Good evening!
Thank you everyone who wrote me a review! You guys are so sweet! I will do my best to make you all happy.
Anyway-
I know its been...well quite sometime...I'm glad I warned that this was going to update slow...
I had quite a bit of writer's block but I kept writing rough draft after rough draft, but I wasn't satisfied with them...so, I wrote another one just now and decided...why the hell not? That's my style. If I think too much, I over think and nothing gets posted so...have this chapter. I like it well enough :D
And also I'm sorry its MUCH shorter than the last chapter
Hopefully next time will be longer :D
Ya never know with future me
She can be so fickle.
Disclaimer: This exists, so you know Uta no Prince-sama doesn't belong to me.
Haruka watched, with a rather confused expression, as the members of Quartet Night disappeared down the hall. She couldn't understand why they were in such a rush. 'Maybe they were just tired?' She shrugged off their oddities and turned her attention to her friends, a smile on her face. "You came home rather late today, everyone. You must be working hard" She commented, her voice calm and, in a way, apologetic. But instead of the sleepy, exhausted expressions she had expected from the seven singers, she found them looking irritated and angry. Haruka could even see a little vein throbbing on Syo's forehead. She stared at them for a moment and soon realized they would start yelling, as they often did. She didn't understand why they had such outbursts, but through their time together, she had learned to see them coming. She knew this was going to be a big one. She mentally braced herself.
As she predicted, Syo ran up to her, roughly grabbing her at the shoulders, his face mere inches from hers. She squeezed her eyes shut when she felt his breath wave over her face, "Did they do something to you?!" He yelled.
Haruka slowly opened her eyes, little tears lining them from the force with which she had shut them. She turned tilted her head slightly to the side, looking to the other members of Starish to help her. However, she found that they had gathered around her, each with a curious yet irritated glint in their eyes. Realizing no one would get her out of Syo's grasp, she turned back to the short blonde. "Do something?" She asked, expressing her genuine confusion, "Like what, Syo-kun?"
"L-like…." Syo froze, suddenly realizing how close they were together. He gently released the girl, a red blush adorning his face. "Er…like…" He scratched his head and took a step back, running into Natsuki's chest. Natsuki smiled, his usual care-free smile, wrapping his arms tightly around Syo before he could get away.
"I think what he's asking is…did those guys do something to make you uncomfortable?" Natsuki rephrased.
"Eh?...No? Nothing like that happened at a—" Haruka tried to reply.
"What happened to your nose?" Tokiya asked, interrupting her.
Haruka stilled herself. Tokiya always spoke in an icy tone and she had gotten quite used to his cold attitude…but…the way he spoke to her just then sent shivers down her spine. She felt the goose bumps climb up her arms. But still, not wanting to seem weak, she answered him calmly, "I ran into a door".
"You're clumsy, but you're not that clumsy" Otoya replied. It was true. Haruka had a knack for dropping things and tripping all over the place. To be honest, her running into a door was a completely believable occurrence. But the way the senpais had reacted was enough to draw suspicion, no matter what Haruka said. "Did the senpais hit you or something?"
"Or hit on you" Ren added.
"Shut up" Masato folded his arms over his chest and sent Ren a glare that could freeze hell over.
"You say that but you're curious to~" Ren smirked, completely unaffected.
Haruka chuckled. She felt herself relax as the group returned to their normal selves, "It's really nothing" She said, "I honestly did just run into a door". 'Though...it was more slammed into my face...better not say that...' She thought.
"You need to be more aware of your surroundings, Nanami" Cecil sighed, "Especially when I'm not here to protect you". He closed the distance between them in few strides and wrapped one hand around her waist, bringing the other to gently cup her chin. "Does it hurt?" He asked, his eyes exuding concern.
Before Haruka could reply she felt Cecil's warmth ripped from her. Syo quickly grabbed Cecil's collar, hauling him off the young girl, and practically threw him into the air. "Don't get so close to her" Syo barked.
"Says the guy who was clinging to her not even five minutes ago" Cecil huffed, landing gracefully on his feet.
"Are you O.K, Haru-chan?" Natsuki asked as he moved to stand in front of Haruka, physically blocking out sight of Cecil and Syo arguing.
Haruka smiled, "Of course. It didn't even hurt when it happened. But Kotobuki-senpai insisted on putting a bandaid on" She chuckled. The room went silent. Haruka didn't know what was wrong with what she said…but she knew it was a mistake. Instantly, the dark, angry, irritated aura the group had before was back.
"Insisted?" Ren asked. Even though he was smiling, Haruka couldn't help but gulp. Ren was certainly smiling, but it didn't feel anything like a smile. There was a malicious tone that made Haruka want to run. "What do you mean he insisted?"
"Did he force himself on you?!" Cecil yelled, completely forgetting about his argument with Syo and returning to Haruka's side.
"Don't word it like that, moron!" Masato chastised, shaking his head in disapproval. Though a slight pink shade had made its way to his cheeks.
"The wording doesn't matter" Otoya said before Ren could retort, "What's important is that they didn't do anything weird!...T-they…didn't do anything…weird…right?" Otoya turned his attention back to the wide-eyed, confused Haruka.
"They didn't do anything" Haruka nodded and waving her hands around, desperately trying to calm her friends down.
"As long as you're alright…I guess" Tokiya sighed, "We were really worried about you after all" He gave her a soft, relieved smile.
"That's right, Little Lamb" Ren nodded, putting on his best flirtatious smile, "The reason we came back so late was because we couldn't focus on our work. Our hearts and minds in complete chaos….consumed with only thoughts of you."
"Wow, you're so smooth, Ren" Natsuki stared in awe as he gradually started clapping his hands.
"No one's going to join your slow clap. Stop it" Syo slapped at Natsuki.
"More importantly" Masato sighed, "Can you tell us what happened?"
"Ah! Y-yes!" Haruka took a step back and bowed to the Starish members, her body making a perfect 90 degree angle. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday!" She straightened herself. She ignored the stunned looks of her friends and continued, "I should have explained myself to you clearly. Even though you were just concerned for me, I ran away without thinking about how that would make you all feel. I'm really sorry. A-actually…it….I was just embarrassed" Haruka finished, her strong will slowly fading as she remembered her task. She began fiddling with her fingers, unable to stop the blood from rushing to her face.
Starish couldn't look away. Haruka stood by the giant wooden doors, wearing her light pink, almost white, night dress. The moon shined through the window behind them, illuminating her beautiful pale skin. Her face was tinted a perfect shade of red. The moonlight hit her eyes just perfectly, as she looked at them with shy and nervous glances. Masato forced himself out of his trance. "W-what….why…do you feel embarrassed?" He asked, snapping the rest of the group back to their senses.
"Is…there something you can't tell us?" Otoya asked. He looked towards her feet and scratched the back of his head. He looked like a puppy who had been kicked.
"It…it's not confidential or anything! Or at least…President didn't ask me to keep it quiet" Haruka said quickly. Her interpretation was more on a business platform rather than the intended meaning, "It's just that the new project is…more complicated…"
"How so?" Cecil asked.
"W-well…uhm…you see…the thing is…its about….l-l-love" Haruka replied, her voice slowly drifting until she all but whispered the last word.
"….Love? But you've written love songs before." Natsuki said, but it sounded more like a question than a statement.
"This is different" Haruka blushed, "It…the songs I've written only became about love after you guys wrote the lyrics…this time the President wants…"
"A love song with notes dripping with love as well" Cecil nodded, "It'll make for a song with more harmony and flow"
"Y-yes. I also think that's what the president is going for" Haruka chirped.
"Then what's the problem?" Tokiya raised a brow, "Just think about a time you were in love and use those feelings to write a song."
"W-well….uhh…" Haruka stuttered.
There was a short silence before Natuski piped in, "Could it be you've never been in love, Haru-chan?"
Haruka's race lit up like a Christmas tree and that was all the answer Starish needed.
"You've…never been in love?" Otoya asked.
"I….well..I…I haven't. I love my grandmother. I love my friends and my job, but…the kind of love the President wants me to feel while I write this song…isn't the kind of love that I've felt before." Haruka nodded.
"So then…about the senpais…?" Masato asked, his gentle voice calming her nerves.
"I thought that I could use their experiences with love to write a song" Haruka explained, "But it didn't seem to work. I can't sympathize with feelings I've never felt before"
'Theres only one reason why the senpais would be acting so weird over such innocent curiosity…I better keep an eye on them' was the simple thought that ran through their minds.
"Well, the fix is pretty simple isn't it?" Ren said with a smirk, "All you have to do is fall in love". Ren reached for her and grabbed her hand. "Why don't you try falling for me?" He asked, giving her hand a short kiss.
"Like she'd fall for a dumbass like you" Masato growled, slapping Ren's hand away. Masato moved to hold Haruka protectively. "She should fall for a gentleman"
"Hehhhh….like you?" Ren asked with a smile, trying to sound entertained. But his words sounded strained and annoyed. His forehead betrayed him as a vein had popped up through his irritation. Masato quickly released Haruka, a blush on his face. He turned to reply, but was cut off. "Well, Tokiya is kind of a gentleman too. Would you rather she fell for someone like him?" Ren chuckled. Masato immediately turned to give Tokiya a glare, who merely gave a confused look back.
"No way! Nanami will fall for me! We're meant to be, you know? She's my muse!" Cecil stomped a foot on the ground, a pout on his face.
"She'd have to take care of you! She needs a man who will take care of her and protect her!" Syo barked.
"Aww, you're so cute when you're fired up" Natsuki hummed as he poked Syo's cheeks.
"S-shouldn't it be more like...someone who is on the same wavelength as her?" Otoya chimed in.
"What does that even mean?" Syo raised an eyebrow.
Haruka began to chuckle, silencing the room. "W-what?" Masato asked, sheepishly.
"It's just…it makes me happy you're so interested in my love life. It really feels like I have brothers or something" Haruka smiled
"…WE ARE NOT—" Otoya was cut off.
"It doesn't matter!" Tokiya raised his voice, shutting down the impending commotion, "Don't you remember the rules? We're not allowed to fall in love"
"Oh…that's—" But before Syo could finish his sentence, they heard a harsh chord being slammed onto the piano.
The group quickly spun around to find the source. And there, in the moonlight, sat a very pretty Ringo. He turned to them, a threatening smile on his lips as he stood and closed the piano. "Speaking of rules, I believe…" He said, the sweetness in his voice causing the group to shudder, "It's late…and yet…here we have a group of boys and a young princess together. That's against the rules…isn't it?"
"No fraternizing with the opposite sex after 10:30, unless work is being done" Hyuga replied, nodding, as he stepped out of the shadows.
"What kind of work?" Ren smirked, his voice smooth and tone suggestive.
"Don't" Masato shushed, shutting Ren down immediately.
"And I don't believe anyone was singing or dancing" Ringo said, ignoring Ren and Masato, as he strode over to the group.
"Then we can only conclude we have some rule breakers here" Hyuga sighed.
"Haruka-chan, why don't you head off to bed. The boys will have to be punished" Ringo smiled at the orange-haired girl as he shoo'd her away.
"Ah, b-but I was up late too. Shouldn't I take part in the punishment?" Haruka asked.
"Ah no, there's no need. These rules apply only to idols. And you're a composer. You're free to do whatever you want" Ringo gave her a wink.
"So..then…idols and composers aren't held to the same restrictions?" Haruka asked, her eyes shining bright.
"Eh?" Masato's eyes widened.
"…I don't like where this is going" Ren shuddered.
"Yes, that's right" Ringo nodded.
"Ah! That's it then!" Haruka clapped her hands over Ringo's, "I can fall in love with someone! If I fall in love, I can write this song properly!"
"Wait, what?!" Syo screamed.
"She said—" Natsuki started
"I KNOW WHAT SHE SAID" Syo barked
"Then why did you ask?" Natsuki smiled
"Hehhh, that's true. I remember President saying something about your new project" Hyuga said, "But you can't fall in love half-heartedly. That'll just hurt the other person. You must fall with all of your being."
"Awww, Ryuya…what wonderful words" Ringo swooned, "He's right, of course. This isn't just for work, this is life, ya know? So, leap with all your strength, ne?" Ringo smiled.
"Y-yes! Thank you!" Haruka bowed
"W-wait, Haruka…that's-" Tokiya tried to gather his thoughts.
"D-don't go!" Otoya yelled, but it was too late. Haruka left the room in a hurry, disappearing into the darkness of the hall.
"Oi, oi, oi" Hyuga smacked the back of Otoya's head, "Your attention should be here. Punishment number one, 20 laps around the mansion. Get outside and move"
"B-but….NANAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
...this certainly wasn't where they wanted this to go.
When I was writing this...it seemed longer...
...but really we haven't moved too much in the actual story
More words then movement
I can hear my tenth grade English (who taught me how to write those many moons ago) nagging me now...
...shut up Mrs. Green.
Anyway! Please drop a review if you'd like to. I like to read them and squeal...so you know..there's that
If not, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.