Chapter 3 He's Helpful

Yume POV

"Ah… Ahh… Ahh…." I've been trying to practice my vocal cords for a while now, with the S4 selection close to one week. I have been doing all sort of Aikatsu to get me ready. While doing my idol work.

Thankfully everything seems to go smooth. I haven't really been thinking about Subaru except when I saw him a few days ago.

Apparently Subaru and the rest of M4 were going to record a new song, on the same day as me. It took me a bit of a surprise to see him there but I guess it shouldn't surprise me. They record songs all the times.

I'm not sure what came over me but I grab his hand and led him inside the recording studio. I guess he notice me blush since he called Tomato. But I got my revenge by calling him Boil Octopus. When I let got of his hand, I felt a bit different. As if I didn't want too. As soon as I left the guys I looked at my hand. It still felt like I was holding his hand.

Even after that day I still look at my hand.

I can't lose focus now. Not with the S4 selection coming soon.

Now that I think about it, I wonder how the others are doing? Ako, Mahiru, Laura, and Lily-senpai. We all been working hard but am I ready to face them? Although I'm not facing Ako and Mahiru, I'm a bit worry who I'm really facing. Both Laura and Lily-senpai are amazing. They had experienced before coming to Four Star Academy. Not to mention Hime-san, the current S4 for song class. I have to beat all three of them if I want to become S4.

But am I ready to face them?

Maybe taking an afternoon off will do me some good. I can't overwork myself. Yeah! That's what I'm going to do. I'll take the afternoon off.

I left the practice room and went to my room. I change my track suit to my regular clothes. I decided to wear a light pink pants with a white long sleeve shirt. I put on a pink hat and fake glasses. I grab my purse and headed to town.

I didn't want to bother the other girls since knowing that they'll be busy

Everyone is working hard.

But I don't really want to be alone either.

Maybe it wouldn't be bad to be with him?

Why did I think about him now? Is it possible that he can make me feel better? Just thinking about the people I'm competing for the S4 selection makes me have a little doubt about myself. This is not the first time I felt this way.

The first time I felt this way was when we had the class sorting audition. I was scared that I wasn't going to make it to the Song class. Even though I had Kohura to talk about it at that time. The one who help me sort my doubts was Subaru.

I remember he said

"Isn't the important thing not about whether you can pass, but what to accomplish? Didn't you come to Four Star Academy with a goal in mind? Spring straight toward it, like you did just now."

After he said that all I can think about was my goal for coming to Four Star Academy. With his advice in mind I manage to pass the class sorting audition.

"Ouff…" I guess I was lost in thought that I bump into someone.

"Gomenasai" I apologize to the person I bump into.

"Is fine Tomato. I got use to it from you." I look up to see it was Subaru that I bump into.

How is it that he always appears when I'm down or think about him?

"Don't call me Tomato!" I thought for sure he'll realize not to call me that.

"Anyway what are you doing here in town?" I asked him before he started calling me anything else.

"I have a day off. So I decided to come to town to relax a bit.," he answer without looking at me. I wonder why?

"What about you?"

"I wanted to take a bit of a break before continuing with my Aikatsu" I'm glad he wasn't looking at me. I didn't want him to see my expression and that I was thinking about him.

"Hey, are you ok?" I didn't realize that he looking at me. I didn't want him to see me blush so I turn around. But my expression didn't change at all. I needed to tell someone about my worries.

"S4 selection is coming up. I'm not really confident on myself."

I know he just staring at me without looking at him. I kind of feel relieved to tell someone my troubles. But I feel much calmer telling him.

"You're scare? Is that was you feel?"

"Yeah…" Subaru made me face him. He had this look at his face that I never seen. He usually teases me but right now it looks that he's concerned about me.

"Do you remember when we did the movie Rock!Rock Girls?"

"Yeah"

"Do you remember our scene we did together?"

"I do" of course I remember our scene, he trick me into character. It was also the first and last time we were that close.

Just thinking about it makes me blush.

"Even though you were in character, but the thing you said came from your heart"

He's right; at that moment I said my feelings.

""But if you run away because you're scared, your dream will never come true. As long as you don't give up and do your best, you'll realize your dream for sure!"

"Huh" I look at him as he said the exact lines I said a few months ago.

"Follow your own advice. Don't give up and keep doing your best. Your goal is to make it to S4 right?"

My goal is S4, that's what I keep saying to myself. I guess I just forgot for a while.

"Do you want to go to a cafe?" Subaru look the other way when he asks me that. I wonder why he asks out off a sudden.

"Why?" I ask him. I look the other way too. I didn't want him to see me blush. Why do I keep blushing around him?

"Is better to spend a day off with someone than to be alone" I didn't look at him when he responded.

But he's right. I wanted to be with someone today before I ran into him. It might be fun.

"Sure"

We walk to a nearby cafe. We didn't say a word as we walk. What should we talk about? This is the first time we actually hung out. We had talk before but not really hang out.

"You know this isn't the first time you were like this." breaking the silence.

"Nani?"

"When you had your first solo live. You weren't sure who you'd be signing too. You were between giving up or to continue." he didn't look at me when he said it. He kept looking straight as we walk.

A memory pops up to me. Is was the day when I believed that I wasn't good enough to be at the same stage that was suppose to be for Hime-san. I wanted to quit but it was too late for it. Not much ticket was sold. Wanting to escape I ran outside until I bump into Subaru. I told him what my problem was. Just like today. He showed me that my friends are at least looking forward to it. Also he told me how he only sold one ticket when he had his first solo live. But what he said afterward made me realize whom I'm really singing too.

"It doesn't matter how many people show up. If you can satisfy the one fan before you, next it'll be ten, and then a hundred, and one day even over a thousand."

His advice help me perform my first solo live. I'll sing to the people who came to see me.

"Yo, we're here" Subaru pointed to the cafe that was in front of us.

I didn't realize we arrived until he said that. We went inside and took a seat near a window. The place wasn't crowded. There were only a few people inside the cafe.

A waitress came to our seat and gave us a menu. The place had all sort of sweets that was hard to choose. I kept looking at the menu trying to make a decision. I look at Subaru to see if he chose what kind of sweets he wants. He was looking at his menu and mumbling to himself. I couldn't really hear him. I didn't realize how long I been staring at him until he ask me.

"What are you going to get?"

I quickly look at my menu not to make it obvious that I was looking at him.

"Um…I think I'm going to get the strawberry cheesecake and a latte. What about you?"

"I'm getting a chocolate cake and coffee."

We made our orders to the waitress. After she left, we were alone again. What with the silence we tend to have today?

"Hey, what are you going to do after graduation?" I needed to break the silence before it becomes awkward.

"I'm not sure yet. Some of the guys are thinking about studying abroad and the others are planning to stay at Four Star High. I really don't want to worry about it just yet. "

Just thinking about him graduated makes me feel upset. Why? He's not sure if he's going to stay or leave.

This feeling in my heart? What is it?

Who's going to give me advice when I need it?

Out of nowhere all these memories just came to me.

When I had my first movie audition:

"Don't try to act well. Rookie actors are prone to get nervous and dart their eyes all around. So just raised your head, puff your chest out, and act confidently."

When I thought I was alone after Kohura left. I form a unit with Ako and Yuzu-senpai I didn't know who supported me:

"You're not acting like yourself. No matter who you're with or what you're up against, you bust through it with a bright red face. That's how a boiled octopus should be."

After the contest

"Because everyone helped to lift my spirits. Even though I'm the one who's supposed to be doing that."

"Sometimes it happens. Even idols have down periods. There's nothing wrong with being cheered up by your fans."

"Is that alright?"

"I think so. All you need to do is give back what you received."

He came to wish me luck when I had my solo concert after figured it out I didn't need that power:

"We're doing concert next door in the Horizon Hall. And, you know… We'll put our best show, so you'd better do it too."

"I will I'm going to be confident and sing the best I can!"

He believed in me when I had the crazy Santa Claus idea on Christmas and supported our Christmas concert

"Who care about that? There's no point in doing the same thing everyone else does. Motivation is all you need."

He had helped me again when I went to the Best Music Show for the first time

" You're gonna be on the The Best Music Show, righ? They're recording of the past Music Shows."

" It's not that showing your appeal isn't important. But the most important thing is what you want to convey to the viewers, don't you think?"

I never notice it but I always been counting on his support. Even today, he helped me have confident again. He's always been helpful even with the teasing.

"What are your plans for next year?" This time he asks me about my plans.

"I can't say for sure just yet. First I need to focus on the S4 selection before figuring out my next step. Thanks to you I'll do my best when is my turn" I said everything with a smile. He's seemed a bit of a shock. He covers his face. Wonder why?

"I know what ever goal you put yourself, you'll be able to accomplish it. Remember between us is a race of who becomes the first-star idol."

"I remember. You're my rival after all but also…." I needed to say this. After realizing the things he had done for me. I need to express my gratitude. What is this feeling again? Why am I so nervous? "You're my friend."

He looks at me with a confused face. Before I can continue our orders came. The lady handed me my strawberry cheesecake and latte while she did the same for Subaru. After she left, I saw Subaru about to take a bite on his cake.

I need to say this before is too late.

"Subaru-kun?" he stops eating his cake and look at me. Why is he blushing? I'm the one nervous here. He had a different look at his face that made me even more nervous. Is not like I'm going to confess to him?

My heart started to hurt after thinking that.

I know I'm blushing but is now or never.

"Subaru-kun, gomenasai and arigato" I didn't look at him because of my face. I didn't want him to tease me at this moment.

"Nani?"

"Gomenasai for not appreciating everything you have done for me. Whenever I was down you were there giving me helpful advice. Maybe by coincidentally that you were just there but either way your advice had help me a lot. Even today, I used them when I have a concert or an acting career. You help me so I just want to say, Arigato for everything." The next thing I know I got up from my seat and went to Subaru side and hug him while he was sitting down.

"Arigato Subaru-kun for always being there" I let go and went back to my seat. We're both boil octopus.

But this feeling. It feels that I was suppose say something else. What is it? My heart can't stop beating. It only happens when he's around.

"You're less of a tomato and more of an idol now" I look at him when he said that. He was eating his cake trying to avoid eye contact. My heart is still beating.

I didn't say anything and just ate my cake. We ate silently avoiding eyes contact. After we finish we pay for our own sweets.

We left the cafe and went back to the academy. The walk was a bit awkward between us but still I needed to show him my gratitude.

"Hey, even after graduation you can still count on my support. It doesn't matter where I may be, I'll be there to help you out when you need me" He didn't look at me but instead kept on walking.

I stop walking when he said that. Somehow it made me happy. I'm glad I can still count on him.

I smile before following him back to the academy.

A break is what really needed today. Tomorrow I'll continue my Aikatsu. Right now I just want to enjoy what today has to offer.

Subaru I hope one day I can return favor and give you my support. And I hope you can help me with this feeling I have inside my heart"