things further then. Please be ready. And don't tell anyone yet. For security reasons." The call dropped and I stood there for several seconds in shock.

"Lady?"

"Me-chan?"

"KaSa? What is it?"

"Was that Toki~" Natsuki's green eyes widened when he saw me. "Melody-chan! You~"

"Excuse me!" Without much thinking, I grabbed my bag and ran off, leaving my sheet music behind.

Tokiya? Collapsed? I shouldn't be surprised.

But I was. And very scared.


"Apparently, he's been unconscious for two full days now. I heard about it by chance from his manager when I was discussing the company negotiations." I kept myself composed as Leon and I walked through the agency's penthouse security. "The company's trying to keep it hush-hush, but it's getting harder for them. HAYATO's missing big appointments. It's all over the news, the events that HAYATO was supposed to headline."

"Which floor is he on?" I asked, touching the elevator panel.

Leon grimaced. "The 5th." I press the number 5, so the elevator hovers upward. "You know, Himura-san was desperately asking me who he should contact at times like this since Tokiya isn't close with his main family. I told him it should obviously be his girlfriend." I harshly glared at Leon. "Hey now! I'll stop with the jokes when you two finally admit to being a couple again."

"He and I aren't a couple." I growled, "I came here because Tokiya's got no one else to come see him." I gripped my bag. The elevator doors open. "I'm gonna drag him out of bed and I'm taking him back to the academy. This is the final straw."

"The house doctor wouldn't recommend that." Himura was already in the hallway waiting for us. "Besides, at least wait until HAYATO is conscious once more, to see what he truly wants." As soon as I left the elevator, I b-lined straight for Himura. "ERGH!" Upon grabbing his shirt collar, I violently let instinct take over and threw him against the wall.

"This is all your fault!"

"Melody-chan!" Leon exclaimed, "That's legal assault. Right now is not the time for you to be hemmed up with charges!"

"Shut up Leon!" I growled again, "You knew Tokiya's workload was too much for him, yet you still made him do it all. It was you! You overworked him like this!"

"Grr~" Himura struggled to speak in my grip, "You of all people...know that HAYATO is good at hiding his emotions! If he was worn out at all, he never showed it at work!"

"Liar! You could see it in his face every day!"

"They do say the only person that knows what someone is really going through is themselves." Leon sighed, "I'm sure that HAYATO was keeping his fatigue and frustration to himself."

"Exactly! I couldn't have possibly known that HAYATO was under enough stress to fall into a coma~"

"A coma! You let him fall into a coma!?" I pushed him back again.

Leon's looked down the hall, "Isn't that the room he's in, Hanamura?"

"You know very well that my name is Himura!" The manager exclaimed.

"I want the answer while you can still breathe please."

"Tch!" Himura growled, "Yes. He's resting there!"

Leon placed his hand on my wrist, "Enough. Just go to him. This man isn't worth the trouble." I reluctantly released my grip and backed away. Only then did Leon unhand me, ushering me down the hallway.

Inside the luxurious 5th floor apartment, Tokiya was laid out in the bedroom. "Tokiya?" I felt the bluenette's pulse, his breathing shallow and still. "Hey! Wake up!" I could tell that he wasn't just sleeping. "Why isn't he responding!?"

"Typically that's a side effect of a coma, Melody-chan." Leon took his shades off and stared at Tokiya over my shoulder. "What did the house doctors say?"

"HAYATO's vitals are all stable." Himura told us, "It's only a matter of when he is to awaken."

"Well, when is he supposed to wake?"

"That was...Yesterday." He looked down, "He is still showing signs of life, so I don't know why he hasn't. They say it's up to his own power of will..."

"No way..." I touched Tokiya's forehead with my fingers.

Leon sighed, "I'd like to speak to you in private, Himura. Let's give them some space."

"By all means." Himura and Leon headed for the doors, "The doctor shall check up on him soon."

As soon as the door shut behind them, I leaned over Tokiya's bed in a panic. "They're gone now." I spoke aloud. I waited for a sign from the unresponsive bluenette. "You can wake up now...Tokiya?" It was then I got a full glimpse of his unconscious body. Tokiya's eyes were closed and he was as pale as ever. His breaths were so soft you could barely notice his breathing at all. It was true, Tokiya had finally worked himself out of commission. "Toki...come on. I told you this would happen. Why didn't you listen to me!?" I wanted to scream at him, but his tired features rendered me weak. Frustrated, I leaned over his stomach and cried. "Stupid...Stupid Tokiya! Who said you could leave me!? Come back! Come back dammit!" More tears I had been holding in flooded out of my eyes. "I can't. I can't move on...not without you. I won't do it! I won't!"

Suddenly, a feeling of familiarity washed over me. I decided to look up, and immediately realize why. A purple ball of light, ever so still shined in front of me. Its glow wasn't as bright as normal, but shining nonetheless. The sight of it gave me hope. "It's you isn't it?" The ball didn't move. "I wasn't crying, you know." I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket. "I can't believe you let things get to this point...both of you." I reached out my right hand, my index finger caressing the edge of the ball. Tokiya's essence rolled across my fingers and nuzzled into my hand, making me hold it in both. "You know better than to make me worried like this. You've made us all worry." I brought it close to my chest. "It's almost like I can hear you speaking to me, Kiyavelli. Even though I'm in this world...I know what to do." I held my cupped hands over Tokiya. "This better work. If it doesn't, I'll come to the dream world and kill you myself." I lowered my hands over Tokiya's chest, pushing the essence back into his body. "Let's do it, Princess. Timeless Daydream." I closed my eyes, a light breeze flowing through my hair. Maybe it was my imagination. Maybe it all was. Because when I lifted my hands again, the purple ball of light was gone.

I looked at Tokiya's face again. I didn't see a change. But with a hopeful thought, I touched his cold hand. I touched foreheads with him, hoping to feel something. A stronger pulse. Heavier breathing. I got a little of both. I sighed in relief. He still wasn't awake, but I was sure he wasn't dead. The bluenette was sleeping. "Thank goodness." His soft snoring almost brought me to tears again as I smiled. "Stop giving me a heart attack dammit. When you wake up, let's resume claiming our destinies, 'kay?"


For once, I had fallen asleep but was not taken to the dream world. Perhaps all the stress of worrying about Tokiya had caused me to not dream deep enough to reach it. Or something. Who knows. But when I awoke in the morning, Tokiya was awake to greet me. He looked like he had been watching me sleep. For a moment, we just stared at each other, ignoring everything else. In that short time, I saw Tokiya's eyes soften slightly with a smile. The small gesture evoked a hug from me, and he returned the embrace. It felt good, being in his arms.

...What?

Oh right.

I punched Tokiya in the gut and sat up. "Aaayah~" I yawned with a stretch as Tokiya held his abdomen in pain. "Took you long enough, Idiot."

"I could say the same for you." Tokiya murmured from his pillow, "It's nearly afternoon now."

"I don't wanna hear that from you! You were in a coma!"

"And there she is, ladies and gentleman. Our early morning loudmouth Melody-chan."

I pulled his cheeks apart, "Say it again."

Tokiya pinched my side just as hard so he could squirm out of my hold. "As many times as you want." The way he said it made me blush.

"D-D-Don't say things like that so randomly! Baka~!" Tokiya's body fell forward back into the bed. "Toki-Aah!" His pillow murmured his groan as he pulled me back down into bed with him. "Five minutes more."

"Waaah!? Let go!"

"No."

"Toki-"

"No."

"-ya!"

"No."

"Argh!" When did he get so strong!? He used one arm! Isn't he suppose to be weak?! "Fine! I'll stay with you."

"Isn't that what you wanted?"

"In your dreams!"

"If you guys get any more adorable I may have to leave the room."

"LEON!"

"LEONHEART-SAN!"

"Yes. That is my name." Leon nonchalantly set his teacup down on the saucer. "Honestly, it must be true. The power of love can create miracles. Remarkable."

"How long have you been there!?"

"We are not in love!"

Leon held up one of his work phones, "This compromising position would disagree." A photo of Tokiya and I nuzzled into each other appeared on its display. I wrangled all the strength I had to crawl out of Tokiya's grasp and lunge for Leon. "Delete it! Delete it right now!"

"Even if I do, it's already saved to the cloud." He stood up, effortlessly holding it above my reach.

Tokiya pinched the bridge of his nose, "Answer my question, Leon."

"I saw everything." Leon admitted. Tokiya's ears flushed.

"Delete it all! From your phone and your memory!"

"Don't ask for the impossible."

"What else did you do!?" Tokiya turned away. "Tokiya!"

"Tokiya! Tokiya!" He mocked me when I approached him. He clasped my hands before I could tug on him. "Idiot! Baka! That's what you sound like!" I struggled against him, "How could I ever fall for a whiny little little girl like you?!"

"I'm not little! And how dare you use that word twice!" I growled.

"It's true~"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not~"

"Oh dear, here we go again." Leon sighed checking his watch.

"You're such a child!"

"You're more of a child than me!" I cried out. Tokiya froze, loosening his grip on me. "Working until you physically dropped! Falling into a coma! What's wrong with you?!" I screamed. "You could have really never woken up again. We were all so worried about you!"

"I...You're right." He admitted as another wave of tears involuntarily began to flow again. Tokiya pulled me closer as I tried to wipe them away quickly. "I apologize. Whole-heartedly."

"What your girlfriend wants is not an apology. She wants your word it will never happen again." Leon said. Tokiya and I glared at him. "What you did was reckless Ichinose, no matter who or what pushed you to this point. An idol is useless with an unhealthy body." He placed his hands in his pockets. "If you felt overwhelmed, you should have asked for help."

"I know." Tokiya's head drooped, "I apologize for causing you both all this trouble."

"It's not about us, Tokiya! It's about you, and your well-being!" I told him, "Why are you so thick-headed!?" Leon snickered. Tokiya frowned embarrassed.

"Well. I'll send for room service." Leon started out, "I have a few calls to make. You aren't leaving this room until you have the house doctor's clearance. Understand?"

"Yes."

As Leon left, I folded my arms and huffed, "And don't expect me to help you escape either. Hmph!"

"I wasn't expecting it."

"Good~" Tokiya hugged me from behind. I grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face in embarrassment. "AND PUT A SHIRT ON!"

"Yes yes." Tokiya got the hint and moved away from me. I sighed heavily and sat on the couch while he got dressed. The last time I was awake Tokiya was not well. Now, he was back to standing on his own.

"If you're going to peek, I'll have to ask you to leave the room."

"I am NOT peeking!" Tokiya chuckled at my response.

"I'll ask you to leave then." Both of our heads turned towards the door. "The doctor is on his way, so he isn't going anywhere. And Ichinose needs rest."

"President!" Tokiya gasped.

"Sir." I gasped equally surprised. I sweatdropped nervously, "That's an unexpected surprise."

"Not really." He whispered to me near me, "It's his building."

"Oh...Dang."

"Look whose decided to reappear after all these years." The President of HAYATO's company shuffled across the room from the door. "What brings you back now? When you appear you always bring trouble."

Tokiya moved closer to me. "President~"

"It's fine," I tell Tokiya. "Sir. I heard Tokiya had collapsed. I was worried so I came to check on him."

"After all these years? Why now?"

I looked to Tokiya before explaining. "Tokiya and I ran into each other a while ago. We just recently started to hang out again."

The President went over to the nearby pitcher of water and poured himself a glass. "The both of you...must take me as an old fool." He took the pill in his left hand with a swallow of water. "Both of you are students of Saotome Academy now." We unintentionally gasped. "You really think he wouldn't tell me? The nerve...of you both."

"Dammit Shining." I cursed to myself.

Tokiya grimaced, "I was going to tell you, President. I have been going through a lot recently and~"

"I expected this from someone like her ungrateful self." I frowned, "But you, Ichinose. I trusted you."

"I apologize, really." Tokiya bowed respectfully. He couldn't find the right words to explain. "I should have told you~"

"Your contract is ending soon right? Himura told me." The President pulled out a cigar from a small box in his pocket. "He said he had just gone over the renewing details with you. He blames himself for things ending up like this, you know." He lit the cigar he had been holding onto. "And now she's here. Let me guess. Convincing you to leave just like she did?"

As the old man took a puff, Tokiya stepped forward. "President. It's not like tha~"

"Here you were giving the impression that you were going to continue with our company." He kept cutting Tokiya off. "And you're piled up with work...You should be thanking me!" As the President grew angrier, I kept my mouth shut. I knew there was nothing I could interject that could save the situation. "After this contract, are we done? Ichinose!? I thought you wanted to sing!"

"I do want to sing! I tried telling you. Over and over, again and again!"

"The last live show you had...was a complete disaster!"

"That was~!"

In frustration, the President dropped his cigar into the glass of water. "How many CDs have been sold upon initial release? You would be able to do anything! In due time!"

"I need it now!" Tokiya yelled equally frustrated, "I swore that I would sing!"

"So both of you fell for Shining's fast talk!?" The President coughed violently, "Is his place...that wonderful?" He then pointed at me dramatically. "And you! You left my business for good, just to go compete with our rival! Have you know shame?!"

Tokiya protectively shoved an arm in front of me, "Leave Melody out of this! You never understood her circumstances!"

"Did I~?!" The President coughed once more, "I gave her a chance and she abruptly walked out on me? On us!? Have you forgotten the days you skipped practice to grieve over her disappearance?!" Tokiya closed his eyes and turned his head away from us. I watched his pitiful expression, "Who took care of you back then!? Me! Not her! And now you're planning to leave us for whatever the hell she's doing! Do you have any...sense of obligation...or duty?!" The President was gasping for air. "Where...do your... loyalties lie~!"

"Sir?"

"President?"

"People like you are..." The old man was holding his sides like he was in pain. "People like...you...are~!" Finally, he collapsed to the ground in front of us.

"Is he having a heart attack?" I calmed my voice to prevent myself from screaming in shock.

Tokiya dropped to his knees to check his pulse. "Melody! Call an ambulance!" I flipped my cell out as fast as I could. I didn't know how to use the emergency mode, so I opened my phone the regular way to dial. My notifications had been spammed with missed calls. I took a few seconds to notice. Masato, Syo...mostly Otoya. Since I had left they all had tried calling me. But I didn't have the time to call them back.

"Hello? 119!?" As I explained the situation, my cell buzzed with a low battery error message. Panicked, I spoke faster. "Please hurry!"


"You know if you keep frowning like that, the wrinkles will stay on your face."

Tokiya, who was in deep thought, blinked before looking up at me. "Huh?"

"Wrinkles aren't good for an idol's face. You'd be laughed off the stage." I handed him the black tea from the vending machine. The distress seemed to leave his face.

He accepted it calmly, "Tsubasa was right. You should listen to your own advice more." He cracked it open softly. I let out a tch sound and sat down on the waiting room bench next to him. "So, did you get in touch with the others?"

"My cell died, luckily after making the 119 call...As an American, saying that is so weird." I muttered, "How about yours?"

"Died prior to my collapse." Tokiya explained mid-sip, "I've been trying to charge it now, but's barely 4%." Before I could ask, he raised his hand in front of me. "And no. My phone needs to be at least at 10% to turn on."

"Damn it." I sat back in my seat, "Practice for today is probably over by now. The last time I checked, everyone was blowing up our phones. Didn't get a chance to call them back."

"Mine as well. Mostly from Otoya."

"Same."

Tokiya sighed and sat back as well. He turned to me, "You didn't get a drink?" I shook my head. "Want some?"

"Thanks but no. If I wanted tea, I'd have mine with sugar thanks."

Tokiya's forehead connected with mine. "It's healthier without the sugar you know."

I pushed against him, "Well guess what? Sugar belongs in the body. Caffeine doesn't."

Both of us let out an exhausted sigh. Tokiya then mustered up a soft snicker. "I'm glad that you are here." He told me in a genuine tone. "If you weren't here, I don't think I could keep my composure like this." He closed his eyes, smiling.

"...Regardless of how we've both felt these past few months, you've been going through a lot recently." I looked down with a light blush. "I'm sorry...that this is all I can do."

"Don't be." He disconnected from my forehead in order to pull me into a hug. "It's enough." My blush darkened when I held him back.

I wasn't Tokiya's official girlfriend...Not anymore. But sometimes...it felt like it. I realized then why people thought of us that way.

"Excuse me, Ichinose-san." A nurse brought us to our senses and two of us split apart respectively. "He's available to be seen now." He nodded and she scurried away.

"Go. I'm sure he still wants to talk with you." Seeing him want to protest, I made up an excuse to not go with him. "Someone has to stay with your cell. I'll try to get a call in to the others while you are gone."

"...Melody?"

"Hmm?"

"..." Tokiya was silent for several seconds. I braced myself as he sheepishly looked to the floor. "I-I...would like to have a serious talk with you. When we have some time." 'A talk?' "...About...you and me." 'You and me?' "If it is okay with you." I was speechless. Tokiya's dark blue eyes met mine, waiting for a response.

"S-s-sure." 'Whatever that means', I thought. Was it possible that Tokiya had realized what I did just a little ago? Maybe he felt the same way...

While Tokiya spent time with the company president, his cell had finally reached 10%. For a call, that wasn't much at all. But considering how much the others had called, I couldn't afford to ghost them any longer.

"Hello?"

"Otoya-"

"EHH ME-CHAN!"

"Y-Yes, it's me," I said putting the cell back to my ear. "Look, I don't have much time-"

"Where are you? Have you heard from Tokiya? Is he with you? Where has he been? Where have you been? What have you two been doing all this ti-"

"Otoya slow down!" I whisper-shouted. I tried to stay quiet in the public place, "Uh, yes I'm with Tokiya. We're at the hospital. It's a long story and-"

"Hospital!?" I pulled the cell away from my ear again as he shrieked. "Is everything okay!? Are you okay!?" Tokiya's cell buzzed warning me of the low battery.

"Yes. We're both okay. It's a long story like I said!" 5% already. "Look the phone's gonna die, since I'm making a call on low battery. Just tell everyone we're alright and we'll be back soon."

"...Just how long, have you been with him?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You've known him for a long time right...You're a pair." Otoya spoke in a quieter tone, "The two of you...just how close, are you?"

"W-What's that suppose to mean?" I asked, "Otoya? Otoya hello?" I looked at the black screen of my cell. "Jeez, what bad timing." I clutched the cell in my hand.

'So he was curious was he? Could he be je-...no. He's just worried. Then again, why else would he ask about how close we were? Either that or...maybe he's finally caught on. About HAYATO. That has to be it. Dammit, now I'm left wondering.' My mind was racing while I was told by a nurse that the President wanted to see me. A cup of water in hand, I had almost forgotten how nervous I was to see him again.

"KaSakura-san." I blinked after hearing the President's voice. "I'm sorry...for the way I acted."

"No no." I shook my head, "I'm the one who should apologize. I intruded into the building."

"Nonsense. You are always welcomed here. You and him both." He spoke dismissively. I didn't argue against him. He was already in a weak state, and I could tell he was trying his best to be sincere. "Tokiya. This guy is... a very nice guy. This boy here is like a son to me. It might not seem like it, but all this time, I've wanted to protect him." He coughed weakly, "I don't want to lose him. But I could tell, since long ago, that he's always willing to go, wherever you do." Tokiya looked down shyly at the floor, "At the end of the day, if you don't sell, you won't get far. You do understand that, right?"

"We trust in Shining, to help carry us as far as we can go." I told the man with confidence.

"Then, if you are really serious about leaving behind your identity as HAYATO here as you've told me, you have my blessing, Tokiya. I'm sorry for trampling on your feelings."

"Thank you." Tokiya let go of the breath he seemed to have been holding in. I patted his back to soothe the bluenette on the verge of tears.

"I apologize for being so bitter about you leaving the company the way you did, KaSakura-san. I should have known you had your reasons. Please forgive me." I nodded in acceptance, "But, I just have one request. Please look after him. The two of you are a duo. I bet you'll both go quite far." I bowed respectfully at the man's bedside. "I shouldn't have been blaming you for Tokiya's sudden want of a change in career path. Both of you should be able to pursue the careers you wish to have. If that means cutting ties with me. So be it."

"Cutting ties with the company doesn't have to mean cutting ties with you, Sir. If I'm allowed to say." I chose my words carefully. "I'm sure Tokiya can agree with me when I say, we still have the utmost respect for you and are appreciative of everything you've done. For both of us until this point."

"Yes." Tokiya could only say bowing once more beside me.

"Then this is goodbye for now." With one last cough, the president closed his eyes ending the conversation.

Himura was just outside the door when we exited. We assumed he had been eavesdropping and had heard everything. "I'll be in touch to set up a press conference to put things to rest...Are you really leaving?" We only stared at him in response. Defeated, Himura bowed with a sad expression. "I'm truly sorry for letting things get to this point. I hope you can forgive me, one day." I followed Tokiya as he bowed respectfully to the man and left without another word. Nothing else needed to be said.

"Also, please be careful tonight."

In the taxi back, we found out what he meant. On the radio, HAYATO's speculated identity was all over the news channels. We could feel the taxi driver oogling us in the rear view mirror because of it.

"If they all didn't know before...they know now."

"If it isn't one thing it's another." Tokiya frowned with a hand on his forehead.

"This coming out shouldn't matter, if you stick to the plan." I spoke hoping to calm his nerves. "Shining won't let this info affect you negatively. And if things blow out of proportion, I've got your back." I touched his free hand, "We'll back you up. You'll be just fine. Get some rest, we have a long road ahead. Figuratively and literally."

Tokiya gripped my hand for reassurance, "I hope it all works out that way." He leaned against me, "And I hope the others will feel the same as you do." I tried to relax beside him as well.

'I do too...'


TOKIYA: Here's hoping for the best future. Utapri.


MPK: An update before Tomo's and my bday~ See ya when I see ya.